Badger Update

This will probably be the very last update on Badger and his continued battle with COPD or Equine ROA.

Badger got into some toxic mold in the spring of 2009.  It nearly killed him within 24 hours.  Since then, we have tried medications and steroids.

Despite living outside and getting a dust free hay and environment ... well the best that we could provide, he did fairly okay.

The first year I could still ride him.  The second year, it was spotty.  This year.  I rode him one last time, in May.

True to himself, he walked slowly and we enjoyed watching the sun go down together as we often have over the years.

I didn't know then how he would fare in our unusual hot and humid [sometimes hot dry and dusty] weather.

We have found Badger's resting place, it will not be too far from the house.  This is a photo of him this morning out the window 'pre-dawn'.  I haven't taken many photos of him in the last year because his condition has continued to worsen and well, simply put.  He looks pretty tough.
I have finally come to terms with this.  I cannot let him suffer any longer.
He can barely eat because breathing is so difficult for him.
Yet I do not want to lose my friend of 17 years.
I am hoping that today we can send him over the rainbow bridge to the Merry Meadow where he'll join up with Cheyanne [my old mare], and Xena [Badger and my first terrier].
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When I am gone release me, let me go,
I have so many things to see and do.
You musn't tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you love and you can only guess
How much you gave me of happiness
I thank you for the love you have shown,
But now it's time I travelled on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust,
It's only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on,
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near,
And if you listen with your heart you'll hear,
All my love around you soft and clear.

And then when you must come this way alone,
I'll be there to greet you with a smile and a
"Welcome Home"

Berry Pickin'

When I was a child we used to get up at dawn and walk through the woods [well, maybe it wasn't dawn?  But dang it sure was early!!!] to go berry picking.

The first day we went after black berries it was usually pretty fun.  We carried lard buckets with twine string tied to the handles so we could sling them over our shoulders and pick with two hands.

Grandma would lead us to the berry picking patch of wild black caps or berries.  [I'm never sure which to call them.]

That was then.  This is now.

Morris and I went for a 'berry' walk the other day.  We found several areas where we could pick a few berries.

But then we hit the motherload of all berry patches.

The wild yellow raspberries again!

I think I could have stayed there most of the day and just picked and shoved the delicious berries into my mouth.

But being the nice and sweet person I am, I picked enough to fill the large water bottle I'd brought along.

I mixed the yellow berries with the black berries.

I think I need to go back very soon and see how many more I can pick!

When picking them on your own time, it doesn't seem to be a chore, but rather an adventure.  As a child it wasn't quite so fun to find these berries.  Perhaps it was the hot woods, the bugs, the thorns, and the fact that we generally didn't eat most of the berries ourselves but sold them that made it so much less fun to pick.

But then again.

If I have Morris along, it is always fun...he tries to pick and eat his own berries!

Shadowhouse Creations: Someone you should look at!

I've seen a trend lately that is quite creative.  People take their digital photos and 'texturize' them with things like the written word, grungy effects, cracked mud, whorls, canvas, and anything imaginable.

I thought I'd do an internet search on the 'how and why' this has become a 'fad' of sorts.  Surprise!  Nothing!

I'm sure textures and edits have been around since, well, forever.  So it is a pleasant surprise that I've started getting more interested in it.

I see many digital artists using and contributing incredible ways to add interesting effects to your digital photos.

There is Shadowhouse Creations, a blogger and a member of the Flickr community [SkeletalMess] that does some incredible work.

He has tutorials and samples of his textures here at Flickr and here at his website.  Don't forget to visit his tutorial Here.

These are some of my 'attempts' at textures and photos.  Some of the textures are those I created myself.  I photographed items like dirt, the cracks in a cow skull, and other bizarre things.

However, not just any photo will look good with a texture.  It takes a lot of time and experimentation.

 

 and then today's fun edit with Grunge Frames from Skeletal Mess downloaded from his Shadow House Creations site.

This was just a fun experiment.  

Happy Editing!

Ninja Sneaky Dog ~by Teslin

I'm very very sneaky.  I'm the sneakiest dog in the world.

Grandpa doesn't think I should sleep on the bed with him and Grandma Val.

So I'd been waiting for the proper moment.

Like I said.

I'm sneaky.

Morris was sulking in his crate because the Grand's thought I should be able to wander around and be comfortable at night.  Morris usually gets free run of the house but ... after all, I AM the guest of honor!

About 3 AM, I padded quietly into the Grand's room.  The night air was chilly and I just knew knew knew...that it would be snuggly warm on THAT bed.

So in my best ninja dog effort I lept over the end of the bed and landed softly between the old folks.

How nice.

Soft cuddly and warm.

I slept there until the Grand's woke up.  Funny thing is, Gramps laughed about it and pet me.  I stayed on the bed after they got up.

It only took me a few days to start training these old folks.

Easy peasie.

Father's Day ~ Birthday Gift

So I decided that my husband would be surprised if I gave him a gift that he could not get anywhere else at all.

I dragged out the hose and pulled his 2003 Chevy Diesel HD2500 extended cab with a full size box up to the pump.

I proceeded to wash it and wax it.

Then detailed it.

How long did it take?

Hours.

But it was a labor of love and besides that, it looks nice and shiny now.

Was he pleased?

Oh yes.

Pleased as punch.

He is thinking of lining up the skid steer and his Allis Chalmers for me to do next.

Ha ha!

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Siera and me...

Siera.

We are trying a slightly different bit on her...well, I am.  So last night we got saddled up and headed out to a couple of fields and a small pasture.

This way I could have her concentrate on what I was asking her with the reins and my legs.  I put her face to face with a fence and asked her to follow the rein that laid across her neck.

By golly she got it a few times!

Walk.

Stop.

Back up.

Turn right, turn left.

All pretty boring stuff, but until she gets is down pat, I consider her a 'green' mule.  We ended the session by going up on the ridge and walking along the freshly cut and baled hay fields.

She did very well there.  I think she is not a brush busting mule.  She seems to lose confidence when she cannot see through the thick underbrush.

That's okay too.

I'll see what we can work out together.

Last night's ride was very relaxing.

What can I say?  She is young and my times working with her have been sporadic at best.  But she is a quick learner.

On a side note.  Hubby grumbled something about 'not getting' to go for a ride 'whenever' he wanted....this grumbling came while he sat at his laptop I'd given him.

I cocked a brow and gestured towards the laptop.

He didn't get it.

Sigh.

I grab a moment whenever I can.  Mr. Grumpy Pants will have to join me... or grumble.

:)

We ... Siera and I had a great great time!

Teslin ~ another country day in paradise!

Grandma and Morris and I went for a long and wonderful hike yesterday.
It was hot!
So Morris and I stayed mostly in the creek water to stay cooled off.  I bet Grandma wished she could have laid in the creek!

Grandma put this video thingy together, she said it was perfect in a lot of ways...