Grandma want to go for a walk? Ariel asked me.
I thought about it for a moment, then decided...well a walk would be good.
We got our coats on and headed out the door together. We walked alongside the road and breathed in the fresh crisp air and enjoyed the chill the slight breeze brought to our cheeks.
Ariel chatted about this and that. As I walked alongside her I suddenly realized how much fun I was having and what a gracious young girl she really could be.
I felt very close to her...just me and her walking down the side of a fairly rural road.
We talked about stuff, nothing terribly important, yet nothing astounding. Just 'stuff'.
And I found myself wishing that the end of the walk would not come.
A perfect Grandma moment. I felt something stir deep inside of me that just wanted me to put my arms around her and sweep her off her feet. I guess I just realized how much I really did love this child.
I'm not the easiest Grandma in the world to figure out, but I sure have those moments! And I am looking forward ... hopefully for another nice walk with Ariel in two weeks.
Thanks Ariel for giving me a wonderful gift tonight.
If
Christmas were to be left up to pets, we'd just gather for some kibbles
and chase a ball or toy, sniff each other's parts, and take a nap.
Any
growling or not getting along would quickly be sorted out and forgotten and forgiven.
See how easy it could be???
I think we could all learn from our pets!
Morris says, smell
your sister's butt, lick her face, toss a ball or Hedgehog at her [you
can insert any relative in place of the sister]...go outside and pull
down your pants and 'go' in the yard together, nothing like that kind of
bonding. Come in, eat, play, and take a nap. No discussions of
religion, politics, or anything else.
What a smart dog!
You know what? I haven't been in the saddle for quite a while. There are a LOT of excuses. One of them was my work schedule and the horrible summer.
Now I wonder a bit if it isn't just because I lost Badger and I've needed time to want to invest my heart so heavily in another mule. I mean it is impossible to ever again have what I had in that mule.
We trusted each other so much.
He took me everywhere I asked and kept me safe.
There is Opal with whom I've developed a real bond with. I really like her, she has issues with most humans .... and at 29ish, I don't think I'm going to change her much. She will come to me though.
She is as sure footed and smart as they come and wise too. But at her age, I wonder how long we can ride together?
Then of course there is Siera who I had been working with and sort of just...stopped for the time being. She is smart, moves along well, but it not sure of some things...or perhaps she just needs some more confidence with me on her back.
She is tender hearted and sweet.
Then there is Badger's little half sister Sunshine. She is an excellent, wonderful, little Red Molly mule, a good ride, good temper, and ... well she can be like her mom, a bit headstrong at times!
I just need to get myself out of the 'Badger slump' and back into riding don't I?
I guess I just miss him still.
So my promise to myself is to go out and dust off my saddles and start having some mule-person time.
It isn't like I don't have good choices now is there? So what is my excuse???
To hike to relax. Today was a great hiking afternoon. I didn't have to go very far to find interesting things.
Morris came along, we'd walked Dixie already and she was napping in the house.
I know he was thrilled, especially when he found several 'icky' things to roll in!
He was in his glory of course.
After we found fresh coyote tracks, Morris stuck a bit closer to me and didn't run off to investigate every smell and sight that he could stuff in his nose.
We found that the creek was indeed very low further down the valley. We are currently something like 6" short this year. I don't think we are going to make it up before Dec 31st.
We got to the middle of the valley and found a the skull of a deer and some other bones. The coyotes had made quick clean up of their kill.
The view from the valley looking back up towards the east was pretty awesome when see in a panoramic view.
The fall beauty has faded away leaving the forest with a washed out look. Morris and I headed further east towards Black Bottom Creek.
I was really glad that I decided to go in that direction. I'd forgotten how beautiful the creek could be when it was picking up the afternoon glow from the hills.
We turned around and simply went back home, retracing our steps. I sometimes do that as a 'work out' ... meander around and then hike with a strong purpose back up through the valley towards home.
I simply cannot wait to do this again. Although I'd like to hike Jersey Valley or Sidie Hollow next!
I'm sort of thinking my hubby needed another hound dog like he needed a hole in his head.
Hmmmm.
Of course he knew that my heart would melt when I met this little thing. He's not stupid. He knew we would have to keep it in the house and house train it. He also knew that I don't like the mess, so I would clean up after her accidents. But this time around, if she makes a mess, ol' hubby is going to take some responsibility.
I have to chuckle at that...he said he would. But I haven't seen it happen quite yet.
Truthfully, when attended to properly, she does not have accidents except perhaps in the middle of the night.
Meet Dixie:
Cute as all get out right? Morris can not say that he is impressed. This is the 4th hound dog pup he's had to help raise. He's actually being a good sport over the whole thing and doesn't mind taking a hike with Dixie.
He simply enjoys the fact that she has clumsy puppy legs and that he has the speed of a Jack Russell, he loves to run circles around her.
I can't take her for long walks yet as she is still too little.
The day is young, the sun is shining and it looks to be a good day for Morris and I to set off on an adventure.
It is that time of year again where SHE gets all goofy in the head and makes a complete idiot out of me and herself.
She thinks I 'like' putting on the red scarf and sitting all pretty while she runs around dragging 'who knows what' out of the closet.
Oh yeah dear...
that tree that you have to put together?
Sure ~~ it looks so real I'd pee on it by mistake. Give me a break.
Then SHE gets all of my Toys and dumps them out of my Basket! She lines up some of my toys and takes a photo of them for what? Oh like they are going to help?
I run over and bash the whole pile in.
It makes her face turn red and then she laughs. This is not going to be a hiking day. Not a day for me to run in the woods and eat deer pellets,...smart pills.
SHE simply seems to be just plain ol' happy. I cannot even make her grumpy.
So I decided to wear the stupid red scarf and take advantage of the situation.
I know if I sit and pose, I will earn a treat.
So yeah,
tell me...
who is smarter now?
Just a bit of messing around today. I took a photo of my husband's Allis Chalmers sitting in the side yard looking rather pathetic.
I thought I'd try a technique called Photoshop to Drawing or DTG.
Of course I didn't do the proper version of it, I had to mix it up with an layer of texture from Shadowhouse Creations.
I didn't actually do a real line drawing as I let some color seep back into it.
I'm not sure I'm done with this or will just scrap it all together.
Tonight Morris got to meet the new member of his toy box crew, Hoppy.
His first reaction was to grab Hoppy by the nose.
Typical Morris!
Tomorrow looks like a good day for getting some decorating done and some fresh air with perhaps a hike?
My snowshoes and over the lens goggles arrived Monday! Now, let it snow, let it snow...let IT snow,...but not until after my trip to visit my family!
