New Calendar on RedBubble.com

Currently a 2010 calendar but I'm sure they will switch it over soon...??? I'll check on that.

Tenderness

I played a bit with Mother's Love from the last post.

Sweet Memories

It's so hard to imagine now that Danny was ever this small. That May Day is now just a sweet and cherished memory. It still touches my heart to watch the video of Danny's first day and to see the tender, loving way that Mousie would look at him, constantly checking him out from front hoof to back in the same way human mothers count every finger and toe. I told someone just yesterday, that she still looks at him that way....when he's asleep. Our farrier, Dale Collis, said during last week's visit that Danny was in his teenage stage now. I guess that means that he is occasionally stubborn and disagreeable as well as more than a little rambunctious but despite the fact that he can be a demon at times, he is also still so very, very sweet. Mouse might not always agree with me about that. Danny seems to think that I belong to him and that my sole purpose in life is serving the Dan Man. Last night, I was trying to give Mama some attention. It's been so long since I've been able to spend some one on one time with Mouse and pamper her. I'd tried brushing her earlier in the day but Danny had pushed between us and indicated that his back needed scratching. I thought that last night, Steve could keep Danny occupied while I groomed Mouse. So Steve started brushing Danny and I brushed Mousie which she thoroughly enjoyed. Neither horse was tied up or haltered. Usually, they don't have to be when the brushes come out. It might have been nice to have them tied last night though because Danny kept edging away from Steve and closer and closer to his mom and me. He eventually was right next to us and constantly trying to get my attention. Finally, he shoved his way between us and started leaping up and biting Mom's neck and withers. This was not an attempt to groom her but rather to drive her away and he accomplished his goal. With one last look back at me and the much loved brush, Mousie walked back out into the pasture. And Danny came back in and took her place in front of me, pointing with his nose to an itchy spot just like his mom does. I don't know if I should allow him to get by with this or not. He's getting far too use to getting his own way. I'm thinking of giving another try to turning them out with the other horses. I'm hoping that maybe the other boys will make Danny walk the line a bit more....but I doubt it.

Three and a Half Month Photos

Sorry that I missed the 3 month "b'day" although the photos with Huston were just a week short of that date. I'm blaming my photographic lethargy on the weather. The heat and humidity have been unbearable this Summer. No one is riding until this heat wave finally breaks. We put up hay this past week and it was so hot that the top of the hay was burning up while the underneath was being kept damp by the humidity despite several rakings to stir it up. We finally managed to get it baled but it is not as sweet as the Teff we put up in the Spring and the horses don't like it as well. Of course, "The Weather," is the number one subject of conversation of anyone who lives on a farm especially during hay season.

Dale Collis, our farrier, came early yesterday morning for Danny's second trim. The other horses were so well behaved....for once! Riley was an easy catch with the "hidden rope trick" that Huston showed me while he was visiting us a few weeks ago. He was a doll actually and I let Steve hold him and brush him while I captured the other four. None of them gave me a problem and when Django's turn for a trim rolled around, he was exceptionally well behaved...for Django, lol. Mouse was the doll she always is. She actually will lift her feet in anticipation of what Dale wants. Brandy was surprisingly the only trouble maker out of the big horses and she was just throwing her head around like she loves to do......but she can do a lot of damage with that head, lol. Then we came to Danny. He went into his halter easily and when Steve hooked the rope to the halter, Danny allowed him to lead him around the round pen like an old pro. Then we tied him to the fence and the fireworks ensued, haha. Not that bad actually. At first one side of him was up against the fence while Dale worked on the other. I couldn't get in a spot where I could hold him. When Dale moved to the opposite side though, I wrapped my arms around him and held on. The problem is, Danny is clever and quickly figured out that it was far more difficult for me to hold him if he leaned his shoulders toward Dale and then twisted his hips toward me. We did manage though and by the time the last hoof was done, Danny was standing there calmly and actually patiently. Dale and I both were wet with sweat and it wasn't even 9:00 a.m.! Steve of course kept giving me instructions while he casually held the rope. I was silent until finally I told him that I wanted to trade places. I think it was good for him to experience what it's like to attempt to hold 300 pounds of squirming baby. haha

Summer Heat and Sunny Smiles

Sorry that I've been so silent for the past few weeks. I haven't even gotten Danny's three month old photos taken yet and he's already half way to four. I need to try and do that so that you all can see how much he is growing and how much he has changed. Most of the baby hair is gone now and he is looking so handsome. Photos and lessons and just about all outdoor activities have been kept at a minimum for the last few weeks though because of this extreme heat wave we are experiencing in the Southeast. Last Thursday the heat index was at 98 degrees before daybreak. This morning, it is ONLY at 87....I guess we should be grateful for that. We just finished putting up our latest cutting of hay yesterday in this heat. I had the easy job of driving the tractor and sitting in an air conditioned cab. Poor Steve didn't fare so well since he was on the wagon behind the tractor and baler, stacking the heavy bales. We've had a terrible problem getting our hay to dry. The humidity is keeping it damp underneath while the hot sun bakes the top. It's always something. As for Danny, he's missing the attention that he was getting. He doesn't want me to leave when I do go over every morning and evening to make certain they have hay and water. Even Mouse seems to feel I haven't been giving them enough attention because she was wanting some time with me and the brush yesterday morning. Unfortunately, I only have two arms because Danny was wanting attention at the same time. Of course, my spoilt rotten baby ALWAYS wants attention, lol. The few times I have worked with him over the last two weeks, he's done really well on the rope both leading and tying. He is still impatient while standing tied to the fence but he doesn't throw a fit. Tapping him on the nose with the crop every time he bites the rope is breaking that habit. I don't hurt him but it does get the point across. Most days,  we don't do lessons although I know we should. I usually try to spend some time brushing Danny and one day, I found him sound asleep so I sat down beside him. He woke a bit and reached his legs out to me like a puppy and then laid his head back down and went back to sleep. Mouse looked at me and then looked at him with that say, "he's so sweet," look that she use to give him when he was first born. I usually only see that look now when he is sleeping ;)

Danny's heart "tattoo" :))