This page is where you can find all my cute dog, horse, donkey, and chicken stories. Aww.
Hey, Animals! Distract Me with Cuteness!
I needed some distraction today, and while I got plenty thanks to 5 hours straight working with engineers on project management tasks, I prefer the distraction provided by my animal friends today. As a matter of fact, Connie Gobbler did provide cute distraction today. In the morning, I opened the gate to the new chicken/turkey…
Cold and Chilled
It was quite cold and very windy today, the opposite of yesterday. My mood matched. News of mass shootings here and in Australia left a chill in my bones. This hateful behavior will never stop affecting me, and it’s baffling how many people act like it’s just a part of everyday life. I just keep…
My Weird Way to Cut Down on Social Media
It’s only kind of weird, but it works for me the problem is that my phone thinks I look hours and hours at it, when, in fact, I’m not even near the phone. It’s hard to doomscroll if your phone is nowhere nearby and the computer you’re using is only connected to LinkedIn (and honestly,…
Let’s Enjoy Late Autumn
My thoughts on deep subjects will have to wait until tomorrow. Work was quite interesting today but tired my brain out. I was also still a bit tired from being around people at the Master Naturalist holiday meeting. It was very pleasant, but I got peopled out. Today was beautiful if you like fog. I…
Hay Hay! The Horses Are Happy
Gratitude was in the eyes of all the pasture dwellers today. They had not been at all thrilled that a round bale of hay had been unceremoniously dumped in the middle of the entrance to their pens. They were equally irritated at the orange tractor sharing space with them. Mysteriously, a front tire popped off…
Despite Unusual Weather, I Learned
This morning was just gorgeous. I went out to do my morning birding and discovered I was overdressed. It was sunny and comfortable the whole time I was out, and I was greatly entertained by Yellow-rumped Warblers flitting around. I went inside to eat and do some office stuff. When I went back to pick…
Good Day for Horsing, Less Good Day for Dogs
This is yesterday’s blog that I didn’t feel like writing last night. One reason may be that I’m so tired and lacking energy. I really have to push myself to get moving and do things that I was eager to do not that long ago, like walks, long horse rides, chores, etc. I’m guessing it’s…
Feeling gratitudinal
Even though I didn’t plan it this way, Thanksgiving at the Hermits’ Rest was very pleasant. There was a distinct lack of drama, argument, and stress. And there was an abundance of birds. Since I simplified the meal, I didn’t stress over cooking, which gave me lots of time to play with the camera (and…
Errands Did Me In
Just a quick hello from my fancy new phone to say I’m about to crash. I had many errands to do today, since I am not allowed to work this week. All but grocery shopping occurred but everything took longer than expected thanks to a nice rainy day. First I indulged myself and went to…
Take Away My Horse Owner License
Sure, today was both a packed work day and a day of dealing with those anxiety symptoms I abhor, but the horses didn’t do anything to deserve neglect. It turns out that when the farrier left yesterday, he turned all the horses out of the pens, then like a good rancher, he shut the gate…
I Like Naps
It’s a good thing I like naps, since I’m very good at falling asleep at this point in my life. I had a very nice nap on the porch this afternoon with the sun keeping me warm and a breeze to keep me from being too warm. Other than waking myself up snoring from being…
Sometimes It’s Hard to Leave
But then it’s good to be back That’s the story of my day. Lee and I were enjoying our time together in Blanco and almost decided to stay until tomorrow, but we dragged ourselves home. That’s probably for the best, given the strong winds blowing in that early cold front. I still managed to get…
Yes! I Can Have Fun!
Yes, there was fun to be had on this chilly, blustery day. Did I say chilly? Well, the high didn’t get above 70°F, which is welcome. However, the wind made it feel colder, prompting a friend to ask if it was too soon to ask for summer back. Um, yes, I’m afraid it is. Tomorrow…
What Are Your Iconic Birds?
I was musing about the birds I see every day around the Hermits’ Rest. I know we have summer birds, like Painted Buntings, and winter birds, like White-crowned Sparrows, as well as migrants who stay for a few days and head on their way to a final destination, like the warblers. But those weren’t my…
Happy to Stay Right Here
How much would you pay to go to the moon? Nah. I have no need to go to the moon. I like it where it is and me where I am. All the lunar romance, metaphor, and legend falls away when you view the moon as a large cratered hunk of rock. I do think…
Much to Be Happy About
Where to start? The day started out good and kept getting better. Look at this sunrise! And I was happy to see yesterday’s new calf and mama cow looked much perkier this morning and nursing was going well. I think they’re fine. I also felt better today, after a slow start. Maybe my head is…
At Least There Were Clouds
I miss rain. There was a trace while I was out of town, but otherwise no rain since early September. Today the weather toyed with me. Some nice clouds rolled in early this morning. It got very quiet and the air felt encouraging. It was oddly warm. The birds and I were hopeful. Alas, the…
Ranch Life, Surprises Are All Good
Ya know, these days not much fazes me around here. As long as there’s no gushing blood on humans or livestock, it’s all fine. Today was typical. I enjoyed my morning birding—I really missed it last week, and I took Penney out for a tromp through the front field while I took pictures for yet…
Working on Things?
What have you been working on? I’ve been slacking on my main project, the temperature blanket. I just have to buckle down and sew September onto the main blanket and crochet more black squares. Then I can enjoy October (hoping it cools off someday). This doesn’t mean work isn’t being done around the Hermits’ Rest.…
I Have My Halloween Costume All Picked Out
TW: cuts and bruises I usually go as a witch (requires no costume), but this year I can be an accident victim. I got stuck between Dusty and the gate when Apache charged in to eat Dusty’s leftovers. Usually Dusty flees safely but he was too close to me and I was knocked into a…
Trying Is So Vital
It very well could be that some of you are sick of me going on and on about learning to canter on horseback. After all, little kids just jump on horses and take off, flying like the wind—how hard can it be? Hmph. I was told recently that it’s also hard for many young people…
Pollen, pollen
It’s everywhere right now. People always think of spring as prime time for pollen and pollinators, but at least around here the season lasts until it freezes. Autumn brings lots of flowers out for hungry insects over here in Milam County, Texas. I’ve shown you lots of tie vines, or wild morning glories. Another popular…
A Little More Dullness
My inspiration for writing about what interests me is at an all-time low. Maybe it’s that lack of air conditioning in our upstairs. Inspiration and sweating have never gone together well for me. Sweating puts me into survival mode, which may explain my reluctance to canter on Apache at the end of a hot lesson.…
Another Sunday
I managed to not interact with the news all day. I enjoyed birds, especially Eastern Meadowlarks over at my son’s house while I was feeding his pets. The birds were singing and merrily grabbing insects in a true autumn poem. I also enjoyed watching the cattle in the pasture I walked through. I’m very glad…
Everyone Needs a Today
Today nothing bad happened. I had fun. I rested. I enjoyed nature and my pets. I hung out with family. I colored. I did my nails with a glow-in-the-dark accent. I needed this day. I feel privileged that I can experience a quiet day of peace and love. So many of us can’t ignore the…
Sweating Like a Horse
It’s supposed to be autumn. It was even down to 61°F here this morning! But it warmed right up and by the time I stopped working on my magnificent SharePoint page and went to the horses to get ready for a rare Friday lesson, it was decidedly toasty. I don’t think I’ve sweated as much…
Drama Averted
Let’s talk about how great I am. No, that’s boring. Let’s talk about how my confidence has improved in my horsemanship. (Because there’s still some progress to be made in other areas.) One horse accomplishment that brings joy is that the younger horses have gotten much better at coming to the pens when I call…
Cheerful Moments
Ok! Cute things here we come! This morning I found where all the false foxgloves were hiding this year? And they were right next to a hawthorn tree with lots of fruit. No matter how well I think I know the woods at the ranch, I keep finding new things. I ventured around to see…
Book Report: How the Hell Did I Not Know That?
I needed some light and humorous reading this week, so I picked up this book to read before bedtime rather than the depressing memoir I’m reading at other times of the day. How the Hell Did I Not Know That: My midlife year from couch to curiosity, by Lucie Frost, certainly provided me with laughs…
Stay Tuned
I just finished reading the wonderful book, Braiding Sweetgrass, which somehow I hadn’t managed to read yet. No doubt there was a good reason I didn’t read it when I bought it, but of course I loved it, since it’s a Suna kind of book. I’ll write more about it later. I haven’t been feeling…
I Did It
What did I do? I survived an overwhelming work week without losing my temper at anyone. I’m sure glad this week was only four work days! The minute I stopped answering questions along with my equally frazzled colleague, I went to dinner with Lee and our neighbor, which got me out of the house and…
Do I Have the Blues?
It looks like I do. I made a drink from one of Kathleen’s little flavor packets and ended up with the blues: blue drink, nails, hair, and glasses. I will point out that I had a brown shirt (with a blue Roadrunner on it). On a more serious note, I shared this story on Facebook…
Noisy Times in Rural Texas
What? You don’t know why it’s noisy here right now? Get out your Texas Parks and Wildlife hunting regulations booklet! Right there! You see, it’s always a little blam-blammy on the first day of any season, but dove season is extra loud because they just keep shooting. There are lots of doves: Mourning, Inca, Eurasian…
A Meteorological Respite
Ah. Today we got beautiful rain, over 2” but I won’t measure until the morning. It was another great day to read on the porch! I was sorry to miss my horse lesson but we’ve rescheduled for tomorrow. Let’s hope tomorrow’s rain is not between 10-1 or at least not heavy. I can ride in…
Fowl News: Good and Bad
Not much has been going on in poultry land these days. Only Connie has been laying, so we have an ample supply of very large eggs for our cooking. I also realized it’s her birthday, or close to it, since Heather’s son has picked up his tiny poults for this year. She’s come a long…
Dog Day Thoughts
I’m pretty wiped out from doing so much outside in the heat. I know Apache and I are both looking forward to the promised cold front. But today is National Dog Day in the US, so I’ll focus on the dogs for once. Starting from small to large, Vlassic is doing very well, still staying…
Good Progress
Just a quick note to say how much fun Vicki and I had with our horse lessons today. I have finally gotten Apache back in shape enough to run like the wind, or that’s how his fast trot feels to me. That led to cantering in the round pen again. Neither of us liked going…
Little Things Add Up
I woke up this morning struggling with some of my “areas for improvement,” and I wasn’t feeling well at all. I’m grateful that I e trained myself to find the good around me, and after adding up all that fine energy, I ended the day with a smile on my face. I struggled a bit…
It’s Very Smooth around Here…the Bur Saga Continues
You may remember that for the past couple of years we’ve had a problem with cockleburs in the horse pasture. I spent hours and hours removing them from manes and tails, and had a horrible time with Drew, given his dislike of being touched on his head. This year we Hermits’ Resters have decided to…
Searching for Treasure and Scowling at Sheep
What did you do today? As you can guess from the title of this blog entry I did at least two things. Both were fun. First thing this morning, neighbor Vicki and I went to College Station to a fun Horseman’s Market Fay hosted by the Brazos Valley Driving and Riding Club. This is like…
Human Bodies, So Frail
I’d avoided it all summer, but today I finally got overheated. I should have know there’d be an issue when I couldn’t even take sitting in my birding chair more than a half hour this morning. Ugh. At least I managed to see the pretty white rain lilies that appeared today. Vicki and I had…
It’s August and It Stormed
That might not be news everywhere, but it rarely rains here in August. It was a bit less than an inch, but pretty spectacular. I was out looking at birds when I realized the wind was picking up. I had a hard time making it to the porch! I’ve heard the winds were more than…
Investigating Near and Sorta Far
Today was hot, but otherwise a fine Sunday. I started the day by listening to birds, as usual. I felt like getting some exercise, so I took the long walk to the cemetery. It looked very spiffy, and the birds were happy with how nice things looked, both there and at the old school/church property.…
Don’t Complain, Spontane!
I didn’t write yesterday, even though it was a good day, all in all. I felt useful at work and had a good time doing horse stuff with Vicki (other than getting stepped on by Apache when he was in a “spooky” part of his path). Walking on the paths was a great way for…
Maybe I’m Not Cut Out for This
Yesterday I worked ten hours and had eight meetings, nearly all of which were challenging and some of which were stressful. Yow. I was truly wiped out at the end of the day, but managed stay online another half hour for my tarot group. My ears hurt from wearing headphones all day! It has taken…
The Salmon of Knowledge
I said I’d draw a card from my new deck daily for a while. The one I drew today sure fit! It was the Ace of Water (cups), and it has my favorite Celtic symbol, the salmon of knowledge. Yesterday I drew the 10, which focuses on the return home. The Ace is about starting…
Very Small Pasture Miracles
Today I was distracted by concern for two people I care about who weren’t doing very well. It’s always a relief to have some good little bonuses to balance out your concerns. In the meantime, send out those healing vibes into the Universe! Both of my little miracles happened when I was out doing my…
Suna’s Longest Day
Today was quite a slog, but not without its highlights. I have not been sleeping well for a few days, so 6am came quite early. Sigh, as hard as I try not to turn other people’s issues around and blame myself, it sometimes happens, especially when I’ve messed something up. Hence, little sleep. But it…
More Rain
Another front blew in and once again hit hardest southwest of here. We got over an inch of rain, but it just raised the water level in the ponds. My heart goes out to all the people who just lived through horrific flooding and are seeing it again nearby. There has to be a lot…
Drew Makes a New Friend
A quick note about some fun we had today. My neighbor Vicki is looking for an energetic horse to ride, since she hasn’t had a horse in some time. Today she came over to meet Drew, who was quite happy to meet a new human. He was a good boy and came running when called…
Book Report: This Dog Will Change Your Life
I was looking forward to This Dog Will Change Your Life, by The Dogist, Elias Weiss Friedman (2025), because I was in the mood for something light-hearted and perhaps funny, to take my mind off current events. Plus, as you may be aware, I’m fond of dogs. Well, the book does have dogs, many dogs,…
New Job New Motivation
This is an interesting point in my life. Having time for myself for three months was really pleasant, once I got used to being retired. But I’m just as glad to have gone back to work for a while, because it’s opened my eyes to a few things. Granted, I haven’t been in the new…
My Favorite Thing about Me
What’s your favorite thing about yourself? I didn’t have too much to write about today, other than that horses are cute and I have a new favorite light fixture. So, let’s find out what my favorite thing about me might be. Okay, so, answer the question, Suna. And don’t say you like something except for…
Fears, I’ve Had a Few
What fears have you overcome and how? Fearful is not how I’d ever describe myself. I feel more like my horse, Apache, who is always vigilant against the unexpected and anxious when asked to do new things. We have a lot in common, he and I, which may explain why our progress is becoming a…
Trip Down Recent Memory Lane
Yesterday I was feeling all sentimental, as well as in need of some different sites, so I took my walk by turning left instead of right from my driveway, to look at the part of the ranch we sold and the part that was my friend Sara’s ranch (visit her new projects on the Wild…
Apache and Suna Get Presents
While I was wandering through ghost towns yesterday, things were hopping on the home front. My horse and I were the beneficiaries of it all. First, Lee was kind enough to mow the area where our round pen got moved. I was a bit afraid of snakes in the long grass. He then mowed some…
Horsey Improvement
My riding lesson was the only real highlight of today, since otherwise I did volunteer work and tried to figure out my financial status with Social Security. 💤 But Apache and I had our best day ever! I was so pleased to hear from Tarrin that Apache looks better than she’s ever seen him. I…
Today’s Holiday
I set a record today. I was only glum about Mother’s Day for a half hour or so. Two things helped. First I gave myself a good lecture on how this holiday was originally (1870) meant to be a day where mothers celebrated peace, started by Julia Ward Howe. Yep. The same one who wrote…
May Ranch Update
I’ve been home a few days and haven’t updated on what’s going on here. May is always a fun month in central Texas, because it’s not too hot or cold, rain falls every so often, wildflowers are in bloom, and bird migration is in full swing. I’ve been enjoying the birds especially. I thought I’d…
It’s a Live Performance?
What was the last live performance you saw? I no longer am comfortable in large crowds. So I don’t go places to see performances anymore. And my family no longer makes music for each other after some sad things happened. Oh well. I still enjoy performances daily. So, I’ll say my most recent live performance,…
Horses Coming and Going and More
Whew! I’m glad to be in my spacious, bland hotel suite and resting up for a bit, because it’s been quite a day of coming and going. It started early when I blasted through tons of errands and things on the to-do list so that I could focus on the horses for most of the…
Good News and Fun
I know I’m getting pretty dull, you’ve noticed, judging from my sad stats and lack of comments. But hey, that’s not stopping me from my relentless blogging. I’m pretty pleased by the lack of drama in my little world (as opposed to outside of my hermitage). Yesterday’s drama with Big Mabel seems to be resolving.…
Animals’ Behavior – Good and Weird
I thought today would be uneventful but there were many events, many, all of which involved our precious animal friends. Let’s enjoy the fun one first, shall we? I was up nice and early to meet Sara and her horses. I got to go with her for her and her filly Jhayati’s last lesson with…
Vet Visit with Minimal Panic
It’s April, which here at the Hermits’ Rest means all the animals get their yearly checkups. It’s so good that Dr Amy comes to the house in the Neuter Scooter or whatever she calls her mobile clinic. With five canines and five equines to treat it’s well worth the site visit fee. The routine they…
There’s Always Something to Do
This morning, I did my chores and realized it was a bad day for birding—too windy. So I came inside to work on Master Naturalist projects. At 12:50 I realized I’d worked as much as I would have for paid employment. That’s always been the way I am. I make up a job if I…
Travel Good, Home Great
I do love traveling, if you haven’t noticed. I may not go far, but I love to see new places, especially outside of big cities (for the most part). I also love my home, so I’ve got a little yin and yang thing going on: wherever I am, home or away, I miss the other…
Sometimes You Gotta Do What You Don’t Wanna Do
That’s the truth! It’s a lesson that’s been kicking at me for the past six months or so. I really didn’t want to stop working. I really didn’t want to give up the fun I always had buying clothing, shoes, and decorations for my space. I didn’t want to give up on people who’d been…
Fun with Animal Personalities
Horses are so educational. Today I spent much of my day with mine, and I greatly enjoyed working with their moods and personalities. Our canine and equine companions each are unique, and reminding ourselves of that helps humans like me feel like a part of something larger than just our contentious society. So, how did…
Books to Love
What book could you read over and over again? I admit it. I have read many books by Brené Brown more than once. I think people need different kinds of support at different times in their lives. When I needed to drag my self esteem out of the gutter and stop telling myself I kind…
Gotta Do Some Pondering
I’ve been thinking about an issue and debating with myself about it. It’s not earth shattering, but something integral to how I interact with others. Because of this, I don’t have the blog entry I planned, nor the rant I’d intended to share on Substack. I’d rather present fully formed ideas than total bull. I…
I Can Have a Theme if I Want To
The freedom is getting to me. I may have mentioned that I randomly decided to have a color theme for each month this year. January was black. I was pretty sad that month. The rest of the year is more cheerful, with pink February and purple March. I had written orange down for April, but…
Recuperating and Resting
The past week was a lot, so I decided to take some time off and not push myself today. Horses were fed and medicated, and Apache seems fine still. It rained more, so I’m proud I got the necessary chores done and could relax the rest of the day. I wandered around listening to birds…
Adventures in Horse Wrangling and Solo Showing
I thought I was worn out yesterday? Ha. Today both Apache and I are in recovery mode after trying to do the first in-person Working Horse Central show of the year. Things just kept adding up until I just had to laugh. So here’s the setup. On Wednesday I was getting ready to ride Apache…
Worn Out
How on earth can I be worn out on a day when I couldn’t do much due to drizzle? That’s easy. I wore my mind out. I lost my detachment from current events and got angry. It’s a good thing fewer than 30 people read my Substack, because I went off on the concept of…
Thanks, Ma Nature, Candles Are Fun
Weirdly, the temperature range today was just five degrees. That made for an interesting square in my temperature blanket with two shades of yellow for the low and high temperatures Fahrenheit. The reason for this stasis is that we finally had a good rain front come through, which hadn’t happened since last month. People south…
A Little Scare, a Lot of Care
Today was a test of my ability to be calm in a (perceived) crisis. I’m still here, though covered in white hair. Most of today was fun and productive—a highlight was visiting a house a friend is renovating accompanied by two women who had lived in it in the 1950s and 1960s. The house is…
We Can Navigate Challenges with Positive Reflection
It’s funny. The day we left for the weekend’s camping expedition, Lee and I were annoyed at everything the other did, even though nothing was really wrong. It made the day harder on us both. Today, though, all sorts of challenges and opportunities to get angry presented themselves, and neither of us took the bait.…
Savoring Sweet, Slow Success
When he was little, my son wanted to be instantly successful at any new thing he tried. He’d get very frustrated if he had to listen to instructions and practice. I had some of this tendency, too, and it didn’t help that I’m a quick study on most things. However, I’m not as talented with…
Mabel Takes a Trip
I’ve been writing a lot about Mabel, the Thoroughbred mare that Kathleen rescued in 2021 and who I’ve been caring for and rehabilitating since. In the past few months she’s blossomed. I guess the time to regain her health both physically and mentally was just what she needed to come back and do more than…
And in the End…
…the love you take is equal to the love you make (Lennon/McCartney) I re-learned this from a horse today, dear Mabel. Coincidentally, the blogging prompt today was about animals: Which animal would you compare yourself to and why? I have had an affinity with horses since I was a toddler, as I’ve frequently mentioned here.…
A Little Success Lifts the Faltering Spirit
The past few months have been pretty heavy. There hasn’t been much to counterbalance the sad, scary, and stressful. I miss Goldie, I’m disappointed that Drew and I aren’t meshing well, I miss the routine of a job (after ONE day of “retirement”), and I worry that more bad things will happen to people I…
Creatures of Habit, Bovine Edition
Now that my exciting software training/tech writing career has ended, I find myself bereft of a mission. I always have a project I’m working on to support users, but I’m out of those. I’m a creature of habit, so I feel compelled to find a project. But is it really a good idea to keep…
The Hits Keep Coming
I don’t know what to do but laugh. This month has just been chock full of unpleasant stuff, but like one of those clown toys from when I was a kid, when I’m hit I just fall down and pop back up. That’s new for me. I used to fall apart. Now I react, but…
Let’s Pivot with Cautious Optimism
All the ideas I got from reflecting on my tarot reading last night swirled around me today. With the nudge I got that maybe I CAN get through these times and help others if I do what it takes to keep me centered, I decided to up my grounding ante. I got enough time in…
Doing Something about It
The Universe has spoken. I’m on the right path for right now, and I’m reaping the rewards. Now I need to be an example for others. I’ll explain. I’m feeling somewhat better now that I can be outside more. I was even able to work in the porch today. No wonder I was able to…
I Annoyed the Horses
I am feeling a bit better today, probably because after a misty morning, we had a beautiful day to enjoy. After work, I went out to sit outside, but something caught my eye. I saw four horses and a donkey in front of the house, where the unmown grass is. Horse heaven. I figured they’d…
Consequences of the Cold
The recent cold spell has taken a lot out of me. Combined with mourning from losing Goldie and being sad that the Red House on Fannin got rented out, I’ve been not much fun. I’m glad we will get income from the house, but it was fun fixing it up to be the Airbnb. Another…
Counting Birds and Holding Steady
What luck. This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count. This provides me with a perfect excuse to sit outside in my chair for hours and track what birds show up. I needed that healing time, and the peace of being outdoors. Since there was a break in the weather and the sun came out,…
Farewell to Our Dear Friend
You may have heard that Goldie left this world today, about five months after her osteosarcoma ordeal began. The good news is that she didn’t really slow down until this week, and only got really bad today, not eating, having trouble standing, etc. The three of us here at the ranch worked together to give…
Old, Parents, Worries
What were your parents doing at your age? I’m still feeling old and irrelevant, just like my cousin J. And I’m incredibly sad to be watching my sweet Great Dane, Goldie, swiftly declining. Cancer is just awful. It makes me hesitant to have another giant dog. And cancer is why I can’t tell you what…
February 11 Status
Update on today: It’s just one of those times. I’ll keep breathing and accepting that life has its ups and downs.
Time for Quiet
It’s one of those days when there is a lot to process. I’m not sure that I’m ready to say anything yet, other than I’m feeling really irrelevant due to my age, ethnicity, gender, and views. It’s probably good that I figured that out before I did or said something I shouldn’t. I need to…
An Ideal Suna Day
Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end. I wasn’t going to write again today, but the prompt cheered me up. I enjoyed pretending I could have an ideal day again. I could do this day if I had enough money to maintain this lavish lifestyle. It’s not really lavish, just maintaining what we…
Happy False Spring
There’s always a warm front that fools us into thinking winter’s over here in Texas. It often happens when the first migratory birds show up. This year, a Purple Martin arrived yesterday followed by a Scissortail Flycatcher today. Both were males. These are “scouts,” checking out the neighborhood. False spring arrives out of nowhere. One…
A Beautiful Day for a Long Nap
This was such a pretty day. It started out cool and barely got to 70°F. I had hoped to spend most of the day outdoors, and I got a good start in the morning by taking a long walk, then guarding two escaped calves until the owner could move them back inside. Only one truck…
Welcome Light
Tomorrow is Imbolc, a celebration that light is starting to appear from darkest winter (among other things). Nature brought the light a little early, and provided us with a rare cool, sunny day. It was mighty pleasant. I enjoyed a break from my very busy week by sitting outside after work, reflecting on how much…
Raising a Complaint?
What do you complain about the most? I try not to complain, but I do it. Someone who has to live with me might have a different answer, but my assertion is that I complain most about the dogs barking and running outside at the slightest noise when I’m trying to watch television. It is…
No Surprises, Still a Bit Sad
Today Dr. Amy came by with Goldie and Harvey’s test results from her last visit. As we expected, Harvey still has liver cancer. He’s doing okay on his medicine. We were saddened to learn that, as we suspected, the bumps on Goldie’s shoulder are more osteosarcoma. But it’s not all bad. The first thing Amy…
I Guess It’s Good News
The Hermits’ Rest is smaller today. We sold half our property to the nice folks who’ve been leasing the land for hay and cattle. We also sold them our part of the rest of the ranch, which we’d partnered with Sara next door on. It had to happen, since Sara is moving to a beautiful…
Give the Lady and the Gelding Gold Stars
All my life I’ve wanted to be a partner to a horse and enjoy riding well together. Today was the day! Shoot, not only did I drive myself to my lesson (even filled the Gladiator with gas) and back, but I experienced what it’s like to really communicate with a horse while riding. I can…
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The Hermits' Rest 