April 21, 2015 - Back in the Saddle
Pasture ornaments. But no more! (It was actually starting to rain at this point, so not such a great photo, and it was taken with a cell phone, too. But.) I was using a borrowed saddle on Shortcake back when I first got her and was riding her a lot. I had to give it...
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February 21, 2014 - Update on Zip
Yesterday was a big day here! I put a thermometer up a horse’s butt! I can add that to my “I’ve never done THAT before!” list…. Dr. Clara Mason (you can visit her website here) came back with her assistant, Amy, to check on Zip. I’ve been really impressed with Dr. Mason. I discovered she...
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February 18, 2014 - The Mobile Vet Comes to Call
This is Dr. Clara Mason, at the tailgate of the truck, and her assistant. She’s a mobile vet. Mobile-only! No office. Works out of her truck going wherever farmers need her. I bet she has some stories…. She was at Sassafras Farm yesterday because Zip had herself a little accident. When she didn’t come down...
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December 16, 2013 - Another Rural Mystery Solved
One little, two little– BIG –horses galloping past my window. What is this I see now? One little donkey coming around the side of the porch. Is that a sheep? One little, two little, three little– Horses, donkey, and sheep in my yard, oh my. But why? Sigh! If the farmer shuts ALL the gates,...
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September 3, 2013 - The Mysterious Case of Jack
I’ve had the horses, donkeys, and Beulah Petunia in the upper pastures all summer. Here, they have about 20 or so acres to roam on the upper pastures plus a nice grassy lower field near the studio where the winter hay shelter is located along with a long stretch of shady ravine with a cool...
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March 25, 2013 - In ‘n’ Out
My new child! He’s the one on the left. My new FAVORITE child! Look at that big smile! Austin is a sailor on Ross’s sub. He came home with Ross this weekend to help Ross get my truck here–and get back to Norfolk. Ross drove my truck here, with Austin following behind in Ross’s new...
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March 13, 2013 - Riding
This weekend, I went to Soggy Bottom Farm and rode the trails with Sheila on my old friend, Sierra. We rode out around the pasture, past the other horses. Then onward to the steep trails. Steep trails are a challenge to my balance. Sierra is a good “robot” horse, though, and she always makes me...
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February 25, 2013 - Weekend with Animals
It was a busy animal day here on Saturday, one of those days where I handle every animal on the farm. The farrier was coming, and Morgan wasn’t home. Moving the horses and donkeys from the field back to the barn by myself is a task. If I do it right, Shortcake will follow Zip....
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November 23, 2012 - The Amazing Shortcake
The Pointing Ranger rides again: I’ve been surprised by Ross’s interest in the horses. Who knew? Morgan, absorbing guidance on how to transition Zip from English to Western reining. And kissing on Zip: Her dad gave her some tips, which hopefully will help her become more comfortable riding Zip. She just isn’t “taking” to English...
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September 21, 2012 - My Sweet Sugary Shortcake
Shortcake had her first farrier visit here yesterday afternoon. Here she is in the crossties, awaiting her fate. Getting ready for the farrier means: 1. Shut off the goats and sheep to the upper barn field. 2. Get Jack and Poky to the front barnyard. 3. Shut Jack and Poky in a stall in the...
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August 18, 2012 - The Shortcake
Back to the little mare– She’s a pretty thing. She came into rescue not long after we took Patriot and Zip, so we hadn’t seen her at that time. She wasn’t a starvation case. She was bought from a horse trader who was using her as a brood mare, which is a tough life for...
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August 14, 2012 - Hard
Between yesterday and today, I have made a decision. That may seem fast, but in truth this decision process started in April when Patriot bucked Morgan. There was a trainer here that day, a trainer that lives nearby and is retired from training. As soon as we knew that Morgan was okay, he turned to...
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August 1, 2012 - Then He Busted Out the Light
I never realized Patriot was short until a few evenings ago when we visited him at the trainer’s. I had just been petting a Tennessee Walker that is boarding there, and well, a Tennessee Walker might make any horse look short, but Patriot looked particularly shrimpy. I pointed out that he was looking awfully shrimpy,...
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July 12, 2012 - We Have a New Horse
Her name is Zip! You may have met her before, but this is The New Zip! Zip 2.0! Improved, and fat-free! (Truthfully. She’s been working out.) Here, Morgan was working her out on her trailer-loading skills. Once upon a time, The Old Zip had some serious trailer-loading issues. The New Zip scampers on and off...
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May 8, 2012 - Comings and Goings
Beautiful Zip arriving at Sassafras Farm: As soon as she made a whinny, Patriot knew who was here. He was all the way across the barn yard. He came running. I can’t possibly describe how frantic he was to get to her. I was afraid he’d break the fence down before we could get her...
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May 1, 2012 - Then I Tried to Relax Again
Chloe, relaxing. I had a fairly busy work morning yesterday. I’d been fairly busy the day before, and the day before that. I decided I was going to take it easy. It was mid-afternoon. I’d managed to come up with boxes and had gotten my wool packed ready to mail to the fiber company. SarahGrace...
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April 21, 2012 - Not So Relaxing Evening
Morgan was spending the night with a friend. Ross got a date. Even though he’s only been here for a couple weeks. (Ross can always get a date.) An evening to myself! I shall relax, I thought. No dinner to cook for anyone. All is quiet on the farm. I puttered about, relaxing and planning...
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April 5, 2012 - There’s a Horse on My Porch!
There’s a horse on my porch! I’m not sure how much longer I’ll keep Patriot up in the yard. We’re really enjoying him, but it might be a little much long-term. Every time I catch this giant figure walking by outside the window from the corner of my eye, it freaks me out for a...
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April 2, 2012 - Patriot Day!
Patriot will be here this afternoon. Yesterday, I took Morgan to the little store in town to pick up her saddle and other equipment and supplies. She’s been saving her money. Not that she saved enough, so I had to help her. Morgan’s money tends to fall out of her pockets. Usually while she’s standing...
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March 12, 2012 - A Rescue Horse
That for which every horse longs in their sweetest dreams–a horse-crazy teenage girl to love them. Photo by Jerry Waters. This is Patriot today. Click here to see what Patriot looked like six months ago. Four horses were found wandering loose, abandoned by their owner, starving, in Ohio on September 11, 2011. Patriot was the...
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May 14, 2011 - Wranglin’ Time
We’ve been busy on the farm the past few days, doing things that needed done and catching up on a few things where we were behind. Such as sheep shearing. Those poor sheep were still wearing their winter coats and it suddenly got hot here. The donkeys’ hooves needed trimming, too. It was time for...
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October 12, 2010 - Stack ’em Deep, Feed ’em Cheap
This is the time of year to get hay for winter. We haul it right out of the field. We have a regular hay guy we buy from every year. He cuts and bales on several large farms not far from where we live. This was one I hadn’t seen before. It’s a beautiful ridge-top...
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August 24, 2010 - Head ‘Em Up, Move ‘Em Out
Morgan had a friend (note, I refuse to use the word boyfriend even though she does) over on Sunday, which happened to coincide with the determination to move some animals around on the farm. Jack and Poky have been enjoying Lovers Meadow in the bottom pasture for the past few months, interrupted only by Beulah...
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July 5, 2010 - Beauty and the Beast
Beauty. The Beast. There’s been a lot of carrying on around our farm this spring, but nothing (and I mean nothing, not the roosters wearing the feathers off the hens’ backs, not even the wild affair of Clover and Eclipse) prepared me for what happened when Jack met Poky. Jack made sounds that were indescribable...
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March 28, 2010 - Not a Good Day to be a Donkey
Donkeys, at least mine, are generally calm, happy-go-lucky, cooperative creatures–unless you want them to go somewhere in particular. Then they act like mules. They love people, and get along well with most other farm animals. Unless they find them specifically annoying. Like, say, Boomer. They pass their days in serene acceptance of their superiority and...
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November 5, 2009 - The Peaceable Kingdom
Queen Clover with her royal court. Animals are a daily wonder to observe. Someone mentioned my farm being like a peaceable kingdom yesterday in the comments, and that is so true in many ways, even while there is some competition at times amongst them. There is head-butting between the goats. Some stomping from the donkeys....
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September 10, 2009 - Little Soldier Girl
Photos of my sweet Pocahontas are best taken through the goat yard gate. That’s because once I’m inside the goat yard, most pictures of Pocahontas look like this. She nuzzles. And cuddles. And nigh swoons upon me. I love that. However, sometimes it’s annoying because it’s so difficult to take photos of her when she’s...
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July 8, 2009 - One-Trick Donkey
I love my little donkey. Pocahontas is soooo sweet. I want to get her a straw hat with ribbons and teach her to do tricks. But every time I go down to see her, she just starts bellowing. I mean, bellowing. Like a dingo just stole her baby, it’s that pathetic. And then I feel...
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