I know it’s not a unique way to look at life, but I always think it’s like rafting a river. The past two days have been some rough water – not rapids, just a little chaotic, and I am very tired.

That said, the weather has been delightful, and Harry has been able to get outside into the sunshine.

Harry has had trouble sleeping until recently, but we are hoping that hurdle has been cleared (to mix a metaphor).

Speaking of sleeping, the Ginger Boys got two good portraits yesterday and today…

Here are some bird pictures…

Yesterday, we restarted the stream. The sound of the running water is a delight. The birds are happy, and Eddy is very pleased, too!

Big excitement at the end of this very busy day – Jane’s pony, Calvin, and Sandy, the donkey, escaped and rampaged through the area. It was quite a lot of excitement, and in the end, our relatively new neighbor, Matt, appeared with an apple and saved the day! Calvin was maniacal, which caused the three horses here to be very excited and almost impossible to sort into a different paddock. Jane caught Sandy, and we all had to watch Calvin gallop and gambol like a lunatic, until he saw Matt offer an apple (nicely sliced, too!).

Jane continues to do most of the work here. I hope that someday we will be riding together again.

Finally, a beautiful sunset…

Be safe, be well, smooth sailing! Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Yesterday, Jane shared the information with me for Don Walsh’s upcoming services. It was a Facebook post from Homestead Veterinary Hospital, and I don’t do Facebook, but I got a screenshot. Below is the link to the obituary and information.

https://www.schrader.com/obituary/donald-walsh-dvm

Seems appropriate weather for the way I feel, but it is also Valentine’s Day, and I was very fortunate to spend it with my Valentine. Alas, I did not take many pictures today. Harry has gone to bed early with his sidekick, Weedy, so I snapped a photo of them with my phone just now!

The day began with Eddy rampaging out at dawn to meet three coyotes in the south pasture. I heard yips, and looked out to see Eddy running from a trio of coyotes. I clapped my hands, and the coyotes stopped chasing Eddy, but Eddy turned and watched them until they departed. He would not come when called, of course. There wasn’t much light, so I only got one pretty bad picture of two coyotes in the septic drain field on their way south.

Niece Rachael is a wildland firefighter, and although she lives in Montana, she is currently working in Alabama, doing prescribed burns. She sent pictures, which are always dramatic! What a life she leads! My brother, Jamie, her father, had the nickname Jamie Danger at Yellowstone, when he worked there. Jamie is echoed in Rachael’s gutsy lifestyle.

The horses were wet but content, with shelter in the shed and plenty of hay.

Birds were plentiful, but pictures are meager today.

Roscoe had the right approach to this wet and miserable Valentine’s Day…

Be safe, be well, be kind, be grateful – we need the rain as well as the sunshine. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Fantastic weather has followed the miserable deep freeze and snow. There are still remnants of snow in places, but it feels like Spring. Jane had another obligation, so I fed the horses this morning. It was wonderful to be outside on a glorious day, and back to “normal” life. The horses enjoyed the day, too.

I took few bird pictures…

Roscoe and Rosie were enjoying the sunshine, and I got a picture of them with my phone, but it was not good enough to post. I looked up an old picture I took of them in the shed – eight years ago, already! It is one of my favorite pictures of those siblings, who are 14 years old this year!

Best part of the day, was a chance to sit on the porch in the sunshine with the man I love. He was able to cross the threshold and relax a while just like the old days!

Be safe, be well, enjoy the good moments. Be kind, and be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

I’m crosseyed with exhaustion, so here is just a quick update. Harry actually slept through the night last night for the first time since he has been home. It was a great day for taking it easy, with warm temperatures and sunshine. Bart had two long naps that I saw!

Before nap time, our long awaited “drink rail” on the porch was installed this morning. That’s what the company calls it, but for us it is a bird feeder.

And here are some bird pictures…

A new Occupational Therapist named Jill paid a visit this afternoon, since Patrick is off this week. She had Harry do minimal exercises, gave us some good advice, and all vital signs were excellent.

Harry is looking well, as are the dogs…

Be safe, be well, be grateful. Goodnight! Slava Ukraini! Peace…

The day started early – we departed at 7 AM to see the surgeon, Dr. McLaughlin, because Harry started having some sharp pain yesterday.

Harry would not use the transport chair. He walked into the clinic, where they took him straight to X-ray, and shortly afterwards, Dr. McLaughlin delivered good news, that the hardware has not moved, and this is just part of the healing process. The body is trying to heal, and it needs rest. Harry might have overdone it on Tuesday when he was getting a PT assessment.

It is very frustrating that the recovery is not a straight line, but we know that. And it has only been 5 weeks – full recovery will take one year. We were told that at the hospital. It’s just that Harry has made so much progress, he is discouraged to encounter a setback. Dr. McLaughlin prescribed gabapentin, which will ease the nerve pain and might have the added benefit of enabling Harry to sleep at night. He is quite sleep deprived!

It actually hurts my hip just to look at that picture!

Not much time for any pictures around here, but I did get a mocking bird in the morning, and some cardinals as the sun was going down…

And rather than show more pictures of the horses schlepping around the muddy fields, here are three pictures of the boys doing their jumping jobs…

Roscoe channeled the doctor’s advice, and is getting plenty of rest, while Eddy is busy keeping watch.

Be safe, be well, get plenty of rest. Listen to good advice. Be kind, and stay grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Oh, this has been a chaotic day! It was very warm. In looking at the forecast last week, I chose today as a good chance to have the automatic waterer in the shed repaired. The weather complied, but the project was more difficult than anticipated.

I won’t go into detail, but I learned a few things, got a few more gray hairs, and enjoyed being outside for more than just a few minutes.

I saw Harlan briefly when he emptied the dumpster, but failed to take a picture. I haven’t seen him since Harry’s fall.

I did not take any pictures, because things were so busy. I kept running (well, shambling)to the house to check on Harry, and he was coping well, but suddenly began to have pain in the hip area.

We called Dr. McLaughlin’s office, and they moved our appointment for next Wednesday up to tomorrow morning, first thing. That will mean a very early start for us! No complaints, we feel lucky to be seen so quickly.

I am pleased to report that the automatic waterer is now working in the shed.

Here are two of my favorite pictures from the recent past, and a nice sentiment that I copied from the internet…

Be safe, be well, be kind and grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

It’s been a good day here, with Spring weather and continuing progress after Harry got his first good night’s sleep since the accident.

The day began with a visit from Physical Therapist, Devan, who makes Harry work hard. He was relieved that Harry was no longer groggy, as the effects of the new prescription drug had overwhelmed poor Harry and left him groggy for about 36 hours last week!

Today, Devan worked on side sleeping position. The animals watched.

Next, came a trip to the studio!

The good part of an early therapist visit is that Harry can recuperate for the rest of the day. His appetite is improving, since we have cut back on the protein drinks.

Well, I was found wanting by two very annoyed birds today. First, the magnificent Mockingbird, who is very bold and does not mind having pictures taken. It was quite disappointed to find the suet had all been eaten and I had not replaced it! I received a very disappointed, judgmental stare.

I was chagrined, and immediately put more bird food out. But I didn’t get to the birdbath, which needed cleaning. To my dismay, I saw it in use! A little blue bird had the biggest frolicking bath I have ever seen. Alas, it felt that there really should have been more water available. I soon put it right, after taking pictures.

Bart decided to participate in the mud contest. He is in the lead now, I think.

Jane continues to do all the real work. Eddy loves to see her every day.

The sun was so warm, we almost forgot how miserably cold it was last week.

Be safe, be warm, be kind, and be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Harry and I are both tired today, so here are just a few pictures. If I am tired, I can hardly imagine how exhausted Jane must be, with all the work she is doing.

Harry started the day with a bang, walking to the kitchen and almost cooking again! I convinced him that I actually enjoy cooking now that I am getting experienced, so he let me take over.

Here are a few birds…

Eddy loves his toy from Jane. He plays with it every day, and is very proud of it.

Roscoe has the right idea. Time to catch up on some rest…

A late varmint visitor again…

Be safe, be grateful, be kind, slow down, and rest. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

I am still very sad, of course, but on life goes. Nature and animals can ease grief a little. It was a beautiful day today, warming up and turning the pastures to mud.

Oisin and Stone gave themselves mud treatments. Bart still thinks he might be a show horse, so he stayed clean. So far…

There was a coyote encounter for Eddy in the south pasture yesterday morning! I watched the coyote chase him up the hill. When Eddy got close to the house, the coyote retreated. I think it is a game for them. I certainly hope so! I am partial to coyotes, since I had one that lived with me many years ago. She and my dogs played chase often. First, a dog would chase Joni, the coyote, then they would reverse, and Joni would chase the dog. They wore a path around Wheatfield Cottage, the house I lived in then. On hunting days, when Bridlespur Hunt met at Wheatfield, I locked Joni in a crate, as she had no fear of hounds, but they never bothered her. I think she smelled like the dogs she lived with. Eventually, she met a cute guy coyote and eloped with him. Don Walsh took pictures of her, but I didn’t have a camera in those days. She grew up to look something like this…

Jane continues to work her fingers to the bone.

Some birds for today…

Tom Morris enjoyed the sunshine, as did Weedy…

Just now, we had a varmint visitor on the porch. I actually like possums, with their funny, naked tails and pink toes. This one was very unconcerned about me, quite interested in the water hydrant. Luckily, Eddy was asleep, and missed it!

Speaking of sleeping, here is Harry abed with Weedy just now…

The sky predicts another nice day tomorrow…

Be safe, be well, keep in touch and be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

I am shattered by news of the sudden death by accident of a dear friend to countless people and animals in Missouri. Don was Dr. Walsh, a veterinarian and character full of stories, and life, and laughter, always with a smile whenever you saw him. It is impossible to explain our long friendship that began in 1973. The effect he had on the life I have led was profound.

Though I have seen little of him in recent years, we never missed a beat, as close friends can do. The last picture I have of Don and Diana was taken November 5, 2024.

They were at Harry’s art show in October, just a few months ago. I spoke to him on the phone in October, and then life got complicated, as it does sometimes. I missed his eightieth birthday in December.

Diana sent me a note just two weeks ago, telling me that Don had put Harry on his prayer list.

“And there with his peers we may leave him, with all the good men and the true / Who have come to the Last of the Gateways and laughed and gone galloping through…” (Will H. Ogilvie)

Godspeed, Don Walsh, you will be missed by more than even you could imagine.