Schooling Day

I aimed to school at around 11 this morning, but I was fairly inefficient. Bart came in and had a good rest, early. Some rain fell, but only a little bit, and only for a few minutes. It is desperately dry here.

We had a visit from the heating and A/C guy, named Bill, doing routine maintenance first thing this morning. Noticing the skunk stink, which is still quite pervasive, he described to us a misadventure he had when he was 8 years old and was thoroughly sprayed. He told us that the musk skunks spray is not liquid, but slimy and sticky. Not a pleasant bit of knowledge! Poor Eddy – and poor Anne and Harry and Weedy, having to live with this odor.

I puttered around, making sure I had everything I needed, and was distracted by a small toad – I do love those amphibians. Then there was the reblooming catmint, and of course, the camera cannot resist a sleeping Tom Morris.

Eddy and Bart and I set off on time, but our trip was stalled by the cutest little varmints I have ever seen, just around the corner from our place. Quadruplet raccoons! I did have the camera with me, but I missed the best shot, when all four were staring at the truck and trailer.

Then, before we left the gravel road, there was a doe with her growing fawns, on the edge of a pond.

At the show, Jane met me and helped me unpack and get ready. Then, Bart and I eventually got to the East Ring to school with Kris. I was not at all happy with the new footing, but we are hoping it will be improved by tomorrow. Bart was very good, and we feel fairly ready to show tomorrow. We are going to do a .95 meter class.

I went to the office to provide my documents to Mickey and get my number. Most importantly, I stocked up on treats for Bart at The Tack Trunk shop in the lobby. Maura had just arrived and Gremlin was visiting. I took a picture of them, but Gremlin would not look at the camera. She had eyes only for Mickey, her human.

After much visiting with friends, I took Bart home, so that he can graze overnight. Stone and Oisin were happy to see him.

Just after turning the horses out, Eddy saw a deer in the pasture. Off he went, not at all tired after a day at the horse show. Even stinky, he is always happy and full of energy. Eddy is surrounded by a cloud of joy stronger than skunk stink!