Blue Skies – May 13

After a chilly and wet start, May has shifted to cloudless blue skies and warmer days, with cool nights. I became inspired to get back to riding, and when Jane saw how much fun I was having, she joined me. The old ladies are back in the saddle! Yesterday, we turned the horses out, and I had my camera handy to get pictures of Oisin and Stone, rolling after their baths. They were all happy to get into the south pasture, but then Bart heard a fly, and ran for the shed. He is not tough about bugs, but he sure is beautiful.

Harry took a picture of me Sunday on Stone.

Harry was called on as photographer again on Monday, as Jane joined in.

Derry is back to work now, but no worthwhile picture. I did wander over to Jane’s house last week, and Derry was quite picturesque.

Eddy knows the rules, but he doesn’t always follow them. One rule here is “no toys outside!”. Today, he took his favorite toy (a present from Jane) out the door at top speed. Such joy cannot be disciplined!

And speaking of disobedient animals, Bart has not forgotten how to escape when I fail to pay attention. After his bath, he vamoosed out for some delicious grass.

Yesterday, Eddy picked up a box turtle in the woods. I was horrified, and now I worry that he has driven turtles away from the house area. There have been very few turtle sightings, and I fear Eddy may be to blame. This particular turtle was beautiful, and it departed southward across the creek after I tied Eddy to a tree. It’s unusual to see a box turtle in the water, but it was soon across and up the bank, making an escape to a different patch of forest.

I happened upon a scarlet cap mushroom while in the woods with Eddy – a startling, bright little fungus. And at the edge of the woods, a coreopsis growing on one of the dogs’ graves…

Harlan stopped by for a visit yesterday after work. He checked out the new dumpster, and then we had a fun visit in the house. We were all glad to see him!

Today, Harry had a shoulder injection, which we hope will give him some relief from his “end stage arthritis”. Dr. McLaughlin, the surgeon who saved Harry’s life in January, has excellent technique with joint injection, too.

I was very late getting to the house this evening, and Harry came out to the barn for a visit. I took a picture of him with the lilac tree and the barn weathervane above him at the end of the day.

Earlier, the lilac tree was beautiful against the blue sky, serenaded by the humming of bees.

And finally, a blue bird of happiness…

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