Memorial Day Weekend – May 23

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This has been an uncommonly cool May, which has been nice for riding. Jane and I are back in the saddle and jumping for joy. Today, we jumped our first oxers of 2026 (an oxer is a spread jump).

Meanwhile, Harry is back to work in the studio, and has dispensed with his cane.

Yesterday, I rode and jumped Stone, who was very good. When I returned to the barn, Bart was asleep in his stall, as usual. It occurred to me, that I might make a coffee table book of photos called The Art Of Rest, by Bart. So, inspired, I left Stone in the barn aisle and went around to snap a nice picture…

When I returned to the barn aisle, Stone had shaken his bridle and bonnet off! This is the third time this year that I have had bridles shaken off! The previous two happened when I was on the horses’ backs! I guess I need to keep my throat latches tighter.

**Oh, dear! This is NOT how things should be done!**

Yesterday was a fence repair day, an ongoing, endless project.

I saw two lovely reptiles today. A Box Turtle and a Smooth Earthsnake.

**A beautiful turtle with a scar on its left hindquarter**

On the kitchen door, there was a Tulip Poplar Beauty Moth. We love our tulip poplar tree by the studio, and I expect the moth does, too.

I have an app on my phone called Seek, by iNaturalist. I can take a picture of any living thing, and it will identify it. There are benefits to technology, though I doubt that they outweigh the damages tech is wreaking on younger people.

More pictures of Bart relishing his rest, and the other horses just waiting for treats…

Eddy continues to bring joy. Every morning, he escorts me in return from the barn to the house…

But he is a naughty boy, when it comes to gloves. If there are gloves within reach, he will abscond with one. Every day, I have to retrieve a glove, but it is impossible to be angry with a dog that has so much fun!