Today was shoeing day, at long last. It was also Harry’s return to the studio. Our intersected parallel lives that have been set aside for a while, came back in one busy morning.
The day began early with turnout for the horses, so that they could blow off steam and limber up before Fred arrived. Jane reported that Derry was no better. She limped over in hopes that Fred, the farrier, could find a sub solar abscess (fairly common in horses, especially with wet conditions softening the feet) and provide instant relief.
While the horses were out, Harry got up and prepared for Vlad’s visit, ate breakfast, and got into the wheelchair. Naturally, Fred and Vlad arrived almost simultaneously, but the horses had been returned to stalls, and Jane was there to meet Fred.
Vlad brought Bonne Bouchée delicacies along with his tools , and off we went to the studio, where Harry was able to examine the Missouri Tiger bronze maquette and Vlad set to work positioning an armature at Harry’s direction.
Treats for later 
Vlad and Harry and tiger 
Texas storyteller clay 
Vlad at work 
Harry and tiger
Harry also began work on a new project, positioning armatures and contemplating composition…
I left the men to their work and returned to the barn, where I was disappointed to discover Fred had not found an abscess ripe for opening. Fred feels Derry does have an abscess, but it will take some time, so he removed her left front shoe and Jane will soak the foot in epsom salted hot water, and pack the foot with epsom poultice until Monday. We are thwarted at every turn with our riding! Two days ago, Jane and I thought that all we needed was Fred to reset our horses’ shoes and our equestrian life could resume. Now, another delay, another week basically lost!
Fred at work 
Derry with one shoe off 
Derry and Jane heading home
Meanwhile, Harry was pretty exhausted after a couple of hours, and returned to the house to rest. I galloped back and forth between Harry and Fred, until all three horses had beautiful new shoes and were ready for action. The only action today, though, was turnout for the remainder of the afternoon.
We had a delicious late lunch and were entertained by Roscoe’s latest choice of resting place, atop the bird seed container, where he draped himself, and batted the occasional dog’s tail…
Cedar went out on varmint patrol (she “got” a possum last night, but it fooled her, as they will do).
Marianne continues to do the hard work in the barn, giving me time to spend in the kitchen (!!) and with Harry. She is always smiling, and makes life easier, and also fun when I have a chance to see her. News of the outside horse world is a welcome distraction. Today, she reports that one of her horses had an abscess yesterday – strange synchronicity! She was lucky, though, as her horse’s abscess could be drained. Poor Jane has five days of soaking and poulticing ahead, before Fred returns.
In the house, Harry recuperated with Mistletoe and the other dogs. It is good to be tired for the right reasons…
And finally, Harry’s friends in the cast of The Philadelphia Story (the play he will not be performing in next week, alas) sent beautiful flowers several days ago – they continue to brighten up the house, as the crocuses continue to brighten the lawn outside…
Go Harry Go! We are soon on our way to the Texas Storytelling Festival. Perhaps we might see or hear about your TX storyteller while we’re there. 😊❤️
Anne you can diagnose the abscess with a simple foolproof test. Just listen to the fart sound. If it sounds like “Honda Honda” then you know you were correct because, as is well known, abscess makes the fart go Honda…