These long, cooler than usual May days are great for getting things done, but terrible for blogging. I am so exhausted at the end of each day that I just postpone writing, and the weight of the wait piles on. It is tempting to simply drop out, walk away, as I have been inclined to do about many things… But once again, I will try to pick up after almost a fortnight’s absence!
We love living here, and the sight of happy horses grazing always makes the expense and the work worthwhile. Recently, we have actually ridden those happy horses, which is even more fun than looking at them.
Harry on StoneHomeward bound on a perfect dayJane arrives on DerryMy groom presents my second horseCoyote, viewed as we began, is glad we only ride for pleasure now, not to chase!
This week, high school classmates (some of whom were classmates since we were 6!) had a get together to celebrate our big birthdays as we turn 70. It doesn’t feel so long ago we were all excited about turning 16 and driving…
I have assiduously avoided reunions until recently, disgraced by being a dropout, amongst many reasons. Though I was conflicted about going, it was strangely delightful to see these women whose lives have followed different paths from that long ago high school, where we danced the Maypole. The girls we were are still evident to us. I took some pictures…
Cherie, our valedictorian, now a doctorMollyMimiZoeMari laughsKatieDebyBrookeMartha, who brought cake!TriciaAntoinetteCherieMarquita and CodyFrancieKatie and BrookeMarian and Marie AntoinetteMimi, Marian, and MariMarian and CherieMartha and CherieMarian, Cherie, and Anne(photo by Francie)
Last Friday (eight days ago), St. Louis was hit by a tornado. The devastation is shocking. Out here, the sky grew ominous, there was some wind, and a few raindrops. I was oblivious of storms nearby until I received some pictures from Louise, who lives in the Central West End of St. Louis. Earlier this Spring, her son’s house was damaged by a tornado in Arkansas. Now a tornado at her own home. One of the glories of St. Louis has always been the magnificent trees. Very many of them are down and we will not live to see their replacements achieve century size. North St. Louis, which is mired in poverty, received monstrous damage and five deaths. As if that part of the city didn’t have enough problems… And beautiful Forest Park has lost unimaginable numbers of trees. We, who were unaffected, and all who survived, are grateful, but very sad.
Just one of the shocking pictures of damage (photo by Louise)
In better news, this has been a banner year for strawberries here.
Maybe these are “stone berries”Strawberries every day !
Though I have not had the energy to blog, I have taken plenty of pictures.
Harry enjoying the viewEvening sky above horsesWeedy and EddyThe back hay fieldBird picture of the week – a blue jay
And that is all I have time for this evening. I will aim for more tomorrow…
Be safe, be well, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Almost the middle of May, and yesterday Jane finally got back in the saddle, after an 8 month hiatus. It was great fun, picking up where we left off, and it felt familiar and comfortable to be riding together again. We rode two horses each,and on our second ride Marilyn happened by on Trigger. Harry was kind enough to record the trio of old ladies astride.
Marilyn & Trigger, Anne & Stone, Jane & Oisin (Harry Weber photo)
We were somewhat inspired by visiting the Prime Time Horse Show at nearby Happenstance Farm early Sunday morning to see Susan on her new Santa Fee, and JoJo on Breezy showing in the MOHJO Classic. It was a glorious day. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so just imagine what fun it was, cool and sunny, our friends jumping double clear rounds and earning ribbons. Harry and Weedy even attended, though in their own car, as their tolerance for spectating is limited. It is a joy to watch Susan’s new relationship with her beautiful, elegant chestnut mare developing. And fun to see JoJo’s powerful , young chestnut mare, Breezy, growing into herself and playing the game easily.
So, on Sunday afternoon, Jane and I rode our chestnut horses and had so much fun, we had to ride again. I asked Harry to hold off until I had ridden his horse , just once, in case Stone was wild. Harry is even older than we old ladies!
Jane arrives on her chestnut mare, DerryFollowing Jane up the trailBart and Derry compare notesHarry on his chestnut horse , Thomas Equinas, a few years ago
After riding and bathing, the horses were turned out for the night. Stone had a brief roll, but Oisin really enjoyed getting dirty after his bath. Jane and I watched Oisin roll completely over three times. This was partly his athleticism, and partly his beach ball body shape. When we were kids, they said a horse was worth $100 for every roll over. With inflation and tariffs, we figure it’s about $10,000 today, making Oisin worth at least $30,000. Bart did not participate in the pasture rolling competition. He stayed in the shed because there was a fly in the vicinity.
StoneOisinupside downThe big white spot we don’t see most of the timeAn excellent roll over!Jane and Eddy
It’s fun seeing the birds pairing up at this time of year. As it got quite warm, the bluebirds took a bath together, providing fun pictures.
Male and female house finchesMale and female cardinalsAn eastern kingbird! A type of flycatcherFemale bluebirdBluebirds bathingFemale bluebird departsExuberant male bluebird Male bluebird gets out of the bath
The cats are enjoying the sunny days. Roscoe, who often helps me outside in the garden, was absent today. I didn’t pay much attention, until it was time for his evening snuggle, and I still hadn’t seen him. Of course, I immediately worried about coyotes, which was silly. I reviewed the day, went upstairs, where I had traded the winter comforter for the summer one, and heard plaintive cries from the closet. There he was, and instead of blaming me for shutting him in the closet, he was grateful for the rescue. What a magnanimous cat!
Rosie greets me on the path to the barnMarmalade and Tom Morris asleep in the bed of the truckRoscoe resolves to stay out of closets
I saw an apparently dead beetle floating in the automatic waterer in the shed. I dumped the bowl, and to my relief, the beetle was alive. It was a green tiger beetle, considered the “cheetah of beetles” for its speed. I can vouch for that, as I chased it, trying to get a picture with my phone camera.
The May flowers continue to delight us. The fringe tree is both beautiful and fragrant, as is the mock orange outside the studio.
Fringe treeMock OrangeAn iris at the edge of the woodsIris at the edge of the fieldEarly coreopsis on Daisy’s graveHanging fuchsiaNot a flower, but a beautiful fungus in the woods
Eddy’s vigilance has discouraged deer from visiting. While I do love to see them, I do not miss their insatiable appetite for many of the plants in the garden.
Eddy on guard
Be safe, be well, be kind and be grateful. Laugh and cry. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
This month seems very busy indeed, and I continue to fall further behind. We are having plenty of fun, and glorious, cool weather, unusual for Missouri, but I just cannot keep up.
It has been a less than stellar photography phase. I think talents can fluctuate, and this week has been a trough. Friends have been out to visit, which has been great fun. Charlie and Katie came on Wednesday.
A humorous moment in the studio
On Thursday, Linda and Ted arrived as Fred was still at work in the barn.
Fred hard at workLinda and JaneOisin is relieved to have shoes again, after he lost one last weekOisin expresses his disdain for all our laughterDerry awaits a treatFred and I searched for Stone’s lost shoe that had been on his stallAfter much searching, we found it!Fred with his favorite PintoJane enjoying the banter
After we went out to lunch, we took a group picture before Linda and Ted departed. Never enough time to spend with faraway friends…
Jane, Ted, Harry and Linda
Friday brought a hectic morning, with a welcome delivery of hay and an equally welcome visit from the electrician to put right the internet outlet (as well as fixing a couple of temperamental lights). Nathan arrived to mow and trim the hedge, and Jane and Eddy and I made a trip over to the Prime Time Show at Happenstance. We were delighted to meet Susan’s new horse, Santa Fee, who is beautiful and talented. It is always fun to watch new partnerships develop.
Susan on Santa FeeSanta Fee has a lovely expressionNathanielBeautiful hedge
The adage promises May flowers after April showers. The rain carried over into May, but now that it has stopped (at least for a couple of days) the flowers are coming on at a good clip.
End of azalea blossomsFlame honeysuckle is a favorite of hummingbirdsNew creeping phlox seems happy hereOrchid cactus from Jonee is blooming and pleased to be outsidePeony, – one of my favoritesIrises indoors in the sunshineBeautiful dandelion seed heads
Coyotes are serenading loudly outside as I write. I see them more often than ever before. The other day, I saw a coyote pick up something in the south pasture and carry it off. Not sure what it was. The coyotes love to pick up the plastic jump cups from the ring and carry them out into the grass, so I have a policy of keeping the cups attached to the standards. The long lens on the camera shows me things I cannot see with my eyes from a distance, but this coyote find is a mystery. The coyote seems to be blowing its winter coat, but is fat and happy.
Coyote carries something away.
Insects and fungi are not as popular as birds and mammals, but they are also beautiful and interesting. I worry a lot about pollinators. We are definitely seeing fewer bees this year. I checked the fruit trees this week to see if pollination happened. The Asian Pear tree blossomed, but failed to set fruit this year.
An orange tipped antenna leaf footed bug (that is really its name)An American carrion beetle (an unusual sighting)A honeybeeA magical, little, delicate fungusFuture applesFuture plumsFuture cherries
There have been bumblebees enjoying the borage, which always reminds me of the line in an Edna St. Vincent Millay poem “beautiful borage, forage for bees…”
A bumblebee in borage
Amphibians are a sign of a healthy ecosystem, so I highly value the one frog that survived winter and awaits the stream renovation. Unfortunately, Eddy loves to chase the poor frog, but it gets to enjoy life when Eddy is elsewhere.
Eddy watches for the frogThe frog enjoying some sunshine while Eddy is napping
Today, we went to Brett and Lynda’s beautiful Augusta home for a delicious lunch, many laughs, and gardening inspiration. Lynda is as passionate about plants as I am about horses.
A healthy ecosystem, as evidenced by a lizard (not exactly an amphibian, but it counts)LyndaMissouri primrose and many other plantsHarry and Brett in the varmint proof gardenHarry visits Ollie and MoLynda, Brett, Jane & HarryOllie obediently staying on his bed (or “climb”)Mo has one foot on the bed, so he is “technically” obedientHer beauty is only exceeded by her naughtiness!Lynda’s red peonyA longhorn steer sighted on our way home
Roscoe has been helping me with gardening chores. Weedy has been working on making some Vitamin D in the sunshine.
RoscoeWeedy
And so, we are caught up. It was dark before I finished chores, another beautiful, cool night and a bright moon. Happy horses are on night turnout with coyotes singing like cowboys.
SunsetMoonriseHappy herd
David Attenborough turned 99 on May 8. One of my great treasures is a letter I received from him in February, 1985, when he would have been only 58. Time certainly gets away from us… I will close with some of David Attenborough’s words to me.
“I do hope all goes well with you and that you manage to find what you are seeking…”
Be safe, be well, be kind and stay strong. Write letters! Be grateful for David Attenborough and his kind in this world. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
It has been a busy week, and inconveniently, the WiFi stopped working. The Spectrum repairman arrived to find that the outlet into which the modem was plugged has failed. An extension cord from another outlet has solved that problem while we await the help of the electrician on Friday. Nothing can solve the shortage of time, though…
We left the animals in the care of Emma last Thursday morning, and drove 6 hours to Culver, Indiana (on Eastern time, so we lost an hour). The General, as we knew him here, because of the difficulty of pronouncing his name – General Leigh R. Gignilliat (Jen – A – Let)- was being dedicated on Friday. We drove through rain showers all the way to Culver Academies and were welcomed into a charming and comfortable guest house adjoining the campus. There was rain on our arrival, but Friday morning brought an unexpected break in the wet weather.
Harry at the Dicke Guest HouseThe Logansport Gate
Thursday evening, we met up with friends David and Joan and went to John and Carol’s delicious dinner party in a magnificent setting on Lake Maxinkuckee, the second largest natural lake in Indiana. On Friday, we enjoyed a beautiful day, with Spring in full bloom, whereas at home, Spring was waning, being far south of Culver.
Harry lakeside on Friday morningA second Spring for us, with Culver far north of Wright CityThe lakeCreeping phloxBlooming treesA road through the woods of Culver campus
Friday afternoon brought the unveiling pf General Gignilliat, with his grandson (age 90) in attendance, along with the Board of Culver, a military band, and much ceremony.
The General under wrapsA ceremonial coveringCulver bandGeneral GignilliatJamie and Debbie Fellowes, Harry, Anne and The GeneralHarry, The General, David and Joan CulverGeneral Gignilliat looks toward the Logansport Gate
The drive home on Saturday was very unpleasant, with pouring rain (again) and traffic. Somehow, we survived, and regained the hour we had lost as we crossed back to Central Time. All was well at home, the animals happy and healthy, and as soon as we unpacked we tuned into the Kentucky Derby. It was wet in Louisville, too, but Sovereignty ran a good race and earned his blanket of roses. Jane, Harry and I always bet on the Derby, and this year we all lost our bets, but had fun.
Sunday, our friend Gay arrived for a visit. She and Harry have been friends for 70 years, and I feel very lucky to know her. Yet another benefit to marrying Harry – interesting friends!
Old friendsGay and Anne with EddyHarry and GayAnne and GayGay and the blooming fringe tree
Gay is a great animal lover, so she fits right in here. Alas, she lives in San Francisco, so we only see her once a year.
Birds came from all over to celebrate Gay’s visit. The pileated woodpecker was here, summer tanager and a pair of grosbeaks. Also a pair of blue birds, and plenty of goldfinches. But most exciting of all was an indigo bunting, a bird we have never had at the feeder before!
Male rose breasted grosbeakRose breasted grosbeak watches a downy woodpecker fly pastRod breasted grosbeak takes flightFemale grosbeak in flightMale grosbeak as female departsFemale grosbeak appears to shout at the rainAn indigo buntingIndigo buntingSuch bright blue in the sunshine!A beautiful nuthatchA gray catbirdSummer tanager in the rainGoldfinches galoreGoldfinches take flightIndigo bunting and a cardinalColorful birdsFuture bluebirds
The sky was glorious on Sunday night. Speaking of night, it’s late and I am exhausted, so I will close here for now…
Red sky at night
Stay safe, stay well, be kind, stay strong. Slava Ukraini! God Save America. Peace…
It continues to be a very wet Spring. The cool weather was replaced with a brief heatwave yesterday in the upper 80s (F) causing the azalea to start dropping blooms, which decorated the ground as though for a wedding.
I spent some time clipping horses’ legs. Tick season is upon us, and clipped legs make ticks easier to find. The horses do look much more civilized.
Oisin expresses his opinion of leg clippingSleepy horses – now they are on night turnoutBart is very happy to be in during the day – he hates flies!
The heat departed with thunder and rain. Birds are undeterred by the weather. I am very happy to see the grosbeaks and a summer tanager – warm weather visitors.
Summer tanager“Is that a new camera?”“Here is my good side…”Tanager lifts offTanagers love suetMale grosbeak in the rainFemale grosbeakA wet and disgruntled blue jayTanager contemplates the rainBluebird in morning sun
Harlan was here this morning, and we saw a coyote while we were chatting. Eddy watched from afar, but when the coyote departed, he went to investigate its scent trail. Eddy is mad keen for chasing, but he is a cautious dog, which is a comfort.
HarlanCoyoteEddy ‘s sighthound lineage in evidenceEddy has a great nose, too
I rescued my first turtle, this year, in the road yesterday. It was a small box turtle, and I didn’t dare take a picture for fear of traffic. At home, a frog is enjoying the wet weather, and for now there is no traffic. Stream repair is planned, though, and I plan to catch and remove the frog before work begins,
Frog
Here are a few blooms.
Common wintercress (Winter rocket)DandelionsSwamp irisFalse indigoFrench lilacLocust tree bloomHosta (not blooming, but beautiful)Wild dwarf larkspurCoral bells
The orange boys might be getting too much to eat…
Marmalade and Tom Morris
Harry is staying lean, and Eddy keeps him laughing…
Be safe, be well, laugh often. Be kind and stay strong. Slava Ukraini! God Save America. Peace.
As the playwright Ionesco said, “Only the ephemeral is of lasting value”, and so I have relinquished all of my past Hostgator blog posts to memory alone.
I have switched hosting sites due to a corruption in my previous blog site that caused the cost of renewal to rise to almost $1,000 per year. The advisors told me that I must start a new blog, so I have moved away. This is a very difficult transition for me, but I think it is healthy, and I am hoping it will teach me to part with some of the mountains of boxes accumulated in the basement.
This week has galloped past, with a lot of coyote music in the evenings, and a view of a brace in broad daylight.
Coyote #1Coyote #2
Eddy watched them until they departed and then enjoyed following their scent in the pasture.
NOT a coyote!
I managed an image of a pileated wood pecker, the first photographic pileated picture of the year, though I have had many views without a camera.
I went with Harry this week to VMD Sculpting, Vlad’s place in the city. It was wonderful to see the clay sculptures transformed to bronze. As always, time with Vlad was funny and inspirational. As a bonus, Daniel and his dogs arrived to meet up with his friend, Julie. Being around young people (and Daniel’s dogs) is great fun, too.
HarryVladBrisket (and Hudson)Vlad’s clay bust of Marcel SalinasSmall versions of the Boston Bruin Bear await completion
The world here is bursting with life. Since I began blogging and posting pictures, I have become more aware of the beauty around us. Some of it, though is quite striking, like the glorious azalea that my mother brought here, as a start from her own azalea.
Trudy’s azalea at the Conway Road houseThe offspring of Trudy’s azalea, about five years after she planted it here as a twigThe azalea this week (phot by Harry)Another picture courtesy of Harry
In the woods and around the place, there are birds and plants galore.
Behind the azalea, shade loving Solomon’s sealA fungus in the woodsPine treeClematisNative ColumbineSolomon’s sealSweet woodruffA Canada goose strolling by in conversationA pair of goldfinches in the rainSummer feathers on a male goldfinchFirst box turtle view of the Spring – at Jane’s housePink dogwood is fadingA wet and disgruntled tufted titmouseRose breasted grosbeakA cowbird with a big caterpillarComfreyHungry orange boys – Marmalade and Tom Morris
On Friday, we were invited to watch the National Finals of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association – a competition for high school students. Our friends, Beth and Frank, own nearby Morrison Equestrian Center, and their daughter, Kendahl, was in the top section. The 18 best high school equestrians in the nation had qualified to compete over an equitation course on borrowed horses. Each person gets two jumps before going on course astride a horse they do not know well. Kendahl is a freshman, and she had a beautiful round, placing 6th in tough competition. We were very pleased to be there to watch and cheer.
Harry and FrankBeth and JanePaula and TammyProud mother, BethKendahl drew Ronnie as her mountKendahlKendahl with her ribbon and her father, Frank
It’s been a rainy, cool weekend. Laura came by with her little dog, Dreidl, who terrorized Eddy, sadly. But it was a fun visit for the rest of us.
Laura and DreidlDreidl on the kitchen counterDreidl kisses JaneEddy Is uncharcteristically depressed . He loves Jane bestHarry and Weedy, glad to see the hellion depart!
A bluebird of happiness in the top of the apple tree…
Happiness can arrive in any weather. Be safe, be well. Be kind and stay strong. Slava Ukraini! God Save America. Peace…
Galloping Through 
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