It has been a hectic week here at Bronze Fox Farm, and not one of the best, but there has been plenty to celebrate, not least of which is the abundance of blooms bursting forth as weather warmed.
Tuesday was not warm to start, in fact it began with a frost. Harlan’s visit to empty and reposition the dumpster is always a pleasant start to the day, though, and he brings funny stories with him. The life of a “waste specialist”, or whatever we call a trash truck driver these days, is more fascinating than I had ever realized. I have a new appreciation when I see garbage trucks on the roads.
The sun soon burned off the frost, and Tuesday turned into a glorious day. When it was time to ride, in the afternoon, Bart was sound asleep in the sun. I got plenty of pictures, because he is never in a hurry to get up. Bart values his rest, especially now that he is being required to up his game and go forward.
Once he was up, Jane and I had a good ride, and Jane helped me immensely with the quality of my gallop (well, canter, it just feels like a gallop to me).
After riding, poor Bart had to have a bath because Wednesday was going to bring miserable rain, and body clipping was on the schedule. He does not look very happy about being clean.
I own many sets of clippers, but I was so frustrated by the quality of the cut, even after replacing the blades, that I took a break and went to town to buy a new Oster set. They did an acceptable job, though my skill at body clipping is not the best. Giving Bart a break for supper, I did try to replace the blade assembly, per instructions, in my poorly operating Andis clippers, but since I didn’t have reading glasses in the barn, I ended up with some spare parts after reassembly. That necessitated a trip to the house for glasses, and the disassembly of yet another set of Andis clippers, which enabled me to fix the initial set. Both sets now have new blade drives, but I finished the clip job with the new Oster. Not a good day.
Thursday was a dreadful day to start. I won’t go into detail, but Twizzler was dying of probable kidney failure. But along with the darkness of losing a 13 year old feral cat that I loved, came the light brought by our dear friend, Linda. She brought laughter and the comfort of a long friendship, sympathy and understanding for Twizzler, and she gave me a brilliant lesson on Bart! She was passing through on her way do give a three day riding clinic in Eureka. Linda is a gifted artist (artistonduty.com) and horseman (borrowedhorsemanship.com), and was very helpful indeed, on many levels.
Unexpectedly, on a day with much sadness, the doorbell rang, and a huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived from some friends in thanks for a favor (of course, they did not need to do that, but the flowers brought color into the house).
And then, no sooner did Linda depart, than Carmen, our sister-in-law arrived with more flowers, these a plant called Ornithogalum Dubium with spectacular orange blooms. Carmen was en route home to Kansas City and stopped for a short visit, which was a treasure. I haven’t seen her for a year, and she is one of my favorite people. I admire her immensely for her courage and skill as a nurse – in addition to her beautiful needlework, and her loving heart. Carmen has many of the talents I lack, and I will be forever grateful to her for the love and care she gave to Jamie at the end of his life. There aren’t many like Carmen, we are lucky she is part of our family.
I was exhausted by the end of the day Thursday, and I think I set a new record for crying.
Then Friday arrived, and Twizzler left. By Friday morning, he was too frail to care about much, and Marilyn helped me ease him out.
No time to grieve, though I had done plenty of that on Thursday. Harry had a luncheon speech to give on Friday at The Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis County, and I was attending as “wife of the artist / speaker”. I wore a dress! Despite that, I had a delightful time. I love to watch Harry perform. It was a brilliant presentation, and well received, of course. The food was delicious, and I was seated next to a very interesting gentleman named Jim Dodds, who had taught science at Priory and knew my father. I also got a picture of a Canada goose in the club pool!
Friday’s weather turned very warm, so Bart was glad to be body clipped. When we got home, I rode Bart in the heat, and he was forward and enthusiastic.
Today, I worked outside, and took some pictures of flowers, as well as birds. A rose breasted grosbeak, has just returned from the south, also a Northern Oriole, but I missed the picture of him. I did see a squirrel on the back porch, for the first time this year! There are many in the woods, but they have been shy of coming to the house.
Bart needed to see a liverpool before we get to Omaha. They may have one at Mechlin’s tomorrow, when I go for my final jumping school before the show, but I thought I had better see one here today. Well, he has never worried about liverpools, so it was just a canter stride for him, but shortly after Harry took this much appreciated picture, the wind (which has been fierce the past two days) blew down the big Taylor standards and planks, which I had stupidly set up, thinking the wind was dying down. Not only that, they crashed down just as I was galloping by, and furthermore, a plastic chair flew through the air right at Bart, in the same gust. He bolted sideways and off the ring for a cross country gallop, with me clinging on for dear life. Thanks to my new, very fancy stirrups, I did not fall off, and we repeated the exercise with no disaster to finish the day.
The best part of the day was a walk with Harry and dogs. I acquired two ticks (so far) and Harry, who sprayed himself with Deep Woods Off was not attacked. It was worth the risk, at such a glorious time of year.
Out in Montana, Gracie (mother of Rainy, who is now 2) has produced another mule baby, this one a boy called Day (he was born in the middle of the afternoon).
Here, the three boys will not produce any foals, but I never tire of seeing the colorful herd in the pasture.
Be safe, be well. Pray for Ukraine. Slava Ukraini! And, as Linda says, Peace…
Oh morels ! Lucky you ! So sorry about sizzler.
Morel season is always a highlight in Missouri! We find fewer morels in this area than there were an hour north, where we used to live. Also, unfortunately, there are more ticks here than morels, and they wake up around the same time.
Speaking of mules, did you receive the postcard from France with the photo of then “baudet du Poitou’ ?
We DID get your postcard, Catherine! We just love those baudets du Poitou! Someday I hope to get over to France to see them in their shaggy coats up close
What is a liverpool? Pardon my ignorance. And what is your connection with Gracie and/or Rainy? Sorry to everyone who already knows this stuff. We’re relatively new here, but loving every blog.
Oh, Jan, it occurred to me just before I went to sleep that I should have explained about liverpools to my readers who are not equestrians (you are not alone). It is a fancy term for a water jump. In lieu of actual water, we use plastic trays to simulate it. They do hold water, too. Some horses take issue with the liverpool (or “the water”) and we seldom see them around here. But at the big shows, or important classes, the course designer often uses a liverpool to increase difficulty. Sometimes, in looking at the liverpool, horses knock a rail down. Sometimes, they don’t jump the jump (rarely at the upper level)! It costs so much now to show, that you wouldn’t enter a horse that has “water issues”.
Anyway, our liverpool has been in storage in the loft since the pandemic curtailed showing. I am extremely lucky that Bart, and all the horses we now have, are unconcerned about liverpools, but I needed to make sure of that before getting to Omaha.
As for Gracie and Rainy – during the pandemic, my friend, Nancy, who lives in Montana, and whose partner, Steve, owns Gracie, sent pictures when they had a mule baby (born in rain, she was named Rainy). People enjoyed following Rainy’s progress. Mule foals are particularly endearing. Mules, in fact, are very interesting animals.
I have known Nancy since 1974. We met at a riding school in England – Porlock Vale Equestrian Center. Disney had made a film called The Horsemasters, based on Porlock, and many Americans attended the school as a result. I went there because I had dropped out of nursing school in Bristol, and Porlock was nearby. My father said “You might as well do something useful while you’re over there.” He was actually deeply compassionate about my utter failure in leaving nursing, and salvaged my life with that.
Nancy is a writer and works packing people into the wilderness during the summer, then writes about it. She is one of the funniest people I know.
RIP Twizzler.
Slava Ukraini!
Peace
Anne, So very sorry about Twizzler. They leave us too soon. Loved the close up pic. of Bart sleeping. That’s how Unique sleeps in the field and he snores.
Yes, Leslie, Bart snores, too. I wish I could put sound effects into the blog! I would love to share Bart’s groans and snores, and also the incredible humming of bees in the weeping crabapple blossoms!
Hope to see you and Unique out and about one of these days!
So sorry about Twizzler. Kidney disease took several of my feline friends. I feel for you. Obviously he had a wonderful life, cared for by you and living where he did. God speed Twizzler.
Gorgeous flowers, all of them. I do love when the trees burst into blossom. Dogwood has always been a favourite.
Your horseback adventure sounds terrifying. So glad you stayed on!
Be well. Peace.
So sorry about Twizzler- both a regal and almost exotic look of him there, and a nice tribute of photos of his poses. Bart’s comedy too- This seems such a well- packed blog of always-interesting activity. Glad of you all are hearty and hail!
Thanks, Francie! Hope you saw the Spring Beauty photo – that one was for you 😉
So sorry to hear of your loss of Twizzler, Anne. I loved the photos of him. If I were a feral cat, I would certainly wish to spend my days at the Bronze Fox Farm. Love to you and Harry and your wonderful four-legged crew!
I enjoyed many chuckles amidst the sad parting of Twizzler. First, isn’t it wonderful to see horses sleeping so soundly, feeling so content, and safe. And, the photos are lovely, exquisite, and colorful! Your captions superb! The flowers gorgeous, and fun to see my “little niece” Linda. So glad she stopped by and you got to enjoy her. She will arrive today for the beginnings of the Land Rover Event! My God Anne, you are lucky and well deserve, to have Bart; he is your perfect mount!!