I missed the Summer Solstice – it was yesterday, a day earlier than I expected, thanks to Leap Year. And so, the days are getting shorter now…
I hope my “readers” are not tired of seeing pictures of grazing horses. I never tire of the sight of them, content in their life.
I have been incredibly lucky to have lived with horses since I was nine, excepting a few odd times without them, like the miserable six months I spent in nursing school in Bristol. Then, I would occasionally see hoof prints in Clifton Park and my heart would ache. Now, I am happy every day at just the sight of, especially, these three horses I do not have to sell.
Much as I have always loved horses, most of them were passing through my life. I rode horses that belonged to other people, and as they became trained, they were sold. I was sad whenever a horse went to a new owner, but I always loved the next one. And so, until recently, they have all been travelers, not constant companions. Bart, Oisin and Stone will stay, and so I allow myself to love them a bit more than the others. In the end, they will break my heart, but that’s just part of the deal.
Jane and I had a nice ride, the dust had been dampened.
Jane and Derry, impeccable as always 
Another sight I never tire of…
It was hot., but I worked in the garden. Harry came out for a visit and snapped a picture of me with vicious Mistletoe, so I got a shot of him, too.
Roscoe was fatigued by the heat.
I came in to cool off, and got some pictures of a red bellied woodpecker, which draped its wing over the edge of the deck railing. It looked injured, but was just stretching. I now realize that the long beaked woodpeckers all eat seed with their heads sideways.
NOT a dead bird! 
Cedar loves to lie outside and keep watch. It reminds me of a bit of a poem I learned long ago called A Dog’s Prayer. I don’t remember the author, or even the whole poem, but I do remember this. “I keep watch. If I am not there, who will watch over them, guard their sheep, be faithful?”
I couldn’t help myself, I took a picture of Marmalade at dinnertime. I think he will hate me forever, but at least he and Licorice can be friends. She has been alone in the woods for eleven years. I am so surprised and happy that they have bonded!
And finally, from Montana, Nancy sends an amazing picture of a pack mule string hauling hay to a camp through a burn. This in juxtaposition to Rainy, taking life easy, enjoying her youth, unaware of how hard she may have to work someday.
Stay safe, stay well, rest when you can.
wonderful expression of the devotion to horses and its price, or prices, especially the last inescapable one. Now about this sojourn at nursing school……not so rewarding, huh? A story saved for winter’s early dark.
Looks like it was a wonderful weekend at BFF. It got hot here so I was out and about early, walking Tink and gardening to beat the heat. I love how even when it’s hot, we can open windows at night and enjoy a cool breeze. . . Love summer in the north!
“ I was sad whenever a horse went to a new owner, [or died] but I always loved the next one.” Thank you for sharing this. It pretty much sums up my life with horses. ❤️
Peace
Thank you for your diverse and everyday blog. I usually learn something new and enjoy your photos of your “family”.
I’m a bit confused about the two cats. do you keep them caged? sos
Haha! I know this is hard to believe when you live in an apartment in NYC, but those two cats (Marmalade and Licorice) live wild in the woods. They are welcome to use the barn or the shed, but they prefer the wide open spaces because they are almost feral. I trap the cats that show up here to test for communicable diseases, then have them vaccinated and neutered. For a couple of days after surgery, they live in a cage in the barn. During that time, I hope to convince them that I am a friend, though it seems to have backfired this time. Instead of friend, Marmalade sees me as jailer. Perhaps that is why they prefer the woods to the buildings.
I love your photos and your observations. I wish you would put together a book of them. They brighten my day and make me realize how blessed I truly am to have horses, dogs and land.