For us, this was Election Day! Because we are 65 and over, we are eligible for Absentee Ballots. The ballots arrived yesterday, so we decided we would go ahead and vote before we misplaced the ballots. Off we went to Warrenton, right after breakfast, to the County Clerk’s office to deliver our ballots in person. I wish I had remembered to take pictures, but I didn’t. There was a tent in the parking lot. I thought they were offering Covid tests because when I got covid tested in May, it was done under a tent in the parking lot at St. Luke’s. This was a voting tent! Two people were staffing it, and very pleasantly took our ballots, assuring us that everything appeared to be in order. It was a strange but enjoyable voting experience. To celebrate, we stopped at Casey’s for a donut for old times’ sake.
The horses love these cool mornings. They will stay on night turnout through Sunday, and then we will transition to daytime turnout.
Cedar happily trots to the barn every morning to enjoy her cat food scatter. She was worried when Tom Morris acted like he was going to take some of her meager treat, but he thought better of it.
“Why is that dog eating cat food!!??“
I was very bad about pictures today. No bird pictures at all! I was charging the camera battery during peak bird time, and they day got away from me.
Nathaniel came to mow, and did his usual expert job. He encountered some ground bees out by the ring, always a terrible danger at this time of year. Luckily, he saw them before he got stung. Apparently something (probably a possum) had dug up the ground to get at the nest, so the bees were riled up. I dread getting a horse into a bunch of bees. It used to happen every fall to someone or other fox hunting. A horse getting bee stung is the worst feeling, usually experienced right before they bolt and buck you off.
I will digress into a story from the past, as old people tend to do. Remember, I qualify for absentee voting because I’m old!
Years ago (1994 to be precise), when the St. Louis National Charity Show was held at Queeny Park, I rode a horse called Ace (Aces And Eights). I have mentioned Ace before on this blog. Well, I was schooling with Todd Minikus, who was already a top Grand Prix rider, now quite famous, and no longer in the Midwest. Ace was overwhelmed by the venue, and it did not go well. Bear with me. Soon you will see why I am telling this story.
Todd told me we needed to do a lesson the next day. He showed up in tennis shoes and started telling me to get Ace more engaged. I was inept, to say the least. So, Todd had me dismount and he hopped on – in his tennis shoes, with no spurs. Almost instantly, Ace turned into a magnificent, powerful creature. I was astounded, and asked Todd what he did to achieve that level of engagement and lift. He said “It’s simple, you just need to make him feel like he’s gotten into a nest of bees, and his belly is getting bee stung.” I have been working toward that feeling ever since. Todd couldn’t really teach the gift that he has for inspiring horses, but to this day, when I see a horse looking really impressive, I think of bees under its belly.
Back to present times, and Nathaniel found a salamander at his house and took pictures, which he shared. This is a ringed salamander, and I have never seen one before. According to Missouri Department of Conservation, they are quite secretive and rarely witnessed, so “seeing one is a happy occurrence”. Nathaniel put it into a bucket for the pictures before releasing it. I think it is gorgeous, and the picture quality is excellent (Samsung).
Rare ringed salamander 
Ringed salamander closeup
Harry had a good day in the studio, while I rode with Jane.
The sculptor in the studio 
Bart had a bath after riding – must roll!
Oh, I said no bird pictures, but there was a turkey vulture overhead while we were riding. They are so beautiful riding thermals in a perfect blue sky. This one was alone, but they are usually in groups. I believe they are quite sociable with one another. Someone recently told me that they kill calves. I was shocked and thought it might be “fake news”. I looked into it, and learned that turkey vultures do NOT kill calves. They only eat carrion. If they are seen eating a calf, something else killed it. Not enough that they are quite hideous up close with their bald red head, they are maligned by rumors. Shooting them is illegal, as they are protected under the migratory bird act, but that doesn’t stop the practice, alas.
The pictures are not very good, taken with my phone, which is not a Samsung, but they sky was truly cloudless and autumn blue.
Stay safe, stay well, don’t listen to rumors, find the truth. And if you live in Missouri, please vote NO on Amendment 3.
I find vultures usually are seen in pairs…flying. I notice because I exercise counting them by twos… how many couple? Good practice for counting hounds… whenever I see a single vulture or an odd number in the sky or collected around delectable carrion I wonder whether it’s mate was killed…
I love the flocks of vultures roosting on the Daniel Boone Bridge (the westbound side). I expect you see many more than we do.
Really cool salamander
As to our carrion eaters, our scavengers, I am very grateful. I refer to them as trash collectors. Think of the messes they clean up! And, isn’t it lovely that dear, Antelope, Zebra, or squirrel deaths do not go to waste? As to the killing side of things, the calves, wonder from where that story came? Love the story of you and Todd Minikus; loved him on Oh Star! As to the bees, not bad, after all to raise the tummy up thusly carrying the body through the spine, arching if you will, takes classical riding. To push from behind correctly, the back must raise a wee bit that’s why in the extended trot or canter the feel is amazing. Anyhoo, I know we enthusiasts of classical training will never interest you Anne. But who cares!! Look at you ride a horse over fences, poetry!!! Harry, your ears must have been wiggling the other day. We were speaking of you and Anne here in KY with old friends from the past, man they bring up some memories! Good stuff.
I am with you, Jane – the vultures do a great service. In Kentucky, you do have Black Vultures, which have been known to kill newborn calves. Alas, turkey vultures have been tarred with that reputation. And I think, when farmers see them eating a dead calf, they assume the vulture killed it. Such a shame!
As to my flatwork – it is true that I have ignored it for much of my life, but you malign me! I DO appreciate engagement and I DO train my horses to do “dressage” (well, sort of). I will never attain the level you have, but I recognize the value now after sixty some years of resistance.
Can’t believe you ate a donut!
Oh, Janis! In Bowling Green, we went to Casey’s every morning for a paper and donuts! It was only a mile to Casey’s – Harry would call “Farm Dog!” and Jackie, our Bouvier / Irish Wolfhound mix, would come running and leap into the bed of the pickup truck for a trip (and a daily donut treat for her, too). I try to steer clear of temptations, but sometimes they are just too great – haha!
Go Todd Go haha. May I use that? KISS as GM would say. Hahaha
I actually love turkey vultures. On rare occasions, I have seen several of them sitting in a bare tree airing their wings out after eating. It is really a beautiful sight. Mrs. Kohler, of the Wisconsin Kohler family, rescued a baby vulture and raised it on raw meat.
That makes me so happy, Louise! Jane had one in her barn in Louisiana (MO) once, and it was a rare privilege to see one up close, even though it hissed at us!
Everyone in Iowa got an absentee ballot request form, courtesy of our (Republican!) Secretary of State. Coincidentally his 11-year old granddaughter rides on our “show team”
It’s crazy that each state has different rules and methods of voting! Nancy’s state, Montana, has had mail-in voting for years, which makes sense in a place that big. But seems to me we should all play by the same rules. In Missouri, we had to apply for an Absentee Ballot, and were eligible because of the virus. Harry and I have already voted, and Nancy doesn’t even have her ballot yet.