Another day dawns, cool (for July) and beautiful…
In the mornings, Cedar accompanies me to the barn. Cedar loves cat food above all else, and she lives for the days that I leave the tack room door ajar, so that she can get in and steal cat food. We have reached an arrangement. I give her a “cat food scatter” in the mornings and she stays out of the tack room, at least when I am around the barn. Here is Cedar getting her cat food scatter, as the cats look on, and maybe share a little bit.
After Cedar gets her scatter, she returns to the house and barks for Harry to let her in. Then it’s time to feed the Flatbed cats, Licorice and Marmalade. Today, Tom Morris decided to crash their breakfast party.
Marmalade and Licorice wait for breakfast 
Tom Morris and Marmalade under the flatbed – Licorice, too, but she is too dark to see under the trailer.
Jane and Derry arrived, and we set off. It was a lovely day to wander through the woods. I asked Jane to turn around and smile for the camera. The cottonwood poplar trees have “snowed” all over the place. Once we got to the ring, we had a light flat session. I am not quite 100%, so I didn’t overdo it.
Marianne arrived at 8 AM to ride. She rode Oisin , and I rode Stone. Since Marianne’s first love is dressage, I am challenged to win her over to jumping. It’s fun to watch her on Oisin, and she rides him really well. Jane came over and took some pictures, which was fun.
Marianne and Oisin 
Oisin and Stone do not do distancing 
Stone and his shadow (artistic photograph by Jane)
Oisin demonstrated his large, powerful tongue during a moment of rest. Luckily he keeps it in his mouth when we are riding. A video would be more entertaining, as he flaps it around.
This afternoon, I caught a fish (on camera). They are growing and reproducing. I haven’t managed to get a picture yet of the teeny, tiny baby fish.
The larkspur is blooming. Larkspur was the name of a Connemara I had for the summer when I was eleven. She was also the first horse on whom I won a blue ribbon. These are some old pictures of Larkspur and fourteen year old me.
And here are the flowers that I love today, because they conjure those memories…
Finally, in Montana, little mule baby Rainy has returned home from Gracie’s extended conjugal visit. She has grown so much! Nancy and Steve are off to the mountains, so we won’t be getting any more pictures for a while.
Rainy back home (photo by Nancy Stevens)
Stay safe, stay well.
I remember Marianne riding her horse, Flash, at a canter in circles. Her circles were correct, not egg-shaped like mine. A gifted rider. What great photos of you and Larkspur. Her eyes are loving. And you in pigtails, looking really happy. Thank you for sharing your days with us. And Nancy for sharing Rainy with us.
Larkspur is a really good memory for several of us…. she was the first pony I started in harness… (I was 17)
She belonged to Aunt Katherine, who more or less gave her back to live at the farm….!! She was the unsung heroine in all our horse adventures for many years.
The picture of you and piny, Larkspur, is enchanting. You seem to have hair!
I love the pictures of you and Larkspur too! Adorable! I have dreams of you and Jane going on forever riding your horses, and Harry sculpting away in the studio with all his dogs faithfully awaiting their walk in the woods. Of, course, there might be a way to make this come true . . . .
Pigtails…..you had Pigtails!!!! Ohhhhh, to sit behind you in grade school and put my Inkwell to work…………….