Optimism – March 17

It indicates great optimism to plant trees. My father, Brian, who was a lighthearted optimist, was still planting trees at the age of 85. The redbud outside this house arrived as a twig, the offspring of an ancient redbud at my parents’ house. My father planted it here in 2004, and now it is higher than the roof.

Greek proverb: A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

I do not speak like an optimist, but I do have animals, and I do plant trees. Animals, particularly horses, will break your heart, but I optimistically embrace them anyway. Last weekend, I planted ten shortleaf pines, a native tree species from the Missouri Department of Conservation. They are very hard to see, they are so tiny, but I trust that someday, someone will admire their magnificence.

I have been thwarted in my intention to blog more frequently by my own procrastination, as much as anything. In the six days since my last post, life has been busy. Birds have been plentiful, so we will start with a few pictures of them…

Nathaniel was here, and fixed the decrepit fence around the electric box while Harry and I were away at the tax preparer. It is unpleasant, but always a relief to get taxes done, and we are very fortunate to have Nathaniel’s help around here as we get older. I probably could have done that job, but it would have taken at least two days.

The big news is that Nancy from Montana is here for a visit. She and Steve drove all the way here, then he continued on to Oklahoma for the NCAA Wrestling (pronounced “rassling” in Oklahoma). That’s quite a detour to allow old friends time together! Nancy and I met in 1974 at Porlock, in Somerset, England, where we became “Horsemasters”. She proceeded to become an expert mule packer and wilderness guide, while also managing to ride at the first ever Spruce Meadows show jumping in Calgary, Canada. She is also a published writer and has been very disappointed in my slothfulness at getting around to this blog post!

Jane and Derry were on a different schedule, so after we rode, Nancy and I watched Jane school Derry. I took some pictures to prove that Derry does not always pin her ears over jumps.

Speaking of horses, we had great fun over at Marilyn’s, watching her do some groundwork with Trigger yesterday. Marianne came over, too, and she loved Trigger, even worked him a bit, too. We all had many laughs despite a cold and gloomy day.

Nancy is a great lover of cats. She named Marmalade, actually, but more importantly, she brought Roscoe into the house a few years ago. She was visiting, and was taken ill, so Roscoe began his ascension through the ranks by looking after Nancy in her misery. He has been in the house ever since, bringing joy to all he meets, and is now the Maltese King of Cats. Maltese cats are just short haired gray cats. I was born in Malta, so it is destiny.

The dogs have been well, though Cedar was a bit unhappy on Tuesday, when Marilyn came to vaccinate the horses and Cedar was due for her jabs, too. After her first shot, she threw herself on the ground and tried to escape, to no avail.

Weedy has made many trips this week. Yesterday, he and Harry went to lunch with friends in a restaurant that allowed dogs inside. It was a red letter day for Weedy!

Harry, too, is well and spreading joy wherever he goes, just like his dog, who thinks blogging is a big yawn.

Be safe, be well. Embrace optimism – plant trees. Slava Ukraini! Peace.