Kiener Plaza, downtown St. Louis, Missouri – June 14, 2025 – No Kings Protest
Jane and Harry and I departed at noon on our adventure to protest. Harry and I had made signs to carry, and it being Flag Day, we had flags with us. I turned one upside down as a signal of distress.
We had no idea whether the protest would be particularly big, or not. In April, the “Hands Off” protest was not stunningly large. But we were compelled by our need to do something, as we have been watching our democracy demolished by the people now in power.
And as you can see from the picture above, this protest was indeed well attended. The governor of Missouri had activated the National Guard in advance of the event (which he waited 8 days to do after the tornado last month). There was no need of troops for this march. People were overwhelmingly kind and peaceful, despite their dissatisfaction with the Trump regime. There was no violence, only uplifting camaraderie. The police were helpful and sympathetic.
We met kind strangers, many of whom had never protested before. Some had last protested the Vietnam war. There were all ages, and colors, and our hope in this country was revived. Living, as we do, in a very Red part of a supermajority Red state, the attendance at the No Kings event was surprising indeed, and refreshing. People are basically good, for the most part. Sadly, some people are brainwashed and have different views from ours, but the United States was designed by the Founders to allow for differences, and to have guardrails against what is happening now, as the government slouches toward autocracy and Christian Nationalism. We, the people, hope to stop the demise of democracy.
Sorry to veer from Nature and animals to politics, but the times have done this. I will get back to the usual programming tomorrow. For now, here are pictures from the protest. We failed to find some of our friends, and were happily surprised to see others we had not expected. It was a wonderful day, from drenching rain on arrival, to beautiful skies, followed by humid Missouri heat. Exhaustion and exhilaration accompanied us home to the animals and a happy reunion with our regular life.
Here are pictures…
Signs for the protest march^Sheltering from rain against a building, we met Liana, at her first protest. Harry gave her a flag.HarryHarry and JaneHarry and AnneHarry and AnneJoe finds us! With Jane and Harry we head toward Rita…Definitely not in Warren County…^Rita!JoeRitaHarry and Rita by the fountainRita and Harry Friends by the fountain before the marching began^Joe and Rita’s Roquefort (she hopes to meet Eddy one day!)A democratic dog Blue dog democratA cat sign, but we saw no catsEven dogs joined the protest^
So many clever signs! Here are just a few…
This one made us cry (and not because Anne is misspelled)His sign said STAND FOR PEACE
Stay safe, stay well, stay involved. Be grateful and be kind. Slava Ukraini! God Save America! Peace…
We are very tired, so I will not post much this evening, except to say that it is Harry’s birthday. Here is a link to a podcast interview with Harry done a few weeks ago that was posted yesterday.
Click on the link and then on the orange play button. I hope this works…
Here’s a depressing statistic – the average lifetime contains 4,000 weeks. At the rate weeks dissolve lately, it gives one pause. Life is fleeting!
Eddy listens to a rant about fleeting time
Around here, the past week brought rain in torrents.
Bridlespur Horse Show, once an important national competition, is now just a local event, held at Happenstance Farm, near here. This horse show has always been renowned for rain, even after attempts at moving the date. But Sunday brought sunshine, so we made a trip over to visit and watch friends jump courses. I took a few pictures.
JoJoJoeyJanisDianeJoe and BreezySusan and Santa Fee await their turnFormer racehorse, Wishy Washy , learning a new skill with AmyBeth and John, who bought Wishy Washy off the racetrackJustine and Harry and WeedyBeth and JaneOne of the top judges in the U.S. is amusedEddy meets Toby, who might be a relative!
And here are some more pictures from the wet week.
Water, water everywhereCatalpa in bloomCatalpa blossom close upA doe reaching for leavesJudging by her hipbones, I suspect she is nursing a fawnMushrooms enjoying the weatherA bedraggled flag and beaten down clustered bellflowersEddy loves wet weatherRomping Eddy
We had a visit from a longtime friend, Lou Ann, and her granddaughter, Rory, who is a talented artist (and a first rate golfer!). Many years ago, I rode one of Lou Ann’s horses at the Arabian Nationals. She and husband Mel stood a Trakehner stallion named Pennant, and Phaon was one of his sons, who was half Arabian.
Phaon in 1999 , qualifying for Nationals at the Arabian RegionalsHarry discussing a maquetteLou Ann and Rory meet OisinLou AnnHarry and Stone and Anne (photo from Lou Ann)
The birds are thriving, and we are immersed in birdsong whenever rain abates. I carefully monitored the bluebird nest, and am pleased to report that all five babies successfully fledged, though there are no photographs. The barn cats were displeased with night lockup as fledging date approached, but are now released to roam again. I have cleaned out the birdhouse and await a new brood. Meanwhile, here are some characters I did get pictures of this week…
A damp nuthatchA butterfly alights on the Kawasaki MuleA young red bellied woodpecker on the suet, with his long woodpecker tongue out!Young woodpecker begs for foodMale woodpecker feeds youngster“You know, you can pick up seeds yourself!”DepartureA cardinal and a goldfinchA rare visit from a squirrel! Eddy was napping.Male tanagerFemale tanagerMale grosbeakRoscoe at rest
Every day is filled with more than I can accomplish, but I feel very fortunate for so many friends, for plenty to do, and for YouTube to help with repairs. Despite the devolution of our democracy, with lies and misinformation everywhere, Nature and repairs are real. YouTube provided accurate information, and with Harry’s help the repair of the shed waterer was accomplished.
I had lunch yesterday with Florence, who has been a friend for more than 55 years. I watched her ride when I was learning, and I idolized her as a rider and as a writer. I treasure her as a friend.
Florence yesterdayFlorence 54 years ago on Follow Me – at Bridlepsur when the jumps were big!
Stay dry, stay well, be grateful and kind. Resist fascism and autocracy. The United States is supposed to be a Democracy.
The privilege of getting older comes with the cost of losing many along the way. Word reached us (thanks to Jane, who is still on Facebook), that Bill Robertson died peacefully last weekend. Bill’s son, Brody, married Jen, who wrote a beautiful memorial to Bill, complete with many pictures. She has given me permission to share it.
“The world has lost an absolute legendary horseman, William “Bill” Robertson, this past weekend. It was an honor to call him my father-in-law and later, our Papa Bill. He was polite, he was gentle, and if you met Bill, you would think he was just some nice old cowboy that had a horse in his yard.
You wouldn’t know that he was one of the first Americans to win a Nations Cup at Aachen or that he was part of the “Dream Team” that represented the United States Equestrian Team at Dublin and many international shows. He trained at Gladstone, under Bertrand DeNemethy, alongside his teammates, William Steinkraus, George Morris, Mary and Frank Chapot, Kathy Kusner, and others. You wouldn’t know that he had wins at Madison Square Garden or the thousands of Grand Prix and Puissance wins on hundreds of different mounts, many of which were pulled from kill pens and racetracks. He didn’t really care where the horse came from, how it was bred, or what it had done before. He had an eye and a feeling and could pick one from the most humble beginning. Every horse had the same chance with him.
Bill taught me the essence of true horsemanship. I never once saw him have contempt, anger, or frustration towards a horse.
He was empathetic and it was always about the horse’s point of view. He made the horse WANT to do the thing that was being asked. He was so slow and so patient. The horse would do one thing right and he would say, “That’s enough for today. There’s plenty to do tomorrow.”
He could describe in great detail what something should feel like (even over the phone) and the steps to take to get there. He could do more in 3 minutes than most could in 3 months. He could get on the hottest of horses and make them soft, balanced, and ready for a child to ride when he was done with them in a few weeks.
I had a young, unstarted horse in the round pen one time. It reared, struck at him, and came after him with its teeth. He pulled the straw hat off his head and held it up, having the horse trot away. He was totally unfazed and explained,
“He’s just doing what he thinks he needs to do right now.”
I will remember the way Bill sat on a horse, the way he carried his hands and the softness and compassion he had In the reins.
I have so many learned lessons and sayings, and so many memories that I will cherish. He will be missed by all of us, but especially his wife, Deitra, and his dog, Zorro. I am comforted imagining the ripples of true horsemanship and the impact he had on so many people that are now professionals in their own right. There’s nothing he would have loved more knowing that. Happy trails, Cowboy.”
Billy RobertsonBill speaks at Brody and Jen’s weddingAltamonte Clinic – Jen, Brody, George, Bill, Dennis (2018)Bill on the trails in MiissouriBill on Voulez Vous (age3)Bill rides with his grandson in Florida
There were many more pictures in Jen’s post on Facebook. Bill was legendary to me, having heard of him since I was 14. Harry and I met Brody before we met Bill, In Des Moines, Iowa, when Brody was a kid horse showing for the summer with Dennis Mitchell.
Brody, like his parents, (Bill and Patty) is a horseman, though he has become a world renowned course designer. Through Bill he has grown up with legends in the sport of showjumping. His great luck in life, though, was marrying Jen and having sons Saer and Flynn.
For a while, Jen and Brody were here in Missouri, and it was a golden era. They gave wonderful clinics and competitions, and brought famous horsemen in for memorable sessions, legendary in these parts.
Best of all, Bill stayed a while here in Missouri before returning to Texas. Jane and I went for a lesson with him, which was incredible. Before we began to ride, Bill mentioned that he had watched us mount our horses, and that the horses’ failure to stand still for mounting was a big mistake. I changed my ways from then on, and every time I mount a quietly standing horse, I think of Bill Robertson and how fortunate I was to learn from him. He was as kind to me as he was to horses.
Here are few pictures from the last time I saw Bill, at a George Morris clinic at Altamonte in 2018, before Brody and Jen moved south to Ocala, Florida. He was a great horseman and human being.
Bill quietly observingDennis, Patty, BillBill Dennis, Bill & JenDennis & BillBill and Dennis
Thanks for the lessons and for the memories.
Stay well, stay safe, keep in touch. Treasure the memories. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Eddy came into our life in November, 2023 from the Franklin County Humane Society. Unlike many shelter dogs (and unlike Weedy), Eddy’s history is known. He was found, age 6 weeks, in Branson, Missouri in 2022 at a Walgreen’s. Puppies were being sold in the parking lot., Three males had not yet been purchased, and the sellers were tired, so a visiting firefighter from Franklin County (who happens to foster dogs from the shelter) took the pups and promised they would get homes.
Puppies from BransonDaniel Tiger was Eddy’s first nameEddy
For his first year, Eddy lived in Kirkwood, a nice suburb of St. Louis. But he was a “bolter” and was picked up by the APA on one of his escapes. Traced by his microchip, he was then returned to Franklin County and put up for adoption again. His next adopter took even less time to become discouraged by Eddy’s “bolting” and he was returned after a week.
Then, we saw his picture. We were grieving the loss of Nettie and Cedar and we were smitten immediately.
Eddy as we first saw him
Shortly after Eddy came into our life here, we got Covid. No sooner did we recover and test negative, than Harry got pneumonia and atrial fibrillation and had to go into the hospital for five days. I went with him, and Jane stepped in to look after the dogs. Needless to say, Eddy came to adore Jane for coming to the rescue when he was lonely and new here. Weedy already loved Jane, of course.
Jane and Eddy – January 2024Jane and Eddy – January 2025
As promised, by Eddy’s foster savior, despite his difficulties “he is a really good dog”. The SpotOn collar, which establishes a boundary by satellite, we call the “Freedom Collar”. It enables Eddy to roam freely on about 8 acres. A bonus is that the deer are chased into the woods. Many plants are now growing happily instead of being eaten! So, we celebrate Eddy’s third birthday today, and are forever grateful to Franklin County and the hero firefighter who saved Eddy, gave him a great start, and was generous enough to let us have him.
The birthday boy!Eddy’s portrait by Anne Molaskey
Today was also made special by a visit from Tina, who has been in our life for 40 years. She has always made us laugh, and although she was here on official business for the Electric Company, we had a wonderful visit.
Out of focus on purposeTinaHarry holds forthTina receives a portrait done by her talented mother, Marcia, almost 40 years agoTina and Harry and Eddy on the way to check a problem tree
Skittle was out and about today.
Meanwhile, Cora might be losing her hearing. She sleeps very soundly.
The horses are fat and happy, but warmer weather will bring more flies soon.
Stone and Bart graze in the rainOisin opts for the shedHappy herdOisin would like to come into the barn to escape bugs!
A few bird pictures, of course…
Turkeys in the south pasture.Big bird!Mr. Bluebird had a bath to cool off today, I was late with the camera and he was drying off.Hardworking bluebird of happinessBack to finding food for the nestlings!
And finally, a chance shadow on the door of the office…
A shadow thrown by the sculpture of Thrilling
Be safe, be well, laugh often. Treasure friends and celebrate birthdays. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
This has been the most pleasant spell of cool weather in Missouri that I can remember. The news is too disturbing to tolerate, but here, in this little patch, the world is full of marvels. We are fortunate to have distractions from the outside troubles at every turn, which is not to say we do not care. We care, we do what we can, but we appreciate being grounded in the natural realm.
Eddy has been consorting with a coyote! The regular visitor seems to mean no harm. Having lived with a coyote for about a year back in the 1970s, I am partial to them, and this one does remind me of my Joni Coyote, who returned to the wild as she grew up. She played with my Jack Russell terrier and other dogs constantly while a youngster.
Eddy watchesCoyote!Eddy goes to investigateFriend or foe?“Hello!”
The horses have been enjoying the weather, coming in for breakfast later than usual. Bart must be led into the barn, because he will run for the lawn (greener grass on the other side of the fence) at any chance he gets. Oisin and Stone are more reliable (usually) and can wander in on their own.
Bart wanders up to the paddockOisin StoneBart waits for a leadOisin and Stone take themselves to their stallsBart reaches under the fence for the proverbial greener grass
I paid a visit to Jane for a chat and a cup of tea, which is always better at Jane’s house. Jane has many squirrels, since her dogs are elderly. Here, Eddy keeps the squirrels away in the woods. He would have loved to chase some of Jane’s rodents, but was not allowed. One of Jane’s squirrel visitors has Olympic long jump capability. I got a picture of it leaping to the birdseed feeder from the porch. Jane thinks that only one individual of the many squirrels visiting her house is capable of that leap. It was impressive!
Polly is now quite deafHazel says hello to her “grandson”, EddyLong jumping squirrelAirborne!Jane”s BobbyBobby at the window (photo by Jane)
Jane’s cat, Bobby, is a diabetic, and he is a credit to her care. He is healthy and happy and very personable. My benign neglect program of care suits elderly (16 years old), very deaf and very beloved Skittle. If I needed to give her insulin, life would become intolerable. As it is, even getting a picture of her is an accomplishment.
Skittle
Lynda and Brett have adopted a tiny little kitten who crossed their path while they were in Wisconsin recently. Keifr was a 1 pound, sickly runt and is a very lucky kitten indeed. They drove him seven and a half hours to Missouri and straight to a veterinarian on a Sunday afternoon. He has traveled from the brink of death to Lynda’s shoulder.
Keifr (photo from Lynda)
Roscoe remains the Maltese King of Cats around here, and he rests easily, knowing he will not be dethroned in this house.
Roscoe
Big excitement watching the bluebirds by the barn! Their eggs have hatched and the 5 nestlings are growing apace. I left them in peace until yesterday, and snapped a quick picture (8 days old). It is astonishing how quickly they grow, and I watched Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird today, hard at work feeding their babies. The internet tells me they could fledge at 16 to 22 days, most likely 18 to 19 days.
Baby bluebirdsMale bluebird with food for babiesDinner!Male bluebird leaves the houseOff to get more food!Female bluebird with a bugFemale bluebird flies to the house“Grub’s up, kids!”
Other birds of interest are the Canada geese on nearby Barker’s lake. They have successfully raised five goslings, which Jane saw just after they left the nest. I have only yesterday managed a picture of the goose family, from a long distance, and they seem very happy. Cowbirds here follow the horses in lieu of bison. The horses accept them happily.
Geese gambolingStone and a cowbirdCowbird
The plants are enjoying this clement weather, too.
Smokebush outside the porchNative rough leaf dogwood at the edge of the woodsLilac tree by the barnSpiderwort (Tradescantia)in the woods
And so it goes around here, as May meanders to June.
Uncommonly cool and pleasant weather has allowed peonies to persist , and they are still blooming today. When we moved north to Pike County, Memorial Day was a day for decorating graves, not just those of service members lost in battle. Peonies were the favored flower, though already fake flowers were taking over. But it was in Pike County that I first heard the flower called a pee-OH-nee, and I think of that pronunciation whenever I look at PEE-ah-nees, as I pronounce them.
“Old fashioned” peonies
My maternal grandmother, Gertrude Shea Quetsch, was by all accounts, quite a dynamic woman. I don’t remember her, but I have had her painting of peonies on my wall since I turned 25, when my mother gave it to me.
But today is really a day to remember lives that were given up for a cause. My family has been incredibly lucky to have escaped that sacrifice. It cannot be said enough that luck should not be underestimated in our journeys through this life.
In the twentieth century- World War I – three Barry boys served with distinction and decorations, surviving that hellish “war to end all wars”. My grandfather, Jim, wrote about his years in the trenches. His brother, Great Uncle Gerard, lost a leg, but survived. Alas, his luck ran out in Cork, where he was inadvertently shot and killed by “friendly fire” from a sentry in 1921. Great Uncle John, who introduced me to the famous Elsie Morgan, a rare woman huntsman in Ireland in 1971, was seriously wounded during the War, but recovered to ride to hounds and lived to the age of 90.
My grandfather, James Harding Barry, in the middle
In World War II, three more Barry boys served the Crown with distinction and all came home alive. My father, Brian, was at D-Day aboard HMS Orion, Uncle Pete was in Naval Intelligence at Scapa Flow, and Uncle Mike was a paratrooper, first man to land at Arnhem, a “bridge too far”, where he was wounded and captured by the Germans. He returned emaciated but alive at the end of the war, and went on to follow in his father’s footsteps as a beloved country doctor.
My father , James Brian Barry
On my American, maternal, side, the Steel industry kept grandfather, Leonard Quetsch out of military service. Later, his five sons all served, but did not see action during the Korean War. My mother’s brother, Uncle Jack, went on to become Assistant Secretary of Defense of the United States.
Harry, of course, served in the U.S. Navy in Viet Nam and survived. He continues to work with service members who were wounded in subsequent wars, and he never discounts his luck. He has been the luckiest thing that ever happened to me!
Lt. Harry Weber on the Mekong River
Bless all who grieve losses today, and be grateful every day for the people who have kept us safe, at the cost of their own lives.
Be well, be safe, be lucky, and be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
A rainy day can be a blessing for catching up on “indoor” activities. We were sad to forego an early morning ride, but I intended instead to work at my desk.
A plan to set jumps for Crumlin and Brett mid morning was not derailed, as there is an indoor arena at Rocking Horse Ranch. Jane, Eddy and I had a rather stressful drive through the rain with a low tire, which we stopped to air up. The trip was well worth the effort, though, as Brett and Crumlin were brilliant. Alas, I failed to take ANY pictures, but here is one of my favorite gray Warmblood from last month.
Crumlin
We returned home with high expectations for Crumlin’s adventures ahead, and when we were almost home, I stopped to take a picture of some geese. Curses! I had left my camera and bag of riding equipment in St. Clair. So much for a productive day… Still, Harry and the dogs and I enjoyed a road trip there and back in the other car, with reliable tire pressure, listening to a new Carl Hiaasen book, and laughing a lot.
I continue to see coyotes on an almost daily basis. Here are a few pictures. The horses seem unperturbed by them. Tonight, the coyote spent a long time watching me, and then went into the woods and barked like a dog. I had never heard that from a coyote before!
Meanwhile, the cats are all accounted for, though I haven’t taken a picture of Skittle recently. The others love the camera.
CoraRosieA rare moment of détente between Roscoe and Tom MorrisRosie and MarmaladeMarmalade
Birds continue to delight us, and some are nesting, which is very exciting. I have been watching the bluebird nest near the barn, and to my delight, a week ago, the eggs hatched. I have left them in peace for a week, but plan on a peek into the house tomorrow.
Bluebird eggsBabies!!A blue jayA pair of dovesRed winged blackbirdFemale summer tanagerMale summer tanagerBarn swallowA turkey buzzard cleaning up carrion in the road
The horses are happy and enjoying this exceptionally cool month of May.
Bart napsOisin begs for a treatStone is ready to go out to the pastureOisin escapes flies in the shedThe Pearl Brothers trade scratchesHappy herd
I have been fortunate to see two beautiful black snakes in two days – one quite small youngster and a magnificent three foot adult.
We are surrounded by beautiful forms of life, most of which are fascinating and uplifting (except for ticks!!).
Here is a hornet’s nest just starting to be established on the fence. I will be avoiding that, but appreciate any pollinators!
A fungusNative honeysuckleCoreopsisIndian pinksAnne mowingHarry takes out the trash
Be safe, be well, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
These long, cooler than usual May days are great for getting things done, but terrible for blogging. I am so exhausted at the end of each day that I just postpone writing, and the weight of the wait piles on. It is tempting to simply drop out, walk away, as I have been inclined to do about many things… But once again, I will try to pick up after almost a fortnight’s absence!
We love living here, and the sight of happy horses grazing always makes the expense and the work worthwhile. Recently, we have actually ridden those happy horses, which is even more fun than looking at them.
Harry on StoneHomeward bound on a perfect dayJane arrives on DerryMy groom presents my second horseCoyote, viewed as we began, is glad we only ride for pleasure now, not to chase!
This week, high school classmates (some of whom were classmates since we were 6!) had a get together to celebrate our big birthdays as we turn 70. It doesn’t feel so long ago we were all excited about turning 16 and driving…
I have assiduously avoided reunions until recently, disgraced by being a dropout, amongst many reasons. Though I was conflicted about going, it was strangely delightful to see these women whose lives have followed different paths from that long ago high school, where we danced the Maypole. The girls we were are still evident to us. I took some pictures…
Cherie, our valedictorian, now a doctorMollyMimiZoeMari laughsKatieDebyBrookeMartha, who brought cake!TriciaAntoinetteCherieMarquita and CodyFrancieKatie and BrookeMarian and Marie AntoinetteMimi, Marian, and MariMarian and CherieMartha and CherieMarian, Cherie, and Anne(photo by Francie)
Last Friday (eight days ago), St. Louis was hit by a tornado. The devastation is shocking. Out here, the sky grew ominous, there was some wind, and a few raindrops. I was oblivious of storms nearby until I received some pictures from Louise, who lives in the Central West End of St. Louis. Earlier this Spring, her son’s house was damaged by a tornado in Arkansas. Now a tornado at her own home. One of the glories of St. Louis has always been the magnificent trees. Very many of them are down and we will not live to see their replacements achieve century size. North St. Louis, which is mired in poverty, received monstrous damage and five deaths. As if that part of the city didn’t have enough problems… And beautiful Forest Park has lost unimaginable numbers of trees. We, who were unaffected, and all who survived, are grateful, but very sad.
Just one of the shocking pictures of damage (photo by Louise)
In better news, this has been a banner year for strawberries here.
Maybe these are “stone berries”Strawberries every day !
Though I have not had the energy to blog, I have taken plenty of pictures.
Harry enjoying the viewEvening sky above horsesWeedy and EddyThe back hay fieldBird picture of the week – a blue jay
And that is all I have time for this evening. I will aim for more tomorrow…
Be safe, be well, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Almost the middle of May, and yesterday Jane finally got back in the saddle, after an 8 month hiatus. It was great fun, picking up where we left off, and it felt familiar and comfortable to be riding together again. We rode two horses each,and on our second ride Marilyn happened by on Trigger. Harry was kind enough to record the trio of old ladies astride.
Marilyn & Trigger, Anne & Stone, Jane & Oisin (Harry Weber photo)
We were somewhat inspired by visiting the Prime Time Horse Show at nearby Happenstance Farm early Sunday morning to see Susan on her new Santa Fee, and JoJo on Breezy showing in the MOHJO Classic. It was a glorious day. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so just imagine what fun it was, cool and sunny, our friends jumping double clear rounds and earning ribbons. Harry and Weedy even attended, though in their own car, as their tolerance for spectating is limited. It is a joy to watch Susan’s new relationship with her beautiful, elegant chestnut mare developing. And fun to see JoJo’s powerful , young chestnut mare, Breezy, growing into herself and playing the game easily.
So, on Sunday afternoon, Jane and I rode our chestnut horses and had so much fun, we had to ride again. I asked Harry to hold off until I had ridden his horse , just once, in case Stone was wild. Harry is even older than we old ladies!
Jane arrives on her chestnut mare, DerryFollowing Jane up the trailBart and Derry compare notesHarry on his chestnut horse , Thomas Equinas, a few years ago
After riding and bathing, the horses were turned out for the night. Stone had a brief roll, but Oisin really enjoyed getting dirty after his bath. Jane and I watched Oisin roll completely over three times. This was partly his athleticism, and partly his beach ball body shape. When we were kids, they said a horse was worth $100 for every roll over. With inflation and tariffs, we figure it’s about $10,000 today, making Oisin worth at least $30,000. Bart did not participate in the pasture rolling competition. He stayed in the shed because there was a fly in the vicinity.
StoneOisinupside downThe big white spot we don’t see most of the timeAn excellent roll over!Jane and Eddy
It’s fun seeing the birds pairing up at this time of year. As it got quite warm, the bluebirds took a bath together, providing fun pictures.
Male and female house finchesMale and female cardinalsAn eastern kingbird! A type of flycatcherFemale bluebirdBluebirds bathingFemale bluebird departsExuberant male bluebird Male bluebird gets out of the bath
The cats are enjoying the sunny days. Roscoe, who often helps me outside in the garden, was absent today. I didn’t pay much attention, until it was time for his evening snuggle, and I still hadn’t seen him. Of course, I immediately worried about coyotes, which was silly. I reviewed the day, went upstairs, where I had traded the winter comforter for the summer one, and heard plaintive cries from the closet. There he was, and instead of blaming me for shutting him in the closet, he was grateful for the rescue. What a magnanimous cat!
Rosie greets me on the path to the barnMarmalade and Tom Morris asleep in the bed of the truckRoscoe resolves to stay out of closets
I saw an apparently dead beetle floating in the automatic waterer in the shed. I dumped the bowl, and to my relief, the beetle was alive. It was a green tiger beetle, considered the “cheetah of beetles” for its speed. I can vouch for that, as I chased it, trying to get a picture with my phone camera.
The May flowers continue to delight us. The fringe tree is both beautiful and fragrant, as is the mock orange outside the studio.
Fringe treeMock OrangeAn iris at the edge of the woodsIris at the edge of the fieldEarly coreopsis on Daisy’s graveHanging fuchsiaNot a flower, but a beautiful fungus in the woods
Eddy’s vigilance has discouraged deer from visiting. While I do love to see them, I do not miss their insatiable appetite for many of the plants in the garden.
Eddy on guard
Be safe, be well, be kind and be grateful. Laugh and cry. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Galloping Through 