Another day of staying away from the barn, though my knee feels perfectly fine. Tomorrow I am released from confinement. The horses were brought in with all shoes on. It was a near thing with Stone, who had a very loose right front shoe. Marianne taped it last night and we all crossed our fingers.
We managed to avoid a head on collision with Fred, as he arrived to shoe all the boys while we were heading out to St. Louis. It was good to see him, even briefly, and Jane says he did a beautiful job, as always. Missed our laughs and catching up, but the way time goes, six weeks will pass in a flash.
I know blue jays are sometimes considered bird thugs, but I do love them. Ever since Harry pointed out that, if they were rare, they would be considered magnificent, I have had a soft spot for blue jays, though I will admit their voices are raucous. This morning, I took some shots of this handsome specimen who took a liking to suet.
“These sunflower chips are boring.” 
“Hey, I wonder how that suet would taste?” 
“Yikes, it’s high!” 
“Yum! Worth the effort.”
Harry had a porch lunch arranged with his good pals and I wanted a change of scene. Driving was allowed on my confinement program, so I acted as chauffeur, and spent some delightful time reading in the shade while the boys caught up. When I was recalled, I pulled out the camera to record the occasion.
Handsome Bill Oakey has returned to his hippie roots 
Hugh, Bill, Thornton, Harry and Denny
We returned to find Nathaniel hard at work mowing. I planned to do the push mowing tomorrow when released from the strict rules I am currently under, but it is pouring rain now, so I will probably have another day of relative rest. Probably not a bad thing.
Mowing the grass is an athletic endeavor here
I wandered around on the porch snapping a few pictures. The mock orange had an errant bloom. It must have confused the diminishing daylight hours to be springtime.
In the studio, Harry was hard at work, making up for the fun he had earlier, but still having plenty of amusement.
Jane popped over for eggs, since I could not walk over there on the gravel roads until tomorrow.
Marianne was kind enough to bring Bart near for a viewing before she turned the horses out.
Harry and Mistletoe, what can I say? She adores him.
On September 11, 2001, I was showing at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show, when the planes hit the towers, so it is always a strange anniversary. Our world changed forever, without doubt, though the horse show did go on. I remember calling Harry in Bowling Green to tell him a plane had hit a tower of the World Trade Center. He turned the television on and informed me that both towers were hit. It couldn’t be. But, of course, that day just got worse and worse. And, awful as that was, horse showing was unaffected. This pandemic has done much more damage, with more than 63 times the number of people lost, and even horse showing affected and halted for awhile. We are living in interesting times. I hope we live long enough to look back at this year with a long perspective!
Finally, Kris sent me a picture of Hunter Holloway and Bravo, who have arrived at The St. Louis National Charity Horse Show for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Spectators are not allowed because of Covid protocols, but it will be live streamed. It always thrills me to see him, and to know that I actually rode him, perhaps the highlight of my riding life. Brett Taylor changed my life with his generosity in entrusting such a horse to me in 2014, and our friendship, filled with laughter, endures.
Here is Bravo today.
And here he is at Bronze Fox Farm in 2014.
Bravo and Rosie were good friends 
Bravo was so dark gray! 
Bravo!
Stay safe, stay well, maintain friendships.
Thanks. for giving me a new perspective on blue jays. Glad to hear the knee is pain free and you can return to your many normal activities.
Silver Charm was a dark dapple grey much like Bravo. Interesting they both turned “Flea Bitten”. Handsome boy, that Bravo, I wonder, how old is he? I can’t help loving Blue Jays too, because they are so beautiful! Striking as they fly through the trees. So glad your knee has been fixed. Hope it stays that way! Our bodies are so amazing, all those trillions of cells, the true number unknown, much like the universe. Blake, “If you understand a grain of sand you might understand the universe.” (I’ve added “might” I don’t think Blake would mind) Stay well!