Temperatures have exceeded 100 degrees in Siberia (!), and while the northeast and southwest United States are having heat and wildfires, Missouri has been granted several halcyon days. Once again, horses stayed out in the field with morning temperatures below 60.
Bart 
Stone wonders if the photographer has a treat 
Oisin
Jane and I rode. I hacked, and watched Jane and Derry jump a bit. We are sort of uninspired, lacking goals, but it’s always good to see the world from the back of a horse. For one thing, we can see farther from atop their strong backs. Today, I saw a new fawn and its mother halfway across the back hayfield. My fascination (distraction) was part of the reason I never got around to jumping. Jane has better focus than I do!
Harry ventured out all the way to Chesterfield on errands. He returned with professionally cut hair. He thinks it’s too short, but I think it looks great.
Studio work at this stage of a sculpture’s evolution is nasty labor. Harry is suited up like a coronavirus health care worker for the task of carving back the armature.
Meanwhile, I am working outdoors in the fresh air and seeing all sorts of wonderful things, but usually without my camera handy.
So that’s why they call it butterfly weed! 
Well camouflaged , beautiful frog 
My garden companion, Roscoe 
Weedy and Nettie came for a visit 
Phlox – a summer favorite
Harry takes a critical assessment of the afternoon’s work before calling it a day.
The rose breasted grosbeak stopped by for an evening snack. I miss so many gorgeous bird pictures. This has been an exceptional year for birds, maybe just because I am staying closer to home and opening my eyes.
Another day, with gratitude for everything except the ticks, which are abundant. I am tired, and Roscoe is, too. He likes the sheepskin cushion, but anywhere will do after a long day.
Finally, in Montana, Rainy’s ears are growing faster than she is. As Nancy says, she is “all ears”. Her eyes are beginning to reveal that she will be a gray mule.
Stay safe, stay well, keep eyes and ears open, and masks on when out and about.
Harry’s haircut, VA Va Voom, Baby!! I laughed when I saw him all trussed up and protected in the studio, thought, is this what going to bed together looks like in the time of Covid? Ha Ha ha , Ah yes, these times of lockdown might be getting to me. The birds, the horses, LOVE the picture of you Anne with Weedy and Nettie. Frame it! Why do Red Bellied Woodpeckers have red heads and no red bellies? No wonder I can’t get these birds right! When I come back I might want to be a Roscoe, smart, and not affected by too much it seems, far above it all, yet, a good companion. LOL Rainy is adorable. I wonder, what will she do? I know horse people who love mules!
Jane, Red Bellied Woodpeckers do have red bellies, in addition to their red heads. I guess the Red Headed Woodpeckers were named first, so this species had to come up with another moniker.
Rainy will NOT have to pack hay bales into the wilderness. She is destined to be a riding mule.
Hello to you both and Jane! I do love your blogs. I filled my bird feeders (seeds, thistle, hummingbird foods) yesterday. The hummingbirds are so pugnacious – it’s like the Hatfield’s and the McCoys fighting over the drip! They feed even while I am under the feeder reading. Fearless little boogers. So I have two things: the first is for Harry and the second is for all of you. I found an old riding book off my shelf in the basement and started to read it to see if I was on the right track for feeling diagonals – which I think I am – but not always maybe on the right one- and I found my Freshman college informative speech on the “English Fox Hunt.” I just didn’t remember that I had a (literary) view into this world but, in rereading it, I relearned things I had forgotten. So Harry, since I have learned that you were in fox hunts, I will share this with you sometime in the future. For all of you: I fell with my saddle that tipped over on my sweet (thank God) horse and fell to the ground yesterday. I was never really in extremis and actually chuckled after I was able to know my horse was fine – but it did scare the withers off of him! We went on to have quite a productive lesson outside and I felt wonderful after the ride. This may be a ridiculous statement, but I really feel that when we experience unpredictable times with our horses it kind of bonds me to the horse. Would love to get together with the three of you after we ride sometime. Louise and I are doing early rides to get under the Camp. Perhaps Panera? ???
Hi, Pam! Harry and I both fox hunted. He was a Master of Foxhounds and I was a professional Huntsman for five seasons. We would both love to hear your informative speech on the subject!
I am sorry to hear you had a fall, but that does confer 7 years of experience, you know! Haha! And if you were able to get up and get back on without going to the hospital, that’s a victory. But enough of that! Misadventures on horseback are part of the fun, for sure. Glad you are OK!!
Looking forward to seeing you – Panera sounds like fun.