Emma and the rabbit

Over all, Emma is a great dog, but I swear sometimes she is out to send my over the edge. This morning, like every other morning, I have her leash draped over my arm as I juggle my keys, water, her bag of toys, my cell phone and try to lock the door, get down the steps and into the truck. Unlike most mornings though, Emma spotted a rabbit. I’ve been watching this rabbit for a few weeks and he has been getting bolder and bolder. At first, he nibbled grass along the drive, then along the edge of the woods by the house, and last night he was nibbling right next to the porch. This is exactly where he was this morning too. Only problem is that Ms Em caught site of him (which she normally does, but she is usually in the truck and just gets to bark) and knew that Mom was not in control. So, off she went after this poor little bunny. Emma gave chase and the rabbit ran and zig zagged back and forth in circles around the yard, never darting into the woods or under the porch or truck. It took me a minute to put everything down and grab a treat to get Emma’s attention. Luckily when I squeaked her toy and held up a cookie, she came bounding back to me. As soon as Emma got on the porch, I grabbed her leash and looked for the rabbit. It was sitting at the edge of the woods, breathing hard, and had a “what the heck happened” look on his face. I’m sure he will think twice about nibbling around the porch again.
Emma was quite pleased with herself for chasing off the “monster” and seemed to really enjoy the thrill of the chase. I am very thankful that she did not catch the rabbit. When we got to daycare she had an extra “spring” to her prance and the staff immediately asked what Emma had done to be so proud of herself. They all know her so well. LOL
Needless to say, Emma will be on a tighter leash for a while as we come and go. But it is nice to know that Emma is there to protect me from the “monster” rather real or imagined.

Harmony

I have been wanting a painting of Streak for as long as I can remember, but having one done was always out of my reach. Then along came Nolan and I wanted one of both of them. Throw Paddy in the mix and I just had to have one, but it was still out of my grasp. Then this past winter, I really started looking at the paintings by Karen McLain. I had seen her work before and loved it, but there was no way I could afford to have someone of her caliber paint my boys. Or so I thought. The more I looked at her paintings, the more they spoke to me. Two months ago it hit me that Streak was turning 26 and I knew if I did not do a painting now that I might never have a chance again.

So, I emailed Karen to inquire on what a commissioned painting of my boys would run. I was surprised at how reasonable she was. The size painting I truly wanted was still out of my price range for now, but I knew that I would be happy with a 16 x 20. So I took the plunge and asked her to paint my boys. Karen wanted not only pictures, but an insight to each one's personality and my relationship with them. With all of the pictures of Nolan and Paddy this was not a problem. Unfortunately I did not take many pictures of Streak when he was younger and many of the ones I had taken had been destroyed. Still, I had quite a few of him over the past couple of years. I shared with her stories about each of the boys, how they came into my life, how they interact with one another, their personalities, and how I feel about each one of them.

Then the wait started. I told Karen to paint whatever she wanted to paint. She is the artist after all and I was just someone hungry for a painting of my wonderful boys. Almost 2 weeks ago I received an email telling me that my painting was complete. All I knew was that she had titled it "Harmony". No other insight into what I was about to receive. A week of letting it dry and then finally last week it was sent UPS. I never realized how sloooowwww UPS was. I tracked the package daily (truthfully several times each day) and then finally last night a UPS truck appeared.

I could not get my package in the house quick enough to open. My hands trembled with anticipation as I tried to figure out the safest way to open the box and then unwrap the painting. I was surprised to find two paintings in the box. First I unwrapped the smaller of the two and found a beautiful painting of my boys....I was amazed at how perfectly she had captured them. I noticed a letter in the box and opened it to read before unwrapping the bigger painting. It was a letter from Karen explaining how she included the "study" she had done of my boys and then explained "Harmony" to me. The reason why she had placed each of the boys where she had in the painting and why she had titled it "Harmony". Her reasons were perfect....she had interpreted my relationship with each of my boys and their relationship with each other to a "T". I was sniffling by the time I finished her letter and could not unwrap "Harmony" fast enough.

The first glimpse of my boys and the tears started falling. Somehow through the pictures and stories that I had sent to her, Karen had captured the very spirit of each one of my boys. They shine through the painting and there is no denying that she painted the three horses that mean the most to me, that bring a peace into my life, that brings a harmony to my existence. To say that the painting is breath taking is an understatement. She was able to get their colors down so exact, the shading, even Streak's fuzzy forelock; she was able to capture their very essence. You can tell that she painted with her heart. My painting just jumps off the canvas and has a depth that I never expected.

The more I study "Harmony", the more amazed I am at Karen's talent, her gift. Letting her paint what she felt verses telling her what I wanted was one of the smartest things I have ever done. I am grateful to Karen for taking the time to interpret my boys onto canvas. The work of art I have is something I will treasure for always.

You can see more of Karen's work at http://www.karenmclainstudio.com/ (FYI, pictures do not even begin to convey the depth and emotions that her works truly invoke).

Happy Father's Day!

I know this blog is suppose to be about Emma and my boys, but it is my blog so I'll write about other things from time to time.

This morning I want to tell my Father, Happy Father's Day! I know that I have not always told you that I love you and there have been times when you have felt that I did not love you or was ashamed of you, for this I am very sorry. While things happened in the past that caused me to distance myself from you, mother and even from my siblings a bit, it was because I needed time to heal from the past scars, to find myself and to become the person I am today. There has never been a time in my life that I did not love you, only a times when I did not know how to express myself or was not self assured enough to say the words. I am not ashamed of you. You might embarrass me on occasion (this IS part of a parent's job description), but hey I'm tough enough to survive.

I regret now not spending more time with you. I vow to try and make up for this - to spend more quality time with you. I know we are two very different people, yet we have many similarities (some I'm proud of, some I say "Oh my god! I AM just like my father!).

If it were not for you introducing me to Ryan, I would probably never have realized my dream of owning horses. For this I can never thank you enough. Without my first horse Buddy, I would never have ended up with my boys....without Streak who over time has helped heal my heart and who helped me realized that some of the things that have happened in my life were not my fault, that there are just evil people out there, and that no matter how many times I fall off, that I must get up, dust myself off and get back on. Now I, also, have Nolan and Paddy to help remind me of the lessons Streak has taught. They have taught me the most valuable of all lessons....no matter how rocky the road, how hard life gets, to pause and look around there is always beauty to be found.

Thank you for always loving me no matter what. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for always giving a helping hand. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for being my father.

I love you daddy!

Memories

I was just chatting with my baby sister about Streak and how most people do not give animals credit for being as intelligent as they are. Streak has had me worried the past few days....he has been "off", but no fever, has gut sounds, feet are not hot....just "off" and I could not figure out why. That is until last night. I went out to feed and Nolan and Paddy were destroying the round bale (they must paw at it, pull hay onto the ground and then eat). While they were doing this, Streak was standing with his head hung over the neighbor's fence. He had the saddest expression on his face and then it hit me what was wrong. My neighbor "foals out" mares for her clients and keeps the mares and foals until the foals are a few months old. Well, she has been breeding several of the mares back to her stallion and the mares and foals are being shipped back home. Streak, while he is a gelding, has a very protective nature....he loves to "mother" foals and is always happiest when there is a foal around for him to protect. As Jenn puts it "he has a big heart" and it is breaking now that his "babies" are leaving.

Streak has been in my life since I was 19. Through the years we have had the chance to click, to bond like only a few horse / human partnerships have. For so many, horses are horses and are traded for a newer model or for a model that will do whatever they are wanting to do at the time. For me, my boys are my family. I cannot imagine life without them.

Jenn is several years younger than I am. When she was a teen, I tried to be a positive influence on her. I drug her out to the barn more times than she wanted to go. I would, also, play little tricks on her. LOL On more than one occassion, I would give Streak a bath, roach his mane, and cover him in show sheen. Then go pick up Jenn and take her to the barn....and laugh my butt off. I'd encourage her to get up on Streak bareback so that she could work on her "balance". If you know show sheen, then you know it says "do not use in saddle area". Poor Jenn never had a chance. On our way to the barn, she would always want to stop for a Mello Yello (do they still make those?)...one for her and one for Streak. She had him addicted. Well one day she gave Streak his as soon as she walked in the pasture...he took his, turned it up and guzzled it down. Jenn laughed and proceeded to walk towards the barn, only to hear Streak running after her....he might have finished one, but Jenn still had one in her hand and he was determined that he would get that one too. He chased her into the tack room and had her cornered (of course I was no help, I was laughing so hard I was trying not to pee on myself). He would not let her out of the tack room until she relented and gave him her Mello Yello. Poor fella was cut off after that. LOL

Thank you Jenn for bringing up this memory and for being such a wonderful sister. I am truly blessed not only for the boys in my life, but for having you as a sister and having had you share in so many of my memories with Streak.

My Boys

Once again, let me say how blessed I am to have my three wonderful boys in my life. They bring me joy and peace that cannot be found elsewhere. It is nice to have a place to go to feel free, to feel that all is right in the world and that I am safe and loved, a place where I belong and am accepted for who I am.

Last night I went to the barn to feed and spend time with my boys. I pulled in the drive and Tammy was there (she and her husband own the barn that I lease). I stopped and spoke with her for a few minutes. The boys were in the pasture grazing and within seconds all three were very much aware that I was there. They stood watching us talk and then started towards the gate. Enough talking to another human, they wanted my time. It amazes me each day how much they seem to enjoy my presence within their herd. I finished my conversation with Tammy and went to greet my boys. I say a quick hello to each of them and then give each one individual "mommy" time.

As always, Streak is the first.....he is leader of the herd and must be greeted first, put in his stall first, fed first, brushed first, turned out first. He is my "old man", my best friend and knows what I am thinking without my saying a word. When it is just the two of us, he rests his head against my chest and sighs as if saying "all is right with the world". I stand there with my face resting on his poll and stroke his neck. I spend a few minutes checking over him, making sure there are no bites, bumps, nicks, cuts or bruises. At his age I feel that no matter how small that this things must be addressed immediately. He has given me his best over the years and I must do my best for him. I give him so hay to munch on and then move to the next stall.

Nolan is next and is waiting patiently for his turn. I walk in his stall and am immediately "head butted". He must rub his head up against me as if he is insuring himself that I am there and all is fine. As he rubs up against me, I scratch his ears or his shoulders. I run my hands over him in a quick search, not as slow and thorough as Streak's check up, but none the less I make sure that he is fine, doctor his little booboo's (because he always has a nick or two) and give him a hug, some hay and head to Paddy's stall.

While Paddy is last, he is not least. He is waiting, not as patiently as Nolan, but he knows his turn will come. He circles his stall when I enter and then comes up to lay his head on my shoulder. I brush my fingers through his mane and breathe. Paddy is more complex than Nolan, he is a thinker where Nolan is a follower. Paddy reminds me of Streak when he was young. He gets a check over the same as Nolan and is usually blemish free.

As I spend time with each of my boys, I drink in their individual scents, their combined scents along with the typical barn smells and a sense of calming washes over me. The tranquility that these moments bring cannot truly be put into words. These are the moments that I know that there is a God, that life is worth living and that the world is good.

Houdini and Neighbors

I am blessed with three wonderful boys....all geldings....each touch my life and enrich it in different ways. Lately, I am beginning to think that Paddy's role in my life is to teach me not to assume anything - especially that he will be where he is suppose to be. Over the last few weeks, he has decided that the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence. He has discovered a hole in the fence that he can squeeze through (Streak and Nolan cannot). So, I was going to repair the fence and moved them to a friends 20 acres for a week until I could get the repair done. Well, I was out looking at the fence trying to determine what needed to be done to stop my little escape artist when my neighbor came over. He informed me how I needed to fix the fence, the ONLY brand of fencing to use along with the style of fencing and that I needed to make sure that the fencing was repaired properly since this is HIS fence. Needless to say this ticked me off somewhat (OK more than somewhat). I care about my horses more than this guy (he is always telling me that they are JUST animals). I'm not saying he is abusive to his horses, but to him they are no more than something to have fun on, not something to enrich his life. I went to Tractor Supply to pick up the new fencing and on my drive over, I just kept getting more aggrevated at what he said, so I picked up some t-posts, some electric tape and a charger and said if it is HIS fence, then HE needs to repair it. I put up the electric fence about 5 feet off of the fence line and was very proud of myself. That is until I got home from work the next afternoon. There was Paddy enjoying the grass in the neighbor's pasture (that by the way is only fenced on 3 sides). Seems he thought nothing of going through the electric fence. I added some more t-post so it is only 8 feet between posts and grounded the charger better. As of this morning, Paddy has not touched the fence again and is where he is suppose to be. Now don't think I am taking it for granted that he will stay there, I'm just saying that for right now he is.

Party at The Pawms

Emma goes to The Pawms during the week for daycare -www.pawms.com - where it is one big party.  I am sure with her personality that she is the life of the party.  She and her best friends Alfie, LuLu and Lady enjoy playing in the water, chasing each other and playing with toys and the other dogs.  Emma adores Jeff, Tracy, Cory, Derrick, Marli, and the rest of the staff.  Each morning she lays in bed waiting for me to get ready and as soon as I pick up the keys, she is at the door ready to hit The Pawms running.  I cannot imagine how hyper and unhappy Em would be without daycare.  It is a great outlet for all of her energy and it provides wonderful socialization.  With all of this in mind, I went to Sips N Strokes last night and painted a dog partying....I put my own little touches in the painting so that the dog is a poodle ( OK so it is suppose to be Emma, not a good likeness, but close enough).  I have named the painting "Party at The Pawms" and gave it to Jeff and his staff to enjoy.  Somehow Jeff knew that there was some "sipping" involved while I was painting.  LOL  I hope they enjoy the painting half as much as Emma enjoys partying her days away with all of them.

 

Streak turns 26!

Wow!  When Streak first came into my life, I never imagined either one of us getting old, but time stops for no man, woman or horse it seems.  Streak is 26 today.  He has carried me many miles, for more hours than I can count, he has taught me valuable life lessons, has taught numerous children how to ride, gave many the self confidence that they needed to make their way in the world...he has touched many souls, has influenced for the better many lives.  Many people think Streak is a plain brown horse, but if you truly look at him, he is the morst gorgeous shade of auburn...he coat glistens in the sun.  There is no thing as a "plain" horse, each one has varying shades of brown,gold, chocolate, bronze, rust, auburn, black in their coats.  They are all beautiful. 

Streak has been a constant in my life for a long time.  I can't imagine life without him....without his faint nicker as I approach, the smell of him after a ride, the warmth he generates on a cold morning, our talks, the time we spend together in silence, the bond that has been created over the years.  You hear of people talking about being "one" with there horse, let me tell you that is something that can be achieved and there is no better feeling than that "oneness".  Streak and I know each other, when we are out on the trails or in the arena, we communicate through subtle movements, ride effortlessly together, he knows what I am about to ask and I know what he is about to do....I know when things are bothering him....when he is annoyed with the bugs on the trail or other horses and riders that do not respect "our space" that crowd in or going running past....I know how he is going to respond to those situations.  I, also, know that if he hesitates when asked to do something or even on occassion downright refuses to do as asked, that he is watching out for me...that there is something that I do not know about that is going to get one or both of us hurt.  I have learned to listen, to trust in, my best friend. 

Happy Birthday my dear friend!