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!

Life

I'm sitting here this morning, playing on the computer with Emma laying beside me which has caused me to start thinking. Life may not have turned out like I wanted, but I must admit that my life is pretty good. I may not have all of the "in" things - flatscreen tv, Wii, top of the line computer, new car or a big house, but what I do have is soooo much better. Emma and my boys are such a major part of my life. I can't have children, who knows why but they were not in God's plan for me, so I dote on my four legged babies. I believe God has sent me 4 extra special babies....each bringing something different to my life, each helping to brighten my days and giving me reasons to smile and laugh.


Emma, being a poodle, spends more time with me than the boys. She is my almost constant companion. I find myself talking to her and while she may not answer back with words, she does answer me. She has helped pull me out of my "self inflicted" shell. While we are out running around, she draws lots of attention. People are always stopping to pet her and chat for a few minutes. With Em at my side, I find myself getting out more, doing things I would never have done before.


Now the boys are a different story. I find myself rushing home after a weekend in Memphis just to see them, to bury my head in their manes and to drink in the sweet smell of horses and grass. They bring a peace to my soul that only God could grant. I am in awe of their beauty, the may they move, they way the wind plays with their manes and tails. Each one is unique, yet they are all equally beautiful.


Why did God decide to bless me in the way He has? What did I do to deserve these wonderful creatures? Why did He decide to entrust them to me? When I am with my four legged family, I feel more in touch with the Creator than when I am anywhere else. I can sense His presence, I know He truly exists and that there is no way that we are the results of a "big bang".

Paddy

There is something about Paddy that calls out to people. He has personality plus - he is a lover, a free spirit and a thinker. Paddy has a very gentle spirit. Like his two big brothers, he is a momma's boy. He is so considerate and insists on walking me to the gate every morning after I turn them out to graze. Then he stands there watching me back out of the drive as if he is making sure I safely get on my way.

As young as he is, he is wonderful with small children. He loves to have his ears scratched and enjoys being with people. He adores his big brothers. He and Nolan are best friends, but he knows that Streak will protect him from whatever scares him.

I love how Paddy "thinks" before doing what is asked of him. Paddy makes sure he completely understands what is being asked, what is expected of him, before he will do it. To be honest, I sometimes get a little frustrated, but then I realize that Paddy is just reinforcing the lessons that Streak taught me many years ago. Paddy is teaching me patience, that things will happen in their own time, not in mine. He is teaching me to slow down, to ask things in a simple fashion. He is reminding me to be honest with myself, to BE myself.

Many people thought I was crazy for getting Paddy....I had two horses already, what was I going to do with a third. Who knows they might be right about me being crazy, but life is for living and Paddy helps to brighten up my life. I may not have a huge savings account, drive a new truck, live in a big, fancy house, I don't even own my own land, but my bills are paid and I know what makes me happy and that is my boys.

Streak

Next week Streak will turn 26....I can't believe he is as old as he is.  One day he is creaking as he walks and the next he is acting like a 2 year old.  As he has aged, his star and strip have become wider - more smudged than it was in his youth.  He now has gray sprinkled throughout his coat...not noticable to most, but I see it.  Some days I wonder where time has gone....how did we both turn old without realizing it....why did I not enjoy every minute as I should have.  Streak has carried me many, many miles and has been a rock in my life.  No matter how bad or good things are or have been, he has been a constant for all of my adult life.  He has been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, he has listened to me talk about what is good in my life and what is bad....it does not matter to him what I talk about, he is always willing to listen.  Streak has also taught me many valuable lessons.  I have learned to listen to him, to trust him.  He has never put me in harms way and has done everything he could to let me know when I was putting myself in danger.  He has been a babysitter and taught my oldest nieces how to ride.  I never had to worry when they were on his back, I knew he would take care of them.  He would always take care of me, too.  Yet, when he thought I was taking things a lot more seriously than I should or that I was taking things for granted, he delighted in putting me on the ground.  

Over the past several years I have taken what he has taught me for granted, have forgotten many of his lessons.  Now as I watch my best friend age and realize that he will not always be here, I am trying to live life to the fullest....live the lessons he has taught.  I know he could be gone tomorrow or he might just hang on for a few more years...only God knows when Streak will be torn out of my life, but while I have him here, I am going to continue to learn from him.  I can't let the future dictate today, I am going to live in the moment and enjoy what time I have left with my best friend.