Maureen's Blog

I nearly had a heart attack yesterday.  As usual, I turned the horses loose at about 5:30 (am).  I keep a casual eye on them, and know their routine.  Around 10 I looked out and saw they were encroaching on the yard.  That is just about when they are tired of eating and looking for only the tastiest bits.  I brandished my driving whip and sent them back to the field.   Normal.

A few minutes later I looked out to see where they were, as normally they would be making another foray into the yard.  I didn’t see them out of the windows, so went outside, as they can be in one corner of the field that’s not visible from the trailer.  To my shock (and horror) I could see NO horses at all.  Not one!!  OMG!!  AHHHHH!  Alright, don’t panic, I told myself, they’ve probably finally realized they can go over the ridge to the other side – where there is more grass.  So I walk up the hill to the top of the ridge and look.  NO horses!

I walk back, get my truck keys, whip, and halter and lead.  I cannot believe they all marched up the road and left!  My feelings are hurt as well.  Just as I am about to get in the truck, here they all come – over the ridge. Where they were hiding I don’t know, but I was very relieved to see them.

For the most part though, life on the farm is relaxing.  I love the privacy.  I love the view.  I love the illusion that I am in the middle of nowhere.  I love that the horses can roam free.  I enjoy it all and really, aside from needing money to live and support the horses, I want nothing else than to live here and enjoy my horses and the farm.

There is a doe the horses and I see regularly (they point her out and then I see her).  Yesterday I was the one to spot her, and for the first time she wasn’t alone – she had two little fawns tagging along behind.  I’m sure she had them stashed somewhere and now that they are older (no spots) she is teaching them about the world.

The day before yesterday, I saw a red fox on the hill, answering the question – are there any foxes around?  The coyotes can be heard singing.  And in the spring, hearing and seeing the turkeys was a real treat. There are abundant birds – ones I know and ones I don’t.  I have a chair under the two big pine trees by the fence corner, and I sit there enjoying it all while I fill the trough, or just watch the horses in the field.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

A rainbow July 14, 2012