Hemi is an official country dog!

Every time I look at Hemi I think of the Iams commercial...."Hi, I am an Iams dog, and I am beautiful!" 

Hemi really likes his chew toy.  Since he can't see well we have to be real careful when playing with him.  He will jump for it not knowing if he is at the rope or our hands.  Then we let him win....I meant to say then he wins and chews on the plastic handle a while.  :-)

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz......mucho fun with the rope....need a nap!

We are not in Virginia any more!  Check out this snow!  Woo hoo! 

VROOM VROOM!!!!!

After a nice romp in the snow, I get snuggled up in my warm blanket on my new girls lap...then guess who peeks her head around!?  Yep, Cocoa the kitty, who really doesn't like me.  She runs and I just can't help myself....I chase her!  She has pretty good hiding places, and I try to make her think I can get in them!  SNORT SNORT!  She really isn't too bad of a kitty...I will let her stay.  I just hope she doesn't quit running like Thomas did.  That just is not any fun at all!  Snort!

 Misty is my girlfriend, and she is sharing her bone with me.  Okay, I took it!  :-)  But don't think for a minute I am one of those kinds of guys!  She could take it back if she really wanted to!  SNORT!

 Apparently she doesn't want to....

LOOK!  Misty is singing me a song!  

A song of LUV!!!!!!

 And here is when things change.  He started out a suave and debonair gentleman....and now he is eating horse poop!

(Hemi is a little green around the gills) 
Ooooohhhhhh, I think I have a belly ache...I ate too many apples.  Think I will be sick.  I can't believe Batman told me it was okay to eat those things.  He said "Sure Hemi, they are safe.  You love apples for treats, right?  Well, these are apples too!  These are road apples!"

SNORT SNORT!  CAN'T STOP!!!!  

 Okay, just took eating a few more to get used to it.  Life is good in Hemi Land!

Think I will cruise up and down the aisles....never know what can be found in places like this.

After a couple of days being a country dog, it is time to clean up!  

Hemi had a great weekend!  Even tho he can't see well he gets around great.  He does bump into things at times, but once he knows they are there, he is careful.  He is a snort monster when he breathes, and he is always sniff/snorting around.

He will sleep good tonite!  :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is almost insulted that his girl likes to kiss Hemi on the face! 

Sunday trail ride...

It was another beautiful day....is this really the end of January?  Last year at this time we were battling a blizzard! 

Brian said he needed to head to town to get diesel fuel for the tractor, and the truck was hooked up to the trailer so I asked him to drop Tripp and I off at the wildlife area, then pick us up on his way back.  I knew that would give me a good 1 1/2 hrs...

Brian decided to take Hemi with him...Brian loves that dog, and Hemi loves to go for rides, so it sounded good to me.  I ran back to the house to grab something, and guess who jumped into my seat?  :-)

HEMI:  "Must not make eye contact with the girl..."

HEMI: "Okay, she is awful quiet back there...she is up to something.  A quick peek that direction to see what she is doing..."

 HEMI:  "Helllooooo.....you sure do look good sitting back there!"  :-)
That is his version of sucking up.

The parking area is only 2 to 2 1/2 miles from the house.  We are very lucky to have a nice area to ride so close.  Brian took Hemi for a walk while I was saddling up.

 I got saddled up and hit the trail.  I have not been out here to ride since I got pitched off Boom.  That isn't the reason I have not been out there...I really don't have a reason.  I was a little nervous because I still have my scaredly cat moments, but I was also very excited because there is nothing like being in the middle of nowhere with your horse.  There is only one thing that would have made this ride perfect - if Brian was riding with me.  Other than that, almost pure perfection!  :-)

Us and our shadow....

Tripp seemed happy to be out gallivanting around the woods too.  At this point I was looking for some bushes to hide behind....if you click on the picture and make it bigger you can see the trail wrap around the other hillside....and how many bushes do you see to hide behind?  NONE!  Ha ha!

What I did find at the bottom of the hill was a creek bed area that had washed out, so I took advantage of Mother Nature and her skills at making hiding places.  Tripp thought I needed help...so he came down there to check on me.  Since there was not much room I was feeling a little crowded....I wiggled his lead to back him up, but him being the agile athletic dude he is, could not get his feet over the forked log backwards.  Dang!  After taking care of business I helped him escape the forked log, found a big log to remount (I try not to mount from the ground unless I have to...easier on them that way) and away we went.
Oh....why did I feel the need to 'hide' in the middle of the woods with not a soul in sight?  Because I have seen game cams attached to trees out there...and I don't want to give them a moon shot!  :-)

We followed the road a little ways...not one car came by...

The shell of a log off to the right was one of the many scary things we encountered.  SNORT - STEP - STOP!  SNORT - STEP - STOP!
I would love to see these things from their point of view.  I know it isn't scary, and he knows that logs are not scary, but in his mind he is not seeing a log.  Fascinating...

The lake sure was looking pretty today.  There was a thin layer of ice with open spots on the water, the sun was kissing the tops of the trees, and nobody was around except nature at its finest.  We stood there a while and just watched and listened to the woods around us.  Did you know the woods talk?  Yep, they sure do....

I love this picture!  The reflection of the trees thru the opening in the ice...

It was a beautiful ride!  We did have several 'ACK!' moments when he spooked at something, but he is incredible!  He jumps and moves a little, but does not try to take off (most of the time).  So I got those crazy moments I needed to help me work thru things, and he got the exposure that he has missed out on for a while.

First big spooks - we were trotting down the trail (I was riding my imaginary endurance ride) and he jigged to the right then jigged to the left real quick.  Scary logs.
Second set of big spooks - a small pile of 2 ft long cut logs. 
Third set of big spooks - this one was funny and made me laugh out loud...I do that after I freak out.  I was trying to get a better seat, so I was half turned around adjusting my right thigh (chubby thighs - a friend showed me how to adjust them to sit better - it works!) then I heard this crash in the dead leaves not too far from us, I am off balance, Tripp hops in the air and I grip on with my legs.  He snorts, moves to the left a few inches and hops again but still focuses on the direction of the crash in the leaves.  Me?  I am still focusing on my thigh while saying "OH CRAP?  WHAT THE...???".  This probably happened in about 2 seconds...but it felt longer.  I look up and a squirrel - yes, a SQUIRREL, running away from us with its tail straight up in the air! 
That is when I burst out laughing....laughing because those darn squirrels thru that whole ride were a challenge, laughing because I about had a heart attack and survived it, laughed because I am so lucky to have a horse like Tripp, because if it was not for him and his great mind it might not have turned out that way.  After laughing, I leaned over and hugged him, and told him out loud that I loved him!!!  Let the game cams catch that!  :-)

After all this came the big shell of a log, the 'something' in the woods that only he could see (that was a big one for him), then more cut logs and squirrels.

It was getting dark so shadows were making things look more scary...plus he is lazy.  When he is done having fun, he is ready to quit.  Now.  Not in 15 minutes....but now!  We have never ventured off the trails out there - I have very strong feelings about that.  But he seemed to know which direction was a shortcut to home, so he thought fighting me was better than just taking the 15 minutes to get back to the parking lot.  He really tried hard to head down into the woods - which would have been great back in the old days before they made nice trails out there - but those days are gone.  We eventually made it, and Brian only had to wait about 20 minutes for me to get there.  I could not wipe the grin off my face!  I HAD SO MUCH FUN!

Now, here is my rant about trails.  I don't go off the trails because I don't want to take a chance on horses losing their trail privileges.  I have heard people talk about getting 'lost' then laughing about it...well, who is going to have the last laugh when we are banned from those trails?  It is happening all over the country.  So, be courteous and stick to the trails, and volunteer with local groups on trail maintenance.  I am not talking about the stepping off the trail stuff...I am talking about the obvious blazing of an old or new trail. There, that is my rant in short version.

Here is my piece of advice for the day...always OVER PREPARE for your ride!  You hear stories about the hikers that planned a day hike, then something happened and they were not prepared for the unexpected overnight stay?  And we all sit back and say "Yeah, that was not smart!"  I was warm...I dressed for the afternoon.  I did not dress for the sun going down then got to thinking what mistakes I made, and what to do to make sure they don't happen again.  So next time I am going to OVER PREPARE.  :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is still mumbling about knowing a shortcut because he has a better sense of direction that me!  ;-)

Got to take a short ride in a little bit of snow...

Saturday morning we woke up to a thin layer of snow.  It was so pretty...and not too cold!  I was going to take a ride!  All my stuff was still in the truck, so out came the pretty tie-dye colored halter.  I love tie-dye and it has been part of our motif since I got Tripp for the EMM. 

Since it was as short ride, I was going to ride in the area where we store the round bales.  We opened and closed the gate...it isn't pretty, but we got the job done.  If I had cows, they would have gotten out!  Ha ha!

I CAN REACH IT....there!  Closed!

Brian came out looking for me, so I ventured out for some pictures.
I have to laugh at my sense of style....or lack of.  Same warm cushy flanel jacket I always wear, jeans rolled up because my camo colored boots are snug around the ankle (but they are warm!), my two sided bright orange/snow camo colored ear warmer headband thingy, under my favorite helmet. I think Tripp is looking much snappier in his bright halter.  :-)

 Up the small pond bank....

Around the pond....

And here is where it got interesting...the horse to the right is Boom, and he and Tripp do not have any lost love for each other.  Tripp is usually the boss, but now that Boom is out there, they all respect his space.  Normally Boom will avoid us, all tho he makes faces at us over the fence when I ride in the hay bale area.  Today he started stomping and shaking that pretty head of his.  At first I thought it was nerves, then I realized it was a challenge.  I talked to him and he turned to walk away, then pinned those ears and turned back at us real fast!  I yelled at him and he turned to go the other way as Tripp did a very nice roll back the other direction...yikes!  I got Tripp stopped and facing Boom again, and Boom high tailed it away from us after I yelled.  I might still get the spooks when I get on Boom, but on the ground (or on another horse) I am still lead mare.  I think it is a Tripp/Boom thing.  Even tho Tripp lets Boom do his thing, he still wants to assert his authority.  Brian, being on the other side of the small pond, was a bit nervous....but it all turned out well.  And dang, Boom sure did look good!  :-)  

After our short ride was over, I took Tripp for a walk to the 'scary area'.  The scary area is down the hillside where coyotes ran out from behind a dirt pile a while back, so he still gets the "SNORT, WHAT IS THAT?" thing when we go by there.  Today something flew out from behind the dirt pile and thru the trees.  He did a quick turn spook thing, I about had a heart attack but stayed on (yay me!), then after I quit laughing (I laugh right after I get scared of something...don't know why...but it works for me) we proceeded on our merry way.  This was all before the Boom thing.

After our walk I played a bit....I love this little mustang!

It was a lot of fun, I got not just one, but two 'AH HA!' moments to work thru, and I was ready to start the weekend!  :-)

Until later, Karen and Tripp who says he is happy to oblige helping me with my 'AH HA!' moments.  :-)

Hemi in the dog house...literally...and more

Tripp:  "HA HA HA!!!!  Hemi is in the dog house!  How cute is he now?  Nicker snort snort..."

Hemi:  "I am in the dog house - because I am THE bull dog and I choose to be.  Now, back to that sun beam..."

Tripp:  "Oh, never mind.  HEY!  What is that blue thing?  I don't have one of those!  Oh, I get it...."Mom is saying 'A rope, that will shut him up.'  Yeah....nicker snort snort!"

Hemi:  "Dad loves me more!  He got me 2 new chew ropes AND a big one with a handle!  I was told I am not supposed to get the handle end...but sometimes I sneak it.  Snort snort..."

I woke up yesterday morning to a pretty layer of snow.

Brian caught Misty the dog and Thomas the cat at the tree together...looking up....(he missed that photo op)....

They were scoping the squirrel that had a nut in its mouth.  If you click on the picture you can see the silhouette of the nut in its mouth...it is facing the tree trunk.

 

I was trying to get a picture of some sparkly ice on a weed...and Nakita jumped in just as I was getting the picture.  :-)

I don't know what it is about snow on the previous years plants...I love sunflowers even in the winter!

Close up of pod head.  It might look all dried up and dead, but a lot goes on inside this little thing.

Joker:  "SMOOOOCCCCHHHHH!"

More self portraits....January has been incredible this year.  Lots of great evenings with beautiful skies.

Tripp, Epona and Wendigo.  They are showing off their glowing eyes alien look.  

Tripp:  "Just so you all know, I was joking about Hemi.  I really do love the little wrinkled guy...especially since he knows his place...snort snort..."

The days are getting longer, the weather has been great, and I am so blessed to have the life that I do.

Until later....Karen and Tripp who agrees that I am blessed to have him in my life.  :-)

A week off work...

I don't usually complain about work, but I am going to right now.  This summer was rough.  We have had the biggest turn over in employees in the past year than the whole 11 years of me being in that department.  I usually get some time in the summer to take a few days off, and I usually get to go on storm duty.  I did not get to do either....until now.  January really is not the best time of year to take off, but I really needed it.  Out of the week there was one day that was about 60, and Brian was home that day so we got a few things done that were on the to-do list.  Other than that, cold and windy!  Not the weather I hoped for, but I am still so so grateful to be able to take the time off to clear my head. 

Friday the 13th Hemi went to the vet to get (shhhhh, don't tell him) 'fixed'.  He is also up to date on vaccinations and he had his eyes checked.  He had cherries removed from his eyes when he was younger and the vet had to do something with the tear ducts.  My vet told me if the cherries are bad enough, they totally remove the ducts.  Long story longer - he does not produce his own tears, and he is going blind.  (We knew this when we agreed to bring him home with us)  We know he can see shadows, but we think that is about it.  Example:  he will be at the bottom of the grass hill and I call him to me (kisses means come to me....I started doing that and it is working better than calling his name).  He will head up the hill at an angle so I know he isn't seeing me, then I will call and kiss again, and he will correct his direction.  At night - he can't see.  He is learning where things are and it is amazing how much running and playing he does!  Of course I cried when I thought of sweet little Hemi being blind...then I remembered that we as humans tend to have a harder time with stuff like this than they do.  They go with the flow more than we do.  So guess what?  Hemi is just wonderful!  :-)
He has another appointment in 3 weeks to check tear production.  No matter what, he will be on a lifetime of eye drops of some sort.

We had snow and I think Hemi was wondering when he was going to get to go back to Virgina Beach and chase horseshoe crabs.
 

 

It was a little chilly but not too bad.  The snow melted within a couple of days.  I went out to play with the llama.  He is learning to lead and looks quite handsome in Batman's purple halter.  I also put the red halter on Jester the donk.  That halter looks great on everyone so far!

Tandee is wondering why she doesn't get to wear the pretty red halter.  She says she looks good in red too.  :-)

Playing with Chase the llama and Juster the donk.  Batman is supervising, Tandee is showing her disgust since she has not got to try on the pretty red halter yet, and Wyoming is making like he doesn't see us.

SMOOCH!!!
For those wondering, Chase spits all the time, but has never spit at Brian or I.  I did get residual spit on me one day when he sent a wad flying at Wyoming, but other than that, we have stayed clean.  He has belched right in our faces before....oh man...talk about rank!  Ewwww!

Is it my turn to try on the pretty red halter yet?

We ended up with a very frosty morning and everything was sparkling.  It was soooo pretty, and soooo cold! 

The horses looked so pretty that morning with the sun coming over the trees, the frost on their bodies sparkled, and they all looked happy.  Sure can't ask for much more than that.  I love my life!

Nevada is such a doll baby...

 Tripp sporting a frosty back.

Joker centered right in the middle of the green cedars and the sparkly surroundings...you can barely see his breath.

Nevada says "Hey!  It is me again!"

Tripp and Ace before their play fight time.

Tripp going over the play fight rules with Joker.  He says the rules are there are no rules.  :-)

Brian spoiling Tripp..."ooohhhh that feels sooooo gooooooddddd"...

Nevada is very much a people horse.  He will come up beside you and just hang out.  I love that about him.

I kept saying it was too cold to ride.   Heck, some of the week was in the 20's and windy...so yep, it was cold.  Then a friend from our Mustang club mentioned that he got bundled up and worked one of his horses when it was 20 out.  I thought "Oh heck, now I have to go out to do it while it is 30!"  So I went out looking for my stuff and could not find any of it!  After a slight panic, I realized I had it all packed in the truck for the Equine Celebration this past weekend (that I ended up not taking Tripp to) so I grabbed the pretty colorful halter to ride in!  I love this halter!  It is bright and festive!

Tripp and I doing our self portrait stuff....he is such a good sport!

Brian liked this one better.  Yes, it is more centered, but I get more giggles out of the other one because I know what Tripp and I went thru to try to get pictures.  He would get too close and fog up the lens, then I would have to start over.  :-)

Batman nosing around...

Chase facing around...

Two nights ago we had some pretty strong storms come thru.  This is hail!  I sat up waiting for the storm to pass....internet and satellite was not working, and I was not taking chances on a rogue tornado.  The storms stopped as fast as they started.

Nothing like a beautiful sunset to end the day...

It was a busy week but a nice one.  I am hoping to do it again this summer.

Hope everyone is doing well so far this year!

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is laughing at Tandee because he gets to wear the pretty red halter.