Oh Brother!

I heard her. What a bag of wind that girl is! Maddie needs to go to the groomer because she's a mess! She rolls in the leaves. She digs in the mud. She pulls tulip bulbs out of the garden. She really is a walking dust mop...full of dust!

As for me, I'm clean. My hair is short. My feet aren't slippers. I don't roll. I don't dig...much. And I've never had a tulip bulb in my mouth. But guess what? I have to go to the dang groomer too!

Why?

Because Maddie's a scaredy cat that's why! Mom thinks if I don't go along, Maddie will freak out! So I have to go through the washer and drier right along with her. Is that fair I ask you? No it's not!

Besides that, I have to sit in the stupid cage and wait...and wait...and wait. Maddie takes twice as long as I do. It's all about Maddie. Poor Maddie pish shaw! Poor me!

Give my mom and earful. I do believe she's enabling Maddie and we all know that's not good!

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Maddie's Turn

You know, it seems like it should be my turn to talk. No Annabelle. No Tango.

I just heard my mom saying that it's time that Annabelle and I go to the groomer. Frankly, I like myself just the way I am. I was admiring myself in the mirror this morning. I looked adorable if I do say so myself.

If my mom had any sense, she'd like me that way too. In fact, if she gave it much thought, she could get rid of her dust mop and broom. Shoot...I have so much fur on the pads of my feet I could do the job they do in a heartbeat.

And I know how much Mom hates to clean. You should see her. She starts in the kitchen loading the dishwasher but before she gets to the floors she runs upstairs to get something she forgot. The next thing you know she disappears into her office and sits down at the computer.

Then the phone rings. Then she finds her riding boots and cleans the zippers. Then she comes back downstairs and opens the back door to shoo out a wasp. The woman can't stay focused!

Yep! In the time my mom wastes, I could do all the floors in the house. Besides that, it's getting colder outside. If I go to the groomer they're going to cut away all the nice warm fur off my feet. No slippers for me! What's a girl supposed to do?

Would you please try to talk some sense into my mom? She might listen to you!

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There Are No Words...

You know, there really are no words to explain how we all feel about our animals. They are so much a part of who we are that if you are reading this blog, I don't even have to explain what I mean.

Last night I went to the barn late (about 10:30) to deliver a cake that needed to be at the annual potluck and trail ride today. I couldn't be there because I had to work. Anyway, after I had the cake safely tucked away, I went into Tango's barn to say goodnight to him and give him an apple.

The boy was sound asleep. If horses could curl up in a ball, I would tell you that's how Tango was. Since they really can't curl up in balls, he was about as close as you can get. On top of that, he was snoring. He was so adorable I can't even tell you. I blew him a kiss and tiptoed out of the barn and.....

back to the car where Annabelle and Maddie had their little faces pressed to the window waiting for me. On the way home, I couldn't help but think how lucky I am...how lucky WE are. All of us have a special bond with our animals.

How can you explain that bond to a person who doesn't know the love that goes beyond just owning a pet? I don't think you can.

Anyway, I got way off track here. The video below is of a girl by the name of Stacy Westfall. She is riding her horse without a saddle or reins or even a halter. She is riding in a show where tensions run high. She is riding less than a month after the death of her father. She IS riding.

The bond between this girl and her horse is so evident, I had to share. You may need tissues...I did.

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Houdini Is Lonely Again or One Word Wednesday

BUMMER!

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Tango Will Never Be Lonely Again!

Okay. I know my picture taking isn't the finest but take a look at Tango. He's in the middle of a herd. Now that in and of itself isn't huge for most horses, but it is for Tango. Why? Because for the entire time we've been at our barn, Tango's had to be in a field with just one horse to keep him company. Tango's name should have been Houdini! He is able to get out of most places without much effort.

I truly do appreciate the fact that there has always been one horse with Tango. But I always knew Tango wanted to play and play rough. Hey...that's where the word horseplay must have come from!

Yep!

He used to get out of everything.

He got out of his stall. He got out of a pasture and onto the highway. He got out of anything that he set his mind to! Vince, the owner of the barn, didn't want to take the chance that Tango would let all the other horses out and I don't blame him.

But guess what? All the fences got reinforced and now TANGO'S out with the herd of geldings! Best of all...HE CAN'T GET OUT!

Tango can still have alone time if he wants but Tango will never be lonely again. YIPPEE!!!!

By the way, Tango's getting his winter coat which reminds me of something. My sister-in-law has a blog called The Bridge. She is busy crocheting scarves, hat, and mittens for our city's homeless people. Lots of others have joined her cause...go take a look!

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Birds on a Wire

It only took a minute to make my heart sing.

See if your heart sings with mine!

Animals and wildlife inspire us even when we’re not aware of it.

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The Difference in Dogs

I have always known this to be true, but yesterday it struck me again. Dogs are as different in personalities as people.


I was in Texas visiting my sister for a long weekend. Maddie and Annabelle were well cared for by my husband Chuck, but they missed me nonetheless and were exuberant when I got home. I missed them too, but being at my sister's is the next best thing to home because she has a dog and four cats!

Anyway, back to what I was starting to say...Chuck opened the door from the garage to our house and Annabelle bolted out to see me. Chuck was frantically calling Annabelle back inside. I wasn't. Why? Because I know that Annabelle won't take off. She won't go anywhere that I'm not. She'll be calm and focused.

I opened up the car door to get out more luggage and Annabelle jumped in the driver's seat and waited patiently for me. Then she followed me into the house.

Maddie on the other hand would have jumped up to greet me, run down the street, and chase after whatever it was that attracted her attention. Then she would have become slightly confused and spatially challenged looking this way and that. Maddie's a lot like me.

For me, the key to respecting my girls (or any of the dogs I've had) is understanding that they are just like us with different personalities and challenges.

The only difference between dogs and us was best said by Josh Billings: "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
Too bad most people can't learn from dogs!

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