tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41276066119935751172024-03-14T10:25:34.799-07:00Horse Tails and Family TalesFamily travelogue and natural horsemanship with Abbey and Storm.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-56963308624428065952011-01-17T18:57:00.000-08:002011-01-17T19:08:48.308-08:00We Will Miss You, Sweet Girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TvQBgowCWQBbBLlcRRg6pTcRKs3-qHRkEkU8Yp18S-Uih7W3kZP2H0syKS9NebsYysZ4O6xbXc787GyL9OIPyK5s-S0Fpu9JE_zfHYjoE3d0V7RS5E0UC-gYpk1evKvLU8jXurmoYbGd/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TvQBgowCWQBbBLlcRRg6pTcRKs3-qHRkEkU8Yp18S-Uih7W3kZP2H0syKS9NebsYysZ4O6xbXc787GyL9OIPyK5s-S0Fpu9JE_zfHYjoE3d0V7RS5E0UC-gYpk1evKvLU8jXurmoYbGd/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563354850588336050" border="0" /></a><br /> Last year my friend Bennett brought Midnight and Jewel to live with Abbey at his farm. Midnight was the type that just went catatonic if she couldn't deal with what was happening to her, and when she got there she was like that a lot. You could hardly touch her, she wouldn't look at you, never really responded to anything. One day when Brandon was at the farm she seemed to take an interest in him, and Bennett had told me that she used to let kids ride her all the time, so my guess was that she had a lot more confidence around kids, that they wouldn't mistreat her. So Brandon came out to the farm pretty regularly last year and he spent a lot of time standing near her but facing away from her, waiting for her to get enough confidence to approach.<br /><br /> She came a LONG, LONG way. She not only let herself be touched, even haltered, but lately started seeking human contact and following me around like a puppy when I went to feed. She got really attached to Bran but he hasn't had a lot of time to come to the farm lately and hadn't been there for months and months.<br /><br /> Last week he came to help me haul some water for the herd when the weather was bad, and when she saw him she RAN to him, nickering "It's you!!" It was one of the most touching things I'd ever seen. The next day when he came again (the day that picture was taken), she followed us all over, and when we left she followed us all the way back to the car, and the rest of the herd followed behind her. <br /><br /> I didn't realize she was saying goodbye. This morning Bennett found her curled up in a pile of hay, and she'd breathed her last. A month or so ago when the weather got bad he'd found her down and she wouldn't get up, so we thought she might not last the winter, but she'd been so full of energy recently. I personally think she was waiting to say her last goodbye, to Bran, and then she was ready to go. <br /><br /> Enjoy the green fields wherever you have gone, my sweet friend. You will be missed.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-91063392952502304452011-01-09T19:48:00.000-08:002011-01-09T20:44:42.524-08:00Inspiration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQgXg3KX9fu86Lr-NPkZQ1wp_wLsXqgY6SSh7aA0CKHA0Ddzo9eo31QcKN8rgJ-GqQFrAQZetRga6W_As5OooQ2xJoHIn55-xRZYQ1L_x1nm2M8Br31736ms13K8AgvhiZYf21CVuhHO8/s1600/Snowponies+1.10+025.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQgXg3KX9fu86Lr-NPkZQ1wp_wLsXqgY6SSh7aA0CKHA0Ddzo9eo31QcKN8rgJ-GqQFrAQZetRga6W_As5OooQ2xJoHIn55-xRZYQ1L_x1nm2M8Br31736ms13K8AgvhiZYf21CVuhHO8/s400/Snowponies+1.10+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560413589588524226" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHn4QDCVtvdjbA9ecqqBoP3ex8gFMtIFP16SVJ6y9kJT-JADjjwEX8c39FQzkE7n-AJLYbY9b1jROsYRAs4bUKjSRpP9jFRVlp3kmkNXL-KBzlhe8koTSv4sWjhUgTDWHjVfNrun-lU3P/s1600/atlanta.09+015.jpg"><br /></a><br />I know I've been the worst kind of slacker, not only with this blog but with my horses too, a lot of the time. It's been almost a year. I was so excited about having Storm, and maybe getting to ride with Russ. I'm going to tell the story of what went astray.<br /><br />Not long after my last entry, Russ got on Abbey for maybe the second time (and probably something like his fourth time on a horse at all). We were in a small pasture. Both he and she were doing really well - no problem mounting, and she was moving around nicely for him. I was so excited to ride with him that I got Storm tacked up and was going to lunge her a bit before I got on. At some point amidst all of this Midnight got herself caught in the fence, spooked everybody, I dropped the lunge line, and Storm went charging around our little paddock, past Russ and Abbey twice. Abbey didn't spook till the second time when Storm went pretty close. She took off running, Russ didn't know what to do (I failed to teach him solid braking methods), he was yelling, Ab bucked, he went over her shoulder, broke his collarbone, and ended up incapacitated for nearly two months.<br /><br />I had so much guilt about this... so many things that seemed like "you should know better" in retrospect. And my confidence is pretty shaken; even though I have a little dreamboat Arabian to ride, I've only ridden about three times in the past year. Abbey is also spooked and the one time I tried to get on her she was having none of it, so I think we are going to need professional help (there is a really good natural horsemanship trainer very close, so when finances recover from multiple illnesses, and the weather is not crap, we are going to be calling <a href="http://www.fireflyacres.com/">Pete Dillingham</a>).<br /><br />Around September I discovered I have degenerative disc disease and I was laid up myself for almost another two months, and my neurosurgeon says I really need to not fall on my head lest I end up paralyzed, so no riding much beyond a walk. Between these two things, the lost wages, the lack of confidence, the fact that we really only have one rideable horse now, the fact that Russ won't be riding till probably next year because he's used his vacation time... well, it hasn't been a good year for me with the horses.<br /><br />Not that I'm neglecting them. I'm there every day and if the weather's decent, we are playing on the ground. Abbey's learned a lot of tricks, including playing ball with us. Clicker training has proven to be miraculous with her -- talk about motivated! We're considering teaching her to drive, in case riding becomes not an option for me because of my neck, at least until the surgery's done.<br /><br />But here we are in the dead of winter when my fingers are freezing off and I am DYING to play with them more than I can, and even to ride Storm. I've been watching some videos and reading a new clicker training book.<br /><br />Coincidentally, today I got a message on Paperback Swap from the wife of one of my favorite horse authors, Joe Camp. I loved his book, The Soul of a Horse, when I read it about a year and a half ago (if you haven't read it, DO IT). Kathleen mentioned he has a new one, The Soul of a Horse Blogged. Turns out, they are now in middle Tennessee, AND they're now mustang people. How cool is that!? Can't wait to get the new book. Go get yourself one!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Horse-Blogged-Compelling-Discoveries/dp/1930681046/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32QErBaCd1YQJowpxWh-2eNibq6mPfL6gLoYtAZbxhrhQUFeBm2a4CJVyJdNvveATSTmOt_FmAZs4rA0ggzC6H2ENIyWYIyQDNV78frC3zRfKiN5Eq3FMNrD9VmsQfurH31pNYbQI80yF/s400/TSOAH-BLOG-Jacket120-copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560403162691636194" border="0" /></a><br />So a thank you to Joe and Kathleen for the extra inspiration I needed to really jump on the next good day we get weather-wise. These two amazing people are doing great things for horses everywhere, and I just wanted to drop in a little appreciation. His <a href="http://thesoulofahorse.com/blog/">blog </a>is great, and that's inspirational too. I had intended this blog one to follow my first year with my horses, but like I said, I've been a slacker, and frankly, kind of depressed. It's crazy. I've wanted horses all my life and I feel like I've wasted another year.<br /><br />Oh, hey, a plug also for <a href="http://www.parelliconnect.com/">Parelli Connect</a>. It's a great way to keep track of your progress with your horse, and connect with other natural horse people in the process. To be honest, I'm a little nervous because I don't know how the fact that I'm combining clicker with Parelli will be received over there, but you know what? It's working for us. I think it will do wonders once we add in a little confidence. So if you're there, you can look up "chivalry" and find us.<br /><br />Warmer weather can come any time now, we have a lot to do, even if it's just hanging out being a horse with the horses.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-22882748500530882762010-03-05T04:22:00.001-08:002010-03-05T04:43:21.346-08:00Spring on the Horizon<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJzWe-1nYYy8mCZHTdtKe7FzxMab6-zxPZ9Kz0Qz83IrRQexvRaUurZyEcsJ4URJkGq8-mB2mSnklV83dvpt6D6nMWYQhAn0unVw8mdyk78gfU6K7OB9HRzprL-Dp8-zyzSUqIjwX0h4A/s1600-h/Snowponies+1.10+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJzWe-1nYYy8mCZHTdtKe7FzxMab6-zxPZ9Kz0Qz83IrRQexvRaUurZyEcsJ4URJkGq8-mB2mSnklV83dvpt6D6nMWYQhAn0unVw8mdyk78gfU6K7OB9HRzprL-Dp8-zyzSUqIjwX0h4A/s400/Snowponies+1.10+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445124584963607730" border="0" /></a><br />Storm: Is it Spring Yet?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Have I said this before? I don't mind the snow, it's the muck that comes after. Horses are not much fun in late winter/early spring, when you and they are covered to the knees and more in sucking, clinging mud.<br /><br />But it's warming up! The last two weeks we've gotten back to short training sessions with three of the horses: Abbey, Jewel and Storm.<br /><br />And a new way to train, too. I've discovered clicker training and I LOVE it (and the girls do too). Basically, it's the same way dolphins are trained. You encourage the behavior you want, and when you get it you use a marker signal (whistle for dolphins, a 'click' for a horse, or whatever you want) that says THAT is what I wanted, what you were doing right at that second. And then the animal knows that they can expect a reward for the correct behavior. You start with a tiny piece of the behavior you want, and work up to more complex strings of behaviors.<br /><br />It works great in tandem with other training methods, and Parelli melds really well, in my opinion. To introduce the clicker, the first lesson is targeting: you pick an object (we chose a cone). At first if they touch it, they get a click and a treat. Abbey's gotten to where she will pick it up and hand it to me, even if I throw it. It's great fun and has practical applications I'll go into some other time.<br /><br />I have three different 'horsenalities' I'm dealing with: Abbey shifted from RBI when I first got her and she was an only horse, to a definite what's in it for me LBI, sometimes very pushy and dominant, and food motivation gives spectacular results, so she is the perfect clicker horse. She loves her cone, way more than that pushing her around stuff I was doing with her before (which we are still doing... lessons this week included finding her 'go' button).<br /><br />Jewel is busybusybusy LBE, mouthing everything, climbing up your pant leg, driving you crazy. For two weeks we've been working on "get out of my space" (click, treat) and oh man does she want to be trained and have her little mind kept busy. You can now point at her chest and she'll back up, but she has a long way to go on ground manners. She'll play with the cone as its own reward, no treat needed (in fact I sometimes have to wrestle it away from her). She's a lot of fun to train but she has to be locked out of the paddock if you DON'T want her.<br /><br />Storm, I've had a really difficult time pinning down as far as her personality, because she's so sweet and cooperative, and I've finally decided that, despite all her 'go', she's RBI. She's a little shy and slow to bond, and not nearly as initially friendly/outgoing as the other two. She seems to have a comfort zone and the clicker thing is a tiny bit out of it, although she enjoys the carrots; the first time I clicked she threw her head up and went "What the heck? Go!?" No. Good girl. Have a carrot. We've started really slowly with her, and mixing it up with things she is already used to like lunging. She's so sensitive, she doesn't really like being groomed much, so I'm rewarding her for standing still for it, too.<br /><br />We're looking forward to a nice weekend but busy. Russ and I are hoping to get to ride on Sunday. <br /></div></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-1053263198069746642010-01-23T05:10:00.000-08:002010-01-23T05:26:42.047-08:00Grey Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPN2O3JC9VN1IAlb1Hr9Ax5Sm9QzhDbGt0WLWD-pVd-4brmKBLks7LbioDxv2ImCCLVnbni1rKGtWLzt6fcVzKCaINGLhOhoeW42WP14rU6spEBukj3R0_4lhaDUtaKpW1EnDminshe4L/s1600-h/puppy+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPN2O3JC9VN1IAlb1Hr9Ax5Sm9QzhDbGt0WLWD-pVd-4brmKBLks7LbioDxv2ImCCLVnbni1rKGtWLzt6fcVzKCaINGLhOhoeW42WP14rU6spEBukj3R0_4lhaDUtaKpW1EnDminshe4L/s400/puppy+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429924910315019282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I really miss the snow! At the moment it's ankle-deep muck that ends up halfway up my jeans, and I slide around in it, and the horses' feet make obscene sucking sounds in it. And yesterday was all grey and dreary. The thought that it's going to be a month before the stuff goes away was really depressing me.<br /><br />In other news (not news if you follow me on Facebook), on the way home from the farm a week ago today, I found two pups dumped on the side of the road. The first one went home the next day, but this one's still here. He's doing pretty well with crate training but I definitely forgot how much work puppies are. (if I had a nickel for every time I've said "Now what do you have?!" this week!) He's a sweet guy though - smart, playful and cuddly. Pretty much everything you could want in a pup (seriously, that's not a hard sell - he's a very good boy). I don't know what he is - definitely some sort of terrier in there but I'm not sure what it's mixed with. Hoping he finds a good home soon because my old pups and all my cats but one are NOT impressed with his antics. Let me know if you're close by and you can take him home :)<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-10461724270959788692010-01-18T20:22:00.000-08:002010-01-18T20:36:04.419-08:00Finally, A Nice Day!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISdUt_4YqIRG0gLdrzB_rBA5BYpehM1j8UBVE-bbMEYbNfnSlup-EipYEgYXqiIw_8hHqXPJcOL7xPcXjjd12yY_PCCtFOh2OOLNBC6xMPUhKLjsQy3UPoMW6QN3mNMdpBu_FhKsVT7_U/s1600-h/Storm+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISdUt_4YqIRG0gLdrzB_rBA5BYpehM1j8UBVE-bbMEYbNfnSlup-EipYEgYXqiIw_8hHqXPJcOL7xPcXjjd12yY_PCCtFOh2OOLNBC6xMPUhKLjsQy3UPoMW6QN3mNMdpBu_FhKsVT7_U/s400/Storm+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428303708204847922" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the first nice day we've really had when Russ was off work and we could both spend some time at the farm. So we gave the girls a MUCH needed 'do (read: rubbed off some mud and attempted to find the white that's supposed to be under there - Storm was even dirtier than in the photo above). Storm reminded me of the cost of that long pretty Arab mane: she had three or four huge knots in it. Fortunately, I sort of enjoy untangling manes by hand. Plus, it gave us some much-needed bonding time. She brought back fond memories of my favorite horse as a kid by attempting repeatedly to rub her head on me (I used to let Specks; I don't let her. I've since learned better than to let horses knock me around with their heads).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The day after my last post Midnight turned up lame - I think she's starting to feel better now that she's on good feed and kind of rushed it too much running around with the herd, and hurt herself. She's getting a bit better now; Thursday she wouldn't even put weight on it, and though she's still hobbling some she's at least able to get around.<br /><br />After the spa session (ha) Russ and I took Abbey and Storm for a walk in hand to where the farm overlooks the Calfkiller river. I'm sorry I didn't have my camera - actually I did, but I left it in the van! It was really a beautiful day, though. When we set off Abbey and Russ were behind us, and Abbey repeatedly put the brakes on and refused to go - Ms. Boss Mare was NOT going to bring up the rear! Once she was in front she was fine. Guess we know who will be leading the trail rides! We even did a little jogging up the valley - you heard right, I ran!<br /><br /></div>Even though the "point" of horses is usually thought to be riding, I really enjoy walking them. I hope I don't forget to do it now and then once we're riding them regularly.<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-4184703178990562712010-01-13T04:47:00.000-08:002010-01-13T05:08:22.020-08:00Moo.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3yZZOfmyqBwB5FBwM-jOaM5256AIpzAvaVMtcQWF70hm3HgqB8SP8EL9K0-zDdyy_iUYpoRT58y2El8MhDbteQhrqRPdWroIqX7ab4ikOEJDsx1_5ocfcFYhoLbAGIf3rwC92sV2hLv9/s1600-h/Nov08+054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3yZZOfmyqBwB5FBwM-jOaM5256AIpzAvaVMtcQWF70hm3HgqB8SP8EL9K0-zDdyy_iUYpoRT58y2El8MhDbteQhrqRPdWroIqX7ab4ikOEJDsx1_5ocfcFYhoLbAGIf3rwC92sV2hLv9/s400/Nov08+054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426205473653084082" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's cold. I bet where you are you're saying the same thing. It wasn't the best time to buy a new horse! It's depressing not to get to hang out with her. She was pretty shy the first few days, but despite the fact I haven't been able to spend much time at the farm, Storm followed me all over the farm yesterday (and Abbey's letting her!). Apparently the source of apples and cookies and neck rubs can't be all bad.<br /><br />However, we had a little break in the cold on Monday, and as a result, Brandon and I spent two hours at the farm with Bennett. That's his pretty paint mare, Jewel, in the picture. She's obviously very intelligent but she has very little respect for space, either horses or people. We don't know anything about her training history, but we did a little friendly game with a bareback pad with her on Monday, and she did pretty well with all of it, until it was on her and he went to put the cinch on (not tighten it). She wasn't bad but I think if you tightened the cinch all at once and her feelings weren't respected she'd be one of those that nips when you tighten. I do think she'd enjoy some work to do, though.<br /><br />Midnight, his other mare, has been abused and neglected, and when she came to the farm she was the champion evader. She wouldn't come near anyone, and you couldn't get near her either, except if she had her nose in a feed bucket. One day when my son Brandon came to the farm she decided she liked him, and they've been sort of bonding ever since. When we got to spend some time there Monday, I was really struck by the transformation in her over the past three months or so, especially when Bran's around. She actively comes over looking for cookies and attention (especially scratches, which she likes more than the cookies, if you stop she'll lean back into your hand), with her ears pricked and an expression on her face, where before her expression was just dull all the time and she wouldn't look at you. She's filling back out, too. Bran can't wait to ride her.<br /><br />Oh, and since we couldn't keep the horses from shoving the cows out of their feed and stealing it, I've taken on new responsibilities - after the horses are fed and locked in the back pasture I'm feeding the cattle. Not something I've ever done before! When I let the horses out Monday after the cows were done eating, Abbey went over and spent half an hour licking an ice block in their trough that was covered with corn, and when she was done Jewel ate it :)<br /><br />Moo.<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-36620041122948971972010-01-07T20:47:00.000-08:002010-01-07T20:57:00.845-08:00Snowponies!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37142011"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 329px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_430xN.111375468.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37142011"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37142011">Buy a print of this gorgeous "Up Close and Personal" photo<br />by Kellya on Etsy</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There's something a little magical about horses in the snow. The soft blanket damps everything down in a blanket of quietness, and the hoofbeats that bring chills down my spine when they come running up to me to say hi are muffled. Steam curls from their nostrils like a steed in a fairy tale, and they always seem to be frisky when snow is new fallen. Storm came prancing and shaking her head with her tail bannered behind her today, and Abbey came running for the warm food they get when it's frigid outside. Keeping horses in winter can be a pain - chopping holes in the layer of ice over the pond, hauling water when that doesn't work, making sure their coats are curried so that they can insulate well enough (beats messing with blankets), and just keeping my own nose and toes warm.<br /><br />When I was a kid I kept riding all winter long, and I loved it, even though I couldn't feel my toes when I was done. It was magic. Here in Tennessee we don't get that much snow, which makes it all the more mystical. Having a quartet of horses gallop through the swirling flakes to see ME, though, and knowing two of them are mine.... that's the stuff of fantasy. A lifetime's worth.<br /></div></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-78822559659807544822010-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:002010-01-02T11:16:15.740-08:00New Kid on the Block<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEo7dYFBz4O66SYq2qpPmA4O_r3LhXAxQaZcKmXlrR5QGBzU9LcnhkV3w1lKm7V22JC12aumlegnd38A3LZv99LACrrhxreeS_X9eEIIH2nvlkcjhnARoWuy3Bq2ffQQ7NUibx202M085/s1600-h/Storm+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEo7dYFBz4O66SYq2qpPmA4O_r3LhXAxQaZcKmXlrR5QGBzU9LcnhkV3w1lKm7V22JC12aumlegnd38A3LZv99LACrrhxreeS_X9eEIIH2nvlkcjhnARoWuy3Bq2ffQQ7NUibx202M085/s400/Storm+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422203420614314834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a new horse :) Storm is a six-year-old purebred Arabian, although her papers have been lost along the way. She's done some barrel racing, endurance riding, and elementary jumping. She's SUPER sensitive; a phase 2 pressure on her barrel causes her to step over with no Parelli training at all. I'm anxious to play with her but she's a shy girl (her previous owner warned me that she would be for a couple of months). She lets me come up to her, sometimes, but too much pressure, and she leaves. We'll go slowly. I also have the problem of Abbey being extremely jealous of her, so if no one's around to distract her she gets between me and Storm and drives her off. If I can get a halter on her this week (it's been ridiculously cold for doing anything serious), I hope to take her into the back field and close the gate, and then do some basic undemanding time to see where we are. Ab's going to need some extra attention, too.<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-31377158230091862422009-12-21T20:31:00.000-08:002009-12-21T20:53:03.511-08:00Happy Solstice.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_430xN.101813684.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 324px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_430xN.101813684.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=34307680"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=34307680">You can buy these beautiful candle holders at Day Dreem Designs on Etsy </a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm not sure what we are. My son says he's agnostic. Russ calls himself Discordian. Me... is there a word for it? I feel closest to the divine when I am deepest in nature. There is a tree in my house and I do love the music of the season. And I think I love the questions more than having the answers.<br /><br />Tonight, the night of the winter solstice, Brandon and I watched the sun die in the trees as we headed to feed the horses. Then we came home and lit candles. Russ came home from work. We ate dinner together, lit a tray of tea lights (three lights each), opened one gift each, and settled down to a mug of hot buttered cider with rum.<br /><br />Whatever I choose to believe, what I believe in most is tolerance. So whatever speaks to you this winter holiday season, embrace it. If carols make your heart sing, sing. If family cheers you, savor your time with them. If the bite in the air and the quiet and the stark branches of denuded trees against a steel grey sky remind you how small you are and at the same time how good life is... live the moment and the season fully and be thankful. As for us, tonight was a treasure, and so will Christmas be with Russ's family.<br /><br />Have a happy one!<br /></div></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-46132440289245231432009-11-18T08:21:00.000-08:002009-11-18T08:31:36.056-08:00Cavalia<center><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0uzEpjplxeo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0uzEpjplxeo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object></center><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Cavalia. We just got back from seeing it in Atlanta and frankly, it's a difficult thing to put into words. It's a blend of Cirque du Soleil style acrobatics and amazing horsemanship. There are horses at liberty with a single trainer, trick riders, trapeze artists, some masterful dressage team riding, even rodeo type rope tricks. My favorite was the floating women (on lines above) in gossamer costumes who looked like faeries, doing a routine with male riders on white horses where they would float away and then come back and join hands with the riders. It was so surreal and fairy-like. My second favorite was probably the first in this video, a routine called The Mirror.<br /><br />I will tell you, it's expensive to see it. I will also tell you, if you like horses, or just an amazing good show, it's worth it. There is so much going on and so much to see, I'd like to see it again to catch what I missed - I found I had a hard time focusing on the acrobats if there were also horses in the ring (and it surprised me that non-horsey Russ said the same thing). If you can't fork over the money to see the real thing, you can get the DVD at <a href="http://www.cavalia.net">http://www.cavalia.net</a>. Which I will definitely do!<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-76459363446891621132009-11-16T06:33:00.000-08:002009-11-16T06:54:26.781-08:00Garden Heritage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAgmlDHuwJgBzPzxQHTffdll0k8FUBmQmdN7qgd8csCXnmbw63Jr-HNFeysFHp-V6aspTUIhPSLEY6X6JrACnq-9EbiaDxO5-EpjEeCQ1aTx8XfSgn495yHCmsfkIS1vpzcT-P12jvhtT/s1600/Soldacki_Tomato_Seeds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAgmlDHuwJgBzPzxQHTffdll0k8FUBmQmdN7qgd8csCXnmbw63Jr-HNFeysFHp-V6aspTUIhPSLEY6X6JrACnq-9EbiaDxO5-EpjEeCQ1aTx8XfSgn495yHCmsfkIS1vpzcT-P12jvhtT/s400/Soldacki_Tomato_Seeds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404709824075131586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So, I grew several herbs in pots this past year, most of which did VERY well (my basil was prettier than Cleveland Botanical Gardens, methinks!), and three tomato plants, which did not do all that great - I found it hard to maintain the moisture balance for a tomato in a pot. Still, I had some tomatoes, even if they weren't pretty.<br /><br />Now we own the house, and next year there will be a bona fide garden. We've plotted the space, planned the raised beds, and the vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit trees and vines we'd like to grow. We went cruising an awesome place, <a href="http://www.johnsongardencenter.net/">Johnson Nursery & Garden Center</a>, in Algood TN. (wow do they have nice trees, and beautiful herbs in November!) The goal is to grow as much of our plant food as we can in our small space, and get as much as we can from local farmers next year. More on being "locavores" later. Right now I want to talk tomato.<br /><br />First, I want to introduce you to the concept of an heirloom plant. Heirlooms are plants that were grown during earlier periods in human history and are not used in large-scale agriculture. Unless you have an awesome grocery store, you will probably not find them there. You won't even find them in your typical seed catalog, though that is changing. They are not hybrids made for chemical resistance by chemical companies (yeah, even those seeds you're buying are bred by big business, in a lot of cases... I don't want to go that route). You can find a rainbow (literally - want purple carrots?) of varieties of tomatoes, squash, carrots, chard - you name it.<br /><br />So, as much as possible, I'd like the vegetables and herbs in my garden to be heirloom. But I have special claim to one of them - the Soldacki tomato (picture above). My grandfather's family brought the seeds for these tomatoes from Krakow, Poland early last century, and since then they, and he, have been cultivating them and saving the seeds to propagate the next year's crop of these tomatoes. They are beefier than your Beefsteaks, reaching 1 lb. And they're very pink. These are the tomatoes I grew up on, and I had no idea they were special. A few years ago grandpa was showing a fellow gardener around his garden (which is maybe 1000 square feet, a tiny backyard in a suburb of Cleveland, OH) and introduced him to his "Polish tomatoes" - the man knew something about heirloom varieties, asked grandpa for some seeds, and now you can find the Soldacki tomato in most places that sell heirloom varieties.<br /><br />Grandpa is convalescing from a hip fracture in a rehab center now... he fell this spring trying to weed his tomatoes at 86 years young. Mom grows some of them, but I'll need to keep them in the family. You can bet the Soldacki tomato will find a place in my Tennessee garden next year beside the squash someone's grandfather brought over from Europe and anything else I can find that carries on a tradition and has a story... and I'm spending the winter educating myself on the plants I want to grow and how to keep these stories alive for the next year. No hothouse tomatoes in this back yard!<br /><br />If you'd like to order some seeds for these big pinkish tomatoes (they are amazing on a hamburger) you can find them at <a href="http://www.reimerseeds.com/soldacki-tomato.aspx">Reimer Seeds</a> or <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=125%28OG%29">Seed Savers Exchange</a>.<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-26839306918563477632009-09-15T10:10:00.000-07:002009-09-15T10:33:34.483-07:00Atta girl...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YzSyo6_8o5ZSsnbrhGi2yQ2HsFoFGgJtkl4gULknp4d9tjSoumk4OJavqs1RA9FIj7jOe1Q05ZGbX1Xy8o-tDBB1BpnJ4y-eoaRro5nrS9V4ZdqAewWf56HF7KMsZbLwC5uDZFr1CkBR/s1600-h/DSCF5159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YzSyo6_8o5ZSsnbrhGi2yQ2HsFoFGgJtkl4gULknp4d9tjSoumk4OJavqs1RA9FIj7jOe1Q05ZGbX1Xy8o-tDBB1BpnJ4y-eoaRro5nrS9V4ZdqAewWf56HF7KMsZbLwC5uDZFr1CkBR/s400/DSCF5159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381743165416735426" border="0" /></a><br />Been a while since I checked in. I've been doing Level 1 On Line Parelli groundwork (not in the halter in the picture, FYI) with Ab. We've got our Friendly, Porcupine, and Yo Yo Games mastered. Driving game is a little more of a challenge, and Circle game confuses the heck out of her (why aren't you turning to follow me? and she breaks gait behind me). But we've made a lot of progress. In the last two weeks we've:<br /><br />1) Learned how to back up. She did not seem to have this concept from any point in her past.<br />2) Walked across a tarp.<br />3) Learned signals for moving her feet in four directions, but not towards me yet.<br />4) Messed around with some Liberty, as well, in her vast pasture, and being the Right Brain Introvert that she is, she has no problem sticking with me. Liberty is almost more exhilarating than riding.<br />5) Made some progress with the mounting block. I think I could've gotten on her the other day but she got anxious so we went for a walk until she got out of Right Brain Extrovert mode. I think she is going to be mostly RBE under saddle, which might not be a bad thing, considering the stuff I want to do with her.<br />6) We're currently playing with the plastic bag on the carrot stick, which she's pretty wary of and other than letting her nose it I haven't touched her with it yet.<br />7) No idea how we're going to do sideways and squeeze games. There's not a fence on the place that is straight with no ditch in front of it and no barbed wire. I might have to improvise with poles and barrels or something. <br /><br />I really can't wait to ride her...<br /><br />In other good news, Russ has sort of decided he's interested in riding... not so much for its own sake but for things like mounted medieval games, mounted archery and such. I'd love to have a second horse that I can put just about anybody on and take them riding. And a horse trailer. Maybe by spring.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-4222565208364138372009-08-30T11:28:00.001-07:002009-08-30T11:34:34.773-07:00Into The Dark and Scary Woods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_okNMA-h9EWkJ9x2793ZRITQcvZSc2Tnc8lK9dBF3N-bdY4XjDnX_7vCjnQAMGqnF9T1gNirIkf7vt_2svS2-vd87iVa0i5BzWvXPbjOHV7zMjVtdgkJAtvQjm74b0JYJnj-HWpTSwVX/s1600-h/wildthings.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_okNMA-h9EWkJ9x2793ZRITQcvZSc2Tnc8lK9dBF3N-bdY4XjDnX_7vCjnQAMGqnF9T1gNirIkf7vt_2svS2-vd87iVa0i5BzWvXPbjOHV7zMjVtdgkJAtvQjm74b0JYJnj-HWpTSwVX/s400/wildthings.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375825537982826306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Miss Abbey has been chasing the cows out of their corn and as a result she is getting FAT. She's going to be moved to a different, cattle-free pasture but in the meantime we thought we'd go for a little walk today, in hand.<br /><br />My normally Right Brain Introvert mare decided that evil things were lurking in the woods (hey, she lived in the wild for a year) and was suddenly quite eager to go, go, go. Someone had a campfire so I'm not sure if that was what was spooking her so much, but she was very Extroverted, pushing me, trying to decide where we were going to go... we had to do a few reminder moves along the way (hey, I'm the lead mare and I will protect you from the monsters).<br /><br />Since I intend to ride her on trails I find this verrrrry interesting.<br /><br />(By the way, are you not just so excited about the new Where The Wild Things Are movie coming out? I LOVED that book!)<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-15882899987741995262009-08-29T12:38:00.001-07:002009-08-29T12:50:38.539-07:00Kids and Horses<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmegodNxZ_AAJzHCoaYh0pKfHSTDGjEk2c_sFgQ_NkqXH3qTA8Uvxj4nGjjU6SYXqxeQlDTGAaTWYzFSPAYuO3xftwGVqnwQMtE1UCoWN_DV0fejiLcXpMeV2-jrtcXWFYTG6VNWEigVQ5/s1600-h/Picture+120.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmegodNxZ_AAJzHCoaYh0pKfHSTDGjEk2c_sFgQ_NkqXH3qTA8Uvxj4nGjjU6SYXqxeQlDTGAaTWYzFSPAYuO3xftwGVqnwQMtE1UCoWN_DV0fejiLcXpMeV2-jrtcXWFYTG6VNWEigVQ5/s400/Picture+120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375472951429092866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Pony rides at WCMS Renaissance Faire<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you rode as a kid, do you remember how magical horses were? How amazing it was when they responded to you? Have you forgotten how that was, and have horses become work for you?<br /><br />This week I got the opportunity to work with two things I love - kids and horses . For the first time in 20-some years :) I'm teaching three kids how to ride: Jade, 8; Kyle, 6; and Daryl, 13. They're great kids! They ride Buckwheat, Rocket and Apache, respectively. <br /><br />Learning Parelli, it was really neat to have a new perspective on the way the kids' personalities meshed with their horsenalities. Jade's a natural born rider and Buckwheat was all try for her. I put him on the lunge for a while so Jade could focus on her seat at the trot. Kyle and Rocket have matching attention spans! We spent most of the time learning and keeping "go" for them. Rocket has a lot of anxiety when Buckwheat's not with him and spent part of the time whinnying piteously. Apache (the only horse of the three, the other 2 are ponies) was a little jumpy at first but I had Daryl do some circles on him and he started to settle down and listen to his rider (once the hands came down).<br /><br />I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with these kids and their ponies/horse. The greatest thing about it is remembering the process and how it was for myself as akid.. the magic of just being around them at the beginning (I'd not wash my hands all the rest of the day so I could go to bed and still smell horse on my hands!), the frustration when what I envisioned didn't quite happen with the horse I was riding, and the sense of accomplishment when I figured out how to ask correctly, and the horse gave.<br /></div></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-44496917048171696842009-08-28T10:47:00.001-07:002009-08-28T10:53:27.415-07:00Carrot, Stick, or Carrot Stick?<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-PVFBGN_zoM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-PVFBGN_zoM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Miss Abbey likes to back up when she doesn't like something (RBI behavior or LBI). For a while I tied her while grooming, then I thought, I don't want to have to tie her, so I just held the lead rope while grooming, which she mostly enjoys. Sometimes I hit a sensitive spot. She backs. Today, I thought, the heck with that, I'm not moving around you for grooming, you're going to move around ME. So we practiced "back" "step up" and a send-away turn so I could get her exactly where I needed her to reach the spot I needed (I gave her some leeway for the back-end zone). This worked pretty well since she likes grooming and I'm learning her itchy spots, so I reward her with good curry on those when she moves where I want her.<br /><br />Afterwards, since grooming seemed like the lesson today, I just took her and did some mirroring. I got a big sigh that seemed to say, "Oh, I like you so much better when you're not making me do stuff. By the way, got any horsey treats?" <br /><br />Just got to know what motivates a horsey partner, as the above video demonstrates!<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-12619565669519452702009-08-27T13:47:00.000-07:002009-08-27T13:53:03.864-07:00Cow Horse & Family Stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XgS7bdtX1Zjsr18ornyNiILCRCIE56UM48mfpwUpLEs-_eAI_baiLNXofeEOd9J_nOFyTalWZ99na9WhUR3nQ8Ixi7bXd-MGPIJ_nL7Uj0IfmL_BUIz_rV_CIyKDWt0O6_LJ8fi6lAqf/s1600-h/DSCF5170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XgS7bdtX1Zjsr18ornyNiILCRCIE56UM48mfpwUpLEs-_eAI_baiLNXofeEOd9J_nOFyTalWZ99na9WhUR3nQ8Ixi7bXd-MGPIJ_nL7Uj0IfmL_BUIz_rV_CIyKDWt0O6_LJ8fi6lAqf/s400/DSCF5170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374748368616962898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's Abbey the day she moved in to her new home. That was two weeks ago. Yesterday I got a call from Mike saying she's gonna have to be moved to another field... she's chasing the cows out of their feed trough. If they even get close to her she turns toward them and flattens her ears and they GET OUT OF HER WAY. RAWR!! <br /><br />We're starting Parelli natural horsemanship soon, but the work I've done with her so far seems to be progressing well... I can "pretend" to get on and she stands now (she used to back up). Next step: pretend w/ saddle. Besides the mounting issue and the occasional balk in hand, I can't find much I don't love about her.<br /><br />We went to visit my family the first part of this month. My grandfather isn't doing well (he fell and broke his hip 6 weeks ago) and my mom is really having a hard time with it. I really, really wish I could be there to help her with the rough stuff and help her take care of the stuff she shouldn't have to worry about, like dinner and housework. <br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-23091697086253877202009-07-26T16:12:00.001-07:002009-07-26T16:18:43.360-07:00Abbey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDTYr5z5NMh1UXAVGB6IlObP2QSKbdMPp__QLWcqHbIVO56n4KR5RaJjCx51JgiYaPCAXX28lCtDJE7dIEEddZse03KK-yTkLwEZ46XuJuXJNAmun9tFMdzGvTtFIDs3yUCkCn32JvBf-/s1600-h/July2009+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDTYr5z5NMh1UXAVGB6IlObP2QSKbdMPp__QLWcqHbIVO56n4KR5RaJjCx51JgiYaPCAXX28lCtDJE7dIEEddZse03KK-yTkLwEZ46XuJuXJNAmun9tFMdzGvTtFIDs3yUCkCn32JvBf-/s400/July2009+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362910893427472786" border="0" /></a><br />I'm two weeks away from being a horse owner. This is Abbey, an eight-year-old BLM Mustang. Isn't she freckly? Our first meeting was a hit; we kind of "joined up" (a la Monty Roberts) right off, and her owner said she was amazed at how quickly I was able to get on her (she has back sensitivity issues). I just took my time with her, leaned on her a bit first, and then got on, and she stood like a rock, which apparently she has not done for everyone.<br /><br />She's coming home with me (not my home, but not far either) on August 10. I've wanted a horse since I was five! So she's a dream come true. We're going to start out slowly but we'll do some dressage, some trail riding, and dabble in whatever else seems like it might be fun for both of us.<br /><br />Oh, the funky markings on her neck are a freeze brand (I said it looks like it's written in Klingon). Each mark represents a number and by looking it up you can find out about where she was caught (she was 2 when caught wild, apparently in California) and more. I can't read it from the pictures but I'll definitely be looking it up.<br /><br />Dontcha just want to hug her neck? :) Better pictures later.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-23012688982411620712009-07-03T02:26:00.000-07:002009-07-03T02:32:58.542-07:00First Tomato<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BfS_TR41RxLVveOdzkvFHnMRS_A_xqk1wkO8s0EmIQHd9IFFg_YSFgXQOOxgeQYLPoid7H6G-h69BE1sKTx6Ovl_lQD1fAMe9CgEzj6pFJb4r7rpC6wOxJc8yvvAclSvHjuDQ9XWFqP9/s1600-h/tomato.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BfS_TR41RxLVveOdzkvFHnMRS_A_xqk1wkO8s0EmIQHd9IFFg_YSFgXQOOxgeQYLPoid7H6G-h69BE1sKTx6Ovl_lQD1fAMe9CgEzj6pFJb4r7rpC6wOxJc8yvvAclSvHjuDQ9XWFqP9/s400/tomato.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354163304186743346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Disclaimer: this is not my tomato. I'm not sure I'm prepared to photograph mine. :)<br /><br />I wish to become an organic gardener. This year, I planted three tomato plants in containers, which were too small, had problems with the bottom parts of the plants turning yellow and looking awful, and they're all pretty stunted. I broke down and sprayed them with Sevin because I don't know what I'm doing.<br /><br />My herbs, by the way, look great. Although the basil had some creepy critters in it and I had to spray it too. The lemon verbena choked for a while because my pot wasn't draining properly, but it's coming back nicely. The mint looks fantastic.<br /><br />My first tomato of the season is black on the bottom and pretty small, but it's a tomato! I've got quite a few that look like they might be better. <br /><br />The plan is to educate myself on organic gardening, and next year I will have the space (and own the house) to make some raised beds and plant all the pretty/useful/delicious stuff I want. Organically. Responsibly. I want to make pickles. And salsa. And can stuff. Like a real country girl.<br /><br />It's a disappointing start, but it's a start.<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-28867820049064835832009-06-11T14:16:00.000-07:002009-06-11T14:23:53.865-07:00Maybe Homeowners<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo59H12piAA_yj1Ij1N3lFCh5IeJhLQwxBq7bvHvcj_CGgS7-8MlLAfdrdrSxcly9Scymjla3H3sRdh0bUG_aqMjher8a5SvBlN0KeuZcVOQXUVaGGfMlvt_NSbNqmBl-I4pF5aN11Wxm1/s1600-h/phone+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo59H12piAA_yj1Ij1N3lFCh5IeJhLQwxBq7bvHvcj_CGgS7-8MlLAfdrdrSxcly9Scymjla3H3sRdh0bUG_aqMjher8a5SvBlN0KeuZcVOQXUVaGGfMlvt_NSbNqmBl-I4pF5aN11Wxm1/s400/phone+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346182813767305826" border="0" /></a><br />I really need to get a better picture of the house, but here's Russ in one of his Renaissance costumes standing on the porch. Behind him you can see one of my pretty plum trees, which has decided to become one with a cherry tree.<br /><br />We're currently living in this little brick/sided ranch, two very large bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, which we're renting from Russ's mom. Well, I think we're going to buy it from her. We've done a bunch of work on the deck, which will now be quite nice to sit/grill/eat on, and we've cleared the back half acre, which might house some critters for me some day. I've got plans for a nice garden, too. Best of all, it'll help us a bunch with our debt since we're consolidating. <br /><br />And Russ will be working full time by the end of the summer, yay! He's been a substitute rural carrier for USPS for the past seven years and is finally about to get his own route. I think better times are on the horizon financially :)<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-34897189183361454812009-05-31T06:47:00.000-07:002009-05-31T06:49:51.931-07:00Scenic Sunday 46<center><a href="http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Scenic Sunday" src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/aishawed/1021924_50950866-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWRwjB1m5sGsbMs3fu2dKgT52ra0SHYVfyXSBPgs9dt6A1BkGkTlu95U0zJILndi687GydZqOoN5JG4gDMl7-EL7PifEfHE55664SzcTykRNO40fm8V2p4GkG-tXRN5xNEx8LlXGIsEVt/s1600-h/TGA+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWRwjB1m5sGsbMs3fu2dKgT52ra0SHYVfyXSBPgs9dt6A1BkGkTlu95U0zJILndi687GydZqOoN5JG4gDMl7-EL7PifEfHE55664SzcTykRNO40fm8V2p4GkG-tXRN5xNEx8LlXGIsEVt/s400/TGA+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341984729818051474" border="0" /></a><br />A perfect place for two to sit and watch the world go by. University of Tennessee Gardens.<br /><br /><br /></center>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-84528805080753074362009-05-28T13:32:00.000-07:002009-05-28T13:36:54.596-07:00Skywatch Friday #46<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VyrxEXVesjNe8Uqg8rc-IU2r29buo1qu2hyY9i8qBopPzbSGhnsscgkQjE7fvqmUJWxK7qB02ckoPUggBAJ4cb2OjXMpVVRAo5efvg-D1U9-BvgfL9pQndRLP5HsHu8ecH8cr1GYhPLq/s1600-h/TGA+116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VyrxEXVesjNe8Uqg8rc-IU2r29buo1qu2hyY9i8qBopPzbSGhnsscgkQjE7fvqmUJWxK7qB02ckoPUggBAJ4cb2OjXMpVVRAo5efvg-D1U9-BvgfL9pQndRLP5HsHu8ecH8cr1GYhPLq/s400/TGA+116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340976028744333858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0wYCNyrrtboKVdLyaV9i83WsWs_sUTeAbC-qqxmPnDbqgAheuiqEmRFDufNfy4LfVFI4xNWNspstnl1oDmaz-0VNsPezKJwMVXqu3PpbAHOXSqjgda0qR6pYwakJucxYEWjZXZA-Auqo/s1600-h/TGA+114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0wYCNyrrtboKVdLyaV9i83WsWs_sUTeAbC-qqxmPnDbqgAheuiqEmRFDufNfy4LfVFI4xNWNspstnl1oDmaz-0VNsPezKJwMVXqu3PpbAHOXSqjgda0qR6pYwakJucxYEWjZXZA-Auqo/s400/TGA+114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340975866664158562" border="0" /></a><br />As I passed under this stone bridge on one of Knoxville, TN's greenways, I didn't give much thought as to what sort of bridge it was. On the return trip, though, a blaring shook the springtime calm and this train steamed right through the park, waving at walkers on the way through. I stood practically right underneath it and shot these pictures toward a beautiful April sky.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-38745711009024363472009-05-20T18:34:00.000-07:002009-05-20T18:43:28.255-07:00Under Water<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFNVzQ-gW0g5nhs1UbPx7HZp-Rr4GlV7jbygGhvhx2xnjCyyqHO622k1gN__gMqBh9aIndzmfvPhxrCt6r8nnMLCpeYsnuUiBsfrrmcp2y_ZjnsbpUa5H6gqWL70FKslUDwFJ691pLt8H/s200/WateryWed2c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW1lYg21qlo4UqE8D_IZ0SME4cuOR-i7eDs20asnTz6FvQuAVVK60V8PLoAUV4ylevxBfDU11pdlmXsoK6TEn7cOBdVg13jCXbC_e7BEZcoHLI3rtec6klj8Jx33sibqMlYii1nSPm6zG/s1600-h/101_3254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW1lYg21qlo4UqE8D_IZ0SME4cuOR-i7eDs20asnTz6FvQuAVVK60V8PLoAUV4ylevxBfDU11pdlmXsoK6TEn7cOBdVg13jCXbC_e7BEZcoHLI3rtec6klj8Jx33sibqMlYii1nSPm6zG/s400/101_3254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338085374726212978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi_0oIG2a1EoVGZKkTGfSHYhqMMds0edxJOqMxQeUMeVmHIgLx6rEp1x63oC0p5fvHAGOF8vGRr6bROGce0oKNYz9cEV73gkxrQ6E9O11T5NChy6Dz4LzGPQDHwlbXGHpAgkBciTZpWFA/s1600-h/101_3253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi_0oIG2a1EoVGZKkTGfSHYhqMMds0edxJOqMxQeUMeVmHIgLx6rEp1x63oC0p5fvHAGOF8vGRr6bROGce0oKNYz9cEV73gkxrQ6E9O11T5NChy6Dz4LzGPQDHwlbXGHpAgkBciTZpWFA/s400/101_3253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338085205713335282" border="0" /></a><br />You might think I was scuba diving, but no - Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga has massive habitats that you can walk above, next to, and UNDER, which is amazing and makes for some very nice captures.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-69766170253483126612009-05-15T07:03:00.001-07:002009-05-15T07:06:46.442-07:00Skywatch Friday #44<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 54px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_YSMb-cs629Y/SHywzveT9AI/AAAAAAAAGio/VR2szJjQ-tk/s400/swftom.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_hvQc8hxvQI1FASnoKWu0cUyy7hZAzLqVQVUnwBru_JhfLTC5hH_TOTVPZzyyU3bhRLV6U4XQKRsOZs8gasY7Mj9h5q4dx9YNmLGZWRAHuVI5_ImO8eTBMGC90gk7imofNJ6-feUzEyW/s1600-h/TGA+061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_hvQc8hxvQI1FASnoKWu0cUyy7hZAzLqVQVUnwBru_JhfLTC5hH_TOTVPZzyyU3bhRLV6U4XQKRsOZs8gasY7Mj9h5q4dx9YNmLGZWRAHuVI5_ImO8eTBMGC90gk7imofNJ6-feUzEyW/s400/TGA+061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336051449520159346" border="0" /></a><br />A peek through the wisteria at a glorious April sky at UT Gardens.<br /><br />Have had a few busy weekends... more about that as I get pictures organized :)Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-4062999670247913452009-05-11T07:26:00.001-07:002009-05-11T07:31:25.166-07:00Today's Flowers #39<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi018slnjbwTzYEXtQroro2L9v2lxU_Gss1NzAYubuIeJVyMpgTV3P0dvUG6Ea5QZN50MvusFBMxkyVWBr6RtSmOXkp7m6KcTml9AB6WIXaDWzfKr0csOTyR1PaMnMXEqlKAZlME7QX77Kd/s187/LOGO_ROSE_02.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Click me for more beautiful flowers from around te world!</span><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU5IXF_CZ24XcXYLgrej4RQVcjRpAwtCPjZyU4jQfL7i8ktbZVzCll9y3HkneFXm4bUsXu3aFDMR09F7s7CziUaI-9pgYHCKPLw3h1oVTgH1jxrOy2O2tql-uRgmly64vP0kjNnrxBXis/s1600-h/TGA+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU5IXF_CZ24XcXYLgrej4RQVcjRpAwtCPjZyU4jQfL7i8ktbZVzCll9y3HkneFXm4bUsXu3aFDMR09F7s7CziUaI-9pgYHCKPLw3h1oVTgH1jxrOy2O2tql-uRgmly64vP0kjNnrxBXis/s400/TGA+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334572865274320114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">They look like silk. Tulips at UT Gardens.<br /><br />In case you're wondering, I got no flowers for Mother's Day. At least, I wasn't going to. I handed Russ a flyer from Spring Hill Nursery with a deal on gorgeous everblooming lilacs and said, "I want these for Mother's Day." So next year... I should have lilacs. I'm on my way to the garden in the next post, woohoo!<br /><br />I also got French Toast breakfast from my son. :)<br /></div>Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127606611993575117.post-78643611233557033982009-05-10T06:06:00.001-07:002009-05-10T06:11:05.297-07:00Scenic Sunday #43<center><a href="http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Scenic Sunday" src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w287/aishawed/1021924_50950866-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">click me for more scenic views around the world!</span><br /></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFlj0nBvWgYjqkbumpC8ILa3ChFoN_EKPDAN2zNZ9FxXerC9g3kL4JksndylfG6gSh9zXltq_goPdSSf0qGMq-24syhSSqUFHQTHW0MnzMvxx0kpNUK4N_j9JaCZRdUEXaSRjA8fRV8dx/s1600-h/TGA+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFlj0nBvWgYjqkbumpC8ILa3ChFoN_EKPDAN2zNZ9FxXerC9g3kL4JksndylfG6gSh9zXltq_goPdSSf0qGMq-24syhSSqUFHQTHW0MnzMvxx0kpNUK4N_j9JaCZRdUEXaSRjA8fRV8dx/s400/TGA+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334181239662806434" border="0" /></a><br />Another gorgeous spot at University of Tennessee Gardens. So now I need:<br /><br />1) Wood for a trellis<br />2) Someone who can make a trellis<br />3) A swing to hang from the trellis<br />4) Definitely Japanese maples<br />5) Lilacs (not pictured)<br />6) A pot. A really big pot. And I know just the guy who hand throws them.<br />7) A personal gardener.<br />8) Um... money.Deanna Lackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17480571317311122702noreply@blogger.com1