Logan's 16th birthday

I look at this photo of Tim handing over the keys to Logan and I think, first of all, man, they are Good Looking. And then I think, parents are the most amazing creatures. Here is Tim handing over the keys, literally giving Logan his wings to fly away from us, when what we really want to do is keep him in our pocket where we know he'll always be safe.



How do you teach them to live really big lives when all your instincts scream, keep them close, keep them safe?


Stay safe, bright-eyed Snog. Live big.

My fambly

I'm posting this here just because I like it. And in case Luke ever gets homesick and needs to see a photo of his fambly. Wait. Luke? Homesick?

Luke, Logan, me, Tim

The Darby Diaries - The beginning

Here are photos of my future Olympic mount, Don Verde, whose barn name is Darby. He is a yearling Oldenburg colt, the first Premium colt out of the young stallion Don Principe.

Darby grazing behind our house.


Darby's lovely head.


Just off the trailer, still wearing his shipping boots. (I was playing Monday night volleyball when he arrived.)


Darby's first run in the pasture.


Speckles was turned out with Darby because he was being quite nice. (Buckles, not so much.)


Speckles kicking up his heels.


So much to tell. Speckles was good to Darby from the start but two days after Darby arrived, Speckles left to go back into reining training. As soon as Speck was gone, Buckles straightened up and decided a bratty yearling colt was a better friend than no friend at all. So things are calm again.

I've started working on basic ground stuff with Darby; he already leads well so we are adding stopping and backing. He has personal space issues that we are working on (not his personal space, mine.) Also, he does not want me to comb his forelock (bangs, according to my neighbor) so we are working on that. He would like to whack me with his big club head.

Overall, my impression after five days is that he is beautiful, smart, ornery, and more good-hearted than not (he has raised a hind leg at me as I tidied his stall while he was eating but he did not kick). I am pleased with my new boy and very excited about everything going on with the horses.

Speckles went to a new trainer who thinks he is the bomb; I think we'll be showing him in reining classes very soon. Plus, he was amazing with Darby. He's just a very, very, good boy.

Oh, the possibilities. I am so excited.

All About Luke

Luke graduated last Friday. I did not cry. (Tim did.)


To totally brag here, Luke was a National Merit Scholar Finalist which means he was in the top one percent in the United States. He was also an Ohio Regents Scholar which is awarded to one of the top 1000 seniors in Ohio. Between his academics and his piano scholarship, he's about got his four years of college paid for.

Now he's ready to burst into his new, adult life. He'll always be my baby, but he's ready.

we

Browsing around my favorite blogs, I came across this quick video on No Impact Man's website. I checked it out and checked out wecansolveit.org and added my name and e-mail address to more than a million others who want action on global warming and environmental issues.

It's a new group, spearheaded by Al Gore. To me, it's a chance to feel like I'm not alone in the wilderness. More than a million folks have signed up already.

There's hope.

Bruce!

I was surprised yesterday by the best early birthday present in the world: Tickets to see Bruce Springsteen in concert last night. It was awesome. To get an idea, here's a video of "Radio Nowhere" off his new CD:


After 40 some years of music, Bruce is still the boss. And the rest of us oldies can still rock, too.

Thanks to my three boys for a great gift and a great time.

Organic Food

Today, I received the annual newsletter from the organic farmers from whom I buy eggs, our Thanksgiving turkey, roasting chickens, and vegetables (in season). I am pleased to see that they now have a website, www.thatguysfamilyfarm.com. I have added them to my Daily Blog Check list at left. Check them out. If you don't live in this area, read their website to become inspired to find some local, organic farmers of your very own. The work they do is vital to the health of our beloved planet, not to mention the quality and taste of their fresh products exceeds anything available in the grocery store. As Barbara Kingsolver says in her great book, Animal Vegetable, Miracle, we should be skeptical of produce that had "a misspent youth in the back of a refrigerator truck."

It is a great feeling to look in my fridge and know where the food came from and know how the animals spent their lives. And to know that I am supporting my neighbors in their livelihood and their effort to keep our neighborhood clean of mystery chemicals in the ground and water.

Try it. You'll be surprised how rewarding it is. Carlena, if you read this, especially check on their website the dates they are at farmer's markets. They are in your area fairly often.