Our God is Amazing! Wouldn’t you say? Glory!
Thursday Thoughts #202
A Small Herding Dog
Do you know any of the small herding dogs? There are several breeds, and we have one of them, Pembroke Corgis. Affectionally know to many older folk as “the Queens dogs.”
As well they should be. It was because of Queen Elizabeth II that the Corgi officially became a registered dog. Someone wisely decided the Queen should have registered dogs, after all she bred them all her life, and she was the Queen of England!
I must like herding dogs too (of mostly mixed breed) as I have had several over my lifetime. They are energetic, active dogs—most certainly not lap dogs.
For the first time we now have purebred ones, the Pembroke Corgi. HoneyPie is five years old, Buster is three.
They came from breeders in south-west, Virginia. We waited a couple years before getting Buster because we still had our good, old mixed-breed herding dog, Dandy.
We purchased Buster two years later. Bill wanted a tri-colored, HoneyPie. I wanted a gold and white one, so we got Buster.
I have always admired the herding dogs ability with livestock. Sheep trials are thrilling to watch the way those well-trained dogs and owners work sheep together.
It interested me to train our dogs to herd. With only articles off internet I worked at training mostly HoneyPie. We do not have sheep. We have chickens. The articles I studied said it helps to have the flock (in my case) know where they were to go. This was very helpful because at dusk chicken head to the henhouse.
She learned as well, I suppose, as any greenhorn could teach her. We have had fun. She will do right nice with the cattle as well.
Having a second dog made for more difficulty with training two dogs. Buster is exuberant, but not as well disciplined. That is my fault.
They enjoy bringing the horses in, though they would never win any herding competition.
Really, they are far from being a good herding dog, but we have enjoyed learning and trying.
Have you ever gone to sheep dog trials?
Thursday Thoughts #201
Sometimes it is hard to “ask”, do you think? It is not hard for Duke—he always gets a treat when he asks!
Meet Napoleon
We have a new addition to our farm. His name is Napoleon. This name given to him by his previous owner.
We like the name. It seems to fit this little fella very well. Good thing he is not a fit travel companion, otherwise he would now be on the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail) with our son, Gordon, who likes him very much. I believe if he could have figured out how to take Napoleon he would have.
I can see him right now riding on Gordon’s shoulder! Since he was not able to join Gordon, Napoleon sent him good wishes for hiking.
He earned the name Napoleon, because, well, he is tiny! He is a Bantam rooster. His previous owner did not want another rooster. Neither did we, but she gave him to us anyway. Such is the way with daughters that think we need more chickens!
In spite of ourselves we like him. He is so little. When he crows he sounds like a wind-up toy! He is also quite friendly. The hens do not seem to have any opinion of him. He is still a baby and has a bit more growing to do.
We get a kick at how his tail goes straight up. Like a sail. He is fun to watch.
He has settled nicely into life here at the farm. He will be here when Gordon returns from his hike.
Thursday Thoughts #200
What does your heart reveals about you? Tough question wouldnt you say?
Oops! I’m a day late!
The Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania
It happened 50 years ago this summer. Do you remember? Did you see any of the five wagon trains that retraced their trails from West to East to Valley Forge, PA to celebrate our Bicentennial?
An article in Western Horseman magazine about the Wagon Train sparked the interest of our adventurous mother. She planned running the caverns without us around our summer help. She wanted Chipley, myself and two fellas that worked at the caverns, Kent and Jeff, to join us for this month long adventure.
We four teenagers loved horses and a month off from summer work sounded great. Especially a month of seeing the country on horseback and being a part of this unique countrywide Bicentennial celebration.
She invited the Southern Train to camp on our property, Endless Caverns in New Market, VA. They arrived on June 10, 1976. Colonel Toby was the Wagon Master.
What a day it was! None of us had ever seen so many wagons, teams of horses and outriders. It was spectacular!
They camped one night. I remember as the host for the night we were to have a bit of entertainment. Mom wrote a little play about John Sevier. Not a Broadway show, but fun just the same as all pitched in.
Early next morning was heard our Wagon Master Colonel Toby call out loudly, ” Wagons Ho!”
When the sounds of hooves, harnesses, wagon wheels and men telling their teams to “Git up!” began to fill the air.
There we joined in the ride and an adventure of a lifetime.
We have our strong, adventurous mother to thank for this remarkable ride. Mounted on her Saddlebred, Snip, she was the force behind we four teenagers to make it the entire 370 miles to PA. Her strength and determination carried us to the end of the trail.
Riders were invited to ride for as long as they wanted. Some rode for a day, or several days. We rode to the end—Valley Forge, PA. Arriving July 3, 1976.
Truly the ride of a lifetime. Thank you, Mom.
P.S. This was not the only adventure our mother went on. She and Carl canoed 1,000 miles on the Mackenzie River and the next year 1,400 miles on the Yukon River in the Northwest Territories of Alaska. Life was and is a great adventure.
Thursday Thoughts #199
Scripture says work is good. The world says work is a dirty four-letter word. What say you?
I sleep sweeter after a long days work. Do you?
Mornings on Horseback
Mornings on Horseback is the a great book written by David McCullough about our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. It is about his early life, and is a fine read.
This post is not about the book though. I am borrowing the title only, because I think about it while out riding my little mare, High Hope, on quiet, early mornings, and riding Duke, my senior Tennessee Walking horse in the early mornings on horseback.
My lovely, enthusiastic niece along with her most-capable husband came for a visit last month. She is an outstanding horsewoman. We went riding here around the farm and neighborhood.
She inspired me so much with her positive outlook and confidence in my riding at my age. Let’s just say I ain’t the horse I used to be. I decided to start riding High Hope three times a week, and Duke, our senior horse, two times a week around the farm and neighborhood.
Our mornings on horseback are early (we are back by 7:30ish), and ride about 30-35 minutes.
But boy, it is terrific! We are the only ones out that early, except busy bunnies running all around, the air is cool and delightful.
I smile the whole time. We have met our early morning neighbor on occasion on the road. He told me “You look so happy.”
I have no photos because the device is not invited to join us—just me and my horse. So I have a couple photos of my horses.
Well, it’s early this Tuesday morning. Time for my morning on horseback…
Happy Tuesday to you.
Thursday Thoughts #198
Isn’t this a comforting thought? Where do you take refuge?
Join me in the Vegetable Garden?
A couple weeks ago we visited my flower gardens. May I now introduce you to the vegetable garden?
It is a small, little garden that suits us perfectly. It is all my husband & I need with some extra to share as well.
Bills dad was an amazing gardener. He grew much, and Polly, Bills mom, canned a goodly amount of food. His garden fed our family as well. He also grew enough for me to can tomatoes and beets. It was wonderful. I used to tell Grandad his garden should be featured in a Southern Living magazine. He taught me much.
I have noticed over these many years fewer and fewer vegetable gardens around our Valley homes. Three of our five children grow vegetables. They all are good gardeners. We have much to talk about around our growing seasons.
Sometimes I wonder if all the varieties of foods available in grocery store have spoiled our taste for the ordinary garden veggies? I have seriously been asked before how to cook fresh green beans.
Nothing, seriously nothing, from a grocery store tastes as good as homegrown. Don’t believe me? Plant a tomato, care for it, watch it grow and produce the best tasting tomatos you have ever eaten. It is likely you will never buy store-bought again.
Here is a neat thought: you grow tomatoes, ask your neighbor to container grow some green beans. Exchange your produce!
I grow lots of food for ‘free’. How? I plant potatoes that are sprouting in the pantry. I grow slips of sweet potatoes from those I have purchased at store. I let lettuce, dill, marigolds, and zinnias go to seed in the garden. They come up ‘volunteer’ next season. I save seeds from peas, beans, and limas.
Producing one’s own food is satisfying, great exercise, and gives one a good reason to talk to the neighbor! Working with the soil and nature–a beautiful art form.
Now, shall we take a stroll through my garden?
Thank you for joining me. What is growing in your garden?
one_local_gal 