Starry Sky Ranch

November

 

“November is usually such a disagreeable month...as if the year had suddenly found out that she was growing old and could do nothing but weep and fret over it.

This year is growing old gracefully...just like a stately old lady who knows she can be charming even with gray hair and wrinkles.

We've had lovely days and delicious twilights.”

LM Montgomery

Horse and Hitch Parade, Ogden, UT

 

Ogden, Utah has kicked off its annual Pioneer Days celebration.  Many cities across the state have a holiday air around July 24, the commeration of Brigham Young and his followers entering the state. It has grown to emcompass a wider celebration of the pioneer spirit and the people who are keeping it alive today. 

There are all sorts of western events this month.  We didn't want to miss the Horse and Hitch parade, epitome of home grown fun. People line the downtown streets to watch local groups and stables parade down the wide boulevards, many in costume. Big people and very little people cowboy up on this kick-off evening.  

Americana at its finest. Love.  I hope when my kids think back on summer they think sidewalks and sandals and flying candy and marching bands. Magic doesn't have to break the bank. It most definitely doesn't exclude those who aren't blessed with bulging pocketbooks.  Dad's folding chair lined up next to your's on a summer evening trumps the hundred dollar Disney pass and hour long lines.  Every.single.time. : )   

 

Thought you might want to take a look around downtown while we are at it.  Each year the painted horses are on display in Ogden, painted to showcase some part of local culture. 

 

on seeing

 

"What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are."

C.S. LEWIS, The Magician's Nephew

 

piebald

Such a pretty face.  Our game was rescheduled so instead I ran outside when we got back home for a quick visit before dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a horse, that should forever exempt him from indignities. 

- Herman Melville

cattle....drive

Oh the things I see while washing up dishes at the kitchen window. 

The Bodyguard

When I was little I used to pour over the D encyclopedia.  I memorized the names of all the dog breeds and could sort them into classes - toy, working, hound etc.  I was an animal geek for sure. 

I remember watching Benji (and reading the book and hanging the poster...) and sighing with longing for the little white Maltese sidekick of his.  My mother and I were barely scraping by however and exotic dogs were totally out of the question.  The closest I ever got was pressing my nose up to the pet store window in the mall. Oh for a dog with long flowing coat to pull up into bows and brush long into the night. 

Fast forward about 30 some years.  Toy dogs are slightly less exotic than they were in the Upper Midwest of the '70's.  Ours arrived here after bouncing around to a few other homes.  They arrived with all those flowing coat genes.  And matted to the skin.  

I admit I silently tsk'd their negligent owner and for a moment was transported back to those days sprawled out with the Brittanica.  Visions of grooming perfection wafted through my head. Never mind we owned a large shaggy dog for many years in CO who was frequently trimmed down to a very short coat.  That was the country however.  This would be different.  How quickly we forget. 

Well truth is, we aren't all that good at dog grooming.  There are a fair number of little people under this roof who need grooming help too.  The dogs got to be a mess while I was sick last fall.  So, we told the groomer to start over and here we go again.

Gizmo's ears promptly sprang up like Dumbo's as soon as they were shorn.  Since it was December he also got cold.  Aidan found a coat to fit him until his own grew back.  Check it out....

stau

Traffic was blocked behind the house yesterday while the farmer moved his cows from the pasture across the road.  Somehow it's more fun watching other people move their cattle than to actually be the mover ; )  Although I am an avowed livestock watcher either way.  

 

Gives new meaning to 'street photography'.  

 

odd couple

Don't ask me what this was all about.  I looked out the kitchen window and saw this:

There was no barking, no chasing.  Just a comfortable little tete-a-tete apparently. 

 I asked Daisy what they were up to but she just did this....

....like I was supposed to understand.  Silly me.  

moo

hey diddle diddle....

...the cow jumped over the -      fence.  And under it.  And through it.  Sigh.  WHY oh why is the grass on the other side so much greener to her color blind eyes??  Are not 73 acres enough for one fat cow???  We have neighbor cows who have grazed on the other side of these fences and never entertained the idea of running through them.  Oh, she is a naughty cow. 

This cow is not as easy to manage as she was last summer when one could lift her up and move her if need be. No, several hundred pounds later there is no lifting.  I thought I was pretty smart the other night when she wouldn't come to me.  (in the front yard, bear in mind : p )  I roped her with the idea of leading her back inside the pasture. I did actually rope her neck too.  Are you cheering yet?  Here I was, just home from errands. one older child available to watch Tess inside, me in my skirt and silver jewelry and up-do ROPING A COW.  Sheesh. 

So I rope this cow, turn to lead her, and she....... stands there looking at me like I had lost my mind. And I was close actually.  Guess it didn't occur to me that she would not follow. Horses do.  Goats do.  Dogs do. Most of the time the children do.  Cows don't. Cows stand there saying essentially, Nuh uh.

Eventually the rest of the family rolled into the drive from piano and between us we coaxed and cajoled her into the barn so we could get through the night with no more excitement.  If you have a cow, drop me a line. Tell me this can work. It all looked so easy when the Marlboro Man was doing this in the 70s...