December 31st, 2010

We made it to the end of another year. Hooray. Went skiing on Wed with Sam to Whitetail and took a lesson. The first in a long time- the instructor watched me ski for a minute and said, "You've been skiing a long time uh?" I think that was his nice way of saying "things have changed since the dinosaurs!". He opened up my stance and had some more pointers and it actually was a great lesson. The snow was more difficult than the Monday day at Roundtop because it was much warmer, but we managed! Thanks Sam , it was a gift to spend another day skiing with my son. It is warm again today, such a treat. I am going to ride my horses who have been neglected for a little bit, with Christmas and cold. Other son's team won their basketball game and we are going to see him this weekend. New Year, new plans, new weddings . Here's to a wonderful 2011. I wish all my friends the happiest of New Year's and all the health and prosperity you can stand! Hugs and kisses and love to my family.

Christmas happenings

This was a season of blessings and thanks and for some, a sorrow. At Christmas we are reminded of the angels around us, the ones we love and protect, the ones who love us and keep us safe, and the ones that  are unseen and unknown and give us blessings in different ways.  I loved my "angel" friend who gave me a new broom- she knew exactly what the barn needed-thank you. I am eternally grateful for my family, the love of my husband and the immense circle that is the love of my children. Sam and I went skiing yesterday on the spur of the moment. It  was a wonderful, windy, chilly day spent with my awesome son. One of those lyrical days when we feel graceful and exhilarated to be able to fly down a mountain without falling down! Walking in ski boots is comically awkward until you attach the skis , then it's like a gift of wings! We laughed and reminisced about European ski trips past. I missed my beautiful daughter, my other skiing child, who stayed in Los Angeles for the holidays. We called and Skyped and I will see her soon for more wedding plans. The love just had to flow a little further that's all. Will made it safely back to college for basketball, skirting the Christmas snowstorm in the east. This brings me to the sorrow. A friend of his lost his mom at Christmas and it reminds us of our fragility. The friend has an angel mom now and I know my son grieves terribly for his teammate. We are all thinking of him. I'm sure there was an angel sitting with my mom, who had to spend Christmas in hospital. She is responding well to the chemo and is stronger every day. And I know my kids' step grandmother had an angel help her survive a heart attack the day before Christmas! We wish her a speedy recovery. Hug and cherish the ones nearby and send the love to the ones away.  A happy New Year is around the corner. Love to you all.

Congratulations to Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen...

Hooray, thousands of jobs saved. Maryland Thoroughbred breeders and owners, trainers and track workers stood shoulder to shoulder and said No to losing traditional racing in Maryland. It was a wonderful Christmas gift to ourselves, way to go. There is hope. I may even find partners and race my two-year old that found no buyer. She is feisty enough to just get the job done.  We had a nice hunt yesterday that ended with a mad dash on a coyote that we manage to stop before the hounds hit the road. The other whip and I worriedly looked at each other as we galloped thru the woods, both of us remembering the hunt 2 years ago when hounds went 6 or 7 miles flat out on a coyote way out of our territory. In a car that day, I lucked out and found them hours later at the end of a driveway, way north of our fixture. So, we were worried it was a repeat scenario. I called huntsman and said, " They are moving too fast, heads up, screaming on this line- I think it is a coyote, can I stop them?" After a yes, we shot them off and thank goodness we were able to bring them back. It was a fast and furious end to a day that had a couple of nice views of a fox that runs big circles thru the hay fields and woods of Dodon. The day warmed up a little and we all ended the day with a Christmas / Birthday  breakfast at a members home.  Hopefully we can go out on Boxing Day.  Merry Christmas.

getting close to Christmas!

The full moon has been spectacular these past nights. The cold air seems to make the stars brighter. Saw the lunar eclipse last night and the setting moon is still beautiful this morning. Must have been a super cold, clear night like this when the "wise men", saw the star over Bethlehem.  My mom has her second chemo today. She responded really well to the first and has made a significant improvement- modern medicine really is incredible. Hopefully she will put this cancer in remission, be pain free and enjoy life again for long time. We have thought that the osteoporosis was a misdiagnosis for this myeloma and it is great that now doctors know what they are dealing with for her care. Thanks for the prayers.  Christmas is almost here, final wrapping today I hope. The ground is still too hard to do much riding. I will hunt tomorrow if we go, but otherwise horses  are enjoying hay in sheds and hanging out! I am going to make Yule Log dessert and apple pie and listen to Christmas music!

Hunting with Mr.Stewart's Cheshire Hounds

Yesterday 4 of us went up to hunt with Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Hounds and it was fabulous. I am now confident my red chestnut can jump the moon, 'cause he had to yesterday. The very first jump was a 3'9" railroad tie timber!. The girls and I went " oh, sh.." and watched as everyone in first field before us trotted two or three steps across the road , one canter stride and calmly jumped over. No fuss, no big deal, so we did the same. And the day progressed from there. Lots of really, really big jumps. Lots of line fences- I always thought that would be a big deal- but everyone just jumps them and all the horses just follow each other. So, if you ever want to get confidence jumping big stuff, go hunt with Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Hounds because that is where all the lovely, big, quiet Thoroughbreds are living and packing their owners around! This was a benefit hunt for an injured jockey, Jake Chalfin, and there were 150 mounted riders. Three fields offered which was unusual for them. The Master announced the fields by stating, " First field will be led by Bruce Miller, second field will not jump anything over 3 foot, third field is slower..." We looked at each other and I asked the whip beside me , " How high is first field?" He laughed and held his whip up about 5 feet ! He kept laughing and said, " Go first, you'll be fine and it's safer!"  We did and we had so much fun. Yes, they were big but everyone jumped safely and that 3"9" first timber did not look so big when at the end of a 5 hour hunt we had to jump it back!  to get home. We had gone so far from the trailers that most people were either stopping at their barns as we hacked home, or calling spouses to bring trailer to them!. There were only 8 of us left to actually hack all the way back, jumping home. We called it a day after 5 hours. I did not want to keep jumping a tired horse, although Red was awesome. Never took a bad step. He may not be the prettiest jumper but when in doubt he just goes higher, so his hanging knees still clear that top rail! I was glad I had borium because the only crashes we saw were the slippery footing kind. Several people slid into big jumps and we watched one tired pony literally crawl over a big coop! About 75 % had dropped out by the 3rd hour just when scenting got better and by the final blowing home there were only about 20 riders who finished, including the Marlborough girls, Barbara, Leslie, Marie and our cohort, Phillipa!! We had to, we didn't have a clue as to where we were!  It was an awesome day and we can now go and hunt anywhere with confidence. Thank you Cheshire!

Beginning of the rest of the winter...

Trying to get all my stuff back to normal . Being away for 8 days really messes with barn, horses, paperwork, Christmas wrapping. It took me forever to clean up barn yesterday, was like somebody set a bomb off. Not so much hay, please,  next time!!  actually,  hopefully no more next time on such short notice. Hoses are frozen and troughs are getting low-ugh. Weanlings have runny noses, mare with bad leg is stocking up from being in- so she is out with others. Walking seems to help her the most but some Bute and sulpha work too. Sulpha for the babies too. Ground is too hard to ride much tho' I need to get on foxhunters. I hate riding in the cold. I haven't seen my friendly fox in a while. I am so afraid the roadkill fox from 2 weeks ago might have been him. Bummer.
When the snow started about 11 AM, I was so glad I toughed it out and drove home on Wednesday. Driving thru the mountains just to hit snow and icy roads  in Maryland would have been so depressing.
Today I am trying to finish wrapping , maybe ride if it warms up, unfreezing hoses.....
 I think this is the beginning of the rest of the winter and I need to find a way to appreciate the cold. The only time it is OK is when I am actually hunting and am warm from galloping around or early morning when the sun hits the snow and it is quiet in the woods. That too is lovely.

back home

I drove like a road warrior and made it home late last night.  Squeaking between storms. It was exactly 10 hours door to door. The threat of a snowstorm that was paralleling my southern trip was a big incentive to get over the Allegheny Mts and I did! The roads in Canada are tough, Canadians just keep right on with normal schedule , everyone just slows down to 15 mph and continues. No big deal. Those kind of icy, snowy roads would completely shut down Maryland! My Mom did the first day of her chemo and it seemed to go OK. She is comfortable, albeit kind of hates the hospital life, which is understandable. Toronto area has become very much a cosmopolitan melting pot. I don't think one of my Mom's nurses or doctors was a "wasp". Many Russians, East Europeans, Chinese, Indian- very international and noticeable to this American girl- just different. Excellent care and a good hospital.  I hope I was a help to my sister, it is definitely better to have family around when making such difficult decisions. We are happy with mom's prognosis, her doctor reports excellent  results with this treatment. Say a prayer for me and Mom! Home to take care of horses, they were in excellent hands while I was away. Thank you Thank you guys!

snowy and cold in Canada

We are still waiting for biopsy results, though it looks like myeloma. Having a good visit with my Mom and sister. The little things that are a pain in the hospital are easier to laugh at when you have company. I worry what Mom will do when I have to leave. I know Marg is wonderful and always there but having someone around most of the time is a comfort for mom- we will just have to trade amongst us for awhile. The weather is cold, still know why I went south, too cold here for sure. Hope the roads are clear in NY before I head back.

parent care

I am just quietly spending these days with my mom while she is waiting for results from her bone marrow biopsy. It was inconclusive so we are probably not going to know any more until Monday. Stepping outside my life is OK sometimes, I never get to sit and read a magazine. It gives my sister a break also, so she can do Christmas stuff with grandchildren . Tonight is her grandson's first kindergarten Xmas play! Important stuff! I think another storm is headed to Buffalo so I may wait until Tues before driving back. Went thru three snowstorms in Pa. mountains coming up, wouldn't mind not repeating that part.

Driving to Canada

There are some days, some moments that you never forget. Last night I had just checked into a cheap motel somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania. It was 10PM, I was tired and couldn’t drive any more. I as on my way back to Toronto, Canada to see my mom and sister. The motel room was freezing. I had gotten into bed, fully dressed, pulled the covers up to my chin and was vacantly looking at a TV. Margaret called and said, “ the oncologist said….”. Oncologist has an ugly sound, it is a harsh word. And I will never forget that freezing motel room, that moment of hearing those words. Mom seems to have myeloma. I can’t get onto the internet to figure out what it is. It is now 5AM the next morning and the motel has no connection. I went to sleep last night after talking to my sister just because that is what you do after hearing tough news and you have nothing else to do. Now I want to know, I want to read about this disease, to figure out what to do. 

It is 28 degrees this morning!

Yesterday it was 61 degrees and now the water troughs are frozen over! No wonder one of my horses has a strange fever, it spikes to 105 and then is gone later in day. Very weird and worrisome.  I am about to go feed and brave this crazy weather. Tomorrow the blacksmith comes for weanlings and the yearling that are going to sale. Thanks for dormosedan, doing feet is hard enough- loading weanling colts is almost impossible. Tho' I have been walking them in and out for a week. Fingers crossed. The mess of Maryland racing is going to hang over the sale like a black cloud, but hopefully buyers from more prosperous states will come. FYI  I got two A's on my exams and classes this fall. Whoopee! And my son's basketball team is 5-0. This is good but I know he wishes he played more. My mom is still in hospital, which means she is being cared for and drugs are monitored. Hard on my sister so I am going to try to go up in next week or so.

December 1

It is 61 degrees out. December 1st, warm and raining very hard. No hunting today. Strange start to December. Good day to snuggle back into down comforter or at least to think about it, even tho' there are 15 hungry horses (wet now) waiting for me to show up. I think hungry horses are a bigger motivator than hungry kids. I could always hand them a box of Cap'n Crunch cereal or equivalent. Oh well, this is why we have Barbour's and at least it is warm. There was a dead fox on our road last night, I hope it wasn't one of the ones I see on my farm. I think of them as mine and I was feeding them, hoping they would stay. They are so beautiful.

Maryland racing's future still up in the air.....

The meeting yesterday at Laurel was amazing. The Pennsylvania slots group Penn-National Gaming was sent packing, which was accompanied by thunderous applause by the Md. racing "family" that descended on the Racing Commission's meeting. This means Magna ( Frank Stronach's company ) still owns 100% of the MD tracks, which is a mixed blessing. No Penn. gaming conflict of interest is a good thing, but Magna could conceivably close the tracks itself, if they do not come up with a plan for 2011 race dates in 30 days. It is a mess- the shell game described by the Racing Commission yesterday sounded like a bad script about "good fellas" . Too many subsidiary  companies to keep track of and too many players with personal grievances and/or personal greed at heart. I hope the major players remember that there are a lot of people that love racing and depend on it and they can find a way to smoothly transition into 2011 race dates. That this went down just before the Fasig-Tipton sale this weekend sucks, it will be the talk of the sale for sure.  The little guy just continues to feed, muck, walk and groom  and wonders if it will ever be a good day again. This includes me- I am sorry and glad that I didn't breed this year. This morning is warm , but lots of rain is coming so the babies will come in tonight and probably blankets on the mares. I put my Christmas lights up yesterday, the tree is decorated and I am getting in the mood. Unfortunately my mom is in the hospital, which is also a mixed thing- good care but worrisome anyway. Think I will take a road trip after sale, up North to see her.

Black Friday

Why is today called Black Friday? I could understand "Spend all the money you have not earned yet Day" or "Panicked Buyer Day" or "Lets Forget all our Manners Day" or best " Annual Stay Home Day".  Not a day to go out to the mall for a walk. Just a thought. Thanksgiving was a lovely, kinda rainy, misty day. Hunting was cancelled which was a little odd and threw my whole day out of kilter. That must be an old Scotch phrase. Out of kilter! Anyway, we had celebrated our turkey dinner on Wednesday night to accommodate a son working on Thanksgiving, and various other Thanksgiving Day obligations. It had seemed that it would work perfectly with our hunting on Thanksgiving morning. Oh well - not to be and the rest of the day continued slightly askew. Saw new Harry Potter movie which was very good. I read the book and couldn't remember any of it -odd- but watching these movies is like catching up with old friends. We literally have watched these characters grow up!  Then we came home not really knowing what to do - everyone else is eating turkey. Went for a lovely walk in the woods, fixed some fence, chatted with the broodmares, then decided to go to another movie. It was that kinda day. Went to an even stranger movie, The Rock's Faster. Really dark. Odd choice but we like "shoot-em-up's", thought it would be mindless fun. It was very weird.  I really hope they don't cancel hunting again next year- it started a chain reaction of odd choices. I was thankful to come home , eat pumpkin pie and hug my husband.

Hunt Bowl drag v. fox

Every year when we have the Hunt bowl the last event of the day is a group drag ( no, we do not all get into dresses!) , in order to judge the best hound hunting. We simulate a hunt and the combined three couple from each invited hunt are put together and the "pack" follows a drag, which has been laid moments before by one of our whips. The judge is supposed to get a lead on the hounds that keep their noses down, speak on the line and are leading the pack.  We are the host hunt, so I am usually the only one who is really whipping. I have a great view from a holloa-away of the whole affair.  Well, every year I hold my breath for three reasons: originally because the fox scent stunk so bad it made your eyes tear up,  secondly because we can easily jump a live fox and then all bets are off, and lastly because you have 7 huntsman  with staff and select members from each club all on  fed-up horses, galloping on land they don't know that has lots of groundhog holes. Oh, I forgot to mention the deer everywhere.  This drag started very slowly, the drag scent was either too hot ( literally, meaning too much hot water added) or not strong enough. Anyway they couldn't get it and so no one opened( started speaking) on the line. I knew our huntsman was probably dying inside but he kept on, the hounds silently following the line. I turned back to the river to check on late hounds when I suddenly heard the whole pack in full cry coming at me. I said, "Oh s#$%, they've jumped a live fox". This has happened occasionally and then they are off and we are chasing hounds all over. A combined pack hunts erratically , all strung out and then some always get lost and the huntsman all start blowing. The hounds get confused and it is a mess. So, I was not thrilled, but turned around and sure enough here they come. I stopped them at the river and urged them back to huntsman. This real fox must have slipped by me unseen because they picked up again near kennels and took off again. They were flying back the way we had come, it seemed perhaps they were running tail on the drag line. I actually don't know,  but as it was the end of the day, we stopped them again. We hoped the judge has seen some hound work , even if it was in reverse and /or on the real line! One huntsman had a deer apparently flee the woods and try to go under his horse! Well the deer broke its neck, twitching a death throe under the horse, in front of the spectators. I heard that huntsman and horse were OK. All hounds eventually came in and no one stepped in a groundhog hole.
Much liquor later and after breakfast ( at 5PM) I believe Potomac won. Our huntsman and I breathed a sigh of relief , we both find this day difficult,  but the other clubs love getting together and all visiting each other . It was a good day, with no serious mishap. Yahoo!

post exam

Thanks to my friends that wished me luck on my exams-I survived! But, they were hard. As I have said before I have soooo much more sympathy for my kids- I had no idea school was this hard. Back in my day!!!!! it wasn't!  I think I did Ok but it took at least 2 1/2 hrs.  of the three alloted. Few people left by then- I did wonder if they were smarter or I just cared more to finish?   Then I drove to Philadelphia to watch basketball tournament . Will's team won both games. It was really fun to watch college ball again. He doesn't get in as much as he would like but is very effective when playing. Took a horrendous charge in first game of season to win the game in last seconds, literally. I am very proud of him. Today is our Hunt Bowl where most of the Maryland Hunts participate. Huntsman, some staff and 6 hounds from each hunt are shown and judged against each other , then pooled together for a judged drag hunt. Very fun and enormously enjoyed by all the various staff who talk and party for hours. Hunt people can party now! I am still trying to recover this morning from a friend's 50th birthday party last night. My head is hurting and I have to go feed but we did have some fun! Younger people said " we can't dance to that music"- how can you not dance to "Superstition"? They just knew we could all dance better!!

win some, lose some.....

The Eagles beat The Redskins badly. It makes me sad, I don't know whether to be  mad at "my" team, the 'Skins or to graciously salute a better foe and their leader, Michael Vick, who played a tremendous game. Kinda like watching Blame beat Zenyatta.  I wanted Zenyatta to win ("Skins), but had to acknowledge that Blame (Eagles) was the better horse in that race. Vick was really good, even I have to admit it and watching an athlete reach a personal best is always amazing. ( I kinda just want some dog to take a big bite out of him).   Just sucks tho'. On a happier note for me, my son's basketball team won their opener. He had been worried that he wouldn't play much but, in fact, he got the game winning "stop"in the final 10 seconds. He took a charge and they won by 2 points. Woohoo!!
I have 2 exams this week and the amount of reading is killing me. Can't wait for them to be done.  

my friendly furry audience

Feeding this morning was very funny. While feeding the mares in the very back, a huge buck ran across the field. He has been around for awhile and I always like catching a look at him, very majestic. This morning he stopped and watched me for a couple of minutes. Just turned that regal head with its big rack and stared at me. Maybe they have become accustomed to the sound of the Gator or they clean up the grain behind the horses, I don't know but he wasn't particularly concerned, just watching. Two minutes later , my friendly local fox hurried across the same field within a stone's throw from me. He glanced up, as though to say, "Hey, What's up, nice morning" and kept right on going. Then he stopped, saw the buck, looked back at me and shrugged, then kept trotting by. His tail is very skimpy. I worry about him, hope he doesn't have parvo or something. I see him and another with a full tail, who I assume is his mate ( or vice versa- don't really know). Then I had a feeling somebody was watching me , turned around and saw a huge black dog or coyote by the stream staring at me. He was kinda spooky. I took a step and he fled. From the side I am pretty sure it was a big, black German Shepherd. There is a deer carcass in the woods nearby and I wonder if he is a wild dog. The deer carcass is slowly being devoured. Foxes I am happy to feed, big wild dogs are a little scarier. Life is wonderfully entertaining out in the woods! And I think I am the main act- they wait for me to appear every morning!

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all the men and women who have defended our freedoms here and everywhere. You are remembered every day and  thanks to your families who have sacrificed too. I hope everyone takes a moment today to reflect on the many patriots who have let us stand on their shoulders to get to the heights of personal freedom that is taken for granted in America today. My hat is forever off in salute.
The leaves are quickly falling now, I think more are on the ground than on the trees. While standing at a check,  hunting yesterday, I was stroking my chestnut gelding's mane and looking at the carpet of leaves around me and up at the trees in front and I realized he was the exact same color as the red in the autumn leaves. It was a perfect moment of feeling in harmony with nature. God made animals to "wear" beautiful colors and we appreciate all the variety and beauty. Red, my horse, was so perfectly coordinating with the beauty of the Fall I was awestruck for a moment. The sun was glinting off his his freshly cleaned and groomed mane and the russet color was shining. It was warm to the touch and he was quiet ( for a change), just relaxed, standing. The pine trees I had just come through smelled "pine-y" and wonderful. The hounds were in the distance and for a minute I just "being here now!". To all my old hippie friends, Here's to more moments like this.

dark daylight savings mornings

The dogs don't know about daylights savings, so it is very dark in the mornings when those cold noses hit the face. Gradually I hope they get it, but in the meantime I can get up and blog! Went to Parent's weekend in Lexington over the weekend and somehow managed to miss hunting- nobody told me they changed to Saturday- not that anyone was supposed to- but I am very bad about checking things like a change of day!! I just finally got better at checking time and fixture, so was very surprised to get a "where are you?" phone call!  Oh well - it all was OK I heard. It was a beautiful weekend and I loved seeing my son- this is the youngest and sooner than later there will be no more college football games. Washington & Lee has the strangest, nicest tradition of partying with parents!- like frat party-beer pong- party with the parents. Some of these parents can really get into this , we usually make it to about 10pm , but have heard of the cops throwing the parents out finally!! Basketball season has started and I am going to try to get down to U VA tonight for his exhibition game- Charlottesville is doable.
I saw Blame was retired immediately after Breeder's Cup - nice horse, but I wish Zenyatta had beat him, she ran such a game race, he was just probably better than most of her competition. Too bad, didn't diminish her star power tho' she is still awesome. I am very undecided about selling my weanlings in Dec - what is going to happen to MD racing? Nobody seems to know. Can't be good!

Guy Fawkes Day

I think today is Guy Fawkes Day- great day for a bonfire. A lot of my friends have gone to Lexington to the Breeder's Cup. I am jealous- would love to see Zenyatta try for that 20th win- her style of running is soooo nerve wracking, that come from behind, do just enough to win,  late charge to the wire is so thrilling.  There are a lot of other good horses in there so fingers crossed that she can do it. The slots thing in Maryland is so disappointing and now they are threatening to close Bowie and Laurel by Dec 18th- where will 2000 horses go!! What are they thinking?  I am very worried about Dec Fasig-Tipton sale- I had a couple of weanlings to sell but wonder if I should even try?
This weekend I am going to Parent's Weekend at my youngest son's college. Also very important , hopefully not as thrilling as Breeder's Cup. . Tho' one year there were so many people on a "college house" porch that it detached and fell 20 ft down to the ground-- BAD. These college kids know how to party and at this school , so do the parents! Parents Weekend is a tradition , it seems, to watch kids' parents get stupid too.  Not me!  But I am looking forward to seeing my son and watching a little BB practice and not feed horses at the crack of dawn!! Thanks Laura!

Dodon hunt

We had a great hunt yesterday at Dodon Farm. It was Nancy's birthday and we were invited in to some great Pittman hospitality. One gracious fox gave us a run for about a hour, making a huge circle around the whole property. We tried to stay ahead of him to keep him turning left and not going out of country. For the most part we succeeded and had a lovely, long run. Lily and I enjoyed jumping all the logs on I-95. Polly, another ex-racehorse was out with a friend and she did great. Folks, she is for sale!- a lovely first flight foxhunter , she is a super jumper. On a humorous note, as I was on the edges whipping, I noticed a large groundhog in the middle of a field we were skirting. He was sitting up in his "hole", just watching everyone pass. I expected him to quickly retreat, but he didn't, staying up in full view, little paws folded over his tummy, just watching hounds and riders go by. About 1 hr later on the second swing by, he was still there, haughtily watching again, like a grumpy landowner watching the hunt cross his land! Cheeky fellow!  Today is rainy and cool- blankets on everybody.

Nov 2

Election Day- get out and vote.  My friend asked if we saw a ghost fox while hunting on Hallowe'en? No, but the headless horseman appeared at the breakfast , and stayed until he couldn't stand up anymore! There is a ton of frost this morning, so cool.

Opening Hunt on Hallowe'en 2010

It was a beautiful day for Opening Hunt, we were at Mt. Airy Mansion for the usual Blessing of Hounds which I always love. Though it is very difficult to keep hounds together and quiet for an extra twenty minutes, it is a lovely tradition. We ran and viewed several fox, the views were great but the scenting was not. One determined fox wanted to get to Osbourne Rd, he braved two whips chasing him trying to turn him three times! He turned twice then successfully  ran through a suburb to get around us. He was not going to be thwarted! There was a huge turnout of riders which was beautiful to watch. As a whip I get great views of the field and enjoy seeing all the finery on our opening day. Then we headed to the club for a wonderful Hallowe'en themed breakfast, with  spiders and severed fingers and ghouls etc.  It is definitely cooler now and I realize November means holidays are just around the corner.

Finally ... getting cool

I sat out yesterday morning, for the dawn  and it may be the last one for a while. It is cold this morning. I am waiting for the sun to get up so I can go and put blankets on the horses.  I finished clipping all but one yesterday, but it was still too warm to blanket. Now, they are probably all mad at me 'cause it's not so warm. We are doing table decorations at the hunt club today and maybe a ride. Tho' I have two research papers in two weeks and I am not really thrilled about either one. Since I always wanted to write a screenplay about Blackbeard, one of the papers is about him. I had wanted to research his supposed 16 wives , but there is no evidence. What I did find was that pirates were one of the first "organizations" to "rule" by democratic principles! The Pirate Code was all about rule by the crew and captains were "elected" by popular vote. Sounds like an interesting paper! Happy Hallowe'en to all the Jack Sparrows!!

Rainy Wednesday

This is my favorite time of year and I have been very busy, so a rainy Wednesday is actually welcome. I can get caught up! We are not hunting because of the rain, even tho' it is unusually warm, which means I can do my blog post instead of running out the door at the crack of dawn to feed. This morning the horses can wait a bit! I love the colors of fall and am always sorry to see the lovely colors fall to the ground as the leaves drop which they are doing fast it seems this year. My twin maples are already bare at the top and the bottom is just changing to red! Cub hunting has been great this fall. One of our landowners moved away and his estate has rented the small house- these tenants are not very open to us hunting but the farmer /owner had been into trapping the fox. Now that he has gone we have a lot of fox in the area which has been great. We have viewed and chased three to four fox  each time , which for us is very unusual. Last time I stopped the hounds at end of day, as they were running into soybeans just before harvest- a big no-no - but as we roaded home, the chased fox was sitting in the field , at top of hill, just as if waiting for us to catch up. He was looking back as if to say, "What took you so long?" I was sorry I has successfully stopped hounds because we would have had a nice run back.  My college courses are still kicking my butt, I have two research paper to do - another reason a rainy day is welcome! And OMG - is is almost November and Christmas is around the corner.

post California

Sarah and I accomplished a lot in two days in California. The date is set and we found the location. It is on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Ventura and the wedding will be beautiful. Kevin's parents were very nice and we had a lovely dinner and they treated me to a Jack Johnson concert that night. Santa Barbara has an ampitheater just like Meriweather Post pavilion, but you can see the ocean from it - very cool. Santa Barbara was lovely. we walked the beach and pier and also checked out a rental home venue WAY up in the hills with incredible views . Ultimately picked place in Ventura tho'. Other things got done but they are secret!
Am now back in MD, prepping weanlings for Dec mixed sale and foxhunting. Oh yeah, did I mention homework!! This class is killing me. The weather out there was just as changeable as Maryland's. That surprised me- fog and dull, then sun, then cool at night.  But I would definitely miss the fall season out there- came home to crisp air and colors all around. Best time of year is the fall here. Geese are honking too in the dawn!

October dawn

The dawn sky at 7Am is a beautiful pastel of pinks and blues overlaid with puffy grey clouds. The sun ball is almost to the treetops and it all looks like an HDTV screen! The clarity is awesome LOL I think the summer humidity is gone, funny the cicada thrum was still here this morning, like a low background faint engine noise. I haven't heard any geese lately either. I am flying to L.A. tomorrow about this time to see my daughter and do some wedding planning!! I get to watch the sunrise all the way to California! We are checking out some venue sites on the coast up toward Santa Barbara. I am getting excited about it all, will be a busy spring but fun. My son and daughter -in-law-to-be have moved in for a time  and it has been really nice. Nice to have Sam around and very nice to get to know Stephanie. My son is a lucky guy. She is a lovely woman. We all have homework at night - it is so funny to all be studying. And yes, the Redskins won. Yay, whoopee . We are awesome and I love football.

after market

Things have slowed down and the one unsold yearling is back in the field. Back to working on my college course homework- I had no idea this was so difficult. The horses are much easier. It is too cold to sit on the patio in the mornings, even tho' the days are lovely. I want to snuggle back under covers at 6AM and put off dogs and horses, but three cold noses are most insistent that that is not going to happen!! THe yearling sale was more of the same. Expensive Kentucky -bred horses sold moderately well, but MD,PA,or NY breds were RNA or not even the stud fees. I will not breed again to anything outside KY and even that is not profitable. Just may not breed again. I do have some lovely foxhunting horses for sale! And this year's babies are very cute. The leaves are starting to change and the cicadas are silent. The stinkbugs are amusing- they just sit on screens and windows and are the most useless things in the world. Apparently they have no predators and are spreading- but what do they do! Even flies are nature's carrion eaters and breakdown garbage, but stink bugs don't do anything!

dark dawn

I still have to get up at 6Am or so to get chores done, used to be lovely to sit on patio and watch the crack of dawn. Now, the dawn is dark and sleeping in! Too dark to sit outside ( and chilly) , to wait for the sunrise! So the dogs stare at me as I let them out into the darkness and I get on the computer inside! Oh well, it'll be daylight savings soon and I will have some light again in the mornings, but darkness will come earlier at night. My clocks in the car will be right again tho- so that's a bonus! Didn't get the one filly sold, sale seems to be a little steadier than last year but Maryland-breds are dead in the water- nobody wants them. She is a nice filly, needs a home? by St.Averil.  Have two more selling today and I hope it goes better. My partner in horses got a call from Ft. Bragg while at sale, that her son was safe , but his platoon in Afghanistan had been attacked with a casualty.  She was very shaken, hard to concentrate on horses when you are a million miles away being a distraught mom. Troops need to come home, send your prayers to the ones that are still in harm's way and ask God to watch over them.

October

My horse breeding partner, Carol and I bred a Maryland Million winner! Baltimore Belle won the Maryland Million Oaks on Saturday and it was a thrill. I know it's not  Grade 1 but it was really awesome for us; she stills owns half, I sold to a friend and couldn't be happier- it was so cool. The yearling sale has started and it still seems very slow. I sure hope they both sell. English Channel looks great and he will definitely sell. Weanlings are next.  It is a rainy, kinda cold day and I am trying to make a dent in online college course work and then get to sale. These college courses are a ton of work- I had no idea there was so much homework and reading. I have much more sympathy for my kids now.

after the flood

This must have been what Noah saw the morning after- the sky is grey and clouds are scudding by, funny, they are racing in the opposite direction from the other morning. I m not sure I will be able to get over the bridge this morning. Looking down from the house all I see is water, may have to get the boat out!!  The mares may be swimming to their buckets. But we really, really needed the rain - so I am not complaining. The weanlings are in at night , so I will waterski behind them as I let them out this morning.  After chores I am going to a celebration of life for a friend who passed away last week. Life is so ironic, this friend's wife lived life to the hilt, traveling all over the world. Had many hair-raising, life threatening close calls in places like Borneo, Kilimanjaro, Mongolia, Africa. I think she is the most adventurous woman I had ever met, so sad that after so many near misses with death , it is her husband (who stayed home for most of the adventures) who lost a short battle with cancer. It is very hard and all her friends wish her strength and love.

angry clouds

The gray clouds are racing across the sky this morning. Unusual to see them moving so fast, it is one of those GRAY days- good Irish hunting. Breezy and cool and damp. We needed the rain so bad and it feels lush, this wetness. Had a very busy weekend, Sarah and fiance Kevin visiting and Sam and fiancee Stephanie were moving in for a money saving sojourn. And Will was helping move everybody! Lots of young energy and noise and love- two young couples starting life together. Very fun to watch.  Now back to "routine"- yearlings to groom and walk, all the babies are weaned- no more broken fences. Think the moms were definitely ready to take a break from nursing. Bob and Chessie are being excellent babysitters. Hope the yearling sale goes OK, I don't even hope for major success, just hope they all sell! All the weanlings are selling in December, papers in and all named. Spring will be very busy, so I am so glad that I did not breed any mares back. Will just have to reassess this spring, maybe send two to Kentucky- maybe.

Misty, moisty morning

The fog is thick and low this dawn. It's like being in a cloud. Summer heat is back for another day anyway.
I will try to wean one more baby today, hopefully both by next week. Need some rain badly, the stream is dried up in back field where I would like to keep mares. Sarah and I went wedding dress shopping yesterday. It was soooo much fun and we both burst into tears when she came out of dressing room in the first gown. What a mother-daughter moment! I think that moment is a once in a lifetime. She took my breath away with her natural beauty. Her look of happiness and amazement as she saw herself in the mirror was  priceless. The salesgirl casually slipped a veil and jeweled comb on her head and transformed my little girl into a princess. All the love and care and heartache and hopes for the future stood all grown up, walking away from me and I was smiling with joy.  I am so blessed, both Sam and Sarah are ready to love and be vulnerable and truly trust another soul to love and care for them.  Wings are spreading and I am so proud of them.  

Summer's end

Summer is going out with a heat wave. 90 yesterday and again today, maybe higher.  As I sit and watch dawn( at 6:40 am nowadays) the cicadas are as loud as ever, the humidity is rising off the ground like warm air from subway grillwork and the mist is rolling across the fields. One weanling keeps whinnying in the pasture. I can't quite see them , but hope it is on the right side of the fence! We had a tremendous lightning storm last night. I had just picked up daughter and her charming fiance from airport and was telling them what a lovely full moon there was tonight. We walk outside and the heat lightning is rumbling and strikes are snapping down in the distance- no moon. This is the California fiance who visited Maryland for the first time last winter and whose trip heralded 48 inches of snow! I am looking at him out of the corner of my eye as we head to car , thinking " I hope he is not some kind of lightning rod". He is exclaiming that they never have lightning like this in LA and I am hoping my horses don't die tonight from lightning strikes! It was spectacular and the rain chased us all the way home. Sarah and I are going to be girly and go look at wedding dresses and wedding books and maybe even get a pedicure.  Love my kids.

Ladies night

My book club friends came to dinner last night and it was a lovely evening. I really like setting a nice table and then spending an evening with good friends, a bottle of wine ( or 2), great food. Paula brought her bread pudding- which is to die for and left the leftovers  with me too ( score!!) A friend who is going through a very tough time with husband's illness came and it was nice to see her laugh and have her mind taken off her own struggle for a while. The ladies are wonderful women, we all love horses and have become dear friends through our equine connection. We all very different but share a common love which in turn has revealed to us  our many similarities. We all laughed at the fact that we all still look the very same ( all horsewomen are fit) but we all are 10 lbs heavier than we were 5-6 years ago. What happened?
 Cubbing this morning was warm, but we ran several fox, actually we may have run one fox,  but we viewed several which is heartening to know they are around. It was very dry but this fox ran a huge circle  - horses are getting fit. Did you all see the moon this morning? Very beautiful and our friend from last evening told us all , that for the only time in our lifetimes, Neptune is visible about midnight right beside the moon. It is at it's nearest apogee or perigee (forgot which)  to Earth. Apparently, with binoculars the rings are visible!! I tried to stay up last night but fell asleep, but will try tonight. Once in a lifetime!

foxhunting, football and......

Cubbing was fun this morning. Everyone was a little high, Lily was thinking she was going to whip (she wasn't, Tanya was riding first flight), it was Mike and Bob's first hunt of season- both trying to establish dominance over when and how much eating on the side was going to take place, and Red decided he didn't like the whip cracking in his ear. Spinning and jumping while cracking a whip and looking out for the million groundhog holes in that one spot was a pain to say the least. But he calmed down and everything chilled out. Hounds crossed the branch by treatment plant, that was a drag for awhile, but all the puppies came back to huntsman very quickly which was nice. Some older hounds, will remain nameless 'cause I usually like them, tried to howl that they could not swim, except they were sitting chest deep in the river! -so I wasn't buying it and I left them.  Day got very warm very quickly but it was nice to be out.  Now football- GO 'SKINS!!  We are tailgating with friends at Fed EX. Couldn't ask for a nicer day!!

Can I start today over?

Weaning babies sucks. I have had both colts go over the fence, busting rails on the way down on both sides, leaving their field and going into the mares' field! One cut, hopefully not too bad,  but upset mares and babies all around. I put the babysitters in  and everything was OK until I was about to put the gator away and have breakfast, then all hell breaks loose. Those two colts can jump now, three rail fence from a standstill. Back to square one with two and the one that was weaned days ago also sailed over the fence, found mom, who wasn't exactly thrilled to see him. She had been studiously ignoring the shenanigans, hoping he wouldn't spot her. After I retrieved all the hot, sweaty, upset moms and babies and repaired the fence rails, I decided to put already weaned mares and friends in the very back field. This means the stupid colts will have to jump six fences! If they are successful I will sell them as jumpers! Fingers crossed, everyone stays put for the rest of the day (and week). So I will try again next week.

Football

Football is back. I love it. Took me years, but I now love the sounds and sights of Sunday night/Monday night football. I even know a quite a few of the players now ( maybe not enough for a fantasy league, but a lot), which makes watching the game much better. For years I sort of watched with the men in my life, but I was really just watching beefy guys in tight pants. Then, I fell in love with the Redskins, maybe it was the "hogs", maybe Joe Theismann - actually, maybe it was Howie Long  (even though he was a Raider)- anyway I really got into the game. It is an awesome sport of very athletic men, that takes great skill. As I appreciate a great racehorse and the heart and drive of an athlete that a super horse  represents, I appreciate the tremendous amount of training it takes to get to the level of fitness and ability in professional football. We all get to "participate" in a way, with televised football games and our love of the players. We cheer and cry and groan with them, but we don't have to really hurt with them. And they hurt! I cannot imagine the feeling after those games- they probably can't get out of bed. We just go to work, arguing the next day about who played better. They bleed and sweat and ache, for us, the fans  the next day as well. And then go right back to training for the love of the game. Awesome.

Blue dawns

The summer dawns were all shades of pink and gold, spectacular and fiery most mornings. I am noticing that these September break of days are blue. Blues, ranging from the palest, almost white-blue where the sun will come up, arcing back to the deepest indigos behind me. There are moments of pink , if there are clouds, but mainly they have been clear blue skies. The cicadas still thrum, softer  like a white noise in background. Two of the funniest looking woodpeckers just landed in the treetop beside me. I just realized, they sort of look like miniature pterodactyls. It is definitely cooler, the yearlings are already by the gate , waiting for breakfast. Too cold for baths today. The sale is in three weeks and I am now planning for the December mixed sale. A friend is having a difficult time and I think we may put several of our horses in the sale. Time to reorganize and plan for next step. Life is all about change, that was knocked into my thick skull recently. Just when you think you might coast along with a plan that looks smooth, you are sure to hit rapids. Now, my rapids are not bad. Just fast moving, lots of bumps and exciting. Two weddings, two college courses, new directions in writing. I always feel like I have forgotten to do something! But, I remember I am blessed and I give silent thanks - these changes are wonderful to behold and to be a part of- kids growing up and getting married. I am happy. Murph, I just heard the sound of Fall. The geese!! The first big vee just flew high overhead, honking loudly, just to say "We're back!!!"  Of, course, how did I forget the geese.

Exciting news- another engagement in the family!!

Yesterday, my daughter Sarah got engaged.  So wonderful, I am so happy for her. Kevin, her fiance called to tell me news also and sent flowers- so sweet. Good son -in -law! Sam is getting married in May, here , and I was very happy about one wedding- now I am double happy. Probably gonna get kinda crazy- but right now just double happy. Then my brain kicks in and I start asking a million questions, when, where, how ...... I am going to make us all crazy!
Cubbing started this morning and it was a lovely morning, down along shores of Patuxent. The corn is still high and it was warm, but it felt good to be out on horseback. We had some runs and nothing bad happened, this is good! Hounds were tired by 8:30Am and we all came in- good start to new season.

Labor Day Weekend

I did not want to get up this morning. I labored too hard this weekend, wanted to sleep in, but Leo, the lovely Lab had other plans. His internal clock never fails. At 5:50AM that cold nose plus a big foot go into my face! I groaned this morning, but like a good Mom I opened the eyes, then the front door and decided to get up. As I sit here with the first cup of coffee, listening to late summer cicadas I am wondering what will be the first sound of Fall. The spring peepers herald in the first days of Spring, these cicadas hum the warmth of summer, winter is silent, but what about Fall. You can't hear leaves fall or change color, so I am waiting to find out as I watch the dawn this year. I'll let you know if a sound of Fall becomes obvious. I have an owl that welcomes the morning with me, but I hear him all year.  Labor Day was a busy weekend- are we supposed to labor or rest? I did both just to cover my bases. These two college courses are kicking my butt. The Writing 101 I can do but the Emergency Management is a lot of reading! I have now finished two FEMA courses that make me more qualified than Mr. Brown ( the Brown of Katrina's Fema fiasco). Mike is doing a War College Masters course on the Strategy's of War or something like that and I realize I am learning how to clean up after war, so we make the  perfect pair.  He makes the mess and I'll clean it up!

Post Hurricane Earl

Earl brought nothing, no rain, no wind, not even a great sunrise- so I hope the surfers on the East Coast caught some great waves, because otherwise it was a big bust. I am afraid that all this media attention on "exciting" wether is going to inure us all about real disasters. We will stop believing the hype and warnings and then when "the real one "comes we will have stopped listening. I feel bad for all those people who had to leave vacations on Outer Banks. Years ago, those were the best walks on the beach when the wind was whipping and the waves were huge. You knew not to go with just common sense, but it was exhilarating to watch Nature's power. Now they want you to run and hide. Boring. On another subject I can't find my glasses. I think the dog ate them again, it is so maddening. I watched "Marley and Me" the other night and our Leo is a dead ringer for Marley, maybe not quite so bad , but then again , my glasses are gone! The old pair are missing both ear cushion pieces and poke me in the eye every time I put them on- aaargh.
The trees are starting to change, the first yellow leaves look like little yellow post-its all over the green . Funny how are description of things evolves. It is a welcome cooler morning and I am about to go work yearlings. Only a month until the sale,  I hope they sell. The market is still depressed. I go back and forth about selling weanlings in December, I think that market is even worse than the yearling market. My filly is shipping back from Fl this weekend I hope. Good timing because my other mare has been trying to founder I think.  I am afraid I upped her grain too much and then the grass had a spurt of unusual August fresh growth and wham- she is walking on eggshells. Hope I caught it soon enough. She is off grain, in stall, in deep sawdust and seems OK- fingers crossed. Still debating Field Hunter Championship. I would love to do it, just have to watch finances .

Monday mornings

I do not remember waking up tired as a kid. Is it a part of getting , yikes, older or is  it because we work too much? I know sometimes I try to cram too much in one day, but I really hate waking up and feeling tired. It seems that, that  should be a conundrum, that it should be impossible to not feel refreshed when you open your eyes. Now I look forward to my morning ritual of watching the sunrise, with a cup of joe, just so I can start the Me motor! It takes twenty minutes of quiet, contemplative time to want to get up and get going! Am I alone here or is this what millions of people feel like as they drive to work? Tired, kinda cranky.  This doesn't bode well for the universe. Oh well, moving on. It has gone back to being very hot again and I was amazed how quickly just one week of pleasant summer weather erased the lassitude of the prior killer heat. I was enjoying summer there for a moment. The college classes I signed up for are kicking my butt. I have not written "essays" for a deadline in thirty years- don't know how kids do this and do all the other stuff. I could not drink 10 beers and read a textbook, let alone get a ping pong ball in a teeny weeny cup- repeatedly. Gotta give 'em credit.

Falls coming

It is cool this morning. I love it . I am wrapped up in terrycloth watching a dark grey cloudy dawn just letting a teeny bit of pink and blue appear in distant horizon. It is halfway trying to rain, little spitballs. I wonder if that is good for my laptop!!. They are very little spitballs!  Bob, Michael's horse is nickering good morning, but nobody is answering. He is tired of being in paddock by barn alone. He is up here for his new shoes this morning, but he is wanting some company. Soon, Bob, soon. It would have been a perfect hunting morn, now I am definitely ready to get back in the saddle, it is calling my name. Those cool mornings and perfect moments when it feels awesome to be alive, galloping and just running around. You never feel any particular age when it is perfect hunting, you just feel good! In harmony with your horse and Mother Nature, neither one cares what you look like or what you think about, they are truly, simply into the moment. I watched a video on YouTube this morning, posted by a friend about Big Waves, really Big waves and Laird Hamilton. It was watching this man disappear down a 70 ft wall of water ( he is still living!) and feel a tiny spark of "I know what that moment of perfect harmony feels like". It is surrender and pure joy at the same time. It is laughing with pleasure at the feeling of being the wave ( or horse and land). Happy hunting.

Last days of summer

I can imagine that this is the beach as I sit and wait for the sun ball to appear. It just has- fiery, smoky, wonderful. If you ignore the hissing of cicadas and think waves lapping you could almost feel the sand. It is the same sun ball, same soft breeze, same quiet morning. I like to do it anyway. The big, old, black crows are not quite seagulls tho'. But there is a beautiful pink nimbus around the sun today. Don't know what it means but it is lovely. Almost 7 o'clock now, by the time the sun ball clears the trees and it has moved south. Where it notches the treeline as it rises changes everyday, this surprised me. I knew it moved but had never before really paid attention and actually seen the world's movement! Copernicus, or Euclid or Newton- one of the them would be proud as I give a nod to their early hypothesis of earth rotation. I realized I have kept this blog for a year now. It was last August 18th when my mini was rear-ended and I almost "bought the farm". Grateful for the blessing that kept me here and I have loved writing this daily look at my life. My daughter recently thanked me for the look into my life. She lives in California and I started it partially to tell her about the little stuff that we don't  really think is important enough to talk about in a phone call- but is the fabric of our lives! Like watching the sun come up every day and feeling the soul of one's life. Love you Sarah.

Dawn's witnesses

The sun is not breaching tree tops until 6:45 AM now and the mist seems to descend at the same moment. It looks really cool, as the clouds are lit from beneath in pink and gold, the mist covers the dark green tree line and softens everything. The dew is very heavy on grass. Actually this is very hard on horses hooves, they soften in the drenching moisture and then dry out during the day in the heat. Blacksmith's hate this time of year. One of my yearlings lost another shoe and I hate all those little nail holes right before the sale. They are looking good tho. I am  happy with the new supplement I am trying-flaxseed oil based. They are very shiny and the filly who was so sick this winter is also blooming from it. She too, has front shoes and I am riding her. I believe she is going to make a full recovery which is simply amazing. The babies are bouncing around the back field with their mom's! The foxhunters are getting antsy ( except Bob) with the cooler mornings . Life is good!

August

My birthday was Monday and I realize it somehow marks the beginning of Fall for me. This morning is grey and cooler, different bird song and the breeze smells fresher. It will still be hot later, it is only mid-August, but at 6AM today, it feels like change. I am enjoying the last few days with Will before he leaves for his junior year, lots of philosophical musings and listening to rapid, staccato, raunchy music. He actually raps! pretty well. Saw a stupid movie together last night, these are the simple things I miss when they are all gone. I am about to start an online university course, two actually- one an intro writing? class that apparently everyone must pay for and take ( rip-off) and another in the field of Emergency Management. I think I want that degree finally, not sure I can stay the course, but am taking the first step. Husband thinks I can, I'm not convinced but after many college years at many schools I am going to try to put it together. But who will hire an old person for a job??? anyway, hauling yearling Thoroughbreds around for a million years has prepared me for managing lots of emergencies- and I can't see doing That forever either. Choices, choices. Still going to write a pirate screenplay tho'- can't be worse than some of the stupid movies out. Knock on wood , yearlings are healthy and will get to sales. Four for next year and then we'll see what's next.

Auspicious beginnngs

We moved Will, my youngest son, down to Lexington, Va to his first off-campus house this weekend. Loaded the steam-cleaned horse trailer!! with couches, bed, dresser, etc and helped him into a lovely house in the woods. He is excited and proud of his new place. Auspicious beginning to junior year. I hope it is a good one. We ran into terrible traffic on the way home on 81, but when we finally , after miles of crawling traffic and rain , seemed to reach end of backup the only thing there was a beautiful double brilliant rainbow right beside the road. Everyone was taking a picture out of the car window- surprised we didn't all wreck. Good portent to an new year, for me and for him. Another birthday, I thought this was pretty "old"when I was in my teens , but like everyone says- "I don't feel that old". Must be all the hard work on the farm - I feel old somedays just not OLD. LOL

Cool breeze

It is cool and grey! It is such a welcome break from the heat this past week. Like the ocean after a hurricane ( or before) when the water is stormy and churned up and grey- the sky is cloudy and sweeping by. No sun ball today! We had some terrific storms yesterday and last night, it feels so good! Will and I went to Redskins training camp Wed morning and had a lot of fun. It was very hot just standing, watching. I cannot imagine working out in gear (even if warm weather UnderArmor!) in that humidity- we felt faint just watching. But it was very cool to see the players up close and personal. Donovan McNabb strolled out, to well-wishes , took a knee and I am sure said a prayer, probably like " Don't let me drop the ball in front of all these people". There were a ton of fans there. We stood beside two old guys, who knew everyone and could answer us when we wanted to know the new guys. Haynesworth was practising and that guy is huge. When the whole teams does drills it was like watching giants march. Kinda organized chaos, trying not to bump onto each other. Not to change subjects but I just saw and heard my first V-formation of Canada geese fly overhead!. Damn- fall is around the corner.

Sun Ball

The sun is coming up like a red-hot rubber ball this morning- no soft mist, no haze. It is a powerhouse in the treetops this morning. Going to be HOT! I 'm getting to chores right now and hound walking is going to be a bear this morning. At this very moment it is pleasant but this is what 6AM. Tomorrow Will and I are going to Redskins Park to training camp! You know you are a fan when you make your 20 yr old get up at 5AM to go watch football camp. The prep work on yearlings is suffering a little due to all these other fun things.

August morning mist

I am watching a light foggy morning mist descend towards the ground. Looks like Mother Nature just threw a soft white pashmina around herself. And I am listening to dueling owls. This is the second time I have heard these owls, they keep hooting back and forth, fairly loudly, as tho' in disagreement. Unusual morning. I suppose it is the beginning of a season change to Fall. And I watched football last night! I can't believe where the year has gone , but I love when football comes back. There is just something about watching good athletes and I think football players must be the closest to watching fabulous looking horses. Big, muscular, slightly bad-ass- I guess I understand the appeal of gladiators- just not sure why we like them. Do "warrior -types", whether animal or man represent protection or winning? Are we that competitive by basic human nature-maybe! Foggy mornings, football means foxhunting is around the corner. Whoopee - I am ready- after March I am ready to stop but by now, mid August I am ready to get back in the tack. My son and girlfriend were out last night , planning wedding. it is so cool and it is going to be so beautiful.