March 14, 2010 - Cloudy, Windy, Drizzly, 42 degrees

The conditions today were just right to ruin any prospects of progress. Thick, gray clouds hovered ominously in all directions as far as the eye could see. After lovely 60 degree weather, the dampness and low of 42 degrees chilled any skin left bare. Every few minutes it would mist or drizzle and then hold itself in for short time before starting again. A strong, whistling wind whipped everything into a frenzy. Under its invisible power, bright blue construction tarps flapped vigorously, orange construction barrels rolled in the road, leaves tore by with stinging force, and cries from a sport event swept across the field. Arapaho was all tall ears and wide eyes.


Yet progress we did! Twice she startled into flight but after running into me the first time and running into the end of the lead the second, she halted to a standstill and then walked on when I asked! I still have to curb a nasty little habit she has of ducking her head to the right and pulling in a sharp circle. She won't try it when I am leading at her head but if I have to step ahead to encourage forward movement she tries her little tricks. I invented an ugly, discouraging chirp with my mouth to train her to disengage such rebellious activity.


Goals:
-start weight training next week (Any suggestions for a homemade girth that can comfortably carry something to hold weight on both sides??)
-train to lead by anyone by the end of May
-carry 60lb without protest by the end of May


Enjoy a small taste of my beautiful triumph! :

Either we have a really smart chicken or some really dumb roosters... or both?


Rooster #2 was rousted from his roost to be roasted by some roaming rodent.


The door of the coop was shut and the once-enclosed hen was pecking on the ground this morning. Papa found the coop pried apart at several weak spots which he promptly repaired. Once again our dear hen is the last fowl standing and once again her eggs will be "un"fertile... which is really okay because we eat them almost as fast as she lays. We sometimes are patient enough to have two, but usually some honored being(s) (so far not I) eats the one egg a day that the hen so obligingly leaves in the coop.

Hello, all!
I know that I have not written in an entire month contrary to my customary tendencies, but I am alive and well. God has blessed me and made me to prosper.


Over the past week or so I have been immensely enjoying the donkeys. They stayed across the creek before that for a long time but recently they remain in whistle/call/cow horn blast reach for much of the time. A few days ago we confronted a minor setback when the donkeys would not approach me and Tallyho brayed warnings every few seconds. I have any number of speculations that I could bore you with but I have not the time. Patience however took the day and soon all 3 came running at my heels to the backyard. Have you ever run across a field with 3 donkeys at your heels? It is quite the sensational experience.

Yesterday and today bring to my mind the words of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15: "...that your progress may be evident to all." Arapaho's progress is evident to all... or will be once you finish reading my blog. =)

She is learning to lead. She is actually doing it! I can walk her across the field AWAY from the other donkeys. I can spin her in circles and back her. I can walk her over fallen tree limbs and a recumbent telephone pole in the field. She allows me to weave her back and forth across the pole from end to end and then lead her around its entire, narrow circumference. It is such an incredible feeling to lead her... nothing like leading a horse. I think this is due partly to the fact that I am the one teaching her to lead and there has been plenty of months of despairing patience. This is not to say that we don't have our fights. Because we do! In fact she is LEARNING to lead still. Often our progress is one painful, unsure, stubborn, wavering step after another in any direction besides backwards... tho' there are some of those too. And in-between? A tug-o'-war. However these are broken by blissful successions of steps that eventually carry us far from where we began. She also seems to understand the concept of "whoa" (except I always say "ho" which is not good as it is the end of their names). Yes, when she is utterly annoyed at me and I have been dragging her around the field away from her pals, she will keep pulling when I have asked her to stop but as usual I just remain calm and "hold-my-donkeys" and she ceases to move forward. Yes, sometimes she cannot take it any more and she'll pretend to kick out and lunge, but all the while I gently cling to the rope end and beg her gently to return to me. But besides that... she is... is... absolutely thrillingly exciting to be around now. And oh how cute they look! Another few months and with a good brushing, I will have some sleek beauties!

Wednesday:
Absolutely thrilling. What an experience! Arapaho performed more beautifully than ever before! I also found a perfect mounting block: a tombstone foundation in the cemetery.

Right before my trip to FL, MT was blanketed by snow. I had tons of fun sledding and building a snowman but I took no pictures because we were on our way before I expected to leave. Upon my return exactly one week later this was the remainder of my friend:


Thus initiating the thoughts for the following poem:
I am warm. He is cold.
But we can be friends, so I'm told.
So I rolled away and rolled away and rolled away some more.

I am voluble. He is silent.
But it doesn't matter when he's gallant.
So I rolled away and rolled away and rolled away some more.

I am agile. He is staid.
But friendship’s kept once it's made.
So I rolled away and rolled away and rolled away some more.

I am thin. He is plump.
But for all that he’s a trump.
So I rolled away and rolled away and rolled away some more.

I am dust. He is snow.
But he may all my secrets know.
So I rolled away and rolled away and rolled away some more.

I am here. He is gone.
But with memories, I’m not alone.
So I’ll roll away and roll away and roll away some more.



Monday evening it snowed. Really this time. But it was soon raining and after scraping most of the snow off the front ditch with my sled I decided to make another snow friend. I rolled a large ball and then decided to fetch the leftovers from my last friend for the torso. By the time the ball had arrived at the driveway it was too large. So I rolled out two. Most everything is better with two I have decided. How can ONE have a snowball fight? (I tried with a tree... it was rather one-sided) TWO can roll a larger snowman. TWO can have more fun sledding. ONE is rather lonely.

"By the Light of the Street Lamp..."
(haha! I ran in for my camera and the snowman rolled down the ditch a foot and lost his torso and head. Had to rebuild with bare hands. brrr!)

"The Gentleman and the Lady" - dedicated to Papa and Nana Hutcheson

"Best friends" - dedicated to us

Snowing at Night

Quick Accumulation

On the Road to a To-Be-Cancelled Bible Study

Most recent project.... to keep my sweet music office lady warm. I miss her soooo much.

Snow.
Snow falling all around.
Around my face.
Face chilled by the wind.
Wind swirling against me.
Me on a cow trough.
Trough of multi-use.
Use to fly down hill.
Hill of powdery blissfulness.
Blissfulness filling my heart.
Heart of glad thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving to God for snow.
Snow.