Monday, December 28, 2009

For the love of a Donkey!


Her name is Tonic. As is Gin and...She is now about 9 yrs. old. She loves anything and everything to eat which is why she has to be kept in a special lot without grass and only hay and small amounts of grain. It's a condition called founder, which causes lameness, in her case, in her back feet. But with proper care she gets along fine. And I do not give my horses/donkey/pony treats but Tonic loves a slice of plain white bread. You see the old man we bought her from was very poor and he could only afford to feed her stale bread. Which because of the high starch unfortunately led to the foot problem. but she loved him and he her, and she loves, loves, loves, a slice of white bread! SO ...once in a blue moon, a very blue moon I will give her a slice. She is a true donkey! She will only go where she intends to go, loading her on a trailer to move her here was truly a challenge, even feeding her is a game. If you do not place it directly in front of her she will bray until you give in. now I am not a soft hearted, horse spoiler. I have successfully trained my own show horses all my life and am very disicplined with them. Donkeys don't think like a horse, they don't respond like a horse. You have to make them think it was their idea....not yours...to even take a step...try to force them, or correct them and you are in for the battle of you life!

So Tonic has trained me on how to train her. And all for the love of a donkey!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Vines of Time


Time has taken its toll on me physically, sometimes just like this old house caught in the grip of nature's vines. But mentally, I still find my youth and wish for things I did in my past. Here in Mathews I hope to find the time ,,, and strength of body and/or will to do some of those things.
I got art books for Christmas from my husband...how to books...I use to dabble with painting and drawing. I want to dabble again. I am finding my love of photography again. Thanks to Mathews scenic vistas and an yet unmet friend who has me hunting down old houses!
We were driving down rt 14 and there were 3 riders with their horses out for a brisk ride on the side of the road, one rider with a santa hat over his helmet! It's been a long time since I have ridden my horse.
Time is not a friend to us in our house hunting endeavors. Seems we are picking difficult houses to finance, but then our finances dictate we pick the difficult ones because we need land for the horses. For the first time in my life I have considered selling the horses. Mike immediately stopped that train of thought saying he wasn't going to visit me in "Catawba" an old mental hospital in the mountains we just left! He's right...being a husband I try not to say that too often!! this time away from them, only a month, and I feel like that old house, choked with vines, part of me is missing.
Maybe time will pass quickly and the New Year will bring a new home and my horses back to me, and maybe some lost talent from my childhood.

Friday, November 27, 2009


Total exhaustion meets pneumonia. Book of Job has a personal meaning. I have never in my life felt so frail, so vunerable. For the first time in my life, I feel old! I have packed the entire house everytime myself and loaded 2 PODS, myself, which includes horse barn items. My brain said keep going the deadline is here...12/1 My body said...you're thru....and off to the ER I went....pneumonia! Luckily they argued and then sent me home so I can cough and point from the cough and the two wonderful guys my husband hired to help me. And my husband finally took vacation...and the earth stood still!
But thanks to our ever patient and ever so kind realtor, we have a rental house to go to, and know of 3 houses to look at as potentials, since 9 0r 10 so far have fallen to bank inspections!
Thank you, God, Thank you, Husband, Thank you, Doctors,Thank you, movers, Thank you, Realtor.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

floating septics and other contract blues


Well, the septic on the old farm house didn't pass, so with 18 days to go, we are without a home! 10 dogs, 5 equines, 2 cats and a parrot. But the house the my husband swore was too close to the highway now looks very appealing to him...so maybe there is a home sweet home yet to come?!

Saturday, November 7, 2009


Contemporary, art deco, retro....I am facing a 1910 farm house with low ceilings and no kitchen. A blood red ceiling in the living room with gold ivy stenciled and varnished on the floor, claw foot tub, and wooden interior shutters...lions and tigers and bears...oh my!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Just n Irish Farm


Childhood vacations alternated years between the Homestead and the Tides Inn, Mountains and Bay. As a child I would anxiously wait for my off year to return to my beloved mountain heaven to ride beautiful horses thru cool mountain paths. At the Bay I sought out refuge in the air conditioned bell hop office,bugging them to tell me inland adventures. You see, I get seasick!
My husband and I lived in the counties outside of Richmond, Powhatan and then Louisa. His job often took him out of town during the week, So I learned to live alone, and what I couldn't fix would wait til Saturday.
As we approached our 60's his job took him to Roanoke. Hurray! the Mountains, so after 3 yrs of weekend commuting and the firm promise of a 7 year contract, we sold our farm and moved to Craig county. As the ad says " you asked for it you got it, Toyota!" Well, not being familiar with the area, we got the highest mountain around. The winters are horrid, and my husband hates them, and I am not too fond of them myself. Within 3 months of living here, the 7 yr contract fizzles and he is transferred to Staunton, yes we could have stayed in Louisa!
Not only the contract fizzled but so did the real estate market.
Our house stayed on the market for 3 years with Mike, my husband driving 3 hours home on weekends.
Well, we are now in our sixties, looking towards retirement, his, I am retired/disabled. and he has always loved the bay! He owns a boat with his best friend, also a Mike. and they fish whenever they can in Mathews. He has been so supportive of my life with my horses, that now it's he turn. So it's off to the Bay.... Mathews, VA