Chincoteague Pony Fall Round-Up

The Fall Round-Up took place April 7 and 8, Friday and Saturday.

All ponies returned to Assateague (fall pick-up mares), and most of the 2015 Buy Backs were turned into the north areas, as grazing is limited south.

We lost Cloudburst to a nasty wound infection, despite 3 weeks of intensive care; her new foal is being taken care of at the UP foal NICU.  And 20-year-old stallion Wild Bill looks to be in very poor condition; he might not survive the winter.

CLG Wild Star and dam Black Star

Chief and Wild Thing clash in the corral

Lorna Dune and Shy Anne

CLG Surfer's Blue Moon

Wild Thing, Galadriel, and her (late born) foal

A few '15 Buy Backs - Blue, Angel, Princess, Sunshine, Beach Bunny, Gingersnap

Hoppy and Wild Thing

Sunshine!

Wow, if one doesn't look to the west, and see the snow on top of the Flatirons and on Green and Bear Mountains, you wouldn't know hat we had 5 inches of snow yesterday.  It's all melted - except in higher and very shady places.  But it was 28 degrees (F) this morning, so I'll put off removing the garden covers until about noon today.  Took the photo below a a friend's house about 10 yesterday morning.  The fox was moving along at quite a clip...

  We had quite a gathering yesterday evening at The Gondolier restaurant.  Beside the fact that it was Mother's Day, Kathy and Jim met and fell in love on 10 May 1979, at a dinner party.  Everyone in the extended family was there - minus Sarah's man, Michael, who was on a business trip, and whose flight was cancelled.  As usual, we had a huge table reserved, as Grandma Anne had come down Sugarloaf Mountain in a blizzard to be with us, along with both grandchildren, the two kids, one spouse (Erin), and Erin's Mom and Aunt - and me.  What was amazing was that I could get most of the sauces without onions - so we had a large selection of appetizers - garlic knots, garlic bread with mozzarella, crab cakes and calamari; and  was able to get homemade spaghetti (gordo) with a grilled chicken breast and lots of rich, thick tomato sauce.  Then, since it was Mother's Day, all the women were given a free canoli for dessert - I took a small sample of the extremely sweet filling, and had Jim and Mike split mine.  We were also given flowers as we left the restaurant, and Sarah had gotten all of the other ladies a beautiful peony blossom.   It was a good night.

 

National Puppy Day

Today is the 9th annual National Puppy Day - a day set aside to try and get 10,000 puppies and dogs adopted through animal agencies that are not breeders.  Some local Humane Societies and Rescue Groups lower, or waive, their adoption fees today, and some do not.  Today is a day to celebrate adoptions and rescues, rather than to pay a breeder for a purebred dog with papers.  Our local Humane Society of Boulder County is not reducing fees today.  Adopting any animal into your family and home means a change in the way you live, a small furry one that is entirely dependent upon your income for everything it needs, and the care of a veterinarian.  My cats more than repay me with love and affection for the amount of money I spend on them, and any dog or puppy adopted today is sure to do the same for you.  But you must have the time, money, and temperament to spend time with your pet, get to know it, and let it get to know you.  If you adopt an adult dog, usually it already knows basic commands, and is house-broken - but that is not always a correct assumption to make.  There are always exceptions to the rule.  And, if you do get a puppy, then plenty of time at home and huge measure of patience are needed; for you will train and shape your puppy into the dog it becomes.  Ownership of any animal is not to be entered into lightly.  It's a life time commitment.
   Today is also actor Timothy Dalton's birthday.  Happy birthday, Welsh man!
  Yesterday the weather was totally glorious - bright sunshine and a high of 68 degrees.  I sat out in the backyard with Rosie and read a whole book.  It's cooler this morning, but just as sunny; but rain and snow is forecast for this evening and tonight.  I'll be taking my snow boots back to Rosie's with me. My kits are running in and out this morning - they play out in the sunshine, and then jump up on my desk to rub their warm faces and backs against my face.  They are tremendous sweeties.
  And Vikings was on last night - the fourth episode of the second season.  It was good to see Rollo return to his usual demeanor, and to see Lagertha and Bjorn rejoin forces with Ragnar.  But the most horrific thing of this season happened to Athelstan last night.  He was crucified.  By King Ecbert's surviving Bishop and a group of about 30 English peasants.  King Ecbert heard of this event and arrived on horseback; he ordered the monk to be "cut down."  What I'm wondering is how Athelstan's hands and feet will recover from being nailed to the cross - he was still hanging there when the episode ended.....