Returning Home

I am saddened/gladdened to share that my Aunt passed away yesterday afternoon.  I was there holding her hand at her bedside when...........she opened her eyes as wide as they would go, smiled hugely and gripped my hand very hard ( reminded me of when Trev was born and I squeezed Bru's hand so hard I left a mark!) and then.........she simply stopped breathing.  I feel positive she saw my Dad and he was calling for her to join him and the rest of her immediate family.  It was very peaceful and surreal and I'm SO glad I was there. 

                                            Katie and her boys in Chillicothe, Ohio

 

                                       Katie and Bru at Westminster Thurber in Columbus, Ohio

 Barb and I will head for Ohio in the near future and make sure Katie is laid to rest with her parents - as were her wishes. It's hard for me to believe that I'm not going to see her today - as was our routine -almost every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at lunch time.  I would help feed her and we would chat and look out the window AND laugh.  It didn't matter why........we just always found something to chuckle about.  I will miss her terribly.

 Memories of her love and humor will long out last her 90 years spent here on earth.  Sakes Alive!!!!!!

Circle of Life.......

I wanted to share that Bud's Ballad will be on hiatus for an indefinite amount of time due to a very ill relative.  My Aunt Katie is gravely ill and I will be spending any extra time at her bedside. 

                           Katie sitting in the Moorings gardens after I brought her to Illinois in Sept.'08

                                               Katie showing off her Birthday sweater in Nov. '09

                                     Katie with her nieces on her 90th Birthday watching..............

                                        Ms. Layla with her Mom enjoying the B'day  ice cream.

                                  

Our First Field Trip

After only a few weeks of Bud under my belt , my niece suggested trailering our two horses over to a friends property for a day of fun in the sun.  The ride was only 20 minutes long and Bud had plenty of treats and hay to enjoy while in route.  When we arrived, the horses were unloaded and tied to the trailer to be groomed before being tacked and each had their own hay bag hanging off the side.  Well, Bud was beside himself trying to get to his hay (and not succeeding) and I actually had to show him how to pull it through the netting.  I will admit he was a quick learner and was happily munching away within a few minutes.

 Once groomed and tacked, we began our 1/2 mile walk to the pasture designated for riding.  As we were entering the gate........the bray of a donkey was very loud and stopped our horses in their tracks.  They watched and listened  ( without moving ) and slowly approached this noisy beast.  His name was Charley  (sorry no photos) and apparently he was just greeting his fellow equine.  Pardy and Bud - very slowy and I mean one leg at a time slowly - made it over to Charleys' side of the pasture.  They exchanged looks and smells and decided this long eared creature was not a threat.  It didn't take long and we were blissfully riding our hearts out with our equine frequently checking on the whereabouts of their newly aquainted friend.

                                                           Bud looking for Charley

The Illinois to Wisconsin........... Connection

One might wonder how my relationship with The Buddha began and I 'm happy to say I have my niece and her horse to thank.  She boarded her horse, Pardy, there for show training.  I was invited to accompany her one Saturday and happily agreed.  Several people and their equine were to arrive at 10am and have a faux horse show with a BBQ to follow ( I couldn't even  eat because I was so excited.)   The owner had agreed to let me ride Bud since I was related and had professed my undying love for the equine.  After waiting for what seemed an eternity - it was finally time to mount up and have some fun.

                                                  Bud and I meeting for the first

Pardy and I meeting for the first time

That first ride was unforgetable........and I mean ......unforgetable!!!  We argued constantly on the track - walk was trot, trot was walk, slow was fast - you get the picture.  He had not been ridden on a consistant basis and the fact he had just finished a " show " -  he was testing me BIG time.  I, however, had a great time just being in the saddle again and takng it all in.   After our less than  stellar performance - I was asked to release Bud back into his stall ,that has an ajacent run, and I did so gladly.  When I exited ,with just the lead rope in my hand, my niece asked where his halter was........well, on his head - where else?  Long story short -they do not release horses with their halters on since they could get hung up on something and cause damage ....so I was asked to retrieve it.  Back in the stall I go and Bud took one look at me and bolted out the door to his run - where we played catch me if you can for awhile.  I did grab the halter once and he about tore my arm off!  Luckily my niece came along and slowly approached him with a treat in hand and slipped off the elusive halter.  He and I stared at each other and I swear he was thinking " one for the equine and zippo for you lady".  I knew from then on.....my work was cut out for me......and I was going to love it.