Lullaby of Dreamland

So if you happen to be one of those individuals who thinks discussing dreams is boring or self-indulgent, read no further! Although this post is not exclusively about my dreams...

The above drawing is to (sorta) illustrate an image from a recent dream. I won't go into all the various details except to explain that I was staying at some beach-side resort and was called outside two different times by two different family members to view the very odd clouds that were forming in the sky. One of the family members was my/our long deceased father (aka "Daddy"). He was pretending to hold the clouds up by extending his arms high into the sky. I attempted to photograph my father and the clouds but the camera wasn't working... maybe because Daddy is/was dead? Who knows! But in this "waking life", I tried drawing them but they were hard to capture. They were vaguely geometric and superimposed over the conventionally cloudy sky.

But this leads to a brief consideration of several quirky dream comments. The first is that I have dream motifs that reoccur frequently... and no, they're not your classic like flying or being naked in a odd setting. I often dream about trying to locate something to wear in a huge heap of clothes. I mean, I have this image really often. No idea what that's about.

The second frequent story line is my having to pee but either there's no bathroom available, or there's some weird issue like there is no door on the bathroom, or there's a whole bunch of people hanging out, interrupting my need to piss. Or it's out of order and only a hole in the floor. Not sure where that comes from...

And the last one is setting. I am often at a school or college. Lots of classic brick dormitory buildings or cafeterias. And then I dig through a pile of clothes and need to pee but the bathrooms been moved...

Hahhahaha! I made you read all about my dreams. But the last thing I'm going to mention is how Bob and I frequently have dreams that have the same things in them- not identical, like we've changed the locations but have some piece of the dream the same. I mean, we are sleeping with our heads only a foot or two apart. F'rinstance, Bob will say, "I was wearing a bright red jacket in my dream". And I'll say, "I saw a person wearing a red jacket". Or I'll say, "I was in a small boat on a pond in my dream". And Bob will say, "There was a person painting a boat in mine!" You get the idea. I asked a friend if this ever happened to her and her husband. She replied, "All the time". So I guess it's not out of the ordinary, but just strange if you think about it.

Dear Rita Valley...

It's always lovely to find an award-winning cow with your name! This is what happens when you google yourself... be prepared for the results. (*1) I also have a number of vineyards in California bearing my name. On that one I'm a saint. (*2)

In any event, besides being a heifer, I'm a bit behind blogging as our monitor on the desk top computer decided to blow a fuse or shit the bed or whatever accurately describes a computers self-immolation. I turned on the computer the other day and !!SNAP!! there was a sharp crackling noise and a weird smell of burning electronics as the screen went black. Granted the monitor (and keyboard) were a million years old. We had replaced the tower several years ago (oh sure, that's probably "old" now too in computer years!) but I guess we weren't prepared for screen meltdown. It being the weekend- and the Xmas holiday shopping season- we opted to wait until a weekday to buy a new one. We also purchased a new keyboard as the letters were all wearing off, leading to many accidental typos. But the one we bought had strangely pale letters on it that made it effectively no better than the old one so that one's going back to the store when we get a minute.

So what else is new? My pony is on a diet as she looks fat to my farrier and others. (*4) I am supposing that having a month off work because of Lyme disease (*3), loosing her pasture mate Maggie (and therefore not moving around as much) and the weather being so terribly wet and muddy (*5), she's chubby. My friend Sabina (a one time riding instructor but general horse mentor) said she thinks it's fine that Neko is going into the winter a bit rotund, but I don't want Neko suffering weird equine health issues. 

And speaking of weather, a little Climate Change anyone? It's December and the ground is not frozen and it's been relentlessly raining- not snowing- and I have flowers blooming! Yes, our mutant primroses are blooming in the shade border. Really?!? Additionally, bulbs are sending up leaves... they should be dormant. Gardening is really becoming a gamble. Looks like we'll be harvesting something in time for Xmas. 

 (*1) Fortunately, she IS a lovely cow!

(*2) Santa Rita Valley: there are a number of vineyards offering a Pinot Noir. We should try it.

(*3) I just read a study where 25% of horses tested in Pennsylvania were positive for Lyme disease or anaplasmosis and  another tick borne illness! Ugh! They live outside, they roll in the grass; what are you supposed to do?!?

(*4) I saw a picture of Neko when I first tried her... she looked so much thinner! I was shocked.

(*5) Too slippery to actually ride; all you can do is plop around in the muck.
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I wonder if anyone else's mother made a pineapple into a turkey every year?!!? Mommy did, and I inherited the felt turkey head that she constructed. I will never know if she "invented" this pattern or if it was in some woman's magazine of her day. All I know is that it was a feature on the dining table every year. (*1) I was so traditional this year: I located the turkey head, made a note to secure an actual pineapple and I even rested it on a bed of Easter grass. As I mentioned to Bob, there are few displays that aren't improved by neon Easter grass.

 Here's our real turkey:

 Of course it is/was frozen and they take days to thaw so we're already working on that. This picture is expressly provided to alert certain family members (they know who they are!) that we are proceeding forward with Thanksgiving celebrations whether they attend or not. The weather looks good- sunny and in the 50's!(*2)- so we are accepting no excuses. Be there (or here) or be square.

We also have cranberries and pumpkin and potatoes and all sorts of food in the works. And we have weird food surprises like the classic butter truck seen here, fabricated by Bob.

Yes, holidays are fun here at the BobnRita Ranch.

(*1) Last year, I forgot to get a pineapple so I jammed the head on a lump of wood. Or maybe it was an odd squash. I don't remember. The year before that, I couldn't find the felt turkey head and Thnaksgiving just didn't feel like Thanksgiving.

(*2) But our family being our family, we are NOT celebrating Thanksgiving on the actual Thanksgiving Day. We are entertaining family on Saturday (as my sister Cathy works on Thanksgiving). We often push holidays around. Whatever. On the actual Thanksgiving, Bob and I are having a non-traditional meal and entertaining a friend.

Dressing for Success

 

I realized as I was going out the door to ride my pony that I had a LOT of clothing/equipment or gear on me. Getting strapped in to go riding is several degrees more complicated now that the weather has turned cold and now that I am making more accommodations to safety.

When I was a kid, going riding was as simple as throwing yourself on your horse bareback with nary a helmet or even a "correct" pair of boots. We rode in shorts and sneakers and sometimes with only a halter to guide the horse. But then we were kids: we bounced if we fell off (thought it was fun!) and our horses were saints.

This is Neko. She is a very good horsey, but she is no saint. Sometimes, being a chestnut mare (*1) she has strong opinions about what I am asking her to do. We have interesting discussions with her voicing her opposition to my riding choices with much swishing of her tail and flaring of nostril and becoming "strong". Fortunately, she has a good brain and is not prone to spooking or bucking or rearing up. But she does get excited and sometimes wants to go fast. This is alternately fun and sort of like being on a little red dragon. 

Hence the above mentioned equipment. I wear a helmet- no one with half a brain refuses to wear a helmet. Like football players, many riders (some very good!) have suffered head injuries and helmets are now required for all equestrian pursuits. Because it has suddenly gotten cold, I am wearing a jacket and full suede chaps over insulated pantaloons. (Additionally, the chaps offer another level of "gripiness", the better to stick to the saddle if one's horse decides to catapult sideways at 90 miles an hour.) Over my jacket is the latest addition to my get up. I now am the proud owner of an inflatable vest. (*2) Such an interesting invention!

The vest actually plugs into a strap attached to the front (pommel) of the saddle. If you should (ahem) part company from your charging steed, the cable snaps and hey presto! the canister inside the vest discharges, causing the vest to inflate and protect your neck, ribs, internal organs and hips. Fortunately, it doesn't weigh much and I soon became utterly used to it. 

Here is Neko and myself in warmer weather. She is pretending to enjoy my silly affection and has no doubt just sighed (deeply), hoping our riding session is thankfully over with. I have no illusions: she'd most likely rather be eating.

(*1) There are all kinds of stories and legends regarding chestnut mares. They are reputed to be "hot" (in the sense of spicy), and given to stubbornness and a certain intensity. Neko is a pretty good egg, but she is at least partially your typical chestnut mare. Sometimes a challenge but definitely an interesting equine partner. Some people prefer geldings for that reason, but give me a mare any day!

(*2)Thank you Bob for wishing to keep me alive to ride another day. He insisted he buy me this vest after my trainer showed him a short video of her being "yeeted" from another horse she rides. Persuasive stuff! Bob was impressed at how fast one comes off a determined horse!

(*3) You may also have noticed that I am carrying a riding crop in my right hand in the first picture. Occasionally, Neko wants to play pokey little pony and requires "encouragement". Not often, though, as she's typically what is referred to as "forward". And it is certainly worth mentioning that the riding crop is not used to beat or bludgeon the horse with. It is an extension of one's arm and hand and typically all the rider has to do is show the horse the crop and off we go!

Preaching to the Choir

 

Amen to that, right? Above, my latest vote piece. I have a history of these; it continues to be a necessary message. Although- correct me if I'm wrong- it seems many of our countries weirder elements take this more seriously then choir to whom I preach.

It seems- according to polls(*1), so-called young people aren't turning out in large numbers for early voting so far. Do they ever? I seem to remember young people adoring Bernie Sanders and then simply not turning out to vote for him in presidential primaries. And they have so much at stake! I am old enough (ahem) to know that I may not have to personally worry about the death of our planet. Fuck it: I may not be around 20 years from now. But aren't young women concerned about losing autonomy over their bodies? Aren't young people- particularly in southern states worried about gerrymandering and the stacking of the Supreme Court? Or LGBTQ+ rights? Younger people can't all be white incels who cherish gun rights uber alles!!!

See? This one's from a coupla years ago. Still beating that same old drum...

Here's another early one:

Hey! I even SOLD that one!! You never know: maybe my message will actually get through somehow.

(*1) And we all know how reliable polls are! (NOT!!)

 

Farewell Maggie!

 Farewell sweet Maggie! She had a long and- hopefully!- happy life. She was a good friend, a funny, opinionated mare, a nice companion to Neko (who loved telling Maggie what to do and when to do it...) We all loved Maggie (aka "The Magster", "Magatini" and so many other nicknames!); Robin the Good especially had a lovely friendship with Maggie. They'd touch noses through the fence and lick each other's noses. Maggie was so gentle with Robin when she was a puppy. Maggie had obviously had foals and knew what a baby animal was- they forged a deep bond.

But as you could see in that picture above, Maggie was very old and very tired. She knew what was coming. I often saw her standing with her head low, soaking up the morning sun as if the weight of her own head was too great. 

Here's the two of them last week- always hungry! They hear the back door open and are at the fence like, "Hey! Isn't it meal time?!!?!?" (Maggie wasn't really a small as she appears above; somehow my perspective made her look so tiny, like a pony!) 

Maggie was a real character. Due to her chronic lameness, I only was able to ride her for a couple of years after she arrived here.  But that was fine: she was a delightful member of our herd. She loved to pick her food dish up when it was empty and shake it around and the toss it as if to say, "Fill this thing up again, dammit!". She often had a mischievous twinkle in her eye and liked to try and bite me, especially when I attempted to put one of her blankets on her. The funny part of that was she had few teeth and made a weird clacking noise. She also had no sense of personal space and enjoyed walking directly into you. (And her eyes were fine, believe me!) 

Here's Maggie busy at another one of her "hobbies". She was really good at getting super dirty. She rarely used the barn and stood outside in whatever kind of inclement weather. Maggie loved to get down on the ground and roll- which was fine when she was younger (in the picture above) and could right herself easily. In the last few years, however, she would get down to roll and was frequently unable to get herself back up. Imagine attempting to lift a piano; she was that heavy. We called upon friends to come and assist in righting her but the danger was in her hurting herself (or us trying to help her). 

Here's on of my favorite pictures of Maggie. What could be better than a horse and sculpture?! We used to let her graze on the lawn in the backyard. Look at that nice round butt! Anyone who has seen Maggie in the last couple of years will remark on just how skinny she'd become! It was her time...

Her departure to the Great Pasture in the Sky was peaceful and dignified. She is missed; Neko is very sad and missing her pasture mate. I know we'll get through this but we're all mourning our beloved Maggie.

34 Big Ones!

Yup! Frost killed the basil on Saturday night and that means it was time for Bob and I to celebrate 34 years on non-anniversary. (I'm considering asking, "Where did/does the time go?" but it's rhetorical and a cliche so I won't.)

Savvy blog readers will notice that the basil is in a small plastic pot. Out basil did so badly that- as noted in a previous posting- we did not have pesto this summer... not even once! One day while at our local supermarket, I happened to spy herb plants (and organic no less!) and purchased the above victim. Pretty sad that this plant was born to be offered up as a sacrificial avatar of our anniversary. But it did its job and here we are.

 

We also bought a nice cheerful little chrysanthemum to celebrate our 34 years of un-married adventures, along with sushi and tempura and seaweed and teriyaki. It was a pleasant evening until we accidentally attempted to watch a comedy which was describing the relationship of two women (one of them ostensibly an asshole artist!!) who would spend much of the next hour and a half beating each other into bloody pulps- and comas- multiple times. Be careful of what passes as "comedy".

And then there was this:

Yes! An amazing full moon (Hunter's moon) that I just couldn't do justice to in pictures. The whole sky glowed and the abundant clouds were tufted and rippled and rumpled. It was pretty spectacular!

Hope everyone got to enjoy it and thanks for the anniversary good wishes!