tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312578562024-03-17T22:02:01.497-05:00camera-obscurabillie hinton’s camera-obscura: <br>life and lessons on November Hill Farmbilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comBlogger2234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-69804252552607243202024-03-04T07:51:00.003-05:002024-03-04T07:51:28.814-05:00Dreaming About Keil Bay<p> For the past month or so I’ve been having exquisitely detailed dreams about the Big Bay. In one dream we took him to a nearby pond for a therapeutic soak. When I unhooked his lead rope, he bypassed the “safe” pond and power walked to a further pond that was deep and steep and rock lined, and jumped into it. While I fretted about how we would get him out safely, he tried backing up the steep slope, couldn’t manage it, and soared out in a giant magnificent leap that defied all expectations. He was fine. He was happy. This woke me up smiling because it is so Keil Bay.</p><p>In another dream I brought him to live inside the house for total safety. Within about an hour he was jumping up on the kitchen island and countertops just like our cats do. Thankfully in the dream world the ceilings and square footage magically grew to accommodate him. </p><p>Last night I dreamed that a repair person showed up unscheduled, managed to open our farm gate, and Keil Bay and Cody trotted down the driveway and out onto the gravel lane, where they began to gallop up and down. In a panic, I ran with halters and lead ropes to get them. Once they galloped back to me, I saw they had tacked themselves up and were fully ready for riding. However, they were still having fun galloping so off they went again. As Keil galloped past me for the third time I called out to him and he turned to look at me, then slid to a stop, going onto his side and skidding for what seemed like many minutes. I was sure he would be injured but he wasn’t, and we finally got them back to the confines of the farm.</p><p>I also dreamed I brought Keil Bay into the house again, for another round of safekeeping, and this time I made him a huge comfortable bed of blankets and pillows in the corner of our dream world’s huge living room. It was a holiday of some kind, and we had guests stop by. Keil Bay loved lying snug in his bed while people oohed and aahhed over him. </p><p>Later after everyone left I was in the kitchen bemoaning all the dirty dishes. Keil appeared in the doorway and said “I’ll do the dishes!” And so he did. </p><p>I’m not sure what it means that he’s becoming ever more human and that I am trying to keep him safe in my dreams. I’ve long had dreams of keeping our animals and farm safe from intruders, but these safekeeping dreams are about his comfort, not his safety so much. </p><p>In any case, I welcome them. In every dream he is 100% Keil Bay, in body and in spirit and personality. It’s a joy to have him in a house that magically grows to accommodate him. I’m grateful for these moments of whimsy and time with him. </p><p>In an extra note, we hung the owl box my daughter gave us for Christmas and I am waiting for an owl to move in. With several big owl meetings at Keil’s passing I think the appearance of an owl in the box will be a huge comfort, not to mention generally exciting! </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-39483827709508173902024-03-01T17:32:00.002-05:002024-03-01T17:32:47.741-05:00November Hill farm journal, 206<p> We’ve had a rainy off and on week which has been helpful in keeping all the viburnums and other newly put in plants watered. I did some pruning today of one of the button bushes and the beauty berry that is just in front of it, on the lower native bed tier. </p><p>The invasive mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) still needs to be removed from the two beds I started working on and doing that is how I got hold of poison ivy. I’m going to wait for some of my natives to come up and once I can see them and where they are, I’ll use a weeding hoe and clear out the nonnative things. </p><p>There are a few larger invaders who I’ll dig out and remove individually. I really look forward to seeing these beds this spring, summer, and fall with this good clearing out done early on. </p><p>In other news, the saddle fitter arrived today as scheduled and I cannot tell you how excited I was as she made the tracings of Cody’s back and then took me to her mobile fitting very large van where she set out a work table, three saddle racks, and a model “horse” for me to try saddles on. She brought out saddle after saddle and all I had to do was hop on, say yay or neigh (ha), and save the ones I liked. In the end the one that I liked best of all turned out to be a very good fit on Cody, in the reasonable middle range cost-wise, and oh, the comfort. We didn’t saddle Cody up today for the trial ride in the saddle I picked, mainly because he has dental care scheduled for March 11 and I’d like to get him on the other side of that before putting a bridle on. The saddle fitter agreed that was a good plan. </p><p>I don’t even know how to describe how it felt to be sitting in saddles. I feel very ready for this new journey with Cody. He was cooperative and very curious about the saddle being put on his back. </p><p>Of course the rest of the herd were clustered by the barn whinnying and braying for their own saddle fittings. </p><p>The rain held off until the very end of the fitting, and I remembered days when rain came just as it did today during rides with Keil Bay, who always put on his best movement as the rain began, knowing that I would want to end on a very good note. Today he was absolutely with us as we went through this big step. </p><p>My daughter captured this photo on my birthday and I love it. It felt like the perfect image for that day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzVMH5jT8uCid16G3NNcNVYY1Np0kzULmihUivAAocD8e-A3xCYjegwuDpoBw2O0jprP0nhqqWvqwZl5PhPEFJQZzML-uZmrh2AMBoykNQKMk3HMG1Q0F_pYH3ogt1XAIxR1jLLJlCcK9KT1fPcd11RJ9AM0FyCb4FWKuoBvMsJQLBPZcS8Dg/s800/IMG_4950.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzVMH5jT8uCid16G3NNcNVYY1Np0kzULmihUivAAocD8e-A3xCYjegwuDpoBw2O0jprP0nhqqWvqwZl5PhPEFJQZzML-uZmrh2AMBoykNQKMk3HMG1Q0F_pYH3ogt1XAIxR1jLLJlCcK9KT1fPcd11RJ9AM0FyCb4FWKuoBvMsJQLBPZcS8Dg/w640-h480/IMG_4950.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The whole wide world pours down, as William Stafford wrote in his amazing poem:</p><h1 class="title" id="page-title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: YaleNew, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-feature-settings: "kern", "liga", "dlig"; font-size: 2.70588em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.125; margin: -2px 0px 0.5em -1px; padding: 0px;">Assurance</h1><div class="block block-system block-main block-system-main odd block-without-title" id="block-system-main" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Mallory, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><div class="block-inner clearfix" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="content clearfix" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field field-name-field-author-1 field-type-text field-label-hidden" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: inherit;">By William Stafford</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-line-break field-type-ds field-label-hidden" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"></p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden node" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">You will never be alone, you hear so deep<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />a sound when autumn comes. Yellow<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />pulls across the hills and thrums,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />or the silence after lightning before it says<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />its names – and then the clouds’ wide-mouthed<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />apologies. You were aimed from birth:<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />you will never be alone. Rain<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />will come, a gutter filled, an Amazon,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />long aisles – you never heard so deep a sound,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />moss on rock, and years. You turn your head –<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />that’s what the silence meant: <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">you’re not alone.</em><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />The whole wide world pours down.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-90746853154051940692024-02-26T18:00:00.001-05:002024-02-26T18:00:27.900-05:00Sad update on the little filly named Faith<p> Last week the rescue group and vet team who have taken amazing care of Faith, the little filly who was removed from owners due to terrible physical and emotional abuse, had to make the heartbreaking decision to help Faith go peacefully. Her injuries were too severe for her to live a pain-free life even as a pasture only horse. </p><p>So many people have put time and money and love into giving this young horse a chance to live a healthy life. It’s a tragedy that such a sweet girl has not been able to find stability without pain. </p><p>The couple who bred and abused Faith have had their court case continued numerous times. We all need to reach out to Cumberland County Animal Control and encourage them not to let up with this case. These two people should never own horses again and they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for their abuse of this horse. </p><p>You can easily google the numbers to call, write, and you can also help by sharing this far and wide and encouraging others to call and write. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCNmkTrDxGGbwjkJ5TcNFM6UGG1q2J4Q2fdmh_An7kBTh2FlwaoPTtsMaL26xOPF7jky843ESj-7p4lbKlS9W_v78DUl6l3t_Uucgj6YPPOnqMcctEH5IksKdji0OeHCSiixKLjwaHjXK2ePBol7R4znRomh6JFf9anpt2yVUMoFZSoocNste/s2732/IMG_3367.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCNmkTrDxGGbwjkJ5TcNFM6UGG1q2J4Q2fdmh_An7kBTh2FlwaoPTtsMaL26xOPF7jky843ESj-7p4lbKlS9W_v78DUl6l3t_Uucgj6YPPOnqMcctEH5IksKdji0OeHCSiixKLjwaHjXK2ePBol7R4znRomh6JFf9anpt2yVUMoFZSoocNste/w640-h480/IMG_3367.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Thanks for your help in speaking out for Faith. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-69392409957633909402024-02-25T12:17:00.002-05:002024-02-25T12:17:44.540-05:00November Hill farm journal, 205: A New Adventure<p> This Friday my birthday present on this 16th leap year birthday is a saddle fitting for Cody. He and I are going to begin a new adventure in riding. Years ago, I did a period of weekly lessons on Cody to try and expand my adult body skills while also learning about what he needs from a rider to offer the relaxed, beautiful movement we see him exhibiting in free play. </p><p>Cody is light years different from Keil Bay: different breed, different build, different movement, but also different training. Keil was trained by someone who bred, trained, and competed upper level dressage horses, and it was very clear that Keil had been encouraged to use his body and not constrained by his rider. Keil expected, trusted in, and received competent riding his entire life. </p><p>Cody came to us as a fully trained under saddle western pleasure QH. We thought he was 4 years old. Still early in a horse’s life to be fully trained under saddle, but we planned to take it easy until he grew up a bit more. When his papers arrived in the mail, we learned he was TWO years old. He had a weekly ride for the next year and a half to let him grow up some more, and a very specific kind of ride - with an English saddle and encouragement for relaxing and using his body. His gaits were tight, mincing western pleasure trained movement, nothing we wanted to continue. He figured it out, and with a sensitive, quiet rider he really shines. Too much use of rein, leg, and weight and he tenses up and reverts to the old learning. </p><p>I’m not an intentionally loud rider with the aids, but I’ve had to work as an adult to regain some of my youthful balance in the saddle. Keil Bay was always very forgiving of me, and big enough not to care too much. He took care of me with his own impeccable athleticism and elegant movement. </p><p>Cody needs what I call butterfly aids. For me, that means I have to focus on keeping my legs off him more than on him, as even the lightest touch is for him a big cue. What I learned in my lessons on Cody was that if I could lighten in every way as a rider, find my balance, and most of all remain relaxed, Cody would follow suit. And what came then was beautiful. In a way, Cody taught me more than Keil did because he needed more from me to get to the good place where both our bodies moved in harmony. </p><p>It’s time for us to work together again. With Keil Bay only being ridden in my dreams (it is happening, and I treasure it) and my visualizations, I am craving being on the back of an in the flesh horse. Cody has PSSM, which likely exacerbates his sensitivity, but consistent work also helps his condition. So my job will be to get as light and as balanced and as relaxed as I can for him. In return, his balanced movement will do wonders for my fitness and my back and hips. We are going to be a team, and he is actively participating in this as we move toward Friday.</p><p>Last week he had a chiro appointment, and unlike Keil Bay, it’s not his favorite thing on the planet. But as if something had shifted, he relaxed into his chiro adjustments and began to offer behaviors that were exactly like Keil’s during his chiro time. Cody turned his neck many times to look back at his chiro vet, something he’s never done before, something Keil Bay did constantly. Cody nudged me when I was talking about something not related to him, as Keil Bay always did. And when the work was done, instead of being eager to walk away and rejoin his herd, he stopped and turned to his vet and touched her arm with his muzzle. A signature Keil Bay move. </p><p>Is Cody channeling the Big Bay? I don’t know! But the change was unmistakable. I think he’s probably stepping into Keil’s role in the ways he noticed Keil behaving all the years they lived together, which was most of Cody’s life. </p><p>I’m so happy to be on this new adventure with him. I hope we both get a lot out of it. More to come as we move forward into 2024. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-60462665612313265932024-02-21T08:48:00.000-05:002024-02-21T08:48:08.832-05:00Happy Birthday, Redford!!!<p> This February we have two sweet 16 birthdays happening. Redford turned 16 on the 19th and I will have my 16th Leap Year birthday on the 29th. I’m very happy to share this milestone with Redford, who has been and remains the caretaker equine on November Hill. </p><p>When he first came to us around 6 months of age, he came earlier than planned to help keep Rafer Johnson, who had a broken leg in a big cast, company. Salina had gone temporarily awol due to hormones and Rafer needed a companion at the barn. Redford came and took the role beautifully. Of course, once Redford came and Salina saw him, she immediately reverted to mama bear and would not leave the donkey boys, so then we had the trio who became deeply bonded until Salina passed away at age 30.</p><p>As the herd reconfigured Redford began to attach himself to Keil and Cody, always offering to stay with either one of them if needed. When Keil developed EPM, Redford stayed by his side and that continued until Keil’s passing in October. </p><p>The herd is still settling into its new order after losing their long-time leader, but Redford seems to float between Cody and Little Man and Rafer Johnson. I’m sure he’s going to the one who needs his company the most - that’s just who he is. </p><p>Since Salina’s death, Redford also tends to me. He began to leave the herd to come be near me around that time, whenever I’m out doing chores or just spending time with the herd. He has been sticking to me like glue when I’m at the barn since Keil’s death, and I appreciate his presence and his care. He is such a special little donkey. We’re honored to have him here, keeping his eyes on all of us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SW3JFCkBjoB2Jn2vLRLoxsoP-yKBdq6ztqS7yp-_HWNfOgvEn7lwlCgC2c0O3Gtfoc8a30skvUJEaC0aNKDis0nbFm4Wz5m1WbdPXxrA1GGJVKI2H60QM_gYtQ53kmBTXt7zhUPaydYSKuQj_lkRbOWUEP61GeL1ZhpWzIV2hUNzCOtbV6_8/s4032/IMG_1276.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SW3JFCkBjoB2Jn2vLRLoxsoP-yKBdq6ztqS7yp-_HWNfOgvEn7lwlCgC2c0O3Gtfoc8a30skvUJEaC0aNKDis0nbFm4Wz5m1WbdPXxrA1GGJVKI2H60QM_gYtQ53kmBTXt7zhUPaydYSKuQj_lkRbOWUEP61GeL1ZhpWzIV2hUNzCOtbV6_8/w640-h480/IMG_1276.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Here he is last week, sticking close as I worked in the back pasture. </p><p>Happy sweet 16, Redbug! We love you so much!</p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-58068045669104832402024-02-05T10:34:00.000-05:002024-02-05T10:34:14.201-05:00November Hill farm journal, 204<p> Much work in the upper pollinator bed this weekend, removing some winter foliage and thinning out the potentilla, which is native but can get overbearing. I also ripped out many tall/Canada goldenrod (native and terrific but have taken over this bed and need to go!) and several Japanese honeysuckle vines. Not done but unearthed many of the original native plantings which had gotten overshadowed by the tall goldenrod. </p><p>No photos yet!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa9xhSPwfUr6e6dLTzYD-j2AUHepPz63Y9MWz5ny71o5S0wkq_IAktsHXVIMuaXc9lNDlQODqCYDSTXiJV4kVt4Lolxc20pmAHolWqqQu4AvASKy6ieUyuAw3ekhKG_asKfRtl7Olgg6tZE466RWwsQr0yqkqEzi45zpygRREGfKXMsnIQm2p/s4032/IMG_1270.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa9xhSPwfUr6e6dLTzYD-j2AUHepPz63Y9MWz5ny71o5S0wkq_IAktsHXVIMuaXc9lNDlQODqCYDSTXiJV4kVt4Lolxc20pmAHolWqqQu4AvASKy6ieUyuAw3ekhKG_asKfRtl7Olgg6tZE466RWwsQr0yqkqEzi45zpygRREGfKXMsnIQm2p/w640-h480/IMG_1270.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Spent time with the herd yesterday afternoon and dear husband did hoof trims for the donka boys while I groomed. I visited Keil Bay’s grave this morning and stood awhile with, for the first time since he passed, no tears. I had a visceral image of him coming up from the grave, shaking, jumping into the arena and doing a very fancy dressage test while I watched. This is how I remember him, the beauty of his movement, his amazing personality, and how happy I felt and still feel when I see him go. </p><p>It’s a beautiful February day that started when I woke up early to find an acceptance email for my flash fiction piece titled <i>She Wants To Swim With Narwhals. </i>It is forthcoming in Permafrost Magazine, and I’ll post a link when it publishes. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-51174158774422965372024-01-29T07:22:00.002-05:002024-01-29T07:22:34.157-05:00November Hill farm journal, 203<p> We’ve had a very warm spell the past week or so, with two big rains and days of gray skies, which followed a very cold spell for nearly two weeks before that. Now we’re shifting back to fairly normal winter weather for us, with highs in the low 50s and nights in the low 30s. I’ll take it. </p><p>I’ve been busy planting a batch of natives I got in January right before the cold snap. They all had to live in the garage for a week until we got to the rainy warm spell, and once the rain stopped, the ground was perfect for digging and planting six viburnums (three different species) into the front fence native mixed hedge area. I also put in 25 elderberry live stakes and a few garden bed plantings. Right now I have one winterberry holly that needs to go into the ground and then I am done with planting for this season. </p><p>We’ve also been moving large stones from our mother-in-law cottage to the farm, little by little, in two different dry creek bed areas. This will take awhile to complete but hopefully by mid-spring we’re done with it.</p><p>Yesterday I worked on getting butterfly bushes out of the upper pollinator bed. We took out the grandfather butterfly bush last year and it is trying to come back. Thankfully the five volunteers weren’t too hard to remove. I’ll be doing a major weeding out of that upper bed this spring, as it’s gotten overgrown with both non-native invaders and some unruly goldenrod, which I like, but it has taken over. I’ll be removing as many of the goldenrod as I can this spring and moving them to an area where they can go wild without crowding my small bed. I have a spot in Arcadia that is perfect for them. </p><p>We’re all hanging in there in general here. I’ve started a new novel, quite unintentionally, and have been enjoying my near daily writing sessions with it. Continuing my interior painting projects slowly but surely, and we got the new barn windows installed - now need to paint the barn with the remaining exterior house paint. That’s a job that requires the right weather, so it’s on hold for right now.</p><p>Meanwhile, a certain family member turned 5 years old!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTbmHcHY843wYU9EG6Wwd-0aRo7Th9ILxtbT3Y41R363Ktbi8fL_rCLVs7XxSsCX5dyLdvrIU1MaF1tOWx4aLtHYKmwoIZFWZbwB1PuXP6zxIPfeaBmOFygNUHHFDI0j0AZQuEnxM9y10nXoiC6zgvj91Am1akN5nf6GQCXQEc7i7yCtk4Opb/s4032/IMG_3332.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTbmHcHY843wYU9EG6Wwd-0aRo7Th9ILxtbT3Y41R363Ktbi8fL_rCLVs7XxSsCX5dyLdvrIU1MaF1tOWx4aLtHYKmwoIZFWZbwB1PuXP6zxIPfeaBmOFygNUHHFDI0j0AZQuEnxM9y10nXoiC6zgvj91Am1akN5nf6GQCXQEc7i7yCtk4Opb/w640-h480/IMG_3332.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Happy birthday, our darling Clementine! </p><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-79728635058098062652024-01-27T12:55:00.004-05:002024-01-27T12:55:47.269-05:00What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 91: blackhaw<p> Viburnum prunifolium is a wonderful native shrub that offers many wildlife and pollinator benefits as well as erosion control and fall color. </p><p>I’m in the process of adding three species of viburnum staggered along our front fencing, between the southern bayberries already thriving there. My goal is to created a mixed native hedge that supports wildlife, offers screening, and enhances the beautiful view from our front porch. </p><p>By staggering three species I’ll broaden the wildlife and insect support while getting a consistent visual look across the length of the hedge, especially during bloom times. </p><p>For the horses, it offers a layer of privacy and some sound protection from passing cars and people. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWiMuc441W1JcVPxdvOhVarvkAA_-Xp1muQKfEjclcl83lhcSn7JfDfQWBK6wIpDs-BGTb2nAlB_ROast6COB6Ve2VEQXuvkQL0cWBPcZG0XP-k_ogtcU1scnQLDYbouRJTgtQFFSZItFOhRE8pAc9jg8v92K-mxhEO3S94D-gUVbu7tv0qjd/s1066/IMG_3331.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWiMuc441W1JcVPxdvOhVarvkAA_-Xp1muQKfEjclcl83lhcSn7JfDfQWBK6wIpDs-BGTb2nAlB_ROast6COB6Ve2VEQXuvkQL0cWBPcZG0XP-k_ogtcU1scnQLDYbouRJTgtQFFSZItFOhRE8pAc9jg8v92K-mxhEO3S94D-gUVbu7tv0qjd/w480-h640/IMG_3331.webp" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-32349658779786209182024-01-26T07:32:00.000-05:002024-01-26T07:32:02.263-05:00What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 90: marsh rattlesnake master<p> I’ve loved another native species of rattlesnake master since the year I added it to my very first native pollinator bed. It has done beautifully there and is one of my favorite plants. </p><p>This marsh species is beautiful to me because I love the lavender color of the flowers and I’ve added it to a new bed in the barnyard. It’s not the ideal marshy setting this plant loves, but often enough, natives can do well in less than ideal conditions. I’ve planted five and will keep them well watered to see if they can take off where I’ve put them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNydXC0ONTtE4ucKGeoftXlBkphMiNMA-JJARSXi0G3m4p3iLcaWh5r_5HP5O7IfzvvwtD98bX3z4Fr3iSSUTt8otxnNybILtLzF1tZcyYl4awrrSjAk45p7cll6ULqsoCcGF3UslbGvSe9-TrpZH2iYx2JLUUyS6HlhGRVm65jP77wdy4rrF/s600/IMG_3330.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNydXC0ONTtE4ucKGeoftXlBkphMiNMA-JJARSXi0G3m4p3iLcaWh5r_5HP5O7IfzvvwtD98bX3z4Fr3iSSUTt8otxnNybILtLzF1tZcyYl4awrrSjAk45p7cll6ULqsoCcGF3UslbGvSe9-TrpZH2iYx2JLUUyS6HlhGRVm65jP77wdy4rrF/w480-h640/IMG_3330.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I’m going to have some new plants to track this spring - stay tuned for updates. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-12938181574668607572024-01-26T07:25:00.003-05:002024-01-26T07:25:52.048-05:00What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 89: poke milkweed<p> Asclepias exaltata is a beautiful and not easy to find species of milkweed that does well in part shade and has a wonderful nodding quality to it thanks to the flowers dangling on stems. When I looked for rarer natives to honor Keil Bay and Salina in their partly shady resting place I discovered this and actually found it in a nursery about an hour away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaeqLPlo6C-mFDkX1ALjDT5fHf9Z2zkshjtC-hblHtjg_VgdlH1hpusbaXECPJZQreCG9oEPNxhaCmJXPazzyRp7DlySg32un_nI9mGbmr82UdXJ3NcNPMj2mikfX7PQMNh9q6rKVjoYwRuePlMisgP487xFstCsU9MT5Ei4E5r8NVh4pEwQk/s500/IMG_3329.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="500" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaeqLPlo6C-mFDkX1ALjDT5fHf9Z2zkshjtC-hblHtjg_VgdlH1hpusbaXECPJZQreCG9oEPNxhaCmJXPazzyRp7DlySg32un_nI9mGbmr82UdXJ3NcNPMj2mikfX7PQMNh9q6rKVjoYwRuePlMisgP487xFstCsU9MT5Ei4E5r8NVh4pEwQk/w640-h492/IMG_3329.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I’ve planted these and am so eager to see them come up this spring. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-70364336590203315152024-01-26T07:18:00.001-05:002024-01-26T07:18:14.722-05:00What’s Coming Up In The Garden, 88: Sweetleaf, aka Horse Sugar<p> Symplocos tinctoria is a native to NC (and other states, check yours to be sure) semi-evergreen shrub that does well in part shade, has leaves that taste sweet, hence the common names, and has lovely flowers that offer forage for pollinators. It’s also the host plant for King’s hairstreak butterflies. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL2HmH4-eK-MO1CmLV0fXQ35Fir8cOGk8d9iwoPMvGlzTO2zxUYOwgx_hsyuFs46mdkUV3zQqc61_E_CSVtWEt-H8Pvdnhfz-OkQ_zTJ_4NOqqozRMDmCcz_fBqkuskQEC2BbV8sbxp-LR7d3swuAGCIdd5uLqMkh1WGLL_qFJzDfp7cvi0Jl/s1024/IMG_3328.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL2HmH4-eK-MO1CmLV0fXQ35Fir8cOGk8d9iwoPMvGlzTO2zxUYOwgx_hsyuFs46mdkUV3zQqc61_E_CSVtWEt-H8Pvdnhfz-OkQ_zTJ_4NOqqozRMDmCcz_fBqkuskQEC2BbV8sbxp-LR7d3swuAGCIdd5uLqMkh1WGLL_qFJzDfp7cvi0Jl/w640-h480/IMG_3328.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This is one of the plants I chose and have planted on Keil Bay’s and Salina’s gravesites. I’m excited to see it grow and to know that both my dear equine friends will appreciate the sweet leaves of this lovely plant. </p><p>Salina famously stole sunflowers from my garden and ran with them, and Keil was also famously known for his love of honeysuckle. It makes me happy to see this growing in the place both have been laid to rest here on the farm. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-26216636970303966352024-01-14T07:37:00.002-05:002024-01-14T07:37:46.656-05:00My Substack is live: please join me there!<p> <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/billiehinton/p/remedy-for-an-excited-amygdala?r=8c9fy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true">https://open.substack.com/pub/billiehinton/p/remedy-for-an-excited-amygdala?r=8c9fy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETPbBCl2VZVGaxF3jnN2nWinv1zTYpJYXZHuMyH-jnnDASxWFyX3dUS4mn1cKpOWoNhjjb60Wq_PzU4d8gYPPUI27XB7i5NrLTbKXsqguLusQJIFPVirRU_0o0wcOxfJ0pzAvzIserltMiuFj7GkYsZJnkvrJDM6j9nAapkMoKunJCXXdQ3e7/s1422/Image%2520-%2520vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETPbBCl2VZVGaxF3jnN2nWinv1zTYpJYXZHuMyH-jnnDASxWFyX3dUS4mn1cKpOWoNhjjb60Wq_PzU4d8gYPPUI27XB7i5NrLTbKXsqguLusQJIFPVirRU_0o0wcOxfJ0pzAvzIserltMiuFj7GkYsZJnkvrJDM6j9nAapkMoKunJCXXdQ3e7/w360-h640/Image%2520-%2520vertical.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-81074275590548133662024-01-02T08:34:00.001-05:002024-01-02T08:34:09.907-05:00November Hill farm journal, 202 (the herd moves on)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHck7NhgTvCN8o4j0yVIstznKOEJhS4zwfNgXEF2xTF2ijwXb-DvNIWXUtgA-vzXRGJarVxw46UDZYkP6awHmEERHi3pPamaSeMNiJGDUaqWU6sFtOslgDep5h_wAZ0NLGJpOL8iYVtIQep1TVkMFjfs3ozqLZR6CIyL1ZQBQvWd9y_0vNO9s/s4032/IMG_3286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHck7NhgTvCN8o4j0yVIstznKOEJhS4zwfNgXEF2xTF2ijwXb-DvNIWXUtgA-vzXRGJarVxw46UDZYkP6awHmEERHi3pPamaSeMNiJGDUaqWU6sFtOslgDep5h_wAZ0NLGJpOL8iYVtIQep1TVkMFjfs3ozqLZR6CIyL1ZQBQvWd9y_0vNO9s/w640-h480/IMG_3286.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As we closed out 2023 a number of little things happened and then one big thing to mark this passage. The little things: we had a relatively quiet new year’s eve with not much noise, which made me very happy. On the early morning of the new year, I was out with Baloo when I noticed the birds were singing madly on the farm. A week before I had bemoaned never seeing a northern flicker in my life. The patterns of their feathering and colors make me smile (in pictures!) and I wished to see one. As the birds chorused I turned on my Cornell bird sound app and in seconds had this reading:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2TI8-qUuC_Qe67trZHMicb2JO6ZcjvTsVyFulqbd081tcHU0PTK30X6XL9D8OgteJ2gF1i6b8k_DSADiUuvAprRLAXVE4jIY45fFRHl6Qt2r-0SgQZ1nu3onT_UlTw2aeqXK400agpOXQPLAVCWB4NymIlh_WYk6UeKcWqVXWfhCMVrw5mwx/s2796/IMG_1233.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2796" data-original-width="1290" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2TI8-qUuC_Qe67trZHMicb2JO6ZcjvTsVyFulqbd081tcHU0PTK30X6XL9D8OgteJ2gF1i6b8k_DSADiUuvAprRLAXVE4jIY45fFRHl6Qt2r-0SgQZ1nu3onT_UlTw2aeqXK400agpOXQPLAVCWB4NymIlh_WYk6UeKcWqVXWfhCMVrw5mwx/w296-h640/IMG_1233.png" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p>The northern flicker was calling from one of two oaks in the front pasture. While I couldn’t locate the bird visually, I now know they are on the farm and I will be sure to listen and look in the days to come. What a gift it will be if I catch a glimpse!</p><p>The big thing happened yesterday mid-morning when I glanced out the back window after my daughter said that both Cody and Apache Moon were rolling at the same time. Always on the alert for trouble, I thought colic, then biting insects, neither of which were likely. By the time I glanced out, they were both up on all fours again, and then Cody laid back down to roll. He went all the way over, back and forth, as if giving his back a good scratch, and then leaped up with two double-barrel bucks and his characteristic “let’s play” head toss. When Apache didn’t respond, Cody walked up to him and they touched muzzles. Cody rarely approaches Apache face to face like this - they have their infamous over the fence tag game they play regularly, but the pony has always reigned superior over Cody and the past two weeks he’s been very bossy, moving Cody away from hay piles or even just moving him for no good reason. </p><p>I speculated that Apache was making a play to be herd leader. But yesterday morning Cody turned the tables on Apache, not backing down, not being aggressive, but being very forward about his ability to be in Apache’s space without being moved. </p><p>For several minutes they stood there and it looked exactly like they were having a discussion. There was gesturing with heads and muzzles and neither moved their hooves an inch. Then suddenly they shared breath and then Cody went off into a huge floating trot that turned to a slow gallop in a large circle, tossing his head and soon joined by the pony. </p><p>They trotted, they galloped, they did levade, they spun on hind hooves, they cantered along the dirt paddock and back out again. It was a play session in the order of the ones they usually have, the very first I’ve seen since Keil Bay passed away. </p><p>I do not know how they know it’s the start of a new year or that it means something to humans, but there is no doubt in my mind that this herd has made the decision to move on, to reform, to get back to their routine of grazing together, sleeping together, rolling together, playing together. And they are dealing with the question of herd order and how that will proceed. </p><p>I’m so relieved and so grateful that they helped start 2024 off on such a beautiful note. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-52899076451853997542023-12-28T12:03:00.002-05:002023-12-28T12:03:11.330-05:00November Hill farm journal, 201 (the day after the solstice)<p> I was walking through the barnyard with the plants for Keil and Salina’s gravesites when I heard the sound of several small planes approaching. When I looked up, there were three flying in close formation over the farm, and as I watched, they did a maneuver where they flew apart in three different directions in a quick and sudden movement.</p><p>It was truly spectacular, and as usual since October 25th, I view everything like this as a sign of Keil Bay’s passing. This was surely a little celebratory display to mark the planting of natives including blue-eyed grass, poke milkweed, and sweetleaf, aka horse sugar.</p><p>I managed to get a few photos after the planes did the spread and then began to come back to formation:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26xmyUP8_QgsVRy-oM_2MCEuwh8asQYJfJ1jmwgiJrZ44N6RrKHPOGURwtNRXXPSoj0W-w4NOBOMYW5iYztW41DGCLsO7jzHnPqRCmMqVqY81MOFtXT0YMI4Ta9cdskTfYxQuvmGAvYNKVZdDk6UREsdtb_TJq2pV2kpConfV1Ngmhf3rSoTU/s4032/IMG_1217.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26xmyUP8_QgsVRy-oM_2MCEuwh8asQYJfJ1jmwgiJrZ44N6RrKHPOGURwtNRXXPSoj0W-w4NOBOMYW5iYztW41DGCLsO7jzHnPqRCmMqVqY81MOFtXT0YMI4Ta9cdskTfYxQuvmGAvYNKVZdDk6UREsdtb_TJq2pV2kpConfV1Ngmhf3rSoTU/w640-h480/IMG_1217.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLj6eLqct-_Lh4LmkDw5Bq9s2EXIAM8qnPjswwLCcD7eYAoog_Fs1mZaPEKabwQqVYqwB5U7SMQBSzdgJAndvft-2gFoJQkBGyB9gxdesaFXReXxR9uw3apllMsBlXhNo-PyP7Qwv5qM1DtTaZ1Q92SQKyqVQTdbmTw_ysZomipUuDhmjCK3e/s4032/IMG_1218.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLj6eLqct-_Lh4LmkDw5Bq9s2EXIAM8qnPjswwLCcD7eYAoog_Fs1mZaPEKabwQqVYqwB5U7SMQBSzdgJAndvft-2gFoJQkBGyB9gxdesaFXReXxR9uw3apllMsBlXhNo-PyP7Qwv5qM1DtTaZ1Q92SQKyqVQTdbmTw_ysZomipUuDhmjCK3e/w640-h480/IMG_1218.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRFndQ6i2yV6LC6qY3bdurk-8VyOnKh_bBNKDDDqIKzXs4g_sOnNwUYcywsXY0ZHyt_6MiE3fqznzJxMFOgsQn5HTzbNBLev2mk7QPuKXyZuXIC8VGj_lroVq4D6H0trVtCVMXgUgAf98t9iPg6JF_0fYfRRtOwbPxQnoCFqGDLe45JJo21xn/s4032/IMG_1219.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRFndQ6i2yV6LC6qY3bdurk-8VyOnKh_bBNKDDDqIKzXs4g_sOnNwUYcywsXY0ZHyt_6MiE3fqznzJxMFOgsQn5HTzbNBLev2mk7QPuKXyZuXIC8VGj_lroVq4D6H0trVtCVMXgUgAf98t9iPg6JF_0fYfRRtOwbPxQnoCFqGDLe45JJo21xn/w640-h480/IMG_1219.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXlMUrw9QJf07srgeDhFLp4FIf-m9SUMR4rGcG3EaKIZFSFEubhVzWdfVFxjFqvTGtYUL_Vpf-OGi8D3vS4wAPnsZM-VXX2l__VKzgp4bT6vSwX6ZY1Isnhg-50CjqH7C14CKkLXSauDkCQ-mJ8N7nS8XuAOzdFw5rAWhfrvf2J0D1uQ1MGEE/s4032/IMG_1220.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXlMUrw9QJf07srgeDhFLp4FIf-m9SUMR4rGcG3EaKIZFSFEubhVzWdfVFxjFqvTGtYUL_Vpf-OGi8D3vS4wAPnsZM-VXX2l__VKzgp4bT6vSwX6ZY1Isnhg-50CjqH7C14CKkLXSauDkCQ-mJ8N7nS8XuAOzdFw5rAWhfrvf2J0D1uQ1MGEE/w640-h480/IMG_1220.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-67494981629715633972023-12-22T13:19:00.002-05:002023-12-22T13:19:27.824-05:00November Hill farm journal, 201 (winter solstice - the day after)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TMu5RpVsSzeSYqv7kclrZBy1sf_eKW55qN7Gc5z8O0g1UlJlTs5qW06WKdCo2iw3vgrRXN7XE9QH1vFjwFfOIMclg195wEKdHUJlDtFeTflzqPRWncAlrHhupH7TvnDZXZJEMmn0WvKopYtVDsSY1RSitF9o_41CPMcMgJMc8pMsJOx6I1OD/s4032/IMG_1214.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TMu5RpVsSzeSYqv7kclrZBy1sf_eKW55qN7Gc5z8O0g1UlJlTs5qW06WKdCo2iw3vgrRXN7XE9QH1vFjwFfOIMclg195wEKdHUJlDtFeTflzqPRWncAlrHhupH7TvnDZXZJEMmn0WvKopYtVDsSY1RSitF9o_41CPMcMgJMc8pMsJOx6I1OD/w640-h480/IMG_1214.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I had the most amazing experience yesterday and last night. As I ran a few errands in town yesterday, along the parkway like stretch of road between November Hill and town George Winston’s rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon came on and I suddenly had the visceral sense and visualization of Keil Bay galloping along beside me on the right and for the first time ever, of Salina galloping to my left. The two were whinnying back and forth, arching their muscled necks and buckling forward as their hindquarters gathered and pushed them into even faster forward motion. </p><p>Since very early childhood I have had this experience with a big red bay horse and it was quite wonderful to suddenly have a black and a bay and feel the presence of these two equine spirits I have known and loved for years on end. </p><p>Last night I went out in the later evening with a single lit forest green candle, a bag of carrots, and a paper with two poems written on it. I fed the carrots first as the candle burned in the center of the barn aisle. Little Man and Rafer were standing in their stall doorway, leaning in over the top, and directly across the aisle were Cody and Redford doing the same thing. I gave out the carrots one by one, alternating one equine at a time. Little Man was just up from a sleep in the new shavings, eyes still partly shut. Rafer stretched his neck sideways over the stall door in an effort to reach further than his best friend. Redford stretched his neck up high and Cody stood tall with ears pricked forward. </p><p>After the carrots were gone I spoke a little about our year and our saying goodbye to Keil Bay. When I say his name their ears prick up. I mentioned Salina and how I feel the spirits of both horses with us every day. I read the two poems with great focus and fanfare. When I tell you that every one of these equines stood tall, eyes on me, ears up high, and listened with the greatest of attention as I made eye contact with each one, I am not exaggerating. It was a solstice ceremony and I don’t think I have ever been joined so completely in my annual ritual as I was last night. It was a gift and when it was over I took the candle out into the barnyard, to the spot where Keil Bay took his final breath, and I had a conversation with him and with Salina, and then I looked up at the night sky. It was a much brighter than usual longest night thanks to the waxing gibbous moon. I read that the moon is full this year on Christmas and it seems so very fitting that this first solstice after the passing of Keil is a brighter one. We all needed this light this year. </p><p>Today I finally got the second batch of native plants for the gravesite. As I drove home Keil and Salina galloped alongside the car, and I smiled. We have sunshine today and a bit warmer weather than yesterday, and the light - it is brilliant and so very bright. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6eP2KleReLmLYF8hBZiv_3HDG52jRbMM4mfPs_Zx-ogbhoXMNRqCY3ciYGU5g30mv9xoCKIj4v-35dS0tDuB-O8vaFdgzlb13b8hf4yNtWzii6f8GuSkqYBqZphfw9FThbsN4w6Zg6PltT9gOPv5SyNs1rRoVtXUM-_ExrpUJK1dHAVkcNeD/s3940/IMG_1215.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2960" data-original-width="3940" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6eP2KleReLmLYF8hBZiv_3HDG52jRbMM4mfPs_Zx-ogbhoXMNRqCY3ciYGU5g30mv9xoCKIj4v-35dS0tDuB-O8vaFdgzlb13b8hf4yNtWzii6f8GuSkqYBqZphfw9FThbsN4w6Zg6PltT9gOPv5SyNs1rRoVtXUM-_ExrpUJK1dHAVkcNeD/w640-h480/IMG_1215.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-91783530007251827702023-12-21T09:48:00.003-05:002023-12-21T09:48:56.945-05:00November Hill farm journal, 200 (a winter solstice edition!)<p> First, happy winter solstice! I’m so happy to see this day this year. For me it is more about the longest night than the returning of the light that follows. </p><p>Wendell Berry wrote a poem about this longest night:</p><p><i>To Know The Dark</i></p><p><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px;">To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.</em><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px; font-style: italic;" /><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px;">To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,</em><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px; font-style: italic;" /><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px;">and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,</em><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px; font-style: italic;" /><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16.9575px;">and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.</em></p><p>I love the light but I also love the darkness, and its blooming and singing, the movement that happens there, the dark wings. </p><p>This morning I ventured out early and fed the herd their warm wet tubs, and checked the troughs while they ate. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q1t1wqpPG9D2nQfeIhRNO7zO4PrPYabtf7Pu29oJrK2ZQrJo53eW-qsWadV67gz-Uu8JNgS3DazI7yXgCMdOT15Yd0BBF1O4pJq8B_UFJvJNt5q6WkvU58fQbQkFJpBRUUKfJ7GIXixpvCZ2eEVd2aPngI3usaWVUMoK9Lausc9yikCleVT-/s4032/IMG_1208.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q1t1wqpPG9D2nQfeIhRNO7zO4PrPYabtf7Pu29oJrK2ZQrJo53eW-qsWadV67gz-Uu8JNgS3DazI7yXgCMdOT15Yd0BBF1O4pJq8B_UFJvJNt5q6WkvU58fQbQkFJpBRUUKfJ7GIXixpvCZ2eEVd2aPngI3usaWVUMoK9Lausc9yikCleVT-/w480-h640/IMG_1208.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This year Cody is in Keil Bay’s double stall, and I noticed he came in and hung his head over the doors into the barn aisle while I prepared the tubs, just as Keil Bay always did. </p><p>I walked out to say happy solstice to the Big Bay and Salina, and their graves were quiet, peaceful, and blanketed with fallen leaves. It’s so peaceful there. The blue-eyed grass I planted is doing well. The new plants are still not here but when I put them in, it will be another moment of marking the passing of the Big Bay. </p><p>In the front pasture the hollies are in full berry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M3sKJ4JyPMN1ol6T-qbssJ5xmAaq9uEUGF9CsaJqT5uoCUfACsARXIOF4cTGUYWQwhSa8ExhWfVA66Tfzu5dSaIVa4iP-ivAdML4PyuMXmwoXvq04pczrtX6cL8og0zfuWmLGNfiSSbfOQ8E_kWncjY9RHCGiEvRsLCWhEVIwwOUxbB617Zr/s4032/IMG_1210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M3sKJ4JyPMN1ol6T-qbssJ5xmAaq9uEUGF9CsaJqT5uoCUfACsARXIOF4cTGUYWQwhSa8ExhWfVA66Tfzu5dSaIVa4iP-ivAdML4PyuMXmwoXvq04pczrtX6cL8og0zfuWmLGNfiSSbfOQ8E_kWncjY9RHCGiEvRsLCWhEVIwwOUxbB617Zr/w480-h640/IMG_1210.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Yesterday my daughter took this photo which makes me very happy. The herd without Keil Bay is still a herd. He and Salina gallop the farm in their big bold spirits. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3xGyt95pUGN0eCen6vsNNSSZR8ktLMiBvisAq6dwzfAr6VQEIZ5yMXfZFI0Wx6tW4dY1UkGObRMBXQYj0nD7gHW_vqCAoMLXp-NjLXF8q3s1jaY_lI4uaHrVqb75E_kIcC045pupbWoP4SnT04jBXZ3TlNCoFM-KbOl-DqbWyr_IqsrBHSxX/s3000/IMG_3373.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3xGyt95pUGN0eCen6vsNNSSZR8ktLMiBvisAq6dwzfAr6VQEIZ5yMXfZFI0Wx6tW4dY1UkGObRMBXQYj0nD7gHW_vqCAoMLXp-NjLXF8q3s1jaY_lI4uaHrVqb75E_kIcC045pupbWoP4SnT04jBXZ3TlNCoFM-KbOl-DqbWyr_IqsrBHSxX/w640-h480/IMG_3373.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Another favorite poem, this one by Robert Frost, which is the first poem I chose to learn to recite in the second grade, and which I’m sure I chose because of the little horse, who turned out to be a very big horse, red bay with a white star.</p><div class="c-feature-hd" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="c-hdgSans c-hdgSans_2 c-mix-hdgSans_inline" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: canada-type-gibson, "Gill Sans", "Gill Sans MT", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.231; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening</h1></div><div class="c-feature-sub c-feature-sub_vast" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 33px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="c-txt c-txt_attribution" style="border: 0px; color: #494949; display: inline-block; font-family: canada-type-gibson, "Gill Sans", "Gill Sans MT", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-style: inherit; letter-spacing: 1.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">BY <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-frost" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1); vertical-align: baseline;">ROBERT FROST</a></span></div></div><div class="c-feature-bd" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border: 0px; font-family: adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="o-poem isActive" data-view="PoemView" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">Whose woods these are I think I know. <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">His house is in the village though; <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">He will not see me stopping here <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">To watch his woods fill up with snow. <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">My little horse must think it queer <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">To stop without a farmhouse near <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">Between the woods and frozen lake <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">The darkest evening of the year. <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">He gives his harness bells a shake <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">To ask if there is some mistake. <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">The only other sound’s the sweep <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">Of easy wind and downy flake. <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">The woods are lovely, dark and deep, <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">But I have promises to keep, <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">And miles to go before I sleep, <br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">And miles to go before I sleep.</div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1em; text-indent: -1em; vertical-align: baseline;">HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE! </div></div></div><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-65678295807569680542023-12-11T09:00:00.001-05:002023-12-11T09:00:49.542-05:00November Hill farm journal, 199<p> I reached out two weeks ago to Keil Bay’s previous woman and the younger woman who rode him and introduced me to him, and got back very sweet notes from both of them expressing their gratitude that his passing was peaceful and their condolences. Last weekend K, the young woman, sent me this photo that is Keil Bay a few months before I met him and he joined our family. It was a gift to her from Keil’s previous woman the Christmas I found him, and she and her family were putting up their Christmas tree and hung it. </p><p>This says so much about Keil Bay and how special he was not just to me but to those who knew him before I did, and it makes me so happy to know he is hanging on K’s tree all these years later. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDm6abaj_i5jeF-NvhKD8hR5BqdZvE3V5pgCtsMqM1VYymvdQvym23AXYEt3ChpXO9Vd3q-u1vY6M7fGrmwS-6Q_j65raUaR-rkIiHp3WfLYQrVIqdDcvE5ZsZhMVovmKfL4i5ClW1qsPFFpOGOszJmlTe14qyCaaM3Dh5Rfo7Ly6TLO6GQ51/s2732/IMG_3263.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDm6abaj_i5jeF-NvhKD8hR5BqdZvE3V5pgCtsMqM1VYymvdQvym23AXYEt3ChpXO9Vd3q-u1vY6M7fGrmwS-6Q_j65raUaR-rkIiHp3WfLYQrVIqdDcvE5ZsZhMVovmKfL4i5ClW1qsPFFpOGOszJmlTe14qyCaaM3Dh5Rfo7Ly6TLO6GQ51/w640-h480/IMG_3263.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I have begun the planting of his and Salina’s grave sites. It’s not a sad activity but a hopeful one, and a healing one. More plants are coming this week from the nursery owner who reached out to me with several of the rare and hard to find plants I’ll be putting in. </p><p>This week Cody did a big and beautiful gallop up the entire front pasture hill, one of of those “spook just to have an excuse to run fast” moments horses sometimes do, and the first I’ve seen him in this mode since Keil passed away. He and Little Man are regularly playing their gave of over the fence tag in the mornings, and both Rafer and Redford are seeming a little happier lately. I think the herd is regrouping and moving on. </p><p>We have had some cold weather and then some warmer weather and now today colder again, the typical roller coaster of temperatures that make it hard to have any sort of routine. Cody is now wearing Keil’s single weight blanket and it seems fitting that he has taken over that big and regal purple robe. </p><p>On Saturday we went with our son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids to have brunch and then to the Christmas tree farm that is very near our farm. The tree I picked for our house ended up being too tall and after we cut the top off my husband put the star on. It looks to me like the star fell right out of the sky and into this tree, which in a sort of perfect way is fitting for this year. </p><p>It’s maybe no coincidence that this notion fits with a “poem” I wrote in a writing group a number of months ago. We were playing with words and internal rhyme and also where to end lines, and this now seems like some kind of foreshadowing to this first Christmas after Keil Bay’s passing:</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The Night The Star Falls From The Sky</p><p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I stand back and watch it shine, </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">no longer a girl wishing on star’s light.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">It’s as big as our house and bright,</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">but not blinding.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">The horses are not frightened</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">but chew hay beneath the barn shelter,</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">blinking slowly as the star’s</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">twinkling spotlights the bent pine</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">who lies flat but not broken.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Perhaps she too dreams of touching skies.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">I have hurried a life’s time wishing on stars;</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">never has one replied.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Take note, it pulses now,</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">we listened. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Keil Bay and Cody on either side,</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">their warm breath matching mine. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbt2ZmTbtsnL8b7ikMchh1gqnzjB-AT3E56zuCE99FZUxqMnt7r49mBHeNRemt1_sjAz53CMd7gTbCR1iwbY61ZEnI4IZjS_Iq7Np0WYKp_pp20ZKS2TXExW8BS7q3OlCeGQJ9ssAHDCNQYaIfck166ebK9FnANUEF_JF7oTcfk_CFY_Dc1lB/s4032/IMG_1202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbt2ZmTbtsnL8b7ikMchh1gqnzjB-AT3E56zuCE99FZUxqMnt7r49mBHeNRemt1_sjAz53CMd7gTbCR1iwbY61ZEnI4IZjS_Iq7Np0WYKp_pp20ZKS2TXExW8BS7q3OlCeGQJ9ssAHDCNQYaIfck166ebK9FnANUEF_JF7oTcfk_CFY_Dc1lB/s320/IMG_1202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>This isn’t really a fully finished piece, but take note that the star’s pulsing “we listened” refers to me standing between Keil Bay and Cody, two souls I absolutely wished for as a young girl. It feels like right now that Keil Bay himself was that big star that landed in my life. </p><p>Right now I’m very much focused on living in the days as they come, following my impulses to write, putter, plant, and just be. It’s a good way to mark this passage of time, the things that have come this fall, and make my way forward. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-43800839910706794472023-12-07T22:35:00.000-05:002023-12-07T22:35:13.230-05:00A little writing news<p>A couple of my published pieces got some additional mileage:</p><p><a href="https://www.failbetter.com/content/pacemaker-heart">Pacemaker Of The Heart</a> has been nominated for a 2023 Pushcart Prize.<br /></p><p><a href="https://streetlightmag.com/2022/06/03/journey-by-billie-hinton/">Journey</a> has been included in Streetlight Magazine’s 2022 print anthology. <br /></p><p>Really happy these two pieces flew a bit higher this month! Thanks to the editors for these selections!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ygndl3nHmq93aC-D5X8q5ArrhjzCon0MY46Db-hVCfRIqIR5xwhLuQfJoJEcZJUNfyovjF7ZD9aR_Z07qqQDxfCHBPHkExuOHyHbKxT8GKxw6fpg97s0IXKf1Bs0lVEfhAm8clfU3Li6u_aN2U9dmTa6bf9dlozDH2mFz-Cns4pErVK45JV1/s2732/IMG_3265.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ygndl3nHmq93aC-D5X8q5ArrhjzCon0MY46Db-hVCfRIqIR5xwhLuQfJoJEcZJUNfyovjF7ZD9aR_Z07qqQDxfCHBPHkExuOHyHbKxT8GKxw6fpg97s0IXKf1Bs0lVEfhAm8clfU3Li6u_aN2U9dmTa6bf9dlozDH2mFz-Cns4pErVK45JV1/w640-h480/IMG_3265.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t1RGAkDI2fQxxJ4hqfahzvE3XlbHV7FcuECSkYANnvXyprbstqr1Ll65OWahnJX46btd4bhheSroTEfLwnqe2XQZg54vOdn4-C7aS4p0ooWEqpc7pLMCzjTCUS4Y5Lv73PZErVcPrpVv0sLhkjJJWRZVCksPSU0nG8irrlrZRFBahtNiRL4j/s2732/IMG_3266.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t1RGAkDI2fQxxJ4hqfahzvE3XlbHV7FcuECSkYANnvXyprbstqr1Ll65OWahnJX46btd4bhheSroTEfLwnqe2XQZg54vOdn4-C7aS4p0ooWEqpc7pLMCzjTCUS4Y5Lv73PZErVcPrpVv0sLhkjJJWRZVCksPSU0nG8irrlrZRFBahtNiRL4j/w640-h480/IMG_3266.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-91928263861203193692023-11-30T08:19:00.002-05:002023-11-30T08:19:37.831-05:00November Hill farm journal, 198<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2N8chGGEOXZEGSr1qazE1PROiqBLIEoaCiAjc6DY08X3RMbRg6-VVCUgtjnNYweVysuwrgSr96r5YNL61pVhggZFEmylSGup-uqgNMc7g4Qevoba6Ss6GN5t9t11mLQu7OG2ygas1wMJPjFC_wcF1RYYEvxH36ubqq4Cel-VHPEkYlHyFZM-/s2732/IMG_3255.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2N8chGGEOXZEGSr1qazE1PROiqBLIEoaCiAjc6DY08X3RMbRg6-VVCUgtjnNYweVysuwrgSr96r5YNL61pVhggZFEmylSGup-uqgNMc7g4Qevoba6Ss6GN5t9t11mLQu7OG2ygas1wMJPjFC_wcF1RYYEvxH36ubqq4Cel-VHPEkYlHyFZM-/w640-h480/IMG_3255.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> I was out yesterday afternoon giving hay and filling water troughs. We’re in a streak of cold right now and all the equine fur was puffed and they were happy to get the hay. Cody and Little Man have been in their single weight blankets each night. Cody’s single weight strap broke so he’s now wearing Keil Bay’s purple one, and it occurs to me he is filling Keil’s blanket, in the sense that someone might “fill someone’s shoes.” </p><p>Of course no one expects Cody to fill Keil’s spot, but he seems to be contemplating the enormity of being the biggest horse in the herd, and still feeling the absence of his best friend. The expression on his face and in his eyes has changed. I keep waiting for it to go back, but so far it has remained serious and at times almost distant. I see he and Little Man playing tag over the paddock fence most mornings now, so I know he’s returned to at least that one habit and pleasure. </p><p>The air yesterday afternoon was cold and still, and it was quiet. A prelude to real winter season, which usually does happen in NC but not always when expected. Before this cold streak we were having warm days with flies coming out. </p><p>My focus lately has been on garden plantings, and I have plans for two new beds: one atop Salina and Keil’s gravesites, the other in the big barnyard. A helpful native plant person recommended, upon my request for something special and maybe rare for Keil’s grave, the Sweetleaf, aka Horse Sugar, Symplocos tinctoria, which is a host plant for the King Hairstreak butterfly, which is becoming rare these days and echoes my long-time nickname for Keil Bay - the King. I couldn’t find this plant locally and then a nursery about an hour away actually reached out to me to say they have it, and can bring it to me, and once again, Keil’s magic ripples out. </p><p>There are a lot of things to do around here, but I am thus far sticking to my intention to move slowly into and through this winter season. I’m doing things but in a slower way, and often choosing not to do a thing because I know it will start the wheel turning for me toward a faster pace of life. </p><p>Last week, before the cold and after the good rain we finally got, I mulched the leaves in the back pasture and seeded it, and overseeded the grass paddock and both barnyards. That was a joyful thing for me, as the repetition of patterns puts me into a sort of trance state which seems to reboot something for me. I was for awhile that day close to Salina and Keil Bay, and not long after I finished the task, I felt and saw Keil doing a fancy trot up the long stretch of front pasture, neck curved, head high, collected and powerful. He stays close when I need him, and he surprises me with gifts like this image, which is really his spirit moving around us. </p><p>Today is writing day but I also broke my own rule and have one client scheduled, and then will head over to my mom’s - she was in the hospital for several days but home now and doing well. Over Thanksgiving a number of family members, including myself, had more minor illnesses, one Covid, one not Covid, another not Covid not strep, for me a mild UTI and possibly a kidney stone (!), so it’s good to be on the other side of that string of things. </p><p>It’s almost December! Which feels impossible but also okay. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-12033992381932653962023-11-18T09:21:00.002-05:002023-11-18T09:21:34.915-05:00November Hill farm journal, 197<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIu5X4VDEH1WEc5rw1DSutfbzSOVSH4kXHmj8k91AATppBjEu4Ahfnc2tio_hUAX0JFB3NRQgl1nIhCf0MdPAJ4p5JOMDHwe2kcjrPw1WkTa2BfYQzPpQaPl9YMdLIpU2pW3lrxg02JjL8bANg40svEJ0npxCB1hNWWR6-f1f2Japz2PLaAEr/s4032/IMG_1173.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIu5X4VDEH1WEc5rw1DSutfbzSOVSH4kXHmj8k91AATppBjEu4Ahfnc2tio_hUAX0JFB3NRQgl1nIhCf0MdPAJ4p5JOMDHwe2kcjrPw1WkTa2BfYQzPpQaPl9YMdLIpU2pW3lrxg02JjL8bANg40svEJ0npxCB1hNWWR6-f1f2Japz2PLaAEr/w480-h640/IMG_1173.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p>The light on this big oak near Keil Bay and Salina isn’t able to be captured with my phone camera, but each day as the sun goes low in the sky, it glows for a few minutes, and the quality of that light reminds me of all the times I’ve seen the two Hanoverian beauties in that same light, but also the feeling of the light they each cast throughout their lives. <p></p><p>This past week I had a very tearful day where I was being nearly constantly reminded of Keil’s presence with me still - it was both comforting and hard - and many serendipities including a very very close encounter with a barred owl who flew inches from my windshield and made eye contact with me as I was having a very hard cry while driving. </p><p>Yesterday at my chiro appointment, the first thing I said when she asked how I was doing was that my horse died, and she said “Keil?” and I told her the story of his passing. I cried, she cried, she gave me a big, long hug, and it strikes me anew how far-reaching Keil Bay’s life has been because of how very present he was and powerful he was in my daily life and in my heart. It’s hard to make sense of him being gone, on that deep emotional level where it truly does feel like he has always been with me. And of course he is with me, but the urge to hug him is strong. </p><p>Here are a few glimpses of the native plantings this week. I believe these are the first catkins I’ve ever seen on the hazelnut trees in the potager.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98H4lyH4ARWyyCM1l8jws60Xvzy83WOQJS7l646mCGs0t8KxV1TyfY-iskNZo4yWkUd6LYLonoC0N7K7DQMJoY93YGByTTWh055DrCFR22UJY94TZ5pVWijkmghesC1YJu16wtv78b6U-QVNTCNsFfWAQBgwfiZK-yoZdcouhcFXp-GDPRaKP/s4032/IMG_1172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98H4lyH4ARWyyCM1l8jws60Xvzy83WOQJS7l646mCGs0t8KxV1TyfY-iskNZo4yWkUd6LYLonoC0N7K7DQMJoY93YGByTTWh055DrCFR22UJY94TZ5pVWijkmghesC1YJu16wtv78b6U-QVNTCNsFfWAQBgwfiZK-yoZdcouhcFXp-GDPRaKP/w640-h480/IMG_1172.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>The climbing aster is buzzing with activity even in November, which is such a good reason to plant this if you don’t have it and if it’s native to your area. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrOB1We4Rcq8T5B8N59GIbPJdBYbgqAoUnXeJCf4RdqLZhUXbKwlFuKgeA5yPjvN0S06RDFLQJjGcaTFZLAiBCEYjTqw2e9bmBS5eTUnnXikumVHM_lGz-KTq3wKS9fypRppgRbAp-8F0NOMC_x3e3c0Bdcpu6Tsb6FWEcmYkme48ZPg6O1sz/s4032/IMG_1171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrOB1We4Rcq8T5B8N59GIbPJdBYbgqAoUnXeJCf4RdqLZhUXbKwlFuKgeA5yPjvN0S06RDFLQJjGcaTFZLAiBCEYjTqw2e9bmBS5eTUnnXikumVHM_lGz-KTq3wKS9fypRppgRbAp-8F0NOMC_x3e3c0Bdcpu6Tsb6FWEcmYkme48ZPg6O1sz/w480-h640/IMG_1171.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p>A nest made entirely of twigs has become visible in the now bare huge elderberry that volunteered in the front pasture the past two years. I did some reading and it’s probably that of a house wren, and could be an actual utilized nest or it could be one of a number of dummy nests the males build each year. I suspect it was an actual nest, as I recall seeing many house wrens flying in and out of the fully-leafed out elderberry in the late spring and summer.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhGhkgU9aD-XT45fQeik8AzQp08u20hRKD5Dd6V3WezYWOTjl41VXx2um4JHFAU6RfXRJyZew5IwiYaOtb5l-zcESA1jdFXshqHFnocDSN0yOq5ZhAqHOlHOcVpMJwV1sR9kqGRY_zWxx5JVFCza3Hn_yafwi09JMAaDscW3dmq450HWzrMBI/s4032/IMG_1170.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhGhkgU9aD-XT45fQeik8AzQp08u20hRKD5Dd6V3WezYWOTjl41VXx2um4JHFAU6RfXRJyZew5IwiYaOtb5l-zcESA1jdFXshqHFnocDSN0yOq5ZhAqHOlHOcVpMJwV1sR9kqGRY_zWxx5JVFCza3Hn_yafwi09JMAaDscW3dmq450HWzrMBI/w480-h640/IMG_1170.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p>This is my growing and thriving oakleaf hydrangea. I planted three two autumns ago, the deer got one, one is doing poorly, but this one is thriving. Its fall color is one of the reasons I planted it. I’m going to move the smaller one and see if a new location might give it a little nudge toward better growth and health. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aD24Q_VcwK1a3WZd17rXjqdpzk3vuCISfd_GgrFejP7ocVph_wUmLB9fR0SK7VSnEShHVv1GxdZHLNTiWDqoEXd_5fBxQwEPe3cm-BqPOveBTdfzM1mMv3PBjjSA-4q0Bfy-jRz7I932HhJ3TL_yVB4chFhDIHHdDZDk2Kr1GhdRSBNyAyYG/s4032/IMG_1166.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aD24Q_VcwK1a3WZd17rXjqdpzk3vuCISfd_GgrFejP7ocVph_wUmLB9fR0SK7VSnEShHVv1GxdZHLNTiWDqoEXd_5fBxQwEPe3cm-BqPOveBTdfzM1mMv3PBjjSA-4q0Bfy-jRz7I932HhJ3TL_yVB4chFhDIHHdDZDk2Kr1GhdRSBNyAyYG/w480-h640/IMG_1166.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>And of course I’m not the only one mourning Keil Bay. The herd go to this end of the arena at least once in a day’s time to stand by Keil’s grave. Cody was there alone this week, clearly missing his good friend. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5mzN-XdO6n8FyDdOlkL-dYjzqVDlo6sot3fEkaAegFyddU1IhiMDgRrE0290DiMqyyer8QaXzReyaRqNrq-88YCRB2jw8ffvhrztPmid1I9eXWEfhm8azS2rz_42HhyoS5JCcC-VWQwP3KODUwdzgsHiRYnh2O6NVgpB3B0Jj0_HY4shwJif/s4032/IMG_1162.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5mzN-XdO6n8FyDdOlkL-dYjzqVDlo6sot3fEkaAegFyddU1IhiMDgRrE0290DiMqyyer8QaXzReyaRqNrq-88YCRB2jw8ffvhrztPmid1I9eXWEfhm8azS2rz_42HhyoS5JCcC-VWQwP3KODUwdzgsHiRYnh2O6NVgpB3B0Jj0_HY4shwJif/w640-h480/IMG_1162.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I just noticed the F marker and perhaps it stands for Friend.</p><p>Amazing Keil’s Enduring Heart Continues Magnificently Beating (for his) Friends. </p><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-81789110870594578232023-11-12T08:52:00.005-05:002023-11-12T08:52:45.225-05:00The Old Saint-King, Keil Bay<p> I saw this someplace this past week online and saved it as it made me think both of Keil Bay and an idea to note how much he remains with us. A wood-cut plaque of his profile on the tack room door where he will continue his reign as herd and human guardian, which he very much already is in spirit. </p><p>My week has been very busy but today, the day I marked as the beginning of a slow slide into winter, I find myself thinking of him and shedding more tears. The quiet times are when I feel him most, and he is leading me to that calm place he always offered in his presence. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZOYiCYa23hoJ69vkO4nQkQhXHnc00gfE4e9kepqFMCQaW8fXKprTA6uWA8N1d7c_02olL02sqwpjk3w_U77R53hYlJAkQd3FH88hIrYHGh7DRd7HqJRqqgqArLmPX-iNtwfbhczHxBcJESS2KcQfKfxSLY7kCZE6nkgg-zoPxIHTX881o9_d/s2732/IMG_3228.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZOYiCYa23hoJ69vkO4nQkQhXHnc00gfE4e9kepqFMCQaW8fXKprTA6uWA8N1d7c_02olL02sqwpjk3w_U77R53hYlJAkQd3FH88hIrYHGh7DRd7HqJRqqgqArLmPX-iNtwfbhczHxBcJESS2KcQfKfxSLY7kCZE6nkgg-zoPxIHTX881o9_d/w640-h480/IMG_3228.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Yesterday in the final day of my EMDR training and in the final processing I did as a client, I was working on a very early memory in which I was 3-4 years old and in the hospital for a procedure. My mom was handing me over to a nurse and I was terrified at being left there. As that single image from memory that carried the most fear was in my mind and I was doing the eye-movement desensitization protocol with my group partner as therapist - note that this was virtual training online - a rainbow of virtual balloons began to flow upward on the big screen of my desktop computer. In that moment I felt the joy of synchronicity and then the very potent pain and fear of the memory. I completed the eye movement set and in the check in with the therapist, noted the joy and the pain, and there were very powerful tears related to the memory, then more eye movements. As I came back to the check in moments, and reported that the pain had lifted, the balloons sprang up again and floated up on my screen. No one involved could figure out how this happened, as neither of us were touching our computers and we were in a secure break-out room on the platform. </p><p>I say all this because in that moment I had the thought that it was Keil Bay who had done it, and I share that because it illustrates just how much I love him and how much he gave over the many years he has been with us. He was a powerful and giving soul and it’s easy to attribute amazing synchronicities to him now. </p><p>I’m happy to say that I completed the 50-hour EMDR basic training last night and we had a wonderful graduation ceremony. It completely makes sense to me that Keil Bay has woven himself into this new journey with a new to me and powerful way of treating trauma. I will think of him every time I do this work with clients, and as I move forward with a year of work toward certification. </p><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-83662286901238678442023-11-09T08:01:00.002-05:002023-11-09T08:28:43.786-05:00November Hill farm journal, 196<p> I was on writing retreat Wednesday through Monday and came home to a very full week, which I’m still in the midst of. Yesterday I finished my client work week and today I begin part two of the second three full days of EMDR training. Starting on Sunday I will happily enter what I’m going to call the slow ride into winter. I’m ready to hunker down a bit and putter and just feel all the feelings from this busy, and also sad, fall season.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3d5kT6aXXfg6IPSnYcUMjq7yus04qtf3GNRbYHn1pUQ5X0B1qaNW_IrncQmJY3-UBdI1VePb9zkKlSvj53zNejNE5TNwRbSrUs8LsiFZSOdRbcqEqvrw7A4BABhMgmwLTTnfriXT9MD5ap3RwFWCYfXDy0PeJnmG_TrXAnWG8I7c-rxTbt-4/s4032/IMG_1139.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3d5kT6aXXfg6IPSnYcUMjq7yus04qtf3GNRbYHn1pUQ5X0B1qaNW_IrncQmJY3-UBdI1VePb9zkKlSvj53zNejNE5TNwRbSrUs8LsiFZSOdRbcqEqvrw7A4BABhMgmwLTTnfriXT9MD5ap3RwFWCYfXDy0PeJnmG_TrXAnWG8I7c-rxTbt-4/w480-h640/IMG_1139.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I have put the flower arrangement our vets sent us in the window to dry and it’s continuing to be very beautiful and offers a visual reminder of how things that were beautiful in life can remain so after death. Keil Bay is never far from my spirit and it has occurred to me more than once that the bay horse who used to accompany me everywhere I went as a young girl is now very much still present, but instead of being unnamed, I know exactly who he is. Thank you, Big Bay, for continuing to share my journey. </p><p>Writing retreat time was very good, though it took me two days to break through the crust of - not exactly resistance but more like a crust of inertia due to having been so in need of time away. Once that happened I was able to get into the writing again and worked on the novel (as opposed to the TV pilot) and I gave myself permission to leap far ahead in the story and write to the end. Sometimes this is what is needed to get rolling and it worked very well. </p><p>Another part of writing retreat time when shared with other writers is reading one’s work out loud, and I was able to read the first half of another TV pilot I wanted to get some feedback on. And to hear a wonderful stage play read to me by my long-time writing friend D. </p><p>It was good, creative, healing time and I’m grateful for it.</p><p>November Hill is turning colors this week and I can’t help but feel Keil Bay is reveling along with me as this happens. The herd remains in a state of processing. Almost every morning they can be found by Keil’s grave, and I think they’re drawn to him during the night when horses tend to cluster closely together. They do seem to me to be a bit depressed, though I’ve seen the donkeys play together a few times and also Cody and Little Man playing their tag game over the fence. I hope they find their playfulness again when enough time has passed. </p><p>On Sunday I plan to complete the garage clean out so the Subaru can go back in. It’s very close to being done and so much has gotten donated and passed on. It’s good to feel some clearing in that way.</p><p>I don’t think I mentioned here that we made an offer on a farm the week before Keil Bay passed. The estate for the property accepted another offer due to our need to close in the new year, and this was the one place we’d really connected with, so it was a bit of a loss, though very quickly forgotten when we had the real and deep loss of Keil Bay passing. Right now there isn’t anything appealing on the market and I think we all feel like being here until we find the exact right place is the exact right place for us to be. Sometimes things work out in ways we don’t even know about, and sometimes never do, and I trust the process of synchronicity to set things in motion when the time is right. </p><p>This morning this peace lily is opening wide against the autumn landscape outside and bringing me much peace.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEe_VqRHAtdBaO2eS5V1J8J0DuUA8Qrp-_mtsbQH2SN4jzl8aaXhgvK0pulebO9iwGzdqoalmdu9e9Tma4IrnT3lv5WRslKEbGi1NNY4wb6DIzIK2vin7XYeJZabx1vfgiTCd32bb80deUZQhoGkjDKi8gekmpQTWTP9gynb2DfhJU5lWgTz1H/s4032/IMG_1155.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEe_VqRHAtdBaO2eS5V1J8J0DuUA8Qrp-_mtsbQH2SN4jzl8aaXhgvK0pulebO9iwGzdqoalmdu9e9Tma4IrnT3lv5WRslKEbGi1NNY4wb6DIzIK2vin7XYeJZabx1vfgiTCd32bb80deUZQhoGkjDKi8gekmpQTWTP9gynb2DfhJU5lWgTz1H/w480-h640/IMG_1155.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-70189605268725206572023-10-30T07:06:00.000-05:002023-10-30T07:06:49.992-05:00November Hill farm journal, 195<p> I’ve put off writing this because it joins the many things I’m calling “the firsts” - the first time I’ve gone to our barn since 2005 and not seen Keil Bay’s handsome face, the first time I’ve fed tubs and not heard his musical whinny, the first time I’ve made up supplement jars with his not in the line, the first time I’ve mucked without his manure droppings being there, on and on and on. And the first November Hill farm journal without him here in body.</p><p>This all sounds very sad, and it is, and some of these things bring tears, a few things bring little fits of sobbing, but one very happy thing is that I feel peace when I think of him. I have been to his grave daily and when I do the goodnight mantra (good night, you Kings of Chatham, you Princes of November Hill) I add (and goodnight Keil Bay, King of Everything, and Salina the Queen). I feel him around us, as I have always felt Salina, but I also have very clear visual images in my mind of Keil galloping with his buddies, the ones he lived with when I first met him, Brio, and Joker, and then later Maverick. I see the collection of his neck and its curve as he coils up to then uncoil in a big, playful forward burst of motion. And I feel okay then about him not being here in his elegant, athletic body.</p><p>One thing I haven’t shared here is that I am doing EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) training this month and next month and will be moving on into the certification training in 2024. After years of referring out clients I felt needed EMDR, I decided it was time to add it to my own repertoire of modalities. So many people have trauma in my current practice, and with virtual therapy now the norm, it’s harder to know people to refer them to. </p><p>Part of my training is to experience EMDR myself, and one of the core memories I worked with in two sessions was one in which my kitten was physically taken away from me (and kept) by an adult male neighbor and his teenaged son. I was 3-4 years old. I have discussed that memory in my own therapy previously, but when I reprocessed it using EMDR, I immediately felt the results in my experiences in the present day. I now see clearly how that early memory has impacted my experience of caring for and protecting my animal family. I have dreaded for years Keil Bay’s passing because I knew it would be difficult beyond imagination. It has been hard, it has been sad, but thanks to EMDR it has not been devastating. </p><p>My experience has been that I’m feeling the grief without the weight of that past memory pushing it into a much more intense level of emotion and powerlessness. </p><p>At this point EMDR is being used to treat many issues, not just PTSD and trauma. I can now highly recommend it as a modality, and wanted to say that here. If you’re considering treatment, go to Emdria.org and look for certified clinicians for the best results. </p><p>It’s fall on November Hill and it’s fitting that Keil Bay left us during this season, since this season is when we first came to our little farm. His grave is being slowly covered by falling oak and hickory leaves, and by acorns, and I’m sure he is happy about that. </p><p>The herd continues to process this loss. Little Man and Rafer are actively seeking comfort from us. Cody seems a little distant and a little angry, but he allows comfort. Redford was the most distressed and it has taken him longer to process this. He is starting to get to his normal self but since he offered his constant companionship both two years ago when Keil went through his initial EPM bout and again recently, I think he is taking this hard. We’re offering Redford special attention and he is slowly moving through his own process. </p><p>One other thing that has happened is I have opened up to the idea of riding again. Yesterday I got out my helmet and tried it on, and am actively thinking of working Cody and Little Man back into light riding time in case my grandson wants to ride. I haven’t ridden since Keil got EPM two years ago and retired, and I haven’t wanted to, I think because he has been my partner since he came to us and I just didn’t want to ride any other horse while he was here. We’ll see how this goes moving forward. </p><p>The biggest thing I’m feeling right now is peace and relief that Keil Bay is no longer at risk of falling, that each day I wake up knowing he’s okay. That his life was long and it was good. That his passing was full of love and many peppermints. And that the bond we have will never be broken. His presence and his spirit are with me forever. That’s a lot, and what a gift from him to me. </p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-85210014346769334572023-10-26T10:59:00.003-05:002023-10-26T10:59:59.455-05:00Grateful for our amazing vet practice, 3H Equine<p> Yesterday I had a call from our local floral shop that they had attempted a delivery but due to our gated entrance, could not leave it, and we could either pick it up or they would redeliver today.</p><p>This morning I got a call saying it was on the way so I made sure to get out to the gate and got this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGzVERnI7Vq7zhj4tSgXaTwu1xgEPCneX2arBYqMdybq4h6ix2pCOZKQyGDvecyz4YjgGB3PyxJdLZqsjIL6TADI-TQikdq1chVgRNcuAT1YIKvXH_9e51s6-5z5rcc91C14lFcCvEqDcSZheUomv-7wFHXIHAXWkAZsVXgkclulv_Ku0wiH6/s4032/IMG_1126.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGzVERnI7Vq7zhj4tSgXaTwu1xgEPCneX2arBYqMdybq4h6ix2pCOZKQyGDvecyz4YjgGB3PyxJdLZqsjIL6TADI-TQikdq1chVgRNcuAT1YIKvXH_9e51s6-5z5rcc91C14lFcCvEqDcSZheUomv-7wFHXIHAXWkAZsVXgkclulv_Ku0wiH6/w480-h640/IMG_1126.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXockTAQW2uQSasj_ABhkBzeiRftXN9jKu2HyDijClbtBdUxu2WR1-NKynZuFQ9rA1TBanYywnTvKb8dA4krXI3aEnIFXxDAFComGHyX000NUokgDo-BUfZmhdvhCt746FypgerkIcgZS9hssmG5a5C77hqBtvvH7E71_5DTiJ3TdXktvvmnyg/s4032/IMG_1127.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXockTAQW2uQSasj_ABhkBzeiRftXN9jKu2HyDijClbtBdUxu2WR1-NKynZuFQ9rA1TBanYywnTvKb8dA4krXI3aEnIFXxDAFComGHyX000NUokgDo-BUfZmhdvhCt746FypgerkIcgZS9hssmG5a5C77hqBtvvH7E71_5DTiJ3TdXktvvmnyg/w640-h480/IMG_1127.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>We’ve been fortunate to have 3H as our vets for close to 20 years, and have always appreciated their excellent and compassionate care, both wellness and emergency. They helped when Rafer Johnson broke his leg, they helped with various and sundry horse emergencies over the years, helped when Salina was ready to pass, and most recently, helped us shepherd Keil Bay easily and with great care and compassion, to that special place beloved animal family members go. </div><div><br /></div><div>This display of kindness to us after that night means the world, and I have thanked them today twice. Once before I got the flowers and again after. We are so, so fortunate to have them on our team. </div>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-91176788482662970112023-10-25T14:14:00.002-05:002023-10-25T14:16:32.441-05:00Horses Are Light And Air And Wind And Sky<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNH4YlBsq6a30XsW3-k3Gx_n9gowu4iw49olSpED4Hej3zGWD9FZq2Ky6UYIp-g_ErSu7cqSeMl6604fGZ4D0tY2xO1iC9bkqsve1nziSBuAAdiTXTT4-HXA_6PfL_QO-zBr02NjFo937G989NwhglmW8BtDPVYCNHCnW486dFqxuXl4j0k6Y/s4032/IMG_5379.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNH4YlBsq6a30XsW3-k3Gx_n9gowu4iw49olSpED4Hej3zGWD9FZq2Ky6UYIp-g_ErSu7cqSeMl6604fGZ4D0tY2xO1iC9bkqsve1nziSBuAAdiTXTT4-HXA_6PfL_QO-zBr02NjFo937G989NwhglmW8BtDPVYCNHCnW486dFqxuXl4j0k6Y/w640-h480/IMG_5379.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> (For Keil Bay, 1989-2023)</p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Horses Are Light And Air And Wind And Sky</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Are guardians who gallop alongside cars, always with you, always there. They are winged creatures, though their wings are invisible, carrying you away from things and also toward things. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Horses hold space and energy, read minds, siphon insights that may otherwise be elusive. They move in rhythms that match pulses, heartbeats, breath, the alternating skip you do as a child, the way your brain processes neural impulses. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">A horse comes to you when you need him, carries you past a mirror which reflects your best self, lays his muzzle on your shoulder, lifts a 70-pound bale of hay in your path in his teeth and tosses it aside. A horse comes to you from dream time, from child time, from the time before you knew what time even was.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Horses sing and scream and snort, gaze without blinking into the deepest part of your eye, smell, and sometimes lick, your hands. A horse listens when you whisper, better than a therapist at detecting the things you do not say.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Horses find the girls who need them. Horses tell the truth and keep their promises. Horses surround you and lift you off the ground to keep you with them. Herd mind. Herd hooves drum-beating time.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">Sometimes when you stand beside a horse’s shoulder, hand on wither, hand on barrel, he turns and curls you into the space between his head and heart, a small circle of protection, impenetrable circle of safety. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">When you dream about a horse you’re not dreaming, you are galloping through another galaxy, exploring deep space, tracing neural networks, resetting your vagus nerve. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">When a horse leaves, you send a piece of you with her, and she leaves a piece of her with you. The conversation you started never stops. The partnership you forged never flags. Sometimes you see her galloping the perimeter of the farm, keeping time intact, opening windows into other places, other ways of being, places not yet named.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">When you ride a horse you carry that forever in the skin of your calves, feet hanging weightless, a lifted back bearing you across boundaries of time and space, faster than you think you can go, to a place you came from but don’t remember until he takes you there again.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;">-Billie Hinton</p>billiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.com6