the goddess would have turned 33

Three years ago I wrote a blog post about Salina, our black goddess mare, turning 30 years old.

That turned out to be her final year but her spirit lives on here on November Hill.

This is what I wrote about her in March 2013:

Tomorrow Salina turns 30 years old. She was born in Germany to two Hannoverians, Kurtisane and Salut, and was branded as well as entered into the Main Mare Book as she got older and went to inspections.

She was imported as a brood mare to the U.S. Somewhere along the way she was trained to at least fourth level dressage, lost an eye, and developed arthritis in both knees.

When she was 23 she came to live with us on November Hill. I have said before: I saw her photograph and fell in love with her spirit and personality, and although originally I thought she would be a therapy horse for my clients, in the end she has turned out to be a therapy horse for me.

She can be high-strung, is very opinionated, and has been high maintenance from the beginning. She gave me some of the most advanced rides of my life, taught me about hoof abscesses, senior feeds, arthritic joints, helping horses get up when they can't do it on their own, and is teaching me now about Cushing's disease.

She became, early on, my sister in spirit at the barn. If anything goes on here and I don't know about it, she tells me. She has come to my bedroom window in the night and woken me with her insistent, urgent, whinny. On many occasions I have felt pain in my own body at the site of her aches and pains.

The most important thing and the first thing she taught me was to center myself when asking for anything from a horse.

She is wise and beautiful and we love her.
Happy birthday, Salina! I'll add a birthday portrait tomorrow, but wanted to get this up today.

Everything she taught me still holds true. I miss her physical body. She loved being pampered and groomed and fussed over. Now and then I glance out and see her standing in the barnyard or the front field, and then when I do a double-take she's gone again. I talk to her at least a few times a week when I pass her burial mound. I sometimes say her name out loud to the horses and donkeys and tell them how much I miss her.

As I type this I am no longer moved to tears thinking of her. I think that means she's part of me now, the grief has transformed to something sweeter - the memories that live inside. 

Happy birthday that would have been, sweet Salina-bina. 

Proud mom, physics, and nanowires!

I'm so proud of my son's passion for physics and his ability to take complex material and make it accessible. Check out this video of his presentation on the research he's involved in right now at UNCA. It's compelling in terms of the content and I also love the fact that his professors have become mentors for him in his undergraduate career. Dr. Perkins is a terrific professor - I've sat in on one of his classes and enjoyed his teaching style, his expertise, and his engagement with students. 

Dylan Cromer's presentation of undergraduate research at UNCA on Apr 7, 2016

Computational Modeling of Surface Enhancement in Ferroelectric Lithographic Nanowires

http://youtu.be/RyVAHHBS8Bc

OR, watch right here:

I missed some November Hill birthdays!! First let's celebrate Cody!

This is one of my favorite photos of Cody, our newly-13-year-old QH. It is out of season for us living on November Hill but for many of you it may be exactly what you're seeing out your windows this spring.

Cody came to us when he was coming 3 years old. He's been a wonderful addition to the herd here. My son rode him lightly the first couple of years and as he matured he had regular training rides with our trainer at the time, with me, and with my daughter as she started growing. He's done some Pony Club stuff with my daughter and mostly combined training work. Once we assured him we didn't expect the contracted, pinched Western Pleasure way of going that he'd originally been taught (at age 2!) he opened up and now uses his body in a beautiful way.

Cody is calm and steady for the most part, but in other ways he is my "problem horse." Only in the sense that he has PSSM and I have had to scramble to learn a lot about diet and nutrition and the way muscles work inside the equine body. Because of Cody I learned how to balance the equine diets individually and I've learned a lot more than I ever knew about bringing a horse into work and creating a routine that facilitates soundness under saddle and over time.

Cody was the horse chosen to babysit Rafer Johnson's first night here - Salina was over the top with mama love so she needed a day to settle down!

Cody is Keil Bay's best friend, Redford's most eager playmate, and the one equine who will play with the pony without getting too annoyed at his antics.

Years back when the neighbors shot off fireworks and the rest of this herd (including me) were running around like crazy it was Cody who walked to the middle of the arena and stood enjoying the show.

He's a wonderful horse. Responsive and sensitive under saddle, always eager to please. And now he's a teenager! Happy Birthday Cody!! We look forward to many years to come. 

the mystical-kit, congestive heart failure, update

This week has been a bit crazy here on November Hill. We've been visiting Mystic daily, supervising the construction of the fabulous front porch cat haven, and I've had two days of ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) training this week so it's been a challenge to keep up with everything.

Thankfully Mystic has improved every single day since Monday. He was on a ventilator for two days and although he responded well and fast in terms of blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, etc., obviously being on a respirator is a tenuous place to be for a cat. We were cautiously optimistic but also trying to keep ourselves prepared should things take a downward turn.

We got news today that he improved so much between our visit last night and today they are going to send him home tomorrow unless something comes up tonight for him. Since last night he's eating an drinking on his own and able to stand and walk, is alert, and the residual grogginess after the ventilator was removed has faded.

They also did a new ultrasound of his heart today and said there appears to be much less damage there than they originally thought. So overall, the prognosis is even better than it was a few days ago.

He'll come home with a couple of oral meds to a quiet recuperation space (we are well prepared for this upstairs in his domain) and lots of love and grateful hearts that he made it through this.

Once I get through the weekend I'm going to take photos of the cat haven - the tunnel from front porch to back yard is about halfway done - it will be completed on Monday. It is absolutely fabulous. The carpenter and his assistants took my ideas and made them happen in an even better way than I expected. I can't wait to see cats figuring out they can go from front to back through their own private highway. :)

Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts, prayers, light, and love. I have absolutely no doubt that all of that played a huge part in his recovery. Big hugs from me to you. 

And a couple of favorite Mystic photos - finally had a moment to go into files and pull them out!

Mystic needs your good thoughts

Since Friday Mystic kit-meow has been suddenly not feeling well, slightly off his food, then on Sunday night a weird coughing episode. Monday morning he seemed better but rapid breathing started up and I took him to the vet. Many tests later they felt it likely he had asthma and sent him home with Prednisone.

This morning he was worse and seemed suddenly to be going downhill so my husband took him to the vet school hospital where he had to be immediately intubated and was quickly diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

He's only 8 years old and we have decided given his good health right up until this weekend to move forward with treatment. He's on a respirator, sedated, and getting medication to drain the fluid from his heart and lungs. Prognosis is that if he makes it through this part of the treatment he'll be able to come home on medication that will allow him another few good years. We hope for that and more.

Construction of our front porch cat haven started this morning and I am hoping he comes home just in time to help break it in. 

We are grateful for all good thoughts.

Wednesday a.m. update:

His oxygen saturation is much better today on lower oxygen which is a very good sign. His red blood cell count has dropped but they think it's a measurement artifact and are retesting. They are removing several of his medications in preparation for the ventilation withdrawal at mid-day. Overall they are more than pleased with how things are progressing and are very hopeful. 

Thank you all for helping surround him with love and light! It means so much to me and my entire family. 

Wednesday p.m. update:

Mystic is breathing on his own now. The tube is still in as he hasn't woken up yet - sedation drugs still in his system. They will pull the tube out soon. His blood oxygen looks good. He has signs of infection probably due to stress on his system during this but are already treating with antibiotics. They expect him to wake up in the next hour or so.