Goodbye Sweet Kyra Corgi

We said goodbye to our sweet Corgi girl Kyra yesterday morning. Closing in on 17 years with us, she has been an amazing and feisty member of our family. She thankfully went peacefully and although I feel a huge empty space in our lives and home right now, I'm grateful for all the time we had with her. Bear Corgi took it hardest of all, and although he seems better today I am fretting a little about what this means for him. We'll figure it out.

Meanwhile, here are a few of the thousands of photos of Kyra - who I now picture running with Chase and enjoying her youthful body again.

Kyra with her best girl. My daughter was only 3 when Kyra came to us and they became best buddies very quickly. I don't know why we don't have puppy pictures! I couldn't find a single one.

She and Chase went with us almost everywhere. Kyra was a terrific hiking buddy for her girl.

The day Bear came to live with us she took him under her Corgi paw and became his very best friend.

And even when he outgrew her and revealed himself to be a huge ball of energy, you can see who remained "top dog." 

It's almost unfathomable to me that she is gone, but as we all know who live with and love animals, they are never REALLY gone - their spirits remain in our hearts forever. We love you Kyra girl. You'll be with us always.

This last photo says it all.

Worst idea ever: "Handispur"

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< This keeps popping up in my Facebook feed asking for support on Kickstarter.

Ummmm - how about NO THANKS. 

Let's call it what it is, a torture tool. If you want your horse to pay attention to you, develop a relationship with him/her and get quieter, not louder with inducing pain. Sigh.

If you agree, head on over and report this campaign for the cruelty it is.

one of those little things that makes me happy: Mrs. Meyer's rhubarb hand soap

We've used goat milk-based bar soaps from our local farmer's market for years now but I encountered this at my office and became enthralled with the rhubarb scent. Now this is in 2 out of 3 of the bathrooms at home (her bluebell scent is in the 3rd one and I love that too). Every time I wash my hands I stand at the sink and smell the scent and it makes me happy.

The same way putting Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap in the wash bucket in the barn does when I'm de-webbing or wiping down dusty things.

Same as putting a few drops of lavender or peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil on the mop when I'm cleaning floors does. 

The power of scent is amazing! Just ask Keil Bay how much the smell of a peppermint in a pocket brightens his day. :)

Fall Felines

This afternoon on the back deck there was a flurry of felines as fall blew back in to November Hill. I couldn't resist taking a few photos. This is our oldest kit-meow, Osage, aka Muffine, aka Muffine Eloise. She's one of the original three kittens who came to live with us after we moved in here. Her sister Keats died at age 7 and brother Dickens disappeared last fall. We suspect coyotes. But Mufffine is here and safe now that we've enclosed the back yard, front porch, and connected the two with the tunnel. She's 11 years old.

Here's Pixie, the youngest of our curiosity of cats. Pixie turns four this November. She made it through cytauxzoonosis and although the most petite in size of this crew, she is fierce. I call her Pixie Pie. Certain family members insist her name is Merry. 

Pixie's litter-mate brother Pippin is a lot bigger than she is but she has no problems stalking him and pouncing. The two of them have their sibling issues but they remain bonded and spend a lot of time together.

And here's Pippin. He's pretty huge and a total goofball. Sharpening his claws! 

Mystic made it through cytauxzoonosis AND congestive heart failure. He is 8 years old and the King of stealth. We're happy he's doing so well. 

It's hard to write about these four without mentioning Keats, Dickens, Moomintroll, and River. We miss them a lot and are so grateful for this clamor of cats who keep every day busy and bring so much joy. 

November Hill farm journal, 21

Although we've had a mini heat wave this week, with temperatures in the mid-80s, it looks like fall. The dogwoods are going red, leaves are falling, acorns drop regularly, and I'm seeing peeks of winter grass beginning to come in. 

Meanwhile the chores roll on. Last weekend my husband spent a chunk of time repairing the wall of the barn shelter, which suddenly had two large hoof-sized holes going all the way through it, and a spray of gray Hardiplank fragments out in the paddock. Thankfully Hardiplank is forgiving and has no sharp splinters. I suspect Keil Bay is the culprit, probably kicking the wall instead of kicking the pony, who was likely bugging Keil as he relaxed underneath the shelter.

Now I have to match the paint on the rest of the barn, which may be difficult. Thanks, Keil Bay. 

Meanwhile I completed the painting of the cat tunnel. Now I need to apply tung oil over the milk paint and that chore will be officially checked off my list. Then it's back to the last porch screens and that too will be done.

Sadly it has been too hot to ride, at least for me and for Keil Bay. A final bloom of flies is driving all of us half mad, and with winter coats well on the way to coming in, the horses have been miserable in this heat. I see relief coming tomorrow, and a low on the forecast of 38 for Saturday night. I can't wait to feel that chill in the air!