The Sounds Of Spring

Howdy Friends,

Coffee Clutch this morning offered the first bird song chorus of the season. Yea I know Spring is officially with us yet, but the weather is. Spring peepers have been peeping the past few evenings, and afternoons too. I reckon they are so excited they’re putting in extra shows! 

I settled into my chair next to Kessy, poured my first cup and toasted the morning. The woods around the barn danced with melodies, solos and quartets. A true concert of majesty and talent.

A pileated woodpecker pounded out a rhythm almost too fast to follow, then let go his, “yak, yak, yak, yak” single note tune. Cardinals sang their duo from high in opposing trees. Mr. blue bird from his perch added a soft trill, almost blending with the more lively robin. Phoebes sang softly, “Phoebe ... phoebe,” chickadees their little shuffle of chatter sounding almost like a strumming washboard.

Truly a concert in the wild, what a perfect way to start the day! We hope yours is perfect too!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Springtime

Howdy Folks,

 I wrote this story about Springtime for our friend Jessica Lynn of Earth Song Ranch  for her newsletter. If you want excellent herbal blends for your pets and horses, be sure to check with Jessica.

Springtime

For most of us, Springtime took its good old time drifting in, but it appears to have stopped by for a visit almost right on schedule. Here in Appomattox, VA the past few days have brought closer to summer than spring temperatures. We've already touched the mid-eighties! Completely dashing my hopes for a white Easter. We missed a white Christmas, even though we had just about the most snow ever recorded, so I was looking for a white Easter.

I'm fond of all seasons, love to see the changes. Each season has its gifts and promises. No single season do I hold favorite and my joy comes in the changes of the beauties of nature. 

Summer brings the full blooms of flowers, wild and domestic. Busy birds feeding fledglings, hummingbirds buzzing at the feeders, beautiful full foliaged trees, half grown deer bouncing with their mommas – lightning bugs and thunderstorms too. Rides through the woods taking in the beauty, the birds, and the sounds. The evening call of the Whippoorwill. Fall changes the landscape and scenery, painting the forests and mountains with colors so spectacular I must stop my mare as we ride and take in the view. Pumpkins and squash from Ravishin' Robbie's garden. Flocks of birds gathering in preparation of the coming winter. Winter brings a quietness, a resting time. Rides along sparkling snow covered trails, winter birds, and animal tracks in the snow. Birds at the feeders putting on shows to delight. Evenings snuggled inside with my Ravishin' Robbie. Oh yes, and Christmas too.

Springtime brings a gentle awakening. Riding trails lined with dozens of delicate wildflowers, birds in their most magnificent plumage courting and building nests. My favorite, Bluebirds checking out nest boxes, by middle spring Ravishin' Robbie's hummingbirds are back buzzing her feeders. Courting songs of birds of all species filling the air, especially during Coffee Clutch in the mornings. Trees sporting brand new bright green leaves, spring peepers singing into the darkness. And Robbie's strawberry rhubarb pie.

Springtime is here and rebirth is in full bloom. Treat yourself to some time on the trail, in the gardens or on the porch to take it all in.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Let Your Horse Help You See The Moment

Howdy Folks,
 

During these past few weeks of what I like to call a throwback winter, I often chuckle at folks posting countdowns to the first day of Spring, and friends calling to assure me they've had enough of this cold Winter. Soon enough it'll be Spring, and I do love the budding leaves, wildflowers and Spring songs of courting birds. And glorious Spring rides through the woods. But we've got some mighty fine Winter left to enjoy, too. I asked Kessy about longing for Spring, she took a deep breath, and let go a sigh, then rubbed her head against me.

On the heels of Spring comes Summer, the heat, the horseflies, ticks and fleas. The yard and garden work and play. Folks will then be posting about the heat, the horseflies, fleas and ticks, and counting down to Fall. I asked Kessy how she feels about Summer. She took a deep breath, let go a sigh, took a bite of hay and gazed out over the snow covered forest floor. Then rubbed her head on my arm.

Fall will come, leaves will change, the forest will look spectacular. Days will shorten, the moon hang larger in the sky, and gardens will show signs of wear. I asked Kessy what she thought of Autumn. She took a deep breath, looked out at the snow, then rubbed her head on my shoulder.

Of course as Fall wears on the days not only get shorter, but colder too. Mostly the horseflies, misquotes and ticks go their way, away from us, hiding from the cold about to embrace us. Then Winter pays us a visit, bringing along his friends, cold, snow, ice and Mr. Blustery Wind. Folks start longing for Spring, talking and writing how they're ready to be finished with Old Man Winter. It seems whatever season we're in, folks long for the next one, living months ahead of themselves, instead of enjoying the moment they're in. I asked Kessy how she felt about Winter, she took a bite of hay and munched away. Then she rubbed her head on my shoulder.

Kessy and me, enjoyin' a moment.

I like to write about our weather, too. In fact I have lots of fun with it, and love sharing the moment and descriptions with our Coffee Clutch and Facebook friends. I enjoy each season we're in, from the high heat of Summer, to the low cold of Winter. I cherish each moment, live in it. Find the beauty and fun in it. Kessy and other horses taught me that. When you get anxious, worried or frustrated, let your horse help you see the moment. Let her rub off on you.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"First day of Spring Trail Ride"

Howdy Folks,

We rode into our shadows, the sun on our backs. Kessy stepped lively as she is wont to do on brisk, sunny, windy days. And by golly it sure was a windy first day of Spring yesterday. Trees swayed, dried oak leaves rattled overhead and branches banged together, filling the air over the trail with sounds not conducive to settling a horse's nerves. We had done our pre-ride exercises before tacking up and Kessy was confident and solid, but still pretty full of herself as we set out down the trail behind the barn. I wanted to go find the first spring flowers, so off we went. Saturday lead the way.

Riding into our shadow

My plan had been to take some pictures of the Trout Lilies under the Mountain Laurel, and the Myrtle at the old cemetery to share here, and even though Kessy behaved perfectly I didn't do very well. Our camera is tiny and old, and although I leaned low out of the saddle, the pictures just did not get very well. I got that one above of our shadow, I love to watch our shadow as we glide down the trail, and the one here of Saturday leading the way … but friends, my flower pictures were all failures. Sorry.

Saturday leading the way up the trail

We had a delightful ride trekking through the woods off the trail where I knew the Trout Lilies and Wintergreen would be. I snapped pictures at each great spot, though with my leg being like it is, I was not willing to dismount, so I shot from the saddle just hoping some would turn out alright.

When we got to the old cemetery the Myrtle was awash with blue. I even took a photo of Saturday sitting in a patch of blooms. It would have been just the sweetest picture. He sat just next Kessy at my stirrup on a bed of blue looking up at me. Sadly, by then I'd known the batteries in the camera were worn out, it kept shutting off, but I took a few, turning it on for each shot. Sure enough none of those pictures made it. But I hope you can picture in your mind.

We had a great ride, saw Chickadees, Pilliated Woodpeckers, Titmice and several butterflies. I do have this one picture, though not very good, of a Trout Lily. I'll try again next week for the Myrtle and even try to get Saturday to pose again.

We found this Trout Lily well off the trail near the stream

Have a fun day & Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Happy Spring!"

Howdy Folks,

Ah yes, today is the first day of Spring! According to the fellow in charge of telling us all about the weather on TV, it arrived here at Appomattox, VA at precisely 7:02 this morning. Equinox they call it. That means literally, equal night; from the Latin, aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, night and day are about equal length.

I love Spring, the rebirth. Ravishin' Robbie says it is her favorite time of year. I don't really have a favorite. I love the changing of the seasons. Each season brings its own blessings and excitement. From the Spring's bursting forth of wildflowers, Robbie diving into her gardens, birds singing in the tree tops, the return of our Hummingbirds, the tall Maple trees boasting red buds. To the Summer's heat, baby Blue Birds and Phoebes in the nests, dozens of Hummingbirds at the feeders, fresh vegetables and flowers from Robbie's gardens. Then Autumn brings us Fall flowers, the Fall Equinox, majestically painted tree foliage, scores of fledgling birds flying about, pumpkins and squash from Robbie's gardens. Of course some of our Spring and Summer birds leave us but the Juncos come and add their unique fun to the coming of Winter. Winter, here in Appomattox we get just a taste of snow, every few weeks during Winter we have just enough snow to paint beautiful scenes all around us, pine boughs dusted in white, our snow covered dirt road with just a single set of car tracks down the middle ... And of course there are those delightful Winter evenings snuggled in our cozy little house with Ravishin' Robbie enjoying her world famous hot cocoa and ginger snap cookies.

So you can see how it might be hard for a fellow like me to have a favorite season when all seasons have so very much to offer. I must admit though, I'm ready to hang the Hummingbird feeders, they should be here in just a few weeks now. The Phoebes have started their first nest in the barn, I've been watching them gather mud and dried grass and carefully tapping the little adobe balls in place on their shelf in the barn rafters for a few days already. The Blue Birds haven't started nests yet, but are singing and Robbie has seen them flying in and out of the nest boxes.

Robbie has already planted peas, lettuce, chard and spinach. But, as has become a custom around here, the chickens have pretty much … unplanted them. Eventually Robbie will prevail and her garden will be beautiful and abundant.

Kessy and I heading out for a First Day Of Spring ride … even though our high today is predicted to be 20 degrees below normal at a windy 40! We rode on Friday and had already seen Trout Lilies blooming under the Mountain Laurel and the Myrtle (periwinkle) in the ancient cemetery was starting to offer its pale blue flowers too. Who knows perhaps today we'll see our first Rufus Sided Towhee or Indigo Bunting.

We send you wishes for a wonderful Spring day!

God Bless & Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"The Rain Pounded The Roof"

Howdy Folks,

We huddled in the barn as the cold rain pounded the tin roof. Saturday sat by my side wet and shivering. Tigger tried to burrow deeper into my lap. Kessy tugged and munched on her hay even as half a dozen chickens scratched, pecked and clucked around her bedroom. I poured my second cup of steaming coffee from the thermos and cradled the cup in my hands, warming them. The smell of fresh coffee wafted up. I took it in. 

Cold, wet and dark, same as yesterday morning. March has sure been tossing hard weather at us the past few days. Undeterred, Mr. Cardinal sat high in the Oak calling in the soggy new morning. A few Juncos too, braved the rain to refuel at the chicken scratch. The chickens though, mostly huddled in the chicken house or in the barn with Kessy, me and Tigger. Sweetness, Zoe and Miss. Kitty had decided today again it was just too miserable out to join us and had stayed in the house.

The Phoebes darted from rafter to rafter, either searching for spiders or checking out the best place for this year's first nest. It's always such delight to watch them build a nest then raise their brood here in the barn. A Carolina Wren came inside too, craftily examining corners and beams. I wondered if he was looking for insects or a place for a nest. That would be neat, Phoebes and Wrens with a nest in Kessy's barn. The wrens usually nest on the porch or the chicken house.

Doesn't look like the weather will give Kessy, Saturday and me a chance to hit the trail for a day or two. I'm sure ready to go again, even though we've had this mid March set-back, things out in the woods are moving ahead with all their springtime duties. On Friday we had gone out and saw half a dozen butterflies, and Trout Lilies blooming. The Myrtle (Periwinkle) was just beginning to bloom at the old cemetery too, can't wait to see that carpet of blue

We send you wishes for a wonderful day. Stay dry and warm!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry