"Feature Friday – Opus

Howdy Folks,

Opus Moon was founded by Cindy and Bill Loos to celebrate the wild horses of America. Putting their musical and photography skills to use they have written and recorded several albums of beautiful, meaningful and moving songs, and taken thousands of stunning photographs of our noble wild horses. Proceeds from the sale of their songs and photographs go to support efforts to keep wild horses running free.

Magnum and his offspring Siesta and Pistol

Opus Moon's efforts have been appreciated and noticed by many like minded individuals as noteworthy and eye opening, bringing attention to the plight of wild horses and burros at the hands of the BLM. One individual so moved was Joseph Piner, documentary film maker whose latest project the film, "Free Spirits – Saving America's Wild Horses" will be released this fall. So touched was he by their songs and efforts that he featured their music in his film.

Opus Moon owes its name to a late September evening when Cindy and Bill were settling into their campsite, after a day of searching for, and photographing the wild horses they'd come to know so well. A bright moon hung high overhead and the sounds of the open range night drifted into the campsite. So did the music of running wild horses. Opus is the coming together of artistic composition, and this night the artistry of the call of an owl, rustle of an evening breeze and wild horses running and nickering under that bright moon was truly artistic.

The Legacy Ladies of The Little Book Cliff

You can join Opus Moon on Facebook HERE and have a stroll through their website HERE where you can fall in love with their music, photos and stories.

You can also get to know Joseph Piner and have a look at his movie trailer HERE.

These are great folks devoted to celebrating and saving our wild horses and it's an honor to feature them today.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Coffee Clutch is back!"

Howdy Friends! – Coffee Clutch is back! – Today is the first day Coffee Clutch is officially back since my heart attack, surgery and recovery! And the Hummingbirds knew it and welcomed me with much fanfare, buzzing and squeaking all around the feeder just outside Kessy's bedroom. It felt so good to once again settle in my old chair next to the finest mare I've ever known, sip a little steaming Folgers (decafe) in my brand spankin' new Coffee Clutch mug sent me by our friend Darlene Hohensee (Thanks Darlene) and listen to her munch away. My new mug has a picture of our Coffee Clutch and my name!

First Official Coffee Clutch Day Back - With my new Coffee Clutch Mug -

Oh sure I've been out in the barn spending time with Kessy, brushing her and following Ravishin' Robbie as she does all the chores, for weeks already, even sat with Kessy in the barn and woods. But morning Coffee Clutch is a special time I've missed so dearly. Our barn is tucked in the woods bringing birds so close as they dine with the chickens at the cracked corn scatterings. Cardinals, Towhees, Chickadees, Titmice, and other seed eating birds swoop in to hop about and eat, and the chickens never mind their company. Most mornings the wild birds stay longer than the chickens!

This morning was a very active bird morning from hummers buzzing their feeder, to everyone at the cracked corn and treetops filled with Robins trilling, a Scarlet Tanager, and in the distance even a Wood Thrush joined in while a Bluebird sat high in a tulip tree letting go his sweet notes to float down to me.

Since walking every day is part of my morning routine now, and forever they tell me, I had to make an adjustment to my routine. Gotta get up earlier! Sometime just before six I roll from under the covers, head out and walk first lick. It's good right now to beat the heat and bugs at that time anyway. Our grassy trail through the woods is just over a half mile, which I now walk in 25 minutes. The bird watching is top notch there too, and I'd probably walk it faster if I didn't stop so often to search the treetops and underbrush.

Ravishin' Robbie, Saturday and I walk our "Recovery Trail" together then go to the barn. I'm helping a bit with the chores now, the easy light stuff like Kessy's soaked Timothy cubes (Kessy's on an all forage diet) and the chicken scratch. Walking and chores finished, I settle in my chair next to Kessy, and pour a cup (I'm only doing one cup now instead of a pot), and enjoy the start of another beautiful morning. It's so wonderful to be back where I belong!

God Bless, Thank you all for your prayers, love, cards, letters, and support! … Have a beautiful day, and life ~

Gitty Up, 

Dutch Henry

"I'm Back – But Where Have I Been?"

Howdy Friends! – Didn't know if I was going to write about this or not, but we have so many good friends who enjoy our Coffee Clutch who may not be on Facebook and might be wondering what has happened to our blog … So here goes, and I'll try to keep it brief … Haha – 

Kessy ran to me nickering when I got home

On Good Friday I had a heart attack, actually now that I know what a heart attack is, I've been having them for some time. But this one knocked me down. Ravishin' Robbie and I were in the barn and I had to sit down. Soon, as it always had, the pain and wooziness passed and I tried to brush it off. Robbie didn't. Let me say here, if you're experiencing any symptoms, go get it checked out, you just might save yourself the nightmare of going through open heart surgery, I wish I had.

Even though I have a condition that gives me constant chronic pain in my back, legs, arms and hands, the pain of the first few weeks after surgery was like nothing I'd ever experienced, or want to again. I was told had I looked into this long ago I could most likely have avoided this surgery, so I'm telling you to be mindful. You don't want this, trust me. I'd always attributed my heart symptoms to my chronic condition, for which there is no relief, so I never bothered to get checked out. I implore you to not make the same mistake.

Saturday after my incident I felt poorly overall, but I often experience that too, and disregarding Robbie's urging to go to the hospital, I just rested. Sunday, still not back on my feed, I went for a ride, and sure enough the ride, Kessy's wonderful attitude and gait helped me to feel better, but I was really tired and weak. Sunday evening I told Robbie we'll go to the doctor on Monday.

When we called for an appointment they said, "Don't come here, go to the emergency room." We did, and there they confirmed a heart attack, and trucked me to the Lynchburg Cardiac Care Unit, which happens to be in the top 10 in the nation. The catheterization test showed 4 really blocked arteries, 2 of them 100%, the other 2 only in the 90s, several more in the 70s – no stints for me.

Because of blood complications surgery had to wait a week, but they kept me right there under watchful eyes. My doctor said I was about a month away from, the heart attack that would turn my lights out. So I was going nowhere. The nurses, doctors and everyone there are so wonderful, caring and professional. Every minute I was cared for so marvelously, before and after my surgery.

We did put a few posts on Facebook, and I received so many beautiful cards my room looked like a Hallmark store! Nurses and doctors would come in for daily counts! I want to thank everyone for those cards, gifts and prayers. They really helped me endure those terrible first painful days post surgery. I could feel the magic of the prayers.

I've been home for 3 weeks, the first 2 weeks were really rough, for me and Robbie, too … but each day sees improvement. Unfortunately it'll be 3 more months before I can ride again, but Kessy's lovin' on me and I can brush her now, gently. Our friend Chris Cooper is riding her a little for exercise, calls Kessy a Cadillac … Chris also took care of all the chores here while Robbie was at the hospital, and the first weeks I was home. Thank You, Chris!

Still not sure how much I'll be posting for the next little while, but I felt I owed an explanation of my absence. I treasure each of you who take the time to read what I write, know that your friendship is important to Robbie and me. I will be polishing/editing "Tom Named By Horse" these next weeks/months as I get my strength back and I'll get it published as soon as I can, hopefully by fall. I'll continue to post excerpts from time to time. If you've not yet read any "Tom Named By Horse" excerpts CLICK HERE to read Pt 1-

God Bless you all, thanks for your friendship! ~ Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

Ravishin' Robbie and I celebrate our 38th Anniversary today!

Howdy Friends! – Ravishin' Robbie and I celebrate our 38^th Anniversary today! How Sweet It Is! How she puts up with me is a giant mystery to me … I always tell her she must have been really bad in her past life to get saddled with me in this one! We've had a wonderful adventure together now for almost 4 decades and each year she just keeps getting better. The first moment I met Robbie I was smitten, and that feeling has only strengthened over the years. I shout to the world how much I love my Robbie! ~ Gitty Up, Dutch

"Tom Named By Horse-pt 3"

Howdy Friends, 

Many of our Coffee Clutch and Facebook friends know of my novel. For some, this is the first you've heard of it. Tom Named By Horse is the first of a trilogy about Tom Named By Horse. An Historical Fiction spanning the years from 1850 to1910.  Of course it's a love story, and much more than that ... The first book tells of a young Tom, orphaned on the prairie, sold to a sadistic buffalo hunter from whom he escapes – and immediately befriends Chief Red Cloud's granddaughter. Charged with a mission by Red Cloud, Tom selects the chief's granddaughter to travel with him. And that is just the beginning .... This excerpt is the Second Chapter, and we meet Army scout Buck Hawkins, among other key characters. You can read pt1here… I hope you enjoy, and please leave your comments. Thanks!

Kessy, Saturday and me writing -

Chapter Two 

 “Yo, Buck Hawkins … General wants to see you!” Sergeant Worly scratched his white beard, as he swung up on “Old Bedlam's,” porch, the officers' quarters in Fort Laramie.

“Yea?  Have a seat Sergeant. I haven’t finished my morning coffee. Just got in two days ago from four weeks of scouting and tracking renegades and the only thing I want to ride is this lopsided old chair. Have a cup with me.” Buck pushed his feet up against a porch post, rocked his chair back and forth on its rear legs, and was quite content.

“Can’t Buck. I gotta get to the corrals and look at the new saddle stock that came in while you were out on your pleasure trip.”

“What do you know about saddle stock? The last time you sat a horse we were still a British colony.” Buck smiled wide at the Sergeant.

“I didn’t mean I was gonna ride 'em, I just gotta count 'em. General wants to know how many made it through the renegades his favorite scout told him wasn’t there.

“Well they weren’t there when I was. Because if they were, I’d of seen 'em and run them off.

“You must have just missed ’em. Because they sure gave the Lieutenant and his boys a run for their lives!”

“That's not good. Guess I'd better go see the General.” Buck bounced down the heavy plank steps of Old Bedlam. "Thanks for the warning, Sergeant."

As Buck approached the General’s office, he was a little surprised to find him on the porch.  “Morning Buck,” the General didn't bother to stand.

“Morning, General Sturgis, and a fine morning this is!” Buck tried to set the mood with his wide grin.
“Not if you have to answer to Washington for raided settlements, and missing horses. Buck what can you tell me?”

“Well, we have Arapaho to our East. Sioux and Cheyenne to our South, and renegades and outlaws to our North and West. Go more than twenty miles in any direction, and you'd better have a fast horse.”  Buck took a seat on the rail facing the General.

Buck was a good looking young man and liked to dress in deerskin pants with fringes down the outer seam, and leather moccasin boots. He always wore army issue blue blouses and a dark leather vest. When he walked across the parade, any officer’s wives that happened to be about would surely watch. His sparkling green eyes could pierce a man through when angered, and melt any woman he turned his soft gaze upon. It had been gossiped that Lieutenant Harris’ wife had openly expressed desire for the man, causing a rift to exist between the two men. Although for Buck’s part, it was simply a way to torment a man he considered a good friend

“I need to know where Hooker’s camp town is. There has been a report they raided another settlement near Little Bear Creek and killed three men and stole the livestock. I have dispatched four men to guard the settlement, but we need to do away with the whole bunch. They cause more trouble then the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux combined. I want you to leave now and find where they hide like snakes in the grass. I want to know their numbers. Buck I want this over.”

“Numbers I can give you now. They have close to fifty, mostly lazy outlaws, and drifters, but they have begun to attract renegade Indians. They say that a renegade Sioux called, Tall Dog, is sending word to all Arapaho, Cheyenne and Sioux villages to join him with Hooker.”

“Well the Sioux and Cheyenne are fighting each other.”

“Not when they can fight you,” Buck pointed his finger at the General.

*********

The old buffalo hunter guided his wagon horses carefully through the narrow pass that led up the last steep grade. His wagon was loaded with the results of a successful hunt. Not just for hides, but whiskey, and guns too, that he could sell to the band of outlaws and renegade Indians. He stopped the wagon in the center of the camp.

The camp had grown into a small town since the old man had last visited. Shacks of board and canvas numbered over twenty, and now there were even women in the camp. “Where’s Hooker?”  Bellowed the hider.

A crowd of mildly interested ruffians gathered around the wagon

“What have you got for me this time, old timer?”  Hooker walked around the wagon pushing the curious aside and trying hard not to get mud on his fancy boots.

“Whiskey for everybody, hides for the Injuns, and ten of these new Henry repeaters. For anybody with gold coins.” The boastful old hider flipped back some skins to reveal a wooden crate.

Hooker ripped the top from the crate and stared at the neatly packed rifles.

“Yeah,” the hider said. “I followed the sutler coming from Fort Laramie after he met with the Army buyer there. I knew he had these rifles along. I got’im talking after a little whiskey. One of them fancy gents thinking he would get rich quick sellin’ rifles to the Army. Fool was too new from the East. Come here representin’ a big Army contract for these new repeaters. So I moved ahead about twenty miles, and when he came over the rise I, well you can just say I put him outa the repeater business and put me right in it. I took these here Henrys and six hundred dollars in gold coins he had on him … There’s gonna be a big shipment moving from Fort Kearney to Fort Laramie, in a few weeks.”

“That, you old cuss, is worth a drink!” Hooker slapped the hider on the back and led the way to the makeshift canvas saloon. Hooker and the old hider settled at a small table in the corner.

“I can tell you this,” the hider held his voice low. “You need more men than you have now. The wagons with the rifles leave Fort Kearney with a cavalry escort of fifty troopers. They’re expected in Fort Laramie by the end of October.”

“Tall Dog will find us more. They’re scattered all over the prairie just waitin’ to kill U.S. soldiers. He can gather fifty in a week. Those renegade Sioux and Cheyenne will follow him anywhere. Almost every day another handful leaves Red Cloud, and wander into the village Tall Dog started just north of here.  What day do the wagons leave Fort Kearney?”

“To get to Fort Laramie on time, they need to get started in a week or two. That many men, horses and wagons, it’ll take those soldier boys a good two weeks to make the trip.”

“What other supplies are coming along?” Hooker’s eyes held an evil glow.   

“You’ll be able to outfit all your men with brand new U.S. Troopers clothes!” The hider wiped his mouth on his sleeve and smiled at Hooker.
“Troopers clothes? New Henry repeaters and new clothes!" Hooker scratched his cheek. "Ha, we’ll have our own army. You get back to the fort and find out when they’re leaving Fort Kearney, and get back here.”

******** 

 I'll be going publishing in a few motnths and am editing now. I hope you enjoyed this look into "Tom Named By Horse" – Please share your comments. I'll continue to share excerpts from time to time as I edit and polish ….  

To Read Pt 4 CLICK HERE  

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry