Coffee Clutch with Dutch Henry: Earth Song Ranch

Showing posts with label Earth Song Ranch. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

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

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

"Sitting In The Shade" - A short story

Howdy Folks,

Our friend Jessica Lynn of Earth Song Ranch, asked me to write a short story about cooling off in the summer heat for the July, Natural Horse Magazine newsletter. So I did. And I thought it would be nice to share it here with our Coffee Clutch friends, too. Hope you enjoy.

Sitting In The Shade

The air was cooler under the spreading limbs of the grand old oak. She enjoyed many a hot day resting there. Sitting, she leaned back against the trunk, enjoying the moment, and the breeze, to gaze up through those mighty boughs. Sheltered from the sun she could think about her day, her week. Not much to think about really. Her life seemed to be in a holding pattern. A lot like the majestic oak. How many years had it stood watch over the fields and pastures from its vantage point on the hill. It had been there in her childhood when she and the horses sought its cooling shade. She giggled when she remembered the time she'd climbed halfway to the top and her father had to rescue her.

She smiled thinking of the picnic lunches she and her high school friends had here. Her fingers traced the heart shaped carving in the massive trunk. What sweet days had been enjoyed here under the embracing boughs, always in the cool shade. This was her thinking place. No place on the farm offered as great a place to think.

The chestnut mare stomped her foot, snorted. "I know, it's time to head in, Beauty." She swung up bareback, grasped Beauty's mane and they set out at a slow walk, down the hill toward the house and barn. Three more horses fell in line and the tiny procession made its way along the meandering trail toward the buildings. The heat of the sun felt good on her back, but not as good as the shade had. Looking skyward she knew today was going to be a hot one. Back to the oak? Maybe later.

Gitty Up~Dutch Henry

Welcome to the Coffee Clutch

Welcome to the Coffee Clutch, a happy place to visit. I write uplifting stories about a wide variety of subjects from horses to birds and nature, to love and family and friends. Sometimes I'll post excerpts from stories I've written for Equine Publications. Sometimes I'll post about writing itself. Coffee Clutch got its name because I often write while enjoying my morning coffee in the barn with my mare Kessy, and all our critters. Join us here for fun conversation and stories I promise will make you feel good.

It's For The Horses

This is not a book about riding, or training horses. It is a book on my thoughts, ideas and suggestions on how folks might find the joy in doing things for the horse, with the horses’ point of view as the leading guide. My hope is to help as many people as possible learn to hear the horse, feel their spirit, and in that way help horses everywhere. Over the years I’ve met and worked with remarkable people and horses who taught me about their feelings, their joys, their sadness, and their spirit. As a horse advocate everything I do is from the horse’s perspective, including this little book. Every story, idea, suggestion and thought on these pages will be to suggest and share thoughts and ideas on how to maximize a relationship between horse and human—from the horse’s point of view.

Tom Named by Horse

The only man ever to offer Tom respect is Red Cloud. The only woman to give him love is Red Cloud’s granddaughter. Struggling with his own personal demons, Tom finds himself wedged between honoring that friendship and staying true to the depths of his conscience. Amid a backdrop of tumultuous social upheaval, he finds nothing prepared him, the woman he loves or Chief Red Cloud, for the changes about to thunder into their lives, sweeping them helplessly into the tides of human conflict and historical drama. Available on Amazon.

From The Banks OF Little Bear Creek

The Tom Named by Horse Saga continues. Three years after the death of Tall Dog, Tom Named By Horse and Soft Cloud have turned the little soddy, the lands granted them by Red Cloud, and the lean-to barn into a thriving horse ranch, fulfilling Tom’s dream. The Plains Indians Wars, or Red Cloud’s war, is mostly behind them, and the lands have had their transformation as Red Cloud’s vision had warned years earlier. Trailing horses from the ranch to Denver city has become an annual event for Tom, Buck and the rest, and this is the story of that trail. In the spirit of a good old John Wayne movie, vengeance, cattle and horse thieves, a dirty sheriff and corrupt mayor, and a wedding make this year’s drive a ride you’ll want to tag along on.