Coffee Clutch with Dutch Henry: New Years Day

Showing posts with label New Years Day. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Grandpop's New Year's Day Ride

Howdy Folks,

This is the Eighth in my series of Grandpop stories. I began writing about Grandpop, June 27, 2013, with what at the time I imagined what would be a standalone short story, "Perhaps I've Just Lived Too Long." You can read that story (and find links to go on) (HERE) Folks said they enjoy visiting with Grandpop, so I wrote more. Frankly, I enjoy him too. I hope you enjoy this New Year's Day Ride with Grandpop.

Grandpop's New Year's Day Ride

We didn't ride every New Years day lately. Grandpop had a year every now and then, in recent years, when he just wasn't up to it. And I worried since he'd retired ol' blue a few years back his heart wasn't in it so deeply any more. He'd spent a long time brushing Blue this morning, explaining to him it was best he just stay in the barn and sit this one out. Frankly I'd have been satisfied to stay by the fire and sit it out too. But this year again the trek to, "ride in the New Year" as Grandpop called it would be just him, me and two fine looking geldings.

Riding in the New Year was a tradition he and Mom had started the very first year they settled on this ranch. For a few years it was just Mom and him, then I came along and Mom strapped me on in front of her and toted me along. "She had you so bundled up I worried you couldn't get a breath of air," Grandpop told me every time he tells that tale. I rode with them every year until I moved away and drifted into those years when I was certain I was far to busy to come home and ride a horse in the freezing January weather. I always wondered why it had to be extra cold on New Year's Day.

"You know it brings good luck to uphold a tradition on New Year's Day," Grandpop swung into the saddle with the ease and grace that defied his 85 years. I swung up too, and just as every time I watched him do anything, I hoped I'd be that spry when I was his age. Our hats tied down with scarves we set out for what I hoped would be a short ride. But I knew better.

A cold, sleet-filled blast nailed us as soon as we cleared the barn. Grandpop twisted in his saddle and flashed me his jolly grin. "Gonna be a brisk one I reckon, son." He aimed his horse for the three foot drift between the barn and tractor shed.

"Something about riding through the deep snow brings out the kid in me. YeeHa!" He tossed his arms in the air and they plowed through the drift, then set out in a trot along the fence line. I saw the cows huddled in the ravine below, safely out of the nasty wind. Secretly I wished I could join them.

"New Year's Day," he yelled above the wind. "Lots of things start over then, but I always figured lots of good things just carry on too."

We rode side by side along the fence, then cut away aiming for the hillside trail up to the mountain. I figured my hopes of a short ride were dashed and settled in for a cold morning's ride. My younger brother had planned to ride with us this year, but he and his sons were still hauling hay to the cattle. At least they had the truck cab to warm up in.

It took over an hour to get halfway up the mountain. Grandpop pulled up at the first overlook. Ice glazed his hat, face and mustache, and clung to our horses' muzzles and manes.

I chuckled to myself when I realized I could barely feel my feet. The view, though, was worth the cold. The company, too. Looking out over the windswept valley, sleet and snow blowing sideways, it truly was a sight to behold. "Worth every minute of these frozen toes." I told him as I dug into my saddlebag, pulled out the thermos, and fighting the wind, poured our celebration coffee. Then passed the cup to Grandpop.

"Happy New Year World!" Grandpop held the cup high in a salute, took his drink, leaned toward me and handed me the cup.

"Happy New Year World!" I saluted the world, and finished the drink. Then poured our second cup. We sat together there and drank until the thermos was empty.

"Glad ya rode with me son." He turned his horse and started down the trail.

"You bet."

****************

Gitty Up & HAPPY NEW YEAR WORLD! … Glad ya rode with me. ~ Dutch Henry

To read our next visit with Grandpop "A Nation Of Millionaires" CLICK HERE

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

"HAPPY NEW YEAR! Resolutions, Traditions and Superstitions"

Howdy Folks,

Well here we are at the beginning of a brand new year. Does it seem to you that 2012 went by really fast? I heard once that as we get older the years go by faster and faster ... Am I the only one who thinks we now have one week of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter? Or is that my age speaking? They say when we're younger time goes slower because each period of time is a larger portion of our lives, and as we accumulate years and decades each segment, or season, is a tinier piece of the whole. Thereby giving us the, "Fly By" sensation.

Another common held belief is whatever you do on New Year's Day you'll do all year. That's why Ravishin' Robbie and I are always sweet to each other all day long, with plenty of kissin' mixed in. And you know what? It's pretty much that way all year for us so I reckon there must be some truth in that old saying.

I also make sure I ride a little on New Year's Day. Gosh some years I've gone on marathon New Year's Day rides. But that could be a story all its own ... "Really Long and Cold New Year's Ride, Because We Got Really Lost," or some title along those lines. But Kessy and I will head out for at least a short adventure today.

Being PA Dutch we always have Pork and Sauerkraut on New Year's Day, for good luck you see. I think that one holds true too. At least we have pork and sauerkraut every year on New Year's day not wanting to chance it … The Good Luck thing … Do we have it every year because we have pork and sauerkraut every year? You know that, "Whatever you do on New Year's Day thing?" … It could be tied in with that, couldn't it? Well, anyway, we do. Eat pork and sauerkraut every New Year's Day, I mean. And Robbie still loves me, so isn't that about the best luck a fellow could have?

Do you make resolutions? … That's one tradition I've never done. Thinking about it, I don't even know why I don't. I just never did. If you do, do you keep them? … Some folks make life changing commitments. But can you only do that on New Year's Day? What if you get a really, really good idea on Jan third? For it to work must you wait 362 days to implement it? Maybe you could mix in a few trial runs throughout the year so when the next New Year's Day rolls around you've got it figured out.

Whatever your traditions and superstitions about New Year's Day, Robbie and I hope you have a blessed and prosperous New Year filled with love and kindness. Be sure to hug your sweetie, children, pets and of course your horses, send out plenty of Happy New Year wishes, make resolutions, eat pork and sauerkraut and remember to start this New Year off with a heaping helping of love.

God Bless & Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

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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.