Monday, July 22, 2013

The summer had inhaled, and held its breath too long



Pie was amazing on this morning's bareback ride. All the horses have been troupers through this miserably hot July. 

Last time I posted, Colleen from Bay State Brumby was visiting (and melting) on a horridly hot ride around our farm. We were scheduled to travel north the next week to meet her sweet Brumby, Lilly, and Bill and see our Sage in Vermont, but it wasn't to be. Brian, who never gets sick, was bit by some icky insect/spider/tick (?) and became ill for a week with a fever and body aches and general malaise. When a three inch red bullseye appeared on his leg (I have pictures but will spare you even though I texted them to Colleen and Sage - sorry guys!) we cancelled the trip and he started antibiotics. He is doing perfectly fine now, but our visit to Bear River and Bennington was not to be. Darn!

Our temperatures and humidity the last few weeks, like most of the country, have been the worst. I basically tried to keep the horses in the barn and comfortable when I wasn't at a tennis match. Maizie's tennis schedule was in full swing during this crazy heat wave, putting her out on the court in blistering sun and me courtside far away from my horses. Therefore, my mom kindly stayed behind to hose the boys in the pastures and scrub and refill water buckets that were periodically dumped by our imp Sovereign. 


Here our little swimmer is nibbling for a treat on a bareback halter ride. 


Maizie on the court on a 100 degree day. 
Her team won so we are all heading to Princeton again this year!


And in the kitchen before her first date!!!! 
Eeekkk! Oh, she is growing up too fast!


My friend, Barb, (above on Pie) traveled from Florida to visit us again this year. I met Barb at the Florida barn in 2011 and we've had fun trail rides together for two winters. Last May she came up to Pennsylvania to ride with me and this past weekend Barb rode both Pie and Sovereign. Saturday was icky hot so she rode Pie and I walked along on the ground because I didn't want to leave one horse back at the barn alone in the heat. On Sunday, though, we had some cooler temperatures so Pie stayed back and Barb rode Sovereign and I rode Foggy. We had a great time through the woods and fields. Barb has really come along as a rider, and Sovey tested her a few times. She passed with flying colors! Way to go Barb!


Barb stayed on the farm all weekend and regularly spoiled my boys with crunchy apples from the refrigerator crisper drawer. I've been lucky to find a grocery store who gives me apple seconds for my horses. Only in America would these beauties be called "seconds" - Foggy nickers and Sovey wiggles his nose like a bunny in anticipation. Big boy Pie nods approvingly as the juicy treats head his direction!


7 comments:

  1. Wow! Looks like a great summer, despite the scorching heat. Glad Brian is feeling better after the bug bite. Yikes! Fun rides with friends! Yummy apple treats. What fun! Congrats to Maizie and her tennis team! She is adorable. So, how was her first date? How was her first date for mom and dad?!

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    1. So funny Once Upon! Maizie had a nice time - very innocent and sweet! Mom and Dad were able to keep calm because the boy is a long-time friend and fellow math genius - (happy math geek relief here!).

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  2. Good for Maizie--especially playing in that awful heat! Hope Brian is doing better. Those nasty ticks are a bear to deal with. What a bummer you missed out on your trip to Vermont. Maybe in fall, when it's cooler and colorful?

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  3. Look How Lovely Those Days Were, Even Searing Hot. We've All Had It With ThemTemps.Whew.

    Too Bad About The Trip, And
    How Awfully Scary,A Tick! So Happy To Hear He's Getting
    Better.

    Love To Your Mom, Trough Duty
    Isn't Bad, On A Hot One! He Needs
    A Pond!!! To Bad There Is Not Some Hidden Spring On Your Place.

    Near Neat Times With Barb!!

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  4. Sounds like you've all been busy even in the heat. Hope Brian is feeling better. Lyme's is a bear to deal with. Congratulations to Maizie on her win. That's wonderful. Glad the date went well. They do grow up in the blink of an eye. Autumn would be perfect to visit Vermont. It's beautiful then. Aren't mom's wonderful to pitch right in there and help when it's needed.

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  5. Maizie is a trooper. Congratulations to her!
    The heat and accompanying horse flies have kept me from riding too, but it's been a bit better lately.
    Glad Brian is better. Sounds kind of scarey.

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  6. How does Maizie do it!! She is really a very strong girl. I hope her lucky date was able to keep up with her! So neat to see Barb riding! You horses are so kindly to these strangers that show up and climb aboard! VERY glad to hear Brian is responding to the medicine and no longer achy and miserable. Can you believe what a little tick can do? Spiders are the same: POWERFUL. And I could not agree more with Grey Horse Matters: autumn is New England is wonderful. No bugs! Plus, with all this crazy heat, the colors in the fall might be more spectacular than ever!

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