Cricket and JoJo's Excellent Adventure

 

Sometimes... a day goes way better than you hoped. 

 My motto in life is "Aim low and you'll never be disappointed."  I know... maybe not everyone would agree with that theory, but it works for me.  If you don't expect perfection and grand things ~ then when you trip over them, after your done rubbing your toe; you can fully embrace the sheer JOY of the good that has come to you!

Saturday was one of those days.

We very recently got some Vintage Wheels for JoJo... an adorable little horse trailer from 1961.

(Cricket is lucky, he fits right inside the van, so he gets to listen to the radio.... yes, the country station of course; and doesn't have wind whistling up his nostrils at high speeds!)

So, first time in a trailer since we brought JoJo home... I don't know what he was thinking, but I was thinking he was thinking, "just when I get to know these people... they're taking me away..." Que the terror... Of course, even on a good day, I'm no horse whisperer... so for all I know he could just have been thinking, "This thing is older than dirt ~ what if a wheel falls off??? Are you sure you have the safety chains on??? You can't be serious, you want me to get in there???"

Sorry to say, we'll never know his actual thoughts.

I also have no pictures of the loading procedure. I had to concentrate on the task at hand. Coaxing a large and reluctant pony to join inside the trailer.  We were armed with peppermint treats, carrots...a dish of molassesy dengi (chopped hay?)... fresh hay...

He got to the door and stopped.  You can picture me, inside, wiggling the lead ~ making little cooing horse noises.... and telling him how yummy the peppermint treats were...
I was astounded by how far he could lean forward, lips flailing around trying to reach the treat from outside... I thought surely his back feet were going to levitate up, while he balanced on his two front pins.... I lost track of time... but eventually the treats got the better of him, and Scott shut us in.

This brings me to the next part of the adventure. Being closed inside a small tin can with a very anxious horse who just heard the door close behind him.  Hmmmm, not for the squeamish.

I tried to stay with end where is head was... and did manage to squeeze out the door without him.

But you figured that out already, cuz I'm here typing this.

*note to self* next trailer will have the escape hatch door up front, for easy human exit.

We got him clipped up and then Scott pulled the van around so we were facing out.

I assured him that we were all going together, and we would be there at the other end of the trip.

It comforted me anyway. 
Did I mention it was cold on Saturday? Well, the trip ~ which only took about 20 minutes was spent with me hanging out the open van window, talking to him every time he *NEIGHED* at the unfairness of Cricket getting to ride up front with us... I can only assume the people we passed figured I'd let go of the branch....

We got there, all was good.

 I should point out that Cricket loaded and unloaded like a Prince... as he's a seasoned traveler at this point...
We got out, uneventfully, gently.... and besides one spook and spin in the grass when a car went by on the road we were ready for our walk.

The walk was the same one we took last summer with the dogs... at the Nature preserve that was created when a land developer went bankrupt (YEAH!)...

The summer view of the area is over there in the blog history someplace.....

I'll stop yapping now, and let the pictures do the talking.

Walking down to the beach....

We made it! 

Normally this is his response when I ask him to do something that resembles work.... hysterical roll on your back, feet kicking in the air laughter....  This time I think he was just having fun!

See the fire pit? Remember this scene? Could used a little fire to warm up!

Scott and Cricket on the woodland trail.

Aren't my boys so cute?   :))))

Back at the trailer, just prior to reentry. 
 

Reentry was time consuming,... but we did it... and I can only hope each time gets a little easier.

It was a GREAT time, he did REALLY good walking with me... and not be naughty pulling me around like rag doll on the end of a string!  (Only once... but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was confused about which way we were going next.)

So that's it ~ Cricket and JoJo's excellent adventure!

Until next time, I bid you adieu! 

p.s. I promise, one of these days there will be craft talk here again...

 

 

 

Greetings and Salutations from the chilly Northeast Coast!

Takes me long enough to get a blog post posted doesn't it? Yes, well.... I've been collecting my thoughts, that's it... we'll go with that.

So your wondering why I've put up a picture of a poorly dressed homeless woman feeding a duck, huh?

Hmmm, bite your tongue! That's me!

That's right, rubber boots, sweatpants, fleece robe, shabby plaid coat.... I've got style huh?

Alllll the credit for this charming snapshot of my life goes to the Hubby, who thinks himself highly amusing... taking pictures of me in my finery from the warmth of the indoors.

Don't worry, I only dress like this before 7 a.m.  ~ any later than that and I usually take the robe off.

Right then.  Where was I?  Let's catch up on January.

It's been a bit cold the last few weeks... single digits over night at times.  I love winter, and I don't mind the cold too much.... but that's too much.  I must say, after a few days of "highs in the teens" with a wind chill factor, suddenly 20 degrees and sunny sounds like tropical conditions!

I mostly dislike it THAT cold, for the animals sake.  We humans scurry in and out of warm buildings and cars, but the critters don't get that luxury. They DO get extra hay and warm water... and lots of kisses.

It's good to have a friend to snuggle with the mercury plummets.

Zeke and Pete seem to have formed a nice friendship.

Pete says to remember to hug your friends...

Who knows?  The Shadow knows..... Que eerie laughter....

I don't know, sometimes simple things like shadows amuse me, no good reason, just thought I'd share my scattered thoughts with you, well; cuz I can I guess!

So far, JoJo is a little camera shy...He sort of strolls off and looks back wondering why I"m pointing things at him?  I've tried to explain, but he just sighs at me.

He's got some pretty cute little lips though huh? As horse lips go..... if you like that sort of thing.

Here we have some decorative Marsh Fuzzies in the wintry sun.

I'm sure they have a lengthy botanical name, but that's what I call them.

I'm always fascinated by twinkles on the water...

This is part of our new living room! Formerly occupied by our sailboat as a garage space, with a dirt floor ~ I think we can all agree that THIS is much more usable space now! AND for the first time in about 10 years we have SUN in our living room!

Another little peek into the inner sanctum. SOME people have rubber duckies in their tubs...

We have a colorful bucket brigade!

Note the giant ice cubes you can make with them! 

Jumping around a bit ~ like my mind does.... This is a dolls house that Hubby's Aunt made for her daughter, long many years ago.... then eventually gave to me ~ I gave it to our niece ~ and now it's come back to us!

We finally have space to enjoy its charm and good looks!

This is an adorable little charm I got for Christmas...

Which reminds me of JoJo the Jumper Pony!

(in case you thought you'd never see me draw again...)

This little raccoon seems to like little horse charm I dug up just before JoJo arrived....

These are some of Cricket's "baby teeth" ~ he's lost a few front teeth; but these are some of the back teeth, and quite impressive!  I'd  never seen a horse tooth close up.

I'm thinking he could hit the LOTTERY with the tooth fairy for those!

Yup,, this is our motto these days... well ~ we try anyway.

The hubby asked why I was sitting on the floor in the laundry area...

Well, because I thought that you good people would like to see my winter footwear collection.

We have woozy boots for snow, rain boots for rain/mud/mooky slush, your basic comfy steel toed boot, and yes cowgirl boots.  Come on,  you had to see that coming.

Please note the nice round toe.... Ahhhhhhh 

My first boots, back in... well it was a while ago;  had pointy painful little toes.  I had a pair with fringe.... a black pair and purple pair.... Maybe I look for the pictures to really amuse you some cold winters day....

Helper Cat, Mummy showed up just in time to style my photo shoot for me.

Uh, huh ~ pink with flames embroidered on...  that's right.

These were recently found at the thrift store!  I'm not sure they are real, but I like them none the less! Every picture of an old English house's hearth/mantle has beautiful Horse Brasses hanging on it...

Even the one at Beatrix Potter's house!! Now I just need a set for the other side of the mantle.

I guess such things are more common or collectable in England than here?

This is a miniature one ~ cuz I LOVE all things tiny and one day, when my little mini cottage is done, it shall be hung by the mantle with care!!

When we moved into the new living room, we moved the couch.  Leaving the old living room looking a little bit lost... Father in Law to the rescue! He gave us these chairs, formerly used at the family's coffee business! So now, we have our own "Internet cafe" in front of the fireplace.

I try to imagine what his great grandfather would think of that??

Kippy and I shall ponder that until the next episode.....

The Tail end of 2012...

The last few months have been a whirlwind...

Getting JoJo the pony.

Remodeling our boat house/garage into a living room.

Having a house guest. (luckily a very easy going one, and a hard worker too...)

Christmas and all it entails... including but not limited to a parade.

 A peaked pony (Cricket) getting better still...

A peaked Pup (Kippy) better now...

*phhheewwww.

We can all use a nap. 

So let's take a little wonder thru the holiday season and catch up a bit.

Marley has perfected the art of the nap. 

Kippy and Marley "sharing" a toy....

See how fast he can move his paw? He's like a blur!

A rare moment of pups lined up by the Christmas tree...

Odd Christmas decoration you're thinking? When we were in Ireland long ago, I crept into an abandoned old stone house... and inside it was dark.  When my eyes adjusted to the light, there inside the big fire place was a BIG sheep, standing there staring back at me!!  He looked about as happy as the one above!  I excused myself and left him to business, before I got an angry sheep dents on my person!!

Mice love Christmas too!

A new Christmas friend!

What?  What is so funny? Did you take the picture? What are you looking at?



Awwwwww.... JoJo.



A flake.

My treat to myself... a Christmas bear! 

The Christmas scenes are all over the place in here!

and now, just before the end of December, it has gotten cold.

Looking up the river at dusk...

chilly winterberries.

Cricket...

Cricket foraging for grass with his Dad.

Me, being lazy by the fire.

Me, being not so lazy, running with JoJo on the front lawn.

I wish you all a healthy and happy NewYear, filled with good things and happy moments and most excellent memories!