Friday, May 27, 2011

I Never Thought I Would See This

I never thought that living in the city, even though it is on 20 acres, that I would have more wild critters running around then when I actually lived in the country on a big ole’ horse farm. But it is true. Since there is no major green space all of the wild critters come to my little 20 acre paradise. I have seen the traditional squirrels, and variety of birds. Now I am seeing raccoons, foxes, and the ever present groundhogs. I think we have a least ten that call my paradise home.
One of her favorite holes in the field.



It is these groundhogs that keep Willow busy. She has always got her head in one of their gigantic holes. Holes so big that I have contemplated using them as storm shelters during all of the tornado warnings we have been having here in Lexington. On our evening walks she will dart off because she has caught a glimpse of an elusive yet ever-present groundhog.


This past week while my Mom was visiting, we were planting flowers into the garden. Out of the corner of my eye I kept seeing Willow run around; at first I didn’t think anything of it but then I realized she was looking up and circling the same area. Looking up, I first thought the tree had a huge wart on it’s branch but it turned out to be a treed groundhog. That’s right, Willow treed her first groundhog. You might be shaking your head in disbelief, much like I was doing, because as the name indicates these are underground dwelling creatures but apparently they can climb. I even took pictures so that I could have proof.


She stayed on that groundhog until he or she came down. Once it was down she proceeded to chase it. She caught it but she was so stunned that the groundhog got a 3 yard advantage and beat her back to its hole.

This kept her busy for awhile.

Willow’s day was made and I was very proud of her. My sweet puppy has found her new ambition…Groundhog Hunter. (It’s the catching part we are working on.)


P.S. Two days later we discovered that that particular groundhog had dug up under my house, right under the heater and broke it. Now I’m really glad I have my own bona-fide Groundhog Hunter at home.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Just a Little Prank

I’m not a devious person…mischievous, but not devious. Most of the time I keep my mischievousness in check, I am after all supposed to be an adult… (Mom I can hear you rolling your eyes.) But yesterday I couldn’t resist playing a small prank on my co-workers.


At my office we celebrate birthdays that fall on Friday and the weekends on Thursday, because many of my co-workers are off on Friday. My birthday is this Saturday. Since I am well aware of our pattern and I haven’t forgotten my birthday, I knew they were going to decorate my cell. But I didn’t want to make it too easy for them.

I hid all the decorations.

In the fridge.

Better yet, someone put something in the fridge in the morning and didn’t notice them, even though they were out in front.

They did eventually find the decorations and proceeded to over-decorate my cell!

 
Plus, they posted signs through the whole floor telling everyone that I was celebrating an old
er birthday than I actually was. *sigh*










This might be the last time I play a prank…no, it was too much fun!!


Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Meet Begonia

Meet Begonia, a slightly irrational Jersey milk cow that lives on the farm.  Her personality is less than approachable, more standoffish and somewhat belligerent.  But yet I like her. I want to say that she is misunderstood but I don't think that is it.  She trots to the beat of her own drummer and even at that she is off beat. Begonia, or BeBe as I have affectionately started calling her, gives our small herd character.



Begonia "BeBe"

Monday, May 2, 2011

Rolex Cross Country and Freestyle Reining

Saturday the worlds of 3 Day Eventing and Reining intermingled.  It was the setting for one of the most exciting days in the U.S. Eventing world, Rolex Kentucky Cross Country day.  A day where internationally ranked riders and horses go across hill and dale jumping obscenely huge obstacles, splashing through water, jumping in and out of canyons all under a time crunch.  It is completely crazy and COMPLETELY thrilling. 


Leap frog

Cross Country is most riders and my favorite portion of eventing; in truth it is the reason we event.  And Rolex is where the top riders and horses come to play, the setting in at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park makes it even more magical. As a child this is where I dreamed of coming to one day. (Little did I know I would one day work at an office in the Horse Park.

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day for cross country. The rain had finally stopped and the temperature only got into the 70's. I met up with some long lost friends from my California riding and Pony Club days (Thank you Facebook!).  I was great seeing them and catching up.  It felt like it was just yesterday that we were out hacking in Briones National Park together, which helps keep the delusion of my age going. ;)  I don't need any more reminders that I am getting ready to celebrate another birthday.


Good pace!
We got to experience our own version of cross country as we walked from fence to fence, the run-off water had created streams and bogs all through the fields.  And smarty-pants me was only wearing tennis shoes, because we had a day and a half of sunshine so I thought everything would be nice and dry. Yeah right.


The excess water did help the Range Rover driving course, where everyday people in possession of a drivers license got to test drive a Range or Land Rover.  My favorite part of this course was the teeter totter.  I can't quite explain how your stomach drops when the teeter totter drops. 


They are trying to balance before they drop down.

After a good day in the sun watching extreme riding I headed over to the Alltech Arena to watch the World Championship Freestyle Reining competition.  I was prepared to see some good reining freestyles but I was taken by surprise to find out that 4 top event riders would be participating...  This should be interesting.

Bellying up to the bar

Watching the event riders try to do sliding stops and spins had good entertainment value.  David O'Connor did a respectable job, enough for him to place sixth.


David O'Connor showing reining skills

Shane Brown and Houston Shine won the night with a great interpretation of the song "In Color" by Jamie Johnson.

It was a busy day that is now full of new memories.  Unfortunately, I still had a whole day of the weekend left to clean the house. sigh