The year of the Horse!

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. 

~Arabian Proverb

 It's the year of the horse in Chinese astrology!

...and for me that's a sheep

 it's a good year.

It's been almost 2 years since I purchased Fiona Bunny
 can't believe how much she has enriched my life
 the joy of seeing her in the wee morning
greeting me with a nicker
 or how she looks up when she hears my car on the road.

and
 Bella Moose
 my big lovey
 always curious always sweet
 stretching her long neck up as a giraffe when she sees deer

 These 2 girls have given me so much
 especially
in the midst of my grief when I lost dad
 their unconditional love and acceptance
I always had a place to go to when my days were hard
always felt better amongst my furry sisters

 It's a privilege to give them a happy home
fresh hay
my love

Horses are beautiful on the inside and out
next time you see one
 take the time to give him or her a nice pat
and say a few kind words

 horses remember those who are kind to them....

If you are interested in reading about Fiona's story
 you can
here

If you want to read more about Chinese astrology
 you can do that
here
 and
here


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Montana "winter" Morning

 

 

There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you....

In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other;

only in the winter,

in the country, can you have longer,

quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.

 ~Ruth Stout

 

 

 

...so we woke up to this in the morning...

father winter and jack frost hard at work

Oh happy day!
Have a great morning.

 

 

Ski Joring

Every year Whitefish hosts a 2 day ski joring event

Ski Joring originates from Scandinavia

 " Joring "- "Kjoring" which means "driving"

 

Person on horse pulls person on skis

 

 plenty of competitors there is money to be won

 people come from out of state and Canada for this event.

riders and skiers getting their final run thru of the course

 

 

Skis and snow boards to be used

 auctioned off later after the competition

 

 

 

looks like I found Waldo...he.he.

Warm up 

the cowboys ride several horses in the competition

 ponying them to get them all warmed up and save time

Cowboy up!

( look at the little polka dot baby)

Beer bus

we like a our beer in Montucky

 

Great Northern brewery one of the sponsors-

neat with the bales around the fire pit.

Our snorky neighbors...and no, they were not waving at us.

 

I'm confused....

is that zebra she's riding ???

and the lovies... Percherons

gentle giants  from France

 

this guy looks so bored he is falling a sleep

 

 Internationale!

The Great Northern....wizzes by

Yiiiiihaaaawwwww

and they're off!

catching air

this guy hits the dust shortly after

Worried  and waiting.....

 on snow board

Girls rule!

hey Spidey!

 

...they gone!

 

Morning in the mountains

The dark of night has quit, dawn is heavy with silence

as light starts to softly appear like a whisper.

Slowly black lifts into shades of blues and pale yellow that become the new early Montana sky,

a well orchestrated symphony of color- morning is arriving.

I light a few candles, a winter ritual.

The light washes over the old oak table,

shadows dancing on the dark walls as the little lights flicker, a warm glow in the kitchen.

It's koselig...peace settles in.

Hunting for the coffee grinder I find it behind a box of cheerios- a good hiding spot. 

I pour the dark coffee beans in the grinder, a waft of exotic aroma from far away places...

Arabica, Arabica, Arbica- my mind drifts...maybe Marrakesh, maybe one day?

The whirr of the grinder noisily starts and I am back in the kitchen.

I love coffee, yes, large doses in the am. is needed

Cold water is pored into the old red kettle, it's worked it's fair share in this household,

 boiling water for hot drinks during our winter hibernation.

Simple is best.

Breakfast- two choices, knekkebrod with lingon berry jam or steel cut oats.

Boring to some, to me- never. Today oatmeal wins.

The stove gets fired up again and the oats and water goes in the little white enamel pot,

I wing it, no exact measurements needed. 

My little ceramic bowl, " made in Vermont" scribed on the back...

indigo blue and black dappled glaze adorns this little pottery piece, it's  not perfectly perfect, 

an organic shape, still roundish...there is beauty in that.

In goes the blueberries, in goes the walnuts,
equally important

 then the hot oatmeal with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon.

Breakfast of champions.... kettle whistles.

Coffee is on- good timing!

Early morning routine, candles being lit,

breakfast making brings a sense of comfort and gratitude-

I look forward to a fresh new day and how it may unfold.

Life has been so shocking lately it feels good to have something to hold on to,

predictable,

the gentleness of morning calm sets the tone.

Steam from the hot coffee and oatmeal rise, squinting I reach for my reading glasses.

Frosty teal colored...like beach glass,

they are roundish- I look like Yoko Ono.

These days I need them for everything-
including eating.

Generally I know what I am consuming- it's just that I like to see what I am eating.

My glasses foggy always,
I can see larger thru the fog maybe not clear,

but it beats eating blurry breakfast.

This will remain the same until I figure out the secret to cleaning them correctly.

Outside the mountain has turned a darker indigo blue,

the sky becoming brighter almost an ombre of blue

poring into a lemony and saffron yellow tones where the treetops touch the sky.

Always dazzled by the painterly Montana winter skies,

I have come to love the intensity of the tones and colors each morning

 that are so truly magnificent in Big Sky .

A hearty breakfast with hot coffee is enjoyed and devoured, satisfying as always.

One by one I blow out the candles and muse at the pretty pattern and wisps of smoke that rises.

Dawn has long since departed

Morning in the mountains.

 

 Breakfast ends

the day has arrived.