Day: July 23, 2016

It is always fascinating for me to see how working animals, especially on farm, work things out. Red and Chloe have had some challenging times here. Chloe has stepped on Red more than once by accident, and Red has responded by nipping at Chloe’s leg, which causes her to lower her head and charge at Red sometimes.

During one brawl, Chloe stomped Red on his back, causing some spinal damage – this the laser treatments and massage, he is healing beautifully. Red came up nipping and Chloe lowered her head and tried to run him over. He moved quickly out of the way.

But it got fairly tense for awhile, Red does not back down and neither does Chloe. People forget that ponies were bred as war animals, Genghis Khan rode them across Asia, so did his army. Chloe is a tough animal, she grazes in all kinds of weather, and does not take it lightly when any animal is in front of some grass she wants to eat.

I’ve seen her brush the donkeys aside with a swing of her head and clear a bunch of sheep out of her way with a snort or stomp.

Red is the consumate profession, he only causes harm when he must, and otherwise, holds no grudges and is patient and appropriate. He pays more attention to Chloe than he did at first, and will get out of her way (not by much) if she is running towards him.

Red never makes eye contact with a horse or pony, in the animal wold that is considered a sign of aggression. He always has his eyes on the sheep, is often still and focused. I’ve seen the donkeys, and now Chloe, come to trust and accept him.

He holds his ground when she is grazing near him, and she has accepted his presence. She loves Fate, who delights in rushing through Chloe’s legs. Red doesn’t try that, but I notice there is a truce between these two strong-willed working animals now, they are often next to each other without trouble.

I love seeing the way Red works through problems without ever forgetting his primary mission, to keep an eye on the sheep. I’m happy for the truc.

The storm today was beautiful and dramatic, I thought the world was coming to an end as the wind howled through the pasture and the sky turned black, I would not have been surprised if the world was coming to an end, it seemed apocalyptic for a few minutes. Climate change is disturbing, it can also be very  beautiful. My IR camera saw the moisture in the clouds, and also caught the sun breaking through on the horizon, it began to light up the pasture on the farm down the road.

I thought the IR camera did a beautiful job of capturing the feeling of an intense summer storm at the end of an especially hot and humid day.

We took the sheep out this afternoon, the sky turned angry and glorious and dark and the wind picked up and the thunder started rumbling. We could see the rain clouds rushing down the road towards us, the sheep did not seem to notice, neither did Fate. I take my IR camera out when there is a big and intense sky, and it sees things i don’t see, but I did see this thunder cloud, and then the wind picked up and I retreated into the house, and the sheep ran for the Pole Barn, Fate in pursuit, wondering where the party was going.

My IR camera is challenging and unpredictable, it does love a stormy sky. It sometimes softens images and makes the world seem reflective.

The town dump was ripe today, the garbage practically danced in the heat and humidity. Fate comes to the dump, she has some of her most devoted boy friends there, including Bob, who rushes out with a biscuit for her. She practically melts with joy at the sight of Bob, and loves coming to the dump.

I appreciated the people who work there today, and the hardy townspeople came in force to get their garbage out of the house. I love photographing the dump, I always think it’s another time there.

We are on the eastern edge of the much publicized “Heat Dome” that is the Weather Channel’s latest profit-making hysteria, and it is warm and oppressively humid, but nowhere near the 100 degree plus temperatures that are roasting parts of the country. Maybe that will come here tomorrow or Monday.

I can always tell when it is hot, the donkeys stand by the pasture gate, on the edge of shade from the apple tree. They stand still, conserving energy. Our pony, on the other hand, pays no attention to the elements – hot or cold, lightning or thunder, sun or pouring rain and wind – she is out there grazing.

Today, she grazed right through a several thunderstorm, the other animals ran for the Pole Barn, Chloe never moved. When it is warm, even Fate slows done a bit, she loves to sit next to the donkeys, watching the sheep or just hanging out near them. It is a quiet scene, the sheep repair to the shade of the Pole Barn on hot, sunny days. They come out at dusk and in hot weather, we let them out at 5 a.m. to graze before the flies and sun rise.

I have also learned to conserve my energy in the heat and humidity. Today, we went to the dump, hauled a ton of garbage out, Maria is out planting Marigolds in the front garden, we went to visit a friend who just had surgery for a torn tendon in his leg, I did some food shopping.

I sent my new book proposal off to my agent, it’s called “Lessons From Bedlam Farm,” and I am happy about it. More to come, hopefully if and when my publisher likes it. I have a good feeling about it.

Maria sold her striking Vulture Quilt, even before she put it up for sale. Good for her. Her liberation continues, she surprises me continuously with her art, her strength, her insights and her connections to people. She is very special, even more so than I quite grasped when I met her. And I thought she was quite special then.

It was almost as if she was trapped inside her own body, and then she freed herself, and the real Maria sprung out. A miraculous thing to see. Tomorrow, a hot day, a quiet day, a movie day I think. We’ll see. Maria is threatening to do more tidying up, which means throwing more of my stuff out.

I’m ready.