It's Fall, Y'all

The trees are showing their true colors!

 Did you know...

chlorophyll (the substance that helps plants create food)

masks the "true" color of the leaves?

As days grow shorter, 

plants stop their food making process and

chlorophyll is no longer produced.

This allows the true color of the leaves to show through.

Happy fall, y'all!

Had a Good Trip?

The Dreamers travelled to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in Cinderella's Coach (more about that later).

A balloon lands just behind the coach

Mr. Dreamy pushed to get us home in time for Dreaming to do laundry, straighten up the house and repack for our trip to San Francisco. Oh, and Mr. Dreamy had some things on his "Honey Do" list, too.

When we pulled into the driveway it was cold and windy. It wasn't a very nice welcome after an almost heavenly week away. While Mr. Dreamy stepped inside the house, to do what we all do when we arrive home after a prolonged drive,  Dreaming decided to get started with the list of tasks associated with arriving at home. 

Not my picture... I found it here

Our car is often towed behind Cinderella's Coach, using a system similar to that pictured above. As you can see, there are bars, and wires and pokey-outy things all over the place. First thing we usually do when we arrive home is to disconnect the car. Step one is to take all of the hooks and pins off of the car, so it can be moved away.

Not my picture... I found it here

On this fateful day, Dreaming had just pulled the last pin, and this time she carefully lowered the bars to the driveway. (She has been known to drop them unexpectedly, and Mr. Dreamy, who often wears his Teva sandals, does not particularly care to have the bar dropped in such close proximity to his toes!) Oh, and yes, by this time Mr. Dreamy was back from the necessary room and was watching the action. The next step is to disconnect the wires and cables from the coach, and then the tow bar contraption can be folded up and tucked away. That is Mr. Dreamy's job.

Not my picture... it was found here

To do this Mr. Dreamy stepped over the bear trap tow bars, but.... he caught his toe on something. Since his other leg was also behind the tow bar assembly, he couldn't very well catch himself and recover, and he went down. Hard. I still get creepy feelings when I think about it. I ran around the car and hunkered down to talk to Mr. Dreamy. He was breathing hard (think woman in labor type of panting). 

I asked if he was "OK". 

He just groaned a bit. 

I asked him to "talk to me."

He continued to pant and groaned a bit. 

I asked, "Do you know who I am?" 

He responded, "No." 

Mr. Dreamy tried to get up, and collapsed back onto the ground.

I told him to stay, ran to get my cell phone and a towel.

I called 9-1-1

Mr. Dreamy took the towel and held it to his face.

He got to his feet, albeit a bit unsteadily,

and by the time I was connected to a paramedic

he asked me who I was calling.

He indicated that he didn't need paramedics.

(Oh, and yea, he said, he didn't need to go to the ER.)

I declined assistance from the paramedics,

put Mr. Dreamy into the car, upon which he was leaning,

and off we went for an adventure in the ER.

This is my picture!

The hospital is exactly 6 miles from our house. As I drove, Mr. Dreamy asked, "What did I do?" I responded that he tripped over the tow bar of the car. He commented, "I don't remember anything." He paused, and then asked, "What did I do?" Our conversation for the entire trip was a replay of that which had gone before. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned.

Three hours later we returned home. The tally of injuries:

• a depressed fracture of the anterior maxillary sinus
• no evidence of brain trauma (but the presence of a brain was noted)
• both wrists strained
• a laceration requiring 7 stitches

It has been a week since Mr. Dreamy's fall. He has been quite a good sport. I played nurse and removed his stitches a few days ago. He will need to follow up on the fracture, and possibly have further studies done of his wrists. 

So, our trip to Albuquerque was good. 

The trip afterwards, not so great!

The Curious Incident of....

No. That's not quite right. 

Let me try again.

The Idiotic Incident of...

Oh, yes... I like alliteration,  but, it still isn't quite right.

The Stupid, Dumb, Idiotic, Imbecilic, Moronic, Dopey, Dizzy

Thing That Dreaming Did on Friday

There, that seems to fit the crime!

So, the day began as most days have this week.

It was raining.

I did all my morning things.

I even had my coffee...

so that can't be used as an excuse.

I headed to the Rec Center for Pickleball.

How normal and routine.

I helped set up two nets, 

and walked around the curtain to see if folks

needed help on the other side.

Then....

I was on the floor, pickleball paddle in hand.

I went down

HARD.

You see, the Rec Center has just opened their

facility for pickleball after redoing the floors.

They are shiny and beautiful.

But, our sneakers stick... just a bit.

And, as I walked around the corner

my foot moved forward to take a step, 

but the sole of my sneaker sorta stayed where it was.

Then a scientific principle called

MOMENTUM

took over. 

That is... an object in motion tends to stay in motion

unless acted upon by an equal and opposite force.

Well, since the foot stuck,

the body kept going.

I was holding the paddle in both hands for some reason

and I went down on my knees,

then on my elbows,

and then performed a very ungraceful face plant 

on that new shiny floor.

Uh oh.

I was bleeding.

A wonderful friend went and got some paper towels.

I protected that shiny floor...

not a drop of blood was shed on it. 

Then we inspected the damage.

Uh oh.

It wasn't just a little cut.

It was, in fact, two cuts;

one above and one below my eye.

My eye glasses evidently slammed into my face

and they did a number.

This is me. Just a few hours following the fall,

and after a fairly quick trip to the Doctor's office 

for 6 (or is that 7?) stitches.

(I am so glad I didn't go to the ER....

I might still be there if I had!)

I look a bit more gruesome now as more swelling 

has set in - despite applying cold compresses most of the day.

Mr. Dreamy has posted a disclaimer on Facebook

to let folks know he was 5 miles away from me

when this happened.

Well, I need to come up with a better story...

the truth is just too 

Stupid, Dumb, Idiotic, Imbecilic, Moronic, Dopey, and Dizzy!

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch: I've Got a Secret!

How would you answer these questions? You can respond in comments, or you can participate in Patrice's "Chats on the Farmhouse Porch". It's a fun way to get to know friends in cyberspace. Oh, and speaking of fun - Wendell has chimed in with his answers. It is interesting to see things from a horse's perspective.

Wendell... can you get to San Francisco on Oct. 29? My son is getting married! You are the first 'person' in blogland that I've told that to! Shhhh! It's a secret! Don't tell! I think it would be great fun to have you in his wedding party!!

1. Please tell me a fond autumn memory. Or tell me something interesting you're doing now that fall is here.
I used to ride to the hounds. Fox hunting takes place in the fall when the mornings are cool and dew covers everything (we even had lots of dew on the grass out here this morning). Morning mist would hang in the woods and the sun would filter through what leaves remained on the trees as we waited for the hounds to pick up the scent of a fox. There was something magical about the anticipation of a good run, the rustle of the leaves as horses waited impatiently stirring up the earthy odor. Too-to-too-to-toot! Tally-ho! We're off!

Here's a not-so-great picture of the 

Genessee Valley Hunt - many years ago.

I'm in that mass of horses and people.... somewhere!

2. What's your favorite kind of cheese?
I'm with Patrice.... just about any cheese is my favorite. But I guess, if you put a selection out for me, I'd take baked Brie over anything else! Yummy!

3. Have you ever been in a wedding, other than your own (if applicable)?
I have never been in anyone's wedding... but, as I mentioned above. Son 1 is getting married! Woohoo! I guess I won't really be 'in' his wedding - but I think it will be tons better than dressing in a Bride's maid's dress. My heart will be so full! (My eyes, probably, too!)

4. Did you ever do anything as a child to earn money? (Lemon aid stand, crafts, mother's helper, chores, etc.)
We lived near a golf course tee and would sell lemonade on occasion. My brother would also scour the golf course for lost balls and would sell them as well. Several times golfers would find balls they had lost on previous outings. They would laugh and gladly pay my brother the small bit of change he was asking for the golf balls.

5. Do you wear a watch?
I haven't worn a watch for years. I probably quit using one about the turn of the century (doesn't that sound odd?!) when I realized that just about anywhere I was, I could see a clock: on the microwave, in my car, on my computer, on my cell phone, etc. But, I do have a lovely watch that my brother sent to me. It belonged to my mother. We think it was given to her by my dad on the occasion of their wedding. My brother had the works redone and the watched cleaned professionally. I treasure it - even though I have never worn it.

Visit Everyday Rurality to join the chat.

Hobby Horse Blog Hop - Week 29: Fall Follies

Fall is coming. The horses are shedding their summer coats and showing the first signs of new shaggy coats for winter. Our mornings have a fall-like chill that inspires me and brings me new-found energy. I love this season - but I dread that first snow fall!

Let's chat!

How would you answer the following questions?

Take a few minutes to respond in a comment or on your blog.

I enjoy having a 'conversation'.


Complete your blog post (or comment) by asking a question of us.







Link your post to the Hobby Horse Blog Hop



by using the Linky Tool below. 

Or... 

Leave a comment with the answer to the question(s).





Visit other participating blogs on the list



and respond to their questions in your comments.



















Hobby Horse Blog Hop Prompts - Week 29:




How do you deal with a shaggy winter coat (on your horses!)? Do you blanket? Do you clip? Do you have a special clip you prefer? Do you let the coat grow to keep the horse warm on its own?
What's the most recent sign of fall that you have seen at your place?
Do you change decorations for the seasons? If so, has fall come out in your home?
Does your community have any special fall activities that you enjoy?


My Answers:



1. The Haffies were left with long, shaggy coats. When I rode them, I never went so far as to let them get too very sweaty - a little under the saddle and on the chest was taken care of by cooling them down after work, using a fleece cooler and toweling them. When I actively showed and followed the hounds my horses were clipped. I really liked the trace clip best, but a full body clip looks so much neater!






2. I noticed that the veins of the leaves on our Maple trees are turning red. Soon the leaves will follow.






3. I don't do a lot of seasonal decorating... but I do put some things around for fall, and then change that for Christmas items. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors of fall. So, I have a few sprays of fake fall flowers, berries and grasses that get put around. I have a table cloth with fall leaves that I usually put on the dining room table and I have a little wooden scarecrow that goes outside by the front door. I have some other decorations, candles and baskets - but so far I haven't hauled them out.






4. My town has a barbecue cook off over Labor Day Weekend. I guess that's a fall activity. They sell roasted chili's and fresh corn-on-the-cob dripping with butter. There are commercial vendors of barbecue and then the contestants. This cook off is similar to what you see if you have been bored enough had nothing else to do but to watch Barbecue Pit Masters on TV. The contestants have a number of dishes they must prepare and they have strict time deadlines. We watched several participants running up to the official entry table at the last second. It was interesting to talk to one of the local contestants. He travels to a half dozen competitions, but others that were at the event go to events almost every weekend. For some, it is a full-time job. 





Thanks for joining the conversation!

Hobby Horse Blog Hop 9: Life is a Cabaret

I am not especially musical. In fact, those in the know would say I have no musicality, whatsoever. Randy Jackson (American Idol) would say I was "pitchy" if he heard me sing. (Or is that bitchy?) 
Anyway, despite my inadequacies in this area, I often find that songs pop into my head to punctuate events in my life. I guess you could say my life is like a musical!


This week's song, or at least the chorus that defines the event of the week is:

I get knocked down

But I get up again

You're never going to keep me down.

                                        -Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

Or maybe the song I should be singing is "Tumbling Tumbleweeds!"

You see, it all started innocently enough. I was riding Doc. Sharron was riding Pippin. We were on the trail across the street from my house. I had turned to say something to Sharron (note to self.... no more talking while riding!). As I turned a corner, Doc saw something of great concern. I caught it out of the corner of my eye. I have to admit, in that brief second even I thought it was something menacing. Doc knew it was menacing, and wanting to save his hide, oh, and maybe mine, he executed a deft dive to the left, followed by a spin to the left, as he decided to get out of Dodge. There was only one problem.... I didn't quite keep him between me and the ground. 

And just what was it that was behaving so erratically, 

so predator-like and could cause 

great harm to a Haffie?

A large tumbleweed blowing against the fence.

Oh... there's another song for my 'musical':

The answer my friend,

Is blowing in the wind.

The answer is blowing in the wind!

Who woulda thunk a hefty Haffie could move so gosh darn hastily?!

So, like the first song. I got back up again.

S-L-O-W-L-Y...

Testing my old bones. 

I retrieved Doc, who thankfully

weighed the options:

Running back home   vs    Eating grass

And chose the option that any

self-respecting Haffie would select.

Yeah - the tailbone is a bit sore.

But, thankfully, it's only that

and my ego that are bruised!

So, now it's time to find out more about each other in the Blog Hop. 

I hope you can join in!

In case you are new... or as a reminder:

Each week I'll post two or three prompts. 

Write about one or respond to all.

Or, just link your blog to mine if you

care to share something else about yourself.

Most importantly,

complete your blog post (or comment) by asking a question of us.

I am really enjoying answering your questions,

and look forward to seeing other responses, too.

I think it's a great way to have a conversation of sorts!

Link your post to the Hobby Horse Blog Hop

by using the Linky Tool below.

Click where indicated, just after it says

"You are next...."

Or...

Leave a comment with the answer(s) to the

questions(s) on my blog, down below.

Visit other participating blogs on the list

and respond to their questions in your comments on their pages.

Hobby Horse Blog Hop Prompts - Week 9:

1. Tell us a bit about your feelings or experiences regarding musicals. Do you like them? Have you been in one? What recollections might you have about musicals?

2. Tell about a near miss or a fall that was simply stupid. Don't scare me... or other readers! Until my back end feels better, I don't really want to read about a compound fracture, dislocated thing-a-ma-jig or a broken helmet and a concussion. (Although, I am most compassionate and if that happened to you, I am oh, so sorry - and I'm glad you are better now!)

3. What song (or part of a song) defines an event in your week?

My introduction provided some possible answers to my questions. So, this week, since I have jabbered on enough, already, I'll just enjoy reading your blogs and comments!

I hope you have had a good week. I'll leave you with this quote I found on the Internet:

"Nature gave us all something to fall back on, 

and sooner or later we all land flat on it."

                                               - unnamed cowboy

The Leaves They Are A Changin'

Aspen trees are turning gold in the mountains.

Finding Fall

In just the last few days

I've seen changes... 

Fall is on its way!

Ready or not, here it comes!

The rose hips are still green

but they are fat as can be.
Perhaps this variety doesn't change color in the fall.
Time will tell!

The leaves on the Maple may still be green,

but if you look closely, the stems are beginning

to show the promise of red.

The animals are all shedding summer coats.
We have hair flying all over the place!
The horses have actually begun to grow their
coarser winter coats.

Last week you couldn't see the crab apples for the leaves.

But our cool nights and shorter days have signaled

that it's time to change color.

Are you finding fall too?

What signs have you seen?