Frosted Horses

Ava and Jupiter


I promised to introduce you to the animals some time ago, today seemed like a good day. Several years ago, NinjaPonyMom and I went to a horse rescue in the Black Forest area (near Colorado Springs/Larkspur) to talk to four sisters that had started bringing young horses in from terribly cruel and inhumane circumstances. We went there to show our support, give them some money, and be on our way.
A young (6 mos) Percheron Stallion came out of one of the stalls as we pulled up and it was "love at first sight" I had never seen a young Percheron before and this lad was stunning. He followed me around one of the pens, I was smitten. At about the same time NPM came over to me and said "look how that little filly looks at me"....well, the rest is history, as they say....that was Saturday, we bought a horse trailer on Tuesday, borrowed a truck the following Saturday and took "our"horses to "our" trainer. After returning the truck, I traded my Subaru for a nice big diesel truck. We owned horses.
NPM has been around horses most of her life, I have not. As a matter of fact, I am a horse owner, but not a horseman, I don't ride well, don't know more about horses than I do know. But I promised that Percheron that he would have a good home, and a name, too. His name is Jupiter.
He is absolutely beautiful, gentle, funny....and if there's food around, predictable.
The little filly with the eyes on NPM is called Molly. Molly (as far as we know) is a Morgan, and the smartest animal I have ever known. She is attracted to tools , machines, and has literally inspected everything I've built on a couple of places. She is also a fireball, has swirls in her fur on her face and head indicating her fireball-ness. She is also athletic and finely coordinated, I love to watch her run, you can get an idea by looking at her that she loves to move, and show you her moves.
Next is Ava, NPM rescued Ava from a situation where the owner of this beautiful quarter horse was allowing stangers to ride her with cruel bits and hardware that pretty much ruined this animal. NPM doesn't stand for that sort of thing and stepped in, rescued this beauty and has worked with her diligently to get her back to being a well-adjusted horse, she still has small temper tantrums (Ava) but no longer does she throw her head at you or bite. It seems horses have a way of telling you that they don't like to be treated poorly. Ava fell in love with Jupiter and they are ALWAYS together, I'm not sure Jupiter has a clue, but he likes hanging out with her!
And last but not least (of the horses) is Henry, the Ninja Pony. Henry came to us after we had met a rancher while boarding our horses in Hygiene, Henry's loving owner had died and her sons just let the horses go......they wandered around a 150 acre place in Lyons for the entire winter trying to stay alive. there were seven horses. One was blind and 33 yrs old, one was 32, the others were younger but in bad shape, their hooves looked like Alladin slippers, their fur mangy and dull, two of them had foundered, they didn't come to us we had to walk them down. After the rancher introduced us to the bunch he said to NPM,"which ones don't you want" and she wrote a check for the whole bunch. Through word of mouth and her friends all the animals went to good homes. The old ones were euthanized in the most humane way. We discovered that no one wanted this Shetland Pony, we didn't want a pony either, he was ill tempered, kinda rude, and who wants a pony? So we put he word out that we wanted to sell him and a couple came by to look at him, the dad placed his daughter on Henry's back without asking anyone, Henry turned and bit him. That's when I started to like Henry. No Sale. NPM worked with Henry for a long time, until he started to trust us. Apparently he had been mistreated by someone along the way, as he was really sensitive around his face and ears. As his personality started to emerge for us we discovered this wonderful intelligent little guy that is fiercely loyal to his horse friends, loves NPM, and has no idea that he is a pony. He is a fierce and handsome stallion in every sense, and is such a part of this crew that everyone whinnies when he goes for a walk with one of us.
Next.......The Dogs!
NPD

Heart Broken

There won't be any pictures in this blog, and I know I don't blog very often. I hope that changes.
Today, I'm heart broken as I got the news this afternoon that my close friend Tony was killed while on vacation in Hawaii.
To say Tony and I were friends doesn't really do our relationship justice. I met Tony on a really difficult job in Dillon, Colorado. We lived up there thru the fall/winter/spring of 2006/07. We got to know each other really well. I am a vegetarian, bike riding/racing liberal with no discernible prejudices. Tony, a proud (and vocal) NRA member, dyed in the wool republican, did not trust government and was awash in conspiracy theory, he ate meat, loved guns and motorcycles. He walked like a gunslinger.
By the time we left Dillon, he was eating salads and I was perusing gun magazines.
Tony taught me one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned and I loved him for it. We both TRIED to see the others point, TRIED not to step on each others toes and, as a result, respected each other well beyond any expectations. People knew we were partners. He had my back, no questions, I had his back.
In Vietnam I learned what real love is, it had nothing to do with love as we normally think of it, it has to do with trust and respect. Love between a man and woman ( or romantic partner) is one thing, but the love developed between two people based on trust and respect is different. Tony and I never talked about it. It was always there. I got calls today from people that knew Tony much longer than I did, but realized that he and I shared something different.
When I returne to work after my heart attack, Tony walked over to me, hugged me, no words, just a hug.
We talked about the stuff we do, he would ask about bike races, (being as far from his world as is possible) but he wanted to know from me what it was like, he told me about weekends in the woods on ATV's with his kids doing crazy stuff, I wanted to know what he was up to..... I guess you see the point I'm trying to make.
Tony was killed on a motorcycle riding behind his son, with his wife on the bike with him. his son saw his Dad's bike go airborne in his rear-view mirror. Tony was dead when he hit the ground. He was on vacation with the people he loved the most in a place he visited several times.
I'm so upset I don't know what to do, but you know what I'm thinking....blow something up, go way too fast, stare the bastards down, and let God sort it all out.

New Year

Well, there was a month that FLEW by1
I had all intentions of blogging my head off this month, but it seems my "gainful unemployment" has taken legs. I'm really busy....I'm looking for work, accomplishing work, working on my home, working with my dog, dog-sitting a friends' dog, going to holiday parties.....I love holiday parties, by the way.....and, frankly, its been so long since I've worked with my tools, I'm exhausted every night.
Its a nice exhaustion though, I have been "running work" (construction term) for lots of years, I used my tools (carpentry) to get away from it all, stress relief etc. now I'm using my tools like I did 30 years ago.....hmmm, where's the stress? I kid myself into thinking I can keep up with these younger guys working with me....they play along. On really cold mornings I long for my heated construction trailer, the funny thing is, I really don't miss it. I have the good fortune of working with guys that just get stuff done, we are starting to realize where our strengths lie, and enjoying each others' company, I feel so fortunate.
So, the real reason for this picture-less blog is to wish all of you out there a Happy and Prosperous New Year. The old year seems like a good one to get away from, although I learned an awful lot and experienced many things I could not have imagined last January. 2010 has a nice ring to it, so lets "ring" it in.
I will try to get some pictures out soon, but for now, use your imaginations......
NPD

Adding On

This isn't the typical season for adding onto a home. But this year has been anything but typical.

So, I'm at home waiting for a project to get started in town, time on my hands....gainful unemployment.

We need a mud room/sunroom.....a place where muddy-footed individuals (the dogs and I, I'm told) can shake off a little of the dirt we have been transporting to the interior of the house.

The project actually started BEFORE the temps decided to hover around zero.The cold makes the tools reluctant to start and the builder even more so. Its pretty bad when I'm out there and the dogs are watching me from inside......."Daaad, you're craaazy..."

But theres something about being out there, yes, its cold, but that's what I have all this gear for.

Its quiet, at least until the compressor starts or the saw whines its way through lumber, and theres progress. OK, slow progress. The glass guy can't make it up the hill, its too cold for tile work, snow keeps getting everywhere....my nose won't stop running.

But pretty soon we'll have a new room, with lots of windows a nice tile floor and a window seat that doubles as a storage bin for all the gear I mentioned before. It seems when you have size "mongo" feet and lots of boots, interior real estate becomes a battle ground.....especially if they're muddy!

Cold Pony

Not really......Henry (the NinjaPony) has like four inches of fur this year. I love it when his fur starts to grow in, its so soft and luxurious. By the time its all grown in, it goes in several directions, making hin difficult to brush to say the least.

This year, for the really cold nights, NPM has made a new barn stall just for Henry, he acts like he doesn't like to be fussed over, but he really hasn't complained. he is his own animal, has his own likes and dislikes, is fiercely loyal to his friends and has no problem defending the two mares in our herd, even though they're more than twice his size. You see, Henry, (the NinjaPony) has a full sized heart, which is what we noticed right off. He was terribly mistreated by someone so that he wouldn't trust humans. We have had him with us for six years or so and he very slowly and very surely has opened up to us.....not that you would notice, of course, as he is a NinjaPony!

Return Post

Its been over two months since my last blog.....sorry to those that check in occasionally.....I guess I just haven't felt like talkin.
The last post showed a large building completed ( in record time ) that was one of my most successful projects. Within weeks I was laid off. the first time in an over 40 year career. For no good reason. "the Economy" seems to be like a buzzword to me ...meaningless.
So I started to think.....hmmm, I didn't leave on bad terms, so there's no self-esteem issues, I'm kinda liking this time to spend around the place, with the horses and the dogs.
Working on my little Cross Propz project, seeing friends, riding my bike. Its all started to make me think that retooling for this "Economy" may not be a bad thing.....maybe I can do what I WANT to do and be successful at that. I've always done what I know, and what I know I can make money at. I read something the other day ...." you're never as alone as when you are on your computer, or stuck in traffic. I keep forgetting that this is the world we made .....the real world is the one that was here..we didn't make it.
Raced my bike the other day....first race since my heart attack. It was great. All the self-induced pain you can take. Lots of folks cheering, focus, smooth, gettin swoopy. It really felt good. I went out to win the prize for "second to last" (which I thought was funny) but was too fast...now that IS funny.
My next post will have the animals ...especially the horses in their winter coats. The ninja pony is a sight....he becomes like a Chia Pet when the temps drop and has this deep luxurious fur.
You'll see.


NPD

Work and Play

Work....I've just completed a project in Windsor ,CO. A long drive everyday since last November, some weeks seven days, all days long compounded by the drive time. The building came out well, the owners are happy, the client is happy and the company I work for did well.

As you can see it huge, and although I derive a great deal of satisfaction in managing such a large project, the thing that impresses me most is the work ethic displayed by some of the craftsmen. It reinforces in me the idea that people want to "do good". Of course there are the 10% that could care less, but overall I am honored to work with these fine people. We had some really adverse conditions on this site, lots of rain for instance, the wind seems to live here, and we started with over five feet of frozen substrate.

Next week I am taking off ....a vacation....I don't really take vacations so I'm not exactly sure what one does on one. I can't imagine standing still, so I have tentatively planned daily bike rides, dog and horse play and working on an invention I've come up with. I guess that makes this a "staycation" as I haven't really planned on going anywhere, but checking out more of where I live.

I haven't been blogging much lately ....returning to normal has been different than I expected. Not so much physically, more mentally. As I told a friend the single biggest reaction to having had a heart attack is the knowledge that I am no longer invincible. I really never was, I realize, but now there's proof.

So, from time to time I'll regale you with my thoughts.

Like a couple of weekends ago I went to a wedding near Cleveland. Went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was totally taken aback at the realization that I knew everybody in there , that music and its culture are a huge part of me and that I still can't play a note on ANY instrument.

The wedding was very different than any I have been to and much more real than I have ever seen. The entire ceremony included everyone there, there was water and fire and music and vows. It was wonderful and a beautiful way to start a new life with each other. The effect spread love and genuine feeling through the entire assembly, this is a fact I realized while thinking of the events after they occurred. Cheers, Katie and John, you really pulled it off!