No, we didn’t cut bushes or do any cleanup in our yard. We saddled up Sugar and Morgunn and did some work with them in our back. I’m trying a new bit with Sugar called the Imus Comfort Gait Bit.
It’s a curb bit that can be used as a snaffle bit by hooking the reins to the large rings at the side of the mouth bar. I plan to use it as a curb bit. The bar is raised so that it gives some comfort to the horse’s tongue.
It took a few moments for Sugar to get comfortable with the bit and I had some learning to do as I was using a snaffle bit with her. Changing to a curb bit meant I needed to learn how to use my hands a little different.
After awhile we both settled into the new bit and she seemed to be quite comfortable with it. She walked nicely with her head down in a low, relaxed position. We worked on stops, backing up and doing circles and figure eights in the round pen. It all went pretty well and we’ll keep working in this bit. My goal is to get her to round into a more relaxed collection in her whole body.
I don’t think that bits are the sole answer to anything with horses, but they are a tool that can be used, if used wisely, to help.
Betty and Morgunn had a good morning doing similar work.
All in all a good morning. It was good to be back riding again after not being able to ride for a while.
Betty’s sister sent us this link. It’s a live webcam on an eagle’s nest with a mother eagle and three chicks. If you check in the afternoon you might see her feeding them.
Have you ever heard of dogboarding? Neither had I until I saw this video. It’s a little weird but also funny in a weird way. Don’t worry, it’s all video tricks.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1-2)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13-14)
Actually I have written about sacrifice before and used a similar example.
As you’re reading this Betty and I are with our friends Max, Michelle, Tim and Mary watching the PBR – Professional Bull Riders – event here in Albuquerque. This is a big event named after one of the all-time greats in rodeo, Ty Murray, who is from Albuquerque.
I enjoy bull riding for several reasons. It’s a uniquely American sport that has expanded around the world. It celebrates the cowboy tradition of honor, integrity and courage. To “cowboy up” is a clear indication of doing what it takes to do what is right and necessary. Finally, it celebrates the bulls as great athletes as much as it does the cowboys.
It’s a risky sport and I never want to see any of the riders get into a dangerous situation. However, when you come off a 1,500 pound bull who is trying his best to get you off his back, it’s always a dangerous situation.
That’s where the bull fighters come in. The video above of Shorty Gorham putting his body and life at risk to save the cowboy happens often in a bull riding event. Shorty has experienced broken bones and pierced lungs in his career, but he still does it every weekend and does it with enthusiasm.
You might say it’s because he’s an adrenaline junkie and he loves and thrives off the rush. That may be true to some extent and may be what first motivated him at the beginning of his career. However, he and his partner Frank Newsome have been doing this for a lot of years and I doubt that adrenaline rush is still the motivator.
I also suspect that money is not a big motivator. I don’t know what bull fighters at this level make, but I doubt it’s an overwhelming amount.
Each year the bull riders vote on the three bull fighters that will work with and protect them for the coming year. They want the best, men who are motivated by something other than adrenaline or money. They want men who have something in them that will keep them motivated to put their life on the line week after week.
Needless to say the bull fighters and the riders are very good friends with a lot of respect for each other.
I think the motivation for people like Shorty Gorham and Frank Newsome is what gets them voted in every year. That motivation is their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the riders – to sacrifice themselves for their friends. The riders recognize that Shorty and Frank will put themselves at risk when they, the riders, are most vulnerable.
It’s not surprising that people like Shorty and Frank are Christians.
When Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”, I doubt he had bull fighters in mind. But I think he is pleased by the willingness in their hearts to sacrifice themselves for their friends.
Betty and I went out to feed the horses this afternoon. As we walked to the stable Morgunn and Sugar came running from the back which was pretty cool in itself.
But as Sugar approached her stall a big hawk came flying out of her stall with something in its claws. Sure enough we walked into the stall with Sugar and she was sniffing a huge pile of small, gray feathers.
Our best guess is the hawk chased a bird, probably a quail, into the stall, cornered it and killed it. After plucking the bird the hawk was enjoying its meal when it heard us walking up and chose to take its meal with him to find a quieter place to eat.
It’s a never ending surprise some times and I didn’t have my camera with me.
With all of the news about Japan’s struggles against the forces of nature and environmental problems, it made me wonder how prepared Betty and I are.
I know it’s unlikely we would have an earthquake in New Mexico the size of the Japan one, but we can be subject to other problems: wildfires, etc.
I ran across this web site that gives a lot of good information that will help you think about your own preparedness. Not everything will apply, but it will at least give you something to think about. http://72hours.org/index.html
PS: Mark and Kate were correct about the disk picture. It was taken at the Farm where they have a display of antique farm equipment.
Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. (Proverbs 17:6)
”Children’s children are a crown to the aged…” So true. We’re still in Fort Collins, Colorado with Wade Daniel, Marie, Juliet and Leah and as always it’s a great visit.
Juliet is growing up and Leah has changed a lot since we saw her last Fall.
On Saturday we went to The Farm. It’s a restored farm that was donated to the city of Fort Collins several years ago and is a popular place for families to visit. It’s one of Juliet’s favorite places to go.
Here’s a video of our visit made from photos of the “crowns” in our lives – our kids and grand kids.
She was born in Kentucky on March 19, 2001 and found her way to Las Vegas, New Mexico three years ago. We bought her two weeks after she arrived in New Mexico and she’s been with us ever since.
Betty and I are driving up to Fort Collins, Colorado today to spend some time with our son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. We’ll be home next Wednesday night. I’ll try to do a couple of posts while we’re gone with some pictures – most likely of the granddaughters.
When Betty and I first moved here seven years ago, we hardly saw any Quail at all up where we live on the side of the mesa. Then the following year we started seeing Scales Quail in our courtyard. Scales are a gray, non-descript Quail. We would see the more colorful Gambrels Quail down closer to the river.
Three years ago the Gambrels Quail moved up into our area and we see them now feeding in our courtyard along with the Scales Quail. The Gambrels are more plentiful in the Spring, Summer and Fall, but we see them all year.
Quails pair for life and it’s that time of year when they’re starting their families. In a month or so we’ll start seeing Quail families with a dozen or more tiny babies – not much bigger than a golf ball. It’s fun watching them scurry across the road. Unfortunately, the babies are also food for the Hawks, Coyotes and Roadrunners so the family sizes get smaller as the summer progresses.
When they’re first born the baby Quail are too small to come into our courtyard. However, when they reach pre-teen size we’ll start to see them flutter up with their parents to feed on the sunflower seeds.
We worked with Maritsa and Evan again this past Saturday. Two things were new. First, we ordered and received some halter/bridles so they could use reins. Second, we let them ride together in the round pen.
They’re still learning and making mistakes, but that’s how they learn. Most of all they are having a good time. It’s a fun thing bringing kids and horses together.
One of the things Betty and I have learned over the years is how important simplicity is to our lives. When we talk about simplicity we don’t necessarily mean having or not having material things. What we’ve learned is whether we’re attached to something that takes our focus off God and living a full life. My oldest son has a great saying, “Worship God, love people, use things. Don’t get the order mixed up.” That’s simplicity to us.
Here’s a video of a couple in West Texas who have discovered their simple life.
I know we all were saddened to see the pictures and videos of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Northern Japan. It’s hard for me to imagine what those people have gone through and are still going through.
I have to admit that it’s easy for me to get pretty complacent about the life we’re living. The worse things that Betty and I have endured over the years was Betty’s horse riding accident and my prostate cancer surgery. I don’t mean to diminish them in any way, but relative to what others have faced – well, it keeps things in perspective.
Already, there are folks who are saying that this earthquake, along with other recent events, is another sign that the end times are near. Jesus did say:
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:3-14)
Jesus made it clear that we would not know when the end is coming, but we were to stay prepared.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt 25:13)
Is this the end times? I don’t really know and it doesn’t matter. I’m going to do my best to do my best whenever and whatever comes.
Yesterday, we did some more ground work with Sugar and Morgunn. Since Maritsa and Evan have been riding the horses bareback, Betty decided she wanted to give it a try on Morgunn.
China is a very controlled society. As a result no one owns guns, including bank robbers I guess. Watch this very determined bank robber, sans gun, deal with bullet-proof glass in order to rob this bank.
If you’re like me you’ll wonder why the bank doesn’t have any security guards (can’t have guns so why have them), when are the police going to show up, is the robber going to get away with it – and is it all worth it?
Betty and I did some ground work with Sugar and Morgunn this morning. Afterwards we did some more pruning of our bushes (a job I hate). While we were cutting away we heard a familiar sound – the squawking of Sandhill Cranes flying over our house on their way back to Canada.
The great majority of cranes winter at the Bosque del Apache (Woods of the Apache) wildlife preserve about two hours South of Albuquerque. Over the past two weeks flights of cranes have been heading North over our house.
They occasionally start to circle as they fly. It’s probably their way of reorienting to the sun to be sure they stay on track. Today, they were lower than usual so it was the first time I could get a picture.
Here’s a close up of the cranes on the left of the above picture.
When I was a kid, I loved to read science fiction (still do) – Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clark, etc. – and my dreams were fueled by trips to the moon, trips to Mars, trips to the stars.
When I was in high school, I (and the whole nation) was thrilled by President Kennedy’s challenge to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade. My childhood dreams were renewed and refueled.
I cheered and cried when our early astronauts broke new barriers or were killed in training situations.
On July 20, 1969, I sat in the wardroom of the USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (DLG-32) and watched man’s first step onto the moon. We had just returned from Vietnam that day, Betty was in Nashville and pregnant with our first son, and I had the duty on board. Those shaky black and white TV images stirred my soul again.
The space shuttle program brought a new reality to space travel, one that made sense. Yet, in the early days of the shuttle program NASA was talking about the next big jump – a trip to Mars. Boyhood dreams were going to come true.
Unfortunately, those dreams have been greatly dampened by the policy decisions of our current administration. We no longer want to dream big. We no longer want to follow the longing in the human soul to see what is around the next bend.
So, it was with sadness to watch the landing of the space shuttle Discovery today. I believe there will be two more space shuttle missions before the program is completely shut down. After that we will be earth bound, at least for a long while.
The Discovery spent more time in space than any other vehicle. It will find its long term home in the Smithsonian Museum.
If you didn’t see it, here’s a video of a little bit of history – one that may signal the rapidly approaching end of an era of dreaming and exploration.
I love to fly. If I could have afforded it when I was younger I would have taken flying lessons to get my pilot’s license. So, I love to watch flying videos.
Here’s a unique video of a plane making an approach into the LA area at twilight. It’s a good overview of the city – they even name the areas you’re flying over.
If you’re a flying buff like me you’ll enjoy this.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
We worked again with Maritsa and Evan yesterday. After some initial ground work with the horses they mounted up bareback. We took the out to the round pen, tied up the lead rope for reins and they rode around the pen again. They did much better and are beginning to build some muscle memory in their hands, arms and feet.
They were doing well enough that I wanted to challenge them a little. I picked a spot and told them to ride to that spot. I told them to keep their eyes, mind, their whole focus on that spot and they were to get the horse to that spot no matter what happened.
The learning for them was that when you ride it’s important to know where you’re going. It’s the difference between being a rider and being a passenger. Horses know when your mind wanders and you lose your focus – you become a passenger. When that happens they get antsy because they feel we’re not in charge. They’re much happier when we’re a rider and keeping our mind and focus on where we’re going.
My life as a Christian is a lot like that. As the writer of Hebrews says, we have a “race marked out for us.” It’s important for me to keep my whole mind, heart and focus on the race marked out for me. I have to throw off anything and everything that hinders me, causes me to lose my focus. Sin is the biggest hindrance to staying on the race course.
Or, as we told the kids, God has laid out a spot for me and it’s my job to keep my focus and ride to that spot.
No Friday funny today. I studied Islam years ago and even read the Koran from beginning to end. I was concerned then and I’m even more concerned now. Check out this picture:
Yep, that’s the Statue of Liberty with a burkha on. The picture comes from a web site I ran across today titled “Shariah 4 America.” If you want to check it out, here’s the link:
Take a moment and read the text, but I have to point out the last two paragraphs:
Due to the scale of the task at hand, it is highly likely that rigorous safety checks will need to be employed before the demolition of the Statue of Liberty can commence; thus as a temporary measure, it is proposed that a large burkha is used to cover the statue, thereby shielding this horrendous eye sore from public view as well as sending a strong message to its French creators.
Post demolition, it is recommended that a minaret be built as a fitting replacement, allowing the glorification of God to be proclaimed daily as well as act as a powerful reminder of the superiority of Islam over all other ways of life. (Similar to the proposed mosque close to ground zero in New York – this is my addition).
I know some will just write this site off as a bunch of kooks, but I take it seriously.
Radical Islamists intend to spread Islam to the entire world, either through military conquest, terror, or through our politically correct tolerance. They are commanded by the Koran to do so.
While I’m getting my colonoscopy today I’ll share this video I ran across two days ago. It’s touching to me for several reasons. One, it’s about fallen servicemen whom I respect so much – and their families too. Second, it’s about oil painting which I love to do and someday may get back to. Finally, I love people who love what they do and you’ll see what I mean.
Hanky alert.
PS: I’m home and the initial visual results from my colonoscopy were all good. There were a few small polyps that were removed and will be tested, but the doctor said it’s unlikely they will be cancerous because they were small.
Tomorrow I’m having a colonoscopy. In case you haven’t had that experience it’s when a camera crew takes a trip up into your colon to make sure everything is OK.
It has nothing to do with the prostate cancer, it’s a routine exam recommended every 10 years and I’m due. In fact, it was originally scheduled for December 29 but I had to reschedule it because that’s when my prostate surgery was scheduled.
All of today I’m on a liquid diet. Coffee and tea are OK, but no cream. Jell-O, Popsicles and Gatorade are OK as long as they’re not red, purple or orange in color – not a favorite gastro color I guess. And then there are those liquid diet favorites – beef and chicken broth – yum, that sets the saliva glands afire.
Then tonight I start that wonderful process of Spring cleaning. For taste purposes I’ll leave it at that.
So, to keep my mind in a good place here is some colonoscopy humor (I apologize up front for being so crude) …
Supposedly, these are real comments made by colonoscopy patients (darn, all the good ones are taken)…
"Take it easy Doc, you're boldly going where no man has gone before!"
"Find Amelia Earhart yet?"
"Can you hear me NOW?"
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
"You know in Arkansas we're now legally married."
"Any sign of the trapped miners Chief?"
"Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"
"Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."
"You used to be an executive at Enron didn't you?"
"Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is in fact not up there."
In case you don’t have insurance, you can always go to Mexico for your colonoscopy…
Finally, a joke that sums it all up…
All the organs of the body were having a meeting, trying to decide who was the one in charge of the body.
"I should be in charge," said the brain, “because I run all the body's systems. Without me nothing would happen."
"I should be in charge," said the blood, “because I circulate oxygen all throughout the body. Without me you'd all waste away."
"I should be in charge," said the stomach, “because I process food and give energy to all of you. Without me you would starve.”
"I should be in charge," said the legs, “because I carry the body wherever it needs to go. Without me you would be stuck in one place."
"I should be in charge," said the eyes, “because I allow the body to see where it goes. Without me you would all be blind."
Finally, the rectum said "I should be in charge because I'm responsible for waste removal."
All the other body parts laughed at and insulted the rectum. So, in a huff, he shut down tight.
Within a few days the brain had a terrible headache, the stomach was bloated, the legs got wobbly, the eyes got watery, and the blood was toxic.
Finally, they all decided that the rectum really is the boss of the body.
This past Saturday Evan and Maritsa came up again to work with the horses. We got them up on Sugar and Morgunn bareback again. However, this time we took them into the round pen.
We tied up the halter lead rope so they could use it like reins and, after some basic instructions on how to turn the horses, we let them go by themselves in the pen.
The whole point of today was to give them some basic instructions and let them make all kinds of mistakes with some gentle correction in a way that was safe for them and the horses. We’ll do this again for several Saturdays and, when they get more comfortable with what they want to do, we’ll graduate them to a saddle and bridle.
Morgunn braking for a poop.
All in all they did pretty well for their first time going solo.
