A Horse with No Mane

Tim has fixed the fence to the new pasture and gotten the horses moved over. They are very happy, but there is a drawback. Fleabane.

My favorite summer flower, but a menace in the fall. Those pretty, happy looking flowers turn into little brown burrs that snag everything.

Two Socks found the fleabane along the fence row.

As did Sultanna.

Two Socks' tail is an absolute mess.

Abby, however, is a different story.

Unlike Two Socks, there's nothing in her forelock puff.

Her mane? Clean as a whistle.

A breed trait of Appaloosas is to have short, sparse tails. No burrs there.

Much of this is due to having her mane chewed off by Hokey during mutual grooming. Normally I wish he would stop, but when it comes to burr entanglement, I'm glad I don't have to face detangling her mane and tail right now.

Never thought I'd be grateful to have a horse with no mane. 

 Sorry, couldn't resist!

Fleabane - Summer Delight/Bane of Fall

The weather here in Indiana has been sunny, hot, and dry. This is going to affect the hay supply for the coming winter, and Tim is already working on ensuring that we have enough for the herd when the snow begins to fly.

Despite the weather conditions, my favorite summer wildflower, fleabane, is in full bloom and gorgeous.

I love how it lines both sides of the fencerows - it never fails to make me smile.

A palomino parade! Can you tell who is mama and who is baby?

Those pretty little flowers, such a welcome sight now, will not be so welcome in autumn.

The flowers turn brown and become burrs that get tangled in the horses' manes and tails. (Well, not Abby's so much!)

While I am sad that someone (I think it is Hokey) chews Abby's mane off, I am glad I don't have to spend time detangling her mane.

Tomorrow - a distinctive trait of Abby's. Stay 'tooned!

Fall Doings & an Answer

Fall is my favorite season and despite my current busyness, I took time to put out my horse head wreath made from leaves, acorns, broom corn, and jute.

We also did a fire pit and roasted marshmallows on the first chilly evening of the season.

Lukie got cold and snuggled in between Craig and me  - I love how our faces reflect the glow of the fire! 

Fall also means burr season, and Hokey has got a real snarl in his mane right now. Tim may end up having to cut that mass out.

Two Socks (who actually has three) is covered in beautiful dapples. She continues to be super bold and friendly.

I finished Mila's 18th century dress with just hours to spare - while there is always something I could be sewing, her dress is the last piece I am making for this weekend.

I was going to lace it with white twill tape, but the turquoise ribbon she wanted to trim her cap did not work, so I used it as lacing. I was also going to hand stitch round holes for the lacing, but time was so short, I made small buttonholes with my sewing machine.

While the Feast organizers have spent the past two weeks prepping the grounds and setting up the booths, tents, and things they will need, today is the first day that participants (merchants, sutlers, voyageurs with their canoes, etc.) can set up. 

I am heading out to the grounds at noon and Craig and Curt are coming along and will help me put my tent up. Lisa is coming after school to start setting things up inside. I'm excited!

Several of you asked me about my comment in yesterday's blog post about 18th century women wanting to appear heavier than they were - the answer is a glimpse into cultural mores of the time.

Me having just lost 75 pounds and excited about that yet having to put on panniers to go back to looking heavy. (Oh, the irony!)

Women did not have much power during the 18th century and were dependent on husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and uncles for their very livelihoods. Men controlled all the money, including the money a woman may have inherited or been given. Women brought men money in the form of a dowry or, in the case of an older woman or widow, had some money to bring to a second marriage.

In addition, food insecurity and poverty was very real - thinner women generally were less fortunate, even impoverished, and had little to no money for food. Wealthier people did.

Making themselves look heavier signaled possible wealth to men who might need that dowry or inherited money to shore up their own finances.

So, in other words, being heavier was a survival tactic for women. And if you weren't, you faked it.

Burr Season

Fleabane, my favorite summer flower, is NOT my favorite in the Fall.

It makes for those idyllic "farm life" types of photos (which in this case is spoiled by Abby's tongue hanging out!)

and is gorgeous when it lines the lanes and walkways around the pastures.

I don't mind a bit when Abby wades through it and gives me the opportunity to take lovely photos of her.

But those pretty flowers have a dark side. In the Fall, they turn into burrs and suddenly those beautiful lanes become gauntlets for the horses. Their manes and tails become hopelessly entangled with hundreds of tiny burrs that cling and refuse to come off.

Of course, she who has barely any mane or forelock becomes entangled with them despite her sparse hair.

Oh, Abby, it's going to be a looooong Fall.