A Walkabout/Rollabout/Driveabout

Yesterday I delivered a set of panniers to my friend, Audrey.

A professional singer, she performs at the Feast and other places around the country singing songs that tell the history of the our country. We met at the Feast a few years ago and have become good friends.

Panniers were worn under a woman's petticoats and were intended to make her look heavier than she was. 

The reason? A well fed person had money for food, and there were many reasons women (who had little power over their own lives at the time) might have wanted to look heavier.

Finding a husband was one reason. Marrying for money was one way for both men and women to survive during those times. Hence trying to look heavier. (I am wearing panniers in this photo.)

I always let students try on a pair when I visit Lisa's school. This class had a lot of fun with them.

While I was at her home, Audrey pulled out a huge bag chock FULL of homegrown carrots and asked if I could use some.

She filled a Walmart bag for me - the horses are going to be so happy! (I may make soup this weekend with some of them, too.)

On the way home, I decided to drive past Fort Ouiatenon and see how set-up was going. It had started a week ago, and I was curious about the process. Plus, it was a pretty day and I felt like visiting the river.

That's the blockhouse in the back and the two smaller buildings are permanent restrooms. In the foreground, you can see that a natural pole structure has been started.

The Anishinaaba Kwe booth next to me is under construction, too.

My spot is by this pine tree. Since I have a tent, I don't need the Feast organizers to make me a shelter.

The Voyageur Camp will be here. The Wabash is just over the ridge in the background. 

It's a very steep drop of about twenty feet down to the river. The boat ramp begins with a gentle slope (the Voyageur Camp is to the left)

but then suddenly drops off sharply down into the water (where it looks like the ramp ends is actually where the drop-off of the boat ramp begins.)

Partway down the steep part with my walker to give some perspective as to how high that ridge is.

The spine chilling part, though, is that it is very common for the water to rise all the way up that ridge and then flood the grounds of Fort Ouiatenon! It actually crests the top of that ridge.

I love that river deeply, but I am also very aware that it can be dangerous and to be cautious when it is flooding.

We are undergoing a drought right now, so the Wabash is very low. Normally the water comes at least up to that line of the green foliage on the right. (Looking downstream.)

These rocks are usually underwater, too. (Looking upstream.) I have my fingers crossed that the Voyageurs will still be able to paddle downriver, coming around that bend, and then make land at the boat ramp. It's a highlight of the Feast. (I hope the canoe races will be able to be held, too.)

Pere Marquette blessing the settlement as the voyageurs come down the river and in from the north. (That's Brooke on the front left and her husband Tom on the front right.) 

Getting down the boat ramp had some challenges - it was tempting to hop onto my walker and just roll down! Instead, I was glad I had brakes and could keep it from tearing down that steep slope. Even harder, though, was the walk back up. Still, I am glad I walked down to see "my" river.       

As I rolled back to my car, I took a last shot of the blockhouse. I was too tired to walk closer so I could get a clear shot.

And one last photo of one of the booths that will be finished in the next few days.

The park is still peaceful and quiet, but things are beginning to stir as we get ready for next weekend.

I can hardly wait!

"Have a Nice Summer, Miss I! (And Horses!)"

Teacher Daughter Lisa's last day of school was Thursday. It was a busy day, and Pepper and I came into her classroom for students to read to her. (As a reward for meeting personal reading goals, students can earn a "Pepper Pass"  and read   to Pepper.)

Which essentially means petting and playing with Pepper while they tell me about their own pets.

Many kids make cards for their teacher or bring a small gift on the last day, and Lisa's students were generous as well as thoughtful.

One student brought two carrots for her to give to Abby and the herd. Two would not go very far among five horses but I could easily add in a few more.

And then I caught sight of the carrots. I don't think I've ever seen a carrot (let alone two) that big!

A fork next to them demonstrates that!

But this student wasn't stopping at two Jack and the Beanstalk sized carrots - a bag of peppermints was also heading out to the barn with those carrots! The horses are going to be thrilled!

Lisa has said all year long how sweet this class is and that was evident in this (and other) gifts that she received from them. No doubt she wished that she could have another year with them. But we will remember them and their thoughtfulness when Abby and her friends snarf down their unexpected goodies.

(Anybody have a good recipe for carrot cake?)

Don't forget the Brighty haversack giveaway!  The usual rules are in place - you may enter once every day beginning today (May 27) and ending Tuesday, May 30, at 11:59 PM. Entries after that will not be accepted. I will spin for a winner on Wednesday or Thursday.

To enter, comment on the day's blog post or email me at horsiemama8@gmamil.com.

Carrots and Cats (Herding, that Is)

Ever heard the term, "herding cats?" If you think about it, it would definitely not be an easy thing to do. Neither, I discovered, is getting five horses and three kids under five to pose for a picture.

We were having a nice visit and feeding the horses some carrots when I noticed that the herd was lined up perfectly at the fence. Photo op!

"Quick!" I called to my son Curt, "I'll line up with the kids in front of the fence and we'll get a great photo of all the horses, the kids, and me all at once!"

Well, things began to fall apart almost immediately. Abby pinned her ears at Sultanna and Hokey and warned them off while Trouble discovered a yummy tidbit on the ground.

The movement of the horses behind us was distracting to Lukie who kept turning away from the camera to see what they were doing. 

Curt was able to snap this photo which is okay except for Lukie's tears and Ian's face. (And that no horse's face can be seen except for Hokey's)...

 ... and this one which isn't the greatest but you can at least see the humans' faces.

Then, Abby spied the bag of carrots I had set on the ground, thinking we'd snap a quick picture before she or anyone else noticed them. Hah! Who was I kidding!

She snagged them so quickly and had them on her side of the fence before I could put Lukie down and stop her. The carrots spilled out of the bag, and the horses began milling about, each trying to get one of the carrots off the ground.

Even more alarming, Abby was chewing the bag along with the carrot that had been left inside it, and the bag was slowly disappearing into her mouth as she chewed.

I ducked under the rail, dodging the arguing horses as I sped across the paddock, and was able to pull the bag out of her mouth before she ingested the entire thing.

This is how it came out of her mouth and throat - Ian looks pretty disgusted, doesn't he? But I am so glad I got it before she swallowed it and colicked or it became lodged in her digestive tract.

No more thoughts of photo ops for me that involve five horses and preschoolers, that's for sure!

Chilled Carrots on a Hot Day

Abby loves her candy canes, but when it is 90 degrees outside, chilled carrots fresh from the fridge are a welcome treat!

Abby was sweaty and a bit itchy, but she made short work of her cool treat while I did my usual check of her for any bumps, cuts, or signs that she was off.

 She was fine, in good flesh, and her varnishing looked especially lovely.

When the carrots and scratching were done, I stepped back out through the gate and she knew our visit was over.

She quickly headed back to the coolness of the loafing shed where Diablo, Hokey, and Trouble were hanging out.

Anything for a Carrot!

Some horses will do anything for a carrot.

Including stretching through an uncomfortable opening...

 ... in order to snag the prize.

Coming When Called

Abby enjoys my company - I know that because she follows me around regardless of whether or not there are treats in my pocket. She knows my voice and my whistle, and comes whenever she hears me.

Yesterday she was in the old barn with Diablo, so I called her name and whistled. I grabbed my camera and started filming as she hurried down to see me.

The Carrot Line

Carrots, anyone?

Hokey, Abby, Diablo, and Trouble (with Lisa's hand.)

A Horse Owner's Fridge

Hmmm. Look at what's in this packed refrigerator.

Four bags of carrots. I wonder who is going to eat them all?