Good Horses~

It's time...  I need to write something about horses again.  I miss that so much.  Not as much as I do Farah, not as much as I do riding...  Still - always my favorite topic since my earliest memories, a topic I love to read & write about.

Our friend & mentor Dean Essex, DVM used to say;  "In your life, if you're very lucky, there will only be one or two good horses."  He was right.  Their are a lot of horses, but only a very few, are good ones.  The ones you trust to use their brain, to focus on the task, focus on you, give you what you ask for & agree to partner up.

Farah - June 9, 2015

 To my relatives, coming from the farm, horses were a part of everyday life.  Horsemen prided themselves on their horses.  The norm, thankfully, was well-cared for animals, who knew their jobs & did them well, day after day.  It wasn't until mechanized farming life got easier & horses became a luxury.

My Great-Grandmother Lucy Huffman's father & my Great-Great Grandfather Jones~

 I'm so thrilled to have the few photos that I do from that era.  These horses were magnificent in stature.  Breeding was about a good build & a useful animal.  As you can see above, Grandfather used a shank for control.

On the lead, my maternal Grandfather Arnold Kralik, with his stallion~

 I don't know the year of either of these photos, maybe one of my Aunt's might know who the other two men are.

Connie on Topsy, June, 1966

 My first mare, Topsy, was a good horse.  She taught me how to ride, or at least, how to stay on!  :-)  She would remember me from one year to the next & we flew down the sides of Iowa's country roads.  Summer on the farm was a dream come true for a city girl, living in Boulder.  I expected all horses, to be like her.  It was dejavu, when Farah & I did the same, so many years later.

Uncle  Bud Huffman's stallion, Sundown~

 I was always ready to talk horses.  Uncle Bud brought me the photo above of his stallion.  It holds a place of honor - as the first photo in my first photo album.

Donnie & Rocky Ridge Ali

 The next horse to impress me - Pat's stallion Rocky - sired by Ruminaja Ali.  The sire of my second mare Alexi, a gift for my 40th birthday.  Rocky had presence, as the good horses do, whether mares or stallions.  There are good geldings, but I've yet to meet one with real presence.  JMO

12-18-08 Tropic Lightening - owner, Dean Essex, DVM

Tropic Lightening was our friend Dean's Thoroughbred stallion.  If not for an injury, he would have been a star on the track.  He sired many good runners in his years at stud.  A gentleman in all respects.  My photo of him graced the month of December 2011, in the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Calendar. 

8-31-1997 - Jasrada & Connie

Jasrada was our second Arabian & the most opinionated!  She was Butch's mare first, but in 95, she & I went over to the dark side - Endurance, from a few years at Competitive Trail.  It was never as much about the ride to me, as it was having a relationship with my mare.  Our horses always came first & we gave them our best.  The miles I shared with three good mares & my love of the Equine species, will stay with me forever.

Second Flood~

 Just in case - those of you who don't live in the Midwest think that our flooding has subsided...  You'd be wrong...  The last of May, the flood waters returned with a vengeance.   Taking out both I-29 & Hwy 34 yet again.  Work that had gone on almost non-stop, halted.  Both had been re-opened & are now closed again all the way to Missouri.

Over the Plattsmouth Bridge~

 The Plattsmouth Bridge was also closed again, due to flood waters on the Iowa side going over the road.  This left people with only two options to reach NE.   Either up through Council Bluffs to Omaha, or the Bellevue Bridge.  The bridge at Hwy 2, used by many to the south to reach Nebraska City & Lincoln was also closed with water over the road.  

The Missouri - taking over its flood plain~

We we've been looking at another vehicle for me, my thumbs are so bad that I can't easily open the doors of the Bronco anymore. I'd also like heated seats for winter! Since the bridge had just re-opened for the second time, we took that way to reach a dealership on the Nebraska side.

Water everywhere~

Several weeks ago, we drove through the town of Pacific Junction. It was a horrible sight to see, homeowners had gone back in & cleaned out their homes. Piles of debris, some almost as large as the homes themselves had been moved to the street for pickup. Just heart-rending sad to see this & I did not take photos.

Both sides of the road~

The Glenwood Resource Center has become the hub for the flood victims. Originally serving three meals a day, thanks to the local church groups who took turns working to cook & serve those meals. The last figure I heard, they had put out over 130,000 meals.

Our way east toward home~

The scope of the disaster will be felt for years, re-building the levee's has been delayed by the newest onset of melt-water from the north - along with a terrifically wet spring.  

Thank you to Silver Cloud Photography~

Silver Cloud Photography has done a terrific job of photographing the floods...  The photo above was taken May 31st.  Those displaced have been offered government buy-outs & most have accepted.   That still doesn't take into account families who have lived in this area for generations & now are loosing not only their home or farm, but also their history on the land...

I-29 was recently re-opened, but there are no open exits from Glenwood to the Missouri state line.  

With Summer now here & the heat going up, we're experiencing high dew points, with crazy high humidity.  So much water trapped, the bugs are taking over.  Driving down the roads, clouds of insects cover the windshields.  Levee repairs have been delayed too.  Iowan's are a tough - resilient people.  Staying positive & moving forward even in the face of disastrous times.

Lauritzen Gardens ~

When I read that Lauritzen Gardens was having a presentation on Native Plants of the Midwest, I was excited to attend.  The speaker was Alan Branhagen, author of the first gardening book I bought in Iowa;  Native Plants of the Midwest.

Lauritzen Gardens~

 I had only visited Lauritzen Gardens once, the first December after our move.  Held late in the day, I arrived early, interested in walking some of the garden areas.  We've been having some beautiful weather, with pleasant evenings.

Beginning of my walk~

It was such fun to see the formally planted beds of flowers that included my favorite - marigolds! Not yet to the heat of summer, everything was still fresh.

Trees & grasses~

I have missed my ferns...  I enjoyed seeing the variety below - healthy & thick.  Now, I have to find a place to buy them. 

Ostrich Fern~

The Bald Cypress was so totally beautiful!  It is native to the Midwest.  Iowa's only native tree, is the Eastern Red Cedar.  It was the first tree I noticed on my rides & I thought it was a Juniper with good reason.  It was just a chance photo, that I decided to use for the background of the blog.  We only have one on our property, we're keeping it.  Our new neighbor to the east told Butch he is cutting down the one on our front property line.  I'm sad for that - since the Cedar Waxwings visit in the late winter or early spring & feast on the berries.

Bald Cypress~

The Bottlebrush Buckeye, was amazing looking!  I think it would do well in the semi-shade of the Timber.

Bottlebrush Buckeye

The flowering ground cover below, was totally stunning. I didn't get the name, but will be going back soon with our Garden Club & hope to find out then.

Either a Phlox or maybe wild geranium?

The lecture was very interesting & it was nice to see a packed room!  I was especially glad to attend & learn about plants & an environment so different from the one in Washington.  Mr. Branhagen mentioned that Iowa has one of the "most manipulated landscapes in the world."  Since it's been under cultivation for so long, there are only a few tiny remnants of the original Tall Grass Prairies left.  I've added a visit to the one in Kansas to my bucket list! 

Sunshine Days ~

 Last year, we were working on fencing at the farm.  Riding was always my priority, not a lot got done around home.  This year things have changed.  Without Farah, I still feel some-what incomplete.  So many years of self-imposed responsibility & the huge joys (along with the time commitment) that came with it - now over. 

Trail into the Timber~

 With the warm & sunny spring weather, I've found plenty of new challenges to keep me occupied.  I go to the Y, three times a week. The elliptical is my torture of choice, pushing the time, distance & incline, competing against myself.   I've always enjoyed some sort of challenge.  It seems normal after so many years of competitive riding.

June 3rd - Rain~

Our Mills County Naturalist - used the term infestation - to describe all the bush Honeysuckle on our property.  It is truly amazing how quickly these plants sucker, grow & spread.  I've taken down all the huge plants that were on the back side of the south fence.  It's really expanded our view & given the small trees there a chance to grow.

Butch brought me a reciprocating saw with an aggressive blade.  It does a great job of cutting the woody stems down to the ground.  A treatment of Torodon, should kill what's left.   Butch will use the chain saw on some of the largest & we'll probably rent a chipper to get rid of the debris.  It will take years to finish the job.  So far - I have at least five piles about ten-feet high.

Iris

A friend invited me over to collect plant starts from her stunning yard! The Iris above actually bloomed two-days later. I planted it in the corner of the marsh & I hope it spreads! Another friend has given me huge & beautiful hosta's. Those are now in gardens at the edge of the Timber & on each side of the Cabin.

"My" Yard~

The lower backyard used to be such a mess.  All the Autumn Olive here, have been cut down.  The four varieties of edible Elderberry I planted last year - are almost five-feet tall & blooming.  Soon, we'll be able to sample the berries.  We've planted a small White Pine & two Swedish Aspen that I hope don't sucker.

Nika hears Butch's truck!

It's been in the low 90's most of the week with crazy high dew points.  I take my electrolytes, drink water & wear a sweatband.

Awaiting blooms!

The days have been stunning, the ground still damp from all the rain.  Usually, there's a breeze to dry the sweat.  The evenings are warm, the air thick & rich with the smell of blooming flowers & trees.   Earlier this week, the Lightening Bugs returned!   A spark here, there, high in the air!  Giving us notice that summer right is around the corner.