Late Fall in Dutchess County, NY: cloud-skimmed sky, hills cloaked in gray woodland, splashes of golden willow, patches of dry corn, mares in paddocks of faded green, wood pigeons on the barn roof,...
No days of rest on a horse farm. Michael, Shane on his back, marches passed on morning inspection. Overheard, the lilting Spanish from Mexican farm-hands freshening straw in the stallion pens...
Showing posts with label Dutchess County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dutchess County. Show all posts
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
STREAMERS OF GEESE AGAINST A GREY SKY
Dutchess County, New York, mares stand close and munch hay together in the paddock below the barn; drizzle softens hillsides of naked woodland; sky is layers of soft greys; long streamers of geese fly south; my grandson does his lion imitation; my daughter beams with pride. Mothers are like that - thinking their kids remarkable. Frankly, crawling is no big deal. Nor is giving the occasional roar.
I see Shane, ten months, through unprejudiced and unemotional male eyes. He is loving and totally lovable, extraordinarily beautiful, a natural comic and possessor of an intense intelligence - in fact much like his Mom.
I am not certain yet as to whether Shane is an oracle.
Charlie Boo (my grandson back in England) is an oracle - though his forecasts of the future are not absolutely reliable. However, this may be my misinterpretation of Charlie's reading of the runes. He is equally wonderful in all other ways and has an equally wonderful mother. The Dads are OK too...
I see Shane, ten months, through unprejudiced and unemotional male eyes. He is loving and totally lovable, extraordinarily beautiful, a natural comic and possessor of an intense intelligence - in fact much like his Mom.
I am not certain yet as to whether Shane is an oracle.
Charlie Boo (my grandson back in England) is an oracle - though his forecasts of the future are not absolutely reliable. However, this may be my misinterpretation of Charlie's reading of the runes. He is equally wonderful in all other ways and has an equally wonderful mother. The Dads are OK too...
Sunday, December 30, 2007
SNOW TO PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
DUTCHESS VIEW FARM: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
Reading the page proofs for OLD MAN ON A BIKE is done and the proofs returned to the editor. Anya's mother, Abby, has her birthday today. Abby has a cottage on the shore in Rhode Island. I will catch a bus over to Providence. We will enjoy a celebratory birthday dinner with Anya's brother and I will stay a couple of nights with Abby before heading into New York City for a day, then back to the farm. Snow is forecast for this evening. Hopefully the bus will get through in time for dinner. Abby likes to sit up nights. We can watch TV and adjudicate between the Presidential candidates in Iowa as they scratch each others' eyes out.
Huckabee and Romney are the most scratchy. Both are from the religious wing of the Republican Party.
I am an old Lefty. I would pick Edwards as President with Obama as Vice President.
I don't have a vote.
Unfair considering that Tony Blair made the UK a US Colony.
Reading the page proofs for OLD MAN ON A BIKE is done and the proofs returned to the editor. Anya's mother, Abby, has her birthday today. Abby has a cottage on the shore in Rhode Island. I will catch a bus over to Providence. We will enjoy a celebratory birthday dinner with Anya's brother and I will stay a couple of nights with Abby before heading into New York City for a day, then back to the farm. Snow is forecast for this evening. Hopefully the bus will get through in time for dinner. Abby likes to sit up nights. We can watch TV and adjudicate between the Presidential candidates in Iowa as they scratch each others' eyes out.
Huckabee and Romney are the most scratchy. Both are from the religious wing of the Republican Party.
I am an old Lefty. I would pick Edwards as President with Obama as Vice President.
I don't have a vote.
Unfair considering that Tony Blair made the UK a US Colony.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
HORSE'S ARSE
CHRISTMAS IN UP-STATE NEW YORK:
I am staying with my daughter, Anya, and her partner, Michael, at Michael's horse farm in Dutchess County. The horse farm is what we Brits call a stud. Michael breeds race horses. He has some 150 mares on the farm and five stallions. I have never been a horse enthusiast. Horses demand too much attention and they lack brains. What other animal sticks its legs in holes unless saddled with a steersman? Or eats food poisonous to them?
My brother is the horseman.
I was proud last year in Peru at riding my Honda at over 13 000 feet in altitude on a viciously bad road. I thought, Hey, what other man my age could cope? Yea, I'm really special.
That was the week that my brother won a Three Day Event. A Three Day Event is an equestrian competition in cross country jumping, jumping in the ring and dressage. Think extreme sports on horseback. Lunatic adrenalin addicts compete. My brother is 76. He IS special. I merely thought I was.
I am staying with my daughter, Anya, and her partner, Michael, at Michael's horse farm in Dutchess County. The horse farm is what we Brits call a stud. Michael breeds race horses. He has some 150 mares on the farm and five stallions. I have never been a horse enthusiast. Horses demand too much attention and they lack brains. What other animal sticks its legs in holes unless saddled with a steersman? Or eats food poisonous to them?
My brother is the horseman.
I was proud last year in Peru at riding my Honda at over 13 000 feet in altitude on a viciously bad road. I thought, Hey, what other man my age could cope? Yea, I'm really special.
That was the week that my brother won a Three Day Event. A Three Day Event is an equestrian competition in cross country jumping, jumping in the ring and dressage. Think extreme sports on horseback. Lunatic adrenalin addicts compete. My brother is 76. He IS special. I merely thought I was.
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