Fern Valley Appaloosas UNFORGETTABLE SPOTS
Thursday, 30 January 2014
melted my heart
Gotta share the new Budweiser Super bowl commercial. They make me tear up fairly regularly ,but I love them!
Somehow these folks manage every year to make a memorable advertisement that speaks to many and gets folks attention without using sex,violence or alluding to coarse language or innuendo. Well done Budweiser!
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Fun with Fix
An "auto awesome" look at the Fern Valley dog and pony show!
And what got him fired up?
His son Harley! showing off some moves
Have fun and stay safe my friends!
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
RIP Lumix 2.0
I take a lot of photos. (understatement of the year! LOL . And while I did invest in a big camera ,a Canon Rebel T2I ,my go to camera for years has been a little Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ4. I love that camera, so much that when my first one was on its last legs I scoured eBay until I got a screamin deal on a brand new replacement. And I used it , most of my photos over the last 5 or so years have been taken on it, I carry it everywhere with me , and I suspect that is why it got so tired and died. It started to fail in the early spring but I got it cleaned up and rejuvenated and it lasted until yesterday.
I have checked eBay, and several other sites but sadly they don't make that model anymore and I wont buy it used . So now the question, to buy a new one the next model up?
Or take a bigger financial plunge and get the waterproof shock proof dust proof model
(not buying form this site I found both cheaper elsewhere
fair difference in price, but the dust proof part is a pretty compelling feature, seeing as the camera even in a cover does tend to ride around in my pocket on the farm, and my pockets, are , well, um chore coat pockets.
the waterproof , has less zoom than the new model, but almost as much as my old one 9.3 as opposed to 10X , but the newer model has 20X , so hmmm, in a perfect world I would get both but that might be just greedy.
Am I determined to stick with Lumix? yup, for several reasons, they are great cameras, and unlike a lot of companies the batteries and chargers, connectors and accessories don't seem to change with every upgrade, so I can use some of what I already have to upload photos , and a spare battery is never a bad idea!
Anyhow, while I think about it , you will be subjected to old photos and cell phone pics, and maybe I will drag out the big camera from time to time to get more used to using it .
Till then be well and stay safe my friends
Friday, 17 January 2014
Picture this,a wander around the farm
Tommy Toes, trying to entice you in to the old log house to give him a tummy rub.
As you can see, wherever he has been , he hasn't been "eating his own cooking"
Fat and furry!
and a few more "fat and furies'
FV Dreamboat Annie and FV Catch a Dream. can you tell they are related?
Winston, and Skeeter
an Auto Awesome of
a good old farm hand
The daughter of the "photo bomber" flashing a smile
some say,its old and the roof is failing and we should knock it down. I say NO
What is Ole Blue eyes looking at?
Got the girls looking too, and they are NOT HAPPY
if you click on the pic you will see why
MOOSE!
My mares never seem afraid of them, just angry that they dare show up in their veiw
And from a while back, these we have watched for a couple of years, twins .Deb spied them when they were calves, and they continue to hang around together
That's it for now, have a great weekend, and stay safe
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
No Tire kickers please! (bit of a rant )
Anyone who has ever advertised anything for sale will appreciate this. There are always the responses that come that make you want to shake your head and go WTF???
Well my friend Deb came upon an add on Kijiji ,that hits the nail on the head. I would so love to have this as part of my adds on horses for sale! Edited out a few details, but here is the gist;
"Please no tire kickers, I am a pre-menopausal woman and may just kick you back. ;)
FREE BARN KITTY WITH PURCHASE!
Open to reasonable offers, (remember I am pre-menopausal). No, I don't want any goats or chickens or used pallets or your brother-in-law who sleeps on your couch (unless he's cute and can fence)."
This gal is brilliant!
I have listed Harley, Tango, Maks and Jewels for sale, and so far the response have all been good,but I have seen some dandies over the years! So much so that I once had an email responding to an add, asking if I would take payments. Now this individual had not corresponded with me yet, and or seen the horse in question so I was pretty cavalier in my response. I said something along the lines of "yeah sure you can make payments, and when you make enough of them , you can have the horse"
Imaging my shock when I got a reply detailing and exact payment plan and no less than a week later received a substantial deposit! Oops! nearly blew that one !
Of course there are always the ones from my "long lost Nigerian royalty relatives" who just want my bank account details so that they can deposit double what I am asking , if I just pay the shipping and send them the change! Asking of course if the "item " is in good condition!Item?? its a horse! try please if you are going to scam me to actually assume I am not a complete moron!!!
The things I would add to the above cautions on an add would be,
Yes, I will take payments
Yes, you may come here to see the horse more than once if you need to , however, I do not run a park/bed and breakfast/ petting zoo. You need to call first and schedule your visit , and allowing your children and pets to run wild all over my farm is NOT ENDEARING
no, you cannot keep the horse here indefinitely, and certainly not for free
no, I don't have video of a weanling under saddle !!!!
Yes if the horse is purebred it is registered and the papers will be transferred to you upon purchase. NO I WILL NOT DROP THE PRICE AND KEEP THE PAPERS!!! its against the law
No I will not haul the horse to the destination of your choosing in -30 C so you can look at him/her and then haul back while you think about it
Yes, I am asking for real money and a considerable amount for my horses,and yes you can get a colt for $50 at auction, but that colt has not necessarily been carefully bred , well cared for and handled and fed. And yes, I believe my colt/filly is worth more because of that, my time is not free.
Of course I don't put that in my adds, and I generally bite my tongue and try to be reasonable with folks, but oh my ,if they could hear what I am thinking !!! LOL
Anyhow this years adds are up and out there, in the end I am usually pretty successful, finding some really great folks out there who take the horses I raise and do great things. And those folks are why I do what I do .
Rant over , stay safe friends!
Well my friend Deb came upon an add on Kijiji ,that hits the nail on the head. I would so love to have this as part of my adds on horses for sale! Edited out a few details, but here is the gist;
"Please no tire kickers, I am a pre-menopausal woman and may just kick you back. ;)
FREE BARN KITTY WITH PURCHASE!
Open to reasonable offers, (remember I am pre-menopausal). No, I don't want any goats or chickens or used pallets or your brother-in-law who sleeps on your couch (unless he's cute and can fence)."
This gal is brilliant!
I have listed Harley, Tango, Maks and Jewels for sale, and so far the response have all been good,but I have seen some dandies over the years! So much so that I once had an email responding to an add, asking if I would take payments. Now this individual had not corresponded with me yet, and or seen the horse in question so I was pretty cavalier in my response. I said something along the lines of "yeah sure you can make payments, and when you make enough of them , you can have the horse"
Imaging my shock when I got a reply detailing and exact payment plan and no less than a week later received a substantial deposit! Oops! nearly blew that one !
Of course there are always the ones from my "long lost Nigerian royalty relatives" who just want my bank account details so that they can deposit double what I am asking , if I just pay the shipping and send them the change! Asking of course if the "item " is in good condition!Item?? its a horse! try please if you are going to scam me to actually assume I am not a complete moron!!!
The things I would add to the above cautions on an add would be,
Yes, I will take payments
Yes, you may come here to see the horse more than once if you need to , however, I do not run a park/bed and breakfast/ petting zoo. You need to call first and schedule your visit , and allowing your children and pets to run wild all over my farm is NOT ENDEARING
no, you cannot keep the horse here indefinitely, and certainly not for free
no, I don't have video of a weanling under saddle !!!!
Yes if the horse is purebred it is registered and the papers will be transferred to you upon purchase. NO I WILL NOT DROP THE PRICE AND KEEP THE PAPERS!!! its against the law
No I will not haul the horse to the destination of your choosing in -30 C so you can look at him/her and then haul back while you think about it
Yes, I am asking for real money and a considerable amount for my horses,and yes you can get a colt for $50 at auction, but that colt has not necessarily been carefully bred , well cared for and handled and fed. And yes, I believe my colt/filly is worth more because of that, my time is not free.
Of course I don't put that in my adds, and I generally bite my tongue and try to be reasonable with folks, but oh my ,if they could hear what I am thinking !!! LOL
Anyhow this years adds are up and out there, in the end I am usually pretty successful, finding some really great folks out there who take the horses I raise and do great things. And those folks are why I do what I do .
Rant over , stay safe friends!
Friday, 10 January 2014
" I will Fight no more forever"
The title, the speech at his surrender by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe on October 5 , 1877.
Exerpts from this page (well worth a look)
Surrender Speech of Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph's Land, by David Manuel
Also the title of a movie made to record the events.
I received this movie as a gift from Martin, for Christmas, and tonight we sat down to watch it. initially I though , hmm, another "Hollywood" version of events and in the first few scenes , not an appaloosa to be seen, but as I sat and watched , more and more I found the movie compelling . Its was filmed in 1975, and maybe that time in history was finally being seen in a truer light, or ...
In any case , I am glad I watched. Not your typical "cowboys and Indians movie. and the moment of Chief Josephs surrender was portrayed with chilling heartrending effect.
I am and have always been proud of the Appaloosa Horses and this movie showed what an incredible strength and stamina they truly had , carrying the Nez Perce 1100 miles through the hard travelling of mountains, of the Western USA ,coming to within 40 miles of Canada!
Funny thing , I knew all of this having read the history of the breed many years ago, but this really brought it home!
The message "I will fight no more forever" rings true for that moment and for man situations in the world now.
Glad I watched the movie. Thank You Martin , it was a wise choice as a gift!
Stay safe my friends .
Exerpts from this page (well worth a look)
Chief Joseph's Land, by David Manuel
I Will Fight No More Forever
Surrender Speech by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce
Surrender Speech by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce
I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsoteis dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead.
It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are--perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.
Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are--perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.
Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
Also the title of a movie made to record the events.
I received this movie as a gift from Martin, for Christmas, and tonight we sat down to watch it. initially I though , hmm, another "Hollywood" version of events and in the first few scenes , not an appaloosa to be seen, but as I sat and watched , more and more I found the movie compelling . Its was filmed in 1975, and maybe that time in history was finally being seen in a truer light, or ...
In any case , I am glad I watched. Not your typical "cowboys and Indians movie. and the moment of Chief Josephs surrender was portrayed with chilling heartrending effect.
I am and have always been proud of the Appaloosa Horses and this movie showed what an incredible strength and stamina they truly had , carrying the Nez Perce 1100 miles through the hard travelling of mountains, of the Western USA ,coming to within 40 miles of Canada!
The message "I will fight no more forever" rings true for that moment and for man situations in the world now.
Glad I watched the movie. Thank You Martin , it was a wise choice as a gift!
Stay safe my friends .
Night moves
Or maybe better titled why I often don't sleep at night
Too busy watching these silly fools dash around in the moonlight (forgive the quality), hard to film professionally on a point and shoot camera in the middle of the night,wearing slippers and jammies, with one foot out the door in a snow drift!
Anyhow, these kids continue to fill my days , and nights with fun, enjoy!
and as always , stay safe
Anyhow, these kids continue to fill my days , and nights with fun, enjoy!
and as always , stay safe
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Finally my year in review post! Gonna be a long one!!
I did warn everyone that now I can read books on my I pad I might wander off, but I didn't mean to be this bad!
So here I am to wrap up and review 2013, before its time to do 2014!if you want more infor on each of the items I mention, look for the blue print and click on the links to return to the original posts
The winter of 2013, felt like the winter that would not end! we had huge amounts of snow, and every time we thought it was done? nope back to shoveling again !
But it had some pretty awesome highlights!
I met Temple Grandin!! Attended the Horse Industry conference in Red Deer ,quite simply because I read she would be there . I was so excited to hear her speak!
I also attended a session with another speaker , that prompted me to do something I have not done in a long time, but ,the details on that will wait...
I didn't write poetry as prolifically as I have in past years, but I did find my muse from time to time
Winters lament
Here's to the Horses
The Yard sale
And this one , written for my folks on the occasion of their 50 wedding anniversary
For Mom and Dad
Some big milestones and changes in this year. My folks celebrated their 50 wedding anniversary and later in the year my sister Heather and hubby Marc celebrated 25 yrs married.
Such joy at both those events.
Martin and I again fled the snow and cold for a week in paradise in February, Third star to the right , and straight on till morning
Bittersweet memories, with mom and dad moving out of the home that they built together and into a facility where mom can receive ongoing care. The house that dad built the home that love built
And then spring ,was finally upon us!! Nope not quite!! Calving started, I continued to chronicle the antics of Harley, and we. got. more. snow!
I posted a few "thoughtful posts" You know the kind where I have a thought and a point to make and ramble on for several paragraphs desperately trying to make you understand? Here is an example
Its not how much they love you
I took my yearly jaunt down to the Mane Event in Red Deer, which was, as always great fun!
This year I had a little different fun with my photography, in addition to all the pics I take around here, I had the opportunity to play "paparazzi" twice, first for my cousin at his branding , then for Angela at a horse show ! From Cowboys to Cross rails
Then , of course it was time for the babies!!!!
Maks (FV Rainmakers Quest )
Casey (FV Casino Quest )
Tango (FV Shall We Dance)
and finally , arriving with a splash (quite literally) ,the littlest cowgirl Oakley's Arctic Heather (Sprite)
The rest of the summer was spent adoring these 4 beauties, and taking innumerable photos
Mom had a bobble with her health again this summer, but true to form ,she rallied and was home from hospital far sooner than was expected.
I mentioned that I listened to a speaker at the main event who convinced me to do something I had not done in some time. Well the speaker was Dan James of Double Dan horsemanship
His simple common sense approach impressed me , and before I could let fear or common sense stop me I had signed up for a clinic with little Miss Whoa Dammit! Just a ground work clinic, but it had been nearly 20 yrs since I had attended a clinic of any kind and it was a ways away so the trailering etc had to be considered. I had high hopes of working with her a bunch before we went, but unfortunately that did not happen , so instead, I took my chubby, unkempt girl straight out of the pasture at 5 in the morning the day we went and ...
She was a star!
I took on a couple little side challenges this year as well, first working with a little mare of my Uncle's
The later in September I took on an extra job one day a week at a not for profit organization for persons with Mental illness. I prepare the meals for the lunch and also education on food handling safety and hygiene as well and budgeting and meal planning .Sounds pretty good, I wonder if I could teach me that at home???)
The summer marched on with the regular, work, gaze at the foals , take water and Popsicles to the guys on the hay field etc with not much new, till August when my cousin Enid,her hubby , as well As Auntie Peggy and Uncle Brian came for a visit from Seattle .
Then again in September when we all gathered as a family once again to celebrate my cousin Kirk's wedding to his lovely Amber!
Heather, Marc, Martin and I did our usual venture to Jasper to the healing waters of Miette
Just shortly after this I received a message on Facebook asking if I had owned a horse named Dandy. Sure enough it was my FV Dandy Line she was asking about. Long story short , he has a new home and I a new friend!
The fall time was peaceful more or less, weaning of the calves, then the foals went very well , and we have settled into a routine here again as we wait till spring.
But the blog? well between my internet crapping out , and being super busy, I occasionally thought of letting it just go. But then the blog and I received a very special gift! in the form of Guest Blogger Ron Horricks. My dad! He has written 3 posts so far chronicles of the family history and inventions , and I so hope he continues in the New Year
Guest Post #1
Guest post #2
Guest Post #3
And with that, I think it s time to wrap up this post. It was a good year overall.Changes, celebrations , and wonderful times with family. Can't ask for much more than that can we ?
Stay safe and warm my friends , and may 2014 be awesome and all you wished for
So here I am to wrap up and review 2013, before its time to do 2014!if you want more infor on each of the items I mention, look for the blue print and click on the links to return to the original posts
The winter of 2013, felt like the winter that would not end! we had huge amounts of snow, and every time we thought it was done? nope back to shoveling again !
But it had some pretty awesome highlights!
I met Temple Grandin!! Attended the Horse Industry conference in Red Deer ,quite simply because I read she would be there . I was so excited to hear her speak!
I also attended a session with another speaker , that prompted me to do something I have not done in a long time, but ,the details on that will wait...
I didn't write poetry as prolifically as I have in past years, but I did find my muse from time to time
Winters lament
Here's to the Horses
The Yard sale
And this one , written for my folks on the occasion of their 50 wedding anniversary
For Mom and Dad
Some big milestones and changes in this year. My folks celebrated their 50 wedding anniversary and later in the year my sister Heather and hubby Marc celebrated 25 yrs married.
Such joy at both those events.
Martin and I again fled the snow and cold for a week in paradise in February, Third star to the right , and straight on till morning
Bittersweet memories, with mom and dad moving out of the home that they built together and into a facility where mom can receive ongoing care. The house that dad built the home that love built
And then spring ,was finally upon us!! Nope not quite!! Calving started, I continued to chronicle the antics of Harley, and we. got. more. snow!
I posted a few "thoughtful posts" You know the kind where I have a thought and a point to make and ramble on for several paragraphs desperately trying to make you understand? Here is an example
Its not how much they love you
I took my yearly jaunt down to the Mane Event in Red Deer, which was, as always great fun!
This year I had a little different fun with my photography, in addition to all the pics I take around here, I had the opportunity to play "paparazzi" twice, first for my cousin at his branding , then for Angela at a horse show ! From Cowboys to Cross rails
Then , of course it was time for the babies!!!!
Maks (FV Rainmakers Quest )
Casey (FV Casino Quest )
Tango (FV Shall We Dance)
and finally , arriving with a splash (quite literally) ,the littlest cowgirl Oakley's Arctic Heather (Sprite)
The rest of the summer was spent adoring these 4 beauties, and taking innumerable photos
Mom had a bobble with her health again this summer, but true to form ,she rallied and was home from hospital far sooner than was expected.
I mentioned that I listened to a speaker at the main event who convinced me to do something I had not done in some time. Well the speaker was Dan James of Double Dan horsemanship
His simple common sense approach impressed me , and before I could let fear or common sense stop me I had signed up for a clinic with little Miss Whoa Dammit! Just a ground work clinic, but it had been nearly 20 yrs since I had attended a clinic of any kind and it was a ways away so the trailering etc had to be considered. I had high hopes of working with her a bunch before we went, but unfortunately that did not happen , so instead, I took my chubby, unkempt girl straight out of the pasture at 5 in the morning the day we went and ...
She was a star!
I took on a couple little side challenges this year as well, first working with a little mare of my Uncle's
The later in September I took on an extra job one day a week at a not for profit organization for persons with Mental illness. I prepare the meals for the lunch and also education on food handling safety and hygiene as well and budgeting and meal planning .Sounds pretty good, I wonder if I could teach me that at home???)
The summer marched on with the regular, work, gaze at the foals , take water and Popsicles to the guys on the hay field etc with not much new, till August when my cousin Enid,her hubby , as well As Auntie Peggy and Uncle Brian came for a visit from Seattle .
Then again in September when we all gathered as a family once again to celebrate my cousin Kirk's wedding to his lovely Amber!
Heather, Marc, Martin and I did our usual venture to Jasper to the healing waters of Miette
Just shortly after this I received a message on Facebook asking if I had owned a horse named Dandy. Sure enough it was my FV Dandy Line she was asking about. Long story short , he has a new home and I a new friend!
The fall time was peaceful more or less, weaning of the calves, then the foals went very well , and we have settled into a routine here again as we wait till spring.
But the blog? well between my internet crapping out , and being super busy, I occasionally thought of letting it just go. But then the blog and I received a very special gift! in the form of Guest Blogger Ron Horricks. My dad! He has written 3 posts so far chronicles of the family history and inventions , and I so hope he continues in the New Year
Guest Post #1
Guest post #2
Guest Post #3
And with that, I think it s time to wrap up this post. It was a good year overall.Changes, celebrations , and wonderful times with family. Can't ask for much more than that can we ?
Stay safe and warm my friends , and may 2014 be awesome and all you wished for
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