When the storm came

 When the storm came, and the wind began to twist 

the sky turned dark. 

The oppressive heat faded to a soothing cool 

And as the sky began to cry 

I cried with her 

I cried with the release 

I cried for the storms that came before this one 

I cried for letting go 

I let the storm wash over me and through 

And with the last flash of lighting and crack of thunder 

I let go that breath I had been holding 

And I rested 

S. Sikstrom 

I wrote this last summer in the midst of a heat wave and a drought, if I am being honest I have shed many tears over the last few years, and unfortunately |I think many more will be shed with the current state of things. 

That said I am leaning hard into my blessings and finding the "what went right moments"  The horses, my family, the dogs, nature and the fact that I still have a safe home. 

I have taken a new job for the next little while, I accepted a position as Mental Health and Addictions promotions facilitator until September, big change and small , in that i am getting more hours and an increase in $$ but I have been teaching Mental Health First aid , in person and on a virtual format for several years. Funny thing is I am busier than ever and yet I am finding my energy and mind renewed and called to write some more !  I guess a change really is as good as a rest.

Stay safe and well, until we meet again  

Why dogs?

This may seem an odd post on this our "international remember to tell the person you love with an overpriced card and sugar that you care" day. But its what was on my mind. I actually wrote this last summer on one of those stinking hot days that I spent keeping Skeeter cool and comfortable.I was reminded then, as I often am that dogs are such wise and loving souls. I was sad, he was ill and we just cuddled, Henry hopped up with us and we all just had a pleasant chill afternoon. 

Also sharing today because Henry, is 7 today!!! how time has flown by! My funny valentine himself!     Frankie has his own special day in July. We used to call this day Skeeters "Gotcha day " because we didn't know his birth date and he was a Valentines gift to Martin. 

 

 Why dogs? 

Dogs are never too busy or too tired to spend time with me

Dogs won’t ignore me when someone else comes along 

My Dogs are always happy to see me 

My dog has never canceled plans because he got a better offer 

My dog has never called me fat

My dog doesn’t care if my outfit is trending 

My dog doesn’t care if my hair is long or short, grey or a mess 

My dog has never made me feel bad about myself 

My dog doesn’t laugh at me, but he brings me joy 

My dog has never made me feel hard to love 

S.Sikstrom 

A little side note about some of the other social media platforms, I have enjoyed the opportunity afforded me in that I can "read" my writings and share them and other experiences  in video. Helping to keep my memories. But gosh I am happy to be back on Blogger .

Also, I think its a good idea to tell those you love them everyday, and in the ways that you feel authentic. If its a mushy card, or a nice supper, or doing the little something that tells them you are thinking of them. Don't wait till the middle of February. To me it means more when Martin carries the laundry downstairs, or I hear him trying to shush the dogs so I can sleep,maybe bringing me my coffee when I have yet again set it down and forgotten it .

Stay safe and well friends 

Somebody done somebody wrong song

 I am on a steep learning curve with Frankie, he is keen and I have lost a step or 10 since the days of Skeeters youth. Also Skeeter was a little more timid, Frankie is all guts and glory . He is good with Phoenix, the dog and pony show that originated with Skeeter and Phoenix is carrying on with Frankie, but he is a bit too keen to go in the pen with Cactus , who runs from him, and with some of the others. Sixty and Foxy are  well prepared to hand the little dog his own arse, but some of the others are not so fearless. So I got a whistle, some treats, and when he is particular eager I walk him with a halti because he is also STRONG! and my replacement elbows are not up to being dragged all over the farm . Well those of you who know cattle dog breeds know there is nothing more spectacularly dramatic than a cattle dog who feels he has been wronged.

I guess at the end of the day, little Frankie is kind of similar to an Appaloosa, he will make me work for it , but we will get there .

Stay safe and well 

What about Caterpillars

 Everyone talks about butterflies

The are the prettiest
But what about the caterpillars?
The plain little ones that inch along
Unseen
Unnoticed
Unimportant?
But wait if, it wasn’t for caterpillars, who would be the butterflies?
Where would they come from?
Caterpillars do all the hard work
I think caterpillars are beautiful

Sherry Sikstrom 

So what about the horses?

 I have been gone so long I am not sure who to update you on , so you are getting a quick overview. On the young ones 

FV Martin Sunset (Sixty) and FV Windwalkers Treasure (Busy) the 2017 models. Sixty , the "born broke" type, has been easy to work with , actually halter broke him while still in a sling from my right elbow replacement. He is growing up nicely and will be ready to start in spring. Busy , on the other hand , was put on this earth to test my mettle, and remind me that the way we do things, sometimes must change to suit the circumstances, also the shortest journey is not always the most beautiful. Long story short, once we found our way, she became soft and responsive, and has moved on to start her career in Quebec! Sixty, may or may not leave, Martin seems to have his eye on him and as he was born on Martin's sixtieth birthday ...

We shall See

FV Practically Magic,2019  is still here, but has been sold and will hopefully be flying south in the Spring to live with his new person, our old blogger friend Cindy Durham! She said the day he was born she wanted him, and last spring she finally decided to make her stand. We had intended for him to go this fall, but border restriction and some other changes in plans conspired to let him have one more Alberta Winter (poor guy)

And the Little Sasshole herself! FV Sable Fascinator 2020 Foxy , has a potential sale pending but for the moment is keeping me on my toes here

That is  the update on the young guns, for now. The downside of not blogging and maybe the upside is I have a ton of unseen pictures, but they are poorly organized so that might need to be my next project .

Until next time, stay safe and warm

If its my last ride

 I have continued to write over the last year, maybe less frequently but still from time to time my muse awakens. This one came to me in a sleepless night, thinking about aging and the horses I have owned, Whoa Dammit (Cat ) has had some trouble with her eyes, and I am not sure if we will fly together again. AV Docs Baby (Andee)  is potentially bred to a lovely buckskin quarter horse , so she too is off the books for a while. I currently don't have a saddle horse I trust with these old bones and replacement parts. I don't think I am done, but if I  am glad I didn't know .

If it’s my last ride, 

don’t tell me If you ever had any compassion for me,

Don’t tell me

Let me be happy 

Let me hear the creek of the leather of my saddle 

the soft footfall of my horse 

Let me smell the fresh air 

And feel the breeze 

Let me remember the rides before 

And dream of the rides to come 

When it’s the last ride,  

If you ever cared 

Don’t tell me 

I d rather fly not knowing 

Sherry Sikstrom copywrite 2021 

Looking back, blogging, goodbyes, and what comes next

 I just looked back and it has been over a year since my last blog post. I had it titled the strangest year ever, and yet 2021 was even more of a rough ride.

Thinking back I used to love blogging, I found my muse her, and some wonderful friends.I don't regret a moment of time spent. 

As time goes on we move into different stages of our lives and I really got away from blogging,I still read for a time, and then even that faded away.

It makes me sad because I lost connection with some wonderful people, and found ways to connect with others on a different level. I recently found out that a long time friend and blogger had passed away, and that breaks my heart, that she passed ,and that somehow we had lost touch enough that I didn't know.

2021 brought a number of changes and some sad goodbyes. We lost a good friend of Martin's suddenly, and sadly, we lost our beloved Skeeter, 15 years of joy, that little dog gave us. The summer was spent  to a greater extent keeping him comfortable until that was no longer an option. I made myself a promise many years ago that I would never put my needs or sorrow ahead of their comfort, never try to buy more time than they could afford. When that time came, I spent a quiet day with him, snuggling on the bed and then holding him in my arms we said goodbye.Skeeter may not have come into this world gently born in -30 under a grain bin, but he lived a blessed life and went out wrapped in love.

 

Somewhere ,beyond the soft edges of forever, two old friends are reunited.

The year wasn't all bad, we were able to gather with friends a little over the summer and attended a couple of weddings 

Also reconnected with a family tradition and attended the Ballet with my sister and her girls. A tradition started by my grandmother, carried on with mom, and now to this lovely group of ladies and myself .

While I still grieve the loss of my little friend, our hearts are amazing things, we have the capacity to love and heal at the same time. Henry was struggling mightily with being an only dog, and while he does his best we do appreciate having a cattle dog.

 I got a message about some pups, and while I wasn't sure we were ready I went and looked. Turns out the breeder was a distant cousin to Martin. Also , we were ready after all ... 

Meet Frankie 

He is border collie Australian Shepherd, and he is one KEEN pup! I have my work cut out for me! 

As I continue writing here, I see I have so much more to say. I will end here for now and share some more in the coming days. Can I commit to regular blogging again? It is difficult to say ,but I certainly have missed this .

Stay safe and warm friends , until we meet again