Osirion

I really shouldn't have been looking for another horse at the time. I was looking into a new job, and I already had plans to breed Layla in the spring. However, I couldn't resist the urge to shop around for fillies. My latest interest was straight Egyptian Arabian fillies. I was particularly interested in descendants of *Ansata Ibn Halima, a beautiful grey Nazeer son imported from Egypt by Ansata Arabians in 1959.

In my search for fillies nearby I could look at, I found the website of JEVA Farms in Bellevue, Michigan. The breeder had three offspring of a regal young stallion named Omar Saalim. Two of the weanlings were fillies, and one was a handsome young bay-turning-grey colt. While I had been looking for a filly, I fell in love with the picture of the strong young boy. Well, it certainly couldn't hurt to go look at him...

As chance would have it, I had an interview for a job in November in Michigan, not far at all from where the adorable colt lived at JEVA Farms. I decided that I would make a side trip on my way back to Indiana from the interview to meet Liz of JEVA Farms and see the weanlings she had for sale.

Osirion was about 8 months old and fluffing up for winter when I met him. He was playing in the fall mud with his two younger sisters, Princess Val Shaba and Princess Nile Moon.

Osirion was a very sweet but rather shy boy. His sister Val (with the blaze behind him in the first pic) was a little bit bolder. Lily was full of funny antics.

I returned to Indiana, but Osirion never left my mind. I was determined to buy him, somehow. He had such beautiful structure, movement, and temperament. He was bred to the hilt as well, with a very deep pedigree. He was the whole package!

I moved to Michigan for the new job in January and kept in contact with Liz. The time came when the snow melted, and I could talk to my roommate about bringing home the colt I really wanted. In March, I visited Liz and the babies again with my friend Nicole from work. Liz sweetened the deal by throwing in a breeding to her stallion Sabbataz JA for Layla, since I planned to breed her anyways. We had a deal! I purchased Osirion, paid for a month of board for him, and brought home his papers to transfer into my name.

So Layla had a date with Taz, and I was going to pick up Osirion when I dropped Layla off to be bred.

to be continued...

Here I am again!

I know it's been ages and ages since I last posted. This will just be a brief post explaining some of the major changes that have occurred in the nearly two years that have lapsed...

• March 2012 - I bought my first straight Egyptian Arabian colt, Osirion (as a yearling)

• April 2012 - I took my big black mare Layla to be bred to the straight Egyptian stallion Sabbataz JA

• May 2012 - I bought a little grey 3 year old Arab filly, MSU Dreams Aswirl AM (Sonia)

• June 2012 - I attended the Egyptian Event for the first time in Lexington, KY. I also rehomed Jazzy, my grade QH mare

• August 2012 - Start of training/first ride on Sonia

• October 2012 - Took on the mare Daughter of the Sands (Isis) as a training & rehoming prospect

• April 2013 - My beautiful boy NUHA Star Bennu (Jaws) was born to Layla

• July 2013 - Took Sonia to Pennsylvania to be bred to the very handsome Trueblue Goldmine+++//. I also put a saddle on my colt Osirion for the first time!

• September 2013 - Sonia confirmed in foal for an August 2014 baby. I drove out there to pick her up and met some more wonderful people.

• October 2013 - Moved the horses and myself to a new location. 
• Nocember 2013 - Isis was euthanized.
• January 2014 - My poor little Kit Kit passed away. We have been buried in snow and I'm so ready to be done with Michigan!!!

So, that's a quick summary, clearly glossing over a lot of major details. I hope to be able to fill in some of those details in the future.

The Chunk's page

Chunky (aka Miley the cat) is quite the character. I always joked with my last roommate (Michael) that one needed a back brace to pick up such a hefty girl. The standing joke was that picking up Chunk once in a day served for at least a day's worth of exercise, if not more. Because of that, I decided that Chunk needed her own fitness program.

Hence the birth of CHUNKERCIZE!! Now my little fitness guru is a world renowned mogul, building her exercise empire and always working on that elusive goldmine of her workout routine, the Power Nap.

Catch the Chunk on her very own FB page (like her page for all of her special tips and poses).

The Chunk in Turtle Pose

Stay tuned!

A lot has happened since my last post way back in March. I have plenty of pictures and stories to add, I just need to get my laptop fixed so that it's easier to post. I've been far better at posting information and happenings on Facebook. I promise to get back to my neglected blog!

Coyote and Q

I mentioned before that Quimby has a new best buddy. Meet Coyote:

Coyote is the result of a Treeing Walker Coonhound (I think) being crossed with a Blue Heeler. Does that mean she heels coons? Maybe she heals them instead? Regardless, she's a very "licky" dog, as my roommate, Jae, puts it.

Quimby and Coyote are so alike it's funny. They are both born Enforcers--any mild disturbance in the household calls for their immediate presence and intervention. Cats aren't allowed to play, and humans aren't allowed to clap, snap, or dance. They are the Fun Police, and they take their job very seriously. Only they can have fun!

Signed,

Officer Quimby and Officer Coyote

More Michigan adventures

Today my new roommate (Jae) and I headed south back into Indiana to pick up a new addition to the colorful menagerie here on the farm. I have mentioned some of the critters here, but, until now, I didn't have pics to go with my comments. I will start today's post with some pictures of the animals residing on the property.

We'll start with the llama (Snickers) and his lovely lady ewes, since I've already mentioned them. Those girls look like they are gonna pop out some babies any day now, but we're still waiting!!

There are also quite a few ducks and chickens running around. The ducks come in a variety of colors, and there are even several Muscovies.

Hershey and Cadbury are the resident meat calves, although they have a long way to go until they are big enough for the dinner plate.

Coyote is Quimby's new bff. She doesn't care so much for the Chunk, but Chunky has lots of love for the puppies of the world.

And, of course, my ponies are right at home amongst all the other creatures.

So what else could we add to the bustling little farm to make it even more colorful? What, indeed! How about this fuzzy little face?

This cute little girl was a "free to a good home" pony-sized molly mule. She's still just a baby at about a year and a half old. The guys who had her seemed to think she was crazy and flighty. Watch this video and see if you think the same thing:

The new mule (we still need a name for her) caused quite a sensation in the neighborhood. Horses and calves couldn't figure out what this strange looking beast was.

Watch the fierce, wild mule on film! And please, leave a comment if you have any suggestions for this little devil's name. One last note... she is NOT mine, she's my roommate's. So far I've refrained from adding more to my own head count!

Remembering Dad

A year ago today, I lost my father. It still feels surreal. There are times I'll be doing something, and a memory will pop in my head of my dad. Usually this happens when I'm driving.

I don't think you can ever truly get used to a loss like this. I still miss you, Dad.