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.

Llama drama

Today the ponies had a new resident move into their pen. He's black and hairy with a face only a mother could love. They immediately decided he was the ugliest horse they had ever seen, an offense to their refined equine sensibilities.

Snickers, of course, didn't enjoy being the butt of horse curiosity. He just wanted to return to his beloved ewes across the fence.

Snickers is a very accomplished whiner. If you've never heard a llama whine, you can consider yourself very fortunate. It's rather grating and extremely pathetic. As my roommate puts it, "He's the whiniest damn llama I've ever known."

 Zeplin, Layla, and Jazzy converged upon poor Snickers as soon as we dragged him into their domain. I think he was convinced that they were a special breed of llama-eating horses. Zeplin especially wanted to know what he was about, even talking to him face-to-face in spite of Snickers's weak attempts at spitting at him in the cold winter air. Layla took offense that something so ugly wanted HER hay, so she pinned her ears back and charged at him whenever he got close.

When I fed the ponies their evening grain, Snickers was able to take a few minutes while they were distracted to grab a couple mouthfuls of hay. Then it was back to running away from monstrous horses.

I guess we'll see tomorrow if any attitudes have changed overnight...

I've moved again!!

I know it's been a long time since I updated my blog. I have a good reason, I assure you!! I was not content with the job I had in Indiana. The problem was, it was just that--a job. I wanted a career. I did not enjoy being stressed out on a daily basis and frustrated with my work. So, as someone who doesn't just bitch about something and do nothing to correct the situation, I looked for a new job.

And... here I am! I am now in Michigan! Yes, I know, I moved to an even colder location, and in the dead of winter no less. I am committed to giving my new career a minimum of two years to see how things go with it. I know that no matter what, I will learn a lot from this new position.

Anyways, happy much belated New Year and best of luck in everything you do! I hope to post more often on how the kids and I are doing this year. Maybe I still have a reader or two...

The Drama Queen lives!

The air was crisp and chill, the kind of fall day that energizes the soul and feeds your exhiliration. I took my pretty blue bike for a spin, having spurned her for well over a year now. How could I have forgotten the rush of freedom, the giddy sensation of speed at the flick of a wrist? Our time together was short, but it left me flushed with a joy in life I haven't felt in ages.

Partners once again with the Drama Queen!

My new blog!

Don't worry (I know you were!), I will still be posting to this one! I just wanted to let my faithful readers know that I've decided to start another blog! No, this doesn't mean that my daylength expanded to include even more hours for endless rambling. I just wanted to keep from boring to tears those of you (the few of you who read this blog) who aren't interested in hearing me wax eloquent on my main obsession--the Arabian horse.
Appropriately enough, my new blog is called "Arabian Horse Obsession!" Be warned--that is exactly what it is :-) My friend Julie, of Reinbow Valley Farm, has agreed to co-author this project with me. We may not always agree on everything the other posts, but we will do our best to add as much dimension and breadth to the topic as we can.

Please excuse the rough appearance for now--it will get better as I have time to work on it more (as this one has, right???).

(*Ibn Al Hassan+/ - one of the many gorgeous Arabs I will be discussing in my new blog)

'Nipping out

Friends don't let cats do the 'nip!

It's highly addictive and can be a "gateway" to more deviant behavior!

It can even lead to black outs, loss of consciousness, your cat acting like he is swimming on land, and your cat pretending to be a rug. Don't take a chance!!

Steer YOUR cats away from the dangerous substance that is catnip!!

Mid Night Ravin

Previously, I mentioned my friend Jane had been looking for a new horse (preferably an Arabian gelding). She found Josh, but, unfortunately, he did not work out for her. So this Saturday it was back out on the road, this time to look at a black Arab gelding near Dayton, OH.

Mid Night Ravin, or Ravin, was advertised as a "Youth All Rounder" by his owner. He sounded like just the kind of Arab Jane was looking for; sound at 13 and not easily excited by things on the trail.

Our trip started out with a BANG, literally. While Jane had just purchased new tires for her truck, the trailer tires appeared to be in excellent shape, and she had checked the tire pressure prior to departing. Appearances can be quite deceiving! Heading South on I-75 in Ohio, one of the trailer tires blew.

As you can see from the picture, the tire wasn't just deflated--it was destroyed!! We limped off the interstate at the nearest exit and into a gas station. Several friendly people offered their assistance, including a motorcyclin' out-reach pastor and his biker wife.

We finally reached our destination (after first driving past the appropriate driveway). Ravin was in a stall, a demonstration of his "stable manners." He had a lovely, very typey Arab face without the over-exaggerated jibbah (bulge at the forehead) displayed by some genetic lines.

His rider, a young but very tall girl, saddled him and warmed him up in an all purpose English saddle. I noticed that the silly boy likes to stick out his tongue!

After the girl rode him, Jane introduced Ravin to her Western gear.

A couple pictures of Jane's "test ride" on the handsome boy:

As I said, Ravin likes to stick out his tongue!

Ravin's good friend, an Appaloosa gelding, happened to be hanging out in the stall next door.

Among others, there was also an elderly Arab mare in the barn who apparently was quite accomplished at snatching food away from unwary passers-by.

The very face of innocence!!

Afterward, Ravin received a bath, and Jane debated whether or not she should take this boy home. In the end, she decided to give him a try. We loaded him up in the trailer and took him back to her place. Czar knew right away something was up! He was sooo excited that Jane brought HIM home a pony!

I even managed to get a picture of him in the barn with his ears forward!!

You may recall how difficult a task that can be!

At the end of the afternoon, Ravin showed no difficulty at all with settling in to graze in his new, big pasture. As with most guys I know, the way to his heart must be through his stomach!

Miley's doppleganger

I met this fellow today:

Look closely; that is NOT Phat Tiger. While I thought my blue-eyed, silver tabby-pointed siamese cross Chunka Lunka was fairly unique colored, it turns out there is ANOTHER cat out there with very similar coloring. But never fear, Miley...

There's not a cat alive who pulls off the Tiger 'Tude like you!