Erik is "leaving Oklahoma city".

We were eating at cattlemans last night and Erik looked up from his steak and said. I am moving to Oklahoma and I will lock myself in a hotel room and eat myself to death on this beef!. You know like the Nicholas cage movie but with alcohol!.   I laughed myself silly!

Mila's now a convicted killer....

As I've feared, Mila did the unthinkable today.  She had escaped the property, and found comfort in the neighbour's chicken coop.  I am absolutely mortified!  Luckily, the people are really cool, and they made us feel ok about the situation.  So, I've just spent the last couple of hours in the kitchen, baking my chocolate marbled banana bread, in hopes that all that sweetness will remove any lingering feelings of bitterness. Yes, I am resulting to bribery.    The pisser of it all, is that I have no idea where she is escaping at.  There is about 20 acres of underground fence, and unless I actually see her escape, I really have no idea of where to start.   Now I'm beginning to wonder if Mila has ever brought Ada out on her escapades.  It's moments like this that make me realize that even though most breeds of dogs are by definition "domesticated",  there is still some of the feral qualities of the hunter in all of  our sweetest of canine friends.

Good Evening, from Small Wonders.

Now playing at Small Wonders... Dr Zhivago

Wow... great movie!  Seriously?... Julie Christie.  doesn't get better than that.  I'm so fortunate to have someone to appreciate this movie with me.  (Although, I had to watch this movie in two sittings, as it is over four hours long).  My next goal is Gone with the Wind... uninterrupted.  Good Evening, from Small Wonders

I dare you to not to shed a tear....

Do yourself a favour....Spend the next six minutes watching this.  You won't regret it!

http://storycorps.org/animation/danny-and-annie/

Well Said Voltaire.....

"‎Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats."


Happy birthday Good Sir

Jane Eyre has ruined it for us all

Now playing at Small Wonders.... Jane Eyre

This is precisely the time where I get a " I got to go to bed" from Erik,  I think he is in excruciating pain, having watched the last last hour of this movie.  I cannot understand how he can detest  a story that I absolutely love! How is this possible?  I think I too shall go to bed, hopefully with Mr Fassbender in my dreams....(Mr Darcy will do though!)

Good Eve... from Small Wonders

Zooey

Another mouth to feed!  I've heard the expression, that you always have one more horse than stalls, which must be what happened at our place.  I finally got the fifth stall readied for our five horses, and my husband decides to add another member to the family!!  So that's right... we now have six ponies in the yard.  What can I tell you about this mare.  Well, she is very respectful to her human owners.   But, out in the pasture... OMG... she is the devil-incarnate.  We were told by her previous owners that she was  pretty head strong, but I didn't grasp the full extent.  Not until I let her out to meet the other horses for the first time.  I kept them seperated for the first 4 days or so, just allowing them to look at each other, and nothing more.  Sometimes a herd can "bully" a newcomer, and I didn't  want that to happen.  So, on the day I let them meet each other, I threw out some hay, in hopes of distracting the herd.  Which worked, they were pretty hungry, so continued eating while the new mare worked her way into the pasture.  So, I think to myself, wow, that went smoothly!!  Needless to say, I was just about to step into the house, and I hear a high pitched squeel.  Sure enough, the new mare made her way over to the feeder, and started kicking the other horses!  Like what they call "double barrel" kick, with both hind legs!  My poor Maya got the brunt of the attack :(  Luckily she was fine, and not marked up at all.   So, I go out to the pasture, and start giving Zooey some much needed reprimanding!  Which of course, did nothing because as soon as I get in the house, she goes after Bella.  And I'm thinking to myself, how can a horse, who should be low man on the totem pole, walk into a strange herd, and decide that she is going to be "top dog".  It just doesn't happen.  Erik can't understand why I'm so disturbed by this.  But it doesn't realize, it's just not natural...  So... hopefully soon the herd will settle down.  I mean, this mare makes Velvet look like an angel!!  I kid you not!!   Hopefully I will post photos soon :)

Good Day, from Small Wonders

(PS... was it not the most beautiful day yesterday? I split some more wood yesterday, in my t-shirt...) in November... what a gift
            

You can thank me later for this music recco....

I cannot understand why more people do not know of this girl.  Her name is Laura Marling, and she is a singer/song writer from the U.K.  I first heard of her from a documentary she took part in where artists record live at the Abbey Road Studios in London.  This particular episode, she recorded a few songs with Ryan Adams, and also a few of her own songs.  I was blown away.... So much so, that I immediately went to Itunes to download an album.  Then, a day after listening to this, I bought two more of her albums.  So, for about a week this is all I've been listening to, and I can't get enough of her.  Her voice has a sugary sound.  Her lyric writing is simply amazing.  I can't believe this girl is only in her early twenties.  Oh, and because that's not enough to have going on, she's absolutely stunning! 

Click on link to watch this video she made

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJclJXdCl-4


  "Don't Ask Me Why"                                  

I choose to stay far away
From the ones that think
Money is money to share
Don't ask me why
And I'll tell you no lies

Sonny don't come here no more
He don't drink from this well
O he's done with the world
And done with the girl
And I don't ask him why
And he tells me no lies

Those of us who are lost and low
I know how you feel
I know it's not right but it's real
But it's real.

I don't ask for love
And I don't beg for money
I'm just asking for grace and forgiveness
Now honey don't ask me why
And I'll tell you no lies.

Been looking for answers
In unsavoury places
On the highest of mountains
And on the lowest of bases
And I still don't know why
I still don't know why.

Those of us who are lost and low
We know how you feel
We know it's not right but it's real
But it's real.

I took the wind from the sea
I took the blood from an arrow
I took the wisdom of spring
And I was thrown and blown and tossed and turned until
Time found its hand and called an end
Me and time we go way back when
I was a child
And I always knew why.

I knew my name
I knew my road
And I stayed away from heavy loads
I'm still, I'm low
O lord am I low

Those of us who are lost and low
We know how you feel
We know it's not right but it's real
But it's real.

A charmed life...

Good Day, from Small Wonders

Mila... A natural born killer

Okay... seriously, they don't get much prettier than this dog.  Really.  Erik told me I could name this dog, as long as I named her after one of his actress hotties, Mila Jovovich.  Hence the name.  But this dog is beyond pretty.  She is crazy talented, and just plane crazy.  This dog does something at least once a day, where she has me in stitches.  I kid you not.  Everyday I'm laughing at something she does. Like full blown belly laugh.    She is the master mouser, if I've ever seen one.  More talented than your typical cat.  (Not that a cat would last long around here, with the two dogs).  I can't understand how such a lovey dog can be such a natural born killer.  Her sense of smell is more keener than any hunting dog I've EVER owned.  When I'm out riding, she will sit in the middle of the pen, and keep patrol.  If ANY bird flies anywhere near this area, she chases it away.  She has been know to jump like 5 feet, and catch a bird mid-flight.   She is the supreme huntress.  She is scared of nothing, other than the water hose.  Ya, I know, go figure.  This dog would stand up to a coyote, but cower at the sight of a garden hose.  And speed.  Talk about speed.  I will take the four wheeler out, and I will have it up to 53 kms an hour, and she keeps up with me.  Yep, that 's right.  Faster than Ada even.  Maybe I'll hook Mila up to a sled this year!!  She is an "outside" dog, which is a first for me, but I've decided to let her in the house one day a week, just so I can spend some quality time with her.  So, Saturdays have become known  around here as "Mila Saturdays".  She gets to hang out with the fam, and come Sunday morning, she gets the boot!

Good Evening... from Small Wonders.

On the Docket tonight... W/E

This movie is wonderful!!  Loved it!  Madonna did a really great job directing this film starring Abbie Cornish, a new york socialite who is obsessed with Wallis Simpson.  Wallis was the woman that King Edward (David) abdicated the thrown for, back in the 30's. If you don't know the story, watch this film.  It's a great little history lesson on the Monarchy.   Good evening... from Small Wonders
       

Now playing at Small Wonders

The End of the Affair... almost as good as the novel by Graham Greene

My girl Ada

Wow... where to begin about Ada.  I don't think my words can convey how incredibly special she is to me.  Anyone who has a special connection to a dog can relate to that, I'm sure.  She is the most loyal animal I've had, probably ever.  Every morning, I awake, to find her sitting on the side of my bed, staring at me, waiting for me to start my day...  I cannot believe how happy she is in the morning.  It's a wonderful reminder for myself, to begin my own day with happiness, and gratitude.  If you think about it, the reason animals are so content, is that they always live in the present moment.  They do not worry of the past or the future.  Much like a child.  So, when I am having a difficult day, I try to think of my Ada, and how truly fortunate I am to own such an amazing creature.  Wishing you happy thoughts, and a good evening... from Small Wonders    

One of my faves..... The Station Agent

I'm not exactly sure why I love this movie so much.  It's quirky, well acted, full of "under the radar" humour, and most of all, it deals with matters of the heart.  I love the fact that it's one of those hidden gems, that not a lot of people know about.  If you ever have a couple hours to kill, please do yourself a favour, and watch this movie... You won't be sorry.... Let me know your thoughts.

Can i get a YUM....

So.... dinner this evening.  Braised, bone in pork chop, with a cream sauce of mushrooms, prosciutto, garlic and white wine, with a side of cheddar'd cauliflower, and fresh pumpernickle bread (not shown), and desert of  Chocolate Marbled Banana Bread (again, not shown).

Really really good meal if I do say so myself.  Good Evening from Small Wonders!

The next family member, almost called "Muffin"

I kid you not.  My husband had the idea of giving his horse the most feminine name possible.  Luckily, after begging him to change his name, he did.  Although, what he landed on is not quite a stretch.  He chose" Buck" for a barn name, but his colour is buckskin.  Not very much thought went into that decision.  But strangely, oddly, it works for him.  Mind you, after all the fiasco in naming him, more often than not, we seem to use his nick-names more than anything when addressing him.  "Old Man"  "Slouch"  "Couch" "Buckeroo".  They all work for him.  His registered name is "Nitro Gambler".  His sire was a pretty cool horse, and he was called "Stamp" by his owner.  He had a really cool mind, and alot of his traits were past down to his progeny. And his colour.  Amazing.  He goes from a really light colour in the summer, to a really dark colour in the fall/winter.   Quite an interesting study really.  I love this guy, even though he is not my horse.  He is so laid back, and nothing much seems to faze him.  He always seems to get all the food he wants, and doesn't seem to bother with all the politics of herd mentality.  He doesn't care if he is second in command, or low man in the ranks.  He eats exactly what he wants to, and if he gets kicked in the process from a dominate mare.... well so be it . He  is a horse that has some really high speed gears.  It's so fun to run him in the barrels!  He's so comfy.  His stride is rather elongated, which really helps with the level of comfort.  Almost like the proverbial barcalounger!    In the spring, he forgets he is a gelding,  and tries to breed all the mares here.  We don't interfere with this.  It's really no harm.  It's not like he can produce any off spring.  I think if we could somehow convey to him, that he is not a stallion, he would be embarrassed.  So... we let him think he is the "Stud Muffin" he claims to be.   He is tough, he is lovey, he's quirky, and the only animal around here that produces testosterone, other than Erik!!!!  So.... here is the man, Buck.....

I am going through a "Hemingway" phase....

I believe that love that is true and real creates a respit from death.  All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well, which is the same thing.  And when the man who is brave and true, looks death squarely in the face, as did some rhino hunter that I know, or Belmonte, who is truly love.  It is because they love with sufficient passion to push death out of their minds until it returns, as it does, to all men, and then he must make really good love again~ Think About it.

Good Afternoon, from Small Wonders

This strange creature we call "Velvet"

Hmmmm.... What to say about this girl... Well, first off, she is not my horse, but my husband's. (He is to be profiled at a later date).  Velvet's registered name is "SLJ I'm a Lucky Juice".  She is a reining bred horse, which is a totally different style of riding to the barrel racing that we do.  This is our first year that we have done reining, and we have had a blast.  The people we have rode and shown with this year have been amazing.  So so helpful.  Just a really really kool crowd of people.   But, about Velvet.  She is one tough mare to figure out. For the most part, this mare pins her ears at everybody.  It's like she is forever PMS'ing (if that's possible!!).  But every once in while, she will let you pet her, if you come at her from the side, and pet her neck.  Then, maybe, she will tolerate your feeble attempt at trying to make friends with her.  The reason this mare is so kool, is that regardless of how she is in the pasture, once you are riding her, she is "all business".  She goes into the show pen, and she will always work for you.  Plus she is pretty talented.  Oh, and by the way...she is a stunning looking mare.   I think she scores bonus marks as soon as she walks into the pen, what with her mane that goes on for ever!!!.  I secretly love watching Erik (hubby) spend soooo much time working the product into her hair.  If you knew Erik, and how much he despises" high maintenance" endeavors,  you would find this humorous as well!!!  So... for all her faults, at the end of the day, she comes up a winner, and that's pretty kool in my book!