Black Feather Farm

   I took an actual vacation this year and traveled to Wyoming. I had never so much as driven to the panhandle of Oklahoma by myself , but I had no qualms, and jumped in a rental car with my cameras and went. The only thing I reserved, was a tour on the Pryor Mountains to see the wild horses.    I've never had so much fun in my life. I drove the Bear Tooth  and the Big Horn Mountain drives, saw the Tetons, Jackson Hole and a smidgeon of Yellowstone.   And of course the wild horses. Something I have wanted to do for years.                                                         The Tetons at sunset.                               Saw these buffalo in Meeteetse, the photo below was taken in Cody.    I met severa...

How does one revive a long neglected blog? A lot of life has happened to me and you since I've been away.  Lets start here and I'll share any memories that seem worthwhile, but its a new day to head down this path of the present , so lets get rolling and kick some dust up! If you are here for the first time, welcome ! I share a bit of my life here about my farmette, my animals, my writing and art. Right now I am in the middle of some home projects that include fence mending. That big black girl of mine thinks fences are put up to rub on, knock down, solve like a puzzle as to, how to get "over there." I have been art and writing busy too, and will keep you updated on a rather large project I am working on. That's the welcome back post, now for the good stuff ......

Do you ever, on the spur of the moment hop in your vehicle and head to parts unknown ? This past Saturday my girlfriend and I did just that and headed west to Amarillo Texas. Neither of us knew what was there, and upon arriving decided "nothing" was. We looked for the old part of Amarillo, but just found the undesirable part of Amarillo. We were just about to turn around and head back home. We were hungry and a bit disappointed. We saw two policeman talking beside their vehicles so we pulled up and asked them where the "coolest " place in Amarillo was. One of them just laughed and the other looked up towards the sky with a grimace on his face. Meaning, there was no "coolest " place in Amarillo. He told us about the place where if you can eat the 72 ounce stak and all the fixins that come with it you get it free. Her and I put together weigh exactly 251 lbs and I don't eat meat. We explained we wanted the old part, the district with fun shops and the l...

This is a friend of mine who is a wonderful horse advocate/rescuer. This is the story of Summer Brennan {Click here} and her mustang Amado.... enjoy.

The Safeguard American Food Export Act, just introduced into congress may save the horses. Please go to facebook and go to Oklahoman's Against Horse Slaughter 2012 and Beyond, there is a post with a link to a petition, and send an email to your Washington Representatives. I can't get my links to work here for some reason. Imperative that you call your representatives in Washington, tell them you want them to support HR 1094 /S.541 Safeguard Act, and to stop using your tax dollars to fund horse slaughter. They are moving ahead with things at this point in Oklahoma, a meat company has just applied for USDA approval to slaughter horses. Big Ag rules here and the legislators pander to the cattlemen. The cattlemen are behind the horse slaughter bills here, so many are boycotting beef. Cattle ranchers are also the reason the USDA spends 100 million dollars a year to kill wildlife. Some of their hired killers are quite abusive. I know politics is not fun but the word has to spread...

Hello all ! I don't know how many of you know that I am from and in Oklahoma. Our {crooked} legislators have decided to force horse slaughter on us. We do not want it, but we are having a hard time getting the word out. Our media here is, well I suspect been told to keep quiet about all of it. So we - Oklahoman's Against Horse Slaughter {on Facebook} are battling. I have provided a link here if you want to help. We can get great exposure on this if we get enough "up" votes. Please visit the link, register, which is super quick, email & password - done.... and hit the "UP" arrow on the left of the text box. Then sign the petition, you're done ! Visit us on Facebook to become educated about the subject, because you can help even if you don't live here. Help us stop this unnecessary evil. Thank you !!!!!

Sunday I hopped on Indi for her to teach me a lesson, I mean to ride her for a little while. I didn't put on my helmet, which is rare, even though we usually have an uneventful experience. The back of Indi's pasture is wooded and I don't know what kind of horse eating monster was loose in the woods, but she was not going anywhere near them. Blowing , snorting, jumpy, not paying attention , not stopping when asked, turning and leaving without being asked ..... I finally had to get off, do some ground work with her and show her that the woods were safe and that what I say still goes .... I told her she could take most anything that came out of the woods. She was unimpressed and proceeded to forget about personal space and leading manners. Whirling, bumping, pulling.... more ground work until she settled down. I rode again for a few minutes to reassert my Alpha mare status. Then I gave her the evening hay. That was the answer to everything, the monster apparently slinks ba...

Now called "Tribal Horses" my new designs will start their life in my Zazzle shop and work their way around from there. Shown here is the "Tribal Mustang." Look for the dagger, hearts, and the word "Wild" worked into the design. Do you like black and white art or do you prefer color ? I think I will add a red heart here and there with a touch of turquoise on the next one. This is why creating art never stops....those little trouble making words " I think I will....."

I decided to make definitive goals for 2013. Or maybe they are a bit more like things I want to find in the coming year...I need one of them, hope for the other and the third I can work around because I am fine on my own. In no certain order they are Aventure, Love and Money. I'll let you know how things turn out.... Did you make special goals or have ideas of what you seek to find this year ? "HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!! "

We are having a white Christmas this year, which is pretty, but it cancelled my plans so I am home with just my furry family. I hope your day is all you want it to be. I am looking forward to the New Year and I have plans to be more active on my blogs this coming year.... so we will catch up soon ! Merry Christmas !!!!

There has been a flourish of activity in my studio as of late.....Many of my new pieces have taken on a new, old life. While a lot of artists are still coating their pieces with shiny resin, I have taken a step back to a simple brush on, textured finish for my pieces. They are more antiqued, roughed up, stained and all but stepped on with my boots. I want them to look like they were pulled out of the dust in a corner of some forgotten saloon. I will still of course use resin for some of my pieces, just don't be surprised if I leave in the bubbles and stir in some prairie dust.....

I've been back in the studio lately {finally} doing a little art, jewelry and all around creating. One of the new things I'm working on are some necklaces made to look like old fresco's. I love the surface texture.... these, along with my painted tile and amulet necklaces are going to be showing up on my website and in my Etsy shop. I'll share some more work soon....

I went to Wal-Mart last nite ... and when I came out I saw a homeless women I have just started noticing here and there around town. I believe her misfortune to be recent. She had herself wrapped in a blanket, pushing a cart and had her dog with her. I went to my car, put my stuff in but turned to see where the woman had gone. At the south side of the entrance near the bicycle rack , she pushed the cart against the wall and went inside the store. I was concerned someone might try to disturb the dog or her few belongings so I walked over, stayed a few feet away and watched over them. The dog, a handsome mixed breed was in good condition, spotless, tagged and was laying on a blanket. He was on a long leash and tied securely in place. The belongings were tucked neatly inside two large tote bags and were on a rack beside the cart. He watched intently for her return. When she came out he jumped in circles and she greeted him with "Get back on your bed now." I slipped across th...

Like all my loves- I never want her to go....... The special bond we share does not dim with age.... we remember their youth and their stories like our own. We wish we could turn back the years for them. Our heart breaks to see them falter. So we continue to keep our part of the bargain and prop them up, like they have done for us so many times. And when the time comes, the last thing we will do for them is to gently let them go, if only from our sight. We forever keep them warm and safe tucked away in our hearts. There will be tears, and eyes that search but fail to find.... an empty feeling that cannot be filled. That is what real love is.... and the fact that they are dogs, does not change any of it.

I recently took some photos of a lovely old Masonic Eastern Star chapel here in Oklahoma. The chapel is being restored, most of the stained glass windows were long ago destroyed, stolen or taken out. One of the windows is but a framework, with bits of glass clinging in place, making one try to imagine its former glory. A fragile reminder of the past and that the hand of time leaves nothing untouched. I am planning a few short road trips around Oklahoma to photograph old barns, and whatever I regard interesting. I'll let you know what I find......

Its nice up here..... But I might like it up there.....

Please take a moment from your day to call the Presidents message service at 1-202-456-1111 and tell them you want the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act supported. Send an email to your senators asking them how they will vote on S. 1176 / H.R. 2966 and tell them horse slaughter is unacceptable to you . This is not a good thing for America and it is not to help neglected horses like they will try to tell you. It is about greed as always. It will take you 5 minutes ... the only voice the horses have is you. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” ---- Edmund Burke

Took a short road trip Monday to Sulpher Oklahoma and went inside the Billy Cook Harness, and Saddle shop. They make the saddles and harness there. This fabulous tooled piece hangs in the store front. Very interesting pistol bit..... I posted this photo even though I have images of the horses and carriage, and a wall full of harness inside. I like the soft and interesting reflection of the glass, the harness in the background, the meeting and mixing of past and present horsepower. One of the many fabulous Billy Cook saddles.... Metal horse sculptures in front of a local bank.... A nice "Welcome Home" across my driveway looking east....

If you don't have a sense of humor, I don't know how you make it through this life. Can you believe January is already over ? If anyone one knows where it went please tell me, because I wasn't through with it yet..... Did you make any resolutions , and are you sticking with them ? There is a blog I read quite a bit and every year at the end of December she asks her readers what their word for the new year will be and why .... this year I chose " Accomplish." I have a few things I want to see to fruition this year and along with my word to prod me, I ask myself everyday.... " What did you do today that will help you achieve your goals ?" So I'm heading straight for that " get it done" road.... because I want to get to the other side.

As the sun sets on 2011, I will wish you all a wonderful, new year - filled with love and laughter.