Black Feather Farm

My blog and I are going through a bit of an evolution... which should be interesting because I am always dragging my feet at change, pleading no, no change for me thank you. I whine and moan and complain about it endlessly until I finally open my eyes and see that some things change for the better. I knew it was time to shake things up a bit in several areas of my life, so I just jumped in... embracing change.... I really am going through a transition.....maybe you should check on me in a few days..... Photo : Indi and I, taken by : Scout Brinlee

In my last post I mentioned the howling wind and snow.....now followed by Christmas was cancelled. I think only Santa could make it through the blizzard like conditions we had, with record snow fall. Some of us are meeting up tomorrow to exchange gifts and eat mexican food. Oh, well, I love mexican food, and if Christmas dinner has to be replaced with spinach enchiladas, I, for one won't complain. A new year has started, and like everyone else I have big plans for this year, even though I don't call them resolutions. There is something exciting and motivating about making new plans for the year yet to be, its like getting a do - over. I tend to be a dreamer, and have big hopes for this year to be something out of the ordinary ! I have been re-thinking my art and where I want to take it { yes, again.... now stop with the eye rolling please.} I've not been happy with how few pieces I've been getting done. I've been unhappy with the look of my art, so things are chang...

The other evening just before dark, just as I was finishing up feeding my furry loved ones, I saw headlights down at my gate. Now, no one should be there on this particular nite so I started walking up my road towards them. I live a bit off of the main road, so I have a little walk to get to my gate. I saw someone pass from the passenger side of the vehicle to get back in the driver's side. They backed away and took off before I could get close enough to see what they were doing. I walked on up to my gate to check things over, then saw two small shapes red, and black moving around. With a look that could kill, complete with mental daggers, I glanced in the direction of the escaping suv and muttered under my breath, they have dumped two dogs. Sadly, that happens a lot, the reason I have a small herd of dogs. As I got closer, I realized these were not dogs, but a red rooster and a little black hen. Incredulous, I just kept saying to myself, who dumps chickens???? And the old standb...

A few of my favorite past images of Indi in the snow.....

" Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure." --- Old proverb Photo is from my collection. Notice not only the dog, but the pidgeon on the rump of the donkey. The back of the image notes that it is "Orlando" and his pets.

"Happy 4th to everyone ! Isn't this the neatest vintage photo ! My friend Linne in California owns this one, and I have permission to use it on my jewelry. If you have ever seen the "Cowgirls of the Old West" calendar that comes out every year, some of her photos are usually in it. She has a marvelous collection.

" Boys will be boys, but girls will be women." Be sure to click on this photo to get a close view. This little girl is not the least bit afraid, or worried about sitting on this sweet pony. What a good pony he must have been for the parents to have trusted him so. - photo from my collection -

Cats are so dramatic. ◊Sent to me via email◊

If you are like me you talk to your animals alot, and every morning the conversation goes more or less like this.... Good morning Luna, are you ready to start the day & go to the barn? Good morning Indi... lets get your oats big girl. Yes Hannah, momma will throw your ball for you.... {As Bitsy tries to grab at Indi through the fence, growling, like she does every morning} No Bitsy, Indi is not what's for dinner... The last question of the morning is of course for Tessa.... And what havoc will you be wreaking today ?

" Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and go good with ketchup." ------- Author unknown Photo found at -snapshotparade.com

Pockets and Luna in the kitchen window.

He was in the inauguration parade with his owner Stephanie. Stephanie is president of the Georgia Ladies Aside Side Saddle club, and she sent me the following email. Parade video Click on video library, then parade. We are 24 minutes and 28 seconds into the video. Right behind the bagpipes! You can see me on Romeo! It was incredible! We had a blast! I was thrilled and honored to be a part of such a historical day! It was a great day for America! Tuesday was a very long day. I was up at 3 am and to bed at 11. Romeo was kept very entertained for almost eight hours! I hand walked him a lot. He had a lot of hay, apples, and snacks. I was able to take a lot of photos before the parade. We had fun checking out the other horse entries in the Parade. We really enjoyed talking to the Crow Nation as they are from Montana and so am I originally. I was so proud of Romeo! He behaved flawlessly. He must have known it was his most important ride ever! He is a rock s...

That would be the "Secret Society of Royal Equestrian Bunnies." This is a photo montage with digital painting added, of Touché whom you met earlier on my blog, riding Indi, who you are tired of meeting. I am working on some new techniques and ideas, there are some fun and interesting things in the works. One new item you can see right now, is a cowgirl photo collage on canvas, listed on ebay called Stardust Cowgirl Please remember the S.S.R.E.B. is relying on you to keep their existence a secret....

Okay, if THAT song can't make you smile, you better check your grinch meter readings. The song was sung, in 1953 by 10 year old Gayla Peevey, from Oklahoma City. A local promoter launched a publicity campaign to present Gayla with a real hippopotamus for Christmas. The song and the campaign were wildly popular $ 3,000 was raised. So came Mathilda, the real hippopotamus. The Oklahoma City zoo, had no hippo at that time and Miss Peevey donated hers to the zoo. Mathilda lived for nearly 50 years, married Norman along the way and is remembered fondly, by those who remember her, at Christmas time. Now you know more than you wanted to know about the song, and can dazzle family and friends with your useless, trivia knoweledge... oh... errrr, thats what I do - sorry ! Facts are courtesy of Judy Brotton, via an article from Distinctly Oklahoma. The whimsical artwork shown is from Leslie Sealy, who is a wonderful artist. Check out her blog Leslie Sealy and enjoy some pretty things as wel...

Did you know you can house train bunnies ? After having this sweet fellow in my life, I have never seen bunnies the same way. This is Touché, also known as Bun's. He was a so much fun and as darling as they come. He would come when called, was a snuggler, and loved to rip the paper off of Christmas presents. It would take too long to tell you all of his endearing ways. Suffice it to say his personality was bigger than "Harvey" and he was loved to the moon and back again. ♥ My son Chad {early 1991} & Touché snuggling. His favorite napping spot, in front of the return vent.

Meaning, I made a photo to look like a magazine cover! So fun, and a lot of creative uses, party invitations, etc. You can do this on magmypic.com or create your own like I did. The horse I am riding in the picture is Chadon, a.k.a "Petey." He is a Swedish Warmblood, that was boarded at the dressage farm I used to work at a few years ago. He was adorable, and a bit of a snob, but you loved him all the more for it. If you weren't one of the people who did things for him, you would get the big white cold shoulder. I was lucky enough to be one of those people. Petey competed in the Pan Am Games awhile back, and his owner was so kind to let me take a dressage lesson on him once. She didn't offer that to many, and keep in mind I am quite the amateur, so that shows just how generous it was. I found out a few months ago that Petey is gone now. Whatever special place he is at, I hope they remember to stock his peppermints. That old saying - "For the love of Pete," w...

"I don't make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts."-- Will Rogers

Photo credit unknown.

Vintage postcard, and Equitana photo.

This is a fabulous vintage side saddle photo postcard in the Museum of Performing Arts collection. {Click on the image to enlarge} I have never seen a capriole, {dressage schooled leap, in which the horse kicks out with its hind legs, as it leaps forward in the air} performed sidesaddle before this ! I thought it would make a "bewitching" Halloween painting to make her into a witch on a flying horse. However Jennifer MacNeil of Gypsy Mare Studios[link to the right & below} is like the queen of Halloween artworks, check out her enchanting creations on her blog and website. So I will let her act on that idea if she likes it, and I will paint her as an Ice, or Snow Queen on a flying horse. Who knows, maybe we can see how two different artists will translate the same inspiration.