Wild Wednesday

I used to write here about my foxhunting adventures, but now, with my horse gone and the two little ones, there's not any foxhunting going on. But there is still country time. Every Wednesday, we pack up and head out and spend a couple of hours meandering, rain or shine, usually along the old trails where I used to ride (and where H reminds me, we will ride again). I'd like to document some of our trips because they are just so magical.

Yesterday we walked the happy hack, and H pretended to be a "putt-a putt-a Jeep" for most of the walk up the hill. We walked through the old dairy barn and then he was a cow, interested in all the old farm equipment we passed, balers and rakes overcome with weeds and Russian olive. G alternated between sucking his thumb, leaning against me in the carrier and pointing at vultures and hawks, throwing his head back and laughing at our good fortune to be alive.

Joan, a whip from Loudoun West, came through as we were going down the back side to the creek. We heard the horn and hound voices and one hound came to visit us at the creek before heading back to the pack, which we saw waaay on the other side of the farm while we were on top of the mountain. The cows had heard the horn, too, and they all gathered around the creek just where we had to cross. This was probably G's favorite part, walking through those cows and squealing at the babies running back to the others.

When we got to the creek, H wanted to go "waiting" and so we all did, up to the tops of our boots. G wore his new rain boots and was so excited to stomp his feet around. H fell in and cried, but then the moment he was safely on the bank, he wanted to go wading again, "just a lil bit more, Mama". On the way back to the gate, H found two big feathers near the burn pile and then he was a bird, with the wind in his feathers. He told me the wind would help him fly. So sweet.

This entry is really just for me, to help me remember these days, and of course I've left out the minor squabbles that happened along the way. I may end up password protecting these entries in the future, since I doubt they're interesting to anyone but me and maybe close family. On to Thursday.

More Milo madness

I knit this little Milo vest (my sixth!) last winter when I just needed to be knitting something *now*. Milo vests are good for that instant gratification knitting when you don't need another hat. I used some Cascade 220 handpaint that I had bought because it was such a good price for a handpainted yarn. I really disliked this while it was knitting up because of the awkward pooled stripes (sometimes I think I should just eschew all variegated yarn), but I stuck it out and finished it off because it's such a quick knit. And when I put it on the baby it was rather cute. Another Milo win. Rav notes.

Totally and completely

My child. This is how I found him the other morning. Field guides are some of our favorite reading material.

Blossom baby hat

Every time I see this hat, I want to sing "lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green..." Maybe because I don't have girls and have a true lack of the girly in this house. Anyway, this is Susan Anderson's Upside-Down Daisy hat, done up in Malabrigo and some Lamb's Pride remnants for a friend's new baby girl. It is very soft and very cute, only I'm a little worried that it looks too much like an eggplant. I hope it will be well-received all the same.

This is one of about fifteen (no joke) knits that I have finished over the past six to eight months and haven't managed to ravel or blog. Maybe this is a sign that I enjoy the crafting more than the blogging?

Flying horses

In November, I had to put my horse Joshua down. I'll probably write more here about him later, as he was dignified and loving and just a super horse for me for a decade of my life. He also made me very proud in the end; in his final moments he was still giving.

My little Henry is dealing with Josh's death also, and we talk often about Josh's body versus Josh's soul and where exactly he is, especially when we pass the un-miss-able dirt mound in the field on our weekly walks at the farm. Here's a conversation we had last week.

H: How do you get to the big barn in the sky, Mama?

Me: Well...

H: Because maybe Joshua could come back to visit.

Me: Honey, Joshua's gone. Joshua died.

H: Like the bird who fell off the roof?

Me: Yes, exactly like that. And we buried his body, but his soul went up...

H: To the big barn in the sky?

Me: Yes.

H: Did he fly there?

Me: Well...

H: Because that's silly. If horses have wings then you'd have to hitch them down to ride on their backs.

Me: That *would* be silly.

H: So you have to get a new horse... and I want a pony!

So maybe this just-three-year-old doesn't exactly understand the concept of death, and how do you even explain? Just when you think it's about to get too real, the practical toddler mind takes over. And at least he's focusing on the positive: we remember those we've lost, life is to be celebrated and can be silly and fun, and "I want a pony". Noble thoughts all. I'm enjoying watching him grow so much.

Two birthdays

Big brother turned three. He blew out his candles all by himself and gobbled his birthday cupcake in about a minute and a half.
Baby brother turned one a couple of months earlier. I could hardly keep that crown on his head, but he ate his birthday cupcake with a fork (how dainty!) and took an hour about it.

I'm loving both of these ages so much. Especially loving the co-play, and the way the baby looks up to his brother with adoring eyes. Also when Big Brother does something "gentle-ly" for Baby. Which isn't so often, but I choose to focus on the positive. Happy birthdays boys!

It is winter

How did that happen? Wasn't it just summer? Well. I've been having fun cutting paper snowflakes based on the ones on this site for at least a month. Such good fun. Back soon, I hope.