My religion...My church!

You're missing the snow, Frenchy ....

What is a "church" without snow?

And you need more trees ....

But outside of that ....

Well, you've got a good start ....

And so ...

Got plenty of trees Liv, but this is a shot outside my front door. We get on average, about 23" of snow a year. It was 69 degrees here yesterday.

Similar to what I'm looking at out my home office window except my pasture still has a little more green. The last two seasons have been good to us...

You have a bit warmer climes down there, rla.

Wide open spaces....beautiful! Where are your "girls" (horses)?

Hiding in the woods...It's blustery today!

Smart, they are! Do they need a barn for the worst weather (ice storms, sever lightning, very strong winds, etc) or do they take cover in the trees?

They use the trees and the hollers for protection.

You mean they "holler" for help and you rescue them? Or are "hollers" (hollows) the areas between the mountains?

Yup. More hills than mountains!

Send some of that warm weather our way, Frenchy ...

And I was going to ask you which way we were looking here ....

So it's outside your front door ....

But is it north or south or east or west?

And is that a hay field?

Or grain?

I thought you had mountains down your way, rla ...

It is a hay field, and we are looking Northwest. The warm weather was rather fleeting.

What's up there?

Nebraska?

And what side of the Mississippi River are you on?

Be the east side, wouldn't it?

And what about your horses?

What kind of horses are they?

Or are they Missouri mules?

.

Missouri mules are quite famous, as you likely know, Frenchy ...

Indeed they are Liv, and I've ridden a few. You do know that Mules cannot reproduce? They are a cross between a Jackass and a horse. The big Missouri Mules were usually crossed on Belgium draft horses.

Old folks out in Wyoming used to say that you just cannot comprehend "cussedness" until you've been around a Missouri mule, Frenchy ...

They can be stubborn, but they are extremely loyal animals and smart.

They're supposed to be able to kick pretty good, as well ...

How did you end up with Arabian horses ....

I thought that down there, you would maybe have Tennessee "Walkers" or Morgans ...

Something along those lines ..

A friend was a breeder of Egyptians, and I purchased a young mare from her. She's put down seven offspring since then. She's 25 years old now.




I did have a Walker for many years. A double "Midnight Sun" bred mare.

Beautiful, Frenchy ...

They are the back-drop when you look up. We have ice forming on the leaves right now but
that's not ordinary...

Did you have mules down there in Georgia when you were young, rla?

Did your father shoe any?

Frenchy, you sure do have a nice spread down there ....

Some elbow room ....

That's never a bad thing at all ....

I'm happy for you ...

And so ...

Thanks, Liv..It's my little bit of heaven. Mules are easier to shoe than horses.

How long you been there, Frenchy?

Is the soil pretty good?

It looks it from the hay ...

And is there water down there in that draw where you can see the trees?

.

Is that near to where you grew up, Frenchy, where you are now?

I grew up in St. Louis, Liv. A city boy who learned his lesson.

Interesting, Frenchy ....

I'd say you escaped it pretty good, from what I can see out there where you are ....

I drove through St. Louis once during mid-day ....

I'll tell you what, Frenchy .....

You can keep that traffic out there, thank you very much ....

It took hours to finally clear that place ....

No offense intended, of course ....

I'm sure that otherwise, it is a real fine city ....

And so ....

Yes and Yes. My next-door neighbor just brought two home. My much older brother in law
had a big Jack Mule that I used as a boy to plow up his sweet potatoes...

The things that memories are made out of, rla .....

I used to love raking hay, myself, just being out there ....

The sun is finally peeping out here. I may get to see some fancy riding here soon...

It's gray and raining up here, rla ....

It's been freezing ....

I've got to go home and check the fire soon, so I may see some fancy riding myself ....

Although it won't be on horse back ...

And so ...