raising a teenager & a special gift

You can guess who the teenager part of this post is about, Hope. Our two year old continues growing into her own. Testing boundaries with other horses, and humans. As every young horse does. Among other horsey communication methods, Ms. Hope flattens her ears to show dissatisfaction. 

For example, she prefers being led on the right side. Right side is easier access into the stall, and it just feels...well, right. When leading two horses inside, the horse on the left typically is asked to stand and wait while the other horse is put into the stall and un-haltered. Waiting, the horror of it all! 

It didn't take long to progress past the side preference, altho Hope still tries to position herself on the right side of the gate. Typically the first horse haltered is closest to the gate handle. She continues testing Harmony for that "me first" gate position. Even if sometimes the first haltered horse goes inside last. Mixing it up is key.

Hope is entitled to her ear opinion, as long as she doesn't act on it toward humans. Which brings me to my next teenager testing example. Being particular about humans being in her stall. Especially when humans are carrying a fork and making off with her poopy piles. How dare we refresh her stall?!! She is not food aggressive at all and has always left her food in favor of attention. The complete opposite of Koda. He loves food best.

I don't care much for excessive ear pinning. I know mares that ride/show with ears pinned. Not super flat. Perhaps just listening, but flat enough that it appears to be dislike. I have no idea if this is typically a mare thing or not, but ear pinned horses looked pissed off to me. Even when they are not. Obviously there are different levels of ear pinning/signals. 

About a month ago, Hope more or less charged 'er came at me in her stall. She didn't do anything else and stopped before reaching me. I was not amused. Where did our sweet girl go? Feeling your safety threatened is never okay. For any reason. I chose not to (re)act on it. The look on that "I am sorry" girl's face peering between stall bars was priceless. All the other horses got refreshed stalls and loved on. 

Yes, I tattled on Hope to her trainer. All our horses are okay with us in their stalls at any time, including when eating grain. In time Hope will be too, she just needs to learn. It feels wrong to say I am happy Hope doesn't just pin her ears in her stall at me. I tend to think fill in the blank horse reaction is my inadvertent fault. Needless to say, we have been spending a lot of time in Hopes stall. While she eats grain, hay and yes even stealing her coveted (?) poop piles. Talking to her and giving scritchey scratches first, seems to help ease her dislike of human interruption in her domain 'er stall during intermittent room service. Hope is coming around.

Raising a teenager is easy. Said no one ever.

~~~~~

I received a special gift!! The gift of knowledge, with a bonus way to reflect. As some of you know I was the lucky Sacred Spaces book give-a-way winner, from Linda at Beautiful Mustang blog. She also sent me a surprise beautiful journal to accompany the book!

"There are silent, yet powerful, ingredients...invisible things equestrians do that make their interactions with horses seem effortless. These abilities already exist inside of each one of us, so we merely need to understand how to use them. But we also need to be willing to open our eyes and hearts..."

I am waiting until after the holiday's to sit with this book, and intend to journal my thoughts/observations. I want to give it my full attention. I am really looking forward to 2026. It is going to be a great year!

Thank you Linda!!! For all the inspiring reflection you share on your well written blog, and these treasured gifts to learn from and grow with. Our horses also say thank you. Especially Hope.

land of wonders ~ november

November's land of wonders began with our 5th annual grandkid halloween hunt! The theme this year was Clowns. The kiddo's search our woods each year for hidden letters. They figure out the theme and later on get a bag of goodies. Letters are hidden throughout various interactive spooky scenario's. 

11/1/25

A chalkboard sign read "Go up, go down. Teeter totter with the clown. You might find a letter."

I am the primary ghostly mind behind the hunt, but pulling it off is a team effort. Brad made the teeter totter base. He also helps set up, when crunch time makes me go cray-cray. 

Harmony's mom put together a dead finger pull, hidden underneath leaves. Two highlights for the kids this year. Our daughter also saved the hunt. I almost had to cancel. It was held the day after our 94 lb dog Tank insta-sat between my legs. Popping my "good knee out". It sent me back to square one with mobility issues. He did not mean to hurt me, and was seeking comfort.

Each year the hunt is set up differently. I decided this would be the year I made a chicken wire ghost for the cemetery scene. Have you heard of them? They are super cool. I found out the hard way they are challenging to make. Silly me. Don't believe You Tube video's that make chicken wire sculptures look simple. Shaping chicken wire is frustrating!

She (who needs a name) is life size, with folded hands for holding things. Currently waiting patiently up by our house, to be turned into an angel.

Our land provided many beautiful colorful November vista's:

11/2/25

Below my butterfly garden lays dormant, awaiting Spring renewal. We decided to go with plan C, the control burning route. It will be interesting to see if/how it flourishes. 

11/4/25

Nemo and Cierra



Tankee 11/5/25 

Click to enlarge one of our most breathtaking Fall evening skies, on a special date!

11/6/25 

Good Morning 11/10/25 

Tank still does puppy dog head tilts

Our neighbors were right, Aurora Borealis can be seen from our land. I didn't bother the first night. The over done hoopla took away the luster for me many years ago. The following night I briefly went outside to look from our driveway, and then promptly went to bed :)

11/12/25 

Possible Steve sighting facing West, above our house

Fall skies are simply the best, and November continued to delight!

11/13/25



close-up

Harmony & Hope 11/14/25

There was a lot of extra focus this month on our families dogs. For reasons I have already shared. Grand dog Jameson has lived with us the lions share of his life. Remi is 9 and has come to Aurora's Doggie Daycare a minimum of two days a week her entire life, with occasional overnights. That girl is completely obsessed with me! The dogs live for walks in the woods. Me too.

Jameson 11/16/25

trio heading out 11/19/25

We change walking routes during opening deer hunting weekend. 

Jameson exploring the new pasture clearing

11/22/25


some dogs are stick obsessed



Jameson & Tank 11/25/25

Tank always checks on me

November 29th Winter arrived. Our weather flipped and it snowed most of the day/night.

11/30/25

By morning, we had around 9" of snow. Deeper in spots. Our land became a Winter Wonderland! The labs and I enjoyed our first snowshoe of the season!!

Tank in snow heaven 

our self entertaining snow dog

(Nemo in background)

see chunk of air born snow Tank popped up (look at pines)

yes, Tank does this the entire time
11/30/25