welcoming committee

Cierra came home a day before our scheduled vet appointment. She was greeting by an eager welcoming committee.

Harmony, Koda & Nemo

Nemo greets her first 

too much pressure

Cierra had a long day and was still in heat. She understandably wasn't in the best mood. Shortly after this photo Cierra struck out, banging the gate. Very out of character. First time we've ever seen her strike. 

Whaaat? Somebody had to tell them to back off. 

Glad Brad decided to wait to turn the herd out together in the morning.

Nemo had a few opinions about his herd being separated. He flew around the pasture, making laps and a lot of dust. It is super dry here. We are in the early stages of a drought. There was a fair amount of calling back and forth for the remainder of the afternoon. Cierra is stalled next to Nemo, so they had plenty of time overnight to exchange whatever horses tell each other.

Our little herd went out together in the morning, and all was well in their world. They just seem happier with all four of them together. In the morning there was a lot of this:

Koda and Cierra

take two

Cierra's ultrasound was today. I tried to get a photo for Shirley. Do you see a baby in this ultrasound?

Nope. Neither do we. Exactly what we expected after we found out yesterday that Cierra was back in heat. It was better knowing ahead of time, then showing up to her ultrasound appointment all excited only to get a big let down. I wasn't sure why we both made the long drive (separately, we were going opposite directions after) up to the appointment, other than apparently it is possible for horses to show (false) heat and still be bred. She wasn't. It happens.
 

The photo above is one of Cierra's ovaries. I learned ovary measurements tell the vet where she is in her heat cycle. He said when in heat the ovaries increase 3mm a day. I assume until they ovulate. He shared some other details but I didn't catch them all. It was a bit chaotic with five people, two dogs, the employee running around etc. Cierra's ovary actually measured to 31mm, which he said was good. I snapped the photo quickly. The ultrasound machine is worn on a belt and the screen is at weird angle. Makes sense, when the vet is the one who really needs to see what is going on inside her. Poor girl, that did not look like anything close to fun. I assume the vet will share the screen when there is something more positive for us to see.

Cierra is getting rebred on Thursday, much to my surprise at our place. We had planned to bring her home after a positive ultrasound, so I re-cleaned her stall/waterer/grain bucket yesterday. Then heard the not so good news. We have a routine vet appointment scheduled at our place for Thursday. I guess Brad decided to bring her home regardless. Much to my surprise. The good news is, Cierra is coming home!! The clinic orders more semen tomorrow and she gets another shot that will make her ovulate, for take two. Fingers and toes crossed these are better swimmers! Nothing is easy. 

it must have rained onions

This morning I found the most peculiar thing on what has become my daily walk.

a dog growing in my raised beds

I found something more peculiar than Tank waiting for me in his new spot. Actually, he is waiting for cherry tomatoes. Silly boy! 

I found something on the mowed path that has our large hay field on one side and the Y path woods on the other. It wasn't there yesterday, and is not near a road... 

a smaller yellow onion

It is about half the size of my fist. No teeth or claw marks. The onion skin is completely attached and unmarked. It is clean with no roots, most likely store bought. 

Can you explain where this onion came from? Because I can't. Clearly it must have rained onions.

perpetual excitement

Disclaimer; this post has absolutely nothing to do with equine, and everything to do with art.

My art background goes back a loong way. I have always loved all forms of art. Some of my first memories related to art are of my third grade flamboyant art teacher. She wore flowing bright colors with her hair up in a thick bee hive. Always encouraging the many "I can't do it" students, like me. She would walk in between the desks and if she heard "I can't do it" encouraged art efforts by loudly saying over and over "you CAN, you CAN, never say you can't, you CAN!!". Obviously, it stuck in my head.

In middle school, I had another amazing dedicated art teacher. By this age, art was an elective. My favorite and final project (the only one I remember) the teacher cut large profiles of whatever artist students chose to learn about. We prepped the wood, researched the artist and wrote a short report on them. Of course there was a classroom art show. The artist profiles were everywhere wrapped around the room. The biggest challenge was painting in the chosen artists style. I chose Salvador Dali. I loved his warped clocks, and he was from Spain where my family is from. My mom kept my Dali for many years. Eventually she needed to downsize, and I didn't want him. He was huge. Sadly, I don't think I even have a photo of it.

I was fortunate to have more supportive art mentors in high school and college, and enjoyed dabbling in many kinds of art. I love drawing best, even if I am not a natural at it.
 

I am a firm believer that art is 90% practice and 10% talent.

Over the years, kids, work and life filled my time and doing any kind of art became wishful thinking. And clutter. My art easel and other college art stuff moved with me from place to place, collecting dust. Including an air compressor, and air brushing tools. I took the more practical and employable commercial route and became a Graphic (and eventually Web) Designer for many years. The field evolved and it became 100% computer work. You wouldn't believe how it was done back in the day! There is little creative and a lot of busy business type work, and babysitting. Lots and lots of babysitting adults. It all suited me well, but thankfully those days are all but over. 

An ad for a Perpetual Phenology Journal came across my feed and caught my eye. I had no clue what Phenology was. Shortly after another blogger (Far Side) mentioned similar. It was as if someone was trying to tell me something. I watched a video, read up on the concept and decided to give it a try. If interested, google it. There is gobs of related info online.

Phenology is "the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life" in other words, taking note of what you observe in nature.

Decisions need to be made on how/often you want to revisit what you observe. For me, the perpetual part of my journal allows me flexibility within a month. I made 6 two page monthly spreads that represent a year. Some people date their journals daily or "week of" but calendar dates change every year. I wanted to eliminate pressure and be able to draw when motivated.

I chose a 6" x 8" journal with blank water color paper
80 double page spreads will last me forever

I think you all know by now I am a procrastinator. Sometimes even I surprise myself. Just like my third grade teacher said, I CAN do it!! I have not drawn anything since college. Starting over isn't going to be pretty. I hope know I will see improvement the more I draw and clear the cobwebs. I quickly found out my brain has all but forgotten how to distinguish shapes relationship to each other, and then transferring those observations on paper. It is 'um hard. Erasers are my friend. Regardless, I am super excited to re-learn and be drawing again!! The habit most likely won't last, but I consider drawing even once a win. Maybe my journal will morph into something else?

My graphite and colored pencils from college are still good. A few additional nature-ish colors would inspire me. So I found a coupon, picked out some new colored pencil shades, a couple Micron ink pens and couldn't leave this behind:

mini watercolor set
(was surprised that I love the water brush!)

Most Perpetual Phenology Journals are done in ink and water color. Both scare me, but I am willing to try. Again. For now I am drawing in pencil, coloring in pencil and highlighting in ink. I tried my mini portable water colors on my monthly fun color labels, to get a feel for the brush.

I used random colors for each page



my first drawing was Sydneys snow drops

It got kind of mucky. I've always struggled with over working my drawings, in my feeble attempt to be "perfect". Wow, water droplets are hard to draw. I'm planning to add some white gel highlights on the droplets and flower. I have to get back to the craft store, my white pen dried up. They sure don't last long, even in a ziplock.

My second day of drawing was a crow feather, from the crow encounter. I love feathers, and plan to draw many of my fine feather finds.

our first blue bird nest
in one of the two nesting boxes Brad (and Tank) made for me

My third day of drawing was extra humbling. Perspective is hard for me to draw. I also screwed up the interior of the nesting box. Sigh.

The sky is the limit on phenology journals. From the media used to the paper (many journals are homemade, even the paper) there are phenology wheels, specific types of nature/ways to study and absolutely endless approaches.

Phenology drawings are suppose to be done in the field. I might do some, or at least sit outside in "my spot" and draw from reference among the pines. Field drawing makes it more daunting for me. How does anyone draw a bird in the field, when they barely stay still long enough for a camera click? In my opinion, you make it your own. For now, I am using photos as ref and doing my journal my way. However you do it, is right for you. Don't feel the need to compliment or critique my drawing efforts. I am all too aware of my (lack of) drawing skills. My goal was to start. Check!! I had to blog about starting my journal, since I actually did it ~ ha ha! Maybe it will even motive someone to get outside and enjoy natures benefits in whatever way.

Looking forward to seeing where this drawing path leads me. I think it will be fun to figure out the monthly layers of drawing in future years, and see what changes. In nature, and in me. I CAN do it!