Heart Connections/Jerry & Maeb

Maeb, a good friend, posing prettily for the camera.

We've been having some sultry weather here at Ravenseyrie as we begin the month of September. The evenings still cool down fairly well with the fragrant scent of the dried grasses and Cedar seeming very pleasant a perfume.

As the plants die back, and their seeds dry and disperse, we enter the season of "stick-ums". Local plants such as the Greater Burdock and Hounds Tongue have developed a rather parasitical means of assuring their seeds get spread by clinging fast to the slightest contact with any passers-by. Soon, much of my time spent with the herd will be patiently untangling and pulling burrs out of their manes and tails.

Already the pups have been picking up seeds from these two plants. While Ganja and Tobacco have tight, short hair coats, Shelagh and Maeb have dense undercoats with long hair overlaying it all--making for two layers of seed storage! Thankfully Maeb likes to be brushed (most of the time) and Shelagh will tolerate being brushed if I can get Kevin to stroke her belly all the while.

With the scented warm evening beckoning, Maeb and I went to the east side of the house where there is a nice rock we both like to sit upon. I brought my brush and while Maeb kept watch over the landscape, I began to meticulously work on removing these burrs from her otherwise lovely hair coat.

Here's one of my favorite photos of Maeb, as she visits with Tini Pel. Tini runs the Gore Bay Ballet School and also teaches T'ai Chi--it is from her that I learned the Yang Long form. She is also a fantastic weaver, a lace maker and a good friend.



This was just what Maeb loves...one on one time with her Lynne. Having offered readers this description thus far, you might be thinking this journal entry will be about Maeb, and it is, of course--but it is also about Jerry...and once again, it's a demonstration of "heart connections".

While Maeb and I were immersed in burr removal and landscape gazing, the herd came up to partake of the mineral lick located on the west side of the yard. The three draft mules, however, decided to come over to the east side and take in a good roll in one of their favorite dirt wallows. On her way by Maeb and me, Doll paused for a brief "hello" and then continued on to the wallow. Dee glanced my way but was intent on passing by Doll to maybe reach the wallow before her and be the first to roll. Jerry walked up to me and stopped. I gave him itches on his long, handsome face and ears and expected him to follow the girls over to the wallow. Instead, Jerry began nibbling my hat and shirt. Before he decided to nibble on Maeb, she thought maybe she'd go off and scout about the long grasses, leaving me and Jerry together for a one-on-one. I stood up on the rock and began giving itches to Jerry's very long back (too long--Jerry is built oddly) . On his own, Jerry lined himself up for a "mounted itches" session. Even though I wasn't outfitted with adequate footwear to be fussing around these big equines, I accepted Jerry's invitation and climbed up, hoping my cheap foam clogs would stay on my feet.

While I was burying my fingers into Jerry's chestnut hair and feeling absorbed into the mellowness of the evening, I heard Kevin speaking from the kitchen window, saying something like, "Well done, Jerry--you're getting some mounted itches!" I waved to Kevin, then continued to itch Jerry some more, until it seemed time to get down. Jerry didn't budge. He seemed to want me to continue. Kevin came out onto the deck and I asked him if maybe he wouldn't mind getting the camera and getting some photos of "mounted itches".

Kev came back out with the camera and took the following photos. The settings on the camera were being especially sensitive, probably due to the dimness of the evening light, and most of them turned out strangely blurry. I think we should have changed the settings, but oh well, we'll do better next time.

But we have a few so-so photos to show, and at the end...a very brief bit of video.

My friend, Kris, has been after me to get these spontaneous mounted itches documented on video. Its not often that I have Kevin handy with the camera, usually, I'm by myself, and I think Kris would have liked to see things from the beginning, but this gives us a little feel of how "mounted itches" transpires.

Jerry is lined up waiting for me to climb up again for more itches.

I'm up, but as I begin the itches, parts of me get blurry.

Look how in focus Jerry is, but how blurry I am. This makes me laugh, because I really don't like to have my photo taken and so I rather like being blurry!

This one isn't blurred, and doesn't Jerry look handsome!
Bella came around to check out what we were up to. Isn't she lovely!

I asked Kevin if he could take a video too, but not being familiar with this feature of the camera, it took him awhile to find the right button to push. Bella had come and gone back to the other side of the yard and Dee and Doll trailed after her. It seemed to me that Jerry maybe wanted to leave too (now that he could no longer see any of his pasture mates) and I thought maybe I should dismount--but in looking at the video later, I can see that Jerry doesn't look at all concerned about being abandoned by his equine chums. My mental reasoning disrupted the "in the now" "heart connection" that Jerry and I had, and we were no longer in sync. He hadn't altered a thing...but I did, and I realize this now, while putting this journal entry together.

It sure was pleasant being out there and having some nice interactions with my animal friends. Even better that Kevin could record some "mounted itches" for us. I don't know when/if I will ever get back to more formal training...I'm having such a grand time with these spontaneous interactions and learn as much, or more! from them.