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December 5, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Filed under: All My Posts — Tags: — Dawn @ 8:41 am

This is not of my own personnal writing. It came to me in an email today but I feel the words are worth sharing. Let us all stand up for our rights, the US was created on the basis of freedom of religion. Do not let non-believers infringe upon those rights.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,

not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand .
The politically correct police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ” Holiday “.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate “Winter Break” under your “Dream Tree”
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

December 1, 2008

A Horse with an Attitude

Filed under: All My Posts,Horse Talk — Tags: — Dawn @ 5:59 pm

 

Harley - My Biker Dude Horse with an Attitude

Harley - My Biker Dude Horse with an Attitude

 

(I write a monthly column “Into the Sunset” which appears in Today’s Horse Magazine http://www.todayshorse.net/ Enjoy!)

Recently, I bought a horse with an attitude… a cool biker dude named Harley. If you remember a previous column detailing my brother’s love for the 2-wheeled variety of Harley’s you know the rest of the story behind my new horse’s name. But the name fits, as Harley is about the coolest biker dude horse I have ever owned. Like typical tattoo sporting hairy gruff bikers, Harley stands up for what he believes in but with an unbelievable amount of respect shown to me and his four legged gang. And like a lot of bikers I have met, Harley is the typical big cuddly lovable teddy bear once you get to know him.

Since Harley’s homecoming, I’ve had the opportunity to watch herd dynamics and have found that respect rules the world. The respect that my new Spanish Mustang colt showed the other horses made his introduction into the herd go amazingly fast. An impending snowstorm made me rush the process a bit but since there was very little squealing going on over the fence, I felt the risk was worth it. Yes, there was a little bit of chasing and nipping going on but Harley held his own and while evading his chasers, still stood up for himself and held his own against the big boys. The older “boys” know when I’m not watching as they can be peacefully grazing on the hill ignoring each other while I watch and then like typical children when Mom’s back is turned, all heck breaks loose! Now peace reigns over my herd of four. Perhaps they were missing that fourth member of the herd since the loss of our 27 yr. old horse a year ago and now they feel complete again.

Watching the body language between all of the horses has been amazing. A slight lowering of the head with the ears back sent Harley walking away…but only as far as he had to! The older horses at first played King of the Hill and wherever they decided to roost, Harley was pushed away but this smart little colt showed persistence and would soon cautiously and with respect, sneakily work his way back, carefully watching the body language of the older horses. Eddie immediately took a liking to Harley and would often run interference for the youngster. Now, it is amazing to see old Al, standing next to Harley, obviously enjoying his presence and also teaching that “young Whippersnapper” a thing or two. Al has definitely stepped into the Grandfather role of the herd, wise and calm.

Harley has wormed his way into many hearts here already….especially mine! He’s such a hard guy to catch as he follows me around the corral saying “Pick me, Pick me!” as I halter and tie the older horses first. He does love his breakfast, treats and anything else that resembles food but waits patiently until he gets his halter on so they all can get their feed. He’s quite the friendly furry critter and as he has become accustomed to me and our home, his personality has come out in glowing form. He is going to be quite the character!

I did have to use caution the other day when Harley decided he had to sniff Tommy the cat, who was perched on the edge of the water tank. Tommy was not happy with the intrusion and started meowing and growling. When Tommy isn’t happy the claws usually come out and I had visions of a cat/horse fight and a bloody horse nose about to occur….and didn’t want to get into the middle of it! Luckily Harley showed respect and persistence and charmed even the nastiest of cats into submission as no fur flew and all was well with the world once again.

I can’t begin to thank Mike and Melanie Pittman, Many Ponies Spanish Mustangs, Belle Fourche, SD, for all of the work they did with Harley. They raise excellent horses and now that I have one, I am like a kid with a sweet tooth and want another! I do love my Harley Biker Dude, the horse with the wild hair and lovable teddy bear attitude who has taught me that respect rules the world.

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