In the first two months of its availability between July 1 and Aug 3, 2011, my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang has sold more than 700 copies! and picked up by a third distributor who represents western-themed gifts rather than books. As there are only 300 books left from the first printing of 1000, I have ordered a second printing of 1000 to make sure there will be enough books to fill Christmas orders.
Ft. Collins daily newspaper, The Coloradoan had the following review:
"The Mutt & the Mustang by Judy Archibald and illustrated by Patricia Greenberg has it all for a children's book. The artful illustrations accompanied by photographs of the real horse and dog, Raven and Kody, respectively are visual delights. Add to that a pleasant story of a friendship between a dog and a horse which includes the underlying inspiration that everyone is special in their own way and you have the makings of a beautiful child's book with a timeless message."
The Valley Equestrian News features The Mutt & the Mustang - the True Tale of a Dog-Riding Horse in their Aug/Sept. 2011 issue with a photo of Kody riding "his" horse plus a cover of the book.
Valley Horse News out of Las Vegas will be featuring The Mutt & the Mustang in an upcoming issue and The American Dog Magazine plans to review it in their fall, 2011 issue.
A successful book signing at the Loveland, CO Barnes & Noble where without any publicity and on a week day, sold 17 books. Twenty books sold at the Estes Park Historical Museum's booth at the recent Heritage Festival - however, this was a much harder way to sell books than signings in book stores as it was way too hot and noisy.. MacDonalds Book Shop in Estes Park has sold more than 130 copies!!
Boomer Cafe posted how I came to write The Mutt & Mustang on their website with the following comment: "One thing we love to read here is a success story. Maybe it's financial success, maybe it's emotional success. Either way, we like this story from Judy Archibald, whose dog and pony show literally inspired a new career."
I am having so much fun sharing stories about my little dog Kody, Raven my mustang, Cheyenne my German Shepherd and her pal Rio the paint horse with the public that I can honestly say though I recently "lost" my job as director/curator of the annual Colo. Governor's Art Show where for ten years I produced highly successful shows I don't miss it .... (well maybe I miss working with the artists but I don't miss the politics.)
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Art of August
August has been filled with art and artists.
The first part of August all of my time and energy went into producing the annual Artists' Charitable Fund auction which raises money for this non profit which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis.
For the nine years I have been responsible for this outdoor auction in Loveland, CO I am impressed with how generous the artists are - such as Joshua Tobey who donated a beautiful bronze sculpture of a antelope to painter Nancy Guzik's lovely portrait Silver & Gold - more than 60 original paintings and sculptures were auctioned off - which raised more than $36,000 --- once again everyone who attended had a ball eating and drinking under the stars while sculptor George Lundeen as auctioneer kept everyone in stitches.
Later in the month, the Rocky Mountain Plein Air painters were in Estes Park for a couple of weeks - I, with Lynda Vogel, director of the Cultural Arts Council had juried the artists who came from several different states, Canada and Germany into the show so it was great fun getting to meet them. As in previous years I hosted all the artists at my ranch for an outdoor picnic -- Ten artists arrived early so as to paint the views from the horse arena - and also made paintings of my horses Rio and Raven - Then thirty artists arrived for the picnic - lots of fun, which my dogs Cheyenne and Kody enjoyed being part of. The horses enjoyed the extra attention also.
A week of attending artist parties, breakfast and the opening reception where awards were given out....now that the artists have gone home, Estes seems quiet - but their works will remain in the CACEP Gallery until Oct. 2, 2011.
The first part of August all of my time and energy went into producing the annual Artists' Charitable Fund auction which raises money for this non profit which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis.
For the nine years I have been responsible for this outdoor auction in Loveland, CO I am impressed with how generous the artists are - such as Joshua Tobey who donated a beautiful bronze sculpture of a antelope to painter Nancy Guzik's lovely portrait Silver & Gold - more than 60 original paintings and sculptures were auctioned off - which raised more than $36,000 --- once again everyone who attended had a ball eating and drinking under the stars while sculptor George Lundeen as auctioneer kept everyone in stitches.
Later in the month, the Rocky Mountain Plein Air painters were in Estes Park for a couple of weeks - I, with Lynda Vogel, director of the Cultural Arts Council had juried the artists who came from several different states, Canada and Germany into the show so it was great fun getting to meet them. As in previous years I hosted all the artists at my ranch for an outdoor picnic -- Ten artists arrived early so as to paint the views from the horse arena - and also made paintings of my horses Rio and Raven - Then thirty artists arrived for the picnic - lots of fun, which my dogs Cheyenne and Kody enjoyed being part of. The horses enjoyed the extra attention also.
A week of attending artist parties, breakfast and the opening reception where awards were given out....now that the artists have gone home, Estes seems quiet - but their works will remain in the CACEP Gallery until Oct. 2, 2011.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wiley Coyote visits
This morning while walking my German shepherd Cheyenne and my poodle mix Kody (on leashes) to the corral to feed the horses we ran into three coyotes! One of the coyotes stood his ground in the arena watching us. First let me make it clear I love coyotes - but not when my hundred-pound German shepherd is barking furiously and dragging us toward them. Instead of looping leashes around an arena post like I usually do while I'm feeding hay I dragged the dogs back to the house and returned to the arena alone where the curious coyote was waiting for me. Coyote watched me do my chores then loped off into the brush.
My horses, Rio and Raven and the one I board, Java think coyotes are just other German shepherds so they don't pay any attention to them. We need the coyotes to pass through once in a while as my acreage has once again become a metroplis of ground squirrels. I've figured out a non leathal way to make ground squirrels move on -- pour very used smelly kitty litter down their holes - which I do if they dig in the arena or pastures where the horses hang out. Otherwise, I really don't mind the ground squirrels - it's fun to watch them chase and groom each other and fill their cheeks with grass and hay as they harvest their winter bounty. When temperatures drop and snow covers the ground , as if by magic all the ground squirrels disappear into their burrows not to be seen again until spring when their noses start budding out of the ground like weeds and wild iris.
My horses, Rio and Raven and the one I board, Java think coyotes are just other German shepherds so they don't pay any attention to them. We need the coyotes to pass through once in a while as my acreage has once again become a metroplis of ground squirrels. I've figured out a non leathal way to make ground squirrels move on -- pour very used smelly kitty litter down their holes - which I do if they dig in the arena or pastures where the horses hang out. Otherwise, I really don't mind the ground squirrels - it's fun to watch them chase and groom each other and fill their cheeks with grass and hay as they harvest their winter bounty. When temperatures drop and snow covers the ground , as if by magic all the ground squirrels disappear into their burrows not to be seen again until spring when their noses start budding out of the ground like weeds and wild iris.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Crazy day of lows and highs
What a day! Woke up to find Java, the horse I'm boarding for a friend stuck beneath a wood rail fence. He must have laid down then his head and neck slid under the fence leaving his body on the other side - pinning him to the ground. When I found him, he wasn't moving so I thought he was dead or dying. I ran to my neighbor, Dan for help. Dan sawed the thick rail fence apart and Java stood up - except for cuts, bruises and a wound above one eye he is okay - which is amazing because I have no idea how long he was pinned.
The vet gave him antibiotics but pronounced him ok - what a relief.
Immediately after rescuing Java I went to MacDonalds Book Shop for a book signing of The Mutt & the Mustang children's picture book. Pat Greenberg, the illustrator was also there with me - While we were signing, the store ended up selling more than 45 books! Which they said was fantastic as the most they have sold at previous book signings has been 10 to 12! I told Paula, the owner that I will come back to talk about my book at different times throughout the summer as the book sells itself when people are shown the beautiful illustrations inside and the page of photographs that show the real dog Kody riding "his" horse.
The local newspapers had given the book excellent coverage but we mainly sold to tourists - The Mutt book is going to Tenn, New Jersey, New York and tons of other places. I'm having a ball meeting new people who love the Mutt and the Mustang.
The vet gave him antibiotics but pronounced him ok - what a relief.
Immediately after rescuing Java I went to MacDonalds Book Shop for a book signing of The Mutt & the Mustang children's picture book. Pat Greenberg, the illustrator was also there with me - While we were signing, the store ended up selling more than 45 books! Which they said was fantastic as the most they have sold at previous book signings has been 10 to 12! I told Paula, the owner that I will come back to talk about my book at different times throughout the summer as the book sells itself when people are shown the beautiful illustrations inside and the page of photographs that show the real dog Kody riding "his" horse.
The local newspapers had given the book excellent coverage but we mainly sold to tourists - The Mutt book is going to Tenn, New Jersey, New York and tons of other places. I'm having a ball meeting new people who love the Mutt and the Mustang.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Marketing The Mutt & the Mustang - and Artists' Charitable Fund
Writing my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang was easier than marketing it! However, I'm making good progress. Though this picture book has only been available since the end of June, it is currently in nearly thirty stores plus two distributors have started repping it. Plus, a corporation that buys for several national and state parks has ordered it for park gift shops. Best of all, The American Dog magazine will be featuring it in their fall 2011 issue.
MacDonalds Book Shop is hosting a book signing for the illustrator and myself this Saturday --- Last Friday I enjoyed reading The Mutt & the Mustang to 70 kids at the YMCA who all wished to have a horse riding dog like Kody. The kids especially loved the page of photographs at the end of the book which shows Kody riding "his" horse.
In addition to marketing The Mutt & the Mustang I'm coordinating the annual art auction for The Artists' Charitable Fund, which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis. This auction, which is our only fundraiser takes place August 13 in Loveland. Last year, the auction raised $42,000 -- a record I hope we can break this year. So far, getting some great original paintings donated by artists, including Sallie K. Smith, Tamara Simmons, James Biggers and Cathy Goodale. A long way to go - as the auction needs between 60 and 100 pieces to be successful.
Artists are asked to donate for so many causes that I hate to ask them for the auction - but at least The Artists' Charitable Fund, which was started 20 years ago by several sculptors is there to help artists. The Fund has purchased a wheelchair for a sculptor, paid for dental work and eye surgery for painters and a portion of hospital bills for many artists under going cancer treatments.
You've heard of a bee in a bonnet - well, yesterday I had a bee in my blouse. When I was growing up I remember seeing a ton of bees, crickets and butterflies but for the last few years I've rarely seen any - thanks to so many cities and neighborhoods spraying to kill mosquitos and beetles. I made sure the little bee in my blouse flew safely away.
MacDonalds Book Shop is hosting a book signing for the illustrator and myself this Saturday --- Last Friday I enjoyed reading The Mutt & the Mustang to 70 kids at the YMCA who all wished to have a horse riding dog like Kody. The kids especially loved the page of photographs at the end of the book which shows Kody riding "his" horse.
In addition to marketing The Mutt & the Mustang I'm coordinating the annual art auction for The Artists' Charitable Fund, which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis. This auction, which is our only fundraiser takes place August 13 in Loveland. Last year, the auction raised $42,000 -- a record I hope we can break this year. So far, getting some great original paintings donated by artists, including Sallie K. Smith, Tamara Simmons, James Biggers and Cathy Goodale. A long way to go - as the auction needs between 60 and 100 pieces to be successful.
Artists are asked to donate for so many causes that I hate to ask them for the auction - but at least The Artists' Charitable Fund, which was started 20 years ago by several sculptors is there to help artists. The Fund has purchased a wheelchair for a sculptor, paid for dental work and eye surgery for painters and a portion of hospital bills for many artists under going cancer treatments.
You've heard of a bee in a bonnet - well, yesterday I had a bee in my blouse. When I was growing up I remember seeing a ton of bees, crickets and butterflies but for the last few years I've rarely seen any - thanks to so many cities and neighborhoods spraying to kill mosquitos and beetles. I made sure the little bee in my blouse flew safely away.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Marketing The Mutt & the Mustang picture book
Marketing my new children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang has been keeping me very busy - so far I have gotten it in 22 stores - from museum gift shops to dude ranches to horse rescues to western stores and book stores plus a distributor contacted me about repping it as a corporation who buys for several national and state park gift stores wants to buy it through them. I hardly make anything per a book after the distributor takes a percent on top of the store's percent (and makes me pay for postage to ship the books to them) but its a way of getting my books out there.
Besides, it will be wonderful to have my picture books in national park gift stores.
My book is in stores in Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota and one horse rescue in California.
Next, I need to start working on getting it in stores in other states.....The book has only been out less than two weeks so I should give myself some slack but if it's going to succeed I have to work my butt off.
I'm starting to think writing it was the easiest part.
Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to have Mutt books available at a fundraiser at the Elkhorn Lodge for a non profit group that hopes to preserve the Elkhorn - the oldest lodge in Colorado -and its 68 acres which a developer has talked the town into helping them go after state funds to turn the site into commercial space - including condos, parking lots, retail shops and a ski run!!!
Estes Park is NOT a ski town - the high altitude sun melts the snow so if they do put in a ski run I've heard they are going to have to take water from the river to make snow --- an environmental waste! Plus real skiers are going to continue to go to the ski towns on the other side of the Continental Divide where they get tons of snow that stays on the slopes all winter long - not a small run in Estes.
Tourists are drawn to Estes Park because it adjoins Rocky Mtn National Park where they can view elk, deer, big horn sheep and coyotes- not to see more condos, retail shops and children's playgrounds. ....but as usual dollars speak louder than deer, elk and bear and other wildlife that use part of the Elkhorn acreage ---city fathers are forever after more sales tax and property tax dollars so they can spend it on such "needed" projects as $2 million plus to redo a city park that isn't a block big --- I had tears in my eyes when they cut down several beautiful 100-year old pine trees in the park then replanted small trees --- boy the town sure needed that.
Anyway, it should be fun showing my picture book about my little dog who rides "his" horse every day to folks coming to the Elkhorn to listen western music, explore the old cabins, eat chuckwagon fare and ride horses.
Besides, it will be wonderful to have my picture books in national park gift stores.
My book is in stores in Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota and one horse rescue in California.
Next, I need to start working on getting it in stores in other states.....The book has only been out less than two weeks so I should give myself some slack but if it's going to succeed I have to work my butt off.
I'm starting to think writing it was the easiest part.
Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to have Mutt books available at a fundraiser at the Elkhorn Lodge for a non profit group that hopes to preserve the Elkhorn - the oldest lodge in Colorado -and its 68 acres which a developer has talked the town into helping them go after state funds to turn the site into commercial space - including condos, parking lots, retail shops and a ski run!!!
Estes Park is NOT a ski town - the high altitude sun melts the snow so if they do put in a ski run I've heard they are going to have to take water from the river to make snow --- an environmental waste! Plus real skiers are going to continue to go to the ski towns on the other side of the Continental Divide where they get tons of snow that stays on the slopes all winter long - not a small run in Estes.
Tourists are drawn to Estes Park because it adjoins Rocky Mtn National Park where they can view elk, deer, big horn sheep and coyotes- not to see more condos, retail shops and children's playgrounds. ....but as usual dollars speak louder than deer, elk and bear and other wildlife that use part of the Elkhorn acreage ---city fathers are forever after more sales tax and property tax dollars so they can spend it on such "needed" projects as $2 million plus to redo a city park that isn't a block big --- I had tears in my eyes when they cut down several beautiful 100-year old pine trees in the park then replanted small trees --- boy the town sure needed that.
Anyway, it should be fun showing my picture book about my little dog who rides "his" horse every day to folks coming to the Elkhorn to listen western music, explore the old cabins, eat chuckwagon fare and ride horses.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Mutt & the Mustang picture books arrive
So excited to have my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang finally arrive ---
They arrived at 1:00 and by 3:00 that same day I had delivered them to several stores in Estes Park! - In shops as diverse as the famous Stanley Hotel gift shop, to Gateway - a beautiful store at the Fall River entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, MacDonalds Book Shop, Colorado Homestead, Estes Park Historial Museum gift shop, and two dude ranches. How exciting to finally have my picture book in stores.
Tonight had my first book signing at the Loveland Museum Gallery opening of a horse art exhibit. Pat, the Mutt book illustrator went with me --- The street in front of the museum was closed so live horses and a trick roper could perform along with three artists - and us, two old broads selling picture books. As you can imagine, most kids ignored us for the horses and the trick roper.
Those folks who stopped at our booth loved the book -- highlight of the night - Jillian, a seven year old girl who after talking her grandmother into buying a copy chose to ignore the trick roper and live horses to sit on a chair and read The Mutt & the Mustang from cover to cover. When I asked her how she liked it, she hugged the book and said, "I love it."
Other highlights - a 16 year old boy buying a copy of The Mutt & the Mustang with his own money -who would have thought a teenager would buy a picture book? and a man in his 70s buying a copy for himself. All in all, tho we didn't sell many books we had fun and loved the positive reaction to the book.
Got home to find two new Mutt books chewed up! There went tonight's profits. I had the books in a canvas tote on a high table - Skye, my Siamese mix loves to push things off the table - so she and the dogs must have been in cahoots --- she pushed the books to the floor where the dogs chewed them up ---I suspect Kody - tho both dogs are old for such puppy antics- Kody turned 11 this month and Cheyenne is 5 - what got into them?
Oh well, I'm just happy Kody is still spry enough to act like a puppy and ride a horse. Today, Kody got two rides - one in the arena and another one from the house to the barn. I'll know he is an old dog when the time comes (if ever) that he no longer wants to ride "his" horse. Maybe he was mad at me for not taking him to the signing of the Mutt book - as after all, he is the star. Wearing his scarf and cowboy hat, Kody would probably have brought a lot more kids to our booth!
They arrived at 1:00 and by 3:00 that same day I had delivered them to several stores in Estes Park! - In shops as diverse as the famous Stanley Hotel gift shop, to Gateway - a beautiful store at the Fall River entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, MacDonalds Book Shop, Colorado Homestead, Estes Park Historial Museum gift shop, and two dude ranches. How exciting to finally have my picture book in stores.
Tonight had my first book signing at the Loveland Museum Gallery opening of a horse art exhibit. Pat, the Mutt book illustrator went with me --- The street in front of the museum was closed so live horses and a trick roper could perform along with three artists - and us, two old broads selling picture books. As you can imagine, most kids ignored us for the horses and the trick roper.
Those folks who stopped at our booth loved the book -- highlight of the night - Jillian, a seven year old girl who after talking her grandmother into buying a copy chose to ignore the trick roper and live horses to sit on a chair and read The Mutt & the Mustang from cover to cover. When I asked her how she liked it, she hugged the book and said, "I love it."
Other highlights - a 16 year old boy buying a copy of The Mutt & the Mustang with his own money -who would have thought a teenager would buy a picture book? and a man in his 70s buying a copy for himself. All in all, tho we didn't sell many books we had fun and loved the positive reaction to the book.
Got home to find two new Mutt books chewed up! There went tonight's profits. I had the books in a canvas tote on a high table - Skye, my Siamese mix loves to push things off the table - so she and the dogs must have been in cahoots --- she pushed the books to the floor where the dogs chewed them up ---I suspect Kody - tho both dogs are old for such puppy antics- Kody turned 11 this month and Cheyenne is 5 - what got into them?
Oh well, I'm just happy Kody is still spry enough to act like a puppy and ride a horse. Today, Kody got two rides - one in the arena and another one from the house to the barn. I'll know he is an old dog when the time comes (if ever) that he no longer wants to ride "his" horse. Maybe he was mad at me for not taking him to the signing of the Mutt book - as after all, he is the star. Wearing his scarf and cowboy hat, Kody would probably have brought a lot more kids to our booth!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Art Show - sick horse & wildlife
The 2011 Colorado Governor's Show which ends this Sunday at the Loveland Museum has set a new art sales record of nearly $200,000! Maybe the economy is turning around.
Last week my 27 year old mustang had a fever of 102, didn't want to eat, had white snot coming out his nose and coughing a lot- as the local vets were out of town the only thing I could do was give him antibiotics.
Worried about Mustang I didn't sleep very well but the next morning he was back to normal. The vet thinks his illness was caused by the neighbor's having their trees sprayed to kill beetles - If I had known when they were going to spray I would have my horses out of the way - but they sprayed while I was gone and the next day Mustang became ill -
I don't care what the manufacturers say about insecticide spray - it does kill butterflies, birds,(especially humming birds) bees and good insects and obviously can make a 1000 pound horse ill! According to studies I've read the spray isn't even that good at protecting pine trees and the ones in the national park that have been sprayed died anyway - while my trees which have never been sprayed are healthy - it has to do more with how much water the trees are getting.
My water table is high so my trees are healthy -- even during the drought. News articles ask what happened to all the bees? Even a dummy should be able to figure out when every spring thousands of acres are sprayed with poison to kill beetles and mosquitos they are also killing bees. It has more to do with politics than the environment. The bluebirds that were nesting before they sprayed have disappeared....it makes me so sad. Wish I had hundreds of acres instead of only 3 so I could protect more wildlife.
The Mutt & the Mustang book doesn't arrive until the end of this month but I'm already getting lots of orders - so exciting....can't wait until the book hits the stores. At this point the books are on a slow boat from overseas which won't get into California until June 20.
Memorial Day I spent at a friend's bbq where we were lucky enough to see a nearly new born elk calf - so darling to watch the calf bounce around next to its watchful mother. Driving to my friend's house I saw a yearling bear trying to cross Hwy 7 - poor thing was having a hard time with all the holiday traffic. The bruin would get to the edge of the highway then stop with all the cars whizzing by --- turn around and run back into the bushes. Lots of wildlife still in town as there is so much snow - 270% more than usual in the high mountains that they have not yet migrated to more peaceful areas.
Last week my 27 year old mustang had a fever of 102, didn't want to eat, had white snot coming out his nose and coughing a lot- as the local vets were out of town the only thing I could do was give him antibiotics.
Worried about Mustang I didn't sleep very well but the next morning he was back to normal. The vet thinks his illness was caused by the neighbor's having their trees sprayed to kill beetles - If I had known when they were going to spray I would have my horses out of the way - but they sprayed while I was gone and the next day Mustang became ill -
I don't care what the manufacturers say about insecticide spray - it does kill butterflies, birds,(especially humming birds) bees and good insects and obviously can make a 1000 pound horse ill! According to studies I've read the spray isn't even that good at protecting pine trees and the ones in the national park that have been sprayed died anyway - while my trees which have never been sprayed are healthy - it has to do more with how much water the trees are getting.
My water table is high so my trees are healthy -- even during the drought. News articles ask what happened to all the bees? Even a dummy should be able to figure out when every spring thousands of acres are sprayed with poison to kill beetles and mosquitos they are also killing bees. It has more to do with politics than the environment. The bluebirds that were nesting before they sprayed have disappeared....it makes me so sad. Wish I had hundreds of acres instead of only 3 so I could protect more wildlife.
The Mutt & the Mustang book doesn't arrive until the end of this month but I'm already getting lots of orders - so exciting....can't wait until the book hits the stores. At this point the books are on a slow boat from overseas which won't get into California until June 20.
Memorial Day I spent at a friend's bbq where we were lucky enough to see a nearly new born elk calf - so darling to watch the calf bounce around next to its watchful mother. Driving to my friend's house I saw a yearling bear trying to cross Hwy 7 - poor thing was having a hard time with all the holiday traffic. The bruin would get to the edge of the highway then stop with all the cars whizzing by --- turn around and run back into the bushes. Lots of wildlife still in town as there is so much snow - 270% more than usual in the high mountains that they have not yet migrated to more peaceful areas.
Monday, May 23, 2011
My book is here! My book is here! Also Art Show sales
Today I received advance copies of The Mutt & the Mustang, my children's picture book. When I opened the box I burst into tears - didn't realize how emotional this would be for me. I love the book!
I showed it to Paula who owns the local book store - she too loves it and can't wait until copies are here for her to have in the store - that won't be until the end of June.
This evening I hosted a small celebration gathering that included the book's illustrator, Pat, her husband, Paul,
Lynda who brought us together and my neighbors who if it weren't for them I could not live on 3 acres with fences and barns falling apart --- We indeed celebrated - Paul brought a bottle of wine he had made - complete with a beautiful label showing him mountain climbing. Everyone made over the stars of the book - Kody, my poodle mix who rides a horse every day and Cheyenne, my German shepherd who has a special relationship with my paint horse Rio - we stayed busy coming up with ways to promote and market The Mutt & the Mustang --
Now to the art show --- sales are now approaching $185,000 - the following artists have sold out:
Nikolo Balkaski
Perry Brown
Kim English
Sushe Felix
Kit Hevron Mahoney
Stacey Peterson
Sallie K. Smith
Through the five weeks the show is on display at the Loveland Museum nearly 4,000 people will view it -
we will continue to have sales - check back to see if your favorite artist is on sell out list.
I showed it to Paula who owns the local book store - she too loves it and can't wait until copies are here for her to have in the store - that won't be until the end of June.
This evening I hosted a small celebration gathering that included the book's illustrator, Pat, her husband, Paul,
Lynda who brought us together and my neighbors who if it weren't for them I could not live on 3 acres with fences and barns falling apart --- We indeed celebrated - Paul brought a bottle of wine he had made - complete with a beautiful label showing him mountain climbing. Everyone made over the stars of the book - Kody, my poodle mix who rides a horse every day and Cheyenne, my German shepherd who has a special relationship with my paint horse Rio - we stayed busy coming up with ways to promote and market The Mutt & the Mustang --
Now to the art show --- sales are now approaching $185,000 - the following artists have sold out:
Nikolo Balkaski
Perry Brown
Kim English
Sushe Felix
Kit Hevron Mahoney
Stacey Peterson
Sallie K. Smith
Through the five weeks the show is on display at the Loveland Museum nearly 4,000 people will view it -
we will continue to have sales - check back to see if your favorite artist is on sell out list.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Will spring ever arrive?
It is supposed to be spring time yet I woke up to six inches of snow and it continues to snow with another 3 to 6 inches expected. TV weather guy said this is the wettest spring since 1876 - snowpack in Rocky Mountain National Park is 270% above normal and is even higher on the western side of the Divide.
Our city and county officials are concerned about flooding - if it ever warms up - Relieved I no longer live on the Big Thompson River.
While it was snowing like crazy the buck with the injured front foot came for a visit with two of his buddies - haven't seen him in a couple of weeks so relieved to know he is still doing ok.
A lot of people think deer are loners but that's not true - they have been forced to become loners to survive hunting seasons. In places like Estes Park where there no hunting deer prefer to stay with family units, which ususally consist of one or two does, last year's fawns, and a yearling or two. Older bucks like to travel together. I know this not only because of living in Estes Park but years ago when owning 150 acres in Oregon and 300 acres in northern Minnesota where no hunting was allowed, the deer also lived in family units.
Colorado Governor's Art Show sales continue to be strong - currently more than $180,000 with 5 artists selling out (which means they each sold 4 paintings they had in the show). Those lucky artists are:
Nikolo Balkanski
Perry Brown
Kit Hevron Machoney
Stacey Peterson
Sallie K. Smith
Several other artists sold 3 out of works - unfortunately, 17 artists did not sell any paintings or sculptures.
Back at the ranch - I nearly fell over when I opened the hay shed to a pack rat staring me in the face...
it quickly ran behind a bale of hay where it probably has a nest. I shall have to live trap and move it before it has babies -
Java, the horse that I've been boarding for the last week is doing well with Mustang and Rio, my two geldings being nicer to him. If the weather would only warm up, Lori and I could ride together.
Damn snow killed my pansies, hollyhocks and miniature rose bushes which I had kept inside all winter.
I will not plant another thing this year - hope my lilacs survive - if they don't I will truly give up gardening.
Our city and county officials are concerned about flooding - if it ever warms up - Relieved I no longer live on the Big Thompson River.
While it was snowing like crazy the buck with the injured front foot came for a visit with two of his buddies - haven't seen him in a couple of weeks so relieved to know he is still doing ok.
A lot of people think deer are loners but that's not true - they have been forced to become loners to survive hunting seasons. In places like Estes Park where there no hunting deer prefer to stay with family units, which ususally consist of one or two does, last year's fawns, and a yearling or two. Older bucks like to travel together. I know this not only because of living in Estes Park but years ago when owning 150 acres in Oregon and 300 acres in northern Minnesota where no hunting was allowed, the deer also lived in family units.
Colorado Governor's Art Show sales continue to be strong - currently more than $180,000 with 5 artists selling out (which means they each sold 4 paintings they had in the show). Those lucky artists are:
Nikolo Balkanski
Perry Brown
Kit Hevron Machoney
Stacey Peterson
Sallie K. Smith
Several other artists sold 3 out of works - unfortunately, 17 artists did not sell any paintings or sculptures.
Back at the ranch - I nearly fell over when I opened the hay shed to a pack rat staring me in the face...
it quickly ran behind a bale of hay where it probably has a nest. I shall have to live trap and move it before it has babies -
Java, the horse that I've been boarding for the last week is doing well with Mustang and Rio, my two geldings being nicer to him. If the weather would only warm up, Lori and I could ride together.
Damn snow killed my pansies, hollyhocks and miniature rose bushes which I had kept inside all winter.
I will not plant another thing this year - hope my lilacs survive - if they don't I will truly give up gardening.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Hot Java moves to the ranch
Last night my friend Lori brought her beautiful four year old black gaited horse named Java to board here for the summer, pissing Mustang off.
Kept in adjoining but separate corrals whenever the two horses sniff noses across the fence Mustang tries to bite the intruder - then Java swings around kicking both hind legs at my horse. Whenever Rio, my paint horse who is kept in the same corral as Mustang tries to sniff Java's nose, Mustang runs him off. Mustang makes it quite clear that Rio belongs in his herd.
A little more work to keep Java separated from my horses yet give them all hours in larger pastures. Hopefully, they will eventually learn to get along.
When I first got Rio, who had been starved - I thought Mustang who had alone would welcome another horse. However, Mustang chased Rio around the arena, cornered him then bit his butt until it bled...which I don't want to happen to Lori's horse.
Eventually, Rio and Mustang became buddies but it took several weeks. I think Rio who is low in the pecking order would get along with Java so when the weather warms up Lori and I plan to work the two horses together.
I took Kody up to meet Java, my horse loving dog immediately licked his nose. Java shook his head then stepped back.
A coyote has been coming through my acreage on a daily basis -- which means I have to watch Cheyenne and Kody when they are playing in the arena. Yesterday, while I was paying more attention to Lori than my dogs the coyote ran by and my dogs took after it! Good thing Cheyenne has a bad hip because that was the only thing that stopped her from chasing the coyote. I love coyotes - and need them to keep the ground squirrel population in check but I shall have to be more vigilant watching my dogs.
Kept in adjoining but separate corrals whenever the two horses sniff noses across the fence Mustang tries to bite the intruder - then Java swings around kicking both hind legs at my horse. Whenever Rio, my paint horse who is kept in the same corral as Mustang tries to sniff Java's nose, Mustang runs him off. Mustang makes it quite clear that Rio belongs in his herd.
A little more work to keep Java separated from my horses yet give them all hours in larger pastures. Hopefully, they will eventually learn to get along.
When I first got Rio, who had been starved - I thought Mustang who had alone would welcome another horse. However, Mustang chased Rio around the arena, cornered him then bit his butt until it bled...which I don't want to happen to Lori's horse.
Eventually, Rio and Mustang became buddies but it took several weeks. I think Rio who is low in the pecking order would get along with Java so when the weather warms up Lori and I plan to work the two horses together.
I took Kody up to meet Java, my horse loving dog immediately licked his nose. Java shook his head then stepped back.
A coyote has been coming through my acreage on a daily basis -- which means I have to watch Cheyenne and Kody when they are playing in the arena. Yesterday, while I was paying more attention to Lori than my dogs the coyote ran by and my dogs took after it! Good thing Cheyenne has a bad hip because that was the only thing that stopped her from chasing the coyote. I love coyotes - and need them to keep the ground squirrel population in check but I shall have to be more vigilant watching my dogs.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
snow, sore joints and cats
This spring time in the Rockies is frustrating - here it is May 11 and Estes Park gets dumped on with 5 inches of wet snow - my third plantings of pansies are now on their way out. We have had more snow this spring than we had all winter.
This morning, my shepherd Cheyenne who loves the snow ran Kody around the arena several times - which is unusual because one of her hind legs has been bothering her so she hasn't felt like walking, never mind running - but then this evening she started limping. I've sent for some special herbs that are supposed to "fix" dog joints within ten days - we'll see if that works or not. As she already has a six inch metal plate in one back leg I'm not ready to go that route again.....not only the several thousand dollar cost of the surgery but it was a horrible experience for Cheyenne to go through. If the herbs don't work I shall ask the vet for pain medication. She is only 5 years old but her hind quarters have never been sturdy -
Skye, my Siamese mix with blue eyes is finally getting more loving toward me- Since I adopted Skye as an adult, I don't know her history only that she enjoys playing with Cloud, my one-eyed white cat and loves both Kody and Cheyenne but is terrified of every person except me. It has taken two years for Skye to come sit in my lap of her own accord - tho she likes me enough to sit next to my computer while I'm working.
Cloud, my one-eyed white cat who I also adopted as an adult plays with Skye, loves Cheyenne and lets Kody hump her but was also afraid of me - Finally, Cloud lets me hold her but she is nervous about it.
Damn the people who made these two wonderous beautiful cats so fearful of humans!
Last year when Skye was outside in the fenced yard she would constantly escape - I could not keep her inside the yard no matter how high the fence - this year Skye has been content to stay in the yard. In fact, I am now so confidant of her staying that I have taken down the extreme fencing which didn't keep her in anyway.
Maybe Skye finally accepts this place as home. Cloud never tried to escape - she knew a good home right from the beginning.
This morning, my shepherd Cheyenne who loves the snow ran Kody around the arena several times - which is unusual because one of her hind legs has been bothering her so she hasn't felt like walking, never mind running - but then this evening she started limping. I've sent for some special herbs that are supposed to "fix" dog joints within ten days - we'll see if that works or not. As she already has a six inch metal plate in one back leg I'm not ready to go that route again.....not only the several thousand dollar cost of the surgery but it was a horrible experience for Cheyenne to go through. If the herbs don't work I shall ask the vet for pain medication. She is only 5 years old but her hind quarters have never been sturdy -
Skye, my Siamese mix with blue eyes is finally getting more loving toward me- Since I adopted Skye as an adult, I don't know her history only that she enjoys playing with Cloud, my one-eyed white cat and loves both Kody and Cheyenne but is terrified of every person except me. It has taken two years for Skye to come sit in my lap of her own accord - tho she likes me enough to sit next to my computer while I'm working.
Cloud, my one-eyed white cat who I also adopted as an adult plays with Skye, loves Cheyenne and lets Kody hump her but was also afraid of me - Finally, Cloud lets me hold her but she is nervous about it.
Damn the people who made these two wonderous beautiful cats so fearful of humans!
Last year when Skye was outside in the fenced yard she would constantly escape - I could not keep her inside the yard no matter how high the fence - this year Skye has been content to stay in the yard. In fact, I am now so confidant of her staying that I have taken down the extreme fencing which didn't keep her in anyway.
Maybe Skye finally accepts this place as home. Cloud never tried to escape - she knew a good home right from the beginning.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Art Show & this and that
I have been too busy coordinating the annual Colorado Governor's Invitational Art Show to write this blog - plus a week before the opening night gala a tooth broke which required a temporary crown -- then the temp crown fell out two days before the show opening. Then my six year old computer froze on me the very night I needed it to create the show's price booklet.
It never fails that something major seems to happen close to opening night. Oh well, I got through it and opening night, April 23 was a huge success!
Nearly five-hundred people filled the two floors of the Loveland Museum to view 260 pieces of original paintings and sculpture by well known artists including, Kim English, Gerald Balciar, Sallie K. Smith, Ron Hicks, George Lundeen and Mark Thompson. So many artists and collectors attended that I got lost in the crowd - though Cowboy Artist of America, Herb Mignery and his wife were there, I never saw them. Good thing I was wearing my pink cowboy hat so volunteers could find me in the crowd.
An optimistic energy flowed throughout the gala evening - maybe the economy is turning around as our 2011 opening night art sales were $36,000 higher than 2010 opening night sales! And the show will continue to sell through its last day, June 5, 2011. Within a week of the show's opening we had sold an additional $25,000 worth of art.
Since my position as director/curator is judged on art sales - which have been great this year, I have job security for another year - and I can start thinking about marketing my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang which will be out next month.
My first Mutt & the Mustang "literary" event will be Thursday, June 23, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm when I will be part of the Loveland Museum's Horse exhibit. Can't wait!
Beginning mid May I will be boarding a friend's 5 year old gelding - hope he will get along with my old horses. I had hoped to board a mare for my mustang who two years ago fell in love with a mare I was boarding. When the mare was trailered away, he ran along the fence line whinnying for her - then whinnied his sadness all night long - I know this because my neighbor whose house is closer to the corral than mine was awakened by Mustang's cries and was so concerned he got up in the middle of the night to check on my horse.
Eventually Mustang got over his sadness but the old horse and I have a lot in common - too many losses in both our lives.
It is May and snowing again!!!! I've killed more pansies because of jumping the weather gun and planting them too soon- currently, two dozen of the little velvet flowers are in my kitchen waiting for warmer weather...as are a grape plant and a blueberry plant. I am optimistic to even think those will grow in this rocky dry soil.
My spring resolve is to keep this blog more current --
It never fails that something major seems to happen close to opening night. Oh well, I got through it and opening night, April 23 was a huge success!
Nearly five-hundred people filled the two floors of the Loveland Museum to view 260 pieces of original paintings and sculpture by well known artists including, Kim English, Gerald Balciar, Sallie K. Smith, Ron Hicks, George Lundeen and Mark Thompson. So many artists and collectors attended that I got lost in the crowd - though Cowboy Artist of America, Herb Mignery and his wife were there, I never saw them. Good thing I was wearing my pink cowboy hat so volunteers could find me in the crowd.
An optimistic energy flowed throughout the gala evening - maybe the economy is turning around as our 2011 opening night art sales were $36,000 higher than 2010 opening night sales! And the show will continue to sell through its last day, June 5, 2011. Within a week of the show's opening we had sold an additional $25,000 worth of art.
Since my position as director/curator is judged on art sales - which have been great this year, I have job security for another year - and I can start thinking about marketing my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang which will be out next month.
My first Mutt & the Mustang "literary" event will be Thursday, June 23, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm when I will be part of the Loveland Museum's Horse exhibit. Can't wait!
Beginning mid May I will be boarding a friend's 5 year old gelding - hope he will get along with my old horses. I had hoped to board a mare for my mustang who two years ago fell in love with a mare I was boarding. When the mare was trailered away, he ran along the fence line whinnying for her - then whinnied his sadness all night long - I know this because my neighbor whose house is closer to the corral than mine was awakened by Mustang's cries and was so concerned he got up in the middle of the night to check on my horse.
Eventually Mustang got over his sadness but the old horse and I have a lot in common - too many losses in both our lives.
It is May and snowing again!!!! I've killed more pansies because of jumping the weather gun and planting them too soon- currently, two dozen of the little velvet flowers are in my kitchen waiting for warmer weather...as are a grape plant and a blueberry plant. I am optimistic to even think those will grow in this rocky dry soil.
My spring resolve is to keep this blog more current --
Thursday, April 7, 2011
My picture Book, the Mutt & the Mustang springing to life
I've been really busy working on my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang which is going to press overseas next week (April 10). The book should be stores in June. So far several bookstores and horse rescues have signed up to carry it. I was so impressed with a wild horse sanctuary in northern California which has 200 plus wild horses on 2,000 acres that after they ordered a few books for their gift shop I not only donated a book for their raffle but also donated a limited edition miniature bronze horse sculpture valued at $350. This is why I will never get rich -- I always give away more than I take in.
But one of the main reasons I wrote the Mutt & the Mustang is to help raise money for dog and horse rescues. So far none of the dog and cat rescues or humane societies have responded to my post card mailing to carry the book in their gift shops or on their webpages - tho I am offering them the same discount as book stores so they can use The Mutt & the Mustang to raise funds. Maybe they are waiting until the book comes out to carry it.
I know I need to have The Mutt & the Mustang on Amazon but as they charge 15% more than bookstores to sell it --that cuts into my profits so much that I'm wondering if it would be worth it - and there wouldn't be enough profit to donate to animal rescues.
I thought spring was in the air but then we had sustained 40 mph winds with gusts at 90 mph which took out 20 feet of my arena fencing. Not to worry, my neighbor Dan is going to help me put it back up today.
When the sun came out and the wind died down I got spring fever and planted pansies in my deck planters - unfortunately, thanks to an inch of icy snow the pansies didn't last a week. Every year I plant them too early but I can't help it - After months of winter I need to see their velvet smily faces.
The buck that has had the injured front foot since last January seems to be doing ok. All the bucks except one shed their antlers during February and March - wonder why a yearling still has his?
Elk antlers are starting to grow. Just watched three bull elk visiting my paint horse Rio over the fence. Rio sniffed the neck of one of them. One of the bucks jumped into the pasture with the horses and is cleaning up scraps of hay from morning feeding. My horses are so spoiled that they only eat the greenest leaves and stems so I don't mind the elk cleaning up their mess. The barn is closed so the elk can't get to the good stuff.
The annual Colorado Governor's Art show opens with a gala reception at the Loveland Museum within two weeks - As director/curator of this show I still have a lot to do before it opens from taking in art to PR to local newspapers - all the while keeping my fingers crossed that even though the economy is weak art sales will be strong. By the time the show ends on June 5 The Mutt & the Mustang should be here so I can spend a lot of the summer reading it to children at libraries and bookstores - which will be a fun way to spend the summer.
But one of the main reasons I wrote the Mutt & the Mustang is to help raise money for dog and horse rescues. So far none of the dog and cat rescues or humane societies have responded to my post card mailing to carry the book in their gift shops or on their webpages - tho I am offering them the same discount as book stores so they can use The Mutt & the Mustang to raise funds. Maybe they are waiting until the book comes out to carry it.
I know I need to have The Mutt & the Mustang on Amazon but as they charge 15% more than bookstores to sell it --that cuts into my profits so much that I'm wondering if it would be worth it - and there wouldn't be enough profit to donate to animal rescues.
I thought spring was in the air but then we had sustained 40 mph winds with gusts at 90 mph which took out 20 feet of my arena fencing. Not to worry, my neighbor Dan is going to help me put it back up today.
When the sun came out and the wind died down I got spring fever and planted pansies in my deck planters - unfortunately, thanks to an inch of icy snow the pansies didn't last a week. Every year I plant them too early but I can't help it - After months of winter I need to see their velvet smily faces.
The buck that has had the injured front foot since last January seems to be doing ok. All the bucks except one shed their antlers during February and March - wonder why a yearling still has his?
Elk antlers are starting to grow. Just watched three bull elk visiting my paint horse Rio over the fence. Rio sniffed the neck of one of them. One of the bucks jumped into the pasture with the horses and is cleaning up scraps of hay from morning feeding. My horses are so spoiled that they only eat the greenest leaves and stems so I don't mind the elk cleaning up their mess. The barn is closed so the elk can't get to the good stuff.
The annual Colorado Governor's Art show opens with a gala reception at the Loveland Museum within two weeks - As director/curator of this show I still have a lot to do before it opens from taking in art to PR to local newspapers - all the while keeping my fingers crossed that even though the economy is weak art sales will be strong. By the time the show ends on June 5 The Mutt & the Mustang should be here so I can spend a lot of the summer reading it to children at libraries and bookstores - which will be a fun way to spend the summer.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Two 1,000 pound bull elk want my horse's hay
I spent the morning in Ft. Collins running errands and working with my graphic designer on The Mutt & the Mustang children's picture book - Pat's illustrations are beautiful - I'm so excited because the book is coming together so great!
Weather is in the forties but my driveway is still drifted closed so had to carry groceries, cartons of posters and raffle tickets for the governor's art show farther than I like - opened the kitchen door to discover water leaking from the ceiling probably all afternoon.
I called my neighbor, Dan, who came over to help access the damage - ceiling doesn't look so good but the roof is fine - the leak coming in around an air vent in the roof which Dan will be caulked tomorrow after it warms up. When Dan was on the roof cleaning the rest of the snow off, a dozen deer friends ran off like they were being chased by a cougar.
Took Cheyenne and Kody up to the arena so Kody could get in his daily ride on Raven and was pleasantly surprised to see two bull elk with enormous antlers sleeping just above the arena. Kody rode Raven but I couldn't let Cheyenne run around the arena excercising Kody because of the elk.
A few minutes later, I looked out the window to see one elk about to enter the barn - the other elk was already inside the barn scarfing up left over hay from the horses. I ran up to the barn and hit it with my walking stick - both elk came out but would not leave. I knew they were just waiting for me to leave so they could get back inside - both horses were galloping around the arena spooked.
I closed the barn up except there is a door missing which I knew they would immediately enter - so I nailed a quilt across it but realized that wasn't going to stop a 1000 pound animal from breaking into my barn.
Called my neighbor, Dan again --Blowing a whistle and shaking plastic bags at the elk, Dan chased them off my property --then he carried the heavy door that used to be on the barn from the garage up to the barn and set in place (to be hinged tomorrow) - so the barn should be safe overnight.
A couple of years ago when snow was 3 feet deep and the elk were starving, a bull elk attacked a horse in a corral trying to steal its hay. I don't want that to happen to Rio or Raven -- So fed them in the loafing shed right after Dan chased the bulls away.
An hour after Dan chased the elk away, they are back!!! - laying down above the arena with their eyes glued to the barn. The horses are finished eating so they should be safe overnight -
In the morning I may have to fight off elk with my bull whip so my horses can eat. Had to do that a few years ago in deep snow - NOT FUN!
Because of high winds the snow has drifted I am no longer feeling pleasant about having bull elk visitors.
I hope I don't have to start baby sitting my horses while they eat morning, noon and night - I have enough to do without adding another chore.
Time to forget about elk and relax.
Weather is in the forties but my driveway is still drifted closed so had to carry groceries, cartons of posters and raffle tickets for the governor's art show farther than I like - opened the kitchen door to discover water leaking from the ceiling probably all afternoon.
I called my neighbor, Dan, who came over to help access the damage - ceiling doesn't look so good but the roof is fine - the leak coming in around an air vent in the roof which Dan will be caulked tomorrow after it warms up. When Dan was on the roof cleaning the rest of the snow off, a dozen deer friends ran off like they were being chased by a cougar.
Took Cheyenne and Kody up to the arena so Kody could get in his daily ride on Raven and was pleasantly surprised to see two bull elk with enormous antlers sleeping just above the arena. Kody rode Raven but I couldn't let Cheyenne run around the arena excercising Kody because of the elk.
A few minutes later, I looked out the window to see one elk about to enter the barn - the other elk was already inside the barn scarfing up left over hay from the horses. I ran up to the barn and hit it with my walking stick - both elk came out but would not leave. I knew they were just waiting for me to leave so they could get back inside - both horses were galloping around the arena spooked.
I closed the barn up except there is a door missing which I knew they would immediately enter - so I nailed a quilt across it but realized that wasn't going to stop a 1000 pound animal from breaking into my barn.
Called my neighbor, Dan again --Blowing a whistle and shaking plastic bags at the elk, Dan chased them off my property --then he carried the heavy door that used to be on the barn from the garage up to the barn and set in place (to be hinged tomorrow) - so the barn should be safe overnight.
A couple of years ago when snow was 3 feet deep and the elk were starving, a bull elk attacked a horse in a corral trying to steal its hay. I don't want that to happen to Rio or Raven -- So fed them in the loafing shed right after Dan chased the bulls away.
An hour after Dan chased the elk away, they are back!!! - laying down above the arena with their eyes glued to the barn. The horses are finished eating so they should be safe overnight -
In the morning I may have to fight off elk with my bull whip so my horses can eat. Had to do that a few years ago in deep snow - NOT FUN!
Because of high winds the snow has drifted I am no longer feeling pleasant about having bull elk visitors.
I hope I don't have to start baby sitting my horses while they eat morning, noon and night - I have enough to do without adding another chore.
Time to forget about elk and relax.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Snowed in
Woke up to a foot of snow which is expected to continue falling through the weekend -
Pine branches coated with a white frosting is beautiful but sure makes carrying water to the horses more difficult.
Three deer family groups in the pasture trying to steal hay from the horses. Can't blame them for trying but Rio and Mustang can hold their own. I'm relieved to see that the buck limping on a front leg which had a wound on it seems to be stronger. Still limping but putting more weight on it. He's been limping since mid January. And I'm thrilled that the doe who has a bad eye can see again.
I hate being snowed in. I wasn't planning on going anywhere except the post office and library but I hate the idea of not being able to get out when I want to. I'm having the neighbors over for crock pot stew tonight to keep me company.
Patricia Greenberg, who is illustrating my children's picture book, The Mutt and the Mustang is working hard on it. Her illustrations are beautiful - I'm loving this book which, after reading it to second and third graders at the library, I know kids will love too. The children all wished for a dog as brave as Kody, who rides a horse every day. As the Mutt book is getting printed overseas, not exactly sure when it will be released but trying for mid June.
Working hard on the Colorado Governor's Art Show which opens at the Loveland Museum April 23 - today I made both inventory and volunteer sheets. Yesterday, drove to Ft. Collins to proof the poster, which features art work from several artists in the show - it looks great. This is the show's 20th anniversary and my tenth year as director/curator. It's always an exciting time. I never get tired of being surrounded by paintings and sculpture and the talented artists who create the works.
Time to feed Rio and Mustang their mid day meal -- Yes, my horses get hay three times a day - they are spoiled but the way humans have treated them in the past, they deserve it.
Pine branches coated with a white frosting is beautiful but sure makes carrying water to the horses more difficult.
Three deer family groups in the pasture trying to steal hay from the horses. Can't blame them for trying but Rio and Mustang can hold their own. I'm relieved to see that the buck limping on a front leg which had a wound on it seems to be stronger. Still limping but putting more weight on it. He's been limping since mid January. And I'm thrilled that the doe who has a bad eye can see again.
I hate being snowed in. I wasn't planning on going anywhere except the post office and library but I hate the idea of not being able to get out when I want to. I'm having the neighbors over for crock pot stew tonight to keep me company.
Patricia Greenberg, who is illustrating my children's picture book, The Mutt and the Mustang is working hard on it. Her illustrations are beautiful - I'm loving this book which, after reading it to second and third graders at the library, I know kids will love too. The children all wished for a dog as brave as Kody, who rides a horse every day. As the Mutt book is getting printed overseas, not exactly sure when it will be released but trying for mid June.
Working hard on the Colorado Governor's Art Show which opens at the Loveland Museum April 23 - today I made both inventory and volunteer sheets. Yesterday, drove to Ft. Collins to proof the poster, which features art work from several artists in the show - it looks great. This is the show's 20th anniversary and my tenth year as director/curator. It's always an exciting time. I never get tired of being surrounded by paintings and sculpture and the talented artists who create the works.
Time to feed Rio and Mustang their mid day meal -- Yes, my horses get hay three times a day - they are spoiled but the way humans have treated them in the past, they deserve it.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Its been a mild winter for which I am grateful as it makes it so much easier to haul water to my horses. It's also easier on the wildlife - especially the birds, which I no longer feed.
I used to go through dozens of sunflower sacks every winter feeding chickadees, sparrows, nuthatches and other birds, even chipmunks and squirrels. But then a couple of things happened which changed my mind about feeding wild birds --- hearing a bird scream I ran to see what was happening - discovered a magpie trying to stab a purple finch to death with its beak. I scooped up the finch which appeared to be blind and put the little bird in a cage with seeds, orange slices and water and stuck it next to the bird feeder outside so it could have visitors -
A few days later I took the finch to a wildlife rehabilitator and was told that when birds congregate at feeders they sometimes catch an infection that can spread to other birds. I think thats what happened to the finch - couldn't blame the magpie who seeing an injured bird was trying to get his own dinner.
Here I thought I was doing a wonderful thing by helping birds survive winter when instead my feeder had had become toxic.
The bird feeder also attracted pack rats who decided to move into the garage where I keep horse feed in trash cans. I started noticing poop everywhere in the garage plus elaborate nests made of hay, leaves and branches decorated with silver spoons, Christmas bows, scissors, anything shiny the pack rats could find in the garage. I have to give them credit for being so resourceful and industrious but I didn't want them living in my garage where they were chewing holes into the trash cans full of horse feed.
My acreage is a sanctuary for all animals - so I wasn't about to kill the packrats - instead I live trapped one, which was fairly easy to do using peanut butter as bait. I relocated the packrat several miles away and thought the problem was solved-- but no, a new nest appeared -- I ended up live trapping and relocating 4 pack rats and finally making it impossible for them to get back into the garage.
Since I stopped feeding wild birds, there are fewer squirrels and chipmunks - and no packrats. Yea -
I do have lots of ground squirrels but I don't mind as long as they don't dig their holes in the horse arena. Quite by accident, I discovered a non toxic way to make ground squirrels move - dump used cat litter into their holes - they will move away and never return. Every few weeks, a badger comes through my place and nearly wipes the ground squirrel population out -- but a week goes by and a new batch moves in.
That's mother nature's way - seems like kind of a nasty bitch if you ask me.
I used to go through dozens of sunflower sacks every winter feeding chickadees, sparrows, nuthatches and other birds, even chipmunks and squirrels. But then a couple of things happened which changed my mind about feeding wild birds --- hearing a bird scream I ran to see what was happening - discovered a magpie trying to stab a purple finch to death with its beak. I scooped up the finch which appeared to be blind and put the little bird in a cage with seeds, orange slices and water and stuck it next to the bird feeder outside so it could have visitors -
A few days later I took the finch to a wildlife rehabilitator and was told that when birds congregate at feeders they sometimes catch an infection that can spread to other birds. I think thats what happened to the finch - couldn't blame the magpie who seeing an injured bird was trying to get his own dinner.
Here I thought I was doing a wonderful thing by helping birds survive winter when instead my feeder had had become toxic.
The bird feeder also attracted pack rats who decided to move into the garage where I keep horse feed in trash cans. I started noticing poop everywhere in the garage plus elaborate nests made of hay, leaves and branches decorated with silver spoons, Christmas bows, scissors, anything shiny the pack rats could find in the garage. I have to give them credit for being so resourceful and industrious but I didn't want them living in my garage where they were chewing holes into the trash cans full of horse feed.
My acreage is a sanctuary for all animals - so I wasn't about to kill the packrats - instead I live trapped one, which was fairly easy to do using peanut butter as bait. I relocated the packrat several miles away and thought the problem was solved-- but no, a new nest appeared -- I ended up live trapping and relocating 4 pack rats and finally making it impossible for them to get back into the garage.
Since I stopped feeding wild birds, there are fewer squirrels and chipmunks - and no packrats. Yea -
I do have lots of ground squirrels but I don't mind as long as they don't dig their holes in the horse arena. Quite by accident, I discovered a non toxic way to make ground squirrels move - dump used cat litter into their holes - they will move away and never return. Every few weeks, a badger comes through my place and nearly wipes the ground squirrel population out -- but a week goes by and a new batch moves in.
That's mother nature's way - seems like kind of a nasty bitch if you ask me.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A Scarred deer doesn't know its ugly
A beautiful coyote sat on a rise above the arena and watched me feed the horses this morning. At the same time, ten deer below the arena were watching the coyote. I was watching both deer and coyote.
At least two distinct deer families pass through my place almost daily. They are easy to recognize because at one time in their lives the local game department put tags in their ears. One doe wears red, another green and still another black. The red and green does with their fawns are always together, watch each others fawns and peacefully graze together but they don't get along with the black tagged doe and her family, which includes does, fawns and a couple of bucks. Sometimes the does strike at each other with their front legs and chase non family fawns away.
Another family group is led by a doe easy to recognize because of the scars on her face. It occured to me that she doesn't even know that she's ugly - bucks mate with her, she raises fawns every year and enjoys as good a quality of life as any of the beautiful does - I wonder if it would be a better world if humans couldn't tell if they were ugly or beautiful. At least life would be more equal.
Of course with their antlers, bucks rule - but usually benevolently. The largest buck with 9-point antlers shares grazing space with fawns and tenderly licks them - which reminds me of Bambi, an orphaned fawn I took care of when I operated a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary in Oregon many years ago. After he was turned free on 150 acres Bambi, who grew into a beautiful 6-point buck continued to visit and when we had other orphaned fawns, it was Bambi who took them under his wing - teaching them to be wild deer.
Once after being gone for two weeks, when Bambi came to visit he had a broken hind leg. A veternarian put a cast on the leg and we kept Bambi confined for a few weeks - - by the time the cast was removed from Bambi's leg, he had bonded with orphaned fawns, Prince and Baron.
The wild deer who regularly visit my yard bring back memories of Bambi, Prince, Baron and all the other wildlife, including foxes, raccoons, hawks, owls, and even a bear cub I helped care for. At this point in my life I'm relieved to only have two cats, two dogs and two horses to take care of but my former wildlife patients live on in my heart.
At least two distinct deer families pass through my place almost daily. They are easy to recognize because at one time in their lives the local game department put tags in their ears. One doe wears red, another green and still another black. The red and green does with their fawns are always together, watch each others fawns and peacefully graze together but they don't get along with the black tagged doe and her family, which includes does, fawns and a couple of bucks. Sometimes the does strike at each other with their front legs and chase non family fawns away.
Another family group is led by a doe easy to recognize because of the scars on her face. It occured to me that she doesn't even know that she's ugly - bucks mate with her, she raises fawns every year and enjoys as good a quality of life as any of the beautiful does - I wonder if it would be a better world if humans couldn't tell if they were ugly or beautiful. At least life would be more equal.
Of course with their antlers, bucks rule - but usually benevolently. The largest buck with 9-point antlers shares grazing space with fawns and tenderly licks them - which reminds me of Bambi, an orphaned fawn I took care of when I operated a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary in Oregon many years ago. After he was turned free on 150 acres Bambi, who grew into a beautiful 6-point buck continued to visit and when we had other orphaned fawns, it was Bambi who took them under his wing - teaching them to be wild deer.
Once after being gone for two weeks, when Bambi came to visit he had a broken hind leg. A veternarian put a cast on the leg and we kept Bambi confined for a few weeks - - by the time the cast was removed from Bambi's leg, he had bonded with orphaned fawns, Prince and Baron.
The wild deer who regularly visit my yard bring back memories of Bambi, Prince, Baron and all the other wildlife, including foxes, raccoons, hawks, owls, and even a bear cub I helped care for. At this point in my life I'm relieved to only have two cats, two dogs and two horses to take care of but my former wildlife patients live on in my heart.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Hello Deer!
The wind has been howling 3 days and nights in a row - 72 hours straight. It comes through cracks in the walls and around windows of my 60-year old house - like a banshee, it howls down my chimney piercing the peace and quiet of my living room and my mind.
Fourteen deer are in my yard - ten of them laying down, chewing their cuds as if the wind isn't blowing the snow to New Mexico. Three distinct groups of does with fawns plus three bucks. For the last month one of the bucks has been limping on a front foot -but he looks healthy so hopefully he will make it through the winter.
Nearly 100 elk passed by on the hill behind my house this morning when the sun was still pink in the sky. One good thing about the wind is that it blows the snow off the ground keeping areas open for elk and deer to browse so I'll try not to hate it so much. (Ok, that's a lie - I HATE continual wind)
It's time to carry water up to the horses so I have to bundle up and do my chores. Wish I could be as enthusiastic as my German shepherd, Cheyenne who is dancing with glee about going out in the snow and cold to visit the horses. But then, she isn't carrying six gallons of water up an icy slope.
Fourteen deer are in my yard - ten of them laying down, chewing their cuds as if the wind isn't blowing the snow to New Mexico. Three distinct groups of does with fawns plus three bucks. For the last month one of the bucks has been limping on a front foot -but he looks healthy so hopefully he will make it through the winter.
Nearly 100 elk passed by on the hill behind my house this morning when the sun was still pink in the sky. One good thing about the wind is that it blows the snow off the ground keeping areas open for elk and deer to browse so I'll try not to hate it so much. (Ok, that's a lie - I HATE continual wind)
It's time to carry water up to the horses so I have to bundle up and do my chores. Wish I could be as enthusiastic as my German shepherd, Cheyenne who is dancing with glee about going out in the snow and cold to visit the horses. But then, she isn't carrying six gallons of water up an icy slope.
Monday, January 10, 2011
My Blues have flown away with the old year
A new year brings new expectations and dreams - to self publish my children's picture book about my poodle mix Kody's friendship with "his" horse who he rides every day. I'm working with an illustrator and as soon as she completes the illustrations, I plan to go forward.
I've started meeting with a group of women writers in Boulder - though several are young enough to be my daughter, I'm enjoying the cross generational friendships and it is pushing me to write more.
Mustang, my 27-year old horse has good and bad days - Ever since last May when he suffered a stroke there are days he stands in the middle of the arena unable to remember the way to the hay tub in the barn.
Even after I halter and lead him to it he doesn't start eating until I put his nose in the tub. I hope he has at least one more summer.
We got four inches of snow last night which isn't so bad but now the wind is whipping it into drifts so that I may not be able to get out my driveway - makes it tough hauling water to the horses and keeping a 60-year old house warm with all the cracks around doors and windows. Oh, did I mention, the temperature is minus ten degrees?? Last week when it got that cold the electricity went out for 4 hours -- so I got a fire roaring in the fireplace, put candles everywhere, listened to a battery radio and was able to keep warm enough. ..keeping my fingers crossed that the electricity doesn't go out tonight when it is supposed to be the coldest night of the winter - so far.
Lots of deer hanging around drinking out of the horse's heated water buckets - one buck has been limping on one of his front legs - hope he makes it. I watched 3 does chase a coyote - the deer are afraid of coyotes when snow freezes into hard drifts but when weather isn't worrying them, they chase the coyotes. What a spectacle. Sixty elk came through my place yesterday - I like the elk but favor the deer.
I've started meeting with a group of women writers in Boulder - though several are young enough to be my daughter, I'm enjoying the cross generational friendships and it is pushing me to write more.
Mustang, my 27-year old horse has good and bad days - Ever since last May when he suffered a stroke there are days he stands in the middle of the arena unable to remember the way to the hay tub in the barn.
Even after I halter and lead him to it he doesn't start eating until I put his nose in the tub. I hope he has at least one more summer.
We got four inches of snow last night which isn't so bad but now the wind is whipping it into drifts so that I may not be able to get out my driveway - makes it tough hauling water to the horses and keeping a 60-year old house warm with all the cracks around doors and windows. Oh, did I mention, the temperature is minus ten degrees?? Last week when it got that cold the electricity went out for 4 hours -- so I got a fire roaring in the fireplace, put candles everywhere, listened to a battery radio and was able to keep warm enough. ..keeping my fingers crossed that the electricity doesn't go out tonight when it is supposed to be the coldest night of the winter - so far.
Lots of deer hanging around drinking out of the horse's heated water buckets - one buck has been limping on one of his front legs - hope he makes it. I watched 3 does chase a coyote - the deer are afraid of coyotes when snow freezes into hard drifts but when weather isn't worrying them, they chase the coyotes. What a spectacle. Sixty elk came through my place yesterday - I like the elk but favor the deer.
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