Hobo Jungle

[sarge]

Of course this old former (dammit) rider would be ill served to comment about the mix of Western saddlery and riders' English reining.

On that third photo down, I just love the tucked head and arched neck; a look of alertness. Well fed, too. I go all stupid when I see such beautiful animals (I'm talking about the horses!) ....

[E7]

I go all stupid when I see such beautiful animals (I'm talking about the horses!) ....

From what I see in the pics, the queue of suitors will be about 10 miles long.

Rich

[Mitch]

I just hope Pete and the boys have kept those groundhogs in check. Wouldn't want to see a horse with a broken leg and an injured rider.

[The Dirt]

Sarge, surely you have a picture of you from back in the day?

Mitch, never seen a rattlesnack or copperhead on the property, though I have seen a copperhead out here, and in a public campsite no less. Have them on your place? Otherwise, we've had garters, blacksnakes, ring-necks, milksnakes, a beautiful black and white kingsnake, and a very docile brownsnake.

And Aaron has killed 13 groundhogs this season, with some 3 to go of which he is aware, but I'll have to mow again. He lays them out in the middle of the fields, so we can enjoy the hawks and an occasional bald eagle getting a free and easy meal. Hey, scavengers gotta eat, too.

And Rich, yeah, the time is coming. I used to say I wasn't going to get a cellphone until she started dating, because her boyfriend may need to be rescued. The young lady lacks not an iota for assertiveness, which is a good thing. (Mitch met her at R&T, though she was on her good behavior). She wants me to buy her a pistol, for her bedroom, so she can help if we ever get invaded. As it is, she has a hunting knife and pepper spray.

Praise a benevolent Lord, she looks like her mother. Here she is with her cousin, overlooking the York River in Virginia last summer, one of my favorite pictures of her.

[Mitch]

Oh yeah, Pete. We've got Copperheads all around these river hills. Ex brother-in-law was a signalman for Conrail/NS, and he told me he had to be real careful about opening up those "hotboxes" (signal relay boxes) in the summer. Steel boxes with venting and somehow the mice get in there, and the snakes get in too for an easy meal. I've only ever seen two on the tracks when walking up the Buffalo Creek on the line from Butler Jct. I had an aunt that lived in Laneville and as kids we were always walkin' up the tracks to go fishin' at the junction of the Buffalo and Little Buffalo creeks. Seems like snakes are attracted to those hot rails and ties. Never saw a rattlesnake around here. An acquaintance killed two Eastern Diamondbacks at his camp just north of Sigel back in the '60s. I was amazed at the size of them. Seemed like they were about 2" thick in the middle. Not somethin' I'd wanta mess with.

[sarge]

Pete, I don't know if I do; I'll have to look around. I'm amased at how little I have from the day, and don't know if its because digital photography today is so dam easy or because I was and still am extremely camera shy.

Meanwhile, the daughter is a doll, and you are indeed a blessed man!

[sarge]

Pete, I found a couple that are what they are. That was almost thirty years ago (Good God!)



The horse is Buckwheat, a quarter/Morgan cross and an absolute pillock. He also was fast, turned on a dime whether you did or not, and not for the faint of heart. He was a good guy...

I look very different now, I'm afraid! The only article of clothing that still fits is the hat.

[rogruth]

Sarge,

You haven't changed a bit since I met you in 2010.

Well maybe just a little.

[The Dirt]

LOL, I had to look up 'pillock'. Sounds like a good description of the mule Ray sold.

He is a good-looking animal, and he was listening to you very attentively in the first picture, , which indicates his good judgment!

BTW, nice tractor (and correct color) in the background.

Now, how about that picture when he took you over the fence??

[sarge]

Roger,

No-one will believe that whopper!

Pete:

I wish I did have a photo of him jumping. He was graceful as can be, but no wasted motion for art's sake I can tell you! He actually made me look like I knew what I was doing (there were many many people who were lots better at this than I ever was!) and never outed me for the hack I really was. Buck was a very good jumper, good enough to compete in steeplechase and eventing after I had to sell; I believe he competed in the Virginia Gold Cup. Just a fantastic horse...

The other I wish I had photos of was the Percheron/quarter cross I mentioned back when Mike wrote his piece on draught horses. I truly miss that big ol' lug (Mike, too ).

I'm embarrassed to say I actually have tears welling up as I type this. It's almost impossible to explain the bond between a horse and a man. I very much miss them, even after all these years.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

....

[The Dirt]

I wish I did have a photo of him jumping. He was graceful as can be, but no wasted motion for art's sake I can tell you! He actually made me look like I knew what I was doing (there were many many people who were lots better at this than I ever was!) and never outed me for the hack I really was. Buck was a very good jumper, good enough to compete in steeplechase and eventing after I had to sell; I believe he competed in the Virginia Gold Cup. Just a fantastic horse...

LOL, the joke's on me. I was just kidding about going over the fence, because if it was me going over, it would be purely some accidental terror.

Now we need to see some video!

[sarge]

That I do not have; just the "video" of memories...

[rogruth]

That I do not have; just the "video" of memories...

Those are the best kind.

If editing needs to be done it is a rather simple process.

[E7]

Dirt,

Seeing that last pic, I think I better add a few miles to the queue. If she has half the intelligence of her Pop, I don't think you will have much to be worried about.

Rich

PS: I hope this comment hasn't embarrassed you. Your posts are always insightful and well worded, and some of your efforts like "Northumberland Daughter" are so good they just knock my socks off! Thanks!