Weekly Remedy – Baby Goats!

What is the best thing a body could do to ease stress, relax a little, take your mind off a story for a short while?

…. Why hug a baby goat of course!

 

Our little farm has two new additions. I knew they were coming, but I didn’t know they were so close. Mama had them like a pro. This is her fourth set of kids, so she has had a good deal of practice.

They are so new steam is still rising off their little bodies. They were all long spindly legs and loud baby bleats.

And toooo cute! The dark headed one is a male and the light-headed one is female. I haven’t named them yet. If you have a suggestion I’m open. No preconceived impressions. They are really scrumptious and soft and cuddly. Because I have cuddled them and they like being held. They are born with a thick, warm layer of hair.

Here’s the little guy. He was up and eating in a heart beat and he looks like he’ll be growing faster than little missy. ‘Cuz he beats her to the mama every time.

She started out with weak little legs. I worried she wouldn’t be able to eat.  That didn’t stop me from jumping in there and holding her so she could eat. Amazing, how quickly she regained her strength. She wobbled all over the place for a day, but it didn’t keep her from eating. I love the determination of new life!

Babies are always a joy. So are dogs and kitties and any pet.

They make you happy!

Nena

 

P.S. I’m looking for names. Leave your suggestions in a comment!

 

Weekly Remedy – It’s called Chicken

 

My daughter did a favor for a friend. She took in their little puppy for the short time they went out of town. The friend couldn’t believe her mom and dad were on board with it. A puppy? A not house broken, up in the middle of the night, cute as a button and more baby dog.

Who could say no to that little face? Meet Chicken.

No that isn’t a typo. The little girl who owns him calls him Chicken. No idea why, but he really knows his name after a week at my house. He comes when you call him. Comes running with kisses and sharp toothed little puppy nips. Small and full of life and wiggles all soft and cuddly. And when he comes he jingles, because around his neck hangs a little bell. That’s because he can disappear like a roach and we need to be able to find him. “tinkle, tinkle, tinkle”

Gahhh, I’m such a sap. We loved having him.

We didn’t dare let him off that leash outdoors. Chicken thought the grass was a play field in which he could run, and run, and run, and run. That little dog could run fast for something with such short stubby little legs, too. Cooper raced after him the last time he got away and side-swiped him for me, tumbling him end over end. The little thing rolled and lost his bearings enough he laid on his back, puppy paws in the air, long enough for me to scoop him up.

 

Chicken is also now a traveling pup. He loved looking out the window as the miles flew by. If he wasn’t somebody else’s little guy, we’d have kept him for good.

Cooper might have had something to say about that, though. He spent the afternoons keeping out of Chicken’s reach. That meant sitting on the edge of the bed where stubby little puppy feet couldn’t gain enough purchase to climb up.

Then when Chicken went home, the house silent of his little bell, Cooper laid around looking rather depressed. After all those evasive maneuvers to keep out of Chicken reach, I thought Cooper would be glad to have the house and us to himself. Evidently even bothersome puppies can endear themselves to older canines…

… and old men. My husband misses ole Chicken.

 

This lovely distraction is just the remedy I needed. A rest from the book that doesn’t seem to want to be finished and shot of pure puppy joy. It’s what we all need.

I hope remedies something with you too.

Nena

Revisit a Hobby

As a writer, I find my regular life inspires and fuels my writing life. If things aren’t flowing in real life, how can I expect a story to flow and the words to take on meaning? One of the many ways I use to keep brain cells alive is horseback riding. I didn’t ride last year (a crying shame), just because a schedule change had me scrambling to find time to just write.

This year my son asked me to teach him how to ride. (I almost fell over.) None of the kids have wanted to ride. Granted, the first riding horse I had was a 16 hand giant and cantankerous as ever. I was the only one experienced enough to brave his antics.

This little girl, though, is a gem. Naomi is a 14 hand Quarter horse of indeterminate age (around 18 now we think). I found her by accident. The only way I seem to find things of great value.

A girl at the feed store was looking for someone to buy a horse she had rescued. Naomi was on the way to the sale barn that weekend. For and easy $350 my husband took ownership. She was very ribby, but not dying or sickly in the least. The girl promised she had looked worse weeks ago. No matter. When I got on her she performed beautifully and didn’t balk in the least.

Today she is an invaluable “kid-broke” mount. After a year and a half of being left to her own devices, she is calm and attentive. I love her. My son hasn’t had an issue with her either. Thank goodness.

She doesn’t have the flawless conformation of our thoroughbreds, but she has a beautiful heart. Riding makes my brain relax and my imagination take flight.

I hope you have as freeing a release as I. I’d love to hear from you. Tell me all about your method of relaxation.

Nena

My Writing Buddy

We all have a special environment in which we like to write. At a desk or on the couch. Outdoors on the porch or locked away from family distractions. Whatever it is, it works for each of us, or we find one that does work finally. Our surroundings all contribute to our productivity in some way or another.

I like to write away from my family when possible. Not always accomplished, but very nice when I do get there. One thing is constant, though. I always have Cooper with me.

Cooper is a Shitzu of two years. He came to us as a puppy and is technically my daughter’s baby. But since I was the one at home caring for him, he took to me like a fish to water. I’m his mamma.

And who couldn’t love that little face?

I know, I know… I have four great kids. I love them all, am proud of their accomplishments. I even have a stunning grandson who really does outshine any pet any day of the week, but….

I love Cooper like one of my kids. He’s always there as I write. He gives me a distraction when I get restless. He helps feed the goats and the chickens providing me endless satisfaction as I watch him race around our farm like a bullet – for about ten minutes. Short legs can only work so long before they tire.

He gives me something to huggle when I get frustrated. I talk to him when I get stuck. I love having this little guy around.

Tell me about your companion. I know you have a cat or a dog, big or small. They give you unconditional support and wonderfully amusing distraction when you need it most.

Thank God for all the little creatures.

Nena

Real Live Stud

I know this a romance author’s blog, but sometimes I have to diversify and give you just a little bit of my real life. I love western anythings and part of that comes from the fact we raise horses on our little spread.

Our newest addition is a little stud colt we affectionately named after my father. My dad was a fighter pilot who passed away year before last and we couldn’t find a better way to honor him than making a name sake out of the astounding little horse.

We call him Colonel Frank.

And he really likes to run… a lot. Which is what he is bred for. Hopefully he can run as fast as my dad could fly.

By the way, that is his mama with him. She is one outstanding mare. She is so good for that little fellow.

Well, I hope this is as much inspiration for you as it is for me. Every time I want to write a western, I take a good look at the horse outside and picture him on the western plains with a real stud riding him.

Nena

It’s Summer

Summer is here.

With our season change, I am having to balance a few new influences in my day. Both my kids are home from school at the moment. I am now bombarded with a ton of new outdoor activities and distractions. I ride my horse every morning when not working and trips to town have multiplied now that the kids find new needs and wants. We now have visits to the water park a couple times a week as well. I won’t try to explain how much grass there is around our place… mowing. Oh, and then we seem to take a trip on the weekend. That is always fun! Can you see where this is going?

Then there are all those animals we have that I enjoy visiting everyday. Feeding the chickens and gathering eggs is especially enjoyable. The goats attract my attention every time  I step out the door. Just throw a bit of grain at them and give them a rub and I’m instantly liked. I haven’t even mentioned all our kitties… kittens and mama cats, all requiring a hefty rub and a hug. When out with the horses, they all get some sort of greeting. What I’m trying to say is, all this takes up a section of time. Time I used to use to write.

There is no mention of our newest family member. A shitz tsu puppy. He is the most charming creature on the planet and potty training is time consuming.

Summer is the time of year we do repairs. Nice weather and time means fix ups. Well my  schedule is now open . That also means another few trips into town for something else.

Well, all these necessities have put a dent in writing time. I’m not fretting over the underwordage I’m incurring. Everybody needs a break and I am certainly numbering myself amongst the needy. This is the first time in my life that I’ve been home during the day with my kids, though. I really like it. My work schedule always prohibited it in the past. I work nights now and am home four days in a row. I feel like I am truly having a summer vacation.

So I don’t really worry about not writing as much as my conservative goals stipulated. I’m going to enjoy my family and our farm and get done what gets done. The summer is a time to enjoy family and frolic and sit back and relax. I intend to do just all that.

 

Nena