Monday, November 28, 2016

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories---Day 2


Day 2

 

Cookie Jar Memory:

 

 

“Horseback riding on Thanksgiving &

a broken collar bone for Beth”

 

“Back in the day”, as the “hip” in-crowd modern-speak goes, we had a precocious four year old helplessly in love with horses. I was twenty-four with some “hobbies” outside my family; in those days, and, for several decades to follow, I did a fair amount of shooting expanding the pleasure into reloading shotgun shells along with centerfire ammunition for rifle and pistol.

Beth’s fourth Thanksgiving Day celebration found our Nanny preparing a family feast and “horse-crazy” daughter wanting to visit the farm and ride her Lady-Belle Welsh Pony. We journeyed to the stable where Dad tacked-up the little white horse, hoisted the “wild” cowgirl aboard and sent her on an adventure while I busied myself cleaning stalls, placing alfalfa in the manger and allocating a  three pound coffee can of pelleted grain into Lady’s feed trough.

I also found time to set up straw bales a hundred yards from the barn to use as a backstop for target shooting as I tested various amounts of different powder charges and bullet weights and designs I had reloaded. I intended to shoot on a day when babysitting did not occupy my mind.

As an hour passed, I kept an eye out for my kittle cowgirl and her steed to return. No sign.

Finally, here comes my little girl in her bright yellow winter coat---leading her white bronc!

Beth was not at all upset. Gee! I must have been a poor excuse for a mature father-figure.

My “Darling” had dried grass in her hair and her yellow garment was garnished with brown.

“I fell off Lady!” She announced, proudly, blonde-hair glowing, white teeth sparkling.

We never did ascertain exactly what had happened, but, the best guess is that Lady bent her head low to munch some freeze-dried grass which caused our Beth to tumble down the old nag’s neck and over her bowed head onto the winter-dried forage; it could be that she might have held the reins too short, not allowing them to slide as the horse stretched forward to graze!

 I put Ole Lady away to feed on her hay and grain as a “reward” and took Beth home to Mom.

Turns out, the little girl had suffered a fractured collar bone. Oh! Great!

So much for her mature babysitter; I truly thought that the kid could ride---like…the wind; not, “in” the wind---literally!

She recovered, nicely, and, before Christmas, she straddled Ole Lady for more adventures, nearly all absent any “serious” repercussions. (Guess they decided not to allow “Dad” to babysit---un-supervised…anymore?)

Focused! She was---and, still…Is! Now, she rides a law desk---from which…she has not been dislodged. She still rides the nags with authority as does kid-sister, Becky, along with our Miss Lauren and Anna Marie, Becky’s girls, and Miss Lexi, Beth’s daughter. Each an accomplished equestrian in their own right. Z. Tyler has “forked” a steed now and then, also. They could ride the wild-wind, if, Dad could only figure out how to saddle it! (If I could; I would!)

What a “Quality” family! Amen!

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