What a great day yesterday – Good photo shoot and a short 2 hour ride on Perla, did the daily mucking, and feeding hay – I helped with all that and for some reason was tired. Grandma made spaghetti and our friend gave us broccoli – we had desert while sitting by the bay — to bed early to read and sleep — Been reading this month about early fighter plane pilots and their experiences from little grade schools like I went to – to their years at war.
Oh, yea – the photos I promised – saving deer, clouds, wood, and Gulls for tomorrow or beyond:
First, this stone looks like a brain – You always said I have rocks in my head!Second, I liked my mushroom heart so well, I decided to send you one with a pudding stone — Does that mean I have a heart of stone – not good!Third — How about a baby Chick? Doe you see his head?
Now the school questions — I expect an answer kids!
Right here on Whitney Bay. Question 1. What kind of cactus does this look like? Question 2. What kind of plant is it?What in the world is this guy doing? – To get the answer, you must look at the photo I posted yesterday – the one that Marc sent .
OK, if you did not look at it yesterday – I will show you now! I have one more question, what is that plaid item in the lower right quadrant of this photo?
It is a backpack of course – I count at least 6 of them in this photo – You young people are much smarter then we were at your age! Oh, I see no Grandpas my age at this event – but I do see a ghost cloud watching you. I had dozens of these things — wore them around my neck instead of a backpack — they were of no practical value what so ever – could not carry my camera in them, could not carry a can of beer, bottle of water — nothing – why did we wear them?With that I say “So long for today!”
Today I went photo shooting after Grandma and I solved all world problems — It was an easy task — being up here where our world is Drummond Island – the pool of problems was small – Oh, We did have to put is place a penciled-in fall schedule – and we did that. and that was before our regular Sunday brunch with friends — and before the Sunday trail ride and after talking via phone with my son and his who will arrive on Drummond in 48 + hours! Whew, busy!
When I go out to shoot I have several targets — Clouds, Stones, Interesting Wood, Weeds/wildflowers, Geese/Loons, or Sea Gulls You may have noticed that most of my targets do not move too fast — so that makes it easer – not like deer, bears, or songbirds — who move away about the time I go to snap them — and most of the other photographers do not go after them — so competition for excellence is limited! You, know who goes out of their way to photo a common Sea Gull or a piece of dead wood?
Today, i am running out of time so must head out for Sunday’s trail ride on my buddy Perla! So, I will tell you what I shot this morning and will post them tomorrow. Gulls, Weed, Wood Stones, Clouds — I think some great ones — so come back tomorrow BUT FIRST THE REWARD::::: I got a WOW’s from Marc — Remember, yesterday I ask you to go out and shoot WOW’s he did and I include them here — hope you are OK with that Marc.
MARC SAID:
attached are
some photos from "Summer Streets
NYC 2013." Park Ave is closed
from 72nd all the way down to the
Brooklyn Bridge. Max & I toured
around for some of it, along with
supposedly 250,000 others (those
were mostly on foot). I think they
get crowds as there are lots of free
gifts, such as frozen banana covered
in chocolate on a stick. They ran
out of those. Max preferred street
vendor hotdog and
chipotle...
Hey Grandkids, I am going to ask you to do something the next morning you have time to go out the door and see the WOW around you. What do I want you to do? – I want you to go out the door of course — take you camera with you and record the WOW that you see. Be sure to imagine you are taking your Grandpa with you — I imagined you were were with me this morning!
I want to show you some of the WOW that I saw! — You would have to be here to see the true WOW. But I did my best to send along Drummond’s WOW as I saw it:
First I looked at the Bay
Then, I saw a fisherman on his way out to big water – He is my neighbor
Then, I saw considerate geese – By the “No Wake Buoy” they made no wake!
Then, I saw a cloud monster.
Then, I looked down the road and saw a road block.Then, I saw reflections.Then, I think I see fall is arriving – actually last evening — sitting on Perls’s back just a ridin along.
Before closing for this morning’s blog, I looked at my Grandpa’s diary and found these entries in Jan 1903 (110 years age):
“Warm and pleasant but good sledding. Hauled 86 mine props. Ordered fruit trees.”
I have made you a member of our morning photo shoot club.
A. THEN: Hey Grandkids – as school starts again for you, I want to tell you a little of my first grade experience in a Patch Town two-room school house.
What is a Patch town? FROM THE WEB: ” In the early 1900’s Pennsylvania had more company towns, which were known as Coal Patches or Patch Towns, then any other state. They were straight rows of double houses placed close together, within walking distance to the mine shaft entrance. Each house painted all a dull and ugly color, each house exactly like its neighbors, small back yards cluttered with sheds and privies along a back alley, houses and yards showered with smoke and dust from the steam locomotive railway and the big mine tipple.
A few of the remaining patch houses in Baker-Whitely, PA.
Former company store building in Baker-Whitely, PA.
When I got on the school bus for the 8 mile ride to the Reitz Patch town of Number 1 the bus stopped at Baker Whitley to pick a few kids from this Baker Whitely Patch Town. Reitz Number 1 looked just like Baker Whitley – All Patch Towns look the same. Company Owned and a Company store.
Now I want you to know — this little farm boy was so home sick for the first 4 weeks of school that I think I cried for at least 3 1/2 weeks — Everything was strange and I was alone -only one farm girl in the 2 room school house. must have been 25 patch town kids – and the teacher smelled of Noxzema cream – Brethren women did not use perfume – only smelled of barn oder — if anything. Them I figured it out – these coal miners son and daughters were very nice kids. – just different — so I soon got with it and really learned to enjoyed their friendship and school learning.
These kids knew lots of things I did not know though – Like:
1. Tipple? – A large structure that railroad hopper cars were pushed under by the steam locomotive so that the cars could be filled with coal from above.
2. Alley? – A small dirt road that ran beteewn the backyards of company row houses.
3. Privy? – Outhouse – in every back yard – it’s back to the alley.
4. Honey Dipper? – They men with a long handled scoop on a horse drawn tank – drove down the alley and scooped out each privy, no one wanted to be near by – the smell was far beyond that of any cow stable that I was used to.
5. Mass? – I went to Church or Sunday School – They went to Mass and Confession.
All seemed very strange to me, so I cried, but I sucked it up, and got over it:
Most Patch town people did not have cars – they walked to work, to church (Roman Catholic or Russian Orthodox Catholic– The later had Christmas in January), and to the company store. They went home for lunch – I had to eat my cold pork and/or venison mince meat sandwich (lard for butter) with the one farm girl and the teacher in the school room.
Oh, another thing I remember that was that was different – all my cloths were home made – mostly out of feed sack material – from my underwear to the nickers I wore — no one else wore nickers.
Some day I will tell you more of grade school, high school, and college.
B. NOW — Some of my photos of hearts in nature:
Mushroom found on the golf course this WednesdayMelissa sent me this of a sand heart on the beachPony cloud – legs form heartMy shadow with heart where it should be – Bonus my camera arm even formed a heartMy neighbor’s hobby – finding and artistically placing stone hearts – They were away a few weeks ago, I was watering her garden – took this photo – hope she does not mind me using it here
Hey, Kids – enjoy getting ready for school and learning!
I am always facinated by snakes. yesterday there was one on my front lawn. Took 30+/- photos. Note how light and photo angle seems to change the color of his/her head. It had fat middle — after I left it alone it curled up on a rock and snoozed/digested in the sun — had to go back for one more close-up of its skin.
Pretty snakeDon’t stick out your tongue at me!Beautiful pattern – In Texas they would say – great for my Boot-Scooting boots
That brings up another story — on my ranch in Texas we had many snakes – only a harmless Chicken Snakes seemed to crawl up trees and barn rafters to get birds out of nest, mice, and things like that — one day I went into the barn, hopped on my tractor to mow a hay field — about 100 yards from the barn felt something on my leg – looked down and there was a 6 foot Chicken Snake – I jumped off the tractor with the snake wrapped around my leg — I assume he was snoozing/digesting in the back corner of the tractor seat and I sat down just in front of him. Really, I had to stomp my foot on the ground just to shake him loose. I left him heading back to the barn where he belonged. then I ran after the tractor and stopped it — I flew off the tractor so fast I forgot to take it out of gear — Then guess what I did, I sat down and tried to get my heart back into my chest where it belonged!!!
Stay tuned to see “Hearts in Nature” tomorrow!
Grandpa seemed to travel each and every day. Obviously by horse – never heard of using oxen – and we know in 1902 they did not use cars – and hauling logs would not be easy on his back!
March 6, 1902, Snow deepest ever seen. Went out to haul lumber but could not get through the roads.
March 7, Roads better – took grain and hay up-home. Stalled at David Berkey’s. Mr. S. Young helped me out!
March 8, At home in forenoon and went to Windber and Scalp Level in afternoon.
We know how Scalp Level got it’s name from a previous blog — but how about Windber — It was from the Berwind coal company. See the relationship.
I copied a history of Windber here for you to see a little about the coal mining towns I knew and loved — I grew up a little farm boy – on a self sustaining Brethren farm using horse drawn equipment and we did have a 1936 tractor also — never really seeing anything beyond the farm until I was 6 – and then went to school in the Rietz Coal Company’s town of Mine 1 – near Berwind town of Mine 40.– After that I was never the same – coal mining towns had a lot of influence on my becoming what I am — what ever that is!!! I often wondered what my parents thought of that influence. (Hey, grandkids — that would be your Great Grandparents).
Windber was founded in 1897 by the Berwinds, a family of entrepreneurs who made a fortune in the coal industry. They used this fortune to systematically design a town complete with houses, churches, banks, schools, company stores, theaters, and even some recreation areas. To the left is the Berwind-White Headquarters, later turned into the Windber Borough Building.
Many immigrants were attracted to the coal industry because of its great need. Magyars (Hungarians), Slovaks, Poles, Carpatho-Russians, Italians and other nationalities joined the work-force of the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company in Windber, Pennsylvania.
Immigrants were provided with housing by the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company. Each house contained the same number of rooms and was about the same size. They were all designed in an orderly grid-like system across the town. Neighborhoods were situated near the mine where the family would work. Each day the miners would walk to work, mine for several hours, then walk home. During the day fathers went deep into the mines while young boys in their mid-teens would be chosen for mining in tight situations or would serve as ‘breaker boys’.
They typically bought their household goods such as soap, dishes, or linens at the Company Store. To the left is a view of the main Eureka Department Store. It dates from 1899. Buying goods outside the ‘Company Store’ drew frowns from the coal company; therefore, it was important to purchase goods from the company. In addition, workers were able to use ‘Mine Credit’ or ‘Scrip’. They bought items in good faith then later the bill was deducted from their checks. Most often, this led to a dependency on the coal company;
To the right is Mine Number 40, which became Berwind-White’s most efficient mine. Mine Number 40 demonstrated new mining techniques, state-of-the-art coal washing and loading facilities, and was used to test mining equipment. In 1913 the mine established a national record of just over 800,000 tons for the largest single, annual production in a bituminous coal mine. Mine Number 40 also became the largest producer under Berwind-White, in terms of coal mining and sales.
Before we start, I will tell you of a God from Norse Mythology – I think I found a really good one: Baldr – God of beauty, innocence, peace, and rebirth. What else could you want of a God or a spouse?
This is Perla – Aug 2013 (See one tree starting to change color already) – Foaled April 30, 2003 in Bancroft, ON – Canada Sire Nattfari Vom Wiesenhof, CAN. Dam Snaelda Fra Oddstodum, BORG.
We are bonding as one. We had a great training ride yesterday – an hour or more with no real problems – Not 10 miles away but away from home.
From the history of the Icelandic Horse — The most needed servant, carrying his master and the dog over a cold river. A many times recited sentence in Iceland is: “between a man and a horse and a dog lies a secret bond”.
Some things about Perla:
1. Last year, I trailered her to Whitney Bay — 10 miles from her home — tried unsuccessfully to have a fun ride — she constantly tried to go home as if to say: “I am going home now, until you and I bond as one, I rule our world”
2. She loves cool/cold weather -see turning leaves.
3. She eats different than many horses. — Munches everything in the path of her nose – never lifting to swallow – never skipping an inch of grass — many horses munch, lift their head to swallow, then put their nose down at random — skipping a foot or more of grass from the last munch.
4. Perla can quickly bulk-up — becoming the fattest horse in the heard.
Related items from the written history:
(See 1. above) The Icelandic was incomparable as a pack-animal and riding horse. Its homing instinct has also always been extremely well developed, and a lost or loaned animal could find it’s own way home (loaned animals were often simply released and took care of returning themselves home).
(See 2. above) Many factors molded the icelandic horse through the ages. The most prominent are cold and wet weather, which caused the horse to grow lower legs, shorter necks, longer wintercoat, and a good digestion.
An old type of icelandic horse, fat, hairy with short limbs and neck.
(see 3. and 4. above) Feed in the winters was little and bad, but the feed in the summertime is good, so the Icelandic horse has the capability of getting very fat in a very short time in the summer, and sure is an easy keeper.
More, interesting historical facts and our report cards in future blogs. Have to allow time to practice and play golf today!!!
Leaves starting to turn – yesterday, I looked to the sky and what do you think I saw?
Can fall be far behind?
Do you think, if I looked to the sky and found a golfer, my game would improve and would I have more fun? Remember I already really love the game of golf.
Today – perfect weather to walk the pasture with holes marked with flags — The flags are placed there to prevent a horse from stepping into the hole and breaking it’s leg you know? See ya.
An Icelandic farmer floating a sheep over a deep, cold glacier-river recently. What a horse – and farmer – the sheep ain’t doin too bad either!!
The icelandic horse is the descendant of the horses that were in Norway in the time of the vikings.
Perla getting a fly repellent sponged on by my friend prior to our trail ride – He is very good at getting horses to accept whatever act of doctoring or care required – see how well he has Perla accepting the sponge!Typical view down one of the logging roads – we have miles of such trails available to us. Thanks to friends of our friends, the State of Michigan, the logging companies, and maybe we just trespass some times — never been shot yet! But I ask Perla – an ex-Viking — to keep a watchful eye!
Did you ever own a breed of dog, cat, horse, –or maybe even a gerbil of which I know very little — As you do your research, you will find that those who write about your favorite breed make then sound like creatures that can walk on water, warm your bed, feed you dinner, and get your mail, clean your cloths, — They do just about everything a wife will do for you but for many fewer dollars and without grumbling about you bringing dirty shoes into the house or bringing drunk friends home for dinner — My research of the Icelandic, shows they walk on water and more, They even give forth the blessing of the Nordic-Viking Gods to their riders.
I like northern outdoor breeds — I’ve had a Newfoundland, a Siberian Husky, a Scottish Border Collie, a Welsh Corgi, Belted Galloways, Aberdeen Angus, and now an Icelandic. Always wanted a Norwegian Fiord and a Dexter — Maybe next year – I have books on training them and a corral waiting!
Maybe it is the northern sky that I like – strange things happen in the land of the midnight sun you know
Do you know who wrote this?
“There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, But the queerest they ever did see”….
Who sang this?
“Ain’t no hay left on the ground.
My last bale and well my tail is dragging.
Hose me down and dress me up.
Out the gate and let them horses run.
Jukebox, soft pretties on a hardwood floor,
A cowboys work is never done in the land of the midnight sun.”…
One of the most fascinating features of the Icelandic horse is it’s extreme genetic purity. No infusions of outside blood has propably happened to the icelandic horses for over 800 years, and there is only one breed of horses in Iceland. No horse that leaves Iceland can ever return. If a horse leaves Iceland for a competition, it can never return.
So, U C, Perla is much purer than me — that is why the 10 point lesson plan, the one Perla and I have been going through, is for me more then Perla. Tomorrow you get more history written by a Icelandic Horse enthusiast – maybe biased — and our report card — filled out by me – may be biased.
At full tolt we go into the rest of the day. Much to do — My son and wife arrive next week – Really looking forward to their arrival – maybe Perla gets a rider that knows what they are doing – My son’s wife!
Here goes Grandpa’s horse on it’s way to Scalp Level. Think Grandpa fell off.
I. GRANDPA AND TOWN NAMES:
May 4, 1903 Grandpa said “Cold in forenoon – Warm in afternoon. Plowed for Mehlon Berkey in forenoon. Went to Scalp (Level) after dinner. Bought flour, shoes for Ellen (Grandma) and my self and other things.”
Scalp Level from the web: 1.When settled, 2. how many people/horses, 3. why the name:
1. John Fyock settled there around 1790. Fire wiped out the Farmers Milling Co., the general store, and two houses in Jan 1903.
2 . In 1840 the Township of Paint (Where Scalp Level is located) had 487 people, 94 horses over 2 years of age.
3. The name Scalp Level is said to have come from Jacob Eash who directed his friends to “Scalp it level, boys”, when the frontiersmen cleared his land.
II. HAPPINESS, YOGA, AND AN ALTERNATIVE:
Grandma, daughter and granddaughter went to a 5 day Yoga retreat (summer camp say I) so I went to the Google “answer all questions” web and ask “What is the purpose of Yoga?” and I got a long multi page answer – you can go read it all if you want. but I will extract this for you “… helping human beings to become aware of their deepest nature” I make the assumption we humans would want that awareness to become happy if we were not happy or to stay happy if we were happy.
I was walking the road thru Central Park NYC last December and found a sign that was an alternative to Yoga. I will present it here for you:
It works – I stood there and smiled a lot!!!
III. HAPPINESS THU SMILING:
I will show you a few other photos that made me smile – I think smiling is an indication of happiness — If it is otherwise, just let me go on with my delusion:
On an Island, this creative picnic table on floats with a beer cooler attached is happiness for those who must fish, drink, and eat
This tavern sign in Ashville, I think it is for vegans to seek happiness through the spirits – I assume beer and wine are on their diet!!!
It is time for my cloud watching bird to start to think about flying south to seek happiness in the sunny south.Perla is an Icelandic – I love Icelandic Horses – Reading about them, riding them, watching outhers ride them — somehow all that makes me smile. Are they classy or what? So long for now – I must get ready to ride.
Next week, I will tell you of Icelandic Horses and their history.
But today, I will only talk about Perla’s nature and her schooling. Sort of like a dissertation on Perla. I want to do that so that you better understand Perla’s and my summer of learning.
Perla is an Icelandic Horse. I purchased her in 2012. Her seller said these things of her:
1. Perla is being sold as greenbroke. (I found this definition on the web:A green broke horse is one who has recently learned to accept a rider on his/her back, or to be “under saddle.”)
2. Since she is only green broke, she needs an advanced rider and she still needs miles of riding. (My comment – I thought that meant advanced in age – which I am. I knew my friends like long trail rides – fit perfect – so I bought her!)
3. She needs firm boundaries clearly defined objectives. (my comment: Ask my kids – do I set firm boundaries? Of course they never adhered to them – In spite of me they turned out great – so I guess Perla will too. Thus, I setup a ten step learning program about 7 weeks ago–with two weeks off for my trip to NYC – that left 5 weeks of training so far)
4. She will Tolt forever. Perla has large elastic movements. Her sire, Nattfari, got 9’s for tolt. (my comment: That is a major Icelandic trait that caused me to want an Icelandic for years)
From the web I got this description of tolt:
Icelandics have gained most of their popularity due to their ability to tolt. For an Icelandic Horse enthusiast there is probably no greater pleasure than to enjoy nature while riding a good tolter.
Tolt is a four-beat gait. There are alternately one or two feet on the ground, the two feet are alternately in lateral and diagonal pairs.
The horse carries itself proudly and gives a very smooth ride, enabling the rider to cover long distances without tiring.
Icelandics tolt naturally, many young foals are seen to tolt in the field. However, every horse naturally offers a different combination of gaits: for some, tolt is their favorite gait, others prefer to trot
As for this summer’s learnings, we passed most of the ten step learning program. My free time to train is quickly running out for this summer, so, yesterday I added step number 11 – Long distances at a tolt -That is what I call entering high school.
Nothing to do with tolting but – Love cloud watching too! Today on way home from Sunday Brunch group – I saw God pull this heart pendent across the sky. I did use Photoshop a little — to help better show U what I saw. Pretty neat!!!
Perla and I tolted for about 1/2 mile through the fields and trails, yesterday . Wonderful. What fun to tolt thru nature. Just like her sire Nattfari who got 9’s for tolt.
But, we both need to practice our communications – when to walk, when to tolt, how to stay in a tolt, when to return to walk. — all with very little show of signals being passed between us. No yelling commands. No yanking on reins. I know it will take more learning on both our parts.
Since Perla is not good at reading, I must do all the text book studying for both of us!
I have been assigned the readingPerla is assigned Tolting. Adios, Trail ride soon.
Our new neighbor moved here from the other side of the bay — We did not get an invitation for cocktails though? Why? No one on deck. That boat drug anchor, in yesterday’s wind, and its keel is now sitting in the mud off our dock!
Today, lets continue to look at signs – U know signs are messages and art work, both at the same time – And Grandma being an artist I just have to sprinkle in the art aspect.
Air travel causes a person to miss a lot of signs – even the names of towns. Did you ever wonder about the meeting that was held to decide on a name for for towns as you drive by? We lived in a town called Pleasantville at one time. Wonder what options were placed before the town fathers: Prettytown, Quiet Village, Kindburg, Jimstown — do not laugh – I once lived in Johnstown. Anyway they decided on Pleasantville.
Thinking of Pleasantville made me think of a sign in front of a barbershop on main street Pleasantville: “WE SPECIALIZE IN MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN’S HAIRCUT” – I assume that excluded haircuts for dogs and cats. I laughed at it because I wonder about the “artist” that made that sign – bet the artist was proud of his/her message that was painted on that sign outside the barbershop!
More sign/art work from my Digital Photo Gallery:
Speaking of dogs — Here is a dog for sale sign at the SPCA – $80 bucks for KIT – not KITTENMisleading sign – Hawk is not for saleAnother sign involving our best friends the dog. Of course we want a clean dog – sort of like a clean car after we run it through the car wash – Love this idea of a dog wash – lookout for those turning/flapping brushes – and put the antenna (ears) down.Mobil Art Gallery – If you want to purchase this piece of art – it is expensive and you need a large living room to display it!From the Two Pillar Gallery – This piece was created by local artist Joe Wetfeet JR. – displayed in the crossover section of the outdoor natural museum – What should we name this piece?
Let’s have an apple as we re-look at Jim’s Art Museum address “One Blog Street” in Jimstown
The most needed servant, carrying his master and the dog over a cold river. A many times recited sentence in Iceland is: “between a man and a horse and a dog lies a secret bond”.
An old type of icelandic horse, fat, hairy with short limbs and neck. 
