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Showing posts from March, 2013
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The first year that I saw them soaring up above with their long necks and elegant wings I fell instantly in love.        Their call is unlike any around, kind of like a long gargled foreign bellow.  If they fly close enough I can even see the faint red on their heads.  Typically they fly together in pairs.  I always refer to them as “My Pterodactyls” because that is what they resemble to me. They are breathtakingly grand and deserve respect.  WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT? SANDHILL CRANES General Description A tall, long-necked, long-legged bird with a clump of feathers that droops over the rump; flies with neck and legs fully extended; adults are gray overall (may have brownish-red staining resulting from preening with muddy bill), with a whitish chin, cheek, and upper throat, and dull red skin on the crown and lores (lacking in immatures); immatures have a pale to tawny, feathered head and neck, and a gray body with brownish-red mottling; average length around 104 cm, wing
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Is it possible for horses to grieve? I say YES!  Here’s why. Last February we had our oldest horse on the place pass away, Chili Bean.   Chili Bean was about 28 years old.   Chili was originally owned by my father in law and was a part of this family before I ever came along.   I say originally because since our 11 year old boy, Garrett, fell in love with horses as a baby, he laid claim to Chili as his horse.   My father in law loves every minute of it.  Well, to get on with the story, a little over a year ago, Chili Bean took his last breath and laid down in our pasture claiming one last hug from all of us,  and a kiss from our little heartbroken son.   Garrett lost his best friend that day;  we buried Chili in our pasture with a fence around him under a tree to protect him.   Chili was the top of the pecking order around here.  This means he was the boss and second in command was my husband’s horse Yankee. We  didn't  know it at the time, but Yankee’s heart