Buongiorno amici miei. 

I have been doing my Italian study, Cheerful! I've been offline for a couple of days to get some work done as well as to get away from the overwhelming, nonstop chaos. That is not possible, but less is best sometimes.

I've been working on finish refurbishing of my kitchen floor. There is no chance of having it sanded and refinished due to the kitchen sitting in the middle of the house. There is no chance of staying in a motel with six cats and I would never leave the place empty overnight because of the horses. So, I'm channeling my father and came up with a doable solution. Today will be spent applying tung oil.

We've had pasta and more pasta for dinner while I am at this. Quick and easy. 

Shrimp, asparagus and pici pasta

 Lobster ravioli with a browned sage butter sauce. Not the most photographic, but browned butter and sage is delicious. At least I think so.

Distraction From Chaos

My first Arabian, Shaka. I went to look at him one fine day to potentially buy. He was young and a hot-blooded fellow. I used a mounting block, which his owner decided not to mention he hadn't seen before, so............he tossed me over his body to the ground so fast it seemed like it could not have happened. Shortening the story, I said I'd buy him. The owner's jaw nearly hit the ground. I loved this horse from that day until the day he died on Thanksgiving 2009, and still love the memory of him. Talented, opinionated, he knew he was a star. He was training Prix St. George when he retired due to arthritis in a knee. 

The first American Saddlebred I owned, Spenser. His trainer, in the photo, took him to a harvested cornfield to ride and came back overflowing with excitement. He could rack! The rack is an animated, fast, high stepping gait. The surface of the corn field brought out the ability he had that we didn't know he had. I did not intend to show him so it wasn't important other than the amazement that he could do it. Instead, this fancy fellow became my trail horse. He also was taught to drive and he really liked doing that. His cart is still stored in a shed.

 Tabby

Frieda

Gatto

As you can see, we've been busy.

Something Lovely

Beautiful. Voice and young man. 

Horses

 

The old boys club.

Laddy 27, Ben 26, Bounce 24, and Scamper 23. 

My oldest is a mare, Babe, the first born to my foundation mare, LF Diamond Rose. Babe is 32. Mama Rose died giving birth to Zing in 2001. His registered name is WF Last of Roses, his barn name, Zing is also a tribute to his dam. If she wanted something she would zing her teeth up and down the stall door bars. She was also called Jailhouse Mama when she did that. That was a tough year, six foals, one an orphan. I didn't have a chance to grieve her loss, so I carried the pain for a couple of years. I adored that mare.

Mama with Topper (WF Impressive) 1997-2025

I think the horse infatuation is born into us. It tends toward the female but not exclusively. There is just something about them that grabs and holds. There is a saying in the horse world. "How do you make a small fortune in horses? Start with a large one."                                                                

Not Much

I didn't watch the bloviating buffoon. From what I've gleaned I was wise. I did read he called this the Golden Age. It may have been Golden Years. I guess he doesn't know what that period was, the few years before the crash which brought on the Great Depression. Opulence, wealth beyond imagination for a few, all built on a house of cards. Of course he doesn't.

So, anyway. We are in single digits right now but have temperatures rising to the 40s F in a couple of days. I would not be unhappy with spring making its appearance in April. I want to play in the dirt.

I made breakfast for lunch yesterday. It was a nice break from the usual grind.                                                                

 

Just a Hello

No explanation necessary.

 

A House Cat's Life

A new toy for the boy.

I'm not particularly chatty these days. The mess of the US has been affecting me in a not good way. I'm going to put in some effort to get the things I talk about doing and then don't do done. The three Ds.

February Has Returned

And I'm glad.

 

Food. Again

Dollop of Daisy? Why a dollop when you can have a wallop. I don't particularly like to make lunch. Yesterday I had nothing on hand. I need to make bread, saints and sinners help me, no sandwiches. I had one bratwurst, black beans and tomatoes. A little hot sauce, cheese and sour cream and it was one more lunch. 

Our weather has been way too warm. Wednesday it is going back to "normal". I'm not sure what that is anymore. I wouldn't mind an early spring, one that is spring-like and not the hot and humid of the past few. I have a desire, it may even be a need, to get out and play in the dirt. In the meantime, I must make the blueberry clafoutis I've planned for the last several days. Somehow I don't get to it. I'd like to say my schedule has been just too hectic but I don't want you to laugh while drinking your coffee. I'm thinking of your keyboards.

Carrying on....I made linguine and meatballs for dinner. I made enough meatballs to have something for the dreaded lunch. Meatball sandwiches. I don't bake or fry the meatballs first. They cook in the sauce and are light as air. No egg, either. Milk as the binder.

You all have a good day and have a wallop of something