Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021 |
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Gina McKnight, Monday Creek Publishing Author, Freelance Writer, Equestrian, Blogger, and Poet! Welcome to my international blog about horses, writers, authors, books, cowboys, equestrians, photographers, artists, poets, poems, and more horses. As seen in #FloridaEquineAthlete, #ArabianFinishLine, #HorseGirlTV, #LivingRuralTV, #AmericanHorsePublications, #trueCOWBOYmagazine, #HayNetUK, and #GirlGab.com...
Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021 |
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The Dollhouse
From Ohio USA, Terri Mash is the author of A Cultured Girl: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories. She was born to Lawrence and Mattie Mash, the youngest of six children. Raised in Ohio with a love of art and music engrained in her soul, she would doodle, draw, and write song lyrics then stash them in a closet. It wasn't until recently she got the courage to pursue her passions. Self-taught with a relentless spirit, Terri fulfilled her dream.
Find Terri's book on Amazon
Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021 |
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Zubie and Mac @ Monday Creek |
Winter Feeding Frenzy: The time
when Mac bit Zubie
It was a day like today – frigid temperatures,
overcast skies, winter winds, and hungry horses. I was late getting to the barn
that day and my gelding, Mac, and my mare, Zubie, were hungry (you know all
horses wear a watch and know when you’re late to the barn!).
Zubie is a passive mare. Usually mares are the
herd “leaders”, but in this case Mac was dominant. He was pushy. He had been in
a herd where he was low on the list and ignored. Now, in a very large
barn stall with Zubie (yes, they shared the same stall), he was in
charge.
It was dark that day as I went to the barn to
feed. I remember hearing a ruckus in the corral, unusual stomping, and
whinny-screams. Mac ran into the barn, hung his head over the gate, and wanted
something to eat – pronto! Zubie, however, came in a few minutes later with a two-inch
square out of her chest. Mac had bitten her! I was furious! I immediately separated them, put Mac in a stall by himself so I could look at Zubie’s
wound.
The wound was not bleeding. Mac had pulled
her coat right off, creating a small patch of bare skin. She didn’t seem upset
physically, but I am sure she was angry, too. And probably her feelings were
hurt, as were mine. She quietly ate supper and went directly to her hay.
What should I put on the wound? No blood, no cuts,
just bare skin. I prayed about it, “Lord, what do I do?” The answer was, “Nothing.” Antibiotic ointment would only freeze to her skin. A bandage would not adhere to it. Common sense said the cold air
would do it’s work and the wound would heal itself. And it did. Within a week,
the hair began to grow back. By Spring, the patch was completely covered, her
paint coat was once again complete.
Mac knew he had failed in being a good stablemate. He ate his supper, sullen; he had broken the rules of herdship. He never bullied Zubie again.
Despite his rude behavior that night, he was my love, a beautiful gelding who was passionate about living. In October 2019, Mac was bitten by a timber rattlesnake and died. He is missed. I thought of him today when I went to the barn. Zubie is alone now, but we are hoping to get a stablemate for her soon.
To see pics of Zubie, follow on Insta @ Monday Creek Publishing.
Mac and Zubie @ Monday Creek |
An Interview with Jennifer Kempton
From Ohio USA, Jennifer Kempton is the proprietor of Shelled Ones & Friends, a local animal sanctuary in the beautiful Hocking Hills. I met Jennifer at one of our book festivals and, after talking with her about animals, found out that she has ducks! At the time, I was having a duck dilemma – my ducks would not stay on the pond and wandered off into the neighbor’s yard and into the road. The ducks came from a home where they were used to hanging around people all day and not the pond. Jennifer and her family happily rehomed my ducks to their animal sanctuary where they are thriving.
Shortly after, we collaborated on a coloring book and journal to benefit Shelled Ones and Friends. I recently caught up with Jennifer to ask about her sanctuary, writing, and more...
Welcome, Jennifer!
GM: Tell us about yourself, Shelled Ones & Friends, and the animals that you care for...
Connect
with Jennifer...
New! Children's Literature Available in Hardcover Bedtime For Bigfoot Follow on Facebook @ mmdean323 Instagram @ mmdean323 About t...