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Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Stuff & Nonsense: Blackberry Games, A Read-Aloud Story by (c) Celeste Parsons
Monday, June 24, 2024
Milliron Monday: The Recordings 7
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Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.
"Did I tell you I broke the law?"
― Jody Smith
Setting for this recording: Jody and I arrived at the barn, she's always on time. As she enters, she says to me, "Did you see a Highway Patrolman drive by?" I said, "No, why?" "Well, I was going over the speed limit. I think he's out looking for me." She gave him the slip. We take our places at the table, she pulls out her notecards...
Did I tell you about the one time I broke the law? I did it intentionally, and glad I did. I was picking up AJ [grandson] in Columbus. I don’t think Grant [AJ’s brother] was born yet. On the way home, I stopped at Conkle’s Hollow. I love Conkle’s Hollow. I had Hawkeye, my German Shepherd with us, on the leash. You’re not allowed to let dog’s off the leash in any State Park. But, I did this time. We were out on a far trail and some strange guy was coming towards us on the same trail. He had a knife and was showing me the knife in his hand. I felt for the small knife in my pocket. I was very happy that Hawkeye was right there with us. Like all German Shepherds, he began wagging his tail, Oh boy! Someone’s coming! Then he took a stance when I let him off the leash, even though he stayed by my side. The man made me nervous. Something was wrong with him. AJ said to the guy, “Oh, he’s a friendly dog.” But, I don’t know if Hawkeye picked up something threatening from the guy, or if he picked it up from me being nervous. I think Hawkeye picked up the guy’s evil intent. The guy avoided us and headed in the other direction. Later, we found out that a guy had stabbed a woman on the same trail that same evening.
One time, Pete and I took the kids to meet Bob Hope. Bob was performing at the Ohio University Ballroom. That was in 1972. Bob Hope was 74 at the time. Mike Schmidt, the baseball player, introduced Bob. Mike began telling jokes, a few of them off-color and inappropriate for kids. Schmidt was very young, he didn't understand that there were kids present. Bob noticed the kids in the audience and said, "Well, I'll just tell the jokes from here out." And he did. Everyone was pleased about that. We got to meet Bob after the show.
Have a great week ahead.
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
Friday, June 21, 2024
This Week @ Monday Creek: Summer Arrived
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| Zubie showing off her CowBiter Mohair Handmade Breastcollar Follow on Facebook @ cowbiter_cinches  |
Summer has arrived with flamboyant temperatures, rising dew
points, and a complete zoo of summer bugs. The temperature today is 94, with a “feel
like” temperature of 99; a hot day in southeastern Ohio. We are under a heat
advisory – and I am giving a gnat warning. My office, which is inside of the barn, has an extended family of gnats, all having a party at my expense. This has
never (ever) happened. I can't find anything in the office that could be a bit attractive to a
gnat. So, what’s up with the gnats? I don’t know, but heading to my farm store to find a gnat trap!
In October of last year, I had the opportunity to interview Jessa Karlberg for my column at Florida Equine Athlete. (Apologies Jessa, I
incorrectly spelled your name, Jesse). Jessa is the creative mind behind
CowBiter Cinches. Her designs are beautiful. Her mohair creations are soft,
flexible, super cute, and Zubie really likes to wear her breastcollar (see above)! Connect with Jessa
on Instagram and facebook @ cowbiter_cinches. .jpg) Last month, the Athens Public Library hosted two
beautiful artists in their hallways. Entering the library, Jill French’s photo
exhibit was on the left. Hidden in Plain Sight was the title of exhibit. Jill's lovely photos graced the library walls. Meeting Jill was a highlight and learning about her photography secrets was extra-special. The other exhibit was a bit further into the
library, in two lighted glass cases. The exhibit was by Olena Wilshanetsky, the
proprietor of Anant Design. Olena is a local artist who creates exquisite handmade
jewelry and Slavic folk-art hand-blown Ukrainian eggs. The eggs were the main focus of Olena’s
exhibit. In Ukrainian tradition, she designs Pysanky - eggs crafted by hand using wax-drawn intricate patterns. You can see her creations @ www.anant.design.
Connect with your local library to see cool exhibits by local craftsman. We are thrilled that our website is under construction and we will be launching a better site soon. As sponsor of the Hocking Hills Book Fairs, we are working on marketing and promotion of four book fairs that begin in October. For the event list and author directories, follow us on Facebook @ Hocking Hills Book Fair. Finally, at Monday Creek (besides farm work), we are
working on several new titles including Young Voices from a Small Town, A
Collection of Student Essays, Trimble Township, edited by Becky Handa and Kathy Trace; Two on Two Wheels: Adventuring
on a Bicycle by Celeste Parsons; Bandit Lost in the West by JA Hall;
Achim’s Pocket by Todd Linder; Until I Have No More to Give: A Hiram
Robinett Story of the Civil War, by Curt J. Robinette; and several
other titles that are still in the writing stages.  |
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Stuff & Nonsense: Introducing Celeste Parsons, Ohio Writer
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Greetings from southeastern Ohio! My name is Celeste Parsons, and I live here on a 48-acre former dairy farm with my husband Jim, our Westie dog Spook, and assorted songbirds and other wildlife. Blessed with too many interests for my own good, I have a hard time finding time for all the gardening, fabric arts, reading, writing, and puzzling that I love to do.
One thing that my husband and I have enjoyed doing together since we were married 58 years ago is riding bicycles. We have used them to commute to work, run errands, and simply for the pleasure of exploring our neighborhoods, and since completing a trans-America tour in 2001 we have taken an extended bicycle trip (between 300 and 1200 miles) every year. As we travel, we send daily reports via email to a number of people, and several of them have asked why we didn't write a book. Now, Two on Two Wheels will be published this year.
More
about other writing topics another time, but right now the weeds in the flower
bed are calling.
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| Across the meadow Photo by Celeste Parsons |
Celeste Parsons lives in a log house built on a former dairy farm with her husband Jim, her Westie dog, Spook, and a revolving population of deer, turkeys, chipmunks, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. She has written poems, plays, technical documentation, and newspaper articles since childhood, and is the editor of Nelsonville from A to Z. Her first children's book, Wait Until I Grow Up!, was released in 2021.
Monday, June 10, 2024
Milliron Monday: The Recordings 6
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Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.
"It's now called the Silver Saddle. Why they called it that, I don't know."
- Jody Smith
This week we continue Jody's archived voice recordings. This recording is from 2012...
When
we moved to Athens, Route 550 was Route 50A or 50 Alternate, but then they changed
it to 550. That little bar that was there when we moved in was called the 50A
In – they spelled it “In” instead of “Inn” – I don’t know why, it was never an inn,
it was a bar. They changed it to Sweetwater
Station, which I thought was a really cute name because it was near Sugar Creek.
Then when it was sold, they wouldn’t let them keep the name, I don’t know the
story on that. The lady who bought the place could tell you the story on that.
It’s now called the Silver Saddle. Why they called it that, I don’t know. I’ve
only been in the place twice.
One night Pete and I were driving
along, coming home from a classical music concert at Ohio University. It wasn’t
terribly late at night, around 9:30 or 10. There was this crowd on either side
of the road. Wisely, Pete slowed down. There was a guy crawling on the center-line
of the highway, too drunk to stand. Pete slowed way down, had to go off to the
side of the road. The crowd had to step back. That was back when it was the 50A
In. I don’t know how it stays in business now. I know one or two people go there.
At any rate, my son used to be there in his early college days. He used
to play pool there. He was the pool champion. They used to have Happy Birthday,
Pat on their sign out front.
At the time, Pat wanted a truck, so I bought his car from him
so he could buy a truck. Every night I drove by the Silver Saddle in the car I bought from Pat, the highway
patrol or sheriff would follow me. One night they put a spotlight on me and
seen it was me and not Pat, then they drove off. I guess they were all
friends.
Have a great week ahead!
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Winning Barrels: An Interview with Heather Smith, WPRA Barrel Racer, Author and Creator of BarrelRacingTips.com
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Heather
Smith, WPRA Barrel Racer, Author and Creator of BarrelRacingTips.com
Photo by Kristie Marie Photography
Winning
Barrels: An Interview with Heather Smith
by
Gina McKnight
Archived from the May 2024 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete.
No duplication without permission.
Heather
Smith knows that success is determined by work ethic and intentional effort.
Heather is a seasoned equestrian, a Women’s Professional Rodeo Association
member, the author of several books, and the creator of www.BarrelRacingTips.com. She
inspires “to give peace to troubled horses, create positive, confidence
building experiences for youngsters, develop
high-level, competitive equine athletes, and bring out the
very best in individuals with varying athletic
tendencies and personalities.”
Welcome, Heather!
GM:
Heather, I read your endearing story about Freckles, your childhood pony. Was
Freckles your first? When was your first encounter with a horse?
BRT: My mom always had one or more horses and I
have picture of my dad holding me up on one as a baby. My own first horse was one
we rescued from a neighbor - a foundered paint colored pony mare. We rehabbed
her feet back to soundness. Freckles taught me a lot!
GM:
Describe your journey to becoming a barrel racer. Is it inherent nature,
or have you had formal training?
BRT: Even though my mom always had and loved
horses, she never competed. I grew up in the Red River Valley farm country of
North Dakota. I had a desire to do more than trail ride around home but we
didn’t have a truck or trailer. My competition options were limited but I did
connect with a local mentor and was able to catch a ride for my horse to the
County Fair where I showed in everything they had to offer. I was definitely
more drawn to speed events and always wanted to rodeo. When I was on my own and had transportation
for my horse, that opened up doors to traveling, competing, moving to Wyoming
and connecting with more mentors to learn from.
GM:
Where in the world is your favorite arena? Why is it your favorite?
BRT:
My husband and have recently completed the build of our new home, barn, and
arena on 25 acres. I didn’t always have access to good, safe ground. As someone
from the northern US, it’s easy to think that being in a warmer environment
will solve all our problems. But when the ground doesn’t freeze, you realize
there’s a big difference between areas that have black clay vs. sand here in
Texas. Our new place has native sand, which recovers quickly from heavy rain
and requires little maintenance. I put a lot of time and resources into
designing and building our new roping arena. It feels like heaven to me and I’m
so grateful – it’s my favorite place to be!
GM:
With a lot of accolades and time in the arena, what is the single most
important tip that every rider should know?
BRT:
I wrote a list of my top ten tips that is on my BarrelRacingTips.com site
(available here - https://www.barrelracingtips.com/top-10-barrel-racing-tips/
or search for “Top 10” in the upper right corner).
In recent years I’ve reflected back on times early in my horse training journey when I thought it was weird or wrong that I didn’t feel I could do a good job of riding a higher number of horses, as others did. But I believe in quality over quantity. We absolutely need to put in the hours, miles and runs, but there’s a fine line between being great and burning out. Plus I don’t want to feel rushed or pressured to skip steps in a horse’s development.
My most important tip is - don’t lose the love and fascination for horses. Don’t let it seem like a job or something you have to do, but that you get to do it. Making it work is a delicate balance, and we have to do things we don’t FEEL like doing all the time, that’s necessary – discipline and follow-through, etc. But don’t put yourself in desperate situations. Winning is important, but it’s not the most important.
There are things we can’t trade it for once it’s lost… health, relationships, etc. (with ourselves, our loved ones, our horses, etc.). As long as we are in love with and fascinated by horses we’ll be compelled and pulled to keep learning and improving, AND we’ll enjoy it – that’s key!
GM:
Take us through a day in your life with horses...
BRT: My daily schedule depends on the season and
weather. I always start with time dedicated to personal development or
devotional reading, a few journal lines and working out. When I’m home my days
are usually divided in thirds – I spend one third riding, one third at my desk working
on my BarrelRacingTips.com business, and about a third on general work and
maintenance around our place. I’m always
thinking about ways to streamline certain chores so I can focus even more on
enjoyable and/or income producing tasks. In the winter I ride in the afternoon
when it’s warmer and in the summer I ride first thing when it’s cooler.
GM:
What do you look for in a barrel racing horse? Breed? Disposition?
BRT:
As with most barrel racers, I ride Quarter Horses. My husband Craig and I are in
a phase of life right now where we’re enjoying the later part of the careers of
a couple of our horses, so I’m starting to think about what I want in an up
& comer. I have a few bloodlines in mind I’ll be considering. Ain’t Seen
Nothin Yet really stands out to me. My husband loves Epic Leader horses.
I had a mare when I was younger that was really hormonal and challenging. Had I known then what I know now, I’m sure we would have had an easier time, but she swore me off mares and I’ve only had geldings since. Recently we bought some roping cattle and the heifers are so much faster. That really has my wheels turning about my future horse choices!
As for personality, I have to say I really enjoy those more laidback “people horses” that also have natural quickness and athleticism. I’ve had to learn to bring out the best in more high-strung types but it just seems more fun and easy with a horse that is pretty calm and confident by nature. We have to keep them responsive but it’s easier to maintain them mentally, especially when competing in speed events.
GM:
How important is tack and racer's attire for competing? Do clothes and tack
matter?
BRT: When it comes to both attire and tack I think
comfort and fit is always a priority. Personally, I err more on the side of
dressing up vs. down and am known to match my outfits and tack sets, but I
don’t take it too far or spend unnecessarily to do it. I’m still wearing shirts
and using tack that I’ve had for many years. I like things that are classic and
timeless vs. trendy.
Back
in the day Martha Josey really stressed that when you look good, you’ll do good.
There have been times I have competed where I maybe wasn’t the best or most
prepared candidate to win, but I always figured I could at least look the best
(or good and put-together, at least)! For many years I’ve worked from home but
every single day I get ready and put makeup on, wear jeans, boots, and a belt
with a buckle no matter what I have on the agenda.
Being
tidy in general, organized and paying attention to our attire and appearance does
make us feel good, which helps us do anything better. I think it can give us a
sense of pride and mental clarity, and we can do that without spending a lot.
Specifically
regarding tack - safety and fit is critical. And I believe taking care of our
tools is part of ensuring they last and will continue to be safe (leather for
example). We should take pride in ourselves, our appearance, our horses, our
tools, etc. We tend to take care of what we value and we should value those
things.
GM:
What other equestrian disciplines do you participate in?
BRT: I mentioned as a kid I showed in 4-H. My
local mentor suggested I show in every single class just for the experience,
that meant everything – even showmanship and English classes. In college I
bought my own modest truck and trailer and started traveling and competing in
some amateur rodeos – barrel racing, tying goats and pole bending. In my early
20’s I was very serious about the goal of becoming Miss Rodeo Wyoming. Competing
in rodeo queen pageants required completing a reining pattern, so reining
became my sole focus for several years. Barrel racing has always been a top
priority but I’ve gotten away from it at times to also take really deep dives
into horsemanship and colt starting. In the last few months since we finally
finished our arena and have roping steers, I set a beginner roping goal for
myself. I’m definitely anxious to get back to running barrels and I’m not sure
that I’ll continue to do much team roping yet or not.
GM:
Besides horses, what do you do for fun?
BRT: Horses are my fun! My entire world and life
revolves around them. My interests are
very wide and varied, but nothing compares to horses as far as what I’m
committed to spending my time, energy, and resources on.
GM:
What does horsemanship mean to you?
BRT:
True quality horsemanship entails being an all-around good servant, leader, and
steward. It’s working toward a goal of educating and preparing horses to do
things outside of their nature, yet truly being a student along the way. It
means we never stop learning and trying to understand them as best we can so
that we can make adjusting to and living in our world as stress free as
possible.
What we ask for them is such a stretch in every way possible for their nature. While we often have some kind of personal gain in mind, we owe it to them to make it as easy for them as we can. This includes ensuring they understand what we’re asking, that they’re prepared for what we ask, that we prioritize their health and well-being as we do, as well as make good choices in their best interest and generally put them first.
They shouldn’t have to pay a severe price for being a performance horse. Their lives should be better because of what we do with them (and we should always aim to do things with vs. to), I really think that’s possible. I challenge myself to improve the lives of every horse I come in contact with in some way. This desire and a deep love for horses inspired me to help people in a similar way, which led to creating BarrelRacingTips.com and my book series, which has been fun and rewarding!
Connect
with Heather…
All Photos by Kristie Marie Photography
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Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Mylee's Corner: Beloved Bakery - Alfonso's Italian Kitchen and Bakery
Beloved Bakery
Alfonso’s Italian Kitchen and Bakery located at 19 West Columbus Street, Nelsonville, Ohio, has become my new favorite place!
Alfonso’s offers many different things from danishes to stromboli to loaves of bread. My favorite is the fresh fruit danish, a perfectly good danish filled with cream and topped with strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. It’s cooked to perfection and tastes delicious! It’s my go-to every time I go there. The tiramisu, cannoli, and brownies are also very good. I haven’t tried anything from there that I haven’t enjoyed and the prices are great for the portions.
The staff is also very friendly. They kindly answer any questions and put your order together quickly. The setup of the bakery is very practical as well. They have a cooler of drinks and provide plasticware and napkins. It’s a perfect affordable trip that I will definitely be going to more often. Check out their menu https://alfonsositalianbakery.com/kitchen-menu/.
Connect with Alfonso...
https://alfonsositalianbakery.com/
Alfonso's Italian Kitchen and Bakery on Facebook!
Master Chef, Alfonso Contrisciani
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| Photos by Mylee Mylee is a journalism student at Tri-County Career Center. She resides in Logan, Ohio. Mylee enjoys reading, writing, and crafting. |
Monday, June 3, 2024
Milliron Monday: The Recordings 5
Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.
"We named her Lollipop because I was such a sucker."
― Jody Smith
A few of these stories were told to me several times. Listening to old recordings, each one has a bit more information than the last. I have two stories from Jody about how she came to cut her long braid (will post the other story in the future). First, we begin with one of Jody's treasured tangible possessions, now belonging to her son, a picture of Pharaoh's Horses. Hearing the story again, I am certain that the memory of the old harness-maker was just as meaningful to Jody as the picture. Then, Jody looked at her notecards and we moved on to other stories...
When I was a young girl, we would go into town to shop.
While mother went to the dress shop, my favorite thing to do was to go to the harness shop down the street. I loved the shop; leather, tack, and the smell of
it. But most of all, I adored the large picture on the wall of Pharaoh's Horses. The old man who owned the shop was nice. One day when I went into the
shop, everything was in boxes and the man said that he had to close the shop
and this would be the last day I could see the picture. I asked him what I was
to do if I could no longer see the picture. Could I buy it? The old man said I
could buy it for five dollars. Of course, I didn’t have five dollars, so I ran out of the shop, found my mother, and she gave me five dollars. Pat has it
hanging in his office.
When we first moved to Athens, the neighbor had a donkey for sale. I told Pete I bought a donkey. He laughed. He said, “You didn’t pay money for a donkey! They should have given it
to you!” Well, we named her Lollipop because I was such a sucker.
My hair was very long from the day I was born until high
school. When I was in high school, I was going with a boy my mother and
grandmother didn’t like. Mother was always fusing with my hair and kept it
long. There were bows and ribbons when I was younger. But then when I started dating,
this boy didn’t like long hair, he liked short hair. Mother and grandmother
were upset that I cut it.
I had short hair when I first met Pete. He wanted me to grow it long. I did, kept it in a braid. Of course, when Pete wanted my hair long and I let it grow, mother wanted me to have short hair. At one time, my hair was so long I could sit on it. It was a terrible nuisance around the farm. One day, I was out with the sheep and my braid got caught in the top strand of barbwire fence. It was cold and rainy, I couldn’t deal with it any longer. When I got home, I said to Pete, “Would you be upset if I cut my hair?” He said, “No, no.” I’ve kept it short ever since.
Have a great week ahead.
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
Saturday, June 1, 2024
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J.A. Hall: My Mother's Poetry "Peter the Pelican"
My mother, Clare Oxley, was born in Standerton, South Africa. She and her brother, Michael, lived on her maternal grandfather's planta...
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Celeste Parsons @ Athens Cycle Path, Athens, Ohio Left to right: Carol Ault, John Lohse, Steven Dierna, Celeste Parsons Special thanks to A...