This was the coldest Thanksgiving here I can remember. In past years, I got all the horses out and went for lengthy rides. It’s a tradition for me, and for them. Sure, all the animals here all know this is a day in which we give thanks – none of them are stupid. The stupid animals live elsewhere. This is because they have not been afforded the opportunities all our animals have, nor have their owners, in dealing with them, considered the concept of education.

Earlier than expected, our friend Bill Schmidtkunz came over for breakfast. He’d requested pancakes. We weren’t quite done with the morning chores because we thought he’d arrive at 9:30 a.m. This is why I looked surprised when he arrived at 9 a.m.

Tyra

I put down my shovel and rake and called the horses into their pen, so they could eat their second helping of hay. The three goats followed us up the hill, through the gate, into their enclosure. The dogs greeted Bill not once but several times.

Pete served the pancakes and Bill his coffee. We talked about many things including the propane tank debacle. That the company, Amerigas, charged us to take it away their tank, is one of Pete’s favorite subjects. “Extortion,” he calls it. Problem is, when you live in a fourth world country, as we do, there is nothing you can do about things like this. If you refuse payment, they will contact bill collectors. Then they send someone out to torch your house.

We gave Bill coffee so he stayed for some time. I took a break from our ongoing conversation to milk Swampy, our goat. After he left, I got the horses out – all four. I took Tinni, Hrimmi, and Tyra around the loop and included Siggi’s trail. And because it was getting colder and I was getting chilled, I just took Raudi for a walk around the loop.

The high point of the day for me was watching Tyra race around the woods when I let her off lead. Most horses are most beautiful when they are off-lead, and she is no exception. She’s dark chestnut in color, and has a long, flowing dark tail. She has a very thick mane and is compactly built. She’s our most athletic horse, and so watching her move is breath-taking.

Will I remember this Thanksgiving? I’m not sure. But here you go, recorded for posterity.

Next: 327. 11/26/21: The Dark Ages