June, summer and more of the same in general. The routine varied little from day to day except for occasional trips and days that were blown to bits by "talks" that ran for way too many hours. To me they were invariably a waste of time. I almost always went back to or started my work in a worse frame of mind, more discouraged, angry, depressed or troubled than before hand. I generally said as little as possible and sat silently, hunched in my corner at the table in the kitchen--which was also where we ate--while I reacted outwardly the very minimum I could. I rarely really understood what the purpose or reason was for these discussions, harangues and family "meetings"--except just part of the whole enmeshed family scenario.
June 12, 1965 Sat
Not much to explain or elaborate on here. .Making feedbags from empty feed sacks and patching saddle pads, usually with pieces of old jeans, were regular tasks of mine. It was hand sewing with an over-sized needle and self-threads from the burlap bags and coarse thread for the pads. Not fun jobs but didn't mind if I was left alone and just did the work.
Obviously I was riding Lyno now. We had recognized Dad was too heavy for her and I took over. Never had any bad rodeos or problems with her. Really all the Quarter Horses were almost 'born broke' and just needed socializing and training. Not to brag, but that was my forte, really. I was a darn good trainer.
Shirl was one of my girl pen pals and I am sure I have mentioned her before. She lived in Colorado, originally in Rifle and then in Grand Junction after she married. The Mayottes were some semi-friends in Prescott, One of them worked at the VA Hospital at Whipple where Dad had met him or her--forget which. They had an Appy mare that was bred to Chief and we kept her for a month or so.
Going out to at least walk around after supper was a long-term tradition Charlie Mike and I were allowed. It had become a solid habit over a period of several years. It was not a huge freedom --normal 10:00 curfew--but very appreciated. Ball games were often part of that time. Obviously this was adult softball teams, not the Little League. By now I know Bobbi had at least one child--her first son was born in the summer of 1961 and there may have been another by now. I think Judy only had the one little boy. I never really knew but suspect she was divorced after a few years. Once I met Dusty I felt I had the better of it. However his return to Clarkdale was not as quickly as I hoped and expected at this point. And so went June, 1965, nearing the middle now.
Photos are limited. Here are a couple. First me somewhere--looking a mule that was probably for sale. Looks like the rear end of the Ford pickup at the side there. From the distant view I am guessing around Camp Verde. I need to crop and thus enlarge this better. Next is Rita, Dad holding her at the pasture. She was not really broke or trained but not hard to manage, a grade (unregistered/not purebred) Quarter Horse And finally Mayotte's mare, Freckles or officially "Candy Lady" Like many Appaloosas, she was not a real pretty animal, at least in my estimate, but nicely marked. Do not know if we ever saw her colt some 11 months later. That is the approximate gestation period for equines. A bit shorter than elephants!!
No comments:
Post a Comment