Our Critters
The critters who live with us include our horses: Annie, a middle-aged Brabant (European Belgian) mare, Katie, an elderly Percheron/Shire mare, and our herd of Norwegian Fjords: geldings Tuopen (too-pin), Mikkel, Finn, and Tally; and mares Kari (keh-ree), Sissel, Ingrid, Agnes, and Janne (yah-nuh). We also have Daisy, a beagle-type hound, Ellie, a huge shepherd-collie mix, several goldfish, six well-fed house cats, three barn cats, several small cage birds, and lots of outdoor wildlife. |
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The colors this fall are gorgeous in northeastern Iowa and the surrounding region. This photo, taken the October 8, 2008, is looking south at our horses enjoying the warm morning sun. Sissel, my Norwegian Fjord mare, is rolling on the grass. |
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Daisy, a middle-aged beagle-type hound (right), and Ellie are my daily companions in the bell workshop. Ellie's picture... My stepson rescued Daisy in late summer 2008 as he was driving home from college in a heavy rainstorm. We spent way too much $$ fixing up poor Daisy's many health problems. Since then, however, she has rewarded us with affection and loyalty. |
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Riley Sheamus O'Flanigan joined us in the fall of 2007. He was a scraggly young cat with an ugly abscess on his shoulder, a belly full of worms, and a picket fence for a backbone. As you can see, Riley is quite happy with his new life as a pampered house cat. He's a happy little guy, always looking for attention and fun. I'd swear he knows how to smile! |
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Ozzie, a young whitetail deer buck, injured a back foot in January 2008. The injury kept him from traveling his home territory with his family herd. He ended up staying in our sheltered valley, often browsing for food behind the house. His family traveled through the area a couple times a day and would spend several hours with him each time. He became a favorite wintertime photo subject. |
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Finn, our Norwegian Fjord gelding, and our house in the valley, which was made from the original 1915 timber-framed barn on the property. Finn is working for a living at Miracles in Motion, a therapeutic riding facility in east central Iowa between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. His fellow Fjord buddy Mikkel (Mike) worked there too. Mike was retired from Miracles at age 21 and is living with us again. |
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Rogan "the Red" (left) and Torin (Gaelic for "chief") on a windy winter afternoon. I caught the boys in the act of wondering if my camera is a toy for them to check out. Both boys are Norwegian Fjord horses. Shepherd-collie Mac and elder pony Biscuit are behind the Fjords. This is the last picture I have of both of these two gentle creatures -- Mac and Biscuit passed on in late 2007. They lived good, long lives -- Mac was 13 and Biscuit was in her early 30s. |
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Our Agnes as a 2 year old -- curious, bold, and cute. I have many "nose shots" of Aggie since she is my self-appointed photography assistant. |
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A fearless, acrobatic and affectionate kitten, Tish invited herself into my car (and my heart) while I was shopping in nearby Decorah in early 2006. She rode the 30 miles home purring on my shoulders. Why the name "Tish"? Because her calico coloring is a tish of this, a dab of that, and a skosh of something-or-other. |
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| Sundance, Albert, and Cassidy (left to right). The "boys" often make a pile like this for grooming and naps.
Bert and Cass are still on mouse patrol in our house. Dancer passed on to the Summerlands in May of 2009. He had been my quiet, gentle companion for 16 years. |
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Dexter, our lovable Basset Hound in his favorite position on the couch. Dex passed on to the Summerlands in November of 2008. He presided over his household for a respectable 13 years. |
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Chipmunk eating peanuts. Our cats love this "birds eye view" of their quarry from our elevated deck. The chipmunk is quite safe from attack -- the tree is a good 6 feet away from the deck. |
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