June 24, 2024 Butterflies, Onyx and Horses

June 24, 2024•3 min read

In addition to caring for the trees on our property, my Mom bought a ton of plants that will attract butterflies and bees. Now granted, she’s not planting anything in the ground yet but she wants to be able to see pretty flowers in the meantime. She said she’s formulating a master plan that will include a butterfly garden, so for now, they are all above ground.

Onyx likes to supervise everything that’s happening in and around our house, so my Mom moved one of Onyx’ perches close to the front screen door.

We’d really like Onyx to tell us when there’s some butterfly action on the front deck, but we think she is adverse to any job descriptions.

The other activity my Mom is involved in is grooming senior horses. The horses she works with would be in their 90s if they were human! I know, what? Where did this come from?

My Mom has not had a lifelong love of horses, but she must have and didn’t realize it, because she clearly loves them now. She wasn’t really exposed to them until she went to see some at the Bergen County Horse Rescue in Mahwah, New Jersey. She visited a number of times by appointment but many times she would drive there and would watch the horses from across the road.

Then she decided that my book series needs a story about these beautiful horses. It’s in the formulating stage right now. But I know it’s going to be wonderful.

When we moved to California, my Mom realized that if she wanted to get close to any horses here, that she’d have to take some formal lessons.

She signed up with the Sheridan Creek Equestrian Center in Nevada, and has been taking horseback riding lessons with Sophia Kraft, an excellent instructor.

However, my Mom said that she doesn’t really want to ride horses, she’d like to brush them and be close to them, in a hands on way. So that’s what she is doing once a week before she has a teaching session with Sophia.

Lots going on as you can tell, and more to come!

“Life is short.
Be swift to Love,
make haste to be kind.”
Henri-Frederic Amiel

Hurry!
Maisy❤️

Front deck temporary butterfly garden,