Lions!?

Yesterday I was teaching at Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg VA. I walked into the indoor arena and what did I see? Could it really be? Lion spoor?!

I know the prints in the right hand photo are lion because they were sighted near our 2nd camp on Safari in February. We tracked them the next morning and the horses were definitely aware that lion were about. But we did not see the lions that day.

These prints aren't lion but they sure are big. So what could it be? There might not be lions in Virginia there certainly are large cats.I have seen a bobcat and my friend saw a cougar while riding on the trails in Rappahannock County. But this is Leesburg so I don't think it was a big cat.

On closer inspection there are some differences. The width of the paw is broader on the right hand photo. The toes are different shape than a cat.

Have you guessed yet?

It was a Bloodhound! There was a large group of bloodhounds and people working on tracking skills. I guess they thought they might find something interesting in the indoor.

Cattails Saga Part 8

My people are concerned about me lately. Good - keep them guessing I say. They worry I am OK out here in the OUTDOORS and come out to find me. But I do not let them know I appreciate that they check on me.

I lie under the bushes all day. I stay very still in case some little TASTY MORSEL decides to come my way. I will not expend any energy but stay quite still so that they forget that I might be DANGEROUS. So far I have not had any luck but you never know.....

When it cools down I wander out so that MY PEOPLE know I am here. I don't want them to worry to much. They get VERY ODD when they have not seen me for awhile. They make funny sounds and wander around looking distressed when I do not appear. But it is good to keep them guessing. I wouldn't want them to know that I like them...

Happy Independence Day!

July 4th and it was hot, hot, hot!

We worked in the garden this morning but came in pretty early.

Went to the matinee movie to get out of the heat - Toy Story 3 - fantastic!

Ate ice cream and went to the local fireworks tonight.

The show was not as good as last year but this time I took my camera. Actually got some nice photos.

July brings lots of things:

The Tour de France, clinics in Washington state and summer weather.

We are going to be in the 90's all week and so dry! No rain in sight.

Oh well, in the afternoons I can come in and watch the Tour. I got hooked on watching that at a clinic in Colorado years ago! The clinic was delayed so that we could all sit down and watch the final day riding into Paris.

Now it seems like the Tour is a July ritual watching beautiful scenery, drama and cycling through France. The castles and towns are really quite amazing.

I will be heading out west to Washington state soon for 3 clinics: Spokane, Vashon ( a private clinic) and Maple Valley. All old friends whom I am looking forward to seeing again.

Sometimes it is hard to believe that I come from a blue collar family, am the only child of 3 with a college degree, I own my own business, own my own home, travel the world, teach riding, authored two books and live in a town platted by George Washington when he was 16 years old.

I don't think that I would be able to have this kind of opportunity in any other country in the world. For this I am truly grateful to be an American celebrating this July 4th, our Independence Day.

Cattails Saga Part 7

Finally She Who Must Groom Me (SWMGM) has returned. Doesn't she know that she has responsibilities here at home, which are being ignored when she goes away?

Well I let her know she has to make up for her AWAY TIME. I have been holding her down on the DAYTIME SLEEPING PLACE so that she can do her job. And I have been doing FLAT CAT on the arm of DAYTIME SLEEPING PLACE so that she knows she should pet me and play with me.

There is one good thing about her return this time. She is waking up when the LIGHT THAT SHINES IN DARKNESS is still in the sky. This means that I can demand BREAKFAST, SECOND BREAKFAST, MORNING SNACK, MID MORNING SNACK AND LUNCH! She is awake and feels guilty for being away again so she does not refuse me.

SWMGM did something unusual now that she is home. She walked to NOT MY TERRITORY place where they have put up new OUTDOOR SCRATCHING POSTS. There is something living over there I have never seen before. It makes odd sounds and is very tall. I think I will stay away for now. I have more important things to do.

My book has arrived!

Brad picked me up from the airport yesterday afternoon. I had a great flight since I got bumped up to Business Class. Wow! what a difference to how I feel after being in the fancy seats.

We arrived home on a beautiful day with lovely temps to discover boxes of book on the porch.

They were supposed to arrive some time in July but here it was the last day of June.

This morning I autographed all the pre-ordered copies and now Brad is processing the orders. We hope to have them all in the mail by the end of the day. What a relief to have this project complete.

And something about this book seems to have released me from years of writers block. I have had new book ideas running through my head all the time I was in Europe and have been getting them down in 0's and 1's on my laptop. Maybe it won't take me 6 years to write another book this time!

One can only hope.