The Seat of My Pants

“I did everything by the seat of my pants. That’s why I got hurt so much.”

Evel Knievel

I usually write these blog posts as they are due: live in time. However, my new life on the farm is interrupting that usual course of action. It is Saturday night, going on 9:00. I am headed out in the morning to go to our old house to do some packing. And I decided about an hour ago to take my daughter with me. It’s been hard on us to live so far away from family, so she’s coming to visit while I work.

So I had planned to sit down today and write a blog post a few days early since I’ll be gone when it is due.

But noooooo. My farm had other plans for me….

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  1. Cathy R says:

    Name him ANGEL! Or KNIGHT! He’s beautiful!!!
    Keep on flying by the seat of your pants and enjoy the heck out of the flight! Happy Thanksgiving and Happy horse owner!
    Blessings from Idaho, Cathy

  2. Diane Van Horn says:

    I think you said it…Sweetie Pie! He is beautiful! Sounds like you are learning many skills, so proud of you.

  3. Michelle says:

    I would call him Dreamcatcher! Your dream was to have a farm and this beautiful horse! You have been able to "catch" all your dreams and make them come true! So very happy for you and your family! So much to be thankful for this year!

  4. Nancy Couden says:

    Maybe, Horseshoe. Just for another idea. Poor baby–those must hurt.

  5. Bonnie says:

    I love your story, Rebekah!
    You are becoming so educated on country living, and there’s nothing like it! 🙂
    I have to agree with Diane…Sweetie Pie seems like a perfect name for THE horse!
    Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving….you all have so much to be thankful for! (don’t we ALL?!?!?)
    Hugs from Oregon,
    Bonnie

  6. Adrienne says:

    I agree with the knight idea but I suggest Lancelot (Lance for short) for your beautiful horse.

  7. Pamela says:

    Dreamcatcher is beautiful, but maybe something more personable. The sweetest cat in the world who lives with me is named after cute old Dr. McCoy from Star Trek…. McCoy called Coy for short. I Think you have to talk to the animal and try out some different names and he will help you know when it’s right. I just love your posts and your adventure. Good luck with all!

  8. Shery says:

    Oh Rebekah, He has wonderful eyes. You can go down the ‘essentials’ list in the horse buying manual, but when you look long and hard at the heart & soul of a horse … what you need to know about their character is in their eyes. Well, at least the affirmation is. The eyes really are a mirror of the soul. Your new steed has soft, kind eyes.

    So happy for you. I don’t have a name idea for you. Sometimes you have to get to know them first and they kinda help you figure it out…what fits, what doesn’t. I take it you don’t like the name he wore in his former life. A new one will come to you. I’ve renamed horses sometimes … and others I left alone.

    From one horse lover to another, you really have a special addition to add to your Thanksgiving list — so happy for you. And, won’t he look smashing in a family Christmas photo?!…wearing a wreath or a bow.

  9. Nancy Itson says:

    I loved your story. You are a great writer and I felt like I was right there with you o yur fence adventure. You have a beautiful horse. And while I live in the city, I love to read about the farm life. My husband grew up on a farm, so farm stories are the best. As for a name for your horse, I am suggesting "Hi-yo, Silver!" after the Lone Ranger’s horse. May make him (the horse) feel important with a name like that!

  10. meredith says:

    Rebekah- He is LOVELY! I agree with Shery- as you take the time to get to know him, his name will come to you. The above suggestions are great, but what if you name him "KING" and he turns out to have the personality of, say, a "Howard"??? 🙂
    I had a fence run-in this morning too- was filling the horses water tank and got too close to the electric wire on top of the fence- POP!- there goes my arm! OW! The cattle sure respect that fence and I know why! Enjoy your new boy, and by the way, if the hay ever stops working to retrieve a wayward horse, a bucket of feed will work!

  11. Martha says:

    I think you already named him Sweetie Pie. Or Sweet. Or Pie.

    Sweetie is a name that would sound good when you’re calling him in from the back pasture. Sweeeee – ty. Come Sweeeeeee – ty.

  12. Heidi says:

    I would name him "Casper" from that cute show about the ghost, your daughter would like that. I also like Ghost but then that might be "scary".

  13. Deborah Bessom says:

    I thought Nancey’s idea of a family Christmas photo was a good one. Unless you have a few extra wrinkles or grey hairs to hide, you might want to pose in front of him so he doesn’t photo bomb your faces. The picture of your husband is hilarious!
    Btw, I’m liking the name Sweetie Pie too. Sure looks like it fits him.
    Happy Thanksgiving,
    Deb

  14. loreta says:

    What was his name before you got him? you might not want to change it because he already knows that one. Love your blog.

  15. Mary says:

    I love to read your farm news. It’s exciting to read of someone else enjoying the everyday things of farm life. Have always enjoyed it, altho didn’t grow up with horses or cows, just cats and dogs.
    The name is Sweetie Pie seems a good one, but so does Lancelot. Just go through names when you are around him, and see what seems to fit. You’lll get it!
    Happy Thanksgiving.Thanks for sharing!

  16. Linda Petersen says:

    Hi~~~Yikes! I had no idea that horses could do such agressive things to each other! Those marks look nasty. I think his official name should be "Sweet Baby James" with "JimmyJo" as his everyday name. God Bless you & your
    family & Happy Thanksgiving!!

    XO, Linda

  17. Sherry says:

    I’m thinking Cloud because of his color and shading, and he looks so dreamy. He is absolutely beautiful.

  18. Marcie says:

    How about James Taylor as a name for your horse?

    Rebekah, please remember tetnus shots for everyone, especially when you’re straddling barbed wire fences. I did that once back in TX at a place we managed and when the wire went through my jeans into places it should not have, I looked at my husband with a strange look in my eyes and said, "tetnus shot". We both went to the doctor that day.

  19. Victoria says:

    Love your blog! I too am a lover and owner of horses, six to be exact, well two of them are Mimi’s and moste of them are rescues. There is an adjustment period and your new horse will find a best buddy to pasture with on his own. There was a wild house named Cloud on the PBS station as a series a few years ago. He was a beautiful white horse!

    If you ever need any equine help, just email me and I will lend a helping hoof!

    Victoria

  20. Katie B says:

    Ohhhh, yes, Cloud is a great name. If he becomes more assertive over time, you can preface it with "Thunder".. Or "Moon", or "Winter". You can add a lot to Cloud to mirror his personality. My little niece in SoCal always asks us, "did you get me a white pony?". We moved from hectic Southern California to tranquil Tennessee almost a year ago.. I have to disappoint her each time since we don’t have the acreage for a horse. But he is gorgeous! Many happy years together! One request, can you blog more often? 🙂

  21. Judy Kennedy says:

    I have loved horses since I was five years old. Not having room to own my own horse I have instead taken some riding lessons over the years and whenever my husband and I travel, we try to incorporate a horse ride into the itinerary and see a place in a more personal way. I have now ridden horses in through vineyards in Tuscany, Italy, around the beautiful lakes and castles at the Killarney National Park in Ireland, along the beach and in the ocean in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and through the pampas grasslands in Argentina gaucho style. I also love ancient Egyptian art so I always thought that Ramses would be a proud name for a horse, but you must fit the name to the horse not the other way around. So after learning a bit of your personality through reading your wonderful blog, and looking at the photos of your new steed I have decided that White Christmas would the perfect name for your horse, Chris for short. I love living vicariously through your experiences as you live your dream on a farm, thank you for sharing.

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