Goodbye Frisky, hello autumn

Frisky was a Welsh pony cross who was a diminutive equine of about 12 hands and about 400 pounds. A cute little guy who had worked at stables as a riding pony for kids and was quite tolerant of their antics. A few years ago our neighbor's kid was having a sixth birthday party and we gave all the kids a short pony ride on Frisky who came out of retirement for the occasion. Some of the kids were a bit nervous getting on him, but once the braver kids did it they all wanted to. By the end of the session you could see that Frisky was getting tired of it, but he did what he needed to do. It was about five or six years ago that we took him in to our "retirement home" so he could have a quiet life just grazing and wandering around the pasture. His pasture buddy, Timmy, was put down at the ripe old age of 30. Here they are together.

 Then Frisky moved in with Vedas, our big Fjord mare, and they kept each other company until her passing last summer. 

 Frisky put up with all kinds of nonsense from human beings, but never lost his dignity and remained a faithful friend until today.

He had occasional company with our other horses, but preferred his own pasture and got to stay in at night with nobody to compete for his food, water, or space. He was pretty tired this morning and I was going to leave him inside for a while, but he insisted on going out anyway. Who was I to say no? Stitch found him this afternoon a short way into the woods where he had died. He will be buried next to his old buddy, Timmy. Frisky was 31 years old.

The trees are continuing to change color and fall will be in the air after this next cold front passes through. Here are some from this morning.

 That's a 'shroom on a mule muffin.

Maple in the woods.

Geese in the pasture.

Flowers around the yard.
Here is a nice one I got from my friend, Ann, who was out bicycling with a friend not too far from here. They were under the maple canopy which will be changing for the next few weeks. As always, click to embiggen.