Mi Choyce

He is my very best friend. My inspiration. Muse. Mentor. My heart.

Mi Choyce. Handsome. Bud. Many of you will recognize him as he is most often referred to, The Love of My Life.

Today, we celebrate 30 years together.

There are far too many pictures and memories for one post to do justice, so I've created a page to share some of my favorites.

Featured Art

"Thanks, Bud"

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, I will be celebrating 30 years with my very best friend, Mi Choyce. I wrote this blog post several years ago, and while trying to decide on this months featured art I felt this image summed up simply what all of us horse crazy kids know to be true, so I'm sharing it with you again:

Of little girls and horses...

This piece is quite possibly the one of greatest sentimental value to me. A tender moment is exchanged between my then two year old daughter Michaela and my beloved horse, Mi Choyce.

In appreciation of her ride, Michaela marched directly into the hay room, came back with an armload of hay - which she stuffed in his feed bucket - and patted him gently on the head.

That inexplicable connection between little girls and horses, captured in this heartwarming moment. An enduring reminder of one of the simplest joys: friendship.

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size: 24" x 16", $225.00. To purchase, click here.

Brush stroke finish, Gallery and Museum wrap also available. Additional sizes, papers and frame options on request.

Image also available as a large magnet and single or boxed notecards.

Featured Art

"Paul Anka"

After spending a great deal of the first two years of his life with me, on Saturday, I will be taking Paul Anka on a transport run to St. Louis where he'll be reunited with his girl - my daughter Allanah.

Very simply, I am going to miss him.

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, lustre finish. Image size: 12" x 8", $85.00. To purchase, click here. Brush Stroke finish, Gallery and Museum wrap also available.

Additional sizes, papers, frame options and gallery mount on request.

Image also available as a 12x18" poster, magnet and single or boxed notecard.

Chief

It is with great sadness that we said goodbye to Chief yesterday. I am grateful for the time he was with us, and that he went quietly in the end; though I'm not sure knowing that it would be soon was of any solace when the time came, just relief.

The day is grey and quiet, reflecting the mood on the farm, as if it knows we mourn. Manny and Choyce, Jordan and Caleb are all accutely aware of the absence and loss of their friend. There is a void in my heart this morning as big as his empty stall. How long before I will stop anticipating his greeting each morning I arrive at the barn?

Michaela and I will be planting a butterfly garden on his grave as a memorial; whenever he got out he would inevitably meander through the one by the pond - much to my dismay - completely obliterating it, as though Belgians hold some grudge against butterflies.

I am also setting up a fund that will benefit aged draft horses through sales of "Sentinel", a portrait of Chief, and September's featured art. At this time, I am not sure which organization(s) that will be. If you know of a worthy recipient, please let me know.

"Sentinel"

Open edition Fuji Crystal Archive print, 10" x 15", $50.00. To purchase, click here. Additional sizes, papers and frame options available.

Open edition unstretched canvas print, lustre finish, 12" x 18", $175.00. To purchase, click here. Brush stroke finish, Gallery and Museum Wrap also available.

12" x 18" Gallery Mount, $185.00. To purchase, click here.

12" x 18" Poster, $5.00. To purchase, click here.

Small Magnet, 2 3/8" x 3 1/4", $3.50. To purchase, click here.

Notecards w/envelopes: single card, linen paper, $3.50. box of ten cards, linen paper, $25.00.

Safe journey, big dawg. You will be missed.

Green Frog

While out at the pond the other day, I came across an unusual Green Frog. It caught my attention because of its' vivid blue coloring; something I have not come across before. Borrowing Michaela's little net, I captured the frog for closer inspection, and then set out to find the answer to my question: why was this green frog, blue?

Frogs have a complex arrangement of cells which provide them the ability to adjust their hue to their surroundings and blend in with their environment. Within their skin are three types of pigment cells (chromatophores) stacked on top of each other. The bottom layer are melanophores, which contain the dark pigment melanin. The middle layer consists of iridophores, which are packed with highly reflective bundles of purine crystals. On top are the xanthophores, which are usually packed with yellowish pteridine pigments.

Each type of cell can change shape, and control the intensity and character of transmitted or reflected light by moving the pigment within them. A wide range of colors can be produced by manipulating all three types of pigment cells, though normally their coloration ranges from bright green to various shades of brown and grey.

Light penetrates to the iridophores, which reflect mostly blue light back into the xanthophores above them. The xanthophores act as yellow filters, causing the light escaping the skin surface to appear green to us. This particular frog lacks the yellow xanthophore cells, which (ahh) causes it to appear blue. Science broken down into a simple color mixing fomula: an artistic anomoly in the pond - but a beautiful one indeed.

Photography Exhibit

"Walk These Woods"

Solace Place, A Ten Year Retrospective

An exhibit featuring fifty photographic works

July 1 - September 10, 2010

Bank of Castile Main Gallery at GoArt!
Seymour Place
201 East Main Street
Batavia, New York 14020

Gallery hours are
Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm
and by appointment

Opening Reception
Saturday, July 17, 2010 1-3pm
All are welcome to attend

Virginia Beach

Took a fast and furious trip to Virginia Beach with John and Amanda and friend Kristin to see Matt Tarpey and We Were Gentlemen play their final show. May sound crazy to drive all that way just to watch a band play, but as a fellow musician, John did not pass up the invitation from Matt to go down and support his friend once more. Besides, we all love a rode trip adventure, and John has never been to the ocean. I myself have never visited it stateside. And I love that my kids, now in their twenties, still love hanging out with their Mom just as much as she loves hanging out with them.

We left at 6:30 Friday morning after John got out of work. Traffic on Route 264 was at a snails pace for over fourty miles, and again further on, eating away all the good time we had made the rest of the trip. Arriving at a little after 6pm, we checked into our hotel before heading to the venue where We Were Gentlemen would be playing. Find Gil's easily, we stopped for a bite to eat before going to see the band. Matt was just a little overwhelmed by the show of support, and genuinely thankful for our efforts to be there. I am always amazed at these guys; so quiet and unassuming in person, and completely the opposite onstage. My son is no exception.

Next morning, after breakfast, we spent a few hours on the beach - collecting shells for Michaela and walking in the surf- before getting on the road again; taking a different route home through Virginia along the coast. The rain held til we got to PA, and thankfully Amanda did most of the driving from there until we reached Letchworth. I had reached my limitation, and needed a rest. We drove into Albion around 1:30 am and ironically, the first vehicle we saw had a Virginia plate.

Michaela, though upset she didn't get to go, loved all the treasures we brought back for her. She took a bunch to school to show her class. My dogs, on the other hand, still haven't forgiven me. Is there anything worse than dog guilt? *sigh*

Here's a few pics from our visit:

You can see the rest here

It was cool and grey; reminded me of home - Lake Ontario

Collecting shells for Michaela

View of the Pier

Marina pic for my Sweetie :)

Spring @ Solace Place

Everywhere around us there are signs of Spring. Nature is bursting to life once more. On my daily walks with the dogs, one of our favorite things to do is explore the back woods. While they hunt for little critters to chase, you can find me exploring for wildflowers. Here are a few pics from one of our recent outings:

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!! Wishing you all the best in 2010!!

-Betsy

The Fox and the Dogs

"The Fox and the Dogs"

It was a temperate day for early March, so the dogs and I headed out back to collect firewood. As usual the dogs ran along exploring, disappearing into the undergrowth whenever a new scent was discovered.

When Jordan came bursting out of the brush, I initially thought the flash of brown was a rabbit he had caught. I was stunned to see him holding this fox by the back, shaking it back and forth savagely, his intent to kill it obvious. As I commanded him to let it go, I reached for my camera.

Here, Caleb seeks to make friends with the fox as Jordan keeps it from retreating. After his encounter with Jordan, it is clear that the fox wants no part of them. The moment captured, the dogs are told to stand down. The fox heads into the woods and the dogs are off on their next adventure.

Indee's Initiation

Indee escapes a grab from Manny during his first turnout with the boys this morning.