PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Arnold's Magic Trick, Fairy Doors & Toby


click to enlarge any image!

Arnold is a well-fed, happy, old horse, who enjoys my visits, especially the part which involves treats.




He gets a little grumpy when I produce my camera instead of carrots, tells me to make it snappy.

No image 'thinnification', this is what he does, I simply
drained the colour for added effect.

He possesses an unusual ability - one I really wish that I could mimic - he can make himself look very thin (so thin that he looks as though he will expire if I don't give him something to eat) ..


a puff of wind could blow him away...











feed me, please....









He had his carrots, his apple, and two mints.  He was a happy boy and he suddenly resumed his normal proportions!



I wonder whether he has learnt this magic trick from the fairies who live in the yard...





..I found these two fairy doors right next to Arnold's paddock.  

They are in the base of that gigantic ash tree.  Split ash trees are supposed to have magical healing properties.



I wish I had remembered that yesterday.


My Boy, Toby
Toby may be the grumpy one when I tell you that I had to ring for a wheelbarrow to take him home from Arnold's...he had hurt his front right leg and couldn't walk on it.   I couldn't find a thorn, a cut, a bee sting, or any obvious reason for the pain, but he wouldn't allow much probing.

Normally it would probably have been possible to hobble back the short distance home - but given Toby's recent problems with his rear right leg ... he just wasn't going to get anywhere on two legs!   He was embarrassed, but tried to look dignified.

He had a check-up at the vet's and he couldn't find anything either.  Salt water bathing was recommended.  Watch, wait, and see whether anything develops.

This morning he is walking without any problem.  Fingers are crossed.  A walk without Toby is not the same.
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33 comments:

  1. The Owl Wood10 July 2012 at 07:52

    Poor old Tobias! I shall dig the old three-wheel & tiller-steering wickerwork bathchair and several of Father's old gout bandages out of storage and send them around for him.

    A ruddy wheelbarrow indeed!

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:12

      Hello Owl, Toby is happy to accept the offer of the bathchair, however he feels he must decline the old gout bandages, but he thanks you for your kind thought.

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  2. Cheryl10 July 2012 at 07:54

    So funny, the horse sequence did make me smile. A nice start to my morning.

    Dear Toby, such a gentle looking old boy.
    I do so hope he is okay.....I understand, my walks would not be the same without Nella.
    Hopefully Toby problem is just a small blip :)

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:16

      Hello Cheryl, Arnold and Toby are dear old things. I am relieved to say that a day of rest and foot-bathing seem to have helped Toby. I will give him a very gentle walk tomorrow and see how he goes. Thank you for your good wishes, I know you understand how dear to me he is.

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  3. Cro Magnon10 July 2012 at 08:03

    My best wishes to Toby... one of ours is a bit disabled at the moment too.

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:17

      Hello Cro, Thank you - and I hope Bok is feeling a lot better too.

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  4. Elna10 July 2012 at 09:00

    What a smart horse. I'm sure he get help from the elves. Have a nice day.

    Hugs
    Elna

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:19

      Hello Elna, I think you could well be right! He is a mischievous old horse!

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  5. Elna10 July 2012 at 09:01

    Poor Toby, I hope he get well soon!

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:37

      Hello Elna, He seems a lot better today - thank you for your good wishes.

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  6. Moving with Mitchell10 July 2012 at 12:17

    So sorry about Toby. Hope it was just a bit of a Charley Horse (Charley Dog?) and won't be back to bother him.

    I wonder if Arnold cold teach San Geraldo that trick. He'd be very grateful.

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:40

      Hello Mitch, Fingers crossed, he seems a lot better today, thank you.

      If Arnold deigns to teach me the trick I'll willingly pass it on. I was horrified the first time I saw it - I guess he had me marked down as gullible from there on in!

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  7. Meggie10 July 2012 at 13:18

    Hello Elaine...Clever Arnold! Maybe he can give me some hints on how to "look thin" for the camera.

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:45

      Hello Meggie, I have quite a few photographs of Arnold doing his 'trick', naughty old boy. He was concerned when Toby was 'crying' yesterday. I must pop up there tomorrow and tell him not to worry.

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  8. Jenny10 July 2012 at 13:20

    Arnold certainly is a clever fellow. All our animals claim near starvation many times a day, and grumble when I remind them of the generous covering over their ribs. I hope Toby's leg/foot stays well. Our two dogs are 10 and they are getting more fragile.

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:47

      Hello Jenny, I'm happy to say that Toby has had a quiet day and seems to be walking quite nicely now - I'll give him a gentle amble tomorrow to see how he goes.

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  9. Jane and Chris10 July 2012 at 13:25

    How does he do that?
    I do hope toby is OK...perhps he was just miffed at Arnold's trick.
    T: "Well, I can do better at looking thin....I can get home without walking"
    A: "Aw come on, Tobes, that's ridiculous"
    Toby hops into wheelbarrow.
    T: "Ta da!!!!!!!!!"
    A: "Oh, for fairies' sake!"

    Jane x

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:50

      Hello Jane, That was such fun! I can imagine those two getting up to something like that. They do quite a lot of nose to nose communication, then suddenly Toby realises he is talking to a Horse...

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  10. Joanne Noragon10 July 2012 at 14:09

    I thought about Arnold yesterday and hoped he would be making an appearance soon. I've missed him. Poor Toby has the rheumatics, it seems. Rather common among us old folks.

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 20:56

      Hello Joanne, I am really happy to say that Toby has regained the use of all his legs again; he seems quite comfortable, thank goodness. Goodness knows why he seized up so suddenly, I wonder now whether he had a bad attack of cramp.

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  11. Mylittlepieceofengland10 July 2012 at 15:53

    Poor Toby, good to hear he feels better today. Arnold is very clever, definitely must be using some of that fairy magic. xx

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 21:01

      Hello Cheryl, Arnold and Toby are old sweeties, a pair of lovely old 'gentlemen' I love seeing them together. I'd love to sprinkle fairy dust over them to ease their aches and pains.x

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  12. Susan10 July 2012 at 16:10

    Arnold is just the most clever magician. I've opted for "all black attire" and still couldn't look at thin as he does! However, if I lived off carrots, apples, and a couple of mints, maybe!
    I hope Toby is on the mend...I was a bit sore yesterday too after a 5 1/2 mile run on Sunday; bad feet with Morton's Neuroma, but it felt good to run and get the creative juices flowing:-D
    I believe in Fairies too! XOXO

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 21:15

      Hello Susan, My goodness, you ran five-and-a-half miles? You must be pretty fit! I'm thinking about taking it up again, it would probably give me more energy and I could use that over the summer holidays.
      Carrots and apples are wonderful, but your porridge/honey/cinnamon bread loaf which I baked is calling to me. It really is the most delicious bread I have ever tasted. Thank you so much for the recipe!xx

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  13. Doc10 July 2012 at 16:25

    What a clever Arnold, I tried his trick but still look to be an old fat man :o(

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 21:19

      Hello Doc, I'm sure you are being too harsh on yourself but I'll get Arnold to email you direct!!

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  14. Ms Sparrow10 July 2012 at 18:24

    So Arnold can "suck in his gut" when he wants to cadge treats! Smart fella. I hope for of Toby is up and around very soon so the world can get back on track.

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 21:21

      Hello Ms Sparrow, You've got it in one! I'm going to give Toby a very gentle walk tomorrow to check out his leg - fingers crossed that it was just a blip! He keeps looking at me so reproachfully, then he gives a big sigh, at the moment he has turned his back on me - all punishment for not taking him for a walk today.

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  15. Bonnie10 July 2012 at 21:10

    So glad to hear Toby is up and around today. Bless him. Bonnie

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    1. Elaine10 July 2012 at 21:25

      Hello Bonnie, Thank you for your good wishes - Toby is definitely feeling much better today. He'll be even better tomorrow when I get his lead out!

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  16. NatureFootstep13 July 2012 at 07:49

    nice horse. :)

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 16:37

      Hello NatureFootstep, He is a lovely old horse, I enjoy visiting him.

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  17. Elaine14 July 2012 at 16:38

    Hello city, Thank you for stopping by. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing two of my dear old friends.

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