A day with Jon and Tanya
Thursday I drove up to Penrose, Colorado to help Jon and Tanya start their donkeys driving.
I see that Tany has already commented about my trip. There are a number of things she left out but I’ll not go into details as I don’t want to detract from her excellent purple prose.
All kidding aside. It is my pleasure to help Jon start the Mammoths. I don’t know much but I know what works for me.
It is a 300 mile round trip from here to Penrose. I drive it one way in a little over three hours.
I’m not pouring butter on Jon’s ego. In the 55 years I’ve helped folks start their donkeys and mules driving, I’ve never seen hands as soft and gentle. The first time Jon picked up the ribbons he didn’t know what to do, but there was a connection between him and the Mammoth and I had to take a double look. I could not believe what I was seeing.
Yesterday, I watched the Mammoths respond to the communication that went from Jon’s hands along the ribbons to the bit rings. It was the best I’ve seen in years.
These good kids are looking around for some harness that will get through the ground work. I would like to see different bits from the ones that were used yesterday.
I’m going out on limb here. The few times I have watched Jon and the Mammoths, I am convinced that by late summer, if Jon has the time on a regular basis, he will have a spanking good driving span of Mammoths. Not only will they work as a team, I believe they have what it takes to make a fine tandem. The one Mammoth has the fire and movement to work well in the lead.
Jon and Tanya’s Mammoths think they are people. They need to learn some manners.
I tell Jon, and everyone I meet, that driving is the ultimate.
Oris
7 Responses to “A day with Jon and Tanya”
October 17th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
It always amazes me, when Oris disappears, you can only count on one thing. He’ll reappear like a king —- riding in on a donkey.
The contrasts in yours and Tanya’s version of your visit there astounds me. I’m delighted to know you did get your chocolate cake though. I’d hate for you to miss that.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Okay, now that Oris has seen the short version of the message…
I’ll give you the real version.
I heard what happened, the minute he came home from Jon and Tanya’s. He called to brag about whipping those donkeys into shape. Said he had to use the whip on Tanya twice to get her to start making that chocolate cake. He said, “Jon had been threatening her all morning, and she didn’t start baking until she saw me pull in the drive. She knows I won’t tolerate her misbehavior!”
He left Patsy home to do the laundry and get the chores done, with direct orders to have it all done before he arrived home.
And I can’t even tell you what he said about Elmer the Coyote. The animal rights activists would be here in a heartbeat to stop him in his tracks. It’s so terrible, ole Elmer drug his tail all day long, dreading the threat of Oris returning. It was so bad even the magpies stopped their chattering. The eagle flew away, and Senior Hawk has flown the coup.
For a country boy, riding along the back roads of yesterday, Ole Oris sure knows how to make the beasts of burden tow the line and walk the mark. Maybe we’d better elect him to office, so he could get our government back in line?
October 17th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Oh, yea, that purple prose thing….
Oris, purple prose is when you wax poetic on the description of a setting.
What you and Tanya are doing is fibbing in print. I on the other hand, tell nothing but the truth and I have citations and pictures to prove it.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Jan,
You have to admit. Tanya is very poetic! She paints a poetic picture with her untruths! And I always tell the simple, down to earth, understandable truth.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I just ordered new hip-waders, Oris. Can you be QUIET until they arrive?
October 17th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Wow, Jan, so glad you told the “rest of the story” in a truthful manner!! I did make him leave the whip here at our house, for poor Patsy’s sake! “Fibbing in print”……I like it. You also know, dear readers, that I only fib….er…..embellish the truth….., when it comes to Mr. George? He kind of brings it out in me.
tanya
October 17th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Jan, I’m afraid you’ll need chest waders, I don’t think the hip waders will be nearly enough!
tanya
Leave a Comment