The Red Ride 'Em Pony

Following up the last post about my early cowgirl persona, this is how I got my ride 'em pony for Christmas in 1961 --

My carpenter father was very clever at making things. He had all the components for my ride 'em pony out in his workshop -- plywood for the head, thick dowels for the legs, surplus red and black exterior paint, a piece of yellow vinyl for the saddle left over from re-upholstering our kitchen chairs, scrap leatherette for the mane and reins, and a thick bunch of binder twine which he brushed out for the tail.

But I'm afraid he had to commit vandalism and petty theft to get the piece of round wood for the pony's body.

We lived right between the CPR railway tracks and the local Manitoba Telephone System pole yard, where MTS stored its telephone poles prior to use. One night under cover of darkness, my father snuck over to the unfenced, unlit pole yard and simply sawed off an appropriately-sized piece of telephone pole.

Perfect!

And here's my red ride 'em pony on that long-ago Christmas morning --

Early 1960s Fashion Review

Pixie haircut: check.

Pink girly-girl dress: check

White bobby socks: check

Black patent leather shoes: check

This is how my mother dressed me

for Sunday School when I was a pre-schooler.

She posed me for the photo too.

So ladylike and demure!

But this is how I dressed myself every day --

Pants: check

Jacket: check

Saddle shoes: check

My brother's cowboy hat: check

Missing from this photo of my ensemble:

my brother's toy holster set

with its silver six-shooter revolvers

"Howdy, pardner!"

And here I am riding the range

on the red ride 'em pony that

my father made for me.

I'll tell you how he made it

in my next post.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras as a Carnival is not big in Canada -- at least, not on its traditional date before Lent. It's too damn cold here in winter for those fabulous half-nekkid costumes, feathers, beads, parades and public partying. So our Mardi Gras-like Caribbean festivals are all held in the summer instead, such as Caribana in Toronto and Cariwest in Edmonton.

On Fat Tuesday itself, there's little hoopla here apart from maybe eating pancakes. No King Cakes. No beads. No nuthin'.

But that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy a rousing rendition of the official song of Mardi Gras -- Iko Iko! Its infectious beat and joyful lyrics will stay with you all day long! In other words, sorry for the earworm you're about to get, everyone --

Iko Iko un-day

Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-ne

Jock-a-mo fee-na-ne

Iko Iko is a traditional New Orleans song about a confrontational mock battle between rival Mardi Gras "krewes" participating in the Carnival parade. The refrain is said to be a phonetic rendition of an indigenous Native American victory chant but its actual meaning or significance is unknown.

Today's Bible Verse: "Jesus Wept"

Friday Face OFF -- Coyote

For this week's Friday Face OFF link party

of art featuring faces, hosted by Nicole of

DVArtist, Art, Food, Gardening blog . . .

Here's a coyote which I did

in coloured pencils on black paper.

I may have overdone the reddish hue

in some of its fur, which makes

one think more of a fox perhaps.

But I basically like how my coyote turned out,

although they are terrible urban scourges

in our city (as in many others),

attacking pet cats, small dogs and

wild rabbits for food. Larger coyotes

can even pose a danger to toddlers.

Are coyotes an issue where you live?

[Art & photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023]

A Kiss for the Swiss

One hundred years ago in 1924,

my maternal grandparents arrived in Canada

as immigrants from Switzerland.

To mark this centennial, I've decided to

pay a humorous homage to my Swiss heritage --

Pretend that being landlocked

doesn't prevent Switzerland

from having sea creatures --

And let's not forget

Switzerland's national hero,

William Tell!

For All You Dog Lovers Out There

Be forewarned -- 

Her Royal Highness the Cat

chose the final three memes.

But what about the cat in the background?