My parents came into town over last weekend, and we enjoyed Memorial Day at my cousin Sheila’s house. Sheila lives about twenty miles from my house, where she and her husband have a large ranch complete with the animals and other livestock. The place is isolated and beautiful. My husband had to work, so my parents and I took over a large vegetable/dip platter and spicy sausages with cranberry-mustard sauce. Sheila’s mother Jane brought her famous potato salad and a superb lemon cake.

 

As usual, Sheila went all out. She and her husband barbequed chicken, which they served along with fresh corn on the cob scraped and boiled with butter; homemade Irish scones and preserves, a large green salad and an assortment of other appetizers. I mostly drank fresh sun tea, while others in the crowd imbibed their favorite cocktail libations. I always leave Sheila’s house stuffed to the rafters, so it’s probably a good thing I only go out once or twice a year. Her homemade specialties are impossible to resist. However, we do meet for lunch in town once a month as well.

 

Everyone who goes to Sheila’s house feels pretty much the same way; she is a superb cook, a wonderful hostess and a natural for growing and preparing homegrown foodstuff. After dinner a few of us opted to go out onto the deck for some fresh air; the view overlooks the back area of her property where the livestock reside. Sheila has a herd of cattle, about six horses, a chicken coop, a peacock and other miscellaneous animals. Sheila’s husband Joe spied one of the horses with its head in a bush, and her tail end swaying back and forth – not just the tail, but her entire back section. We all watched her for several minutes, but the horse never broke her rhythm and kept moving as if she were dancing. Finally, Joe decided to go and check out what the horse was doing. When he came back he was laughing, and the horse was prancing behind him.

 

Apparently, the horse is also an expectant mother and she found a small bush just high enough to reach her belly. She had positioned her belly over the small bush, but in doing so her head went into the branches of larger foliage nearby. Her swaying motion was nothing more than itch relief; the movement over the small bush was allowing her to scratch her belly in a repetitive motion and she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

 

Today was good – divine food with comical ranch animals for entertainment. Being with family made it all the more special.