Piece by Piece

We did return to the horse farm today. Annalee urged that we feed certain of the maned giants apples, and not others. When I was feeding one of the animals that she had identified, she sat in my arm in far more relaxed fashion than yesterday -- or during any other feeding session. As we drove from the stables to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, she asked for pieces of apple herself, which I fed her, one by one, with one hand, while I drove with the other. Her car seat is in a captain's chair behind the front passenger seat, and I've learned how to deliver her pea-sized bits of food without turning my head. So, today she asked for and received about ten such morsels of a Granny Smith apple that I found pretty tart. Eventually, I had a moment where I could look her way and see how things were going. She was finishing her most recent bite, and her entire face was screwed up into a pucker. It turned out I'd missed a whole drama, piece by piece.

Probably Tomorrow

Life is interesting. Annalee pleads to go see "neighs" -- horses -- and when we go see them, and get near them, she holds me as tight as she can and hides her face on my shoulder.

"Do you want to go home?" I ask her.

"No," she replies.

"Do you want me to feed them more apples?"

"No."

"Do you want to look at other neighs?"

"No."

"Do you want to go home?"

"No."

When, finally, I conclude that she has withstood as much of whatever joy the experience might be giving her, I say, "Goodbye, horses."

"Goodbye, Flicka," she says, alluding to the horse in her favorite movie.

We'll return as soon as she asks, probably tomorrow.