This is what we would say when Old Judge came trotting to us from a half mile away hearing our whistle! He was always ready for a scratch, a hug, or a sugar cube. He was an old-as-dirt black plow horse which Daddy had brought home for us kids. We already owned Thunder and Littlebit, but they weren’t always the gentle sort like old Judge was. He was deep, wide, and tall. He was really as broad as a barn, carrying with him a ‘recliner’ for us to sit on for our pleasure—without a blanket or saddle.

Judge was a wayback swayback, and we kids could sit 3 to 4 at a time on him. Without a bit, he took us on great adventures in the Oregon pasture, or down some mountain trail. Old Judge had a long shaggy mane. If the front seat rider needed to hang on tight over the bumps, the rest of the crew hung onto him and each other.

Judge was a good horse! He wouldn’t step on people’s feet but lifted his hoofs until it was safe. He never even offered to bite either! His eyes lit up like shiny spotlights when he saw us waving or hollering or heard our whistle from a great distance. Judge always found mysterious energy for a happy trot, a bow, and a whinny, while we waited for a glorious reunion.

Picture this now: here comes the Judge, old as dirt, a wayback swayback, big as a barn, shaggy as a rug, sweet as a peach, trotting towards us in a prance for a sugar cube! I’ll not forget this colossal image engraved in my mind as long as I live!

Little kids could walk right underneath Judge’s old giant belly safely, and he would never kick anything or anyone near his rear quarters. His tail was bigger and bushier than a giant ant eater’s tail! We loved old Judge! We didn’t care if his big dipped back looked unusual. We cared for him, treating him just like any other horse, protecting his honor all the way to his unfortunate death. He reached his final journey, and closed his big brown eyes, and trotted into the courts of heaven at last. We thought he was 100 years old when he passed away, but we could not process why he was taken away so soon. I am positive the good Lord in heaven rejoiced the day this old plow horse left us for glory, and I’m sure this gentle friend is still giving children rides on streets of gold and hills of beauty. The Lord probably said exactly what we kids would say as He looked down across a field: ‘Here comes the Judge, Here comes the Judge!’

Speaking of beloved animals, I just have to introduce you to ‘Strawberry Blackjack!’ Well, sometimes my husband, Mike, and I do call him Strawberry because of his location where we found him. He was hiding with his head peeking out from behind the big wooden strawberry box we built in the yard.

He was just about 5 or 6 months old when he wiggled up to us. Then we took him to Dr. Kuhn for his shots, and a hernia operation. It’s a terrible thing to abandon animals, as rarely do country folks taken them all in. But this was different. His wiggle has turned out to be desirable and well worth our gamble. We named him Blackjack because he was a gamble! We finally realized we were now owners of a soft, shiny, black-as-coal Labrador Retriever.

As a puppy, Blackjack learned to play for hours, and he went crazy to drink the spray from the water hose. He loved to steal our tools or packages when we weren’t looking. He wiggled all over and ‘carried on’ to go to town with us, so much so, that even now we have to put him up so we can get ready to go! He has managed to attract a little fame with our community, doing some of his tricks for Walmart employees periodically. Many give him a nice treat and a pat his head. I think his picture, with his name on it, is still posted in the back of the store.

The bank almost always remembers to treat him and have even come out at the drive-thru to treat him and to say hello. Employees at Tractor Supply have witnessed Jack bringing a new wubba in his mouth to the counter, and standing there until it is scanned, and then dropping it only for a handful of treats!

He has turned out to be about the smartest dog we’ve ever owned and can’t imagine life without him. He’s amazing. He alerts us to spiders and scorpions. He tracts a treat scent when we take it around the property, then let him out to find it. He submits to a point to the floor without command, and verbal commands to mind his manners.

Jack comes to us by the wave of a hand. He rides along in the lawnmower trailer and never goes past his borders. He’s been known to bring us our slippers. He comes alongside us and even cries if he thinks we are hurt.

Jack never chews up anything or gets into the trash. If he has to stay home, he gets only on his furniture. He alerts loudly of unknown sounds, and dog watches. He waits at the door before entering into the house for us to go in first. Jack’s toys are his dear children which he eats with, potties with, sleeps with, plays with, and protects daily. Blackjacks’ tricks: he says hello with a ‘hand’ shake, bows his head to pray, rolls over twice in a row, shows his belly up, shakes all over, sits up pretty, fetches, and plays keep away, stands back up, spins reluctantly, speaks, and if I point my finger at him and say “bang,” he falls down dead!

He loves to run and show off. He gazes endlessly into our eyes. Our Jack weighs about 95 pounds, and he has a bit of arthritis. Too much activity causes him to limp, unfortunately, and he’s an indoor dog which offers us a lot of extra work, but he’s worth it!

This dog loves to be friendly—sometimes too friendly, like the time he backed the UPS driver up against the wall. The driver had a package and Jack thought it was his, since he gets packages, too, at times. We had to get the package before Jack got it or we may never have gotten it back! The driver had both arms up in surrender like being arrested, and when he finally realized the dog just wanted the package, heaven graced his face!

We wouldn’t take anything for this pet. Someone didn’t know what they threw away. In this case, he’s our gain, and their great loss! Strawberry-Blackjack is a treasure forever, and we love him. His fame is increasing as we speak, and even though he’s somebody’s castaway, he’s gonna make it all the way to the top! Thank you, Jesus, and 2 thumbs up for Jack!

Note: Take good care of your animals. We are their caretakers and the rewards can be truly great. Remember to support the animal shelter where there are many beautiful castaways just waiting for a home that loves and will takes care of them. (Sadly, over 2 million animals are put down every year because no one adopts them.)

X