Slept in a little, got up, fed dogs, let dogs out, listened to cats complain about new cat food....drank coffee, gulp...read Craigslist. (I keep saying I am not going to do that)...read some email and I see that the filly we were trying to place got placed! YAY!!! Another reputable rescue will take her and we are glad! That leaves us with trying to help the Appy gelding...and so we are putting the word out and keeping our fingers crossed that he can get a home before the auction.
but I digress.......I finally did get my butt going and I got in the truck and started driving to the barn. I listened to Elton John sing Blue Eyes and I was thinking about how I was really hoping Felice the barn cat would be at the barn when I got there. She was absent when I put barn cats to bed, and although I called her for an hour and then went back later.........she wasn't there. She had been around all day while we were building....but just sort of disappeared. Anyway, I got to the barn and she was not there. I was sad. I think coyotes probably got her. I called again this morning and checked every nook and cranny......no Felice. I have probably posted pictures of her before......black and white tuxedo girl kitty........very sweet and so soft. We are going to miss her.
I fed horses and worked on cleaning paddocks and stalls for three hours..stalls were messy due to nonstop rain last night (don't get me started on that).....then headed home about 11:15, showered and ate lunch, then went to Costco and ran some other errands. Got home, went back to barn, fed dinner, filled waters.......went back home and changed clothes for the Pony Up Fundraiser.
What an evening.......we had a good time, good food and a great turn out. I think people didn't recognize me without dirt or hay stuck in my hair.
A huge thank you to all who participated.......
Cherri, who donated her time, who donated her cooking skills and great food, as well as her restaurant (The Harbor Kitchen) and who also attended to a million other details.........THANK YOU! Thanks to all of the folks and business' who donated items.......we couldn't do it without you and thanks to all the folks who attended! I hope you had a good time. Also thank you to my volunteers who helped set up and organize.........I am very pleased with our turn out and also that we had some fun. It was very nice to meet new folks!
More thanks to:
Strohs, as always, thank you for your support and efforts!
Peninsula Equine Services, Dr. Julie Page
Mt. Rainier Equine Veterinary Services, Dr. Bob DeWard
Collins Chiropractic
Sandy Green, original artwork
Horses For Clean Water, Alayne Blickle
Cedar Hill Training, Crystal Hornbuckle-Baker
Sound Equine Farrier
Stiffey Family
Jo Meintz
Kathleen Moroney
Elaine Davis Photography
Dawns Photography
Winter Lakes Farm
Liz Howgate
John and Dianne Green
Lucky Dog Outfitters
Kristi Anderson
Education Stained Glass Studio
Koi’s Bistro
Sul Mare Salon and Spa
Ellen Mosier, Pearl Moon Equine Massage and Reiki
Darlene Piper
Elizabeth Clark, Equine Rhythm Beads
The Harbor Kitchen
Jesse Link, original artwork (Jesselink.com)
I am sure I have missed a few.......but I will get you tomorrow......I am tired. I stopped at the barn on my way home to make sure Felice wasn't there (she wasn't) and to make sure the chickens were in their proper beds.
I have let the dogs out, put them in bed and now off I go!
I shall be asleep in like 45 seconds.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
A sincere smile will make someones day better..........practice yours on a stranger.
.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Post Script Saturday
Kim and her mother built a chicken coop for us........and it is fabulous! We worked all day at Pony Up putting it together and voila...it is finished! Roofed and has a door..........room for all our precious chickens and it is insulated! A virtual chicken paradise....thank you Kim and mom!
We worked from 8 until 4.........Kelsey and I cleaned in the morning,and then I practiced spreading gravel with the tractor up the driveway and around the barn. Let me just say that I am not yet an accomplished tractor/gravel spreader. ...although I have managed now to pick up full buckets of gravel without digging the whole driveway up.
We are tired.
Here it is Sunday morning and I have lots to do before our event tonight.
It is pouring rain and cold. One of those days when you think about waking up in tropical Hawaii in your fancy hotel room ....birds singing and a sweet breeze flowing in the window.....
I guess I will dream on....it isn't happening today.
I guess I will just spray some horse linament on my shoulder and neck, pull my Carhart on and go get it done. I will pray for no roof leaks or major flooding........
more later!
We worked from 8 until 4.........Kelsey and I cleaned in the morning,and then I practiced spreading gravel with the tractor up the driveway and around the barn. Let me just say that I am not yet an accomplished tractor/gravel spreader. ...although I have managed now to pick up full buckets of gravel without digging the whole driveway up.
We are tired.
Here it is Sunday morning and I have lots to do before our event tonight.
It is pouring rain and cold. One of those days when you think about waking up in tropical Hawaii in your fancy hotel room ....birds singing and a sweet breeze flowing in the window.....
I guess I will dream on....it isn't happening today.
I guess I will just spray some horse linament on my shoulder and neck, pull my Carhart on and go get it done. I will pray for no roof leaks or major flooding........
more later!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday morning
Umm.....it is still raining and it is COLD. I am not motivated to leave the house except that I know what would happen.
I will get going a little early to check on our new visitor. Yesterday we sent Yukon to a local barn where he can get some exercise and love from a couple of young girls....in return we brought back TarBaby. TarBaby is an old Tb who has spent the last five years at the stable. Six months ago his owner never came back and left no word as to what her intent was. TarBaby got no visitors, no carrots, no groomings, no pets except for the infrequent kindness of passersby.
Fortunately for him, the stable owner is a kind woman, who continued to feed and shoe him with her own money. TarBaby is not rideable. We were approached to take him, but as we have been saying, we are full and have no empty stalls........but we did have a ridable horse who could be half leased and at least bring in some income for the barn.....and in place, we took TarBaby.
When I brought him home yesterday, he had to go into the barn, into the last stall and so he had to walk through the kangaroo court. First Church who wanted to take a big bite of him and then Winston who just wanted to touch him once or twice......then past hay storage, then a couple of chickens scattered past him and that was scary. Then to his room with a small turnout......he has not had a turnout on his stall for years..........he was not sure what to do......he went out and stood in the rain and stood there for several hours. I had to coax him back into the stall to eat.
I hope when we see him this morning, he is more settled......he was not too interested in eating last night. We are trying to find a foster home where he can actually have pasture for a while and really stretch his legs. Poor old guy. He has big ankles and a stiff gait and his tongue slightly protrudes from his mouth. He has a fresh clean blanket on ......and he will get plenty of love and treats here.
off to do my chores.......errands and a million other things........I have a list.
I have to go to Strohs, the Humane Society, Costco, the mall........meet a couple of friends to gather auction items........to Cenex........I have to dig a small ditch, fix a roofline which leaks a little..........strip the pony stall........change some feed bins around.....and Kim and her mom are bringing the chicken coop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay...no more chickens in the barn. The chickens were ALL in the barn last night and had to be bodily removed. The peacock was on TOP of the barn...and I really suppose he is not leaving....sigh....I never wanted a peacock.
more later..........enjoy your brisk and blustery day!
I will get going a little early to check on our new visitor. Yesterday we sent Yukon to a local barn where he can get some exercise and love from a couple of young girls....in return we brought back TarBaby. TarBaby is an old Tb who has spent the last five years at the stable. Six months ago his owner never came back and left no word as to what her intent was. TarBaby got no visitors, no carrots, no groomings, no pets except for the infrequent kindness of passersby.
Fortunately for him, the stable owner is a kind woman, who continued to feed and shoe him with her own money. TarBaby is not rideable. We were approached to take him, but as we have been saying, we are full and have no empty stalls........but we did have a ridable horse who could be half leased and at least bring in some income for the barn.....and in place, we took TarBaby.
When I brought him home yesterday, he had to go into the barn, into the last stall and so he had to walk through the kangaroo court. First Church who wanted to take a big bite of him and then Winston who just wanted to touch him once or twice......then past hay storage, then a couple of chickens scattered past him and that was scary. Then to his room with a small turnout......he has not had a turnout on his stall for years..........he was not sure what to do......he went out and stood in the rain and stood there for several hours. I had to coax him back into the stall to eat.
I hope when we see him this morning, he is more settled......he was not too interested in eating last night. We are trying to find a foster home where he can actually have pasture for a while and really stretch his legs. Poor old guy. He has big ankles and a stiff gait and his tongue slightly protrudes from his mouth. He has a fresh clean blanket on ......and he will get plenty of love and treats here.
off to do my chores.......errands and a million other things........I have a list.
I have to go to Strohs, the Humane Society, Costco, the mall........meet a couple of friends to gather auction items........to Cenex........I have to dig a small ditch, fix a roofline which leaks a little..........strip the pony stall........change some feed bins around.....and Kim and her mom are bringing the chicken coop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay...no more chickens in the barn. The chickens were ALL in the barn last night and had to be bodily removed. The peacock was on TOP of the barn...and I really suppose he is not leaving....sigh....I never wanted a peacock.
more later..........enjoy your brisk and blustery day!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday..........
I try to sleep in......but it doesn't work. The dogs know what time it is and where they are supposed to be and why don't I hear them? Well, I do hear them....and if I get up for one...well, the whole household gets up. So......I get up....let them out, feed them......drink a quick cup of coffee and I am on the road.......to the barn, listening to James Taylor sing "Fire and Rain".
Did I mention it is STILL raining? Honestly.....enough is enough. I am sure every reservoir in the state must be full by now.
I throw hay and then clean stalls, then paddocks.....they are wet and the piles are heavy. I remove my jacket due to the resulting sweat. I forgot a hat, so I rummage in the barn and find one of those plastic grocery bags.....voila...I have a hat. I am praying no one comes up to the barn and sees me with a plastic bag on my head. I laugh at the thought....but seriously......a plastic bag is on my head.
I finish up and go to my truck to leave and Mary V. shows up to help.......I explain that I need to run home and shower, then come back to take Beaver to the vet and I leave her to Ollie and Max's paddock. She did NOT see the plastic bag.
I run home, shower, put clean clothes on and go back to the barn.
I figure I am going to take Vinnie to the vet to, just to have him checked out. So, I go and get him, take a hay bag, hang it and load Vinnie. He loads like an old trooper. I shut the divider on him and go back to the barn for Beaver.
Beaver is not sure he wants to go anywhere.
He bites me.
I halter him anyway.
I lead him towards the barn and he gets the idea that he might be getting food and so he drags me into the barn as he starts rummaging for any sort of treat, hay or grain. I pull him up shorter and lead him through the barn.
Just outside the barn is a bowl of chicken food. I am shortly transported to that bowl by a short and stout pony....who just barely gets a bite of it before I over power him.
I break a small sweat and my clean clothes are not clean anymore.
I drag him down to the trailer and he is suspicious.
I open the door and he gets right in ........he wants to see Vinnie.
He sticks his nose through the divider slats and bites Vinnie.
Vinnie squeals.
Vinnie kicks.
Beaver strikes.
Okay, I cannot tie Beaver that close to Vinnie.
I hold Beaver's lead while I contemplate the best course of action.
My shoulder hurts.
Beaver reaches under the divider and bites Vinnie on the leg.
Vinnie screams and kicks.
I consider tying Beaver in the very back...but the tie is high and I am afraid he could hang himself.
I consider that might not be a bad thing.....just for a fleeting second.
Beaver makes a break for the divider.
I grab him before he reaches Vinnie.
ummm.......okay. Vinnie must not go today.......
Vinnie goes back to the barn.
Beaver is loaded loose in the trailer and he starts screaming.
I hit the road.
It doesn't end there.
We get to the vet. I go to the trailer door and there is Beaver's face and he is ready to get out. I snap a lead on him and he LEAPS way out of the trailer.
Part of the leap is designed to allow him to get away from me or pull me where he is headed. I use both arms and pull him up. I tell him to behave himself.
Now both of my shoulders hurt. I shake it off.
He trots along beside me and up into the clinic.
The vet remarks how cute he is and just as she pats him, he tries to bite her.
I tell her to be careful.
She laughs.
He swings to kick at her and I push him back.
I tell her that, honestly, he will kick.
Her old golden retriever enters the clinic......
Did I mention that Beaver hates dogs?
He tries to bite the dog.
I pull him back.
Embarrassing.
The dog is old and doesn't see well, she continues to wag her tail and approach him.......I tell her no, no....don't come over here.
She sits next to me and Beaver flexes his neck to get to her.
I move him.
He gets examined.......he doesn't like it.
She says he is fat.
I say I know.
She says he is cute and should have a job.....
I say I know...but who would have him?
She says "someone who wants a cart pony?"
I just laugh...and then laugh again.
anyway, Beaver has a cough....due to dust mostly likely......and so now he has cough syrup....and he must eat timothy pellets in a mush. His lungs are clear, his heart is good (well, it sounds good) and so off we go.........towards home.
I trot back to the trailer with him. ..(not my idea) and he gets in. I shut the door and we drive home.......he drags me back into the barn......and I drag him back out of it and into his paddock.
Phew.....
I handle BIG horses every day and this little pony is a bugger........he can drag me anywhere.....he is strong and willful......so I must lend more credit to the big horses attitudes and behaviors......they WANT to get along.......they WANT to behave.
Ponies are not horses. They are devils in small horse suits.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
You will recieve a great blessing from a person you admire.
Did I mention it is STILL raining? Honestly.....enough is enough. I am sure every reservoir in the state must be full by now.
I throw hay and then clean stalls, then paddocks.....they are wet and the piles are heavy. I remove my jacket due to the resulting sweat. I forgot a hat, so I rummage in the barn and find one of those plastic grocery bags.....voila...I have a hat. I am praying no one comes up to the barn and sees me with a plastic bag on my head. I laugh at the thought....but seriously......a plastic bag is on my head.
I finish up and go to my truck to leave and Mary V. shows up to help.......I explain that I need to run home and shower, then come back to take Beaver to the vet and I leave her to Ollie and Max's paddock. She did NOT see the plastic bag.
I run home, shower, put clean clothes on and go back to the barn.
I figure I am going to take Vinnie to the vet to, just to have him checked out. So, I go and get him, take a hay bag, hang it and load Vinnie. He loads like an old trooper. I shut the divider on him and go back to the barn for Beaver.
Beaver is not sure he wants to go anywhere.
He bites me.
I halter him anyway.
I lead him towards the barn and he gets the idea that he might be getting food and so he drags me into the barn as he starts rummaging for any sort of treat, hay or grain. I pull him up shorter and lead him through the barn.
Just outside the barn is a bowl of chicken food. I am shortly transported to that bowl by a short and stout pony....who just barely gets a bite of it before I over power him.
I break a small sweat and my clean clothes are not clean anymore.
I drag him down to the trailer and he is suspicious.
I open the door and he gets right in ........he wants to see Vinnie.
He sticks his nose through the divider slats and bites Vinnie.
Vinnie squeals.
Vinnie kicks.
Beaver strikes.
Okay, I cannot tie Beaver that close to Vinnie.
I hold Beaver's lead while I contemplate the best course of action.
My shoulder hurts.
Beaver reaches under the divider and bites Vinnie on the leg.
Vinnie screams and kicks.
I consider tying Beaver in the very back...but the tie is high and I am afraid he could hang himself.
I consider that might not be a bad thing.....just for a fleeting second.
Beaver makes a break for the divider.
I grab him before he reaches Vinnie.
ummm.......okay. Vinnie must not go today.......
Vinnie goes back to the barn.
Beaver is loaded loose in the trailer and he starts screaming.
I hit the road.
It doesn't end there.
We get to the vet. I go to the trailer door and there is Beaver's face and he is ready to get out. I snap a lead on him and he LEAPS way out of the trailer.
Part of the leap is designed to allow him to get away from me or pull me where he is headed. I use both arms and pull him up. I tell him to behave himself.
Now both of my shoulders hurt. I shake it off.
He trots along beside me and up into the clinic.
The vet remarks how cute he is and just as she pats him, he tries to bite her.
I tell her to be careful.
She laughs.
He swings to kick at her and I push him back.
I tell her that, honestly, he will kick.
Her old golden retriever enters the clinic......
Did I mention that Beaver hates dogs?
He tries to bite the dog.
I pull him back.
Embarrassing.
The dog is old and doesn't see well, she continues to wag her tail and approach him.......I tell her no, no....don't come over here.
She sits next to me and Beaver flexes his neck to get to her.
I move him.
He gets examined.......he doesn't like it.
She says he is fat.
I say I know.
She says he is cute and should have a job.....
I say I know...but who would have him?
She says "someone who wants a cart pony?"
I just laugh...and then laugh again.
anyway, Beaver has a cough....due to dust mostly likely......and so now he has cough syrup....and he must eat timothy pellets in a mush. His lungs are clear, his heart is good (well, it sounds good) and so off we go.........towards home.
I trot back to the trailer with him. ..(not my idea) and he gets in. I shut the door and we drive home.......he drags me back into the barn......and I drag him back out of it and into his paddock.
Phew.....
I handle BIG horses every day and this little pony is a bugger........he can drag me anywhere.....he is strong and willful......so I must lend more credit to the big horses attitudes and behaviors......they WANT to get along.......they WANT to behave.
Ponies are not horses. They are devils in small horse suits.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
You will recieve a great blessing from a person you admire.
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