It rained really hard last night and then again this morning. I had given up on the sun....I did the horse chores, fed my mom breakfast, did her laundry.. fed her lunch.....was not really motivated to get out and do much.....but around 1:30 I needed to drive out and pay the hayman......so off I ventured and VOILA.......the sun came out.....it was great! What a treat! We got several hours of sun and then the wind came....but the wind is blowing the clouds off and the sky is blue right now. I can really take some more of this. Feels like a wet blanket has been lifted off my head.
Good to see the hay man......he is always so good to me...we visited for a while and then I drove back home to do some outside chores.
I took Grace's blanket off so she could soak in some rays and she napped for a while while I cleaned late this afternoon.
I was driving and thinking this afternoon.....always thinking, taking notes for later......planning my week.....who, what, when.
I don't know why but I remembered a particular instance from years back..something that always warms my heart and I thought I would share it with you this evening. It is not horse related, but dog related.....
I work in the wholesale industry.....we sell "electrical stuff" out of a warehouse and we have vendors who call on us to show us new items or take care of defective materials......you know...the typical outside salesperson. In our industry, people make the rounds and some you like, some you don't, some are obnoxious, some are know it alls......others you come to value........while others you know are never going to make it.....some work for years in the industry very successfully and others have gone from job to job......it seems like we know everyone and everyone knows us.
One hot summer, I was downstairs in the show room with my employees, when I saw "Bob" pull in. Hmm. Bob......I dreaded him coming in because he had had at least twenty jobs in six years....never very successful, never very confident, quiet...no dyanamo for sure......but not a bad guy...maybe he never got the right break...I don't know. Bob is an older guy....no wife, no kids......no hobbies to speak of.
Bob was driving a beat up car and I noticed he left the windows down.
"Probably doesn't have air conditioning"..I thought and I wondered what he was peddling this time.
It was unseasonably warm that day. Bob comes in and he is dressed in a new suit and I must admit that he seems to have a little more confidence in the way he holds himself.
I say.."Hi Bob".....
He says "Hi, might you have some water?"
I said, "sure......there are cups at the water cooler...help yourself."
Bob returned to his car and brought in a bowl.
A bowl?
Bob saw the puzzled look on my face and he said, "I have a dog in the car."
"You have a dog in the car?" I said. Okay.. he had my attention.
"Yep and he is thirsty", said Bob.
If you know me...you know that I love dogs. I cannot stand dogs to be left in cars in hot weather. To give Bob credit....the car was in the shade of our awning and the windows were down.....but still......we had air conditioning and very few customers at this time of the day.
"Uh, Bob....it is too hot out there, please bring him in."
"You don't mind?"
"No, I don't...bring him in", I said.
Bob shortly returned with an old, scarred up Pit Bull.......limping, missing half an ear....but a gentle demeanor and walking almost silently next to Bob.
We filled his bowl and the old dog drank and then sat down next to Bob and leaned into his very starched pants.
I noticed the dog had on a brand new collar and the collar was attached to a brand new leash.
"Where did you get him?" I asked.
Eagerly and energetically Bob replied ,"Well, three weeks ago he jumped in my backyard.......right over my wood fence..I put him back on the street side of the fence, but he jumped in again.....I put him out, told him to beat it and he jumped back in. He just wouldn't leave....and so I fed him and watered him and he is now my dog....he needs me I guess...I put up signs and no one is looking for him because no one has called."
I said, "He must have known where to go."
Bob started in again........"He is a really smart dog.....I mean he knows how to sit, stay.....and he is never a problem.......he is house trained.....he loves the car and we walk every night when I get home from work...on the weekend I take him to the park. I took him to the vet.....and he has no microchip....the vet says he is about ten.....oh, he is the greatest dog....want to see him do a trick?"
"Sure, let's see what he can do."
I had never heard Bob talk so much....I had never heard Bob sound so happy.
Bob had him sit,lay down........all the normal dog stuff........I oohed and awed over the "tricks" and agreed that he was a very smart dog.
Bob started in again...."Well, you know I never had a pet before....never expected to own a dog but this guy here is something special......I think he might have been a show dog at one time......you know, before he got lost......probably a pretty expensive dog, don't you think?"
I said, "It sure sounds like it Bob." ...thinking to myself...that dog is a street fighting dog if I ever saw one.....I love Pit Bulls and have even fostered a few.....and I know one when I see one..this is not a show dog....this dog has been around and seen some fighting.....torn ear...scarred face....scarred tail.....but still......he obviously loved Bob...he never made a sound besides the thump, thump of his tail on the carpet. What would it hurt to agree?
My employees had disbursed to the warehouse and upstairs offices by now.....I am the "animal" person and they are generally not.....they just roll their eyes at me. The showroom was quiet.
Bob started to speak again....I leaned down petting the old dog's head and ears.
Bob says in a choked voice, "You know my wife died several years ago..she was my whole world.... and I just felt my life had ended. We never had kids.....my brother lives back east......I have no one......but this dog came along and he needs me and I am going to do the best job I can to take care of him."
I was choked up.
I had no idea...I was ashamed that I had never taken more of an interest in Bob and his life. All these years....no idea.
I say, "Bob.......you are doing a wonderful thing for the dog...he must be thrilled to be in such a good home."
"I hope so", says Bob, "His name is Duke now......I don't know what it was before..but he seems to know it."
I nodded.
Bob found something to live for the day the dog jumped in his yard......they found each other at the right time...it is hard to say who needed who most.
*Bob's real name was changed for this story...
Angels......unaware.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
So far Sunday
Images from the Pony Up barn on a Sunday morning.....
pictures of Grace and Church.......chickens, barn cat, flowering plants ......
at least it is not raining.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Non soliel Saturday
More of the same.....gray,wet weather......ugh...I can hardly take anymore.
Still the chores must be done and I even find the courage to plant a few more things in this March-like weather. Here it is.....Memorial Day.....and we are cold and wet.
I work alone for awhile this morning and then Briann, my little ray of sunshine comes and helps me......we run errands together, then come back and clean .....bed down stalls, clean some sheaths (yuck).....clean and medicate some feet, clean a wound on Ollie's leg.......powder Grace with some louse powder and Tarbaby too, because he has been doing the "community scratch" thing with Grace....and I don't want anything to get started.
I am bummed that the swallows never decided to make nests in the barn...the barn must be too busy? I don't know. I feel cheated.
We got two more tons of hay today.....alfalfa.......timothy is getting hard to get. We may have to take a drive to Eastern Washington and get some......or some Orchard Grass or Teff or ???? but the fact is, we will need some grass. Beaver has to have grass and the fatso's really don't need all that alfalfa. The next thing you know, they will start mooing.
One thing about wet and cold weather is that the flies are POOF....gone. I have fly traps outside and then I hung some of those sticky fly catcher things......and honestly......it was like something out of a comedy routine.......I had them hanging over my feed bench.......first one of them stuck to my forehead....I brushed it aside and it was stuck to my hand and then I shook it loose and it caught in my hair......and then of course back on my hand........GROSS. I took them down and I will think of something else. I cannot imagine having that thing stuck to me with about 1000 flies on it.
Grace felt good today and ate all her breakfast and then lunch....then napped.....and fretted because TarBaby was out of her sight.....then he came out and all of her world was right again. They nuzzled and then groomed each other. A very sweet sight......two old horses loving each other. When the weather turns nice (okay, doesn't it have to eventually?) and Grace is more stable, I will turn them out together. I think they both will be thrilled.
The eagle was back today and I held my ground........he hung around for 1/2 hour waiting on a wayward chicken....it didn't happen.
We received a check today from the Hannah and her family.......thank you...you are so generous to us and I am so very appreciative. You help us to help horses like Grace.
We also got a check from a United Way fund.....I have to look up the donor.......but I guess you know who you are.......and thank you also.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Remember virtue and it will reward you.
Still the chores must be done and I even find the courage to plant a few more things in this March-like weather. Here it is.....Memorial Day.....and we are cold and wet.
I work alone for awhile this morning and then Briann, my little ray of sunshine comes and helps me......we run errands together, then come back and clean .....bed down stalls, clean some sheaths (yuck).....clean and medicate some feet, clean a wound on Ollie's leg.......powder Grace with some louse powder and Tarbaby too, because he has been doing the "community scratch" thing with Grace....and I don't want anything to get started.
I am bummed that the swallows never decided to make nests in the barn...the barn must be too busy? I don't know. I feel cheated.
We got two more tons of hay today.....alfalfa.......timothy is getting hard to get. We may have to take a drive to Eastern Washington and get some......or some Orchard Grass or Teff or ???? but the fact is, we will need some grass. Beaver has to have grass and the fatso's really don't need all that alfalfa. The next thing you know, they will start mooing.
One thing about wet and cold weather is that the flies are POOF....gone. I have fly traps outside and then I hung some of those sticky fly catcher things......and honestly......it was like something out of a comedy routine.......I had them hanging over my feed bench.......first one of them stuck to my forehead....I brushed it aside and it was stuck to my hand and then I shook it loose and it caught in my hair......and then of course back on my hand........GROSS. I took them down and I will think of something else. I cannot imagine having that thing stuck to me with about 1000 flies on it.
Grace felt good today and ate all her breakfast and then lunch....then napped.....and fretted because TarBaby was out of her sight.....then he came out and all of her world was right again. They nuzzled and then groomed each other. A very sweet sight......two old horses loving each other. When the weather turns nice (okay, doesn't it have to eventually?) and Grace is more stable, I will turn them out together. I think they both will be thrilled.
The eagle was back today and I held my ground........he hung around for 1/2 hour waiting on a wayward chicken....it didn't happen.
We received a check today from the Hannah and her family.......thank you...you are so generous to us and I am so very appreciative. You help us to help horses like Grace.
We also got a check from a United Way fund.....I have to look up the donor.......but I guess you know who you are.......and thank you also.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Remember virtue and it will reward you.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
WET Wednesday
I am listening to my resident frog chorus....it is late and I still have much to do.
Today was gray and wet......wet and gray....we really need some sun. I looked at the weather forecast of the United States and I think we have ALL the rain in the nation at this point. I have never left horse blankets on until the end of May......never.
Speaking of horse blankets......we were donated a nice blanket for Grace (that she is now wearing) courtesy of Dr. Mike. It was just what she needed, as she was wearing a huge blanket that we had to tie knots in the straps in order to get it to stay on her. Thank you for the blanket.....Grace can surely make good use of it, as she does get cold at night.
My chickens are trying to abandon the chicken coop and sleep in the barn. I have to bodily place them in the coop at night. I thought they were supposed to love their coop? We even put a window in it....but the barn, for some reason, seems like better sleeping arrangements. The banties go in the rafters and I cannot get them easily.
That is why they have what we call "chicken brains" I guess.
This weekend I will do some painting.....move some manure piles around.....groom horses and clean some tack. If by some chance the sun comes out, I am going to ride Max.,,he just doesn't know it yet and I am wondering by the look of his belly if the girth will fit him...or if I need an extension fitting. LOL.
It has been a long week, we are short handed at work and it makes for long days. Tomorrow is my Friday and all I can say is .....yes.
American Idol was a bust. Maybe the worst year ever or am I simply tired of it?
Joe of TB Friends talked about forgiveness today.. and I am with him. I simply cannot forgive some things.....not now, not ever. Some betrayals will rip the heart and soul right out of you and they cannot be forgotten or minimized by rote words of apology. You know what I am talking about.
Grace continues to make progress and is getting more of a personality each day....she talks and she pushes on you......she bangs her gate and will not lift her head from her grain pan no matter what ......you can hardly blame her. We are all rooting for Grace. Her front foot is much more comfortable, but she is still stiff behind.....maybe always will be.
I stopped feeding the rice bran today to the fatso's....umm.....that would be Ollie, Max, Church and yep....even Promise and Tarbaby. I am going to try some corn oil with Grace and see if that will be palatable for her. Beaver, of course, is on local grass hay only and still fat as a piggy. We stopped him from foraging in the manure pile and we hoped it would facilitate some weight loss..what he really needs is some work.
Sully has a horsey cold and so he is out of work for a few days until his snotty nose clears up. In the meanwhile, he is turned out with another gelding and I am told they are getting along very well. I was skeptical....but hey, it worked. I tend to be a worry wort and the horses usually work it out.
Pony UP fortune for tomorrow:
Make the phone call.....it turns out well.
Today was gray and wet......wet and gray....we really need some sun. I looked at the weather forecast of the United States and I think we have ALL the rain in the nation at this point. I have never left horse blankets on until the end of May......never.
Speaking of horse blankets......we were donated a nice blanket for Grace (that she is now wearing) courtesy of Dr. Mike. It was just what she needed, as she was wearing a huge blanket that we had to tie knots in the straps in order to get it to stay on her. Thank you for the blanket.....Grace can surely make good use of it, as she does get cold at night.
My chickens are trying to abandon the chicken coop and sleep in the barn. I have to bodily place them in the coop at night. I thought they were supposed to love their coop? We even put a window in it....but the barn, for some reason, seems like better sleeping arrangements. The banties go in the rafters and I cannot get them easily.
That is why they have what we call "chicken brains" I guess.
This weekend I will do some painting.....move some manure piles around.....groom horses and clean some tack. If by some chance the sun comes out, I am going to ride Max.,,he just doesn't know it yet and I am wondering by the look of his belly if the girth will fit him...or if I need an extension fitting. LOL.
It has been a long week, we are short handed at work and it makes for long days. Tomorrow is my Friday and all I can say is .....yes.
American Idol was a bust. Maybe the worst year ever or am I simply tired of it?
Joe of TB Friends talked about forgiveness today.. and I am with him. I simply cannot forgive some things.....not now, not ever. Some betrayals will rip the heart and soul right out of you and they cannot be forgotten or minimized by rote words of apology. You know what I am talking about.
Grace continues to make progress and is getting more of a personality each day....she talks and she pushes on you......she bangs her gate and will not lift her head from her grain pan no matter what ......you can hardly blame her. We are all rooting for Grace. Her front foot is much more comfortable, but she is still stiff behind.....maybe always will be.
I stopped feeding the rice bran today to the fatso's....umm.....that would be Ollie, Max, Church and yep....even Promise and Tarbaby. I am going to try some corn oil with Grace and see if that will be palatable for her. Beaver, of course, is on local grass hay only and still fat as a piggy. We stopped him from foraging in the manure pile and we hoped it would facilitate some weight loss..what he really needs is some work.
Sully has a horsey cold and so he is out of work for a few days until his snotty nose clears up. In the meanwhile, he is turned out with another gelding and I am told they are getting along very well. I was skeptical....but hey, it worked. I tend to be a worry wort and the horses usually work it out.
Pony UP fortune for tomorrow:
Make the phone call.....it turns out well.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
So be it Sunday
Grace is feeling stronger today......she pawed at her gate to let me know she was hungry and she was quite insistent that she should be fed first......so of course, I fed her first. She can have anything she wants.......I have a string attached from her hoof to my heart.
The day was gray and cold until just afternoon. Mary came and helped me clean.......then I ran home and did "home" chores....then to Lowes and Fred Meyer.......yes, I got more plants.....planted some more in my mom's yard......and some more around the Pony Up barn.....lots of lavender and cat mint.....cheap, but pretty.
I kept Grace's blanket on all day as it really never did warm up and she gets cold easily. I am happy to report that she is growing some new hair on her previously bald spots. I guess having some food helps.
I did not get many barn projects finished this week, although I did rake the driveway and clean up around the barn. Time to order hay again......2 ton goes quickly because ....well......they eat like pigs around here. The shoer and the vet said they need a diet.......hmmm........you know I don't like to see any ribs. You know, I like pigs too. I wish we had a pig......well, not really....but pigs have a lot of personality and they are smart.
My flytraps are empty.......too cold for flies I guess.....so far I have caught some gnats and one hornet. Big deal.
The eagle was back yesterday just before the chickens went to bed.......he scared them all by landing on a fence post and waiting. They stayed in the brush .......honestly, can't he catch a salmon or one of the neighbors chickens? We are not the only chickens on the road....
The chicks are almost fully grown.....and I think they are all hens....how fortunate is that?
There is a three day ride in Cle Elum in July and I sure would like to go.......three days of camping and riding.....fireside meals.......and it sure sounds like fun? but hmmm.........do I have a trail horse? NO.......no I don't. I have fussy dressage horses, TB's off the track, a small devil pony........nope, I don't have a trail horse. Send me one, would you?
Back to work tomorrow. Hoping for some good weather soon.......Grace needs a bath again, the plants need some sun......and gosh, so do I.
Enjoy your week.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Say what you mean and say it out loud.
The day was gray and cold until just afternoon. Mary came and helped me clean.......then I ran home and did "home" chores....then to Lowes and Fred Meyer.......yes, I got more plants.....planted some more in my mom's yard......and some more around the Pony Up barn.....lots of lavender and cat mint.....cheap, but pretty.
I kept Grace's blanket on all day as it really never did warm up and she gets cold easily. I am happy to report that she is growing some new hair on her previously bald spots. I guess having some food helps.
I did not get many barn projects finished this week, although I did rake the driveway and clean up around the barn. Time to order hay again......2 ton goes quickly because ....well......they eat like pigs around here. The shoer and the vet said they need a diet.......hmmm........you know I don't like to see any ribs. You know, I like pigs too. I wish we had a pig......well, not really....but pigs have a lot of personality and they are smart.
My flytraps are empty.......too cold for flies I guess.....so far I have caught some gnats and one hornet. Big deal.
The eagle was back yesterday just before the chickens went to bed.......he scared them all by landing on a fence post and waiting. They stayed in the brush .......honestly, can't he catch a salmon or one of the neighbors chickens? We are not the only chickens on the road....
The chicks are almost fully grown.....and I think they are all hens....how fortunate is that?
There is a three day ride in Cle Elum in July and I sure would like to go.......three days of camping and riding.....fireside meals.......and it sure sounds like fun? but hmmm.........do I have a trail horse? NO.......no I don't. I have fussy dressage horses, TB's off the track, a small devil pony........nope, I don't have a trail horse. Send me one, would you?
Back to work tomorrow. Hoping for some good weather soon.......Grace needs a bath again, the plants need some sun......and gosh, so do I.
Enjoy your week.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Say what you mean and say it out loud.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
shining Saturday
I get up late.....didn't sleep well last night.......grumpy.....have to get moving.......coffee.......wheat toast......pull on jeans, pull on sweatshirt.....fake the brush over my hair......put glasses on....no time for contact lenses... take extra cup of coffee for my brother in law......hit the road.
Let chickens out.....let barn cat out.....take coffee to my brother in law (who stayed with my mom last night like a hero!) Help my mom with taking her blood sugar reading, get her pills for her.....make her some juice......breakfast.......open the curtains.....back out to the barn, where I am scolded by horses for being late and not giving them breakfast IMMEDIATELY upon my arrival.
I give hay, then grain.........soak some hay pellets for Grace, drink my coffee.......consider all the chores I have to do.......where to start? hmmm.
Brianne and Jan S. arrive and help me with stalls......cleaning paddocks..........Jan helps me fix one of the benches and then we move a huge clump of daisies that are right in the way of progress.......Jan sits on the bench and the barn cat moves onto his lap.......love at first sight. The barn cat cannot get enough of him.
The weather is on again, off again sunny.......jacket on, jacket off.........no rain yet........but who knows? You cannot believe the weather forecaster around here lately.
Brianne grooms Promise, cleans her feet, cuts her bridle path.......and exclaims how beautiful the filly has turned out. We agree.....her coat is dappled, she is muscled out......very gorgeous color....and a good size too.
Briannne and Jan meet Grace......and they go back several times to pat her and talk to her. She is ever so slightly more comfortable on her new front shoes. She ate good last night........and she is still enamored with Tarbaby, her neighbor. Beaver, however, is pissed that he is not in the barn anymore and none of his escape tactics have worked so far.
A little later, Shelly and her husband bring Hannah (the donkey) to visit and the horses are in a spin over this little furry donkey. Part of Shelly's family is visiting and everyone is nice.......they look at the horses and we talk about Grace for a while...... really nice family Shelly.....thanks for bringing them by.
The rest of the day, I work on landscaping my mom's part of the property. I am intent on it looking REALLY good for her, so she can enjoy looking out the window and eventually coming outside again. She loves to work in the yard and plant things.......so I don't want her to miss a beat this year....even though she is ill. My niece comes and helps me dig holes, move plants and clean up weeds. Thank you Angie........you have a very giving spirit....
Before I know it, it is almost four and I have not gone home yet to shower, like I said I would around 10 am. Gross. I head home.....the sky is darkening and the wind picks up. ...No more sun.
Time to eat dinner, drink some wine........watch a movie.......
I hope your day was good and productive. I am appreciative of the folks who help me.......thank you.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow::
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.......go for it.
Let chickens out.....let barn cat out.....take coffee to my brother in law (who stayed with my mom last night like a hero!) Help my mom with taking her blood sugar reading, get her pills for her.....make her some juice......breakfast.......open the curtains.....back out to the barn, where I am scolded by horses for being late and not giving them breakfast IMMEDIATELY upon my arrival.
I give hay, then grain.........soak some hay pellets for Grace, drink my coffee.......consider all the chores I have to do.......where to start? hmmm.
Brianne and Jan S. arrive and help me with stalls......cleaning paddocks..........Jan helps me fix one of the benches and then we move a huge clump of daisies that are right in the way of progress.......Jan sits on the bench and the barn cat moves onto his lap.......love at first sight. The barn cat cannot get enough of him.
The weather is on again, off again sunny.......jacket on, jacket off.........no rain yet........but who knows? You cannot believe the weather forecaster around here lately.
Brianne grooms Promise, cleans her feet, cuts her bridle path.......and exclaims how beautiful the filly has turned out. We agree.....her coat is dappled, she is muscled out......very gorgeous color....and a good size too.
Briannne and Jan meet Grace......and they go back several times to pat her and talk to her. She is ever so slightly more comfortable on her new front shoes. She ate good last night........and she is still enamored with Tarbaby, her neighbor. Beaver, however, is pissed that he is not in the barn anymore and none of his escape tactics have worked so far.
A little later, Shelly and her husband bring Hannah (the donkey) to visit and the horses are in a spin over this little furry donkey. Part of Shelly's family is visiting and everyone is nice.......they look at the horses and we talk about Grace for a while...... really nice family Shelly.....thanks for bringing them by.
The rest of the day, I work on landscaping my mom's part of the property. I am intent on it looking REALLY good for her, so she can enjoy looking out the window and eventually coming outside again. She loves to work in the yard and plant things.......so I don't want her to miss a beat this year....even though she is ill. My niece comes and helps me dig holes, move plants and clean up weeds. Thank you Angie........you have a very giving spirit....
Before I know it, it is almost four and I have not gone home yet to shower, like I said I would around 10 am. Gross. I head home.....the sky is darkening and the wind picks up. ...No more sun.
Time to eat dinner, drink some wine........watch a movie.......
I hope your day was good and productive. I am appreciative of the folks who help me.......thank you.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow::
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.......go for it.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Feature Friday
The sun was out this morning, teasing us......I worked without a jacket for a while........Mary cleaned paddocks and we talked and it seemed that maybe the day would be nice.........I did some tractor work and general clean up.
Dr. Mike was here today to see Grace and gave her a shot......no complaining from Grace.....and then later the shoer showed up and Grace got shoes on both front feet. We hope it can make her more comfortable and give her less pain. She was a gem, as usual to work with. Thank you to Jim W. and to Dr. Mike for helping us help her........you are both very generous to an old horse.
Grace is blanketed in a a HUGE blanket that we have tried to make smaller........the temperatures have dipped again and we don't want her to be cold. She felt well enough today to KICK at Beaver........Beaver was trying to steal hay from her by leaning under the fence as only a pony can do. You go girl!.....
The day ended up dark and rainy........it was pouring by the time I was ready to leave. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I went and bought plants for some of my mom's pots and some of her garden beds.......I am planting them tomorrow........something to lift her spirits...she loves flowers and gardening.......but it will be a while until she is up to it....so maybe I can make her garden come alive........the least I can do.
thanks again to Mary for help today......and thanks to your little boy for his gift.
Today I got a phone call from a boarding stable......another abandoned horse......paint gelding....
anyone looking?
Almost the end of the month....almost June.......paddocks should be dry.....flies will be out.......pastures will need picking... we still need railroad ties .......more dirt........more gravel.........Max needs his hocks injected........Tarbaby needs hoof supplement........Promise needs time under saddle...........Sully will be coming home soon. We are full, as usual......
I am grateful for the support we get ..........volunteers, equine professionals, hay resellers......we couldn't do this without you........Thank you.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow...........
Rise and Shine.......the best part of your day will be noon..........are you ready?
Dr. Mike was here today to see Grace and gave her a shot......no complaining from Grace.....and then later the shoer showed up and Grace got shoes on both front feet. We hope it can make her more comfortable and give her less pain. She was a gem, as usual to work with. Thank you to Jim W. and to Dr. Mike for helping us help her........you are both very generous to an old horse.
Grace is blanketed in a a HUGE blanket that we have tried to make smaller........the temperatures have dipped again and we don't want her to be cold. She felt well enough today to KICK at Beaver........Beaver was trying to steal hay from her by leaning under the fence as only a pony can do. You go girl!.....
The day ended up dark and rainy........it was pouring by the time I was ready to leave. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I went and bought plants for some of my mom's pots and some of her garden beds.......I am planting them tomorrow........something to lift her spirits...she loves flowers and gardening.......but it will be a while until she is up to it....so maybe I can make her garden come alive........the least I can do.
thanks again to Mary for help today......and thanks to your little boy for his gift.
Today I got a phone call from a boarding stable......another abandoned horse......paint gelding....
anyone looking?
Almost the end of the month....almost June.......paddocks should be dry.....flies will be out.......pastures will need picking... we still need railroad ties .......more dirt........more gravel.........Max needs his hocks injected........Tarbaby needs hoof supplement........Promise needs time under saddle...........Sully will be coming home soon. We are full, as usual......
I am grateful for the support we get ..........volunteers, equine professionals, hay resellers......we couldn't do this without you........Thank you.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow...........
Rise and Shine.......the best part of your day will be noon..........are you ready?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wait a minute Wednesday
The week has flown by.....horses, work, getting my mom home from the hospital and situated into my house.......trying to get my routine in order so that it doesn't seem like sheer chaos.
10 pm and I am just now ready for bed....okay not quite ready...but nearly.
Grace is holding her own. The temperature dropped today, it rained, we have high winds and so I blanketed her. She is eating nearly all of her gruel and we have added a little more fat to it so that she can keep gaining. She is a very sweet horse. She stood stock still for the blanket as she does for most everything. Our new volunteers met her tonight and learned how to feed her. Mushy, everything must be mushy and warm. They also learned that Beaver will steal any food that is carried past him and he will act like a gorilla in order to get it.
Promise is looking very good and everyone who visits the farm says "that can't be the same horse?" but yes it is......the ugly duckling turned into a swan.
Sully is coming along leaps and gains.......riding in the arena, doing walk, trot and a little canter......it won't be long and he comes home. He is all slick from shedding and bathing.......quite the handsome guy.
Thanks to Mary and Shelly for helping to care for the dogs of my mother.......you are such a big help.......I can never say enough to properly thank you. Mary..you in particular have worked your butt off cleaning stalls....I am lucky to have you.
This weekend , weather permitting, we will work on painting and some rototilling work by the fenceline to get rid of brush........so I can plant some more plants........the driveway looks really nice so far. We were given a couple of nice benches that we put by the barn and it is nice to have somewhere to sit besides hay bales.
Friday Max and Church will get their feet trimmed and Grace will be studied to see what we can do for her poor foot. Keep your fingers crossed that we can help her. I will give up a week of Starbucks to help her have less pain....maybe even the whole month.
I should be scolded........I left the tractor out. I just remembered......not like I have anything else on my mind or anything. I suppose it will not kill it for one night.
Tomorrow is my Friday and it cannot come soon enough. The week has been long and full of ups and downs......not enough time in the day.
Friday morning I will see an old friend who I have not seen in several years........I look forward to it..........I will know that big smile anywhere.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Show your appreciation in public.
10 pm and I am just now ready for bed....okay not quite ready...but nearly.
Grace is holding her own. The temperature dropped today, it rained, we have high winds and so I blanketed her. She is eating nearly all of her gruel and we have added a little more fat to it so that she can keep gaining. She is a very sweet horse. She stood stock still for the blanket as she does for most everything. Our new volunteers met her tonight and learned how to feed her. Mushy, everything must be mushy and warm. They also learned that Beaver will steal any food that is carried past him and he will act like a gorilla in order to get it.
Promise is looking very good and everyone who visits the farm says "that can't be the same horse?" but yes it is......the ugly duckling turned into a swan.
Sully is coming along leaps and gains.......riding in the arena, doing walk, trot and a little canter......it won't be long and he comes home. He is all slick from shedding and bathing.......quite the handsome guy.
Thanks to Mary and Shelly for helping to care for the dogs of my mother.......you are such a big help.......I can never say enough to properly thank you. Mary..you in particular have worked your butt off cleaning stalls....I am lucky to have you.
This weekend , weather permitting, we will work on painting and some rototilling work by the fenceline to get rid of brush........so I can plant some more plants........the driveway looks really nice so far. We were given a couple of nice benches that we put by the barn and it is nice to have somewhere to sit besides hay bales.
Friday Max and Church will get their feet trimmed and Grace will be studied to see what we can do for her poor foot. Keep your fingers crossed that we can help her. I will give up a week of Starbucks to help her have less pain....maybe even the whole month.
I should be scolded........I left the tractor out. I just remembered......not like I have anything else on my mind or anything. I suppose it will not kill it for one night.
Tomorrow is my Friday and it cannot come soon enough. The week has been long and full of ups and downs......not enough time in the day.
Friday morning I will see an old friend who I have not seen in several years........I look forward to it..........I will know that big smile anywhere.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Show your appreciation in public.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday comes calling
I slept hard last night.........tired after a long day......I drove to the barn with dread. Grace layed down a lot on Saturday.......not sure if she was tired from "regular" food or if she was giving up.
The pictures do not really portray how awful she looks.........and even my words on this blog cannot give an adequate description.
I thought she might be dead this morning.......I really did......but she was not. She hung in there another day. She is eating the best she can.......she has horrible teeth and cannot effectively chew hay. She has scarring on her knees and her hock on the same side......I am sure she was once tangled in a fence.........She has terrible foot pain due to a massive quarter crack and is extremely itchy all over due to lice. The lice have almost eaten her alive. She has no hair on her belly.....zero.......just a mass of scabs and wrinkled skin. I dusted her for lice again, rubbed oil on her sores and fly sprayed her naked parts to keep the mosquitos and biting flies off. I am feeding her hay pellets, senior grain, rice bran and beet pulp. She is eager to eat, but tires quickly and must lay down to rest. I cannot bute her due to her poor condition........and I cannot de-worm her and I cannot get her teeth floated until I can get her stable. It is a fine line we walk. You want to fix everything at once......but you really cannot.
She is in isolation to keep the lice off the other horses......but she frets terribly when she cannot see them......when I feed at night they all go into stalls and she frets and calls........Church lifts his head from his grain and walks out of his stall and down the fence line..........he looks at her and gives a soft nicker....and then he stands there a while and she settles down.
I had someone ask me today why I do this........sometimes I don't have a good answer....but I guess the answer is that I always hope I can bring them back.......but I also know that if I can't......I saved them from starving to death in a pasture in the backwoods of nowhere.....where no one could see them.... and I let them know that someone, a complete stranger like me, had the decency to love them and give them some dignity.
I honestly don't know that we will save this mare......she is almost too far gone....too many injuries....but we will give her a length of time to not be hungry, to have good company.......to know soft voices and kind hands.......and then we will let her go if need be.
I worked around the farm today by myself....the weather was grand, the company of the horses was good.......I cleaned and planted some more plants, watered, and then worked on my mom's yard........then I drove down to the hospital to see my mom, grocery shopped , went to the feed store, worked in my own yard and then back to the barn to feed dinner. I drove down to see Yukon.......he looks fabulous, but okay he is fat.......but he is so happy and so healthy looking......I should have taken a picture...Good work Doreen and Liz and Cherry. and THANK YOU.
I put fly traps up today...........oh boy. I put them up , the pony takes them down.......I pick them up and get the fly attractant stink on my hands..........GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.......I wash my hands in soap and hot water..they still have a faint stink on them........wash them again......and again.......and hang the darn fly traps in another location that is out of the pony's reach......we have a jillion flies all of a sudden.
The weekend is over just like that.....and back to work at my regular job tomorrow.
It is supposed to rain all week........gosh, I thought we were over that.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow.
Your mother was right.........learn your lesson.
.
The pictures do not really portray how awful she looks.........and even my words on this blog cannot give an adequate description.
I thought she might be dead this morning.......I really did......but she was not. She hung in there another day. She is eating the best she can.......she has horrible teeth and cannot effectively chew hay. She has scarring on her knees and her hock on the same side......I am sure she was once tangled in a fence.........She has terrible foot pain due to a massive quarter crack and is extremely itchy all over due to lice. The lice have almost eaten her alive. She has no hair on her belly.....zero.......just a mass of scabs and wrinkled skin. I dusted her for lice again, rubbed oil on her sores and fly sprayed her naked parts to keep the mosquitos and biting flies off. I am feeding her hay pellets, senior grain, rice bran and beet pulp. She is eager to eat, but tires quickly and must lay down to rest. I cannot bute her due to her poor condition........and I cannot de-worm her and I cannot get her teeth floated until I can get her stable. It is a fine line we walk. You want to fix everything at once......but you really cannot.
She is in isolation to keep the lice off the other horses......but she frets terribly when she cannot see them......when I feed at night they all go into stalls and she frets and calls........Church lifts his head from his grain and walks out of his stall and down the fence line..........he looks at her and gives a soft nicker....and then he stands there a while and she settles down.
I had someone ask me today why I do this........sometimes I don't have a good answer....but I guess the answer is that I always hope I can bring them back.......but I also know that if I can't......I saved them from starving to death in a pasture in the backwoods of nowhere.....where no one could see them.... and I let them know that someone, a complete stranger like me, had the decency to love them and give them some dignity.
I honestly don't know that we will save this mare......she is almost too far gone....too many injuries....but we will give her a length of time to not be hungry, to have good company.......to know soft voices and kind hands.......and then we will let her go if need be.
I worked around the farm today by myself....the weather was grand, the company of the horses was good.......I cleaned and planted some more plants, watered, and then worked on my mom's yard........then I drove down to the hospital to see my mom, grocery shopped , went to the feed store, worked in my own yard and then back to the barn to feed dinner. I drove down to see Yukon.......he looks fabulous, but okay he is fat.......but he is so happy and so healthy looking......I should have taken a picture...Good work Doreen and Liz and Cherry. and THANK YOU.
I put fly traps up today...........oh boy. I put them up , the pony takes them down.......I pick them up and get the fly attractant stink on my hands..........GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.......I wash my hands in soap and hot water..they still have a faint stink on them........wash them again......and again.......and hang the darn fly traps in another location that is out of the pony's reach......we have a jillion flies all of a sudden.
The weekend is over just like that.....and back to work at my regular job tomorrow.
It is supposed to rain all week........gosh, I thought we were over that.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow.
Your mother was right.........learn your lesson.
.
Friday, May 14, 2010
for thought on Friday
We are starting a fund, in honor of Jake, the horse we took in last winter, but ultimately could not save......the fund will be called "For Jake's Sake". This will be an emergency fund to help with horses who need emergency care and intake due to starvation/neglect.
Here is the latest horse in need of emergency funds. We were not sure if we could save her....and still not sure as of today....but she is eating and she is trying.........we are hush mouthed until we have made some progress...until she has hung in there for a week or two......all too often we must help a horse pass peacefully........always heart breaking but sometimes necessary to ease pain and suffering
We have named her Grace. She is the epitome of manners and patience......not a mean bone in her puny body. She has stood patiently for betadine scrubs, medicated baths.....foot soaks and louse dusting. Her body is emaciated, she has large bald patches, ulcerated skin, she was infested with lice, she has the worst quarter crack in her foot that we have ever seen, she had mud encrusted on her legs and pasterns.....and yet she stood solid as a rock while we tried to ease her discomfort with scrubbing, picking and soaking and rinsing.
Ryan and I bathed her this morning and I think her skin feels better........another louse dusting and starting her on a little alfalfa and lots of grass hay. She loves her grain, not so sure about the beet pulp and rice bran. It will be several weeks before we deworm her....always a touch and go situation. The farrier will come out and help us decide how best to help her feet. The quarter crack extends all the way up into the hair line.......very, very painful.........poor girl...poor Grace.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Simple deeds .........complex hearts.
When we picked her up, she stepped right into the trailer......no fuss, no balking......no trouble........she rode quietly......not a peep out of her. She got out of the trailer, ate some senior grain and stood quietly for us as we looked her over. She has really bad teeth and badly infected ears. She is a mess. It will take some money to bring her back to a state of normal ......but we intend to try........she deserves a chance....don't you think?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Check out our new website!!!!!!!!!
thanks to Katie F. for the lovely new website.......it looks beautiful!
see Ponyuprescue.com
see Ponyuprescue.com
Thursday
Beautiful morning........blue sky.....singing birds........everything smells wonderful outside.....sweet spring smell of trees and blooming foliage.
My usual trek to the barn and the sights of the roadway........the neighbor horses in their huge field.....white, chestnut, black bay and a chestnut overo.........the neighbor dogs who run the fence as I pass by.......the old pony gelding further up the road quietly clipping grass by himself......and a lone llama.
I get to the barn, let the cat out, let the chickens out.......then my mom's dogs.......then sprint to feed the horses........I am a little late.......as I dish up the grain, I swear I have to cut portions down............horses are fat and yesterday folks mentioned it. Yes, we feed them well....and yes, a few of them are , well.....a little overweight.
The shoer comes tomorrow, three trims.......Beaver's feet grow like weeds.......Promise will get trimmed too and Tarbaby.
Thanks to Kim, Matt, Shelly and Ryan for picking up the slack this week on stalls and feeding...it has been a huge help to me.
Still quite a list of work to do......why does the list never get shorter?
Push dirt in arena.....
put railroad ties down in arena corner......
gravel, gravel, gravel......
move manure pile
paint chicken coop
brush cut along north fence
paint inside of barn/stalls
cement barn floor...
build structure around shoeing/wash stand
cement some more posts near arena
mend/patch roof of small hay barn
move hay
walkway near chicken coop.
plant some more
put automatic gate opener on driveway gate
build a manure containment site
push sand in the arena
deworm horses
groom all horses, cut bridle paths, trim tails, bathe
replace fencing on east end of pastures
put posts on west side of pastures for additional paddock.
regravel Promise's stall floor and replace mats.
oh boy..... it sounds like we have never one anything, doesn't it? But not true.....we have done so much. We work hard to make a nice facility for our prisoners.....good exercise yards....good rooms to sleep in, fresh water.....activities.....horses should be happy while we care for them.
My mom is feeling a little better tonight......thanks for your kind words and wishes.
I was thinking as I was driving to work today about words or statements that we say after the fact........when it is sometimes too late....when you can't change the outcome.
See what these provoke you to think about when you hear them..fill in the blanks.........
I didn't mean..........
I wish I had said.....
I should have.....
If someone had told me............
If I had known................
If I could take it back, I.......................
I regret..........
I wish I could apologize.
If I had it to do over again...........
You think you have a lifetime to make things right or let things get right........but sometimes we don't. Life is really very short.......sometimes you don't get a second chance. When you say something mean or don't say something at all.......you might not get a chance to make it right.....to say it right.......to say it at all........to do the right thing.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow;
A coward doesn't speak.
My usual trek to the barn and the sights of the roadway........the neighbor horses in their huge field.....white, chestnut, black bay and a chestnut overo.........the neighbor dogs who run the fence as I pass by.......the old pony gelding further up the road quietly clipping grass by himself......and a lone llama.
I get to the barn, let the cat out, let the chickens out.......then my mom's dogs.......then sprint to feed the horses........I am a little late.......as I dish up the grain, I swear I have to cut portions down............horses are fat and yesterday folks mentioned it. Yes, we feed them well....and yes, a few of them are , well.....a little overweight.
The shoer comes tomorrow, three trims.......Beaver's feet grow like weeds.......Promise will get trimmed too and Tarbaby.
Thanks to Kim, Matt, Shelly and Ryan for picking up the slack this week on stalls and feeding...it has been a huge help to me.
Still quite a list of work to do......why does the list never get shorter?
Push dirt in arena.....
put railroad ties down in arena corner......
gravel, gravel, gravel......
move manure pile
paint chicken coop
brush cut along north fence
paint inside of barn/stalls
cement barn floor...
build structure around shoeing/wash stand
cement some more posts near arena
mend/patch roof of small hay barn
move hay
walkway near chicken coop.
plant some more
put automatic gate opener on driveway gate
build a manure containment site
push sand in the arena
deworm horses
groom all horses, cut bridle paths, trim tails, bathe
replace fencing on east end of pastures
put posts on west side of pastures for additional paddock.
regravel Promise's stall floor and replace mats.
oh boy..... it sounds like we have never one anything, doesn't it? But not true.....we have done so much. We work hard to make a nice facility for our prisoners.....good exercise yards....good rooms to sleep in, fresh water.....activities.....horses should be happy while we care for them.
My mom is feeling a little better tonight......thanks for your kind words and wishes.
I was thinking as I was driving to work today about words or statements that we say after the fact........when it is sometimes too late....when you can't change the outcome.
See what these provoke you to think about when you hear them..fill in the blanks.........
I didn't mean..........
I wish I had said.....
I should have.....
If someone had told me............
If I had known................
If I could take it back, I.......................
I regret..........
I wish I could apologize.
If I had it to do over again...........
You think you have a lifetime to make things right or let things get right........but sometimes we don't. Life is really very short.......sometimes you don't get a second chance. When you say something mean or don't say something at all.......you might not get a chance to make it right.....to say it right.......to say it at all........to do the right thing.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow;
A coward doesn't speak.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Manic Monday
Up early and to the barn........feed horses, count chickens and feed them, let barn cat out........leave a to do list for Ryan, let my mom's dogs out......make sure there is gas for the mower.......then hit the road for the hospital.
Long day at the hospital for all of us......frazzled nerves and emotions and we are tired......so is mom. I left the hospital for a while and came home to find Kim feeding horses and Ryan finishing up his gazillion chores. I let my mom's dogs out, fed them and then went back to the hospital......stayed a couple more hours and went back to button up the barn, check gates.......close gates......and now I am home.......ready to get some sleep.
I hope you all enjoyed the pictures of Promise.....she has come a long way from the skinny, scrawny filly with the LONGEST worm hair that you have ever seen........her muscle and top line are good.......coat is sleek.......the ugly duckling turned into a swan. Funny what some food will do for a horse...huh?
It rained and drizzled all day........no sun to be found. The weather forecast says nice towards the end of the week and that will be so nice. It is almost June.......I keep saying that, I know.......but gee.....shouldn't it be warm alot more often?
So Ryan put new plywood up in Church's stall, new gravel in Promise's paddock, a new gate up in the arena.........mowed my mom's lawn, weedeated the yard........(my mom was so happy when I told her), cleaned and worked on fencing........a whole days work.........thank you! My time is not my own this week and without volunteers I will get behind.
We have fill dirt coming for the arena.......maybe tomorrow if we can work it out.
Thanks to everyone for the helping hands.......this will be a tough couple of weeks.......I need you.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
To learn about the future, study your history.
Long day at the hospital for all of us......frazzled nerves and emotions and we are tired......so is mom. I left the hospital for a while and came home to find Kim feeding horses and Ryan finishing up his gazillion chores. I let my mom's dogs out, fed them and then went back to the hospital......stayed a couple more hours and went back to button up the barn, check gates.......close gates......and now I am home.......ready to get some sleep.
I hope you all enjoyed the pictures of Promise.....she has come a long way from the skinny, scrawny filly with the LONGEST worm hair that you have ever seen........her muscle and top line are good.......coat is sleek.......the ugly duckling turned into a swan. Funny what some food will do for a horse...huh?
It rained and drizzled all day........no sun to be found. The weather forecast says nice towards the end of the week and that will be so nice. It is almost June.......I keep saying that, I know.......but gee.....shouldn't it be warm alot more often?
So Ryan put new plywood up in Church's stall, new gravel in Promise's paddock, a new gate up in the arena.........mowed my mom's lawn, weedeated the yard........(my mom was so happy when I told her), cleaned and worked on fencing........a whole days work.........thank you! My time is not my own this week and without volunteers I will get behind.
We have fill dirt coming for the arena.......maybe tomorrow if we can work it out.
Thanks to everyone for the helping hands.......this will be a tough couple of weeks.......I need you.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
To learn about the future, study your history.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Pictures...finally some pictures!
Here are pictures of Promise and one of Tarbaby (running from the camera), the rhodies in bloom and our new cement shoeing stand...........
Sunday, Mother's Day
Beautiful sunny morning.......I left early to care for my mom's dogs and it was warm enough to forego a jacket. Not a breeze to be found and it promises to be a perfect day.
I let the horses dine al fresco in the grassy parts of the paddocks......they were a little annoyed when I carried the hay past the stall and out to the pasture, but they dutifully followed and I think they were glad to be outside.
Swallows came to the barn this morning, they landed on some upper cross beams and chattered to each other, probably discussing the merits of the potential nest sites and how the nest could best be arranged. I hope they will stay. I enjoy them and the babies.....plus they catch bugs. I am all for natural bug control. ...which reminds me to order "fly predators"......and some fly traps. It is that time of year.........still I will take flies over rain/cold/snow/wind.......how about you?
Beaver has diarrhea this morning. ...resulting from stealing alfalfa at every opportunity...if there is a remnant to be found, he finds it. He was on top of the manure pile this morning, digging through it......he has no qualms about it.
Yesterday the eagle came and got my favorite hen Bertha......once she was grabbed, there was nothing to be done. .........the eagle took her way up into a tree and well, you know the rest of the story. I like my chickens to be free roaming but seriously, between coyotes, hawks, eagles.....it is just not safe. I think they will have to have a yard attached to their coop.
I took a lot of pictures of Promise yesterday and came home to find out that I had NO card in my camera. Usually the camera scolds you for NO card.....but not yesterday.
I planted mint and lavender, put a hanging basket on the barn and we got a couple of benches. We still need to build the shell around the cement washrack, fix some fencing issues.....
umm.......the issues are that two big fat geldings lean on the fence and have loosened posts and pushed non climb wire back........seriously they should be plowing a field somewhere....too much time on their hands.
Ryan is coming tomorrow to work, some Pony Up things and some work at my mom's house. He is out of school for the summer....... and almost done with school, as he will graduate next year. Mr. Engineer is what we will call him.....we are very proud of him and his accomplishments....plus his giving heart!
We have to get some fill dirt for the arena.....at least a couple of dumptruck loads, we have a really low spot that needs to be evened out.........and then need concertina wire to keep those big fat geldings off the fence (kidding....just kidding)
Lots to do today as usual.....not enough time, not enough of me.......
Thank you to Mary for taking care of my mom's dogs in the morning......I appreciate it and so does she.
Happy Mothers Day to all of you and I hope you can spend time with your families and loved ones.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Wise up......things are not always what they seem.
I let the horses dine al fresco in the grassy parts of the paddocks......they were a little annoyed when I carried the hay past the stall and out to the pasture, but they dutifully followed and I think they were glad to be outside.
Swallows came to the barn this morning, they landed on some upper cross beams and chattered to each other, probably discussing the merits of the potential nest sites and how the nest could best be arranged. I hope they will stay. I enjoy them and the babies.....plus they catch bugs. I am all for natural bug control. ...which reminds me to order "fly predators"......and some fly traps. It is that time of year.........still I will take flies over rain/cold/snow/wind.......how about you?
Beaver has diarrhea this morning. ...resulting from stealing alfalfa at every opportunity...if there is a remnant to be found, he finds it. He was on top of the manure pile this morning, digging through it......he has no qualms about it.
Yesterday the eagle came and got my favorite hen Bertha......once she was grabbed, there was nothing to be done. .........the eagle took her way up into a tree and well, you know the rest of the story. I like my chickens to be free roaming but seriously, between coyotes, hawks, eagles.....it is just not safe. I think they will have to have a yard attached to their coop.
I took a lot of pictures of Promise yesterday and came home to find out that I had NO card in my camera. Usually the camera scolds you for NO card.....but not yesterday.
I planted mint and lavender, put a hanging basket on the barn and we got a couple of benches. We still need to build the shell around the cement washrack, fix some fencing issues.....
umm.......the issues are that two big fat geldings lean on the fence and have loosened posts and pushed non climb wire back........seriously they should be plowing a field somewhere....too much time on their hands.
Ryan is coming tomorrow to work, some Pony Up things and some work at my mom's house. He is out of school for the summer....... and almost done with school, as he will graduate next year. Mr. Engineer is what we will call him.....we are very proud of him and his accomplishments....plus his giving heart!
We have to get some fill dirt for the arena.....at least a couple of dumptruck loads, we have a really low spot that needs to be evened out.........and then need concertina wire to keep those big fat geldings off the fence (kidding....just kidding)
Lots to do today as usual.....not enough time, not enough of me.......
Thank you to Mary for taking care of my mom's dogs in the morning......I appreciate it and so does she.
Happy Mothers Day to all of you and I hope you can spend time with your families and loved ones.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Wise up......things are not always what they seem.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Farway Friday
Sun today.......thank goodness.....the weather forecaster said this is the first sunny day in a month........and I know that is true.
No work at the farm today......family takes priority. My mother is ill again and back in the hospital. She will have surgery tomorrow. Very emotional day for all of us. We love our mom.
We had to make plans today for her recovery today.......her dogs, her rehab....where she will stay.....none of it easy. Thanks to the volunteers who helped me out today with her dogs while we waited at the hospital and thanks to the volunteers who did barn chores so that I could be gone. Everything else seems trivial......we want mom back home.
I came back to the farm late this afternoon and planted some of my mom's plants that she had been waiting for a sunny day to plant...and I weeded her shade garden......let her dogs out and closed the house up.........it is lonely in there.
I called to check in on Sully today and it is reported he is coming along fine......walking and trotting without a fuss and ready to start canter work. He is getting over his fear issues whatever they may have been. We still have a couple of folks interested in adopting him......so keep your fingers crossed.
Thanks to Ryan for bringing Beaver some grass hay today and for spending some time with Promise. Promise is turning into a beauty queen......wait till you see her pictures.
Tarbaby's feet are much better and he was out to graze today.....even mustered up a canter in the pasture.......silly old coot.
Just one day of sun and the paddocks are dry........funny how that works......and just one day of rain to ruin them.
No volunteers tomorrow.....I will feed quite early and then head to the hospital to be with my mom.
Sunday I hope to get some chores done but we will see what the day brings.
We are joining with the local humane society to explore some mutually beneficial programs......they seem eager to listen and I seem eager to talk......hmmm...?
I think we can make progress together......we will try to get the rest of the horse community to join in, as well as have some representation of the local veterinarians. Hopefully it can be win=win for everybody.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Fortune will follow grace.
No work at the farm today......family takes priority. My mother is ill again and back in the hospital. She will have surgery tomorrow. Very emotional day for all of us. We love our mom.
We had to make plans today for her recovery today.......her dogs, her rehab....where she will stay.....none of it easy. Thanks to the volunteers who helped me out today with her dogs while we waited at the hospital and thanks to the volunteers who did barn chores so that I could be gone. Everything else seems trivial......we want mom back home.
I came back to the farm late this afternoon and planted some of my mom's plants that she had been waiting for a sunny day to plant...and I weeded her shade garden......let her dogs out and closed the house up.........it is lonely in there.
I called to check in on Sully today and it is reported he is coming along fine......walking and trotting without a fuss and ready to start canter work. He is getting over his fear issues whatever they may have been. We still have a couple of folks interested in adopting him......so keep your fingers crossed.
Thanks to Ryan for bringing Beaver some grass hay today and for spending some time with Promise. Promise is turning into a beauty queen......wait till you see her pictures.
Tarbaby's feet are much better and he was out to graze today.....even mustered up a canter in the pasture.......silly old coot.
Just one day of sun and the paddocks are dry........funny how that works......and just one day of rain to ruin them.
No volunteers tomorrow.....I will feed quite early and then head to the hospital to be with my mom.
Sunday I hope to get some chores done but we will see what the day brings.
We are joining with the local humane society to explore some mutually beneficial programs......they seem eager to listen and I seem eager to talk......hmmm...?
I think we can make progress together......we will try to get the rest of the horse community to join in, as well as have some representation of the local veterinarians. Hopefully it can be win=win for everybody.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Fortune will follow grace.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
just plain Tuesday
Brilliant sunny morning, after much wind last night.......still a brisk breeze this morning and it is cold. Branches litter my driveway and trees still sway to and fro........a scene from February? Nope....May.....May............and yet it is 36 degrees. I put a fleece jacket on and a sweater.
Still the day looks like it could be warm later, so do I or don't I? remove blankets? yep...I remove them and hope the day will be as warm as I hope it will be. I also hope no one will feel chilly during the morning...but perhaps chilly is better than sweltering.
Missing a barn cat. That is it.......I will never get another barn cat. They just disappear into thin air. It must be coyotes. It just isn't fair.
Sunday, I got the tractor stuck ........or rather, broke the emergency brake and therefore could not get said tractor to move. Of course I kicked it and I swore at it. Temper ...temper.......never gets me anywhere. My brother in law fixed it tonight and I put the tractor in it's shed. I hate leaving the tractor out and exposed to the horses because the hydraulic hoses fascinate them......and so does the seat.......perfect for tearing and ripping. I had to fence it off with hot tape.... you think I am kidding?
One time I left my truck in the pasture while I left to get something in a lower field......like ten minutes....it was summer.....I left the windows down. Mistake.
I came back to find:
Still the day looks like it could be warm later, so do I or don't I? remove blankets? yep...I remove them and hope the day will be as warm as I hope it will be. I also hope no one will feel chilly during the morning...but perhaps chilly is better than sweltering.
Missing a barn cat. That is it.......I will never get another barn cat. They just disappear into thin air. It must be coyotes. It just isn't fair.
Sunday, I got the tractor stuck ........or rather, broke the emergency brake and therefore could not get said tractor to move. Of course I kicked it and I swore at it. Temper ...temper.......never gets me anywhere. My brother in law fixed it tonight and I put the tractor in it's shed. I hate leaving the tractor out and exposed to the horses because the hydraulic hoses fascinate them......and so does the seat.......perfect for tearing and ripping. I had to fence it off with hot tape.... you think I am kidding?
One time I left my truck in the pasture while I left to get something in a lower field......like ten minutes....it was summer.....I left the windows down. Mistake.
I came back to find:
- horses standing lazily by side of my truck, resting one hind......one's head over the others back.....relaxed, lower lips drooping....ah...they are waiting for me.....isn't that cute?
- uh..wait...what is wrong with the truck?
- why is my purse on the ground?
- bug guard removed from truck
- windshield wipers removed from truck
- jacket removed from truck seat and ripped up in several pieces.
- windows smears with lip prints
- mirrors turned out
- plastic part of bumper scraped by teeth
- worst of the worst........teeth scraped across the hood, down past the paint and into the primer....not just once.....but several times.
- license plate holder broken
the horses were not talking.....must have been someone, something else..........right.
Umm.that is why the tractor was fenced off......I learned my lesson. Hoodlums.....they are.
Lots to do this week......we got the gate up and now we just need the auto closer/opener installed......some more fence posts......some more cement.......some more tractor work.......and most of all we need some sun to work in.
I broke down and poisoned the rats. I hated doing it. I hate poison.......but I had rats running everywhere....on top of the hay, over the counter top........digging up under mats.....a health hazard for the horses....and I had to throw hay out. Such a waste.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Buy a new one.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
So long Saturday
A day of not too bad weather........and not too good weather. On and off with my coat.....the sun came out, the sun went, the wind came, the wind went...but it didn't rain. It is late and I am finally sitting down, listening to my frog chorus and the stillness of the house.
We worked anyway today.......we don't have the luxury of waiting for warm weather.......
cleaned paddocks, put the barn sink in, landscaped and added dirt up by the wash rack cement pad.......planted some plants that the chickens won't eat........poured some cement on some corner posts, cut some fence posts off to a more appropriate level........soaked Tarbaby's feet....bridled and saddled Promise..........chased Beaver.....got hay delivered........chased Beaver some more..........long day.
We had a donkey vistor today........little Hannah.......nine months old and looks like a stuffed animal......furry and soft......of course big ears.......very polite.....she came walking up our driveway with Shelly, her owner ....Shelly volunteers with us and lives nearby with Hannah. We loved her! The horses were on high alert and I don't think they ever have seen a donkey before.......they were snorting and blowing while Hannah was looking at them to be her friend.
Come again Hannah......!
We got a lot of hay today......nice and green..........very heavy bales..........too heavy for me. I hate to say that because I have bucked hay with the best of them, but I am not the buff Amazon I once was......and I have vowed to take better care with lifting. Go figure....ummm........three hernia operations later, I have taken good advice........well, most of the time.
I give a big hand to Ryan who has helped me for the last couple of days.......and I have drug him from Fred Meyers to Lowes to Dairy Queen to Starbucks.......and he hasn't complained once.
He is a huge help......Thank you Ryan.
Yesterday Mercy was humanely euthanized. I don't want to talk about it for a while. It was hard and I feel like Judas......... Run free Mercy and stick with the rest of my heavenly herd.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Sunday will bring a visitor with news.
We worked anyway today.......we don't have the luxury of waiting for warm weather.......
cleaned paddocks, put the barn sink in, landscaped and added dirt up by the wash rack cement pad.......planted some plants that the chickens won't eat........poured some cement on some corner posts, cut some fence posts off to a more appropriate level........soaked Tarbaby's feet....bridled and saddled Promise..........chased Beaver.....got hay delivered........chased Beaver some more..........long day.
We had a donkey vistor today........little Hannah.......nine months old and looks like a stuffed animal......furry and soft......of course big ears.......very polite.....she came walking up our driveway with Shelly, her owner ....Shelly volunteers with us and lives nearby with Hannah. We loved her! The horses were on high alert and I don't think they ever have seen a donkey before.......they were snorting and blowing while Hannah was looking at them to be her friend.
Come again Hannah......!
We got a lot of hay today......nice and green..........very heavy bales..........too heavy for me. I hate to say that because I have bucked hay with the best of them, but I am not the buff Amazon I once was......and I have vowed to take better care with lifting. Go figure....ummm........three hernia operations later, I have taken good advice........well, most of the time.
I give a big hand to Ryan who has helped me for the last couple of days.......and I have drug him from Fred Meyers to Lowes to Dairy Queen to Starbucks.......and he hasn't complained once.
He is a huge help......Thank you Ryan.
Yesterday Mercy was humanely euthanized. I don't want to talk about it for a while. It was hard and I feel like Judas......... Run free Mercy and stick with the rest of my heavenly herd.
Pony Up fortune for tomorrow:
Sunday will bring a visitor with news.
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