You Can Just Hear The Mud...........

I really didn't have to do much to encourage them to come this evening. So the video is rather uneventful. Thankfully they did move themselves to dry ground in their shelter.

Update On Immigration

I like this lawyer. My Mother always told me, if I needed a good attorney, hire an Italian or Jewish one, not that any other person would due, but after meeting with this attorney, I have no doubt that eventually we'll get the job done. He doesn't mince words, but again doesn't see that we did anything wrong after he scanned our paperwork. He said he sees this all the time, we got stuffed on the back burner. Our first free consultation cost us $1,500. That was because we agreed to hire him. The next step is that he files a petition to Immigration to get on the ball and finish this thing up, then we wait for 90 days and another petition and yet another and if Immigration doesn't get it done, we then get to sue the Government. Probably a total cost of nearly $10,000 when all is said and done and a court appearance. Lookin' forward to that, NOT! But whatever it takes. And sometime this summer, a trip to Chicago for a long day at the British Embassy to renew Stephen's now expired passport. After we get this Green card, Stephen does plan on taking the citizenship test. I'm sure he'd pass with flying colors, after all, he does keep up with the world and the US with his website The People History. Probably knows more about it than I ever learned in school. I looked carefully into this attorney and they are based out of Chicago, but have an office in Milwaukee. Been in this business for 30yrs, this firm, so I have no doubt that they are the experts in this area. So we have a case.

Continueing Kola's Treatment

Before I hosed it out, but after picking it out. It's so muddy here!


After I hosed it out!


Just before I put the cephaparin cream in. I actually think it's looking a bit better.


Creamed applied. I've been doing this about every other day. She still shows no outwardly signs of lameness! Came barrelling in from the pasture last night to a sliding mud stop!

Another Busy Week And Immigration!

My Mina and me, just for fun!

Anyway, tomorrow, after nearly 7 years of MARRIAGE, Stephen and I will make our first visit to an Immigration Attorney. Now let me explain things a bit here. When we first applied for Stephen's immigration, we were helped by a business which is designed for Immigration help and had to wave our rights to an attorney. Filed all the proper paperwork, did the right things we needed to do and got fingerprinted, work permit, and so on and so on. Had our interview, which was weird and strange and nerve wracking. Then we were told to wait, the green card is coming. Sometimes it takes years, but usually not this many years. We've made personal appointments to talk with someone at Immigration to sort out this matter and the only thing you get is a face to face with a uniformed guard through a heavy glass window and you get NO answers. We have tried everything through the years and still we get no where. Bottom line is No Green Card, no travel outside this country. We had even made an attempt at getting something temporary to travel to England for Rebecca's wedding, but it failed. So, Our first appointment is tomorrow and we will bring all of our documentation with us and we'll see what he says. Now, in the the meantime, we've promised our British kids that anytime they want to come to the states to visit, we'll get them here and we have as often as they wanted or needed, along with many of their friends and lots of great times. We aren't swimming in money, contrary to popular belief, but if we have to re-mortgage the house at our age and in this economy to get this payed for and sorted, well then we will. All we can do right now is go to this attorney and see what he has to say. Now, I understand that it is hard for even Adult children to comprehend this mess and the whys and the whats, but this IS how it stands. It is NOT like we've simply just sat on our ASS and done nothing. How long will this take? I do not know. I really don't think we're horrible parents, but perhaps I am wrong.

ON Wednesday, Jackson will go into Janesville and have his little butter balls cut and while we are there, we will stop at the local Social Security office and sort out my SS card and name change properly and I'll apply for a renewed passport. Over the summer we'll get Zoe's passport updated. How much this will all cost? I haven't a clue.

Thursday, I am back to any extra farm work I can manage. On a good note, I did somehow fix our other pellet burner. I do not know how I did it, but Thank God for heat!

Spring? Phooey!!!!!!!!!!!

What the hell happened to Spring?


The poor girls were not impressed. They were both shivering this morning when I went out to feed, so extra hay was thrown.


And thank God for the new heater I happened to have on hand, because this was supposed to be only a little rain . I plugged it in immediately! I was able to pick out Kola's hoof pretty well without the use of the hose and get her medicine in that crack!

The dogs always have fun out in the snow. And Jack actually pooed and peed outdoors first thing this morning and then he promptly came indoors and did it again!

The goats were not impressed either!

I cannot believe this blasted snow! And we have to get Zoe to Chicago OHare this afternoon for her flight back to Missouri, where it probably did not snow!

And when I got back in after beating the hay barn doors with a hammer to break the ice to get in, I found this. It reminds me of the Saturday Night Live Christmas sketch with Justin Timberlake. Just change the words around a little bit!

Spring Is Drawing Closer..................

I picked up this little handy poster at the forum the other night. I would have scanned it, but it was too big. Awesome though, Equine Emergency Chart, now hanging on my fridge.


They had a little pasture time time this afternoon and I snuck them in without the extra grain and they were pissed. Kola's hoof crack care went real well. I was able to really clear out the mud and crap with the hose set to jet and she did real well with it. And I got the antibiotic cream really stuffed in there. I was pleased.


Misty pissed at me for being locked out of the pasture.


They're plotting revenge on me I'm sure.


A little, I mean little video of them going wild. I must have accidentally shut it off, but it 's fun anyhow.

Today's Lessons

So, Jeremiah was out today to trim the girls' feet and Kola was acting up a bit, usually she is real good and she shed a frog as Jeremiah was working on her and he found a deep crack in her heel behind the frog which was tender, although she hasn't shown any obvious lameness issues. This is what he suggested I do three times a week for a couple of weeks.


Buy this stuff and clean the hoof crack and squirt in about a half of tube. He swears by it.


So after my trip to TSC, I armed myself with these items, a 20cc syringe with warm water and a tube of "Today", and a clean rag to clean this crack out. Oh and a hoof pick.

I also armed myself with these irresistible treats and a few fresh carrots. I didn't do a fantastic job of cleaning that mud out, but after chatting with Mrs.Mom over at Oh Horse Feathers and a good suggestion of using the hose to clear it out, I suspect Thursday's clean out will go a little better.

And since I had it planned this anyway and had started the cleaning of their shelter before Jeremiah got here, I finished the job.

Here's the general view of the left overs. Yikes!

And if you think it still looks bad, well, you should have seen it before. Unfortunately, in the frozen tundra area, we must wait until it all thaws before we can clear it here outdoors. I think I must have hoisted about eight wheelbarrows total out of here and onto my Neighbor's field.

And while I did that, they did this and enjoyed a few hours of pasture time.

And Mina gorged herself on hoof cookies. I actually started out with a tank top under a sweatshirt, with a zip up sweatshirt over that and a puffy winter vest over that. By the time I had finished, I was down to my tank top.

Stephen and I actually made it to the Horse Forum tonight as well. I wanted to hear one of my favorite Vets speak on gastric ulcers in horses. We actually learned a lot. One of the studies coming out of California suggests that horses tend to do better on a more alfalfa hay. I was always under the impression that sensitive tummies did better on a more grassier hay. Funny enough, when Steve and I thought about it, since I've switched to the 70/30 grass-alfalfa mix from the 50/50 grass-alfalfa mix, I've had more issues with Kola's sensitive tummy. So tomorrow I will order my less expensive 50/50 mix. The biggest thing with cutting stomach acid down in horses is their saliva produced while eating, why its important to keep it coming. So while we were talking with Tracy, the Vet, she didn't have the "why" to the alfalfa hay doing a better job, but we sort of surmised that perhaps it's an increase in saliva during the chewing process because alfalfa in generally more stemmy. Makes perfect sense to me.

Greed and our modern society

This post is just about the greed that appears to have invaded our society

Watching all the ins and outs of bailouts in this current climate bought me to the conclusion that parts of our modern society are just plain greedy

Maybe I am wrong but how can a company
( Banks , Insurance Companies or any other company justify not taking the money offered to them to help with the current credit problems because of one reason and one reason only ) GREED

The same people whose bonuses will be affected due to guidelines that accompany the money make the decision of taking or not taking the money to ensure the company they manage survive and many are willing to say NO purely so they will get their bonuses, not all but some will surely fail without the money.

I also wonder how they should even be entitled to bonuses when the company they manage has made bad business decisions.

Many could also have the same thoughts regarding the unions who represent millions of workers who because of their strength have created an environment where companies with strong unions could not compete with non union companies. ( I will say this though in these difficult times the Unions have recognized that they need to work with those companies for the workers to keep their jobs and the company to survive )

Do not get me wrong the CEO's, traders and directors of companies that are successful do deserve bonuses, they are some of the brightest brains in our society and many burn out very quickly in these high stress jobs.

Also Unions are an important fabric of society ensuring that their members share in the wealth they create through hard work .

But when GREED becomes the only factor in decisions it is not good for the rest of society

Sorry for this political post , just watching some of the current decisions makes me sad

Steve

PS these are only my opinions not trying to upset anyone

This Next Two Weeks Task List.............

Muck out the girls' shelter and spread it over my neighbors field.


Make the girl's first Vet appointment for Potomac and Rabies shots and general exam. Doc Terri will leave the rest of the Spring vaccinations with me to give myself in a couple of weeks to save me the cost of a farm call.


Jeremiah is here tomorrow to trim feet and Steve and I will go to the Equine forum tomorrow evening. In fact, it should be good, because Doc Tracy is talking about gastric ulcers, along with other equine related stuff, pasture care, etc. . Hosted by our local Co-op, which is where I by my grain.

Make sure I get these girls brushed out and cleaned up a bit before first Vet visit. Of course it's thunder storming tonight and we're getting a lot of cold rain. YUK!

And the usual house clean and general chores and Zoe is home on Wednesday with an appointment to oral surgeon for her on Thursday. Thank God I have this coming weekend off!

Another Day, Another Dollar.............

Back to work for me this weekend....... The mares are already pining for the pasture they will not get this weekend as I have to work and it's their lock-up time. I've been giving them the pasture already this spring and they have been quick to gobble up every little green shoot of grass they can find. I'm glad I'm letting them out early this year. As last year , I waited to get real lush grass and really had to restrict them and then ended up with too much clover out there. Last fall we deweeded and fertilized and this year, I introduced them before it gets out of hand, like I used too. They appreciate it, however, they'll be pissed at me this weekend.


This started as an "Aawww..." moment as I just looked out of my window to see our neighbor, Art and his grandchildren, all boys taking a peek at my goats and horses. Then I noticed the children, all just under school aged hop off the quad and start showing their butts to the goats and spitting towards the horses. I was in a state of shock! Wrong message to send a kid, in my opinion. Learning to love an animal brings on empathy and compassion towards others. We like Art, he's a good neighbor to us and I don't mind them coming over to check out the animals, but I know Art is not a great lover of animals and so do our dogs, but man, I was shocked.

Jackson has now got his appointment for the big "O". He will have his little nutter butters removed on April 1st, and this is no Aprils fools joke. But he is starting to assert himself towards the other dogs and not always taking "No" from them as the answer. It is time.

Worming Schedules & Such.................

This is the time of year I worm for both tapeworms and all the others that usually Ivermectin hits. I use this product in April and October. I use regular Ivermectin in January and July. This is how I worm. Four times a year. How does your worming schedule differ? I'm curious to find out how everyone else worms their horses and do you worm more often than I or less?


Misty once again has manged to find the burrs and I cannot imagine how.


I've also just ordered this product for Kola. Kola as most of you know often suffers from stress colic. I know her cues and intervene with a dose of Probiotics and Banamine which I keep on hand at all times. Since she recently did this again on Sunday, I talked with Jess and we discussed the possibility of ulcers in Kola. So I thought I would try this product through the Spring for her since this is one of the times of the year she gets stressy. Usually both of them get pissy attitudes during their Spring and Autumn heat cycles. Has anybody out there tried an Ulcer prevention product? If you have, what type and did you find it to work? Curious as I have never tried this before.


Both girls get two tablespoons of Metamucil with a little corn oil mixed with their grain twice a week.

Happy St.Patrick's Day...............

To all of those Irish out there, Mrs.Mom, and anyone else who is Irish for the day. I have the pleasure of a four hour work day this afternoon. At least it won't be late when all the drunks are driving home! Filled with green beer. It is Wisconsin after all, and we won't be eating corned beef and cabbage, Cuz Steve and I do not like it! Anyway, Happy St.Pat's Day, All!

The Girls Modeling Their New Halters..........

Another busy day for me. First, fill up the truck, send off the checks to the IRS, pay the accountant. Pick up grain for both horses and goats. Of course this can only start after another great goat caper and escape! How they opened the gate and squeezed out is beyond me. Then to grab a couple of bales of alfalfa for the goats. A quick stop at Walmart and TSC.


I had given the girls pasture time and when I got home, I wanted to get their hot pink halters on and in spite of a pocket full of treats, they gave chase. Dorks, Kola did her best impression of "Pepe Le Pew" and Misty hers of a wild mustang. Well, at least they got some good exercise and so did I. I did win in the end, hence the donning of hot pink halters!


Neither one of them impressed with it. Hey, they're supporting breast cancer! And they are girls!

Jack enjoying his freedom. Boy, that pup can sure leap!

Hilarious video of Mina and Jack. Mina sounds like a snorting pig and by her pudginess, she almost looks like one.

Are Men Good Patients ?

hhhmmm well listen to this and you decide


Friday Callie works 12hr night shift so sleeps during the day.


Stephen feeling much better no cast and boot allows for weight bearing goody goody


Dogs decide lunch time need a walk , OK go to door open door and Mina and Fido go out while I am holding Jack ( I now call him Bam Bam ( Flintstones ) after the last video with the gate ) but Spot moves back to the kitchen door sits himself down to tell me if your not going I am not.

OK feeling confident put Jack on Lead and venture out onto the stairs Spot of course joins us and all going well until Spot joins others in the yard and they all start barking , Now Jack "who I thought I had control" over suddenly decides he needs to get down as fast as he can and pulls me off balance silly me there was a good foot I could have used to gain balance or gammy foot GUESS which one my body decided to use? OUCH OUCH ,.

OK get to the bottom of the stairs no more incedents but due to dogs believing in routine all dogs expecting me to walk round the yard ( normally expect 2 times at least round ) so all sitting there expectantly . OK let Jack off lead and start the short walk round  ( now normally is an easy gemtle stroll reminding Spot to do what he supposed to the words "Spot Poo Poo" helps if said 5 or 6 times to remind him why he is out there because god help me if it's a little windy as leef chasing much more important than pooing or on a full moon shadowing more important than pooing .

What normally takes few minutes seems like forever to walk round once, by now understand the doctor telling me let pain be my guide means something "lots of pain but still have to get up steep stairs with Jack", by the time we enter front door I am doing hop scotch ankle has become gigantic .

Get them all indoors and take pain killers and lay down thinking what a dumm ars? I am.

But being a bloke this morning pain had warn off so forgot pain from last time and repeated again

So are men good patients , I think even I would have to say NO

Steve

Well Things Are Truly Getting Back To Normal....

Spot, Mina and I played pillow fight today! All I have to say to Spot is "Pillow Fight!" and he'll go and grab a pillow off the love seat behind my desk and start! To my surprise, Mina joined in!


Spot and Mina are back to behaving like siblings since we are all back to bed together now that Stephen can navigate the stairs to our bedroom. All is right with the world according to the dogs!


And Miss Liliput in all of her glory. I cannot believe the size of her feet. In fact, I cannot believe the size of her!

A Much Better Day!

Well, between last night's high winds and temperature drops and today's sunny but cold, the mares appreciate having their blankets back on. They looked pretty content this noon when Steve and I arrived home after his appointment. Speaking of which, Stephen had good news and I am shocked! He got his cast off and it has been replaced with a boot and he is now allowed to start some light weight baring. My MS flare-up seems to have been short lived. Just my normal numbness and NO electric shock arms, LOL. The dogs are behaving as much as they can, "JACK!". And I only have one load of laundry to do and one more room to clean. I think we're getting back to normal. We even managed breakfast at Denny's, not that is great or anything, but it's the first time we've been out together.

Well, We're In For Some Weather........

It's been raining again and the poor girls are in mud land. Of course they won't stand in the barn. What's worse, although today, it's in the forties and I have their blankets off, we're supposed to get high wind warnings tonight and the temperature is to drop about 20 degrees. I've decided to wait until this afternoon to put their blankets back on for the next two days. Let them dry off again a bit as it is not raining this morning. Also one of my wind break tarps as fallen victim to the weather elements and it's no longer doing the stellar job it had been, so I have to fork out some money for a canvas tarp and some clips and get another one up there. I can't wait for warmer weather, but I hate this transitional crap!

And on top of it all, I just woke up with an MS relapse.....the classic Lhermitts sign, it's when you flex your neck down and get an electric shock feeling down your arms. Yippee! I haven't had a relapse since I was diagnosed. It makes for a fun day of lifting and whatever chores I have to do! I'll just go numb during them. Now, I'll debate about going to my Neurologist, he'll just order another MRI and I'll light up like a Christmas tree and he'll want to give me steroids and I'll refuse, so what's the point? I'll give it a few days and see how I get on.

Steve will go to the Ortho tomorrow for another follow-up and X-ray and we'll see how's he's progressed or not. I'm thinking NOT, because he has been naughty in spite of me scolding him and has occasionally put weight on that damned leg!

A Difference A Day Makes...............

Relatively clean horses.........................


And now dirty horses..........................


Jackson going mad trying to break out of his 40X20 play and poo room as we ate dinner.........
I'm really not cruel, he is given time to roam the house, of course I'm following him around with paper towels and a baggy!

Spring Is On It's Way.............................

The Canadian Geese are headed north!


I removed their blankets at breakfast today. No more blankets until next winter.


And I swallowed a mouth full of horse hair....."Hack!"


They couldn't wait to get out and stretch their legs. You can hear me call them both "Dorks" at the end. I had to fold back the cattle fencing first, then the electric ribbons and they were both trying to push through the ribbons and I had to tell them back until I could get the ribbons. Misty was trying to do her Autumn trick and crawl under before I opened it. I saw it in her eyes.