Wordless Wednesday.............

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

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It has been raining and storming all day and into the next couple of days as well!


Wet, smelly dogs!


My training pen drainage system! It came pouring out!

At least they're smart enough to stand in the shelter. Well, being enticed with hay doesn't hurt either!

Thursdays Happenings...............

Is this really necessary? How does thing work?


Please, I beg of you..............Please? Take it off..........I mean the grass isn't even long enough!


Oh, thank-you, Mommy............ I don't know what I did wrong...........

And what are they doing out here?

Anyway, the Vet was out here and YES, Kola is a bit on the fat side. I tried the grazing muzzle and in the end, just didn't have the heart to continue with it. I mean the grass in the pasture really is short and there is just no point in torturing her. So, instead, I've cut grain down by extreme measures and hay also by extreme measures and will let them have the pasture during the day. I also bought some Dumor Hoof supplement to help her with the heel crack. She does look pitiful in those pics, doesn't she............. On another note, Jackson finally was slow enough to get a decent "ZAP" from the fence. Oh, it was hilarious. He was half way under and just dipped his little mouth into the rain water in one of the girls feed bowls. I stood and watched and warned him and then "Zap" and "YAP!" . Perfect.........He came scootin' out of there ASAP and turned to bitch out the fence. Hilarious!

Just Another Wednesday.................

All plans for today's outdoor clean-up have been shot to hell, due to the recent rainy crappy and cold weather. I had great plans for clearing the training pen and pulling the grater around, however it is now in a fine state of mud! And the quad has a flat tire, figures!


Jackson is now on the shit list as he decided to take the trek up the driveway towards the road, paying no mind to me screaming his name at the top of my lungs! Thankfully, I did get his attention before he made it there, but could not discipline as he did finally come and I don't him confused. I want him to enjoy coming to me, so he doesn't do stupid shit like this again, dumb ass dog! Mina and Spot, of course know their boundaries. Jack must learn his!


Stephen's precious Daffodils are in full bloom. He loves his Dafs and they sure are pretty.


The other part to today's plan, besides cleaning up outdoors and taking care of the burn pile was to clean these things up. What a fine muddy mess they are! And Kola is a tub o' lard! Great! Just in time for the vet visit tomorrow when they'll have their coggins drawn and the first of their Spring shots, rabies & Potomac.

On another note, the new Grandbaby has been ill. I don't want to go into details, but after Stephen spoke with his daughter, it sounds as if they are both in good hands with the follow-up and care that they will need. Stephen is working feverishly to restructure as his business is tanking and I have mandatory overtime that I've been doing. It's been a hell of a two weeks. Steve is back to walking on ankle, but not to where he was before Jackson slammed him. I imagine, it will take some more time. I am overwhelmed by the state of this house right now and just do not feel like cleaning it. I suppose I'll get to later! And I have been fighting with insurance companies over getting Zoe's wisdom teeth removed with at least partial coverage! My "going postal" list is growing!

GREENER PASTURES PROGRAM

I am so happy to see this. It is a program offered by AQHA. They may not be the first, I do hope we see something like this from all the breed associations. I know both Gerald and I will be enrolling for some of our past horses and I will enroll all the babies that I raise. You have to go on the AQHA website to enroll. Thank you AQHA!!!

A Collective Prayer For Us All..............

I've finally taken the time to leave my own little world I've been in recently and read a lot of our friend's blogs. Some of the news is shocking to me and so absolutely sad that there are simply no words. A whole lot of our horse blogger friends seem to be going through all kinds of misery and so forth. It makes my issues seem trivial, yet still you've all rallied around me, of which I am so grateful! I just want to send all of my well wishes and prayers and good energy to you all! Seriously, Blessed Be.............. I love you guys!

They Never Fail To Amuse Me.......

Thought this was hilarious. After feeding the girls their grain this morning, I decided to let them out and although it's not unusual for the girls to have a little tromp, the dogs ususally don't go with them. However, curiosity got the better of Jackson and he decided to follow and see what it was all about. Of course they made thier turn around and started heading back. You can see little Jack change his mind and make a bee-line back asap! I laughed inside and stayed very quiet, but I busting and ready to burst! It cracked me up! Pardon the slightly heavy breathing, as I just wanted to laugh! Allergy season as well! LOL

I Think I Need More Bluebirds!

Two fat girls after a day in the pasture, now they're sleepy. But Stephen and I were gone this afternoon to his Ortho because the lovely Jack pup, 35 pounds hit him at full speed last night in the back yard and where did Jack body slam Stephen? Yep, you guessed it full on, full speed into his broken ankle. This just set him back a couple of weeks, Good news is x-rays still look ok. Then on our way back home, two marvelous Jackasses , one in a huge SUV and one in a Pick-up decided to have a little road rage race behind me where the road goes from two lanes verging into one and ran me off the road! WTF? They both then turned and I went a little further and pulled over to call the cops, while I'm on the phone with the cops describing it all, here comes the Pick-up and pulls in behind me. I did not stick around as he got out of the truck and started walking towards me. Shit! Then the bastard followed me about 15 miles, all the time I'm on the phone with cops. He finally realized I was on the phone and smartened up and turned off. Did any of the police manage to show up? County, Town, Village? Nope! I'm scraping the shit out of my pants now. Think I'll start carrying a weapon. I had my poor cripple husband in the car and these idiots almost killed us! Has the world just gone mad????????


Here's the little culprit, cute as he is, but still not potty trained! I did manage to bury both kitties together this afternoon, finally. Just couldn't bring myself to do it before. There is a serious rift in the cosmos. Hope it goes away soon. My sanity cannot take much more.

Maybe Things Will Turn Around..............

This is our first Bluebird of the year.............Hope he sticks around. They have been depleted from this area over the decades but are now making a comeback.

Monday.......Blahs!

Pywackette (that black kitty ) passed away early Friday morning peacefully in her sleep, she was nearly 18yrs old and I knew it was coming, both Steve and I held her Thursday night and cuddled her closely and by morning she was gone. Rest in peace, Pywackette............


I let the girls out this morning, hopefully they'll stay out of the burrs. I really must hunt those things down and get them on the burn pile.


It's due to rain, so the goats are not happy, I put their hay inside their shelter this morning, that's the goat boys finishing their grain this morning.

Thursday afternoon, I was able to de-burr the girls and give them both a quick brush, Hack! I ended up with mouthfuls of hair! And I accidentally hit one of Kola's ancient toes removing the burrs from their heels and caused her to bleed, felt so guilty. She actually handled it all fine and then I cleaned it up and slathered her with Aloe cream. Still working on that hoof crack. Hope it starts healing up soon, at least it's not causing her lameness as this morning she was pounding the ground with that hoof, impatient as I was getting breakfast ready for them and when they hit the pasture, it was all twists and bucks and short jaunts of runs, silly things!

This has been a week of change and I feel a deep unrest in my world, need to cleanse of the bad vibes, but recent crap with some of the children and the loss of my cats and big changes at work hasn't helped. Steve is working feverishly at upgrading his websites. At my work, we've moved into the new tower and my first day back sucked, but Saturday night was a much better night, which I really needed. Actually had a little fun at work. Anyway, hope all is going well you out there and I'll try to get to visiting everyone once again.

Happy Easter Y'all!

Cricket and Robin

I took Cricket back to the auction for a 2 year old competition. It was for the best broke 2 year old. Out of 18 horses mine was the only one that did not have a bit in her mouth. I start them with a halter then use a side pull until I think they are ready for a bit. Cricket was injured pretty bad. She cut her leg to the bone on her ankle just above the hoof. Had she had softer hoofs she would have done the same thing as my little colt that lost part of his hoof. I was real scared on this one. The was 3 legged for almost 4 weeks. I gave her a couple weeks to rebuild the muscles in the foot. She limped for just over 2 weeks, now she walks normal. We only had about a dozen rides on her before the competition. She picked up the wrong lead once, other then that she did just as well as the rest. She even backed up straight. She really would have done well if she hadn't gotten hurt. The breeder showed up and was really happy she turned out so nice. He missed the competition, I told him how smart she was. I had 3 that I bred come back and another couple that I raised were there. They all turned out to be horses that I can be proud of. Little Robin is the dun, she may be the next 2 year old to break. We have all summer to decide.

The First Baby of the Year

Here she is, a week late and worth the wait. She was born Sunday night. We think she will turn gray. She has dun markings. Gerald and picked up this mare to breed to Spider. I haven't had a Spider baby in awhile. This little girl is all go. I have never seen one with so much energy. Her Mama will be run ragged.

Been Meaing To This For Awhile Now.............

1. How old were you when you first started riding? I was three years old when I was first put on a horse, I really started riding when I was about 9yrs old and that was at Girlscout Camp.



2. First horse ridden: I can't rember his name, but it was again at girlscout camp.



3. First horse trotted on: Same as above.



4. First horse cantered on: That would have been when I was about 11yrs old and Jess and I used to spend the weekend at a riding stable in which they gave us the rankest horses and let us out on our own.



5. First Horse fallen off of: Does jumping off count? That would be Jess's horse TC when he got a hare up his butt and started running towards the barn and Jess turned to me and screamed ,"I don't know about you, but I'm jumping offffff!!!!".



6. Most recent horse fallen off of : Junior, the gelding I had for a very short time in 2006.



7. Most terrifying fall: Probably that very same time!



8. First horse jumped with: I can't remember the name, but it was my friend Karen's Arabian and we were riding in the woods jumping logs.



9. First horse who ran away with you: Dakota, but only for short jaunts, nothing too serious.



10. First horse that scared the crap out of you: Dakota, when he broke my hand on purpose.



11. First horse shown : I've never shown.



12. First horse to win a class with: Since I've never shown, I've never won.



13. Do you/have you taken lessons: I had lessons at Girlscout camp and when Dakota was in some training.


14. First horse you ever rode bareback: That would be Belle, my friend Deb's horse when I was about 12yrs old.



15. First horse trail ridden with: That was at girlscout camp as well and then when Jess and I used to trail ride at the stables.



16. Current Barn name: What's that?



17. Do you ride English or western?: Western



18. First Horse to place at a show with: Again, never shown, but I have won ribbons in games.



19. Ever been to horse camp?: Clearly as a kid , Girlscout Camp!


20. Ever been to a riding clinic? No


21. Ridden sidesaddle? No



22. First horse leased: Never leased.



23. Last Horse Leased: Never leased.



24. Highest ribbon in a show: Does that count at games in camp? First place, blue in egg race and second in a tag team game.



25. Ever been to an 'A' rated show?: No


26. Ever competed in pony games/relay races?: Yes, relays, egg on spoon, barrels.



27. Ever fallen off at a show 28. Do you ride Hunter/Jumpers?: Haven't shown, so No.



29. Have you ever barrel raced? Not in competition of sorts unless you count a camp.



30. Ever done pole bending?: No



31. Favorite gait: Walk and trot.



32. Ever cantered bareback?: No



33. Have you ever done dressage?: No



34. Have you ever evented?: No


35. Have you ever mucked a stall?: Too many to count and all the damned time.



36. Ever been bucked off?: Yes, and it was painful!



37. Ever been on a horse that reared : Yes, Dakota, but again, no big deal.



38. Horses or ponies: Both?



39. Do you wear a helmet?: No and I probably should!



40. What's the highest you've jumped: Couldn't actually tell, but it must have been impressive as I heard the people behind me exclaim, "Whoa, did you see that?" At this point I would like to extend a very grateful THANK-YOU to Jess's Gerald as he insisted we reset that saddle before we go further (very High withers)



41. Have you ever ridden at night?: No, but would love too!



42. Do you watch horsey television shows?: Sometimes.



43. Have you ever been seriously hurt/injured from a fall?: Painfully, but not seriously.



44. Most falls in one lesson: Lucky, none.



45. Do you ride in an arena/ring?: Sometimes in my own outside.



46. Have you ever been trampled by a horse?: Rolled over by one.



47. Have you ever been bitten?: Yes, a few times, some on purpose, some by bad manners.



48. Ever had your foot stepped on by a horse?: A few times.



49: Favorite riding moment: Living through a two hour 100 plus mule and horse trail ride on Junior after only owning him three days, that was the big jump to clear a tiny creek, and getting down pavement in front of a huge combine while the horses in front of him began to disappear, risky.



50. Most fun horse you've ridden: I'm not sure if this qualifies as fun, but most confident and comfy?, Miss Misty, my diamond in the rough, Thank-you Gerald and Jess!

This Is What I Get..........

For lettin' them out in the pasture. Kola showing off her burr mowhawk!

Where There Is Death, There Is Also Life..........

Stephen's Grandson, Joseph James Heelan was born yesterday, on his Uncle Tom's birthday as well. He is the spitting image of his Mother, Becs. Red hair and all! A big boy like his Dad, 9 pounds, 8 0z. In the end born by C-section. He is a handsome little baby, don't ya think? So at 46, I'm a step-grammie! And I'm going to call him, JJ! Too cute! Welcome little Joseph to this big wide world!

Thank -You All..........

For the caring thoughts and words. It really does mean a lot to me. I loved my kitty and all your words will help me through this. Thank-you all so much for caring enough about me to let me know. I really will cling to this. We all have such a great appreciation for our four legged children. I love that in all of us. Thanks again.

In Memory Of My Zeke

Today as I approached my driveway coming home from work, I found my favorite, Mama's kitty dead on the road in front of our neighbor's driveway. I never knew he crossed the road, the dumbass! I stopped and picked him up and put him on my car and drove into the driveway. I know this was my Zeke as he had a chipped front tooth and an unmistakable forked tongue from a run in with a pony. I called Steve down from my cell phone and he brought down a box. His body was still warm against the pavement when I picked him up. I will bury him later. Now, I'll crawl into bed and ball myself to sleep. Zeke was my kitty only and talked to me, we would pander meows back and forth and he would mimic my meows and he accepted only cuddles from me. I will miss my Zekie forever. I feel like I let him down, somehow. Of all of our cats, only two really like to go outside and even though there is a fence, they obviously still get through it. I miss my kitty! Rest in peace, my special kitty. Mama loves you and I hope you are in God's hands, being cuddled and pandered too.

My other black kitty, Pywackette is nearly 20 yrs old and is fading fast, refusing to eat, purring all of time. I know she will be next. This sucks!

Well, I Have A New Puter And...............

Can anyone explain to me How and mostly Why this darned dog is able and does seek out any drug in the house open child proof caps or peel away packages to obtain it!? When we first brought her last July and she jumped onto the kitchen table and grabbed off a bottle of my diabetic meds, I decided to move them all to a small shelf above the stove where there is no way she can get to them. Now between Stephen and I, we have our own little drug store, his heart and cholesterol meds, my diabetic and MS drugs. His recent pain medication and I have Valium for my MS at night so I don't muscle spasm while I attempt to sleep. And of course the various sinus Tylenol and Motrin we keep on hand , Oh and Stephen's Migraine meds. Good Grief! I didn't realize so much until I started listing them. Anyway, the other night, Mina comes trotting out of our bedroom with my Valium half chewed open. I was able to retrieve it and she did not get into it. Then today and I have no idea where she found it, but I found a Tylenol sinus two pill pack opened and one pill gone and she was next to it. I then found dog food puke with what looked like a partially puked pill. Thankfully, as Tylenol can wreck a human's liver much less a dog's. I have a drug seeking dog!


Jackson giving Daddy a good bye kiss before his neuter operation. So much for ball removal and keeping this pup quiet! I hope the testosterone left in his body subsides soon. Receiving his post-op directions was a joke at the Vet as they brought him out and he immediately jumped up to the counter to investigate the person I was paying. I suppose the only good thing about him not realizing his balls are missing is that I don't have an issue with him licking or chewing the area.

Here's a quick video of the girls getting silly in the pasture. It was very windy yesterday!