Of Horses and Art

Schools out for Summer!

2009-06-22T21:52:00.002-05:00

Down by the pond early this spring. (S)

It has been out just over a week here and we are SO glad to be done.

S had basketball camp last week up at UW-Eau Claire. She came back a changed woman, or so she said. She improved her basketball skills and became very motivated.

N is off to Badger Girl State this week. It is a program in which she is selected by the women of the VFW and spend all week creating a government. She is running for the state attorney general of her fictional government.

The steers are being washed daily and lead around getting ready for the fair. They are big this year. VERY big. I will try and get some photos if possible. Usually I am helping wash, and don't want to get the camera wet.

Our horses had their hooves trimmed this last week and Dixie got a nice set of pads and shoes. We are hoping this alleviates some of the ring sour issues S was experiencing last year.

I hope this finds all of you doing well. I apologize for not updating more often. I am on face book more often than not these days.

prom photo

2009-05-29T10:39:00.002-05:00

A bit late..

May

2009-05-26T08:10:00.002-05:00

I should have at least one post up for May right?

N had a pretty good time at prom. It was a long day as predicted. State Solo and Ensembles first and then the prom. She did okay at state, but had problems with her asthma and having enough air to breath. Not good when you are playing the flute.

She enjoyed the pre-prom portion of prom. The hair/makeup/dinner. I enjoyed it too. We had a house crammed full of prom goers and their parents. I served them supper and we took turns taking pictures. It rained so there were no outside pictures. Prom itself was a a let down for her. Most of her class departed after the grand march for another party. On top of that she was exhausted, so despite plans of an all night wii extravaganza, she came home early and went to bed.

S has been playing basketball in a league in a nearby town. The league finished up this weekend. She learned a lot and improved certain aspects of her playing. I am continually amazed at how physical the game is. She has bruises and marks all over her body and spent a large portion of Sunday sleeping from sheer exhaustion.

My niece and god daughter is graduating from high school this weekend. Her parents held a get together up at the family farm, so we took the day to be with them. It was good to see my brothers and their wives, and of course my parents. I also got to see and visit with a cousin who I haven't seen in a few years.

Yesterday we attended a memorial day ceremony. N marched in the high school band parade leading up to the ceremony. I am extremely grateful to all those who have given their lives for our countries freedom, whether it was last month or 200 years ago. We are truly blessed to live where we do and enjoy the freedoms we enjoy.

Busy Two Days

2009-04-24T07:23:00.003-05:00

A quick post today to give an idea of what's coming up in the next two or three or four days.

Today:

Shopping for Prom Supper to be hosted and prepared at my house tomorrow night. I received verification of the event on Wednesday. I'm off shortly to fill the list I have made. I want the group to have fun, so I asked N to ask if they wanted anything special. We are planning on preparing steak, steak fries, a veggies, salad and cheese cake. I got a request for hot dogs!

This is secretaries week, really it is. Therefor, it is also support staff appreciation week at school. I think it is kind of silly that I received flowers for my 15 hour a week job. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that they appreciate me, it just seems a bit silly. So, what I am getting at, is that I need to go to work half an hour early so they can serve me lunch.

Post work S and I are saddling up and helping move cattle over at my brother in laws. I am going to take my small camera and see if I can get some photos while riding.

The house must be cleaned. I am sure the prom goers tomorrow won't care, but I do. Pride and all that. Then to top the day off I am altering Nicole's prom dress just a smidgen in the waist. She has lost a bit of weight and the spaghetti straps need to be adjusted as well. She just sent me a text message that a good friend of hers needs alterations as well. Oh.. and her dress for tomorrows state solos and ensembles needs to be shortened.

Tomorrow:

Arise early for the two hour drive to state solos and ensembles. N's first performance is at 8 am. I believe we are hauling two friends as well. Jack will stay behind and get S to her babysitting job. Then it's watch, watch, listen, listen to the five solos and ensembles she is competing in and rushing back home with a different load of kids so she can get her hair done for prom.

While her hair is being put up, I will be at home preparing the meal and putting some decorating touches on the house. Then dinner for kids, dinner for the adults and off to grand march. They are crashing afterwards at the neighbors house, thank goodness. I am extra proud that they are avoiding the 'huge drinking party' that one of their classmates is supposedly having. Underage drinking is pretty prevalent in the area, but my kid and her friends aren't into it.

Sunday is busy as well, but not quite as today and tomorrow.

I hope you all have a great weekend as well. I try to get around and visit your blogs as much as possible, although I admit facebook tends to eat up my time now. Kathy Cummings if you want to add me as a friend. My profile picture is of Gunner.

Today I am grateful for these two busy days. I love my daughters dearly, and despite not quite knowing how I am going to pull this off, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Earth Day

2009-04-22T08:22:00.003-05:00

Not much new since my last post except it is of course Earth Day. At school the classes will go out and do a little clean up work around the school. Raking of wood chips out of the grass, tending to the flower gardens etc. I myself, will stop at a local greenhouse after work and pick up a pine tree to plant. While I will never catch up to the trees my father has planted, I would like to add at least one tree a year to our property.

The other day a boy who attends my school from Bosnia asked me about the birch trees. He had never seen trees like that and wondered what was wrong with them. I told him what I knew, and told him how unhealthy it was to pick at the tree, but he, like the other kids can't seem to help himself. Nor could I at that age. Each of the Birch trees on the property have rings of bark missing just at kid height. I also pointed out a Maple tree as well and explained about Maple syrup.

When I was a kid, my older two brothers made maple syrup one spring. I remember gathering the syrup and the days of cooking the syrup out on a wood stove my parents put up for them outside. I honestly don't remember tasting the finished product although, I do have a remembrance of what Maple Sap tastes like.

I remember fondly my father taking me through the woods of his childhood explaining the different trees. He showed me the leaves and bark that distinguished one tree from another. He passed this love of flora and fauna on to my brothers as well. My youngest brother has started pine trees from seed and planted them throughout that same property.

My parents and grandparents always had us outside, in the woods, in the garden, where ever. My grandfather on my Mother's side, Pa Pa was a great fisherman, craftsman and gardener. He made jewelry out of silver and turquoise, panned for gold, made dandelion wine, and in his later years when he had slowed down, had a large garden of various berries and plants. His wife, my grandmother would spend hours making jams and jellies from the berries. She seemed to be happiest when she was busy, as has passed down to my mother.

So on this Earth Day I hope you all get a chance to get outside and enjoy our planet. Hug a tree for goodness sakes, they need love too!

Today I am grateful for my father for showing me the importance of giving back to the planet that has given us so much.

Spring

2009-04-20T09:44:00.003-05:00

I love spring and all that it brings.

This weekend we were busy preparing the yard for summer. Jack did a lot of raking and even hauled a load or two of manure out to the pasture from the barn.

S and I tore the chicken coop door apart and rebuilt it. The girl is such a card. Half way through the project as I was struggling with the drill and a screw she says "Bob at Ace Hardware guaranteed this would work." in a deep voice. I had to stop because I was laughing so hard.

The door is now hung and operational again. I had been using a piece of plywood propped against the door to help keep it shut. Now it just needs a fresh coat of paint.

The mares are in full heat this week. It makes me think of Emmett, for it was just a little over a year ago that he was born. We still miss him, but life goes on and we enjoy what we have.

Speaking of what we have, we have 19 very healthy calves on the ground this year. Not only are they healthy, but we have just one cow that hasn't calved yet. Jack says it is due to a new supplement he started using last fall. We bought more just this last week. The cows had fuller coats over the winter and a much higher conception rate since we began using it.

My girls are busy with school, band, prom etc. S started a basketball league in a local town, and N is busy prepping for AP exams. Sadly that puts horseback riding on the back burner. N said it will be mid-May before she sees herself free to ride. S and I will start without her.

Today I am grateful for the color green and all the promise it brings in the spring.

Girls

2009-03-31T08:11:00.004-05:00

Last night N was inducted into the National Honor Society. It is a prestigious award at her school for the members are chosen through a criteria of grades, teacher recommendations, and extra curricular activities including sports and community service. My rough guess is that seventy five percent of the new inductees came from the two parochial grade schools originally. So we were doubly proud that she was chosen and recognized for her achievements.

In the last few weeks my daughter has taken leaps and bounds to becoming an adult. She has come in to her own through leadership and it is a joy to behold.

Her schedule has become tighter and tighter between band, 4-H, FFA and school work. Mix in college visits and you have one busy camper. Thoughts of a summer get away to Arizona have dissipated. She promises that next summer she will be able to fit it in. This summer she wants to concentrate on her tennis and band. Of course we must throw in showing her horse on weekends that work and the fair where she exhibits cattle. Make that two different fairs this year. One with FFA and one with 4-H.

Her sister on the other hand has become the athlete. Gone are the days of running around outside with her dog. Now are the days she concentrates on basketball. She goes to practice, comes home eats, and heads back out for more practice at our own hoop. This summer she chose basketball camp instead of 4-H summer camp, and has also chosen to spend four weeks getting up early to hit summer school basketball. When she is not playing basketball she is practicing drums. While a lot of folks would shudder at the thought of the constant banging, Jack and I delight in the sounds of wipe out as they drift through the house. Last night she came up half way through practice for band aids. It seems wipe out has given her blisters!

In Horse News:

All the animals I am in charge of were given vaccinations last week. Meaning the dogs, cats, donkey and horses. Dixie came up lame two days before the vets visit. He looked her over well, and like us could find nothing visible wrong with her. All of our suspicions was an abscess because there were no visible hot spots or wounds but she was obviously favoring her front left leg.

Sunday her abscess appeared and we are now doctoring it as best we can. An abscess for those who don't know is an infection within the hoof. It can be caused by many different things, but basically what happens is an infection enters the hoof (possibly from a cut). The bacteria (pus) then looks for an area to exit the hoof. In Dixie's case it exited at the coronary band. The Coronary band is similar to a persons cuticle. It is a soft tissue that helps connect the hard hoof to the horse leg. The exit area of the abscess is about an inch wide. Due to the size of the exit and the mud in our region of the country right now, we are attempting to bandage it to keep it from becoming a bigger issue. She is already walking better, so it is good to know that that pain has lessened for the girl. We can tell she is not feeling well because her ground manners have become impeccable. She likes to crowd our space and is very pushy on the ground.

Today I am thankful for Spring. Despite the gloomy weather outside my window, I know this weather will only bring better things!

A Die Hard Catholic

2009-03-15T20:36:00.003-05:00

That's what I am claiming I am today. Because Spring has arrived here, and although I am not pregnant, one of the original four ducks is setting on a nest of eggs. Already. And I don't have the heart to shoo her off of them and get rid of the eggs.

I am going to have to though because there are about 10 ducks total now living on our farm, and that is about 8 too many. I wouldn't mind a couple of females, because they are cute and well, cute... but the offspring are TOO much.

Yet every morning when I go to feed the horses, I see the mama carefully tending her next. This year she chose a spot near the freezer that houses the horse feed. So she puffs up and hisses at me, but that's about it. I throw her some grain and tell her to settle down. She's just SO cute, and you know those babies will be cute.

I need help. Badly. What I DON'T need is 20 more ducklings!!

Today I am grateful for the weather and the first open window day of the year. (not counting the time I opened them from burning pies in the oven) Yee HA!!

Well now, Wasn't THAT Fun!?

2009-03-09T09:33:00.003-05:00

Yesterday after a pleasant weekend visiting with my parents and relaxing in a hotel, I set off to head home. My mother had warned me the day before that the weather was supposed to turn nasty. N was committed to a horse judging clinic, and I wasn't going to pull her out early. So, when we did head off down the highway, I was pleased that it was sunny.

For awhile. I got a text from my little brother about two hours into the trip. He was heading north from the Dells and had just rode through some really bad conditions. I was actually at the same spot on the interstate as he was, just heading into it instead of out of it like he.

Next I got a text from a friend heading from Madison to our hometown telling of cars in the ditch and bad conditions.

Still sunny where I was. Within 45minutes we were at a dead stop on icy roads. The picture above is one N shot out the window as we were sitting. And sitting. We slowly crawled forward, and within 20 miles we were moving again at a fairly fast pace. Unfortunately this is where I get off the interstate and head 30miles east towards my farm. The first 15 were a bit slushy. I was wondering why the plows hadn't been out. I saw an ice truck but that was it. The second 15 were actually a bit better, until I got to the county road I needed to take off of the state highway. Here was the bad roads. No plow had made its way through and I had to follow tracks. Then, I would hit a spot where the plows HAD come through and things would be better. At my next turn I hesitated trying to decide if I should take the road or not. I took it, because I am silly I guess, or like living on the edge. I had to push my little Malibu HARD to get through. We were skimming the top of the snow off the road. I couldn't slow down for fear we would get stuck, and yet if I kept going fast and had to swerve I would be in the ditch for sure!

I have to admit it was a blast. I love winter driving. Snow flying over the windshield, ruts directing which way I go. I reached down once and patted the dash board and told her "good girl" as we went from rut to rut, and my dependable car reminded me of Classy.

My dependable car that got me home who is now in need of new brakes, a tune up and the u-joint replaced is off to the spa for the day. I on the other hand am back to work, breaking up snow ball fights and making snow men. Life is good!

I am thankful for snow. It cleanses the earth, especially in March when moods are dismal and we are surrounded by brown.

March already!

2009-03-04T08:46:00.003-06:00

Sorry I haven't been keeping up here as I should be. I sometimes feel unless I have something about art or horses to comment on, I shouldn't be putting stuff on here. But then I know my parents are following and wondering what we are up to down here in mid state Wisconsin.

Last weekend was the local Solo and Ensembles. Both my girls competed this year. S competing for the first time got two 1sts. One in concert snare drum and one in drum set. She was uncertain of what the whole process would be, but pulled it out pretty well. She was sick last week, which I can see in her picture, so I knew it would be rough. She wasn't happy with her performance, but the judge had nice things to say to her to encourage her to keep working.

N competed in eight events and is taking five of those pieces to state at the end of April. Unfortunately it is the same day as Junior Prom, so THAT will be a fun day!! She was hoping to do better with her piano piece, but still got a first on it, so we were pleased. N traditionally begins practice on her flute and piano solos in October, so this is a pretty stress intense day. She always says when the days is over that it is her favorite day of the year. Her band director has been pushing her lately to consider a career in music. He is right in that her life is school and music, with other things, such as friends and boyfriends coming in behind those two items. She is concerned about the possibility of making money with music, as are Jack and I. She is not talented enough to become a successful concert pianist or flutist, so that leaves therapy or teaching. Teaching seems the most viable at this point, although I am unsure if she would be happy dealing with kids at any age. So, these are things she is contemplating as she finishes her Junior year of high school. She is also interested in veterinary science, but her true love is English. Too bad there isn't a need for a large animal veterinarian who could edit thesis and play the piano for Holstein cows to make them healthier. Or maybe there is?

Today I am thankful for March. In March we begin to see the hopes of Spring, and after this long winter it is exactly what I need.

7th Grade Basketball Rants

2009-02-12T09:12:00.003-06:00

S is on the 'B' team of 7th grade basketball this year. While most of her friends made the 'A' team, on the 'B' team she gets serious court time and it has improved her skills immensely.

The week before last I finally had a free night and was able to go and watch her play. When I got there she was sitting on the sidelines with her ankle in a brace. It seems as she was going up for a layup another girl came under her and knocked her down, twisting her ankle. All before the game even started! After a visit to the emergency room and probably at least a $150 bill, we headed home with an air cast and a two or three day lay off prognosis.

It soon became apparent that two or three days was not quite what this would need to heal. Two weeks later and she is finally playing again. Finally in her terms. In the mean time she got to learn to coach the girls. Last Thursday I watched as she drew up plays on the clip board, presented them to the coach, and then gave her ideas to the girls on time-outs. Last Friday the coach had her run all but five minutes of practice. I think she liked still being involved, and he obviously noticed that despite being hurt she still wanted to be part of the team. Two other girls have got hurt, or were benched due to grades, and decided not to show up for practice and don't dress for the games. Perhaps if they have bad grades they are not allowed?

Sometimes I wonder about the thoughts behind those types of decisions from the other parents. I'm not sure team means the same as it did in the past. Last Tuesday one of her team mates got two technical fouls for bad sportsmanship. TWO technical fouls in one game by a 7th grade girl. The night S was hurt we stayed and watched the game, and a different girl slammed the ball into the ground when she didn't like what the ref had called. I was appalled, and told S 'If I EVER see you act like that, you will be out of the game.' She felt strongly as I did that it was inexcusable behaviour.

The girl with the two technical fouls? She sat the bench for about five minutes after the second call, and then the coach put her back in. I understand that he was short three girls and was down to one on the bench, but I am not sure I agree with his decision. I guess, when I volunteer to coach a team I can make the big calls. I am grateful that he HAS volunteered to coach the team, and he obviously likes my child and the effort she puts in.

S, from the beginning, has struggled with the team's seriousness. She said one practice they spent 20 minutes sitting around coming up with nick-names for each other. She finally asked the coach if she could just go practice shooting. On Tuesday night she was warming up for the game running and jumping in the hall way because it was the first time she had laced on her basketball shoes since the injury. She told me later that all but one of the girls on the team spent their time following the boys from the other school around and getting their phone numbers.

I have a feeling her seriousness in the sport will pay off in the long run. This year she has become a much more intense player and has a great desire to improve at every practice and every game. The girls above her on the 'A' team might truly be in for a run for their money next year when cuts come again.

Not much in horse news here. We had a nice thaw that allowed me to do a thorough stall cleaning and clean out the chicken coop as well. The horses are getting anxious for spring, as the rest of us are.

2009-01-26T21:45:00.002-06:00

This weekend N and I went on our first College visit. She has chose Colorado State University as one of her top picks for it is number two in the nation for veterinary science. So we flew out on Thursday after school and toured the campus on Friday and Saturday.

What a beautiful campus. Even in the heart of winter it's starkness was breathtaking. It didn't take much imagination to see what it would look like in the spring, summer or fall.

N really liked the campus a LOT and would love to go there. Time will tell, as we tour other campuses and look deeper at scholarships and finances.

Today I am grateful for second chances. We all deserve them at one time or another.

grrrr

2009-01-17T15:33:00.002-06:00

I was feeling so happy that I have barely been sick this year. Or, I should say, compared to the rest of the family. But here I sit today with a cold. Not a bad one mind you, just one that makes me dizzy if I stand up. So, sit I will while things go on around me. It wouldn't be so bad but we had two days of sitting while the weather was sub zero. No school, no reason to go out, no nothing. nadda. zilch.

I am sitting and enjoying N practicing for Solo and Ensemble competitions coming up in February. She is struggling, but such is the way it is mid January. If she was struggling mid February, we would be worrying. She just finished her rendition of The Maple Leaf Rag on piano, and it is coming along nicely. Luckily for me, I was out of the house on an errand while S practiced her drum set and snare drum solos. When she decided she wanted to play drums I hesitated, but knew from experience if she didn't choose what she wanted to play, she wouldn't enjoy the music. So, I let her pick drums and made her commit to three years of playing. Last summer she began private lessons in addition to the school lessons, and she has really started to do well with drumming. I think music teaches children the value of setting goals and how hard work can pay off. At times I have to come down on them about practicing more often, but for the most part they go off on their own three to four times a week and practice practice practice.

Classy Peavy cut her leg on Wednesday some time. It is right at the fetlock joint, so I wasn't able to bandage it. I cut away the extra hair, cleaned it out real well and put some scarlet oil on it. With the cold weather approaching that was about the best thing I could think of. She is not favoring that leg at all, so I am hoping this is just a surface scratch. It is scabbed over nicely and it doesn't bother her if we touch it. It is the same leg that she is slightly club footed on, and the leg she is arthritic on, so seeing lameness from that leg is not unexpected.

Today I am thankful for Nyquil. I don't think I have to go into the reasons why do I?

The Not So Exciting News

2009-01-14T07:49:00.003-06:00

powdered sugar Dixie

January is just that way isn't it? Not so exciting news abounds around here. Just the daily grind. Get up, do chores, get on the Internet, do more chores, go to work, come home and make supper, help with homework, go to bed.

Throw in a little basketball practice/games, some 4-H stuff and thus makes up my life these days.

We are entering a deep freeze here in the next three days. I told the girls to bring lots of things home because we will likely be here the next four days. I hope the school districts in the area truly consider the ramifications of sending kids out in -25 to -35 degree weather, and forget about the fact that we will be going to school until July. If a bus quits or even one high school kids car on the way to school, is it worth the exposure they will endure?

The horses will get their extra hay in the next few days, and I think I will find Bart the Barn Cat and bring him in to our basement. The indoor/outdoor cats Timmy and Osa are already bouncing off the walls with pent up energy, but they are brought back to reality by Mick our dog if they get out of control. It is really quite humorous to see him get up from his sleep to calm them down and take control.

N and I are going to Colorado next week to do a couple of campus visits. One at Colorado State in Fort Collins and the other at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. The two colleges are as different as can be, but she needs to see the diversity to make some decisions. I personally think she will do better in a smaller private college, but it is her choice and her wings that need to expand, we just provide the wind to set her off.

Today I am thankful for fleece. I am unsure of the origins of this wonderful material, probably something to do with the military or space. All I know is on a cold winters day we fight over the fleece blankets in our house. We have enough to go around, it's just N has a huge fleece blanket and we would all rather have that one.

Keep warm my friends! Spring is merely a handful of months away.

A Little Ice, A Little Snow

2009-01-09T10:01:00.003-06:00

Or a LOT of ice and a little snow. Last weekend we got a nice thick covering of ice on everything. Jack fell and hurt his shoulder on his first step outside the door. No need to visit the doctor for that one, so we are thankful.

The ice Saturday night delayed school on Monday. I don't drive a bus but a friend of mine does and let me tell you they should have canceled from her stories. Some of the backroads were like ice rinks.

I had to pleasure of taking the kids out on their first recess since the ice storm and spent my entire time telling them to stay off the blacktop. What I find interesting is that it is always the older kids in the school that question you. If you tell the Kinders not to go on the ice, they listen and find something else to do. Meanwhile the 5th graders who are now experiencing their 6th year of school, constantly have to be drug off the ice. On top of it I get the "why?" question over and over. It must just be human nature.

Today I am thankful for my Dad, who celebrated his 77th birthday a few days ago. I thought about him all day long and then promptly forgot to call him. So Dad? I love you and miss you and wish you a very happy birthday and a great 78th year.

Happy New Years

2009-01-01T11:14:00.004-06:00

S and Jack

A Very Happy New Years to all of my faithful readers and those who just happen upon this blog.

I don't have a list of New Years Resolutions for the year, but after reviewing my resolutions from last year I have decided the only resolution I should make is to read up and learn how to make and keep resolutions.

One thing I would like to do with this blog in this new year is to use it as a gratitude journal of sorts. I would like to include something I am thankful for with each post.

I am thankful for my husband Jack. My husband is a kind and generous man that who only wants me to be happy. He love and cares for myself and the girls in not only the big ways but in the small ways. For instance he goes out each morning and shovels the driveway, clears off the vehicles and even shovels a path from our front door to the bus pick up spot so S can walk across the yard without getting her feet full of snow.

It is these little things that he does that make me thankful to be so lucky to have him. This fall we will celebrate 20 years of marriage. With any luck at all we will have another 20 years together and beyond.

Other News: I sent the girls out today to ride the horses bareback. They had a fun time despite the windy conditions. N's boyfriend rode double on Classy with N while S rode Dixie. A (neighbor girl) was over as well and rode Gunner. Gunner did a remarkable job going out on his second time bareback. The girls noted that the horses seemed to have a good time too. Winter gets to be a long season penned up in their paddocks with the limited movement. Being forced to move out across the pasture was good for them and the kids. They need to get out of the house and move about too.

Post Christmas Musings

2008-12-30T09:08:00.003-06:00

Christmas has come and gone and as in past years there are things I just didn't get around to doing. For the first time in what seems like forever I didn't complete my Christmas card. Usually I work hard enough at it, stay up late at night and get it out. This year I didn't even get that far. So... for all of you that were expecting it I am sorry. The photo above is my card!

Our family was able to spend Christmas with our loved ones again this year. Jack and I are blessed to still have our parents with us, and despite the fact my father was unable to make the celebration with our side of the family, having him in our lives continues to be a blessing.

It is now that time of year for contemplating the past year, and looking towards the new. We went through a lot of highs and lows with our little Emmett this year. The short time he was with us was truly truly a blessing. As I have said my thoughts of late have turned towards getting myself a riding horse, and now after further thought I think paying off some of Emmett's final bills and saving up for a horse is a much wiser route, especially with the down turn in the economy. That said, you never can tell what will happen...

Jack's business continues to thrive, with contracts in place for next year that in past years wouldn't have come around until March, so for us things look good. I know there are those who are suffering, and things just feel bleak, so tightening the hatches seems the best route to go.

I wish you all the best in the year to come. I hope your families are happy healthy and profitable. Also, I hope all my horse buddies safe and joyous rides on your chosen mounts!

Christmas and such

2008-12-18T08:02:00.002-06:00

I have been contemplating purchasing a horse for myself. Classy (in banner) is too arthritic for me to learn much on anymore. I would love to find a young rider for her to teach. Someone who doesn't weigh quite as much as I do! The thought of selling, leasing or having her leave our property in any form is too hard to wrap my mind around, so she will likely just stay in our pasture and give the occasional visitor a ride. Heck my neice already thinks she is hers, so there ya go.

I found a lovely spirited Appaloosa that reminds me a lot of a younger version of Pony Girls horse My Boy. In every picture he looks full of energy and ready to take on the world. Perhaps not what I am looking for, but boy does he pull at my heartstrings. I told Tammy that he will likely kill me, but I would look good doing it. Either that or I would put him in training and really learn, finally, how to ride.

There are a few others that have caught my eye as well. The good news for me, for a change, is that it is a buyers market. Well, at least until spring it is.

Happy Winter

2008-12-01T08:41:00.004-06:00

Okay, I know it doesn't officially arrive until December 21st, but it truly arrived here yesterday.

I went to feed the horses this morning and BOY were they full of spunk. I think standing in a shed all day while it snows and blows contains a lot of energy!!

Thanksgiving was really a nice weekend with my family. Playing Book and Run (Phetteplace card game) after a twenty year hiatus was hilarious. I think it was half way through the game before we had all remembered the rules. Well, actually we chose to ignore one of the rules that was pointed out 3/4 of the way through. The real challenge will be if we can play it again at Christmas and remember.

The photo above is of our eight year old Angus bull Atlas. He is as gentle as a kitten, but we still are very cautious around him. He does after all weigh more than a ton. At different times Jack has suggested we sell him, but I like the old boy and so he will be here another year or so.

A few months ago my parents gave me their old handcart. We brought it home and have been using it for feeding the calves and hauling hay for the horses. Therefore, it had ground corn left in the bottom of it and was being stored in one of the extra walk in sheds that the horses use. We decided to move Atlas and Lloyd (the donkey) into the pen with the cart. The next think I know Atlas is standing with his front legs in the cart licking the ground corn out of it. How do you remove a two thousand pound bull from a cart? With ears of corn I guess. Yelling made no difference, all he did was wince when I yelled and waved my hands at him. I guess that old cart was stronger than we thought!

In horse news:

I have found that Classy responds much better to Cosequin optimized with MSM than plain Cosequin. Actually I knew this already, but it became much more evident after I spilled my plain MSM into the vitamins and she went without it for a month. Yesterday I started her on the new supplement and she is already doing better.

I am also thinking of getting a horse for myself this spring. (shhhhh) Classy is really too arthritic for me to do much on, and I really DO want to learn more and lope without feeling I am hurting her. Maybe a nice horse will fall in my lap?

Getting Back On

2008-11-21T08:00:00.004-06:00

N and Gus

sorry... yes I know it's a bad shot.

Scariest things I have encountered (in no particular order):

Getting Married

Having a child

Riding Gunner after he threw me

Being chased by a bull when I was eight years old

Asking a boy to prom

Watching my daughter drive out of the driveway today.

N is feeling better, but as some have told me, each day brings a different pain. Yesterday her arm really started to hurt. She is still having a hard time taking deep breaths, and hasn't gone back to playing the flute for it hurts too much.

In comparison to other 'accidents' she has had, she said getting thrown into the fence off of Sierra at a show when she was eleven hurt much worse than this accident. I don't ever remember her complaining about that fall. I remember it clearly in my mind, as if in slow motion, as I also remember the buck off of Sammy she encountered that led to a doctors and chiropractic visit.

Still busy here counting my blessings. Hope you are all well.

2008-11-18T07:54:00.003-06:00

Moi, S, Jack, N

Despite the crash last week, life moves on. On Saturday N was confirmed! I've always said that I would allow my children to choose which religion they felt most comfortable in, and when it came down to it, N chose the religion she grew up in. I'm not saying this is her final choice, but it is the one she made on Saturday.

She was by far the most dressed up of the group, and told me later she didn't understand why the other conferments didn't dress up more for such an important event. But, that's my daughter, who is often called a thirty year old in a sixteen year old body.

It's pictures like these that make a person wonder. Not how my dear children have grown up so fast, not how I was so lucky to snag such a handsome man, but instead "what the heck is with my hair?" Sunday morning I gave myself bangs. Seriously what was I thinking trying to go without them? Let's not even go into why my eyes look so buggy... was I suprised?? It's important questions like these that bring life back to normalcy. Or that's the hope!

The Call No Mother Wants to Take

2008-11-14T10:44:00.005-06:00

Yesterday just minutes after N left for school I got a phone call from a cell phone I didn't recognize. I picked it up and heard "Mom this is N, there's a problem. I've been in an accident." I asked if she was okay and where she was. Just a little over a mile up the road she told me. I then tried to get her off the phone so Jack and I could go to her, but she just kept repeating "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Not being a mother herself, she didn't understand, and still doesn't, that I could care less about the car. All I wanted was to get to her as soon as possible, hold her in my arms and physically see for myself that she was okay.

She came up over a hill and ran into the back of a truck and trailer that was filled with Christmas trees. The local tree farmer has been loading and unloading trees in his yard for about the last month. She didn't see the trailer until she was on it, hit the clutch, then the brake but it was too late.

Her little green machine affectionately known as "Kermit" was totaled.

She is okay but for a little bruising to her chest, shoulder, thumb and ego. Thank goodness for air bags eh?

That's all that matters.

So my advice today? Hug your family and friends, you never know when you will see them again.

And thank you to all of our friends and neighbors who have extended well wishes to us. She has really learned not only that things can happen in an instant, but that there are a lot of people in this world who care deeply about her.

Snow

2008-11-12T09:01:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we had our second round of snow. Or sleet as it were. The roads were a bit slick on the bridges, but otherwise okay. It hampered my horse moving operation though and by the time I got home from running S to basketball practice it was dark. Not a good time to move the herd.

Today is is raining but the weather man indicates a drying this afternoon and highs in the mid to upper 40's. Woo Hoo!! That is prime horse moving weather! You bet I will be out there as soon as I get my clothes changed after work.

N will be confirmed this weekend and is playing the bass part of the orchestra on the organ setting of the keyboards, so our weekend looks extremely busy. She has performances Thursday through Sunday.

Quick Post of Sorts

2008-11-11T11:05:00.003-06:00

Why do I wait until the last minute to do things? It is like 35 degrees out this morning, and about to rain at any second. Sound like a good day to stay inside? I thought so too, except because I procrastinate too much, I had to go out and spend two hours fixing the horse fence where they took that corner post out. What.. was that two months ago already? Probably. At any rate it is fixed.

After work I will be back out setting water tank heaters up for the chickens and horses. Then I can move the horses back into their pens for the winter. I am sure they will enjoy it as they will have shelter, but on the down side they will have to eat hay. They have been foraging on pasture since the last move. I can't turn them back down onto the pasture connected to the ponds because of the danger of a fall through. Last year we lost three head of cattle when the snow got to deep, taking out a fence. The cows ended up on the ponds and fell through. Not good at all.

The picture above is from this weekend. The girls and their friend A went over to Tammy's and demonstrated for a 4-H trail clinic. None of the girls had ridden the horses they rode, so it was interesting. Poor S got to ride the horse who knew nothing. On the other hand N rode the horse who knew everything, and she didn't quite know which buttons to push to make him work. It was fun and we appreciated being asked over.

Happenings

2008-10-30T13:31:00.004-05:00

Last Sunday it was all 4-H. We had a local club meeting that I am co-leader of. It was the annual elections and by-law review meeting. It is always a long meeting and can be kind of stressful, but the club is moving along so smoothly my co-leader and partner in crime and I rarely have to step in to say anything. That makes it really nice, and some of the parents have even started to notice how smoothly the officers are handling issues.

That evening was another 4-H meeting on a county level, in which I am the president of the association. That meeting went really well, and I was pleased to see a nice turn out of local leaders and a new level of involvement in an organization that has been sliding for awhile.

Our local schools are out today and tomorrow for teachers conferences. It is a nice break for both the teachers and the kids. Since we had this scheduled break our 4-H club went to a corn maze last night. It was a lot of fun and all the kids had a blast. I brought our walkie talkies and had fun talking between cars and inside the maze as we tried to figure our way out. We went after dark and I think that just added to the excitement.

Tonight is a hay ride for FFA that Jack will take N and her friends to. S on the other hand will likely be at her grandma's because her youngest cousin is in town for a few days. So that leaves me at home with a pot of chili a good bottle of wine and my 4-H co-leader to discuss the upcoming 4-H year and plan for events etc. (and yes I DO bleed 4-H green)

Tomorrow is my birthday. We plan on finally fixing the corner post in the horse field and head out for supper in the evening.

Currently the horses are across the street doing their best to collect every burr imaginable. Each morning when I go out to feed, I pick burs from their mane and tails only to have to do it again the next day. I think it really bothers them, especially Gunner and Classy who are SO appreciative to be burr free. Classy is a bit depressed with the loss of Emmett, so I pay extra attention to her and give her extra hugs and scratches.

Yesterday Jack turned our bull Atlas out with the horses for the winter. They have not been together before, so we have been laughing at their antics. Atlas probably weighs about a ton, but those horses definitely rule the pasture.

Another Sport Finished

2008-10-21T10:00:00.004-05:00

S # 12

S finished 7th grade volleyball last night. I was amazed how much their team learned in a short amount of time. S, herself learned to overhand serve and as I watched her last night I could see her constantly moving into position based on what she anticipated was coming next. Whether it be to bump, set, spike or block she was ready. This was huge difference from where they started. Almost all of the plays last night were three hits and over, and they salvaged quite a few miss hits and were able to keep the ball in play.

Tonight after school she hands in her jersey, enjoys a pizza party and walks over to another school afterwards to try out for a traveling basketball team. I'm not sure how many girls they are accepting onto the team, or what her chances are of making the team, but she will give it her all and do her best. She has indicated that she likes volleyball a lot more than basketball so if she doesn't make that team she might want to join a volleyball team that plays through the winter. She thrives off of team sports and we enjoy watching her play.

Tonight is N's tennis banquet where she will recieve her letter for tennis. She was disappointed last year when she didn't get one, so I am sure she will be quite happy tonight. She and her partner played well over half of the varsity games so she is guaranteed a letter.

Jack and my anniversary is today. We've been married 19 years! We plan on celebrating by eating pizza and fried chicken at N's tennis banquet. Good times!

Marching Band ~ State~

2008-10-19T17:41:00.003-05:00

N and her friend W

Yesterday our local high school competed in the state marching band competition at UW - Whitewater. This is their second year of competing and they are still a bit behind the bands in the first half of their division, but each year there is marked improvement.

I was happy to drive our big F-350 and enclosed trailer to this competition stocked full of drum and pit equipment. I found this much more relaxing that riding on a bus chaperoning teenagers. Everyone has their own level of stress and driving a truck and trailer down the highway and weaving between semi's is much less stress full to me than yelling at teenage boys who are hanging out of bus windows shouting their phone numbers to passing teenage girls. Who would of thunk?

N is contemplating throwing her hat in the ring for drum major next year. They need a couple of strong leaders, and I think she would be up for the task, it's just whether she can find the time for another commitment.

Hope your weekend was nice and relaxing. I have developed a cold which I blame on my kids. The 90 some kids I work with at the local elementary school where I work as an aide, not the two girls sitting in the other room playing guitar hero instead of doing homework.

Emmett

2008-10-17T20:00:00.006-05:00

I haven't posted as of late on Emmett's condition. So, I guess it is time.

Here is a link to his condition hydrocephalus.

If you read through the article you will see that really there is no hope for our little guy, and therefore I have decided to have him put down. He is now six months old and still in a dummy state. What life he had in him has disappeared and what is left is a foal whose purpose in life is to survive. Luckily for us he has not reached a state of aggression, and I would not like to wait until the point where he does. It would not be good for my children to witness, or for the other horses to have to be subjected to it.

So, sadly we reach the end of our journey into the breeding end of the horse industry. I did not take lightly the responsibilities involved when I decided to breed our mare, and I truly believed in what I did and the stallion I bred to. But, life just does not always turn out the way we would hope, and I am accepting of that.

Stubbage

2008-10-16T08:31:00.005-05:00

This is one of many photos I have found on my cameras over the years. Always random, always of S, taken by S. A little hello to brighten my day!

S stubbed her toe on Saturday while babysitting with a friend. She's been hobbling around on it ever since. Jack gave her the Brett Farve speech about playing through pain, being injured while doing sports etc etc. So, she tried on Monday to play in her 7th grade volleyball game. She hobbled her little self out on to the court and lasted almost a complete rotation until she had to dive for a ball at which point she took herself out.

A crowd of seventh grade fellow players gathered around and oohed and ahhed her purple, green, red and black bruised foot. Her mom had less sympathy for her. I don't know why, probably because I have seen quite a bit of drama for the last 16 years from my kids. Well, okay maybe not the first year of their lives. But children and adults alike like to be coddled when they are hurting. I did take some ibuprofen to school for her yesterday and have been having her sit each night with it elevated. The first night I saw it I was quite concerned, but realized that because of its location, time, elevation and a little ibuprofen were all that was needed. And a little sympathy.

This morning she came down stairs and said "I'm playing in the game tonight." Yesterday I noticed she was walking with less of a limp, so I guess she is better. Or at least Brett Farve better. Better enough to tough it out through maybe two rotations on the court?

I moved the horses across the road and in their pen is a protein tub, so I have taken to not feeding them grain as much. They are a bit confused when they see me out and about outside and not feeding them, but they are looking just as I would like them to going into the winter. Even Lloyd is a bit chunky!

Come and Gone

2008-10-13T10:49:00.004-05:00

N Homecoming

Things are just moving along here at a rapid pace. Tennis season wrapped up last week. S is on her last two weeks of volleyball. Homecoming came and went along with the last home game of football.

This last weekend was the marching band competition in northern Wisconsin which I helped chaperone. Our young band has a long ways to go to compete against the other high school bands, but it will come.

The colors up nort where more than beautiful. As always it is descending south and I find myself surrounded by a beautiful plethora of fall colors as I drive the country roads around our house. Fall remains my favorite season as we scurry to get ready for winter like the squirrels who hide the black walnuts that litter our yard.

With our schedule and upcoming bills I have decided not to board this fall after all. I am still hoping for a trail ride or two before it gets too cold.

Duck Season and Fattening Up

2008-10-03T09:03:00.003-05:00

Sorry if this is a repeat picture. It's another one of S's shots.

Duck Season starts in the next week or so, so each morning I go out and pick up more barb wire that we tore down on the fence line between the steer lot and the horse pasture. The pasture has been closed to the horses for sometime because of the wire, and to let it get some re-growth. Once I pull the horses off the pond bank they will be off of it until mid-December, so maybe it's time to move them across the road. I hate to feed out hay until absolutely necessary.

Mid August marked the date when I switched my horses over to a new feeding system. It has worked pretty well so far, but both Gunner and Dixie are getting a bit chubby. I know it is because of the unlimited grass and clover on the pond banks, but I thought the new feed was supposed to help regulate it somewhat. I guess not so much. Plus the two went from being ridden 4-5 times a week to being pasture ornaments. So some additional restrictions will have to be put into place for those two. I might have to put them on hay just to regulate their weight. But then again, I might just leave them a bit heavy going into winter. It's supposed to be a rough one. It's a constant battle isn't it?

Today is the homecoming parade in town. We are driving the tennis float. Then I work in the foodstand for the first half of the football game and get out just in time to see the half time show. I am a big fan of the marching band, seeing as my kid is in it. In fact I often wonder what all the football is for...aren't we all there to watch the band? Plus there is talk of a bon-fire here at our house for N and her friends after the game. Between now and then I have 6 fleece scarves in orange and black to make, cause I am a cool Mom like that.

Tomorrow is a volleyball tournament in the morning for S, hair appointment, makeup and pictures, dinner and the big dance for N.

Sunday is 4-H achievement banquet which our club is hosting.

Whew... when Monday rolls around I will be glad to get back to work to take a break from all this!!

I wonder...

2008-10-01T10:25:00.003-05:00

I wonder how a corner fence post can be snapped off at the ground and none of my horses have a mark on them. No one is lame, no one is stiff. I have brushed them all over and found nothing.

Except a corner fence post snapped off at the ground.

This week sometime or next week, I will be digging out what is left in the ground and putting a new one in. I have been meaning to hang a couple of gates off of this post, so I will get at that also.

Homecoming Week

2008-09-29T07:47:00.004-05:00

It is homecoming week for our local school district. This means lots of dressing up for spirit week, and general excitement from my girls.

Yesterday S had 5 friends over to tie dye shirts, make earrings, hair bands etc. They had a lot of fun but my head hurt when I dropped the last one off. Lots of giggling, singing out loud, or I should say singing out LOUDLY to pop songs...more giggling, some shopping, giggling and well GIGGLING!

N's car got decorated last week for homecoming week, and then again yesterday. She's been asked to homecoming, quite a few different times, numerous times by the same boy, a few times by a couple of others. But of course, the "right" one didn't ask. Or he hinted and then changed his mind. (jerk, but I might be biased) She also got together with friends and tie dyed and did other fun homecoming stuff. Plus she has tanning appointments all week because she has a strapless dress and major tan lines.

So, another busy week here for us.

I am contemplating boarding one of the horses for a month or so to take some lessons for myself. The question is if Tammy has room. The other question is whether Classy can take the rigours of riding with her arthritis. The nice part is that I have more than one horse to choose from. Lucky me!

Birthdays

2008-09-23T09:34:00.004-05:00

16 years have come and gone since this one entered our life. Hard to believe it is true. Thursday we go for her driving lesson, fingers are crossed she passes.

Volunteerism

2008-09-18T08:01:00.003-05:00

It started when I was young, watching my mother volunteer to run the church CCD program, be a den mother, etc. etc.

Naturally when I had children I started to volunteer as well. Actually it was while I was pregnant when I volunteered to help coach the little girls softball team here in our small town. Since then it has been PTO, Girl Scouts and in the past few years 4-H. This year I decided I should give back to the Music Boosters as well, as they have sent my daughter to camp numerous times and paid for buses and rooms to cart her tush around the state to different competitions.

Volunteering kept me busy when the girls started school and I needed to be here when they got off the bus. I would volunteer in the class room and even started a reading program for a few years.

The organization that drains my energy at this point is our county 4-H program. The president of the leaders organization wasn't able to full fill her duties so they fell to the vice-president, who just happens to be moi! Our county agent moved in July, so now we are without direct leadership and certain things he/she would have handled are now also falling to moi! I understand that when you agree to fill a position you are responsible to stay in the position for the amount of time you agreed to do. I have instilled this in my kids as well. No quitting. You stick with something for its allotted time and then consider if it is what you want to continue to do.

The question I continually debate in my mind is at what point does the volunteerism start to become such an overwhelming force in your life that you don't have time for your family?

Tonight both my girls have games again. I will be able to watch N for an hour, and then will have to leave to go to a 4-H meeting. There is no getting around it, it is what I signed on to do. Meanwhile I will have to miss S's volleyball match. I have yet to see her play in a game. Granted this is only her second match and she has more to play this season, but in my heart I know it's not right.

So, as I had to do with Girl Scouts, and PTO, when my term is finished in a year, I will again have to step down from an organization and turn inwards towards the family. The saving grace this time is that I can continue to work with-in 4-H as the co-leader of our local club. I look forward to that day next year when I can hand my binder in.

Sheesshh

2008-09-17T09:21:00.004-05:00

Black Walnut - S; 08

Didn't mean to sound so depressed in the last post. Sometimes it just catches up with me.

N had an awesome tennis match last night. Like the match last week, which lasted 3 hours this one was a long one, over 2-1/2 hours long. She exhausts me. She and her partner really dug deep last night and still ended up losing, but it was fun to watch.

This morning I took Emmett out for a little ground work. He livened up because he was away from his pack, which was nice to see. He actually caught on fairly quickly moving forward. He even was able to watch my body motion and jog off with me fairly consistently and whoa nicely. We are now working on backing which he is not too happy about. He doesn't do any type of aggressive moves towards me, just holds his head high and braces. When he does finally move back three steps and I praise him he lowers his head and licks. So I think he is really trying to understand what I am teaching him. Good signs, keep your fingers crossed.

Tomorrow is another late night. Both girls has games, luckily the facilities where they are playing are right next to each other. I also have a 4-H leaders meeting, so I will miss S's volleyball game. Late nights are what September is all about!

The images in the prior two posts were taken by S.

A Very Good Question

2008-09-15T08:38:00.003-05:00

In the comments of the post below, Katie asked "what will you do when the girls are off to college?"

I wish there was an easy answer to that question. Long term plans here were to keep Classy as my trail horse, keep Gunner for S to use through high school along with Emmett and sell Dixie in a few years. With Emmett's problems our plans have changed.

Not just in the long term horse use age plans.

I am defeated. I have had more than my share of horse issues. Between Gunner's EPM, Keo with Lymes, and Emmett with his legs and now his brain deformities I have nothing left.

On top of that I have come to the realization that perhaps these dreams of mine have been thrust upon my children. The resentment I feel from loading trucks with tack because my children are busy with other things has begun to out weigh the enjoyment I get from taking them to shows.

This weekend I asked S if she would like to go on a trail ride with me. She said she would rather go and practice her volleyball. This from the girl who had thought she wanted to go to school for equine studies and then become a farrier. There was a show this Sunday where she was required to attend to be eligible for year end points and there was no point in the week when she showed interest in riding. For justice to the horse, I mentioned that perhaps we shouldn't go and run a horse after it hadn't been ridden all week and she agreed. In defense of S, she recently made the "A" 7th grade volleyball team and is psyched about that. Practice lasts until 5:15 each evening and then it's home to do homework. Friday night was her first Junior High dance, and so like many kids her age the interest has wained.

In an even stranger twist of fate, N is now contemplating becoming a large animal vet. In the last year she is the one who has gone from little interest in riding, to determination to excel with Gunner. She is now considering going to a college with a pre-vet program, one of them would allow her to bring her horse. My guess is being the overly studious, serious about studying, child she is, she will leave him at home, but it certainly opens the door to other possibilities with Gunner. He would make a nice little reiner, he has the athleticism, but perhaps not the breeding to compete at a college level. That doesn't mean she couldn't take him along to practice on. She, like her sister, is very active in tennis right now, and has little if no time to spend on her horse. In addition, the college level courses she is taking and the boys sniffing at the door keep her quite busy.

So, the question remains, what happens when the girls go to college? Classy and Gunner have forever homes here on our farm. It is my hope to find a local trail club to join and participate. Or perhaps a neighbor or friend who will like to hit the trails with me on occasion. I have no interest in competing, although at times I think team penning would be fun. Being in the saddle has GOT to be more fun that sorting cattle on the ground. I don't think cattle can kick that high!

Large Animals

2008-09-12T15:47:00.004-05:00

The whole large animal thing is just not for everyone. This week has been one of those "would rather not have them times." I very rarely feel that way.

Tuesday Jack was putting the cows across the road and they decided to wander. I was working at my computer and saw him running around trying to get them back in. So, I grabbed my crocs and went to help. Three quarters of an hour later, soaked to my thighs we got those babies in. Grrrr!!

Thursday night I came home late, which is now the norm in our house. It was about 8:00 I would guess and dark already. I went out to feed the horses and wolf called them up and got nothing. I whistled and whistled but could feel the heaviness in the air and knew the sound wasn't carrying.

I debated what to do because I really wanted to go in for supper, but I had 5 pails of grain and no horses. I decided to go and find them in case they had got out. I walked to the very far end of the property and was starting to panic that they were gone when I finally got their attention. I could almost read their minds as they each came up to smell and greet me. They were confused what I was doing in their field at that time of night. Knowing they were safe put my mind at ease and I turned to head back to the house. They decided to follow me, Classy the leader right on my heels. As we got into the swamp they turned and ran, snorting and stomping spooked by something. When they settled they were on my heels again, but this time Dixie would stop at each clump of grass and snort. I guess they weren't used to all the mud, we have gotten quite a bit of rain this last week.

When we finally got up to the sheds I started passing out the grain and somehow in the darkness little Emmett got in with Dixie. I knew this was a recipe for disaster, but before I could prevent her from charging Emmett she was after him. He has gotten pretty good at evading her so he was fine. I on the other hand got a blow to the head as Gunner turned and fled out of his portion of the shed. I'm not sure what part of his head got mine, but I think it involved his teeth as I have a pretty good sore spot that isn't going away very fast.

Yesterday (Saturday) it rained most of the day, but it was time to sort cattle, so sort cattle we did. Calves needed to be weaned, cows given shots or blood drawn etc etc. It was at least a four hour ordeal, and my hips ached afterwards like I had been on a long walk. I was soaked to the bone and NOT in a good mood.

After recuperating, I went out to pick tomatoes for salsa and heard pawing from one of the horse sheds. Pawing is not a good sound to be coming from a shed. Especially mid day when I could see all the horses but Dixie out on the pond bank grazing. As I peeked around the shed wall, up came Classy in a show of support. Dixie was hanging her head low obviously upset.

I knew immediately what the problem was. I had administered Quest Plus that very morning as it was on my fall schedule of de-wormers and it can lead to upset stomachs. A call and forty minutes later she had a tube down her and was receiving mineral oil to help work things through her system. Of course it couldn't be done without the use of a twitch. Thankfully she is back grazing as normal today, although she still didn't eat much grain this morning. It might have to do with the sand-clear I added to her grain. But, who knows? Trust me I will keep an eye on her actions as the next few days progress.

Classy? Why that little mare must have had an upset stomach also. While not to the extreme of Dixie's, she did paw slightly and hung on top of me the entire time I was trying to take care of Dixie. I had the vet check her and everything sounded normal, but she let me know in her own way she wasn't quite feeling the best.

I must also note that a donkey's upset braying is much louder inside a shed while a vet is twitching a horse, than it is in the dark when he sees someone in the yard.

So, although I love them to death, these large animals are wearing me out. I am hoping the next few weeks are less eventful as September continues to be a very busy month for us with Tennis and Volleyball and someone trying for her drivers licence and turning 16! I'll just enjoy my small animals more, they are less dramatic. Except when they get locked in the new garage (we have doors!) or come home with a swollen eye!

State 4-H Gymkhana

2008-09-09T22:22:00.007-05:00

Well, we had an exhausting weekend in Milwaukee at the State 4-H Gymkhana competition. We arrived late on Friday, even though we were pushing like heck to get there before dark, after practices and loading up animals and tack it just wasn't possible.

The girls were able to tack up and get into the arena before they closed it for the evening. This was nice because A our friend was in the first class of the day at 7 am. Everyone settled in their stalls and we ordered pizza and got to bed a little after midnight.

Rise and shine was at 5:15 when the girls got up and fed the horses. Then it was back to the dorms for a crappy continental breakfast. Oh well, it was included in the dorm price so that was okay.

A started the morning class with a nice clean pole run. It didn't put her in the top ten, but it was a great run on her horse who had only run poles about five times before.

N followed in her age division and ended up with a seven out of a class that held 26 entries. Gunner is becoming a very respectable pole horse. He improves at each show and N says like Classy before him she just needs to stay out of his way and lean away from the poles and he does the rest. It's exciting to know that he will just get better and better as the years go on.

Barrel was up next and unfortunately neither girl was in the top ten. Driver error bit both girls in the butt, one had a tipped barrel and the other tangled her whip around the rein losing precious seconds...

N had to leave shortly after barrels were done, but A continued to compete and gathered two top tens in the remaining three classes she was in.

While we were waiting for A to run her last class, Beth a fellow blogger over at The Dog and Pony Show showed up. It was fun to meet her in person and introduce her to the horses and S. N was long gone by this point. Beth recommended a fantastic little Italian restaurant and when the riding was done for the night we went and gorged ourselves. Oh and I got to meet her Dog Ozzie, who is just as sweet as the day is long.

Sunday was S's day to shine. Again the girls sans N were up at 5:15 to feed, and we were off to watch S start her class at 7 am. There had been question the day before about the official start spot of the races. We were told the gate could actually be open and they could start at the orange pylons just outside the gates. I helped S and Dixie get up to the line and off they ran. She had clean pole run but was DQ'd because Dixie kicked up the mat as she entered. I wasn't looking down to see if her front feet were over the line so I couldn't argue the ruling. She would have placed third.

S had two more classes on Sunday, Barrels and Plug. Despite the fact that she was sick as a dog, she dug down deep and placed third in both classes. I was most proud of her plug run because she missed reserve by a mere .066 seconds. She rarely does plug and while it is an easy in and out race, and a lot of less skilled horses will do well in it. We talked strategy and she really nailed down the run, until she got right before the barrel and Dixie had other ideas on which side she should go around. S figured it out and still placed third.

Despite the fact that I ran out of money at the food stand where water was $3.50 a bottle, all three of us enjoyed the weekend. Next year we might make some adjustments and camp instead of using the dorm, but over all it was a fun and exhausting weekend.

Thus ends our barrel racing for this year. The girls are both in sports and have no time to ride their horses when they get home. I am hoping we can find time once a week to go on some trail rides, but trying to push to get final points in the local series we have been going to isn't appealing anymore. Not when we get home at 8 pm two nights a week after tennis or volleyball matches and practices put them home at 6pm. That's before supper and homework have even begun!

Emmett continues to act depressed but is still growing like a weed. He is about 5 months old now. I still haven't made a final decision on what to do with my little buddy, except yesterday I decided to spend the next month trying to teach him some basic maneuvers on the ground. My goal is to determine if he can learn...meaning retain what I have taught him from day to day and progress in training. I think that will give me answers to my questions on him.

This and That

2008-09-04T08:48:00.003-05:00

School started on Tuesday for S. She LOVES Junior High! Has already made new friends and seen lots of old friends. Tonight is the first night of Volleyball practice for her.

N's school started the next day, although on Tuesday she spent it at the highschool as a representative of FFA. She's the secretary of the club this year. So she got to hang out with a couple of friends, catch up with teachers she is friends with and meet some of the new Freshman.

Last night I rode Classy bareback. It was a nice relaxing ride. I didn't feel up to saddling her comletely, mainly because she was in heat again and pretty fidgety. Plus I just felt the need for a slower pace. I convinced N to take a picture of us with her cell phone, so here's a crappy shot of us.

The vet is due in 20 minutes. We are having some much needed dental work done and fall shots. Hopefully everyone will be feeling better afterwards.

Behind again

2008-08-29T07:04:00.002-05:00

Sigh. I am having a hard time keeping up on my blog again. August is crazy with both girls in different events, school shopping, visiting, horse shows, tennis matches and on and on.

Last weekend S did a FANTATIC job with our dog Mickey at the 4-H State Dog show. She took top in her grade placing 198.5 out of 200 just beating out one of her best friends by half a point. Then we found out she tied in her division with another girl for top score so she had to go back in the ring and compete again. At the end she was awarded top dog in her division. It was a great accomplishment and she has worked hard most of the summer, so as you can imagine Jack and I are very proud of both the girl and the dog.

Sunday we went to another horse show. The highlight of that show was the COIN FLIP they did to determine a placing between N and her good friend A. A COIN FLIP at a horse speed horse show!? Come to find out the girls decided to flip instead of re-running their horses, and it was for second or third place. Both girls are still in training stage with their horses and both were pleased with the run they had and didn't want to re-run.

I was able to run up to my parents this week and let the girls visit the grandparents before school starts again on Tuesday. It was a nice visit, very relaxing. I always enjoy the time we spend with them, they have a beautiful place. Of couse I would say so, it's where I grew up.

This weekend is busy as well for us. Homecoming dress shopping, horse shows and getting ready for school. On top of that 4-H Record Books are due this weekend so we will be busy for sure.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Ducklings

2008-08-18T07:56:00.006-05:00

The ducklings arrived sometime between my post of the setting mama and Saturday night. Chloe hatched out her entire clutch.

They are adorable. This morning they were running across the front yard. They move in a flock and usually one or two get caught up in something and get left behind and have to run to catch up. Very sweet.

My oldest daughter N is off to Ohio to spend a couple of days at Cedar Point with a friend. It looks like a fun place and she is having a blast.

S and I went to a dog show on Saturday with our faithful companion Mickey. She placed 10th out of 10 in showmanship. She was first in line to do the pattern and didn't understand what the judge wanted. When it came time for obedience Mick was hot and tired and didn't sit at the heel. During the one minute sit he laid down and that lost her 10 points. She placed 7th out of 16 in that class. One of the great parts of 4-H is the opportunities it allows the kids to grow through both disappointments and accomplishments. She has been working hard yesterday on his sits and hopes to do better this weekend at the State 4-H Dog Show.

I'm including a current picture of my latest art work. I am using Prismacolor colored pictures on Dura-Lar mylar to accomplish the look.

Land of the Lost

2008-08-15T08:56:00.003-05:00

Watching the Olympics has taken me down memory lane. Yes, yes, I watched the gymnastics as a kid and thought Olga and Nadia were true visionaries. I mean, heck I NEVER would have been able to do the splits without the inspiration Nadia inspired in me.

But, that is NOT what I am talking about. I'm talking about how my twisted brain works. We've all seen the great and wonderful Michael Phelps, but what about Lezak? Lezak makes me think of the Sleestaks..which makes me laugh, but no one laughs with me. I texted my brother about it and he gave me an roflmao back, but I think he was just being kind.

So here's a link to a YouTube compilation of The Land of the Lost which featured the Sleestaks who have completely scared S. But at least now my kids understand why I am amazed by current special effects.

Horse news:

We were off to a show last night and both girls did pretty well. N improved her barrel time a full second and her pole run a good three seconds in this arena. S struggled with her barrels losing her steering around the first barrel as she tried to use her quirt (whip) to urge her out of the barrel. Each show is a learning experience.

Another Kind of Trimming

2008-08-14T12:27:00.003-05:00

Emmett got his hooves trimmed today by a new farrier. Tammy was kind enough to let us haul in and use her farrier.

He came out of the trim fine, a little ouchy but not too bad at all.

The week has been busy with running my girls to volleyball camp, tennis, marching band practice and tonight a horse show. Thankfully, despite that fact that we live about 10 miles from town, we have neighbors with kids the same age and we can carpool.

My Muskovy female ducks are setting again and I expect ducklings any day. Hopefully this time I can get a picture of them when they are approachable.

S set up this old enamel bathtub with some straw and shortly thereafter Chloe began setting. It won't be long!

Trimming

2008-08-13T08:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I broke down and bought a new yard trimmer. I bought Jack one a few years ago that was pretty heavy duty. So heavy duty in fact that I can never start the thing by myself.

One of the things I hate to do is ask for help, especially on something as silly as starting a weed trimmer!

I stopped at our local TSC (Tractor Supply Company) and looked at all their models. They had them ranging in price and abilities as you can imagine. I settled on the least expensive model that has to be plugged in to work. What you say? Plugged in? Yes, my new trimmer needs to be plugged into a power cord.

Last night I got it out and HOLY SMOKES is that thing nice! The cord was really no problem at all and the thing was a beast! It had no problems with the large weeds that had taken over in our rock beds and elsewhere.

Now I can trim more than once a year and the place will look a little less wore down. Or that's the hope!

Weekend Video

2008-08-11T08:24:00.005-05:00

I've been trying to get the girls to more shows as the summer winds down. N really needs to start pushing Gunner harder to start to become competitive. He's improving at each show as she pushes a little more.

On Saturday he/she fell at the second barrel. I've watched the video over and over and can't pin point what went wrong. She thinks he just wasn't concentrating. I can see her shift in the saddle just before the barrel, but he takes a couple mores strides before he goes down. (??) See what you think and leave a comment... Oh and I just watched it with sound. ha ha... I can't keep myself from yelling I guess.

I was thinking later that it is a bit odd that this didn't frighten me at all. It seemed so slow motion, and she was up and chasing him out of the arena before I could even start moving to get to her.

Her first barrel was better on this run as they were in the exhibition run. Her biggest problem right now is keeping him going to the rate point, meaning she slows him down (or he does it himself) too soon coming into the barrels.

S decided her horse wasn't ready for the show we went to on Thursday and was out of town on Saturday. She will return to shows again this upcoming Thursday. I have ingrained in my children that they must ride at least three times during the week before going to a show, and therefore she decided because she hadn't been riding in the last week of horridly hot weather, she wasn't ready.

In other news we had a nice evening Saturday with friends at the local firemen's fest. Great pork sandwiches and good company. Sunday saw us serving food at our annual church picnic. They had a polka mass that I could only hear the bass of. I am half Polish so I luv's me some polka music.

Sunday evening was a meeting with our 4H club officers and then a dash home to feed the horses and watch the Olympics. Hope everyone else had a nice weekend!

Something to keep you up at night

2008-08-03T17:15:00.005-05:00

If you look closely he looks kind of sleepy. This is what I have been dealing with lately. This last Monday I took him back down to the UW Vetschool where they thought his legs had taken a step for the worse. The farrier took a look at them and thought with a little off the toe they would be good, and sure enough they were. It had been three weeks since his last trim. So I will watch his legs now to see if they start to go back upright in a couple of weeks.

I mentioned that he has been depressed, and they at first said that was normal, that foals settle down. I then brought it up again to a different vet and he said he thought he had been sedated. So they took him out and had lots of different vets look at him and hmm and haw over him.

Neurologically he seems to be okay except for his depressed state. They took blood and it came back fine. The only thing they thought looked off was the shape of his skull. He seems to have an overly large forehead, which could mean hydrocephalus. (water on the brain)

Emmett has been successfully weaned for a little over a month now. Here's a shot of him I just took.

So, yeah, that's what's new here! Some days he seems better, other days not so much. They said don't do anything drastic unless he shows more signs such as seizures or lack of control of himself. In the possibility that it is just depression I threw Uncle Gunner in to take care of him. He does follow him around allot more than he did Lloyd the Donkey, but he is definitely still depressed.

The Saga Continues...

2008-08-03T17:15:00.001-05:00

Fair

2008-07-28T12:27:00.003-05:00

A on Dixie, N on Gunner

This last Saturday N and her friend A competed at the local fair. It's their first time competing with friends they go to school with...so it was fun and different.

They entered the Ribbon Race and freaked Gunner out which lead to some bucking.

N on Gunner Aon Dixie practicing Ribbon without the ribbon (check out those AQHA buts!)

Otherwise it was just another fun summer show with friends. N still has a ways to go with Gunner but the trust is growing between them and it won't be long and they will have created a good team. A lot of the issues now are nerves on N's part. So, seat time needs to be more in an arena than in our back fields. Darn gas prices! Closest horse show I can find this weekend, besides the big NBHA finals in Madison which we didn't even try to qualify for, is at least two hours away.

Easy for me to say but....um....you need to be closer to the barrel!

Fifty Years

2008-07-19T16:44:00.004-05:00

Fifty years ago today my parents were married in a small catholic church in Northern Wisconsin. Along with the five couples in attendance, their two ushers, two flower girls and a ring bearer, the couple was married in front of a packed church in the old traditional Polish way, making it an all weekend affair.

Being the good catholic couple they took their duties to heart and quickly had a son, followed by two more sons within four years and then the highlight of their marriage when I finally arrived (ahem). A few four years later my baby brother arrived and our family was complete.

We grew up in the country raising chickens and a huge garden, nix that two huge gardens full of produce that my mother diligently canned. The chickens we butchered each year saving a few hens back for eggs (henny penny).

We, my brothers and I, grew up in the 60's and 70's amongst the Vietnam war and the civil rights movement. Life was truly guarded for us as I remember little of these conflicts. Our summers were spent building our cabin up in northern Wisconsin just a half mile from where my dad grew up and about five miles from where my parents were married. Each weekend we would pack up the station wagon or truck and head up north for the weekend.

We cleared the peninsula, made roads, built flagstone and concrete steps down to a swimming hole, picked rocks out of the swimming hole and camped. ALOT during our summers. Most weekends were spent at the bunkhouse either building it, or making the surroundings better.

We all worked our way through high school, some of us moving on to college others into the work force and one brother entered the air force. We are all married, and following their example have given my parents ten grandchildren and one step grandchild to help keep them young.

My father retired at 55 (I believe) from the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). A job he took after serving time during the Korean War in the Air Force (stationed in Alaska, poor slob). My mother stayed home and raised my brothers and I until my youngest brother was in school at which point she began substituting for the school food service in our school district. Within a few years she became the director of the school food service program and retired just a few years back at the age of 65.

My father has always been an avid outdoors man. In his younger days he hunted and fished and I remember rowing a canoe for him to fish or ice fishing in the winter with him. He, after retirement, decided it was his goal to plant at least 1000 trees for each year he was on this planet. A goal he has surely surpassed as my brothers would probably agree they have helped plant a lot of trees for him over the last twenty years. My father continues to enjoy electronics, the field he was employed in and enjoys the Internet and lately collecting rare coins.

My mother has always been an artist. She always had some sort of project for us to work on, whether it was polishing rocks or cutting glass bottles in half to make wine glasses my love of art came from her. In recent years she began chain saw carving and relief carving and most recently carving in the round. She enjoys her chickens and having coffee with her friends.

I've watched my parents work through 45 years of the good times and bad and through it all they stuck together and made it work. That was why when it was time for me to make a marriage commitment, Jack was an easy choice because well, 1) he asked me but 2) he came from a very familiar background. His parents will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary this fall.

Mom and Dad congratulations and thank you. Thank you for all you have given me, thank you for you support, thank you for instilling me the right moral values and thank you for sticking it out. I love you with all my heart!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

My Girl

2008-07-18T09:07:00.003-05:00

The header picture is of Classy Peavy, the mare that foaled our little Emmett. She is My Girl. She became my girl after N rode her for a year and we retired her from barrels and poles. She was an awesome pole horse and not too bad at barrels either. I then made the decision to breed her and I am so happy with Emmett. Even with his health issues, he is a gentle and kind little foal who will be an excellant ride someday for S.

So now that Em is weaned, and Classy has recovered, I have begun riding her. I am having a BLAST. Now mind you the first week we just walked. Lots of walking around the feild and although she has arthritis, she loosens up pretty good after about 5 minutes. I have been watching her in the mornings after our rides to see if there is soreness and stiffness. None. Last week and this week I started to trot her and again no bad results were found. So last night after our usual walk and trot fest I asked S to lope her for me so I could watch to see any signs that she was off. There were none. Once around each way was enough for me. N who was working some drills stopped and shook her head. I asked what's the matter and she said and I quote "She's Feeble!"

Oooh I was SO MAD! I didn't speak to her for a long time afterwards and finally she asked me what was wrong. Now granted she used the word incorrectly but what she meant was that I am not allowed to trot or lope Classy because she feels she can't take it due to her arthritis.

What she doesn't understand is that I want to see what she can do for ME. Not her. I don't want to run barrels with the horse, or lope her for hours on end or tax her to the point that she is hurt. I want to learn to ride on Classy. Really ride. She's a good horse with a lot of life still in her, we just need to use her carefully. Well, maybe she understands it now after we talked, but boy was I mad.

After years of sitting and watching them ride I feel like maybe I finally have a horse for myself who isn't A) HOT or 2) BROKEN (as in really lame). Maybe I do finally have that horse. I hope so!!

We're back, we're exhausted

2008-07-14T12:53:00.006-05:00

So, here's a couple of pictures from the fair to tide you over...

N and her Dairy Steer "Dean" took Grand Champion Dairy Steer, and N was awarded senior showman.

S and her Crossbred Steer "Jackson" received Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer and best fitted in the intermediate age group.

S and Mickey just finishing Agility with a 22 second time, first in their age division. She also received first in her class of showman with Mick.

N and Mickey during Agility, resulting in a time of 20 seconds, first her age division. N, in addition, received a qualifying score to move up next year with Mick in Obedience to a class with almost all, if not all off leash work. She received high score in her bracket.

It was Great Year for us at the fair. =)

Another Quick Update

2008-07-10T08:28:00.002-05:00

On Monday I took Emmett down to the UW Vet school and am pleased to say he got a clean bill of health.

He will always have a bit higher of a heal, but as they said "it's just the way his conformation is." He is shoeless, weaned, and free to wander the pasture with Lloyd. I need to keep him on a limited diet to control his growth and prevent him from going back up on his hoof. So you are free to uncross your fingers and toes.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your advice, and well wishes. I guess a simple Thank You will have to suffice.

Wouldn't a picture be nice? Yes, you say it would! Unfortunately this is fair week for us, so my camera is...well goodnes who knows where it is...hopefully packed in one of the vehicles. I'll have lots of fun pictures and stories to share next week. Promise!

Playing weather man

2008-07-08T08:03:00.002-05:00

Often in the summer we check the radar to see what the weather holds in the next few hours before heading out to ride. Yesterday it was hot and muggy and Jack warned me that there was a large band of thunderstorms along the Wisconsin, Minnesota border that was sure to hit us late afternoon, early evening.

We headed out to ride and I noticed it was starting to sprinkle. I ran back in and from my extensive knowledge as a weather forecaster decided we had just enough time to get a ride in. So, out we went to catch the horses, saddle up and work them out. It didn't take long for both of the girls horses to be covered in sweat. It was just so darn humid! I rode Classy around the pasture working on getting her into shape. She was stiff at first but but her arthritis loosened up as we moved around. When the girls were done riding we cooled off on our usual trail ride, but as we headed towards the barn I noticed the storm was about upon us. I cut the cooling off stage short and motioned to the girls to head to the barn quicker.

We got the saddles off and N was rinsing Gunner when it started to blow. Dixie and S were next in line for the hose and she looked at me to ask if it was necessary to rinse her off with the rain coming. As hot as the horse was I insisted. She was about half way through when I pointed at the pens and yelled "Let's go!"

As I took off with Classy at my side I could feel her looking at the trees, the sky and the sheds whose doors were banging from the wind. I turned the corner for the pasture gate and saw Emmett who had escaped his own little pasture to meet his mama!

N had already released her horse, so I yelled for her to grab Emmet's halter while I rushed Classy into a pen and shut the gate to keep them separated. In the background I could hear S yelling for me, but assumed she was coming up soon. N disappeared to the get the halter and I waited while Gunner, The Donkey and Emmett got reacquainted. Emmett, whinnied and pushing against the pipe gates trying to get at Classy. Giving up he turned to the next available horse Gunner. Gunner, poor dude, just doesn't have the necessary parts, and while he likes little Emmettt...not in that way. Things quickly escalated as Emmett examined Gunner too aggressively and Gunner started to squeal and kick out at his inquiries. After what seemed like 20 minutes of this, although I am sure it was seconds, I screamed at the top of my lungs for the girls to hurry.

N showed up as I was making my way out of Classy's stall to separate them and get the halter on Emmett. S followed behind her adding one more horse to the crazy mix.

At that point we were able to lead Emmett to his separate pasture and Lloyd the Donkey quickly followed, knowing where he really belonged. I reassured Classy, opened her stall gate and followed Emmett to the pasture, as he was now tearing around in the pouring rain trying to figure out how to get some of that milk he was so sure he needed.

The wind picked up yet again and he finally gave up and went to his stall. I closed it up with he and Lloyd in and stood and watched the rain. The girls, crazier than I, ran back to the barn to put tack away. While I waited the worse part of the storm out, S came back to see how I was doing.

I later found out that she had froze in the driveway at the end of her lead line as Dixie pranced anxiously because of the storm. N found her sobbing as she went back to get Emmett's halter. I'm not sure what was said, but N snapped her out of it and got the pair moving towards the pasture in time to get back before the horses injured each other. Maybe it was the desperate screaming of her mother?

I think I will listen to my husband a little closer when he talks of approaching storms. He is nicknamed Charlie Shortino (local weather dude) around here.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T10:19:00.002-05:00

A Week Flys By

2008-06-29T22:01:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it has been a whole week since my last post.

Most importantly I must share with you that Emmett is now shoeless! At our appointment this week it was decided to take the shoes off to see how he stood without them. Low and behold his heals touched the ground. Or they do at a walk and trot and when he bothers to stand straight.

I just can't believe that with these shoes he has made that much progress. Now, I will say he is still a bit steeper than some foals you would see, but he is definitely putting his heal on the ground.

Now we wait 10 days and have a recheck. I am giving him Equioxx for five days and then he will go off the pain medication and we will see if he stays down.

Emmett is now officially weaned. He is a bit depressed, and I guess you can't blame the colt. Mom's out in the big pasture with the cows trying to gain back some of the weight he literally sucked right out of her. He on the other hand is still restricted in his exercise. He has a little more room to play, but is not free to roam as he would like.

In other horse news the girls went to two local fun shows this weekend. They had a nice time and both shows were a lot of fun. (thus the name)

S and Dixie

Someone approached us today and asked about Dixie's breeding. She asked if she was out of Wimpy Joe. She has an old foundation Quarter Horse that looks identical to Dixie. We, sadly do not have papers on the mare, but she is as foundation looking as you can get. I occasionally see pictures of some of the foundation hall of famers in the Q magazine we get, and so many of those foundation horses look like our Dixie. The lady said what a nice ride he was but he was a bit of a stinker, and I said he must be Dixie's brother. She was looking for another horse just like him, and then later she came back over and crooned over Dixie. It was quite humorous because we ALWAYS get comments about Gunner and his looks, and never Dixie. She's just this plain old brown horse. We know she is SO much more though.

For instance the day after she bucked S off, the cows got out. So as we were putting the horses away, I said, "get on Dixie and bring them in." Done. Just like that. Gunner would have been scared to death and confused. Not our little Dixie though... I would say she is worth her weight in gold, but gold prices are up, and horse prices are down. So probably not quite the equality in value there, but she is priceless to S and to the whole family really. The two are like peas in a pod.

N and Gunner

N and her horse are establishing a nice bond. He was such a putz this weekend. Bucky as all get out on Saturday. N, didn't get scared, she just rode it out. He has also become quite vocal at the shows. At times it is annoying and at other times humorous. Mostly because he has a quiet, chuckle sort of neigh. On Saturday he did a quiet neigh just as a young girl got her Ball in the Pail in one of the classes, as if to say "bravo!"

It is the bucks and ribbons, the chuckles and tears that make my heart sing when I watch my girls ride. Whether it's S and Dixie rounding up cattle or N and Gunner doing natural lead changes in her first pole class at a lope, owning these horses is worth all the blood sweat and tears we put into them, and the money. The money too.

Weekend Wrap Up

2008-06-22T22:35:00.004-05:00

We had lots of fun with the camera this weekend thus the new look. The header is Classy with a little help from Adobe Elements. S took original.

Speaking of S, she had her very first buck off today. She's slipped off here and there over the years, but has never been bucked off. I was contemplating how many more years I would need to watch the girls ride, and what I could do if something happened anyways, when I saw S go flying. Unfortunately she was across the field and up a hill. I screamed her name and took of running. N was riding Gunner between her and I, didn't see the incident happen but heard me yell, so she reached her before me.

All I could do was hope she was okay. Dixie was standing looking down at her as if to say "I said NO." She didn't even think of running away until help had arrived in the form of N. When N dismounted (in true Tire Race form) Gunner and Dixie took off. Gunner bucking his way to the gate, Dixie chose the straight going for the money flat out run route.

By the time I got to the girls I could see S was standing. N had her arm around her and was holding her helmet. There was many tears but no broken bones. I would guess she is going to be a pretty sore camper the next few days. She landed on her back side and hit her head as well. I could see no concussion signs and no other signs of trauma, so I did what any horse mom would do. Gave her a hug, wiped the tears and told her to get back on.

She would have preferred to have gone in the house, but getting right back on does a world of difference for both horse and rider in this situation. She walked and trotted her until a crack of lighting and thunder sent us in for the day.

So of course the question comes up on what happened. From what S said she had been trotting her for awhile warming her up, and was asking for the lope but Dixie kept breaking down into the trot. S got after her a little too aggressively and Dixie got upset. Dixie will buck if not properly warmed up, but I sat and watched her trotting the horse for a good 10 minutes before asking for the lope. The best guess from my perspective is that Dixie just wasn't feeling well. She has been coughing lately from some hay they got into before I could remove it from the paddock. She has been better the last two days, but while unsaddling her I noticed she had her head lower than usual and coughed a couple times. Not like her at all.

So, I will keep an eye on her for the next few days and make sure she isn't worked too hard until she is feeling up to it.

Poor S and Poor Dixie. Lesson learned.

Oh, and on the way into the house the helmet got deposited into the garbage. I hate to take chances, and once a helmet is stressed, it is no longer safe. Period.

Visitors

2008-06-19T14:56:00.003-05:00

Classy and Emmett feeling the love

On occasion we get visitors to the farm who like to see the horses or the cows or the ducks or the chickens. I am happy to oblige. Usually it is relatives of my in-laws from Chicago or California.

I recently got a few photos via email from a visitor from Colorado. The shot above is right before we took Emmett in to be evaluated at the UW Vet School. Today he is pretty nicked up here and there as he has continued to wear off his baby fuzz.

smile for the camera

This one is of S and Dixie doing her "smile."

Classy and Emmett are slowly going through the weaning process. I am up to 5 hours at a shot twice a day. Tomorrow night I will seperate them over night. She's pretty uncomfortable, but it is definately time to seperate them. He is eating her out of house and home. Uncle Gunner has been doing his best to keep him company while she is away. I keep them seperated in adjoining pens and then for about an hour or so I let her roam the pasture. She usually doesn't get too far. During that time Gunner nibbles at what was left of her hay in her pen. His presence seems to help Emmett.

nom nom nom you has a taste nom nom nom

Emmetts nipping has improved immensly. I can go in clean his stall without too much interuption now. He is respecting my space a lot more, so that alone has been wonderful. I will try and get some current pictures of his hooves before next Thursday when I take him in to be reevaluated again. I can now really see a difference. (yea!)

Poor Lloyd just doesn't know what to do with all the attention...

I suppose, if you must...

Emmett Update

2008-06-13T08:06:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning as I was making my plans for the day I happened to notice that the answering machine was blinking. Upon listening to the messages I found that the Vet School could get me in 2 hours earlier than planned. I quickly called them back and confirmed the rescheduling.

S and I were actually on the road about 1-1/2 hours before the new appointment time. We stopped for gas and made it into the vet school parking lot at exactly the time we were supposed to start our appointment. I couldn't believe that a trip that normally takes me an hour took that long just because of the trailer. But, of course, I was driving cautiously and traffic was pretty busy for a Thursday.

They quickly got us unloaded and we walked into the aisle way and waited for our stall assignment. Emmett was tired from the trip for his energy was pretty low. He was as curious as ever, smelling buckets and checking out anything that caught his eye, but just toned down from our usual hand walking episodes.

Within minutes we had a stall and had the teaching vet, intern, two students the farrier and his intern checking the colt out.

After a lot of discussion it was decided to leave the shoes on for another two weeks. The discussion while lenghty had more to do with explanation to the intern and student than debate about what to do. This is what I like about the hospital, the discussion that ensues allows me time to process what is going on and make better decisions.

The farrier was very pleased with how he was putting weight onto his heels. He felt that Emmetts bones really weren't lined up to be club footed, and he instead just has a steep pastern angle. He advised me that he will likely always have a steep pastern angle, but it was continue to relax as he wears the shoes and as he grows. All horses pastern angle decreases as they grow and put more weight on their front legs. For those of you interested here's wikipedia's take on it.

At one point they held Classy and let Emmett walk the aisles to get a sense of how he walks. He had a grand time with the farriers apron that was laying on a cart, a bucket of water and tearing down some charts that were hanging on the wall.

Within the hour we were on our way back home. I did get a few comments on his good behavior, so that was nice to hear. As much as I think he is a stinker, I guess maybe he is okay. I will continue to work on his leading, giving to pressure and the other suggestions Mikael gave me.

The trip home was one of the most harrowing of my life. I heard on the radio that there was a storm coming in so we stopped for an hour and let that pass. After an hour I could see that Classy was getting pretty antsy, so we headed north.

Into a torrential down pour. They closed one exit as we got to it, but we were somehow able to get off at the next exit, which I am sure is closed now. We had lightening strike a power line next to the truck shortly after our exit. S finally put a coat over her head because she just couldn't take the sight of the rain, lightening and flooding.

Classy was definately happy to be home and Dixie was glad to see her as well. As we raced across the yard to get her in her stall Dixie came out of her shed to meet us. Gunner took two strides out looked around and went back in.

Most roads that cross rivers or creeks are closed in our part of Wisconsin. I have to run to town to get some shavings today, but that's about as far as I will be able to get. Although Minnesota is known for the land of 1000 lakes, Wisconsin in fact has more lakes. It has stopped raining, but now we wait while the rivers continue to rise.

What Can a Mom Do?

2008-06-10T18:52:00.002-05:00

They just keep growing up!!

S graduated from sixth grade today and starts junior high next year. I thought I would be sad, and I was a bit, I thought I would cry, but not at all. She suprised us with the silver level presidential excellence in academics award. She is not an outstanding student if you look at her grades, but she has an inquiring mind and strives to do well. She studies hard and her grades are very important to her. Her teacher these last two years noted how far she has come and how proud she is of the work she does, and what more can one ask for than to be proud of one's work?

She received the future farrier award and was told to remember to tighten her saddle...advice we could all use. Despite her awards at school, in her eyes her greatest accomplishment as of late was cantering bareback. (with a helmet...with a helmet) She was so proud to show me, it brought me back to the days when she would ride Kelzon and get him going as fast as she felt comfortable with and the stop and ask "did I gallop?" I'd shake my head and say sorry, not that time...

N has advanced to junior level at the high school. *sigh* It just doesn't seem real that in two short years she will be graduating. She is within in the top ten in her class, and I suspect the top five after this grading semester. She taught her sister to work hard at grades and seems to obsess about it at times, but that's my little (or big as she's now taller than I am) overacheiver. She recently was told she would recieve the piano piece for the fall musical and was named section leader of the flutes for marching band competitions. She was on cloud nine.

Thanks for enduring my little brag post. I'm just so proud to be blessed with such nice kids.

Soaked.

2008-06-08T12:28:00.004-05:00

Aluminum foal shoes.

I think we got over 5 inches of rain yesterday. A tornado touched down just north and south of us. Just north and south meaning within 5 miles either way. We have one branch off our hickory down, and our hay fields are flattened but otherwise we are okay. Blessed to have a roof over our heads. A bit of water in the basement, but we are dealing with that easily.

Here are some long awaited pictures of Emmett's hooves. The first ones are at three weeks.

I'm not sure he is doing any better today than the day they put his shoes on. Thursday we take him back down to be evaluated again and the experts can tell me what they think. My guess is it will involve more radiographs to truly tell.

Each day I have been giving him pain medication to help ease the stretching and today was the first off day. Tomorrow he gets the medication again and then off again. Thursday when we take him in he will be off and will be able to show them exactly how he feels.

Do you know how hard it is to contain your energy when you are confined to a 12x16 stall all day. I've been bitten kicked and snorted at every time I go out. Poor little bugger just can't contain himself. He got me good today, ran up and took a nip before I could stop him. For the first time he actually got some flesh! OOOOHHH he made me mad! I've taken to having one of the girls stand in the stall with me while I clean it out to keep him distracted. Otherwise he's on top of me or the rake or running and kicking at me. Taking pictures is nearly impossible!

Don't worry I don't take it out on him, he can't help himself. I don't let him get away with nipping me, but he's not being punished horribly either. He definately knows he shouldn't be doing it though.

Gunner and Lloyd

2008-06-02T19:26:00.001-05:00

Interspecies play time.

Darn it!

2008-06-02T17:24:00.002-05:00

You know I love lolcats now Liz turned me on to graphjam I may never get another thing done. Ever. I will forever be on the internet!

more graph humor and song chart memes

An exhausting day

2008-05-31T21:47:00.002-05:00

Today was one of those stay outside all day and work days. I'm exhausted.

I wanted to answer a question Mikael had posed to me in comments from yesterday's post.

Did the vets have a preference about which way to go? And if so, what was it? The reason I ask is that I have some experience with club feet (not my breeding but friends who have dealt with it) and I know there are degrees in them. The more severe the club foot the less likely it can be fixed without surgical intervention.

I've also been told the sooner the surgery is done the better it is for the horse.

The vets both agreed that he was definitely club footed but not severe enough to immediately have surgery. The farrier looked at the radio graphs and felt he could fix it through shoeing. The vets said either way would be fine, and if I was just fed up with waiting, we could go the more aggressive treatment. They said waiting the two weeks to see if the shoeing helps would not be detrimental to Emmett.

If at any point I felt he was going back up, or he was worsening in anyway I should call and they would schedule him for surgery right away.

As of tonight, he is still better than he was without the shoes. He definitely needs to keep exercise to a limit.

One of the things the vet had suggested was to start to wean him. So, tonight I took Classy away for an hour and the little colt protested. He was not at all pleased. After about 45 minutes I put her back with him and I could see that he had stressed his front legs. He was still better than where he had been, but not as nice as he had been earlier in the day. So weaning is out of the question until we get this situation settled.

The thought on weaning was to slow his growth down. He weighed in at 295 lbs on Thursday and was about 6-1/2 weeks old.

So, that's the update for today. They are unhappily settled in their new digs. Classy really hates stalls, especially if she can't see the other horses, and with this set up she can't. Emmett seems to be following in her footsteps.

An update

2008-05-30T20:29:00.003-05:00

First, my computer is not working, so I am logging in on Jack's for a quick update. So, forgive me if I don't visit your blogs, or respond to your emails as promptly as I should.

Emmett was quite the trooper yesterday through all the poking and prodding and his first trailer ride. The UW Vet school staff was phenominal. They took excellant care of him and did a great job answering any and all questions I could think of.

It wasn't a clear cut diagnosis. He definately has two club feet, but the decision on how to treat it was left to me. Either he could have surgery or we could take a more conservative approach and try to shoe him out of it. I was completely at a loss of what to do. My good friend Tammy rode along and she didn't have an answer for me either. I finally called Jack and he said, as long as it won't hurt him to wait and see if the consrevative approach would work, we should go that way. In other words it's never a good idea to go into surgery unless you HAVE to.

So, Emmett has a new set of aluminum sliders on his front hooves. He, like Big Brown, has glued on shoes. They farrier guru trimmed the dead heal and frog off and built up his heal to allow him to put weight on it. In addition he is also on pain medication to allow him to stretch those little muscles to get his heal down.

When it was time to go home he leaped into the trailer and slid across the boards to the front as if to say "get me outta here!"

I have to keep him out of mud and confined to a stall for the next two weeks, and then we will head back down to the Vet school to see how he's done. He let me know today on one of his twice daily walks, that he wasn't a BIT happy about not being able to jump and play.

Tammy let us borrow a stall for a couple days while I do some work here to finally finish the stall he was birthed in, create an indoor stall and create a nice grassy paddock for him to have a small turnout in. Thank goodness I had purchased 12 connecting fence panels last winter.

I appreciate immensly the support you all have given me. I have gotten a LOT of good advice, and just typing all we are going through has helped tremendously.

Thank you AGAIN to Tammy for her support. I don't know what I would have done without her. She always comes through when I need her most, providing stalls, mental support and great advice.

The Call

2008-05-27T22:12:00.003-05:00

I put a call into the UW Vet school and have an appointment for Thursday.

Unfortanetly this evening Emmett is pretty sore for the first time since he was born. He is moving around but with out the vim and vigger he has always had and with a definate limp. I will call the vet school in the morning to get their advice.

They asked me which vet to send the paperwork to, and I hesitated. I finally gave them the name of the original vet. The vet who I have still not heard back from.

I haven't a clue what I will do if all this waiting has worsened his condition, which it seems now it has. Grrrr!!

A Hard Post

2008-05-27T08:13:00.002-05:00

I sometimes wonder about my journey with horses and why some of us are given a harder road to follow than others.

A few years back when Gunner was diagnosed with EPM, our family had to make hard decisions on whether to treat and hope for a cure on a disease where little was known. After much research and emotional unrest we decided to invest in an unlikely outcome and treat the horse. Whether it is due to lingering effects of the EPM or just his makeup in general, the horse is still susceptible to illnesses. In addition we have to work harder at building and maintaining his right hindquarter muscles to keep him strong and able to perform at a level that is necessary. The journey we undertook with this horse has been worth the outcome in so many ways. He is the most gentle horse we have ever owned. He is receptive to our emotions and is a hard working and kind animal. He will stay here at my farm until N steals him away, as she threatens to do after college.

Now I face another challenge that breaks my heart again as we search for the correct answer on how to help Emmett. Emmett was born with contracted tendons. When he was born I made the decision that if he was up and nursing in the required amount of time and all seemed well, I would not call the vet in to examine him. All seemed well, except for his crooked little legs. Emmett was about a week overdue and therefore, I assumed, as I had read as such, that his legs would straighten out in a week or two. By week three I was concerned. His legs were straight for the most part, but his front heels were not making contact with the ground.

The vet was out and treated him with oxytetracycline which has a side effect of relaxing the area effected. The first day or two I saw miraculous results. He continued on treatment for five days and by the fifth treatment the vets were talking about surgery. It was obvious the treatments were not working.

To say I am disappointed in my vet at this point would be mild. He immediately, upon seeing the foal, asked what I had been feeding the horse during pregnancy. I told him I had followed his regime, but had substituted a different mare vitamin, because his vitamin was not available in our area. This, of course, was the cause in his mind. In addition as I have done further research I have read that oxytetracycline gives temporary correction to the condition, which is exactly what we have seen. Now, I have waited a week to hear back from them on our next course of action. They were going to call down to two equine hospitals and get me quotes on surgery.

Meanwhile, I have been dealing with the guilt. I should not have bred, although people do it every day with success. I should have been more knowledgeable, and yet my bed stand is stacked with every imaginable and available book on breeding, and I have ear marked and read through every one of those books if not once, twice. I should have drove the 60 miles to get the vets special vitamins, instead of the 10 miles to our local TSC store for their mare vitamins. I should have had the vet out when Emmett was born, although I have had years of experience birthing other breeds of animals on this farm. The guilt will not subside, no matter who tries to sooth my mind or heart.

Today I will take action and call the UW Vet school myself and make an appointment for them to examine Emmett as soon as possible. They have a superior farrier and I have been told that should be my deciding point between hospitals. For Emmett will need shoes after the surgery for a few months to get him balanced.

People have asked me what am I going to do? I have come to the realization that I need to do everything I can for the little colt, as I was the one to make the decision to bring him into this world. It is my responsibility to do everything in my power to give him a chance.

I have debated whether to post about what we are going through because I have seen the horse blog world make an ugly turn in the last year. People are blasted from all corners on how they handle their horses. It is my hope that by posting about Emmett I will instead gain insight from others who may have been on this journey before me.

I will report, when I can, how he is doing. For instance, you should know that he continues to be a healthy spirited little fellow and runs and plays freely with his mother and his Uncle Gunner. He is just not able to stretch his heels to the ground, and over time this will cause further problems for the little colt.

If I am not posting as much it's because this journey has been hard, and while I am trying to understand it and learn from it, it is difficult to put this down in words. I know, as in all areas of my life, I will come out stronger on the other side.

Hay!

2008-05-21T15:01:00.003-05:00

I noticed on my way home from town today that one of the farmers has begun cutting first crop hay. I wonder if he is a bit early and just needs the hay, or if it's truly ready. I know a couple of our fields are knee high already, but haven't quite reached the right stage. I will claim ignorance on what that stage is. Something to do with just before the alfalfa blooms for peak nutritional value.

As I mentioned in an early post, we have done some adjusting this year to accommodate the rising cost of corn. We don't need a lot of corn to feed what little cattle we raise, so we just plant what we absolutely need. The rest of the fields are either in pasture or will be hay. This year, if the weather holds true, we will have a bumper crop of hay. Unfortunately the cost of fertilizer, namingly pot ash, has more than doubled since last year, in fact it's tripled in price!

So, right now I am eying up the hay fields hedging for a couple of wagons to get me through next winter. Maybe even three wagons! I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed I can get second crop, but at this point I will take what I can get.

My fingers and toes have been crossed so much lately I'm starting to walk funny! Hope it helps though.

This That and The Other

2008-05-19T09:36:00.003-05:00

We're still trudging along here, never fear.

Emmett is doing a bit better. He has been on treatment since Tuesday with the weekend off. I see some improvement, and then not as much. Time will tell, and we are all keeping our fingers and toes crossed that this treatment will help him. He has become much easier to handle and quite the little buddy, unless you happen to be carrying a needle. *sigh* Hopefully he will out grow that! He is happy to see me and even nickers for me when he sees me coming.

We have ducklings. They are just the cutest little things. I think the latest count is thirteen. Craigslist will see them in a few weeks. Who needs seventeen ducks!?

Our old garage was tore down a few weeks ago and today they start excavating for the new garage. Our place has always looked a bit run down, so I was amazed what a difference getting rid of the old garage made. Next step is fixing the barn roof.

We by-passed any shows this weekend. With S off on her sixth grade trip and N at a youth leadership camp, we just couldn't swing it. The horses are getting fat and sassy with their time off, but tonight we will be back at it.

The school year is winding down, and not soon enough. I can see the weariness in my children's eyes. They need the break, and summers around here are always an adventure.

The Vet comes to visit

2008-05-14T09:00:00.004-05:00

Last week about this time I started to worry about Emmett's front legs. He was three weeks old, but in my opinion a bit too up on his toes. He'd been over at the knees at first, but that was slowly straightening itself out.

I called in my faithful friend Tammy for her opinion, she hoped over the next day and said "call the vet."

The vet couldn't get here until yesterday. In the mean time we gave Emmett 15cc of vitamins each day starting on Saturday, the day the vitamins appeared in my mailbox.

It's these little blips that I often find as blessings to keep working with our horses. While we had done a little work with Emmett, we were slacking off. So each day this last week we haltered and led him around, picked up his feet, made him back and played with his ears along with administering the vitamins.

Being our first foal, I am unsure how foals should act. I know how yearlings act and how 2 year olds act from experience, but foals are an unknown to us. Emmett is a little stinker, but he will calm down with a soothing voice and a friendly rub on the neck. Let's just say he's become better at not nipping at us. Last week he would run up to me, take a nip and run away! This week he runs up, sniffs, nuzzles and then I gently tell him no when I can see he can't contain himself anymore and wants to nip.

I also am unsure what they should look like at one month of age. I know his legs should be straightening out, and they are except for the on toes issue. The vet arrived and said, boy he's a big one eh? Me: Um, okay. (so unknowledgeable here). He checked him over good and administered an IV of tetracycline. This morning when I went out for the first time since foaling Emmett is down on his front heals. He is not completely where he needs to be, but the improvement is quite noticeable. What a relief, because it was like a chipped tooth or canker sore, you know, those can't keep your tongue away from it spots? All N and I could see when we would go to work with him was his front legs.

The vet also recommended that I wean him at 3 months. He is just growing SO fast that he will need to be kept back a bit to help stay correct.

Jack says that all makes sense because that's what we do here...grow animals.

Blogger is fighting me loading a picture so I will do a before and after shot later this week.

And now for something a little different

2008-05-13T20:51:00.002-05:00

What science fiction character are you?

I'm "Elrond"

A stern yet benevolent organizer who often knows best, your wits are keenly fixed on aiding efforts you deem worthy.

Now at this last we must take a hard road, a road unforseen. There lies our hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril to Mordor.

I stole this from Katie K.

If you want to take the test go here...but come back and tell me who you are.

Off she goes!

2008-05-12T08:26:00.003-05:00

My youngest S, left this morning for a week long trip with her sixth grade class. I didn't think I would be teary eyed, but in fact I was.

Before she left home she gave me a note of instructions for the week. I wanted to share them with you because I found them so precious.

To help I will put in parenthesis who each character is in the instructions.

Dear Mom,
I keep the fishlight on during the day. The algae eater needs algae. With Dixie (her horse) be gentle on her and work on bending and backing. I play games where I let her roam while I ride. You should also try walking figure eights and see how little you can use your hands. She likes to go in circles so let her. Trot for exercise in circles 20 times each way. Let her walk 4 n between 2 each way. If she is breathing hard slow her to walk 8 (4 on each side). If nothing else lounge her if you can or have N get on her. When catching her whistle very low once. I am trying to get her to respond to that. Then once caught giver her a treat. Pick her feet each day and try, gently mind you, to see if the shoe is on good. I like to brush or pet Lloyd (donkey) each day. Approach him very slowly and pet him. I want Lloyd not to fear people. Shuck corn off each and every day and give it to Zoe and Chloe (female setting ducks) Two cobs each will do. Mickey (dog) still needs tick meds and you should check him each day. If Gunner (N's horse) works hard and N gives him no treat, stay after she puts him away and give him one. You said you were going to move the horses and Lloyd remember? You will need to feed Mickey and the cats now. Every day I check on the worms. I think you should put them back. I will catch them again. They will die otherwise. Make sure you see and feed Bart (barn cat) every day. Stay cool. I love you. S. P.S. Mickey, Osa (cat) Timmy (cat) may need some meds for ticks, worms and health pellets. Same for Emmett (foal).

She came home from school the other day all mad because one of the 5th grade boys called her a little mother. I have to agree with him.

You know I like ICHC

2008-05-09T15:18:00.002-05:00

I visit the site daily if possible. For some reason I keep going back to this particular lol...

more cat pictures

In the Middle of the Night

2008-05-08T06:29:00.005-05:00

Over the past few years N's passion for riding has, well, lets just say dissipated a bit. Boys you think? While she's interested in the occasional guy, she for the most part still things they are useless and don't have enough brain cells in their head to know how to walk down the halls at her school.

It has more to do with history of riding different horses. She still has the work ethic needed to compete, it's more a matter of missing a spark I used to see.

On Monday she asked to ride. I reminded her that we had been at a show the day before and traditionally we take the day off.

"I've been looking forward to riding all day." It warmed my heart.

But here's where my heart froze over again.

She has also made comments about not owning horses when she grows up. I thought that was fine. It's her choice. Now she tells me that when she's done with college she's going to come back and get Gunner.

WHAT!

I told her it had better be in the middle of the night, and she'd better be quiet, because if I ever caught her trying to take him, if I consciously knew she was taking him, it wouldn't happen. She giggled, but somehow I know she's dreaming of a farmette with her boy outside her window instead of mine. I can see it in her eyes.

Darn it!

Week Three!

2008-05-06T14:46:00.004-05:00

He's just so darn cute (I might be biased). Emmett is so curious, I can hardly get a picture in before he is on top of me. So, here's a series as he came towards me.

First Show Done and Over

2008-05-04T14:20:00.003-05:00

Today was the girls first show of the year.

It was a very, very small show. Most classes only had three to five riders. Last year, there were more like twelve to fifteen at this show. The day was gorgeous, so I am unsure where everyone was. I think between the price of gas and the late winter, people either couldn't afford to come or they just weren't ready.

This was our first year of actually being ready for the first show of the year. Our horses, and I might be biased, were shiny and well conditioned. Even without our usual first show prerequisite bath!

S placed first in two pole bending classes and first in one barrel class. She would have come close to taking first in the other barrel class but tipped a barrel. She lost her stirrup, fumbled with the reins and Dixie smacked a barrel. It's incredible how much these two have improved with the help of some lessons this spring. She knocked a good three seconds off her barrel times and we saw a couple places to help her get faster still. By the end of the year she should be able to knock another second off her run.

N had a meeting this morning, so only ran in barrels where she took two thirds. Gunner and N need a lot of shows this year to gain confidence in each other. N was VERY pleased with how well he did, and that's what it's all about!

A Christmas I got a nice digital camcorder, but do you think I was smart enough to bring it? Their next show is next Sunday and I will have it in hand. It's so much easier to have them watch their own runs to explain how to improve, or to have them evaluate themselves instead of me trying to explain it.

Shocking

2008-05-03T21:31:00.004-05:00

Gary Jones / AP

Eight Belles ~ 3 Year old filly, the only one in the field.

May she rest in peace.

First Aid Kit for Horses

2008-05-02T08:20:00.003-05:00

Waking from a nap - or "Huh?"

Yesterday we held our first 4H Horse meeting of the year. N is old enough to be a junior leader, and because there isn't an active horse program in our county, decided to take on some meeting herself.

Last fall she learned at the Wisconsin 4H Horse Youth Conference all about first aid kits for horses. So, yesterday we completed our kit and presented it to a small group of 4H members and their moms.

We then caught Dixie and Gunner, went out to the barn and had those who were interested listen to gut sounds, take the horses temperature, attend a small wound on Gunner and Dixie, check capillary refill time and check for dehydration.

Here's a a list of what we put in our kit (list taken from Petplace.com)

Horse First Aid Kit

Put all your supplies in a covered plastic storage container, plastic file box with a handle, or in a medium-sized toolbox. Make your first-aid kit portable so that you can carry it easily in case you need to evacuate your barn during an emergency or for when you're on the road traveling to horse shows or other events.Key Items for Your First-Aid Kit·

Antibacterial soap Many veterinarians recommend Betadine, Chlorhexidine scrub or Hibiclens to clean minor wounds. The soap should not be left in the wound, so have some saline around to flush the wound before wrapping.· Antibiotic ointment. After a wound is cleaned and dried with a sterile sponge or gauze, you should apply an antibiotic ointment (e.g. triple antibiotic, neosporin or bacitracin) to decrease the chance of infection.· Sterile gauze sponges and pads. Have a variety of sizes on hand for covering the minor cuts or wound.· Two to four disposable diapers or wrapped sanitary napkins. These items are effective as absorbent pressure pads when trying to stop bleeding.

Bandages Include an Ace bandage, a 2½ - inch gauze bandage roll, as well as several equine leg bandages, which are available in most tack stores.

Adhesive tape 1-inch and 2-inch rolls. These will keep pads and bandages in place.

Two to four quilted or padded wraps The wraps should be placed under bandages for added absorption.

Household scissors and/or knife These can be used for cutting clothes, straps or ropes that your horse may be tangled in during an emergency.

Tweezers These can be used to remove splinters, thistles or other fragments that might be lodged in your horse's skin. Do not pick at wounds aggressively as this can deepen foreign bodies and elicit a dangerous reaction from the horse. The vet will remove foreign material, usually with the horse under sedation.

Ice bags or a chemical ice pack These can be used to prevent or reduce swelling from blunt trauma (e.g. a knee that hit the fence), reduce bleeding or swelling at the edge of a fresh wound. Other applications of ice include shrinking hives, treating head injuries contracted while loading or swollen injection sites. In the case of heat prostration, one can actually douse the horse with ice water from a large bucket.

Rubbing alcohol Use this to disinfect your thermometer after and before you use it.

Veterinary or human rectal thermometer Keep this to take your horse's temperature and know whether or not he has a fever before you call your veterinarian. This bit of information will help steer your vet in the right direction before he or she visits your horse. Digital thermometers are less likely to create worry about glass breakage and are very accurate. They come with a nice plastic container.

Lubricant Include a tube of K-Y Jelly or another water-based lubricating product to help grease the thermometer before insertion into the rectum.

Stethoscope This will help you monitor your horse's heart and lungs before the vet arrives. You must have proper training on this device if it is to be useful. The heart rate can be taken on the facial artery located across the angle of the jaw. It helps to have a watch with a second hand.

Plastic Gloves Disposable plastic gloves to help prevent cross contamination between you and your horse.· Emergency Phone Numbers. Include your vet and a horse knowledgeable friend.

Flashlight In case it’s after dark or to help illuminate those hard to see places.

Phone numbers A card with your veterinarian's phone number and a phone number of a close horse friend you can rely on in case of emergency.

We filled our tote with all these items, minus the stethoscope which we borrowed from a friend for the evening. We will pick up one at our first chance. In addition it was brought up that a dose of bute and banamine would also be helpful, with the warning not to give the medicine without a vets permission. We live about an hour away from an equine vet, therefore, having the meds on hand to administer with their permission can help the healing process begin.

Do you keep a first aid kit for your horses, and if so, what other items do you include?

Also, as we were looking through our 4H project books a few items they listed seemed strange to me. So any insight on why you would include the following would be appreciated: Coppertox and Vicks vapor rub

About A Week Behind

2008-04-28T20:32:00.003-05:00

Last week I worked all but one day, and the weekend was pretty busy too, therefore I am about a week behind with my pictures of Emmett and blogging in general.

I was looking through day 2 pictures and I just can't believe how much he has grown in two weeks!

Here's a shot of him trying out his new legs. In the background you can see Lloyd watching by the water tank.

This one is a picture of N and I cleaning him up after his first milk poo. It was kind of messy and so we washed him as well as possible, and then N volunteered to put the Vaseline on. This week he will need another cleaning up after the foal heat poo. (Such lovely things you are learning about horses eh my diva sisters?)

We are starting to offer him pelleted food. He doesn't eat but a bite or two and then he's off running again.

I can lift all four of his legs already and rub him all over with out TOO much protest, including in his ears and inside his back legs. I make sure I can lean over the top of him and hold my arms around his middle also. He is such a good boy!

Dixie and Gunner came home this weekend. We have two pens of cattle between the momma /colt and the two who came home, but they still found each other immediately, calling and watching each other through the wires.

Our first horse show of the season is this Sunday. Already!! For the first time ever our horses are pretty much ready. The girls have been riding for six weeks now and I don't feel afraid to let them let loose and run the horses. I know S will, but N will probably spend the first few shows working Gunner up to where he was last fall.

Gunner was looking a bit thin and non-energetic the last few weeks, so on Tammy's recommendation we changed his feed. Holy smokes is he ready to go now! After the first three days of feed he planted all four feet and sent N flying above her saddle. I looked over in time to see about 2 feet of air between her but and the seat. She actually rode it out and really got after him for being so rank. The rest of the week saw a better horse, both energetically and respectfully. She will definitely have to watch for that and lounge instead of getting hurt.

In non-horse news N took four firsts and three seconds with her seven pieces of music she played at our state solo and ensemble. She, like her mother, is a perfectionist at her art and can't enjoy anything but a perfectly played piece. So, these competitions are stressful. She did beautifully in my opinion, but then I might be slightly biased...

Breeding

2008-04-21T09:50:00.002-05:00

Mikael at Rising Rainbow, an unbeknown mentor of mine, is struggling with the decision to breed this year.

I struggled last year when trying to decide whether to breed Classy. My struggles were for different reasons, and now I face those thoughts again. This time the answer, I believe, is a little clearer.

The day Emmett was born I was reprimanded for breeding. I was told I have too many horses, more than we can ride. Living on a family farm, one gets opinions from the entire family.

We live on a cattle farm and the cattle have to come first. The horses are for our pleasure, they do not bring in any money. In fact, anyone who has horses for pleasure will attest to the fact that they suck money out of your wallet on a regular basis.

With the recession (notice I didn't say impending recession), we have changed the way we feed our cattle. We raise our own corn, but soybean prices have gone through the roof. The feeders who rapidly ate up our corn supply, are now turned out to pasture to mature. Pasture that previously was used by my horses.

My horses who have always been on pasture from April until October will now be on hay year round. We currently have enough hay to get through until the first cutting, so it shouldn't cost us any more money.

This weekend I sold Catfish. We are down to Dixie, Gunner and Classy and of course little Emmett. I no longer have a riding horse, unless Classy can be ridden when she recovers from birth. She has arthritis issues, so her ridability is in question.

Initially I had hoped to breed her this summer to a nice stallion I had gotten to know. I was debating whether to breed again due to the horse market. I will say I really, really wanted a horse of my own out of Classy. She is an exceptional horse. By far the best we have ever owned. Emmett, from what I can already see, is calm, sensible and very nicely put together. Truly time will tell what type of horse he will become.

So, for now, I will be the one walking down the road while my girls ride their horses to the arena to ride. There will be no additional breeding of Classy. She will live here and (hopefully) become my trail horse. My niece will ride her on occasion and other children who visit. She will truly retire in fashion.

For myself, I am hoping to continue lessons with the trainer at Tammy's barn. Someone will have a horse I can borrow, I'm sure. I can still become a better rider without my own horse right??

A Glorious Morning

2008-04-16T21:17:00.001-05:00

As much as I wanted to be there for the actual foaling, sitting and watching the sunrise as our new foal found his legs was about the most moving experience of my life. My favorite time of year on the farm is when the cows calve out, so having the opportunity to be there shortly after Emmett was born ranks pretty high on my all time best days of my life. At one point as the sun was getting higher in the sky I looked over, camera in hand to see this image against the shed wall. I quickly got a few shots in before they moved again.
As this was the first foal I've had experience with, there was a lot of nervousness on my behalf. Thank goodness Classy is an old pro at the whole thing. She is very protective of her colt, but is the lady she has always been with us. We are allowed in her pen and we are allowed to touch and work with Emmett. The donkey? Not so much. Poor Lloyd had to be moved over to the next pen.
I had meant to wait one more day to let them out of their shed, but they snuck out on me. It has been really beautiful here the last few days and Classy was thrilled to be released. She bucked and rolled and enjoyed what little freedom she could while Emmett tried out his legs on uneven ground. It wasn't long before she was chasing him down.

I love to watch her take care of him. She watches and if he gets too close to the fence she will trot between him and the fence and redirect him. She also stands over him as he sleeps all spread out after an hour of running.

Emmett is a friendly little guy. He likes to come up and sniff my face and will let me hold his face, my hands on either side of his jaws. I noticed yesterday he will have one small speck of blue in his right eye. A tribute to his Bright Eyes bloodlines that comes through his mum.

The Results

2008-04-13T20:32:00.006-05:00

Hollywood Hotrod

Classy Peavy

Sometime between my 1:00 check and 3:00 check he arrived. Yes! A colt!

Tentative names are:
Hollywood Twister
barn name: Emmett

Blahh

2008-04-13T12:06:00.002-05:00

I had a nice long post about our weekend and then accidentally posted it to Beth's blog. I quickly deleted it but what a dork am I?

A quickie then...

No foal.
Catfish came home.
Classy is irritated and hormonal. Milk has turned solid white and I'm not allowed to touch her on her bag anymore. What little I could feel was rock hard.
Crappy weather but took advantage of indoor yesterday.
Went to an excellent local high school production of Antigone yesterday.
Doing Taxes.

Enjoy the rest of YOUR weekend all!

She's killing me

2008-04-11T11:29:00.003-05:00

Classy was all waxed up for the last three days. Today? Nothing.

Spent well over an hour pitching straw out of her pen. It rained horribly yesterday, and is supposed to continue today. Well, actually it IS continuing today.

Nice lovely flower growing HORIZONTAL rain. Classy and Lloyd were huddled into the last three feet of the shed trying to keep dry yesterday. At least the rain seems a little more vertical today. I put a light layer of straw down, because after two weeks of thinking she was close I officially HAVE NO CLUE!

Her milk did go from clear to cloudy on Wednesday, so she really, really is getting closer...but when? WHEN!! I can't take this!

A Spring Day

2008-04-07T13:48:00.004-05:00

Last week was beautiful here in Central Wisconsin.

We have two calves on the ground here at our farm. This little cutie pie is losing part of his ear due to frost bite. Sometimes some of our cattle look a lot like Shrek after the frost bite gets to them at this tender age.

This little guy was born just this last week. The older calf harasses him non-stop to play, but he's just not up for it yet.

Here's Lloyd coming out of Classy's foaling shed. He's been having a grand time now that the snow is melted. At times we will look out to see him running around the pasture bucking and snorting, rolling and then bucking and running some more! There is no apparent reason, other than he feels good.

This picture is of The Dread Pirate Roberts. He is our farm rooster. Isn't he beautiful? I don't think I have taken a picture of him before. He does a good job of protecting his ladies. He scares me a bit, as I have been attacked one too many times by roosters. The difference this time is he absolutely LOVES S. In the past the roosters would pick on her. The Dread Pirate will run right up to her and follow her around adoringly. It stems from an incident where she "saved" his life when he got stuck in a snow storm on a rock. Now mind you, he was a mere three feet from his coop, and the door was wide open, but in his little mind, those three feet were 1000!

Finally, here is a picture of miss Classy Peavy. Today she is at 345 days pregnant, and you can tell. I've started to check on her in the night. She waxed briefly yesterday afternoon, and her bag was swollen beyond what I thought was capacity! For those of you who have been pregnant, remember those last two lovely weeks? Yeah, well, our girl Classy is there. She's at that spot. If you don't believe me click on the image to see a bigger shot. It's in her eyes. It almost hurts to look at them. For all of our sakes, I hope the big event happens soon, but none more than for her.

I'm Just Sayin...

2008-04-02T16:07:00.001-05:00

see more crazy cat pics

Could only be one of five of us kids, and I'm fairly certain it isn't me *cough(Steve)cough*

Sad part is I don't think he knows I have a blog, so he can't even enjoy my laugh at his expense.

Second Guessing

2008-04-02T08:02:00.003-05:00

I am such a whiz at second guessing. Or maybe I should say over-analyzing. I over analyze things until my mind screams in pain.

Things I am over analyzing at the minute...

Sell Catfish? He's a lot for this beginning rider to handle, or I should say a lot more than I thought I would be dealing with. I feel it's time that I get a chance at a horse for myself instead of my children's cast offs. The horse market, as all my horsey friends know, is in the dumps. Really, really bad, for those of you who aren't horse enthusiasts. Making money off the sale of this horse is pretty low on my priorities. Finding someone who will care for him and understand his quirks ranks number one on who his new owner might be.

Breed Classy with the resulting foal to be my horse. (current foal will be Shyla's)
Then I would keep Catfish because he is old and will likely pass on when the next years foal would be rideable. Suck it up and just learn to ride him, despite his attitude. This puts me back to the same dilema intensified that I had last year. The horse population in our country is overwhelming for the needs of the existing horses. Why add another? But then, I think a foal out of Classy would be an asset. She is a very sane minded horse and is conformationally correct. In addition I have found a couple of very nice studs whose get (offspring) are very very nice.

Foal Watch
We got nuthin. She was bucking at Lloyd (donkey) Monday and loping to get her grain last night. Silly girl. I've not started my nightly visits because I don't feel she's there yet. Soon, but not yet. I've read LOTS of information on what to look for, and when I see what seems impending signs of foalage (my own word) I will start nightly vigils. N and I are talking of investing in some hammocks that we could hang above her. Can you imagine!?

Each morning I rush out, just in case my intuitions on her birthing is incorrect. This morning I couldn't see her at all, so of course I worried and ran, but nuthin. Something tells me that our little defender of the property (Lloyd the Donkey) will let us know if something is up. In the mean time those who were in on the Classy pool fall by the wayside, one by one. All that are left are myself, my mother, N and our friend Shelley.

Checking In

2008-03-31T16:19:00.002-05:00

It's Monday, and while we thought spring was here...maybe not. It's chilly (37) and raining. Yucko.

No foal yet. She is (obviously) closer each day, but no waxing yet. Mares, for my non horsey friends, leak colostrum shortly before foaling. The colostram is thick and sticky, and creates what looks like wax on the teats of the mare. More than you wanted to know I am sure.

Classy is at the moment hanging with Lloyd in the shed, facing Northeast. That's the update I get from Jack during the day. "She's facing Northeast again." Sure enough, I look out and she is facing north east. Not eating hay as aggressively, just standing, tolerating that part of pregnancy that is the last few weeks.

This morning I went out and brushed her off real well, and after cleaning her stall I went to brush Lloyd, and then felt a nudge. From Classy. So, she still wants my attention. She doesn't get mad if I brush others, she just nudges me to let me know, that I really should be giving her the attention.

On the calving front we have had about 10 calves already this spring. All (knock on wood) are healthy and doing well. They are at that cute age where there is lots of jumping, kicking and frolicing. I hope to get pictures later this week when it clears up.

I'm in the process of trying to sell Catfish. He is just not working out t he best for me. So, I will see if I can sell him and perhaps look for a different riding horse for myself.

Spring Break

2008-03-24T11:07:00.002-05:00

We just finished with Spring Break. We had a nice week of riding, visiting my parents and the cumulation of spending Easter with Jack's parents. Perhaps the true cumulation came last night when S got sick eh? Both girls are home for another day sick. Poor dears.

Classy is progressing nicely. Well, she's not so happy right now, lots of tail switching, the foal must be in a bad spot. I'm keeping a close eye on her though. We got her pen all set up nicely and she has settled into staying in at night. She's not one who enjoys being in a stall, so having the larger panels set up so she can move around more has really helped.

Our riding took a few unexpected twists last week.

Dixie decided perhaps she didn't need to slow down. Ever. We got some great advice from Tammy and the trainer at the barn, and by Saturday S had much better control and was riding better than I had ever seen her ride. So much of her education with horses has been "get on and ride." So, spending the extra money for lessons has been not only necessary but certainly worth it.

Gunner was a bit bucky at the start of the week, but by Saturday he too had settled in and figured out what he was at the barn for. Work. N is really starting to bond with him, and loves him to pieces. This week, when the girls are better, the workouts will increase in intensity.

Beyond that, we got a load of snow dumped on us on Friday. This was also "the" day to get N's temps for driving. So, off we went to get them. I figured the winter driving would be good for her. She is doing okay. They have no behind the wheel in the class that was offered to her until she has her temps. When I took classes the behind the wheel coincided with the book, plus we had those fun simulators! So, her driving experience truly began on Friday. With it came the experience of filling the car up with gas, going through the drive through for lunch, having to wait to eat and having her sister freak out in the back seat. I didn't use my imaginary passenger side brake but once or twice, and only caught myself clinging to the door handle once!!

Spring arrives

2008-03-16T11:47:00.002-05:00

Thank goodness.

Acutally it doesn't arrive until the day N goes for her driving permits, but it felt like it was truly here yesterday.

For yesterday was the day we finally moved into Tammy's to begin spring conditioning. I told the girls we needed to start off slow. This morning I read the conditioning portion of Ed and Martha Wrights book Barrel Racing Training the Wriht Way. It gave me some great ideas to get us all going.

N and S both have Quarter horses so they will be working on lots of long trotting and some slope loping to condition. I will be riding Catfish this year, and he just needs to get legged up to endure my demands, which are not so strenuous as barrel racing.

Friday Fill-In

2008-03-14T15:51:00.006-05:00

I borrowed this from Beth, who got it here. Don't have the energy to post much more than this:

1. Contact may cause severe and life altering damage.

2. The parties hereto do mutually agree to leave each other alone.

3. Disney parks sort of freak me out, they are a little TOO clean.

4. A nap in the sun sounds really good right about now!

5. I positively love spring.

6. Tulips and daffodils always makes me smile :-)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to brushing the horses, tomorrow my plans include riding Catfish and Sunday, I want to pray for peace in this ole messed up world!

The Art Institute of Chicago

2008-03-08T08:38:00.003-06:00

Chicago is my very favorite big city. Most likely because I have had the most time to explore it. I have wonderful memories of meeting up with my diva sisters, trips with the family, and hours spent at the Chicago Art Institute wandering around on my own.

Currently the Art Institute has two amazing displays that I must advertise. One is of Winslow Homer's water colors and the other of Edward Hopper. From art class I have been hearing rumors that this is truly a once in a life time opportunity to see some beautiful works of art. If you get a chance, check it out. I will be soon.

He Ain't No Cuttin' Horse

2008-03-08T08:10:00.005-06:00

As I was dragging the hoses out to fill the water tank, I noticed Gunner standing with his back to the shed snoozing. The two calves were inside making laps around the straw bale.

One of them ran/hopped up to the back side of Gunner and I held my breath. All one of these calves needs is a swift kick by the gelding to be set back a week, or forever. Gunner just stood with his ears back indicating he was watching them. He had one hind leg cocked. The calf proceeded to jump up and down and nuzzle Gunner looking for milk. He then realized Gunner's tail was over his head and what fun that was! He jumped up and down and up and down playing with the tail. He alternated between that and whacking Gunner's back legs to let down milk.

Gunner stood stock still the entire time. I stood and laughed myself silly and then ran in the house to get the camera. The girls were working on school projects and I told them breathlessly what was happening. S said, well "Go get the camera, stop talking to us!" So funny that one.

By the time I got out there the mom cow was on her way back and Gunner had turned to watch me approach. Now I know why his tail has been messy lately. As long as they don't eat it we are fine.

Just call him Uncle Gun.

When we were trying to figure out where to put the bred heifers to calve out, I was the one who suggested we put them in the horse area. I have two sheds now, and the bred heifers need to be where we can see them quickly. They are often unsure of what to do during that first time calving.

The new shed isn't big enough for all the horses and the donkey too. The natural division came with Gunner and the donkey. Gunner wouldn't honestly hurt a smaller animal. We've seen it with the dogs, cats, chickens and ducks. He likes to sniff them and is always more curious than upset when they are around. Mickey, our dog, knows that Gunner is the one you can walk right up to without being chased. The donkey was more of a gamble, but all indications are that if you leave him alone, he leaves you alone. He also will have nothing to do with the other small animals, as in, no curiosity. He won't come near the shed because he knows the "other" animals are in there.

Freakmaster

2008-03-06T11:31:00.004-06:00

That's what S has named this Holstein steer. He likes to follow us everywhere

The equine vet was out this morning. Everyone has their shots and new digital camera coggins are on their way.

The vet was impressed with Lloyd's (donkey) cooperativeness. He was quite funny when we got started. I grabbed Dixie first and brought her out of the dry lot and into our hay building. Lloyd brayed and brayed because he couldn't see her. I don't think he will be happy when she leaves this weekend. Love her he does.

The vet also thought Classy looked good. She gave me some tips for when the foal arrives.

She laughed when I told her I had hoped to finish the foaling shed before April 1st. *Sigh* She is right. It's time to make alternative plans. I DO have another shed available, but I had hoped to use the new one. Maybe it WILL thaw between now and then? Unlikely, they keep pushing the upcoming warm up back. Now it will be Monday or Tuesday before we seen 40 degrees.
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." (Robert Burns)
Photo credit to S.

Up and Down

2008-03-05T14:30:00.004-06:00

So, if you are anywhere within shouting distance of Wisconsin you have heard the news. I'm not even going to bother putting his name in the blog in fear of being googled for it.

Seriously? This picture of him just cracks me up. It was on the front page of our local paper today. Doesn't he look sad? OH MY GOSH! Just too funny! Could they have found a more pathetic looking picture?

Nuff said ~ at least by me. You can post away all you want!

Warm and Bitter?

2008-03-03T22:41:00.002-06:00

The weather that is. Today it was actually up to 25 degrees out, but the wind kicked up and blew the newly fallen snow into some nasty drifts.

The little calf we have here on our farm has just not been thriving as I'd like her to. Today I told Jack and had him come check her out. He agreed and called the vet in. The poor tyke has a temp. She got a couple of good for ya shots and was bagged with electrolytes. Tonight Jack and I tubbed her again with milk. She was much more energetic, but still not where she needs to be. Hopefully she will rebound befor the next business trip takes him away.

Our little dumbo calf was up and jumping this afternoon. Her antics showed me so much more how the other little sweetie just wasn't where she needed to be. I had to drive through the drifts I mentioned above. This time of year really bites. On one side of the hill I was driving up it was slushy and would suck me in, on the other there were 30" high drifts. Good thing I put it into 4 wheel low ahead of time.

I'm anxious for my equine baby to arrive. S asks every day or so when she's going to arrive. I've got all the supplies I need, plus the vet is coming on Thursday for some final shots. I'll be quizzing her for any further supplies I need and any last minute advice.

Sunday

2008-03-03T08:53:00.002-06:00

So here's how Sunday went, for all two of you who might have been wondering.

Wake up at 6:30 am. A delight. Mainly because it was a wake up without an alarm clock, and to me, it was an early enough wake up not to feel guilty. If I had woke at 9:00, I would have felt guilty.

Have breakfast. Today I was yearning for cereal. Do you think I had Cheerios on hand? Uh, no. So I opted for Golden Frosted Flakes. I took a bite and gave it to the dog after fishing out the bananas for my next bowl. My next bowl was graham crackers, reverting to my childhood.

8:00 am, wake S. She is usually up early, but for some reason she slept in. Spend the next forty minutes pushing her to: eat breakfast, brush hair, put contacts in, brush teeth, put socks on, put shoes on. Not sure she ever got her contacts in or teeth brushed. You'd think that would gross her out (the teeth thing) but for some reason, not so much.

8:40 am, drive girls to Sunday school. Beg friend to give them ride home. She's got plans and can't do it. Tell girls I'll pick them up at 10:00.

9:10 am, put on farm boots, bibs, coat, glove and hat. Drag hoses and hook them up to fill water tank. Help Jack and his brother round up cattle. Sort cattle and put them in barn. Notice all the cattle are looking at the trailer so turn to shut gate. Swear as heifer runs past me, and we have to start over.

9:50 am, drive to pick up girls at Sunday school in farm clothes, reeking of cow do do. Pick up girls and insist they run into local gas station to get me a soda. Give them instructions on what to do when we get home: Feed Horses, turn off water to tank and draining hoses, start laundry, do dishes, play drums, etc.

10:10 am, drive to farm where cattle are being weighed and ultra sounded. Ultra sounded to get loin scores for production information. Hang out with local male farmers.

11:00 ish, Score! Talk to local vet student (whose farm we are at) and ask about inseminating Classy. He can't do it, but wait, his buddy, who's standing right there would. Plus, local farmer wants to learn how, so it would be a teaching type thing. Notice his buddy looks familiar. That's right, he's the intern who's been working with the vet service we use the last couple of summers.

12:15 pm, Head home after herding cattle through chutes (and no ladders). Get to drive truck and trailer full of cattle. It's SO much different than the horses. They are free loaded and move around allot, plus the load's pretty heavy, 8000 lbs of just cattle.

That's just the morning..I won't bore you with the afternoon, but to say I did come across a new calf about 4:45 pm. It's a sweetie. I am heading over to let it out (stayed in warm hay shed last night). For some reason it's ears are longer, and floppier than normal.

Have a great Monday!

Don't you hate it when...

2008-02-26T17:25:00.009-06:00

you're in a deep nap and someone takes pictures of you?

That's what my girls mom did to me today. I was fast asleep in this deep straw pile my girl's dad put in our shed. He says it's for the cows, but they don't need it all. On the other side of the humungo straw bale is a baby calf.

Back to my dreamin...I was dreaming of my girl riding me. It seems like forever since she's been out to see me. Look at my mane. Does that look like the mane of a horse who is well attended to? My girl's mom says it's cause I have fine hair, but I could still use some lovin from my girl.

My girl's mom says she's been busy with something called Solo and Ensembles. Sounds like what they were doing to Dixie last fall. At one point my girl's sister and TWO of her friends were on her back riding around. you wouldn't catch me doing that. I'd give THEM a ride they soon wouldn't forget.

I really like my girl's sister. She comes out when no one is paying attention and gives us exra treats, but don't tell my girl's mom. SHE thinks it make me too mouthy. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah...

My girl's mom said my girl did real good at this weekend's Solo and Ensembles. She said she is taking seven out of eight music pieces to state. Including her flute solo and piano solo. Then her and Sasha's girl are going together for a piano duet. Whatever that is. I think it might be something to put hay in.

My girl's mom took some videos and some pictures of the weekend. She said once she gets the video figured out she'll post that too. Don't hold your breath. My girl's mom and dad are real proud of her. I'm sure they are more proud of her when she rides me, but ya know, whatever...

Rumor has it that we are heading over to Tammy's in two weeks. That'll be cool. All this laying around gets old after awhile. Plus some of my old buddies are still there like Griffin. He's one happen' dude. Can't wait to see him and catch up over the fence. I heard he's even been hanging out with some other horse friends. Which is totally cool, cause Griffin is so stand-offish if you don't know him. But, I'm hip to his jive and would hang with him any ole time.

I did get to play with the new calf earlier. He didn't like it when I licked him. I tried a bite too, but he made a weird noise. His mom didn't like it much when we were jumping up and down together. But he started it! Some cow's are so touchy.

My girl's mom says I'm on probation and might have to go live on Dixie, Catfish and Classy's side of the fence. Which really would bite cause Dixie is such a witch, and Classy is all "look at me I'm pregnant." Did you see that picture of her in the last post? Man, I've never been that big! And I know how to pack on weight too! The six weeks comment was pertain to how long before she foals. I wish it were tomorrow. I could use someone to have fun with.

Thanks for stopping by. My girl's mom says maybe she'll post more later.

Love ya bye bye,

Gunner.

Better

2008-02-22T10:50:00.004-06:00

My head's starting to feel better. Maybe the fresh air helped. It's a whopping 15 degrees F out, with sunshine no less! For those of used to colder weather this feels like 70. Really. Who needs coats?

I was recently awarded the Excellent Blog award by both Mikael's Mania - Arabian Horses and Adventures with Sam. Thank you Mikael and Beth for honoring my blog with this award.

I would be remiss if I didn't pass the award on to a couple of blogs I really enjoy.

Friday Night Fish Fry is one of my very favorites. Deana's down home southern charm is enough to keep you coming back time and time again.

Greywaren Art is a wonderful art blog written by a very talented writer Maggie Stiefvater. She not only kicks my but in gear, but will soon (August I believe) be a published author.

Mustang Diaries is one heck of a blog as well. Read all about how one mere slip of a woman is trying to train Mustangs fresh off of the prairie.

Six weeks...but who's counting??

Did I mention..

2008-02-22T08:39:00.002-06:00

I had shingles? I don't know if I mentioned it here. But yes, in mid January I came down with a case of shingles.

I have almost completed one month of meds, and still have one month to go. It's recommended you stay on the meds the entire time to help with lingering pain. I do already have lingering pain, so I am sticking to the meds. Despite the fact that...

Most mornings I wake up okay, but some mornings (like this one) I wake up a bit disoriented. My head today is a bit off. It's hard to concentrate and I feel dizzy. Blah.

SO...if I am not blogging as much as usual we will blame it on that. I can't come up with any other reason. I don't think my life is any busier now than it was in the past, I am just a bit off.

The meds or med is one that is used to help control seizures in epilepsy cases, so I understand the reason my head feels funky.

I did receive a couple of blog awards from some fellow bloggers that I need to get up. Right now I am going to go out and feed the horses and take some pictures (finally) of our snow.

Did I mention our first calf is on the ground? Probably not. It is and she's a cutie. Jack says she's not that good, but because she's the first of the year she looks stellar to me!

Stay tuned...