This 'n That

[SandyG]

Thanks to Pam W. for coming out yesterday to help me prepare for the cold snap that is on the way (or should I say already here?). I wanted to move a couple of round bales and get a load of feed stacked in the barn...sounds simple, doesn't it?

Well, I did my usual "can't take time to do that" routine and I really set us back.......

The round bales are lined up in the west lawn and after plowing the driveway, I had a ridge of snow between me and the bales. I took the time to plow the gate area while Pam watched for errant children trying to escape but do you think I would take the time to plow in front of the round bales? Heck, no! I'll just blast through it!

I blasted through it, alright! Right into it and then was stuck. Yup, I got the skidloader stuck. Hung up on the snow ridge which was now icy and frozen rock hard. Couldn't get it rocking and even used the bale spear to try to help push the skidloader. No such luck.

So, I hollered to Pam and she came over. Found me shoveling out the skidloader. Huh. This seemed a little in reverse. But after shoveling some of the worst, I was able to rock it out and then I went over and got the bucket back on and plowed in front of the bales like I should have to start!

Got the hay moved and then went and picked up a ton of feed. Pam threw the bags off the pallet and I stacked them in the barn so now we are set. And as long as there is no snow, I should not have to start the skidloader, although I do need to plow in front of the round bales....Learned that lesson!!!

Thanks, Pam. You cut my effort and time easily in half! And why don't you tell people what you saw over here yesterday???

[jetmech]

While waiting for Sandy to come back with a round bale I was watching the "BIG KIDS" and Dude and Beauty were tail to nose and scratching!!!!! Did not last long, but he wil get the hang of it and learn all of the ins and outs of being a horse. Too bad that he had to wait so many years to reach that point. It was a treat to watch them. He does not seem to be a restless either and he watches everything. It won't be long and he will be one of the gang.
EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL NEW YEAR. I WILL HAVE A DRINK AND TOAST THE NEW YEAR WHILE WATCHING TV IN MY WARM BED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tracy1]

Amen, Pam, sounds like a plan, I'll be doing the same.

It's 68 degrees in LA - tomorrow is the Rose Parade when millions watch and thousands decide to move there, based on the weather they see on TV. I never saw the parade in person, anyone I wanted to see it with already had and weren't interested in doing it again 'just' for me . . you pretty much have to camp out the night before to get a spot and people who do it say you get a better view and more information watching it on TV, since watching it from the sidewalk you don't get the 'color commentary' but I did watch them build the floats once, and they have a free performance in advance of the horses that come as part of the different mounted troops in the parade, who do their various routines, and that I've been to see.

[SandyG]

I just had one of "those" nights out in the barns.....Tonight made it all worth while for me.

The nightly feeding crew were all hooked and eating. It's funny, but in less than 2 weeks The Twins have the hang of it and go directly to their places ready to be hooked and fed. Everyone was munching away so I went in the house to get the hose and top off the tanks before that becomes tougher in the sub-zero temps.

While the tanks were filling, I went into the corral and brushed the Three Musketeers - PONY!, Gracie, and Appaloosa Mare. They seemed a tad worried about the weather and so I put their blankets on.

Gracie first and all the while, PONY! was licking her blanket! Then Appaloosa Mare who is pushing that 80" blanket to the absolute limit around her tummy. And finally, PONY! That little horse came out of the building to meet me when he heard me returning with his blanket. Head sticking out so I could slip his blanket on him. And while I'm hooking his straps, he is searching for something to lick. He found my shoulder and was totally in ecstasy! Funny little horse. And ever so grateful for the comfort.

Took the hose up to the old barn and there, standing quietly inside out of the wind were Beauty and Dude. The Odd Couple. I went for pets and Dude decided he wanted nothing of me. So I stood in the doorway and asked if "Anyone want any pets?"

Jeri-Ann came up to me and Babee Joy was right behind her. So I spent the time for the tank to fill alternating love and pets between the two of them. Then "it" happened...

I heard footsteps and prepared for them all to scatter. But instead, all was calm and the huge, black head of Beauty erupted in the center between Jeri-Ann and Babee Joy. She wanted some love, too! So now I went down the line....Jeri-Ann, then Beauty, then Babee Joy. I stood there and was so absorbed in those three enormous women, the full moon, and just the contentment of it all that I didn't notice little Blue Eyes coming up on my right.

Dude didn't come close enough for me to pet, but he watched everything. Watched the horses, watched me petting them, watched me, watched the horses.....he is so knew to this love stuff. He'll come around. Those big girls are great teachers.

So, I am content tonight. We are prepared for the cold weather and I got a good dose of magic. What more can a girl ask for on New Year's Eve??

[SandyG]

Can you say C O L D ? ? ? ? ?

Thank the Dear Lord the breeze is very light. It was classic winter last night - full moon gloriously shining on the snow cover, stars shining in the black sky, cold air freezing the hairs in your nostrils, and the snow crunching under your feet. Would have been pretty had the moisture in my eyeballs not been freezing!!!!

Everyone is frosty and bright this morning, They are an amazing creature, aren't they? Able to withstand this cold and yet can handle the heat of a July summer day? The sun will rise and then we will sleep in the sun while we rest from a night of munching and moving to stay warm.

Enjoy the day today - and please stay warm!!!!

[SandyG]

On this brutally cold winter's night, as you go to sleep tonight please say a prayer.

Please pray for those without shelter that they may find something to block the wind.

Please pray for those without food that they may find something to help fill the void in their gut.

Please pray for those that are thirsty that they may find snow satisfies their thirst for tonight.

Please pray for those that are cold that their bodies may somehow warm.

Please pray for those that are weak that they may find an end to their battle swiftly and without pain.

Please pray for those that are left behind and alone that they may find someone who remembers them.

Please pray for those that need these prayers the most - both horse and human. Amen.

[jetmech]

Amen, Amen, Amen-

[Shar]

Still not sure why everyone else is trying to get rid of horses, and I just keep looking at them and getting them... but today, for the first time, I went to look at a horse with a trailer attached to the suburban, and turned the horse down. A 16+ draft horse that was black and white... almost looked like my dream of owning a Gypsy Drummer without the huge price tag attached! I looked at the burrs that covered his mane, the hooves so overgrown and split that it looked like they had never been done... and yet, still I was backing my trailer up to pick him up with a silly grin on my face full of excitement... and then I tried to lead him. My mom has always told me how I need to make sure our sweet baby Titan has rules and discipline... today I found out the true reason why. Different to hear it, and different to experience it yourself. This 8 year old 1600 lbs+ draft horse slammed me out of the way and proceeded to every time I tried to do anything that wasn't what he wanted, to strike out or push me out of his way... Of course, Sandy, this is the exact kind of horse that interests and intrigues me... but not for the price they were asking, and definetly not with 8 horses at home as well as the 30+ that I already have lined up to train and sell this spring... knowing what a huge project I would be undertaking with this huge unruly, baby of a horse; I had to say no. And so I came home with an empty trailer, and no Christmas present for myself, or the "dream horse" I always wanted... but for the first time, I realized it's okay to realize that my life is too full, and I can't take every horse home with me... (sigh) well, maybe I told them to keep me posted (they have a few other people coming to look at him), because even though he will be a huge project, if life slowed down a bit, I may still be interested if he's still for sale... lol. =) It was almost a lesson learned.

[SandyG]

Oh, Shar - I just read your bb posting and my heart is breaking for you.....it sounds as though you were wise to leave him, however. If he does not respect the human he will not respect the fence, the doors, the gates, and Dear Lord, the other horses. Not the horse's fault, for sure. A perfect example of the human creating a problem horse . . . .

I'm sorry that your dream horse didn't work out. Been there. It is disappointing but experience has taught me that the dream horse is still waiting to meet you . . . . your Christmas present is still wrapped in a bow somewhere . . . .

Take care, Shar -

[SandyG]

Beautiful sunrise and beautiful starry nights, but we need some cloud cover! This cold air won't be leaving us until some clouds can roll in and I, for one, am ready for a break!

Kristen - I am so very happy to have you back "up North" again. It was so good to see you at Applebee's. Looking forward to introducing you to some of our new residents. But more than that, Happy Birthday, Kristen!!!

[tracy1]

Kristen! you're back?! permanently . . ? If you need someone to house-swap at your apartment. . . as tired as I got of LA I sure get homesick this time of year . . . and it's near a Trader Joe's, I know . . .

Hope your birthday is super!

[SandyG]

A bit of a short night last night, but we are all accounted for . . . .

About 2 days ago, I went out to the dumpster and noticed some huge - enormous! - "dog" prints in the snow around the dumpster. I followed Little Man and saw that the foot of this strange dog was much larger than Littel Man was based upon the size of his paw print. Didn't think too much of it.

Went out to do nightly feedings around 7pm last night. Stepped out of the workshop door and heard "dogs" yipping and barking in the pasture. I put Little Man back in the house and went to the driveway to listen.

These weren't dogs. Their barks were more like yips and there were 3 or 4 of them, from what I could tell. I ran and got the truck out and drove up to the gates with the brights on. Six eyes stared back at me.

I shut the truck off and stood in the doorway. The eyes were about 2-3 feet off the ground. Eyes rather close together. Big eyes. They stared at me for just a short time and then they turned and ran toward the woods south of the pasture.

I listened for quite a while and didn't hear any more yipping and so I parked the truck, making sure all the doors to the garage were closed. Using a hoe as my cane (to make me feel safer), I walked to the barns and tied everyone for dinner. They were calm and so I let it go.

About 8:15pm I went outside to unhook everyone. There in the pasture, just on the other side of the double green gates were 3 wolves. Smelling my tracks and not concerned one bit about my closeness. I could see them clearly from the light of the garage yard lights. Long legged. Thick coats.

Back in the truck I went and headed down to the barns. I unhooked everyone thinking the wolves would not bother them. My thoughts raced to crippled Miss Bette, to slow little Gracie. Was I better to box them in a stall or leave them free to run or kick, if needed?

I opted to leave them free but I turned all of the yard lights on. Hopefully, the lights would keep them away from the barns. The place looked like a runway here last night, but on my checks throughout the night, I didn't hear any yipping and I saw no eyes staring back at me in the night.

I'm going to walk the pasture later in the day and see where they came from. I'm guessing they were young and just playing, but these guys are not the kind of guests I appreciate in this yard, that's for sure! There should be plenty of food in the woods with the hard snow cutting the legs of the deer so, again, I think they are young and curious more than anything.

So, if you drive by and see the lights on - I'm doing my best to keep the "daylight" on around here!

[osrose]

Hello All!
Yes, I am one of the ones who didn't post my volunteer hours for the third quarter. But here they are:
3rd Quarter: 139 hours
4th Quarter: 104 hours
So now we are on a whole brand new page for a whole brand new year! Let's hope for happiness, peace and prosperity!
Rose

[osrose]

Wolves!!! Holy Cow! Well, dearie, you know the only way to keep wolves away from your place: start marking your territory! Start peeing into a bucket and then go around the perimiter of your land and sprinkle a few drops here and there, particularly wherever you see wolf tracks. No, I haven't taken any drugs or smoked anything, this really works and is the only thing the wolves will respect, unless you want to start shooting them and I don't know if you can legally do that. You shouldn't have to repeat this but a couple of times and they will stay away.
Hah! Wolves! Good thing Little Man doesn't wander anymore. He'd make a tasty snack.
Rose

[tracy1]

Rose! Where did you get that idea? Are you hiding behind a tree to get photos of Sandy out sprinkling and tinkling? There's not even a rumor or urban myth on the internet about that - using predator pee to keep deer away, but not using human pee . . . for all the people who lose dogs, cats, livestock nationwide to wolves, if there were any truth to that . . . you must've bought shares of stock in Mt. Dew and are trying to find ways to boost sales . . .