Gotta go to bed soon—today was long! The best part was spending time with the horses while they got their feet trimmed. Everyone is so calm and well behaved. Even Mabel has settled into a well behaved routine after a rough start when she got here.
The only photos I took were of Apache, who really seemed to enjoy his trim. He dozed a bit, then did a lot of licking and chewing when it came to his hind legs.
He also drooled. He’s my big buddy
He still has those platter feet, but they are sound and pretty, for him.
BeforeAfter
I wish I’d gotten before and after pictures of poor Fiona. I noticed she was walking strangely, so I had the farrier take a look, dreading founder or thrush or an abscess. Nope. She had mud clumped in her hoof so thick that it stuck out past her hoof. Only Fiona! She’s all fixed up now, after a little soreness after the hoof was cleaned. She’s the sweetest little thing.
I’m the goodest.
These guys made my morning! And a fun Master Naturalist meeting completed the day. I learned fascinating information about re-introducing horned lizards near Mason, Texas. I also learned interesting fire ant control techniques and about Houston toad reintroduction in Bastrop. The speaker is a local guy who’s a great speaker and researcher.
Where to start? First, I laughed SO hard yesterday at my dear cousin, who was kind enough to call and wish me happy birthday. The problem was that she wished me a happy 67th birthday. No, I correct, I’m 68. You can’t be, she exclaimed, because I’m older than you and will be 68 in November. No, you turned 68 last November. Now, we have known each other since infancy and can’t figure out how old we are. Finally I brought up an age calculator and asked it how old I was. It said 68. My cousin wailed that she had lost a year. That was so dang funny.
Also funny. The hopeful looks on these two faces as Dusty’s morning food was being prepared. They can’t believe he eats and they don’t (we have a new fattening up Dusty campaign and he eats feed twice a day)
Now for the weird. Kathleen spent all day today cleaning the tack room as only a Kathleen who’s feeling better can clean. When she has energy, she really has it. There’s a distinct lack of mouse and rat poop in the room now.
So cozy and tidy!
But, she discovered weird/icky things in her deep cleaning. First, Tipper has created a litter box area under a chair, sans litter box. So, suckers that we are, we’re getting the cat a litter box. And food. And water.
The tack area also sparkles. I wanted to take the ribbons down because they remind me of Tarrin, but Kathleen said I worked hard for them and should keep them out. Okay.
But what was weird was what she found under the desk. It was someone else’s poop! Our best guess is a raccoon, which it kind of resembles. But we aren’t sure. Guesses?
Maybe Vlassic? But why? He has many acres to poop in.
Another weird thing happened at work. My colleague and I were trying out all the possible voices to use in a web-based training I’m making (so they won’t have to rely on my voice after I’m gone). We found one that sounds quite real. It’s so real that I think it’s Captain Ake from Star Fleet Academy (Holly Hunter). Of course we chose her so I can chuckle as I hear Ake talking about project management software.
Pretend this is Nahla Ake, not trees.
Now for the fun part. My friend, Melanie invited me to share wine and a cheese board with her after work. We had fun picking out cheese from Wisconsin, “the cheese capital of the US.” Then we got a lesson in the use of cheese utensils from the shop owner, who plans to give classes. It all made us laugh.
The “interesting” wrapper of one cheese.
It was lots of fun sipping prosecco and munching on snacks. I learned a lot about the history of this county (in sum, everyone really IS related) and got to chat with a few other women who were there. It was a great way to end my extended birthday, and everyone else got barbecue for dinner, so they didn’t miss me at all!
I will now snuggle into my side of the bed just like my sleeping partner (Lee has Penney in his sleeping chair)
Good news, the lymph nodes are behaving themselves again. Just a slight hiccup, and that’s all good.
I’d been worrying a bit about the horses’ health, especially since I no longer have anyone to consult when there’s a problem. I really miss having Sara next door when something happens, and not having anyone to help with Apache’s usual spring grass issues is very hard.
My first two equine buddies.
So, I was glad when the farrier came today and trimmed all their feet and declared them good. It’s true, Apache has no redness or signs of lameness, and both Mabel’s and Spice’s hooves are less cracked than in the past. Maybe I can take care of them with no help. And I do have Vicki down the road with all her many contacts. I feel reassured.
I have good feet.
The best part of the morning was that I let Terry work on Drew alone, and got to spend quality time with Fiona while I watched. Now, I do make sure she gets plenty of interaction, but I hadn’t just hung out with her in a while, thanks to my job lasting later in the afternoon and not feeling a lot of horse joy in the past few weeks.
I bray to remind you to show up, Suna
Today, though, I felt her breathing on my hand and then her little body leaning lightly on my hip. I just rubbed her fuzzy forehead and silky ears and relaxed. She’d tell me where to pet and I’d keep going.
I’m very lovable
When we moved on to work on Apache, I went in the pen to hold his lead and pet him more (I’d already groomed and hugged on him). Sure enough, I heard rhythmic breathing, then there was a tug on the rope. Fiona had found her way into the next pen for more affection. I indulged.
Cute!
The years I’ve had with Fiona and Apache sharing their kind hearts with me have been a privilege. Just listening to Fiona breathe calms me (she’s always been a loud breather). And leaning on Apache’s neck while he reaches his head around is just the ideal hug.
The best neck for hugging (Goldie was #2)
I’m encouraged that perhaps I’m ready to get back into more horse activities without feeling sad. I need to get there!
Hey, not too much broke today, and though we have to wait for an air conditioning part, a convenient “cold” front came through, so sleeping won’t be too bad tonight. This leaves me with my observation for today.
Round cow watching the front roll in.
First, I have an admission. As much as I like birds, I rarely get attached to them. I was fond of Bertie Lee, my old chicken, but I try not to get too attached after living through a couple of grisly chicken massacres. Nonetheless, I find myself feeling as much love for Connie Gobbler, my sweet turkey lady. I love her happy greeting chirps and the way she stretches her turkey neck out to be rubbed. She’s just so friendly and funny. It’s hard not to love her.
Look at that noble face.
Anyway, she has a new habit. When I’m in the pen feeding them and filling the water dishes, she silently sneaks up on me. I feel a presence and turn around to see her beak, less than an inch from my leg, as she stands as closely as she can get. I think she’s figured out she gets extra love and petting when she does that. It’s a weird feeling realizing your fowl is stalking you.
Pet me more!
Today I thought to myself that she reminded me of someone. Hmm. Oh yes, Fiona. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been in the horse pens or out in the pasture doing a chore or working with a horse when I move slightly and realize Fiona’s nose is next to my leg. She’s completely silent and just shadows me until I pay her some attention.
Here’s my nose.
If asked my preference, I’d say I prefer the silently patient requests for attention I get from Connie and Fiona to some of the dogs’ and horses’ rowdier techniques or the standoffishness of Mabel and Spice (they are fine with little physical attention). I can’t argue with Dusty, either. He never fails to amble up and politely present his head for some good rubbing. He’s such a gentleman.
Here’s my nose
I’m not going to discourage the donkey and turkey from their silent stalking, for sure. I just know not to make any sudden moves or I’ll run into a pink nose or a beak attached to a pink featherless neck. I’ll take affection wherever it comes from, however it’s expressed.
Gobble gobble. (Clint is too happy with his fresh water to pose)
I don’t know what to do but laugh. This month has just been chock full of unpleasant stuff, but like one of those clown toys from when I was a kid, when I’m hit I just fall down and pop back up.
It the right image but the toy looks best up. Image from Pexels.
That’s new for me. I used to fall apart. Now I react, but deal with it better. The bad news isn’t everything in life, I realized at last. There’s always good, too. Here’s an example.
Yesterday I’d been thinking how proud of myself I was. I’d paid my credit cards down and could see them being all gone in a few weeks. Ha ha. Wishful thinking! I’d only get that feeling for a few hours.
I’d been looking forward to yesterday for a long time. My friend Lynn Hagan was receiving an award from Texas A&M, and she’d invited some friends to attend the reception and banquet. We had to wear nice clothes!
Lynn on a big screen
I went to pick up my friend Pamela, who defied all the odds and was not late. We were enjoying a trip down the back roads of Milam County, on our way to get Phyllis, when I got a phone call from the contracting company I work for. as I tried to navigate unfamiliar roads I was informed that Dell has decided to end my contract next week. I’m out of work!
I’m impressed by how well I handled the call. I’d had inklings something was up, though I won’t know for sure until I talk to my supervisor Monday. I’m more annoyed that they couldn’t wait until the contract ended so I’d have time to get Social Security set up (if I do get it…times are uncertain). But I’m just fine. I’ll wait to see what the story is there, and in the meantime I’ll see what’s out there. It will be okay.
I admit I was not feeling great as I drove to College Station, but I ended up meeting many fascinating people and making friends at the reception and meal. It felt so good to be in a room full of humanities and science majors! I miss being around people of my background sometimes, though I feel like an intellectual elite person when I say that. It was fun violently agreeing on many topics and making everyone feel welcome.
Centerpieces were all white. Lovely.
I’m glad we were able to go support Lynn as she got her huge framed award.
I couldn’t sleep last night but I did not lay there and blame myself for the job thing or panic about loss of income. I just couldn’t sleep.
But today I did just fine, got all animals at least partly groomed. Mabel kept asking to be brushed more. By the time she decided to leave, her mane was gleaming. And Fiona let me work on her, too. Yay.
Then we left.
Today we are at Inks Lake State Park, which is too crowded for me. But our friend Jen is here, too, which will make it fun to do bird stuff. I’m going to work on my resume and try not to kick myself for dyeing my hair ends purple. Makes me look eccentric.
I haven’t done a horse update in a while. That’s because not much has changed and I’ve been focusing on sick dogs. But today Jackie came to do bodywork for the first time in a while, so there’s a little more news.
I’m here, too. I enjoy taking food containers out in the pasture where Suna can’t find them. Fun!
All the horses have decorative cocklebur crowns these days. It only takes a few days to replace them, so I’ve given up on daily removal. It’s too hard on my hands and my gloves.
Why remove them? It’s a fashion statement.
Drew, as I’ve noted, is having some movement issues. Jackie determined that his back end is doing way better, so yay for that, but he’s still stiff, sore, and unhappy in his neck and shoulders, including the ribs. He let her know just how it feels, like he was doing with me earlier this year. She worked on him a lot and gave me suggestions for getting him to swing his front legs out and round his ribcage.
The look.
I’ll do that stuff and continue to work on extended walks on the ground and in the saddle. At least he still likes doing that, until he stomps his perfect little feet. By the way, I got his tail and back 3/4 of mane cleared up, but he was in no mood for forelock work after his adjustments.
Apache with invisible bur crown, last week.
I got no photos of Apache, because I was busy removing a bucket o’ burs this morning. He is the only horse that got completely bur free. I was happy with his body report. For a horse who eats no supplements and tries to spit out his daily medication, he’s doing well! His feet still look good, too. He’s been fun to work with and ride, as well. I think he will do ok at this weekend’s horse show. We need to get out there and just have fun doing our best.
That head. What a head.
Mabel is still great. She’s shiny, fit, and pretty darned sound. There’s only one crack in her white hoof! She let me get all the burs out of her tail, but only a few out of her mane. I’m just happy she’s happy and holding her own in the herd.
This is Mabel booking it to get away from my picking at her mane. At least she has one.
Dusty is still Dusty. So gentle, kind, and compliant. Well, unless you’re messing with his tail. His mane has no burs, but I only got a few out of his poor tail, which looks like it’s been braided with burs.
Mane, beforeTail, looking better than it does in person. Old Cow Horses like their burs.
Dusty has been getting extra grain most days, because he is looking thin. But he eats well and is cheerful most of the time. I know his back hurts, even with supplements. But he still loves to hug and craves attention.
Feed me.
Goldie is improving. She’s tapering off pain medication and is getting around better. She can pick up the pace when she wants to, and now easily climbs the steps on the patio. She even managed to tell me her water dish was empty this evening, got me to take her out to drink, then stared at the water dish spot until Lee remembered it was in the dishwasher. Clever.
Goldie and dead house plant. I travel too much.
No one read my post yesterday about moths. Oh well. What I find fascinating isn’t always what the audience finds fascinating!
I’m still feeling worn out so I’ll just share some pretty and cute photos for the day and share weighty matters tomorrow. The cutest thing I saw today was this gorgeous new calf. It’s seal brown or gray.
Look at its little nose.
Its mama loves it a lot. It has a tiny Snow White buddy. I hope they stay in the pasture behind us for a while.
Bovine Beauty
I enjoyed the birds a lot, even the Loggerhead Shrikes, who are the current loud birds in the group. There was also a persistent Blue Grosbeak, so I’ve got that sound down now.
That’s the blurry grosbeak. Since my shrike photo didn’t come out, here’s an attractive grasshopper, the pine tree spur-throat.
The late summer flowers are ramping up. I’m just waiting for the asters. And my traveling trick worked: it’s not so hot now and it’s raining!
I guess my experience with being in a vocal trio with a Kerrville Folk Festival devotee, volunteering at a monthly folk coffeehouse for years, and living with a rock/country guitarist for three years or so doomed me. I became pretty fond of Americana music. What’s that?
I’m lucky to have lived in Austin, Texas (or thereabouts) for 30 years or more. There is a lot of Americana music to watch. I watched and listened to a lot of it with my music friends. I loved this part of my life.
Americana! Featuring my friend Jeff.
Oddly, I don’t listen much anymore. I think it has to do with the loss of my older son, who is a wonderful mandolin player (he’s not dead, just refuses to speak). And some unpleasantness happened to my other son in the music scene. Plus, my vocal cords are now damaged and I can’t sing certain notes now. It has taken away the pleasure of music.
My kid at left.
That took a dark turn. Of course there were wonderful musical moments in my life. And music moves me when I do listen. And not just Americana! I love classic rock, classical, and Celtic especially. and the music of nature, naturally. Heh heh.
Suna sings to me sometimes.
Eh. I’ll stop before I go on and on about favorite artists. Enjoy looking at Fiona and Drew.
Friends, it’s been yet another pleasant day with nothing to complain about. The lack of stress in my life right now is very welcome. Plus it enables me to be available to people who do have stress going on.
Hard to stress out when you are surrounded by fields full of flowers, butterflies, and bees.
Yeah, the closest I got to being stressed today was trying not to step on honeybees who were busy on the various clovers and other flowers. The ground was buzzing!
Bees love these yellow ones and the bur clover. I still hate burs.
In a major Suna triumph, I managed to get through an Easter pasture ride with Sara today without letting Apache’s stress get to me. Because of that, we went all over the front pasture, including places he historically had issues with. Mabel neighed at him a little, but I got him refocused.
It was very green
Both Aragorn and Apache did a good job going up and down a hill, then successfully went across the dam on the big front tank. There was a lot of tight turning and steep climbs, but we all did fine. It was even fun. This was the spot where I had to fall off or get impaled by a mesquite tree the first time I ever tried riding out there. That tree is dead, too. And this time, I was in charge, not the horse.
I tried to boss Suna, but she didn’t let me.
When we got to the gate to our place, Apache expressed his opinion that he wanted to go home quite strongly. It didn’t work. I rode him away and THEN dismounted. And yes, he’d been a fine animal, so he got to go home.
Aragorn would like to point out that he was also brave and cooperative.
Because I now have a new hose and spray nozzle, I was able to give Apache a much-needed bath when we got back. There was some deeply ground-in dirt to remove. He was also extra sweaty, thanks to still having a lot of winter coat.
Look at that clean tail.
I was impressed that, even though he wasn’t dry yet when I turned him out, he took six whole minutes before rolling in dirt. I’d thought it would be 30 seconds, max.
Still cleanRollingMore rollingGetting up, all black Shaking it off.
I’m sure it felt good. After he ate his dinner, he let me curry him some more, and the dirt came right off, along with a lot more clean, fluffy hair. I did have to chuckle, because when I finished, I realized that Fiona, Mabel, and Dusty were waiting for their turns. So they each got some rubbing. I’ve created a real love for grooming in these guys! It’s fine with me, because next poor Fiona will finally shed out. That’s always a workout.
Kathleen came back from her latest adventure. I knew she’d arrived when I found the first rat snake of the season in the chicken house. They know she’s here, we’re pretty sure. I’ll keep an eye on Kathleen so she can safely get through her medical stuff with no more help from insects, arachnids, reptiles, or livestock.
Welcome back!Could you please escort the guest away from our perches?
