cows

Got the cows home today, although some of you know that.No matter how well things go it always seems to take all day. It only went sort of well. We caught the cows without m uch trouble, it just took awhile to circle the pasture. They got 1.5 inches of rain but the only wet spot was in front of the chute. First I had to pull the semi sideways to line it up with the chute, then had to pull the chute out to meet the truck. This took quite awhile. Since the truck was sitting in a mudhole I hooked on to pull it away from the chute. It was just like the Ford commercial. The most exciting part was leaving the pasture. The road shoulder was in a little different spot which made the truck very tippy. Noobody could watch, Earl was driving and I'm not sure he was looking.It was so tippy he knocked part of the dirt down with the bottom of his truck. Then after we unloaded he talked for about 2 hours.

back home

Brought the kittens home today. I made sure we checked all the cat kennels to see if they mixed up our cats. So I brought home Juan, Jose and Josanna. As much as they cost now I'm thinking sex change operation. Vanessa said Juan was ready to go home yesterday. They didn't go into the kitty carries very well but when I let them out they went back in, I guess to see what they left behind.Then they all went for the food.They've been all over us tonight.

kittens

I took the kittens, Juan Jose and Hose B in to the vets to get cut. Shortly after I left Vanessa called to tell me Hose B was Hoseanna. Like I check kitty butts. We're not sure how to spell the new kitty's name. The office staff is going to discuss it to decide. Now we should be able to tell the black ones apart. We always thought there was a female but we could never find out for sure.

Cassie

Ray came over and decided to ride Cassie. She was a little surprised because she had to really work at riding her. After a couple miles Cassie slowed down but we were puzzled. I had to push Leilani to keep up. Leilani might have been a little tired from yesterday. Cassie has a sore foot so we were going through ditches to keep her in fields. At first Ray didn't thiink horses could go through where we were going and I pretended I did it all the time. Well last week was the first for me and it's fun when you get started. When we got back it was obvious Cassie was in heat which explained everything. Yesterday Stripe was cycling. She was chasing Rory and running as fast as she could. Rory kept away by going at a slow trot. Donkeys run as hard as a horse they just don't get there as fast. I guess Stripe isn't his type.

Leilani

Leilani had a huge sale. She did almost the entire sale. The highlight was her getting nutted by a cow. The cow turned on us and I squared Leilani up and the cow hit her rught in the chest. It moved us a little. The cow hit us again but I was able to keep her square and then moved Leilani forward. That scared the cow off. The people watching all cheered. They talked about how calm the horse was and how the rider looked like he wanted to jump. I'm ok with that.Leilani should sleep god tonight. She could hardly keep her eyes open in the trailer.

foot

Cassie's left front foot is a little sore. Tami looked at it and suggested we give her a pain supplement. It's a liquid so I get a chunk of alfalfa, drip it on and she eats it. Cassie thinks it's a great idea. I have to get her out of the pen so she gets to eat without any competition. This doesn't mean she can't be ridden. Just that she needs to be ridden on soft ground. The horses were frisky tonight when I fed. Cassie kicked at Stripe. Stripe went into a ears laid back head between the legs buck. Of course she was 20 feet away from the horses and they totally ignored her. It's hilarious to watch.

rabbit

Leilani and I went off across the wheat stubble. The dogs were with us. Just before we got to the south oilwell the dogs flushed a jackrabbit. Claire and Lucy took off after it. Lucy is a little faster and she was straining as hard as she could. I thought she would get it at first. They kept going until Leilani and I could no longer see them. I think they made it to the blacktop. After awhile we could see them coming back. The rabbit was moving easily. The dogs were so tired they could hardly run. The rabbit bounced along for awhile and went into hiding. It had enough of playtime. We left the dogs digging.

reins

Lelani had been struggling with left turns at the sale. When Tami was out she rode Leilani a little and discovered Leilani turns better with neck reining rather than pulling on one. I did that yesterday and it did worked well. Leilani was really flying. Last night we heard a loud squealing coming closer. It was one of the Hoses bringing a mouse into the living room. He nearly made it to the TV when Juan jumped onto him and the mouse. Of course they lost it. For awhile there were cats flying all over the room. I'm 80% sure they caught the mouse. This morning they had another in the kitchen. First the lost it under the stove. They got it out and had it trapped under the counter and Lucy dived in. Last I saw it was lost again. Tonight the kittens are tearing all over. We keep looking to see if they have anything.

horses busy

Saturday we took Elena and Leilani to the dentist. Leilani didn't need much but Elena took forever. Her mouth had to have been really sore. She should be a lot more comfortable now. When we got home Ray and Taylor come over. Ray and I rode Leilani and Cassie down the road. Ray rode Leilani and Leilani did her usual good work. We got back and Rana was there. The grandkids rode for awhile. Taylor rode Cassie all by herself with Ray walking alongside. Cassie takes good care of little kids. Then Rana and I rode Cassie and Leilani across the fields. The horses were stunned. We'd never done anything like this. They thought they were done. It was funny but they went just fine. Today Tami came out. She did Cassie's feet and then we rode a long way down the road. She said Leilani was progressing very well. I thought she was but wasn't sure. I always warn Leilani about holes and things.That cracked Tami up. She said Leilani could see where she was going. I said I was just trying to help and that Leilani was blonde on the inside. She said she wouldn't be blonde if I didn't baby her. Like I baby anything.

feet

Got some of the horses feet done tonight. Leilani got shoes and Rory and Elena got trims. They all did fairly well. Last time we were in the shed because of the rain. They don't like it much. Outdoors they do much better. Tomorrow Leilani and Elena are going to the dentist. I'm going to grab the goats and put them in the front compartment. Maggie has her horses before ours and she's taking the goats. The goats should have plenty of room.

wet

Kind of wet at the sale. I think Leilani had a really good time. She had an easy time and was still frisky at the end. We were following a big group of calves, it takes them awhile to turn the corner. So I let her bite the ones that were closest to the back. She really enjoys that. Tonight when we went out to feed the horses Juan went with us. I'm starting to think he has a thing about water puddles. About the only time he goes out to feed is when it's wet. Juan looks big in the house but really teeny when he's wandering around the horse pen with the horses eating. The kittens are running all over tonight. They were inside most of the day. This could get bad this winter.

today

Ray came over and we went riding. Rana got a toddler saddle at a garage sale so we tried it out. Taylor wanted to ride Leilani bacauseLeilani was taller than Cassie. I don't understand but that doesn't matter. The saddle looked like a postage stamp on Leilani. Ray led Taylor around. Leilani is a real clutz and tripped over a pebble or something and went down to one knee. Taylor must have good balance because it didn't move her at all. Not only that but the kids saddle doesn't give much of a seat. After Ray got tired I led them around for awhile. Beth rode Cassie while we did that. Then Ray and I took Cassie and Leilani across the field. Leilani peed and pooped 2 times each. She should have been empty by then.Nothing happened and that's the best way.

correction

It was Taylor not Beth who went to Hutch. No more tests for Taylor. They're decided she's hypoglycemic and what they were doing was working so they'll keep doing it. Grandma saw the shrink. He changed her medication. They called today to say she's fallen again. I don't entirely understand the shrink/medication relationship. Isn't that what doctors are for? Juan's getting dirty again. Tami's coming out next weekend and i'd like him to be clean.

wheat

The wheat is moving along. One cow is still getting out. I don't know what her problem is. Had a big day at the sale yesterday. Tim and I were the only ones there. We were really flying. Cassie and I were total sweat. I was totally focused onthe cows and heard somebody say you're riding good today Fred. I looked up and Angie was riding in. Then her sister came and 8 year old Cole and his friend Tom. It was a lot easier after that. Maggie still plans to get the little goats. She doesn't want them to visit Jose for lunch. She's talking Thursday night.