day with Tonka

it's a .......

We have some news... most of our friends already know part of this news, but for some of my "dear readers" this will be all new to you. A few months ago, our Sadie came and told us that she is expecting.. to be totally honest, this news was a "shocker"... Sadie is still trying to find her own "way in life" and "baby" wasn't exactly on the list. It took me some time to put this all together, but as time has gone on... I am beginning to look forward to the big event. It has meant a great deal to me all the support that we have all received from our family and friends. And since Sadie has moved back home with us... you can just imagine that the push to get into the house is even more so...

But today, I went with her to see the ultra sound.. and we have been given the news that (96% sure) there is a little GRAND DAUGHTER on the way... due to arrive around the middle of October. As I drove home, I can already see little riding chaps, a helmet... a child's saddle, and the first "walk, trot horse show class"... OR... junior handler with a cute little cocker at her side......

the future holds much excitement and joy......

congratulations Deb!!!

Last June, Deb brought Alice (Mocha's foal) to the driving clinic. Deb wanted to add to her horse knowledge and Alice was being... well, say we say, Less than agreeable when it came to driving. Deb worked with Butch, picked up some new ideas, and she and Alice did some amazing work at the clinic.

After the clinic they ran into another trouble spot, but Deb kept her cool and took a deep breath and continue on with her training of Alice. Part of which was giving Alice a little time off.

This morning when I opened my email, look at the great pictures that were waiting for me. Deb has Alice back in cart and reports that she is going well!!!!

We "horse folk" can certainly understand the thrill that you have when all of a "sudden" your hard work, patience and determination begins to pay off....

so.. I just want to send a huge congratulations to Deb and to Alice.. and wish them both many miles of happy driving...

I'll be sure to tell Mocha!!!!!!

got a lift??

Work is going along well on the house once again. Siding is the big project of the moment, Ed and Ken want to take advantage of the warm summer days and get this outside work done. Because it would be near impossible to do all of this from a ladder (never mind the height of it all) Ed has rented a lift to get the high sides done.

Not only is it "more comfortable" to work from a lift, but it's much safer and faster. The time that it will save makes it worth the "investment" of the rent.











this pictures shows the "false" front doors on the garage. It is designed to make the garage look like an old barn attached to the house. I can't believe what a different look it gives to the place.

The birdies on the farm are doing well. The keets are getting big and have some of their feathers coming in. They are really beginning to go thru some food now.

the turkeys are growing at an amazing rate. I don't hear "peeping" any more... they are beginning to make that "gobble" sound. And sadly, we did loose one last week, we aren't exactly sure what happened, but we fear that it may have been killed by the others... the food bin was quite low and they were picking on each other. We will be careful not to let that happen again... turkeys are kind of mean creatures, so you have to be sure that everyone has enough space and plenty of food and water.

"the girls" seem pretty happy in their outside pen. We are still getting an egg a day... I like to save them up during the week and have a special breakfast with their eggs on the weekends.

and I think that the barn swallows should have made a bigger home. All of their babies have survived, and I believe there are six of them. I don't think it will be too long before the flying lessons will begin!! they look pretty crowded in that nest!!!

and speaking of flying, check out the next two blogs... one of the plane that landed several times on the lake this morning, and the other is of pictures that Dale took tonite as she was flying over the farm.....

and a Monday evening...

the day began with watching a "sea plane" practice landings on the lake... and it ended with these photos taken by my friend Dale, as she flew over the farm and lake this evening...

we thought we heard a plane in "close" as we were having dinner... and sure enough, we should have gone outside and waved to Dale....

thanks for the GREAT photos my friend.....

*** Rick, that was Dale that we heard at dinner time!!!******

a Monday morning....

What a treat it was, drinking coffee and watching this beautiful sight.....

VBS, fireworks and bean supper....

It's been a pretty interesting week around here, we finished getting all our hay in.. which was (is) a big project all to itself. The last load came in Tuesday evening, and since the fire guys weren't around, we called Betty!!! who came after a long day of work to give us a hand!!! How do you say thank you to such a good friend!!!!

It was also a good week for dog training and I had several private lessons. It happens like that all the time, weeks go by without hardy a call, and then I am busier than I can imagine. I felt like I was running the roads all week, but I met a bunch of nice dogs and people, and learned more about the area that we now live in.

Sadie was busy all week working at our church and helping out with Vacation Bible school. They were so happy to have her, she is very artistic and is great with crafts and such, so that was her focus all week. The kids loved her as well. On the last day of "school" they had a carnival for the kids.. earlier in the week, Sadie had offered to bring Mocha for the kids to see and to be a part of the carnival. Sadie asked me if I could run her over on Friday, but with my private students, i didn't see how I really could. So, she decided that she would just have Ed bring Mocha and Sadie would handle her. At first some of the VBS folks were unsure about Mocha... but they finally decided that it would be OK and once they met her, they loved her.... as did the children. I was sorry to have missed out on it, but Sadie said Mocha was as good as ever. I think the kids were a little disappointed that they couldn't ride her.. but we are very careful about how much weight we put on her back, so it was just decided that no one would ride instead of saying that only little ones could.

Friday evening we went to Deb's and Dave's for a cookout and then onto the fireworks. The fireworks were suppose to happen on the 4th, but due to bad weather.. they had to be postponed. While we were having a cookout at Deb's and Dave's, a shower came thru and I began to wonder if they would be postponed again... but they weren't. Actually it was a prefect night for fireworks, because the cloudy sky made them look closer and brighter. The bugs weren't too bad, and we had a great time all together. After that we made an ice cream run, and Sadie, Ed and I didn't get home until midnight.... it's been quite a while since we have been out that late!!!!!

Tonite, the three of us worked at the church's bean supper. It was great fun, we have such a nice group of people in our church!!! The crowd wasn't as large as they had hoped, and I actually think the weather was against us.... it was a beautiful sunny (hot) evening, and I suspect that most people were probably outside or having their own cookouts in the nice weather. But all in all I think it was quite a success, and we certainly enjoyed our supper after we were done "working".

After the supper, we went to the barn for a while. Betty popped over, and we hitched Mocha to her cart. Dare I jinx myself in telling you that she was absolutely wonderful in her cart this evening. We took turns driving up and down the driveway (we stayed out of the field because it was so buggy).. she went along like a little trooper. Even in her turns, she was "even" and her "whoa" was a dead stop. If this keeps up, it will be time to work with her "off the farm"... I keep thinking it would be great fun to drive her up and down the camp road.. but I want to be sure her "skills" are well in place before we go to far.

Weather wise, it's been a grand weekend so far.. so, I hope those who are needing to finish up in the hay fields got some time in

new blogs..

scroll down, there are new blogs to read, more to come... once I am done editing!!!! keep watching.. I am catching up.......

WHERE ARE THE BLOGS!!!

By now my loyal reader have just about had it... I know, no new blogs... but I just find it so hard to blog without pictures... so, what I have been doing is blogging and saving them as drafts until I can add the photos.... which, should be VERY soon as the computer is fixed and just waiting for collection.

but, this morning as I was spending my time with the Lord, a story keeps coming to mind, and I just have to share it....

A family is trapped by a flood and stuck on the roof of their house, the rains are pouring down and the water is rising... as they wait, a man comes by with a canoe... "get in" he says "I will paddle us to safety"... The family says.. "no, we are fine, God will save us"

A bit later another man comes by with a row boat, he says to the family... "get in, I will row you to safety", but the family replies, "we will wait, God will save us"

The rains come harder, the flood gets bigger, along comes a man in a motor boat "get in, I will take you to safety".. and yet the family refuses saying "we'll wait for God to save us"...

well, the family finds themselves in heaven.. confused, they look around and when they meet up with the Good Lord they say... "We don't understand, we waited for you to save us"...

the Good Lord looks at the family and says... "I sent you a canoe, a row boat and a motor boat... what where you looking for?"

the family looks at the Good Lord and says.... "we were waiting for a helicopter"....

The thing is, I've been looking for that helicopter myself, and it occurred to me that I have had several "boats" come my way lately... think it's time to "forget that helicopter" and say thank you for the "boats"........

playin' on a Sunday....

Today after church, we went down to the farm to see what things we could accomplish. It actually was a gorgeous day on the lake, but since we had no company to share it with... sitting around just didn't appeal to me. We have a long list of "little things" that need to be done, so, it's easy to pick something and just begin.

For months now, I have felt rather guilty.... , when I am working at the farm, it means leaving dogs at home. I just can't keep an eye on everyone and "do" what ever it is that I am there for. We brought a kennel run up from the old house and I kept saying to Ed that I would like to set it up at the farm. That way, when I am busy , the dogs can be "with me" and I don't have to worry about where they are or what they are up to. So, this afternoon...Ed said, "Let's get that kennel up".

The area that would be perfect for the kennel needed to have some trees brought down. Fortunately, Rick has left his big chipper with us. Ed fire up the chain saw, and I fed that big chipper. It's a bit scary working that with thing, but, I just went easy and we (the chipper and I ) got along fine. Goodness, that chipper makes quick work, and we got a nice place cleared for the kennel, plus a little more. When we finally get the "woods" thinned out like that, they are going to look so nice. I just don't know "when" all that will happen, but that's a job that we can work at a little at a time.



The Kennel fit perfectly in the area that we cleared. We kept the bigger straighter trees, and any hardwood trees (which aren't many) that we came across. There is nice shade in the kennel and plenty of room to move about. The dogs are going to be happy to be there.

We gave it "a try" ... Mr. Guinea was quite interested in it himself. He kept walking by it.. perhaps he is impressed that he is loose and the dogs are penned.

Both Ed and I were pretty tired last night, and secretly glad that we didn't get a call about another load of hay being ready.... however, later in the evening, Harold called and said the officer's meeting scheduled for Monday evening was going to be postponed.... due to hay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

make hay while the sun shines...

The hay has been really late this year due to all the wet weather we have been having. On a good year, you can get hay in by the middle of June... and off year.. by the fourth of July... but this year.. simply getting it in has been a real concern.

Fortunately, we put a big load in last year. Having never bought hay for a whole year before, and not being sure of what we would really need... I decided to err on the "more" side. I have felt very blessed in that we still have a good pile of hay in the barn, because some of my other horse friends have been in a bit of a panic. I have been able to help them out, and still keep us in a good place.

Friday was a beautiful day, and so was Saturday... Ed and I had a pretty good idea that Father would be cutting. We made a dump run in the afternoon and sure enough, Father had been cutting all morning and was beginning to bale. His two sons, Harold (the current fire chief) and Pete, plus two other friends, Jimmy and his son, were all helping Father. One load of hay was already stacked and sold, but they were working on "ours". Ed and I ran home to get the trailer (hats and gloves!!!) and headed back to the field. Actually I hung around camp for a bit waiting for the new renters to come... so by the time I made it to the field, the trailer was nearly full of hay.

We were a bit "worried" about getting the hay up to the loft... the sky was beginning to look "rainish" and we had the elevator to get down (that thing is HEAVY and I really can't manage it). We asked the guys if they would give us a hand with the elevator, and got even more... they were all willing to come and help us put the hay up!!!! (what a blessing!!!)... With the five of them, and Ed, the hay flew into the loft, I was planning on helping, but found it was easier to stay out of the way and just count bales!!! I can't believe how fast they got it in!!!!

We still have at least two loads coming in, but now, between last year's left over supply and the start of this year... the hay loft "looks much better".... Now, if this weather can just hang in there a week or two... it would give all the hay men a chance to catch up!!!! Let's hope.................

workin' on the farm...

I still think blogging without photos is boring.. but since we are still waiting for the computer to come home from the "hospital" (hopefully one day next week).. guess blogging needs to continue without the pics. I can "edit" the stories later, and add photos when the other computer is up and running, so I guess that is what I will do.

We are back to work at the farm (ya!!!) Ken is working with Ed again, it's nice to have him back. He and Ed really work well together and they can get a lot done in a day. This week, they got the trim board put up around the garage doors, and are preparing the foundation for cement work. Since we insulted our foundation, we need to cover up the foam boards on the outside with cement. There's a lot of prep work that needs to be done, and with two days lost to rain, they didn't get any cement up this week, but hopefully that will be done next week.

We also had another "gift" of dirt offered to us. They're doing work around the post office, and are pulling out some dirt.. good dirt... a man came to farm and wanted to know if we would like some "fill"... Ed was happy to take it. Course, for me, all I see is another pile of dirt waiting to go into place.. those piles "bug" me, but I know that in time, everything will get settled into place, and any dirt that we don't' have to buy is a real gift.

Today, Sadie and I got the "electrical shed" stained. It was one of those projects I wanted done before the driving clinic that I didn't get to. We doing it up so it will have the same paint scheme that the big barn has. We still have the trim and doors to do, but the bulk of the building is done, the weather is suppose to stay nice, so I am in hopes that I can get it finished over the weekend. However, there's a good chance we will be bringing hay in ... We thought we saw "Father" cutting the high side of the field today, and if that's the case, we'll be going to get that.




The three remaining keets are doing well. They seem to be growing every day and are eating up a storm, that's good news.

Our turkey's are really growing.. we will need to be thinking about that outside pen real quick!!! Sadie is so funny with these chicks.. she loves to go into their pen and sit with them,I'm not so sure I would appreciate them climbing all over me, but she thinks it's pretty funny. Another couple of weeks, and I doubt she'll do that, they'll be too big!!!!

And our dear friend Rick, came one afternoon this week to give us a hand at clearing out some trees.(he has also left his commercial chipper with us... goodness that thing can chew up some trees!!!) Sadly he got rained out, but for the time he had, he got a good jump on that project!!! One thing for sure, there's is always something do to!!!!







Ed has had a couple meetings this week with regards to the Chief position. He is really looking forward to all of this, but I have a feeling he will be quite busy with that as well. I am happy for him, it gives him something other than the farm to think about all the time.

all hail the chief....

I haven't said too much because it's one of those stories where you "don't know where it was heading", but last night, we have seem to come to it's end...or rather it's beginning.

Last June as we were bringing in the hay that we bought from "Father"--- his son, who is the current fire chief here in town, made a comment to Ed that we must be "really moving into town now". We have owned our land for several years, and have slowly been working on it, Ed joined the fire department even then, and the big question became... "so just when are you moving into town" We always answered, "soon". Well, I guess when you begin to fill your barn with hay and bring animals in, people assume that "soon" is here. Anyways, getting a bit off track of my story.... So, Harold who is the chief here in town, told Ed that he thought he would be getting thru within the year, and it seemed like no one in the department really wanted to the position. Ed made some comment about "when we get into town, he might be just foolish enough to take it on". Life went on from there, Nate got home from Iraq, finished up his time in the Marine corps, the kids moved back home, we packed up and moved... and from there have been working on our new house and getting used to living in a new town. Once in a while, I think Ed thought about this chief thing, but mostly we have been busy with other things.

A couple of weeks ago, Harold let Ed know that he is serious about stepping down from the chief position, and he had taken Ed's words seriously... and he wanted to know if Ed was still interested in stepping into the Fire Chief position. It turned out that one other person was sort of serious, so Harold wanted to present the two names to the membership and let them decide who they wanted in the Chief spot..... they chose last night... and "my" Ed was put into that role!!!!!

After being an Asst. Chief in York for the past 10 years, and having 33 years of experience as a firefighter, there is no doubt that Ed can handle the role. His business side will certainly be a help with the "business" side of the fire department, and the things that will be required from the town's point of view... so I have no worries!!! And to say that Ed isn't excited and honored to be chosen would be lying... he is really quite thrilled.

He doesn't officially begin until September, but in the mean time, he can shadow Harold, and get the feel for the department. As with anything, many things are the same as with any other department, but some things are quite different and Ed wants to be sure that he mulls in with the group. The really neat thing is.. everyone has a "goal" or two in life, and it can be anything from a promotion in your job career, or building your dream house, or visiting somewhere that you have always wanted to see... the point is, when you reach that goal, it's just so amazing... and for my Ed... being a Chief has been one of his goals...

It's been accomplished... and I am extremely proud and pleased for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well...

We don't seem to be doing so great in the guinea keet department "Mr. Six" didn't make it thru the night, and this morning Ed noticed another one that wasn't so good. By the time I did stalls and the like, "he" was gone too, and then I noticed that another one is awfully quiet. The lady we got them from really didn't know much about them (and I have to say, her barn was...well.... less than "nice" ie:messy/dirty), the other three seem to be OK, still quite lively, eating, drinking and running around the brooding cage..so, I have my fingers crossed. We didn't pay very much for them, but just to see those beautiful little keets "fade away" is quite distressing. I am determined to build a flock one way or another.. just might take me longer than I hoped.

On a brighter note (other than the weather, which happens to be amazing right now!!!) I worked with Mocha this morning and managed to get a drive with her in cart!!!! Betty had the same "luck" yesterday, and did some driving with her in the afternoon. I did some lunge work with her at first, then a bit of ground driving... since all that went well, I hooked up the cart and we went for a nice drive around the farm. MAYBE we have turned the corner with her and this driving thing... a few weeks ago I had threaten her that she would be leaving the farm if she couldn't do something constructive... other than look cute in the paddock. Perhaps she has taken me seriously!!!!

I was glad to have that "project" to do, because the weekend went by way too fast and I was sad to see Kas and Nate (and grand doggies) pack up and head for home this morning. Camp is the most fun when you have someone to share it with...

Tonite it's down to York to teach some dog classes, and tomorrow is busy again....


** footnote to blog.... the third keet died this afternoon... we're down to three.... ***

we got.....KEETS!!!

Look at the new additions!!! Guinea fowl keets!!!! Yesterday at our little fourth of July cookout, Deb mentioned that she had found some ads on craig's list with regards to keets. I have never checked out craig's list so she showed me how to get on, and sure enough, there were a few ads for keets. I emailed a couple of them, and this morning I had a response back to one of my notes. This lady had a few keets for sale, and she lived fairly close to us, so this evening, Ed and I went to get them.

We have no idea what color they will turn out to be, and it doesn't matter.. we also don't know what we have for hens or cockerels (again it doesn't matter), it's just that Mr. G. won't be all alone. We came home with six keets, but I am worried about one of them... they're just a couple of days old and I think the ride might have been a little too much. He looked kind of "sleepy" and sat very still under the heat lamp, so, I guess I will have to see if he makes it thru the night.


The other five are pretty lively and once we had the "brooder" cage set up, they were running about, checking out the water and the feed, and making a good racket. If "mr. six" can warm up enough, he should be able to join them.

We had to take the heat lamp from the turkeys, but they really haven't been using it much the last couple of days. I left them a flake of hay to nestle in, and they were quite interested in that, some eating it, some nesting in it. All 13 are doing well, getting big quick.



It was such a nice weekend. We had a grand time last evening, and our company stayed quite awhile, everyone was talking and laughing and having such a good time. Today, though it was bright and sunny, it was windy and cool. So after church, we ran over to Wolfeboro and poked around the shops with the kids. Kas and Nate are staying over one more night and then it will be back to "normal" tomorrow. I got lots of great photos, but we are still waiting on the computer to come back, so they will have to be posted at another time.

Tomorrow we will get back to work on the house. We haven't done much the past couple of weeks, between the wet weather, and getting the camps ready to rent... so it's time to get back to work. We won't be in by the fall if we don't get moving... NOT that we haven't been "working"... just not on the farm.

The lake is still pretty busy tonite, I think a lot of folks have taken this week as vacation week, so many of the camps have people in them. It's nice to see all the activity. Our renters seem to be enjoying the big camp, and from here until Labor Day, we are pretty much booked as far as that goes. Now.. let's just hope the weather is done with all that rain business and we can get some summer in!!!!!

chickies and other things...

I left my blog yesterday with all good intentions of loading my horse on the trailer and heading out to a riding lesson. But about the time I got to the barn, the heavens opened and the rain came... sideways!!! It almost looked like we had a river running down the driveway. Aside from the fact that both Tonka and I would have been soaked before we even began, I wasn't too excited about driving with a trailer in that kind of weather... so, much to my disappointment, I called and cancelled.

This morning, however,we have a glimmer of "hope" ...... not only was the sky bright.. but no sound of rain. And to top that off, Betty called and was at the barn doing morning chores... now, how can a day begin better than that. It's amazing that just the peeks of sun has brought the lake alive.... boats are out and about, walkers and bike riders have been passing by the camp all morning... and folks are arriving for the fourth weekend...I think we must all be "solar powered".

Sadie took these photos with her phone of the turkey chicks and their big move to the birdie stall... so, a few photos for your entertainment....

"getting pretty crowded here in the small cage"

"much bigger food bowl" (good thing as I was having to fill the small bowl twice a day!!! they are eating like there's no tomorrow!!!)

"still small enough that they like to be under the heat light"

"they look small in this stall now, but give 'em a couple of weeks"

We need to get back to working at the farm again, and one of the jobs top of the list, is getting an area cleared to put up a big pen for the turkeys. Rick has loaned us his big commercial chipper, so, a little good weather would be very helpful. Once Ed and I get moving, I know we can have an area cleared in a few hours. The turkeys are going to need their outside area shortly at the rate they are growing... so, the stall is only going to hold us over for a few weeks. The chickens are pretty comfy in the outside pen we made for them, and Mr. G keeps an eye on everyone.

Kas and Nate should be arriving at any time, they'll be staying in the back camp and will be here for the weekend. Tomorrow we are having a small cookout to celebrate the day... we have invited the sun as the guest of honor... hope he comes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aahhh... rain again :-)

I'm sure that people are as tired of hearing about rain, as we are living with it. As I try to think of something to put in this morning's blog... the rain pounds on the roof, and a couple rumbles of thunder are thrown in just for fun. I find it hard to get moving in the morning, and then feel like we are wasting time with work at the farm or on the house. Last night, I actually cancelled dog classes due to the weather!!!! I have been running a Rally class outside, because (usually) the summer evenings are perfect for that sort of thing.... but it was just too rainy, drizzly, wet, foggy (you get the message) to try and do anything. I think that must be a first!!! Normally, we would just move the class back inside, but with Rally, you need too much space...and the size of the class is another consideration. Oh well, this CAN'T last forever!!! and I for one, will certainly appreciate the sunshine when it does decide to show up!!!!



The fun thing about having to cancel last night, is that Sadie and I got to join the group at steak night!!!! It was great to see everyone, and since I don't get to go too often, it was a real treat!!! (hey D&D). On our way home, Sadie and I stopped to do barn chores, well, I did the barn chores, Sadie went in to "play" with "her" turkeys. At one point I looked into the stall and saw her sitting on the floor with about seven turkey chicks climbing all over her!!! (yes I got pics... but you'll have to wait to see them). Right now they are very cute and fun, but they are getting big quick and that "baby" charm will begin to fade. Already we are seeing who the "tough guys" are, and there is a difference in their growth. We are calling the toughest guy "Thanksgiving"....



I have a riding lesson a little later today, I will need to go to the barn early, just to give myself enough time to take off the first layer of mud on my horse!!! It seems almost useless to groom them, because the moment you have them cleaned up, out they go and with the mud, they can't help but get covered again... so I've given up. We haven't opened up the pasture yet, because I am worried that it will just be ruined. It's so wet and soft that if we let them out now, they will just dig it up, and that would pretty much be the end of the grass... so, they boys will just have to wait. I do feel so blessed that the hay is holding out well, and it is a lesson well learned.. buy more than you need, if you can. WHEN they get to hay this year, I will certainly put up as much as possible. It's been nice to be able to help out a friend with her horse's hay supply.



Speaking of horses, Deb was playing around on the Internet, looking to find some information with regards to her mini mare, Alice (who is Mocha's foal) and came across a website of a farm where both Mocha and Alice lived. NOT only did they live there, but it was where Alice was born... and to top it off... there is even a video of Alice being born!!!!! (it was hard to watch poor Mocha go thru her labor!!!) Both Deb and I have written to the owner to let her know the mares are well, and well cared for and loved... but what are the chances that you can find the birth of your horse on the Internet!!! pretty amazing I think!!!! If anyone is interested in seeing the video, the web address is.. http://www.bitoblue.com and then go under foaling video. Deb has been doing well working Alice with her driving lessons since the clinic.. I fear I have not done so well with Mocha. I keep "waiting" for the time when things calm down abit around here and I can have some time to play with my animals!!!!!

and on that note, time to get off to the barn, so I can play with Tonka for abit... keep dry if you live in New England!!!!!

it rains, it pours...

If you live here in New England, you are probably beginning to grow gills and webbed feet, we are all so tired of the rain/fog/wet/drizzle... etc. etc...I feel bad for the folks who are paying to be here... certainly there hasn't been much in the way of swimming or outdoor activities... from what I understand, there might be a glimmer of sun for the 4th, I think we are all banking on that.



But in another department "it rains, it pours" has a more positive meaning... in that I have been pretty busy with dog training lately. I had two private sessions today, and another one tomorrow morning, plus class tomorrow night. This is a real blessing right now, and I am most grateful to the Good Lord for sending me the work!!!! I like traveling to new towns, meeting some wonderful folks and working out the little quirks with their dogs....



Today, while I was running the roads.. Ed and Sadie got the birdies all switched around. The hens have been moved to a new outside pen (well, outside the barn, their pen is under the lean to roof),and the turkey chicks have been moved from their small cage to the "birdie stall"... I didn't get to see them in their new house tonite, but Sadie said they are very happy with all the space. That is something that you do have to watch... to make sure they have plenty of space, or they will pick (peck) on each other!!! The stall should hold them for a bit until we can figure out what we are going to do about a "birdie building" and pens. One thing for sure, I am glad to have them out of the tack room... for the truth is, they are smelly little buggers, no matter how clean you keep them, and I am happy to get my tack room back to tack!!!!



We are looking forward to the 4th.. Kas, Nate and grand dogs are coming to spend the weekend...and we will have friends here for a cookout on the 4th. Unless the weather greatly improves, it's unlikely right now that there will be much in the swimming department, but I will enjoy my company just the same. I do wish it felt more like summer... it's so hard to think that today is the last day of June... it feels more like the middle of April, except that we have green leaves and grass.



No one has cut any hay, and that it a bit worrisome.. I am extremely glad that we bought a big load last year, because I am OK in the hay department, but I do know that some other horse friends are getting a little nervous with their low supply. It's doubtful (to me) that we will get a second cut around here, but I am not a "hay man", so I don't know that for sure. We need about a week of good sunshine and gentle breezes to dry out the fields so they can be cut. I will definitely buy another 500 bales or so this year as well, I like the security of knowing that we have hay in the loft. I was also hoping to do some berry picking this spring and haven't done that either, maybe if Friday is somewhat good weather wise, I will go and see what is left in the berry patch. I have an urge for some nice fresh, sweet strawberries...

We might have our computer back by the end of the week, and I can post pics with the blogs once again, I hope so, I miss doing that...

well, guess that's about it for this evening and for this month... tomorrow we begin again...

hello July.....................