What a Morning Already

This morning has been full of surprises and lots of energy used.
Had to order several more hen aprons and they came in yesterday mail. So this morning it was dressing the girls again. First hen caught was one of the Mottled Houdans. When I lifted her left wing up to slip the apron on I saw this....
A huge wound!! I didn't know it was there. I think this is the hen that disappeared for several days. Although I gave her a quick once over when she returned, obviously I didn't look good enough. And the worst part is, I don't know what to do for her wound. The only medicine I have is for horses/donkeys, cats and dogs. Do you suppose Neosporin would hurt? The wound is on the left side of her back under the wing area. It looks like something either grabbed her or something bit her. Glad I have a strong stomach. Well, for everything but any kind of puke or skunk smell. Those two things will get me to gagging everytime.

Here she is with her new clothes. And let me tell you, she is not happy!!

Poor Eva's shoulders are so raw thanks to over zealous Stew Pot.

So off went her old apron and on went the new one with shoulder gaurds.

As soon as I was all finished dressing the girls I look up to see one of the neighbor dogs on my property running around! Thankfully it wasn't the same dog that killed my hen awhile back. But it is the same dog that had gotten loose two years ago and ran around my back pasture trying to chase my horses!

After about an hour of trying to catch him, he finally trusted me enough to walk him into our back yard so I could keep him safe until one of the neighbors gets home.

He really is a nice enough dog, but poor thing is stuck in a kennel 24/7/365. The only human interaction he gets is when he gets fed and watered. Or when the one grandson whom they have custody of terrorizes him. This kid is about 8 or 9 and I kid you not, a serial killer in the making! I have talked with the neighbors about this kid, but to no avail. They are aware of what he does, but don't know what to do about it.

And the neighbors other dog, a Border Collie, also got out and is running around. That dog hasn't come over her yet, but now I am having to watch all the animals here. And that dog is known to bite! Great!

Oh, an earlier this morning it was time to worm the horses and donks. Everyone was nice and easy except for my horse. He hates to be wormed and it is a chore and a job! After about fifteen minutes of trying to convince him to get wormed I gave up. Mainly due to him yanking on me so hard my right shoulder is hurting pretty bad. It is the same shoulder he injured over a year ago. So, he stayed in his stall today and he is not happy! I'll just go to the feed store and buy some feed on wormer. He IS going to get wormed come hell or high water! I will win!!!

I hope the rest of the day is nice and normal.

Until next time.................

A Cat and His Dog

I swear the days just fly by.
Every now and then I watch that show called 'Hoarders'. And sure enough for two days after watching it guess what I do? Yup, start going through everything in the house and tossing out all kinds of stuff. It always amazes me how much 'stuff' we accumulate over time.

A trip to Goodwill is also in order to drop off donations.
I've been meaning to share with you a bond between a cat and his dog. For some reason Kirby ( cat) adores Honey Dog. He doesn't like anyone else, but loves Honey Dog. Every time I take Honey Dog out front sure enough here comes Kirby. He follows Honey Dog everywhere.

He is constantly rubbing on her.

Wherever she goes, he goes. And visa versa. Honey Dog really likes Kirby.

As usual a couple of the donkeys have to see what is going on.

Kirby used to get to come into the house, but I caught him peeing at the end of the hallway, so an outside cat he is.

Until next time..............................

Done and a Funny Story

Yesterday I finally made myself clean and organize the book shelves in the family room. Talk about a mess and pretty much a catch all. It was just one of those chores that I kept telling myself I'd get to it. In all honesty it didn't take as long as I thought to do it.

Now if it would only stay this way!!

Last night my oldest daughter, Jennifer, and I were talking about Jake ( the Boxer pictured here). We lost Jake to cancer about three years ago.

Anyway, Jake was really a great dog. He went everywhere with me. But he was neurotic. Really, he was downright a spazz case over certain things. We knew what would upset him so we would be careful not to get him into an anxious state. The vacuum would always get him upset. Or the ceiling fan when it was on. It wasn't like the fan would just suddenly appear, but when he looked up and saw it, well, he would just get so upset. Balloons also got him nervous. We got him when he was eight weeks old, so it wasn't like he had baggage with him.

Some years ago Jennifer and Jake were outside playing. The next thing I see is Jennifer running and screaming past the big window carrying Jake ( he was full grown when this happened). I ran out the door just knowing something bad had happened. We laid Jake on the couch, started looking for a wound, or some indication as to what was wrong with him. Couldn't find anything other than him being all upset and shaking.

Jennifer finally calmed down enough to tell me what had happened. They were outside playing when it began to snow pretty hard. She said Jake looked up, saw the big flakes of snow falling down and his eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted!! Not kidding! That dog passed out cold!!

To make sure it wasn't anything serious I rushed him to the vet. Explained to the vet what had happened and after a few tests and xrays the vet told me what he had found. Absolutely nothing was wrong with him. Nothing. Then the vet looked at me and informed me that Jake was a neurotic dog and anything could set him off into 'anxious land'. By this time I am laughing hysterically and so was the vet. I asked him if he had ever met a dog that passed out just by looking at something that upset him. He said in all his years of practice that Jake was the first dog he had ever encountered was that neurotic.

He gave me a prescription for anxiety and whenever I knew something was going to upset that goofball, he got a pill! There were still times when I didn't notice what might upset him and he would get all weirded out.

Have to say, Jake gave us a lifetime of stories to reminisce about.

So everytime it snows, we all bring up that day when Jake passed out.

Until next time...............

A wonderful surprise this morning!!!!

Just have to share with you.
This morning I was in the family room contemplating whether or not to tackle cleaning and reorganizing the book shelves, I heard the Egytpian geese just a squawking away. After a few minutes I realized the squawking was different this time.

So I looked out the big window and saw both parents coming up the driveway with babies!!!!!

The three pics are of them going into the front pasture.

I am so excited, but anxious at the same time. How wonderful that they brought them over here. Although to get here over here they have to cross the road! Now I am really going to have to make a sign stating to watch out for parents with babies. Like a crossing zone!!!

Video is of the proud parents with their new babies!

Until next time...........................

Let me out!

I was hoping to catch Patti Cake do her bray/honk sound, but instead I caught her relaxing in the breezeway.

So instead of getting to hear Patti Cake, you get to hear Cookie letting me know she wanted out of her stall. So demanding!

And there was another surprise last night. When I walk into the chicken house to lock everyone up I always do a head count. Well, I did a head count and it didn't add up. So I counted again, and there was a reason the count didn't come out right. The missing Mottled Houdan hen had come back and was sitting with the others! It took me a moment to realize she had come back. She was fine. Although the hen apron she was wearing is gone. Have no idea what happened to it. But she is back and safe.

Until next time.........................

Donkeys and Cats and Chickens and Plants

The past several weeks I have been watching the Pampas Grass bushes in the front year. There didn't seem to be any signs of growth and I was certain they were dead and gone. Much to my surprise I spied green growth! Hoo Wee! When we bought this place six years ago the previous owners said that the Pampas Grass bloomed every year without having to do anything to it. Um, not one bloom at all! Oh well, guess the grass just doesn't want to do its thing these days.

I have been asked several times if the donkeys when they are turned out into the yard, if they do any damage to the trees and plants. Well, yes as a matter of fact they have. This little plum tree has had its branches broken in half or completely off.

This is Jeff Lewis. My oldest daughter came out yesterday to help with mucking stalls and when she saw Jeff Lewis she commented on how big is he. Yeah, they have a way of growing! :)

This morning as I as coming back towards the house I noticed Doug and Squirrel in the cat room window enjoying the fresh air. Obviously Doug takes up too much room so Squirrel has to do the best she can to get the breeze in her face.

Yesterday afternoon I put the donkeys into the backyard. Of course where there is an open window you will find a cat sitting in front of it. And in this case, a donkey on the other side. Doughnut is doing her best at sniffing Doug through the screen.

Not sure if she liked what she smelled or not!

Cookie had to come over and see what Doughnut was smelling. But, um, she was sniffing to high.

Since I have been turning the donkeys loose in the front yard, and we have hay in the barn, it was time to block off the donkeys from the hay. I dragged a 12 foot gate up am using it to keep the donkeys and hay separated. The last thing I want is for those hay bales jumping in with the donkeys!

Speaking of separating. The reason I keep Arnold and Miles separated is that they were both gelded later in life and they both think they are, well, you know, having all their equipment intact. So not wanting to take any chances of either of them getting hurt, I keep them separated.

For those of you who are curious as to how many animals live here. Here is a breakdown:

3 horses

8 donkeys

5 Fainting goats

3 dogs

16 cats

18 chickens

1 Fred ( ground squirrel)

2 Egyptian geese ( who come and go as they please)

Until next time...................

Kindness, Generosity, Mystery

These past few days have been quite busy. Some very dear friends sent over a surprise the other day. It was 100 bales of hay! They paid for it and had it delivered. The hay barn was darn near empty so they decided to help with the bare spots. It is very much greatly appreciated. When you have this many animals that eat hay, well, you can just imagine the cost to feed them all.

Last night when I locked up my chickens I noticed one of my Mottled Houdans was missing. I recounted everyone, and yup, she was missing. I went on a hunt and search, but couldn't find her. First thing this morning still in my pajamas I was out looking for her. Nope, not to be found. I have no idea what happened to her. No stray dogs on the property, so the only thing I can think of is she is a hawks meal.

Both Egyptian Geese have now decided that hanging around here is pretty good. There is all kinds of things to eat. Although the male is limping so hope he heals soon.

Arnold (grey) and Miles (white) have been playing over the fences for awhile now. I still don't trust them enough to turn them loose together. So in the meantime they can continue to play just the way they they are.

A few weeks ago I decided I was going to sell my horse. Financial reasons, I haven't ridden him in quite awhile, he has an attitude with Pewter one of our mares, etc.... Yup, my mind was made up. One less mouth to feed, no more worries about him being a butt towards Pewter, etc....

Okay, so I changed my mind the other day. As you may or may not recall I am against horse slaughter. If I sold him, I would not know 100% positive that he would never end up at a kill lot. Also, if I sold him, I would be contributing to the problem. So, as my dear friend Cindy calls him, the Pasture Prince will be staying.

Have I mentioned that there is a new stray cat hanging around? He/she is orange, hanging out inside the barn, and I catch glimpses here and there. Where or where did this one come from! Well, there is always food here so no worries about ever going hungry. In time when and if I can catch the new stray, off to the vet to get fixed. No baby makers here!

And speaking of food. I must go to the grocery store and buy food for us humans. So, wishing you all a most wonderful day. Smile and share it.

Until next time.............................