Christmas vent

Alrighty, it is time for one of my vents.
I woke up this morning grumbling about the holidays. Specifically Christmas. Not sure if it is because age has crept up or it has just gradually become worse over the years.

The whole commercialization of Christmas. Buy. Buy. Buy. If the kids don't get the top seller of the season then they are devastate and think life is unfair. If it isn't a top of the line, name brand item, then it is embarrassing.

The employees in stores are required to say " Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas" for fear of offending someone. Really? Well, I am offended when  someone says Happy Holidays! Yesterday at the bank the gal behind the counter said "Happy Holidays" to me. I stood there, looked at her and said loud and clear, "Merry Christmas". She grinned and said it back to me. I thanked her and left. 

Whatever happened to baking goodies, putting them into a basket or gift box and giving that?
Or making something and giving that? Or doing something for someone that would help them out?

As I sit here writing this, the gifts I most remember are the food gift baskets from neighbors/family/friends. Now don't get me wrong, there are some store bought gifts I have to this day. But I couldn't tell you each and every gift that was store bought over the years and whom it came from and most likely don't even have anymore because it ended up to be just stuff after awhile. The items I still have are ones that were heartfelt. I'm sure you have some too. The ones whenever you look at them still brings a smile to your face.

Is it my age making me think this way? Has it really become so commercialized that the true spirit has faded into the past of a bygone era? Have times really changed to such an extreme we have forgotten the true meaning? 

My mission this Christmas season is when I go to any store, it will be a loud and clear "Merry Christmas" said. If I offend someone, well, too damn bad. I am tired of being being offended by all this politically correct B.S.!  

And so on that note I say a loud and heartfelt Merry Christmas to you all!!! 

Okay, I'm done venting. :)

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

Last of the animal move

While we were moving the horses, donkeys and chickens, all the cats were rounded up and either put into carriers or were allowed to roam free inside vehicles as we were making trips from old house to new.  Only having four carriers and way  more cats, free roaming was an only option. All the cats settled in right away. As you can see Smudge here ( pic above) immediately investigated every part of the house. Here she is at the very tip top of the ceiling on a ledge that runs the entire house.



Jovi and Squirrel finding another high spot in the house. There are a lot of ledges and cabinets they can get up on. Let's just say with having so many high places for the cats to get to, throughout the night you can hear cats jumping from one high place to another.




Ozzy doesn't care for anything having to do with exercising too much energy. He prefers the easiest place to stretch out. Here he is in front of the wood stove doing what he does best.  




The very first hot meal I cooked in the new house. Steak, rice, buttered bread and tomatoes. I am looking forward to garden season. Now that we have plenty of water and good soil, a huge garden will be planted. Most for us, some for the horses, donkeys, goats and chickens and a bit for the deer.




The last of the animals to come over were the goats. Now let me tell you I never in a million years would have thought loading goats would be quite the adventure it was. The goats are not exactly overly friendly and not very trusting. Thank goodness they will come up to me. First goat caught was Oreo ( black and white). A quick grab, held on, picked her up and into the trailer she went. Okay, that's not too bad.
Next was Goldie Goat. She was a bit more wary of coming up to me. But knowing I had treats got the better of her. As soon as she was close enough to grab, in she went.
By this time Gabby and Baby are wise to what is going on. That's when it all turned into a rodeo. There was no place to confine them and they had five acres in which to run away. After some time Baby was getting tired enough she got caught, lifted up and into the trailer she went.
That left Gabby. We are all tired, out of breath and having to dig deep to catch the last one. What seemed like an eternity, Gabby tired enough for me to literally jump on her bringing her to the ground. As bad as I felt having to do that, there was not another option. There were already three goats who were stressed in the trailer and time was running out to get them to the new house before it was dark.
After catching our breath we guided Gabby to the trailer, picked her up, put her in and sighed. The last of the animals were loaded up. Yay! 
The goats unloaded pretty good. They looked around at their new surroundings and started munching on the grass. 
Animal moving adventure over! Thank goodness. Three solid days of moving animals is enough to last me quite awhile. 
I can honestly say I found muscles I never knew I had during this move. From loading furniture to unwilling donkeys wanting to load, to goat wrangling and everything in between. 
Until next time.........................



Moving more critters

Moving chickens turned out to be a bit of a challenge. Here is the chicken house before being put together.



Chicken house just about ready for them.
Want to know how all the chickens came over at once? Not having enough carriers for them all, the only alternative I had was to load them up in the horse trailer! Sorry, no pic of that. But just imagine 15 chickens being caught and loaded up in the trailer. Let's just say that they were all very upset. Roosters crowed all the way to the new house. Talk about some strange looks driving through the small town of Jacksonville. A horse trailer that is crowing!



After a few days of being here all the chickens settled in quite nicely. I opened the curtains one morning to see a hen perched on the wood pile in front of one of the big windows looking in.



In fact they have all settled so nicely that every morning when I let them out of their house, they make a beeline for the front steps. Not sure why they do it, but it's okay since they eat bugs.




Little Inger really seems to enjoy the new house. The other day she scared me. I couldn't find her and began to panic. I hollered and hollered for her. Nothing. Then I walked into the hen house just as she was coming out of one of the cat carriers ( for them to lay their eggs in). She started 'talking' to me asking me what I was so upset about. After all, she had been there the whole time!

Update on the sightings of Bobby the Bobcat. My youngest daughter came up with Bobby. I know, not very original. Anyway, yesterday as I was checking blankets, watering and checking the horses and donkeys I looked up to see Bobby way out in the pasture. He was just sitting there, then casually got up and walked back into the blackberry bushes. Of course I didn't have my camera with me. Note to self: bring camera all the time!

I was asked about if I am going to bring Patti Cake back. It's funny but I have thought about bringing her back home, but have decided for now that she is safe and happy where she is now. I may change my mind later on.

Betsy goat had to go back to the next door neighbor. On our last day at the old house I saw her in her old pen and I told her I was sorry I couldn't bring her. Believe me, if I could have brought her over her I would have. But taking her without permission would have been stealing and so it was not an option.

Tomorrow, another animal adventure moving chapter.

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



Moving horses and donkeys

First I want to thank my very good friend Cindy for letting me borrow her horse trailer. Without her the move would still be ongoing!
The first to be loaded up were Houdini and Pewter. Thankfully they just walked right on in to the trailer, unloaded great and as you can see settled in to their new pasture just fine.



The next two to come over were AJ and Doughnut. Much to my surprise Doughnut ( donkey) jumped right into the trailer. AJ took a few minutes but she got in. Yup, they settled in to the pasture as if nothing happened.




The next to come over were Arnold and Cookie. Now Arnold ( red blanket) has always been difficult to load. Before walking to the trailer I asked him to please load up easily as it would make it less stressful for both of us. After a few minutes of coaxing, in he went.

Now Cookie, who I thought would load up quickly, turned out to be a struggle. Finally after 20 or so minutes we got her loaded. They also settled in within minutes.




The distance between the old house and the new house is almost an hour so we were only able to make three trips in one day. The following day it was back to the old house to load up the remaining three. Mike ( pic above) was not having anything to do with loading. It was a flat refusal. Nothing would entice him to walk into the trailer. I tried every trick in the book but alas, nothing was working. My main objective was to make it as less stressful for the animals as possible, but between the driving time from one house to the other, the daylight shorter, well, it came down to pretty much brute force getting him loaded. It actually took four people to basically pick his big donkey butt up and get him in. Talk about exhausted after that.
By the time we arrived here at the new house, poor Mike was sweating and shaking. He was one upset guy! After a few days he finally settled in and was 'talking' to me again.




Cookie ( spotted donkey) happy to be out of the trailer and with her friend Doughnut.




Pearl here was a bit of a challenge, but loaded up fairly nicely.




The last trip of the second day was for Mr. M. Mallow.  Not really knowing how he was at loading, I geared myself up for a good struggle. He was going to have to travel by himself. After putting his halter on, clipping on the lead rope, walking to the trailer and talking with him, there we stood in back of the trailer looking in. I gave him a hug, whispered in his ear, and I walked into the trailer. Him on the outside, me in the inside. Then, he took a step in! Before I knew it both front feet were in! But he backed out quickly. Okay, that's fine. We did it again and again and again. Not wanting to use force, I stepped behind him, cracked the lunge whip behind on the ground towards his back feet and he jumped in! 
Yay, the last of the big animals was loaded! Two days of loading, diving and unloading but it was done. 

Thankfully not one of them got sick or colicked (tummy trouble). Each and every one settled in beautifully.

Tomorrow I will post another chapter of moving animals.

Until next time..................
  



Wild neighbors

Am having to use the old desk top computer until the wireless is hooked up for my notebook. In the meantime I have uploaded images from the web. Day before yesterday while chopping wood ( that alone is an adventure), a neighbor stopped by to let us know that there is a Bobcat in the pasture with the horses, donkeys and goats. He said in all his years here he has never seen one in daylight! He also said that our donkeys chased the Bobcat back into the blackberry bushes. I drove the Gator to the end of the pasture and sure enough, sitting there was a wild neighbor! Beautiful. He or she, looked at me and went back into hiding. I don't worry about the Bobcat hurting the horses, donks or goats thanks to the donks being the magnificent guardians that they are. Although the outside cats and the chickens may be in danger if the Bobcat comes close to the house. My chickens are locked up at night. The outside cats go into the garage at night.

After some thought I wonder if the resident Bobcat may be a descendant of one of the trained ones that once lived here when Roy Kabat ( he trained animals for Hollywood pictures and commercials) lived here. Hmmmm. Who knows.



For several days I have watched a somewhat young buck hanging around the house. This morning he was in the front yard! I mentally told him that as long as he stays here on the property that he and his does will be safe. And speaking of does, there are about half a dozen that come down the gully behind the house.



I must mention the wood stove. My hat is off to everyone who has one for their heat source. Having one is a lot of work! Gathering the wood, splitting the wood, stacking the wood, bringing the wood into the house, keeping the stove loaded, cleaning the ashes out and cleaning the wood pieces from the floor. Yes, I admit I got spoiled with today's conveniences. Just pushing a button for heat was really nice......and warm! :)  One more thing. Am looking forward to when the toilet seat is not cold!!! lol

Tomorrow the moving adventure stories will start. Have to say I am glad it is over!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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



Thankful

Internet is up and running. Hooooray!!!!!!!!!!

I still have to download all the pics taken throughout the move.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am not sure if I will get a chance to post for what I am thankful for, so, am doing it today.

I am thankful for my family ( even the ones who I don't speak to because I wouldn't be the person I am because of their ways).

I am truly thankful for all my friends, both near and far ( and yes, it includes all of you!).

I am thankful for all the positive energy everyone sent out for the right place to be found so all the animals would forever be with me.

I am thankful that the move went pretty darn smooth.

I am thankful for my health, strong will, Independence, humor, etc.

There is so much to say thanks for.

Wishing all of you a fabulous Thanksgiving. May you be surrounded with love, happiness, laughter and yummy food.

Will post on Friday and start letting you know all the adventures of our moving!! :)

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

Checking in with you all

Just a real quick update. We have made the move to the new house. It's been an exhausting two weeks. Really could have used a magic wand, but lost it somewhere along the way. I am still trying to find  Internet service, but is proving to be very difficult. Hopefully within the next week or so I will be back up and running. Then I will let you all know the excitement that happened along with pics.

Everyone has settled in quite nicely.

Snow fore casted tonight and tomorrow.

Wood stove is sort of doing its job keeping the house kind of warm.

Hope you are all doing great. I will try to check in when I can until I get Internet service.

Hugs to you all.