We've Got The Fever

      Cabin fever that is...and Barn Fever....and Chicken Coop Fever!
Not from Swine flu....but from being cooped up for so long.
      Recently all of the creatures have been acting strange.  Well, acting goofier than usual. There are days when I have been ready to crawl out of my skin. I have been wound so tight I am ready to snap.  I can't explain what it is, but I just can't sit still in front of my computer any longer. I am tired of dreaming about spring....I want it to come. The horses have been chasing each other around, Chuck has been trying to mount Zorro, the roosters are chasing the hens all over the place and fighting with each other, 

 and the barn kitties don't want to come in at night...they would rather stay out and play.

      This past week came and went with little fanfare. Every night it was down in the mid to low 20’s. And just about every day it got up to the mid to upper 30’s.  So, snow would melt during the day and standing water would freeze each night.  The snow drifts got smaller and much of the grass is now visible. Because the snow is being compacted from melting and refreezing, the snow drifts are more like ice mounds. The sun shined much of most days, with more and more birds showing up at the feeders, and lots of bird song in the air. The horses have been galloping around the front pasture causing Chuck to follow suit. They all jump, kick, buck, and run.
      These four pictures are a series from a video clip I took.  I paused the video while viewing it and took each picture of the display on my computer screen.  There must be a better way to do this, but I couldn't figure out how.  Notice in the first picture Amiga is kicking her back legs in Zorro's direction and then immediately he kind of rears up in the next photo....all while they are galloping along the fence.  They raced back and forth several times, nearly missing Chuck in the bottom left photo.

      You can tell they are glad to see grass once again and feel the warm sun.  With the thaw, the top soil is soft and those characters are really tearing up the ground.  Back in the paddock it is mostly mud as you can see in the picture to the right.  I am so glad I bought an $18 pair of muck boots last fall. They have been invaluable.  
Spring is busting out all over…..or at least it is ready to.
      On Wednesday, Courtney and I had another riding lesson.  This time Zorro was reluctant to load at both ends.  We worked on Amiga’s bolting off the trailer and made some progress.  Again, our  trainer Marj to the rescue with that problem.  We had a great lesson but with some surprises.  I got on Amiga without assistance  (which in hind sight was a mistake).  As I swung my leg over the saddle, she took off at a gallop. I managed to stay on (Thank you God) even though I didn’t even have my second foot in the stirrup.  And I did the one rein stop once I could manage it.   We then practiced getting on, with Marj’s help, and under more control.  Amiga needs to learn to hold still reliably (which she usually does fairly well) while I am getting up into the saddle.  Not sure why she bolted.  It’s like I say to anybody who asks about an animal’s behavior ….I tell them “I haven’t seen it yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.”  Courtney and I put our  horses through their paces…. walking and gating at different speeds and in different directions. 

     Courtney and Zorro                                     Amiga and I

We rode them around different obstacles and stepping over them.  Had them turning, stop + go, backing, etc.  And both horses did a nice job. We four continue to learn a lot.  At the end we did a “ribbon” exercise where we rode with the two horses side by side, holding a rope from one of us to the other.  It was really cool.  The horses stayed together quite well, and actually stayed in their gate better than usual. The two horses really like each other, so it was really fun to see them working so well together.

      Thursday morning before work, I went out to open the gate to let the horses out on the front pasture.  When I walked to the south side of the barn, Zorro and Chuck were lying down in the area where all the stemy hay that has been drug out of the bin is. Amiga was standing next to Zorro eating hay out of the bin. The chickens were picking through the hay looking for manure, and the barn kitties were on the cement stairs sunning themselves. Wish I had my camera at the time. There are so many "Kodak moments" I miss.  I should carry my camera all the time....but that is a pain.  Even when I do have it, things happen in the blink of an eye and animals are so unpredictable.  It is also tough to get them to pose for you.  I took my camera Friday morning but didn’t get near as cute pictures.
     Joe, Courtney and I went to the Illinois Horse fair in Springfield all day Saturday.  We enjoyed being out and seeing all the people and horses.  I mostly enjoyed the parade of horse breeds that was a 2 hour show of all the different breeds of horses, including all their different roles as sport, show, trail, etc.
      Monday at dusk I spent 40 minutes looking for a missing chicken.  Didn’t this just happen a few weeks ago? I had to get a flashlight from the barn and go back to the coop to re-count cause it was too dark to see way back in the coop.  This time it was Baby, not Flopsie, that was missing.

    
     She is the gal I hatched in our incubator, and taught to stand and walk cause she came out crippled.  You can see her falling over in the picture on the left...and to the right as an adult.  So, I continued my searched in earnest.  I could smell fresh skunk coming from under the corn crib, and worried that I might only find chicken feathers.  After searching everywhere, with the dog and two cats tagging along, I went back to the coop to check one last time, and Baby was standing there on the roost, just getting ready to settle in for the night while all the others were sitting, some with heads tucked under wings, sleeping.  I decided not to lecture her about being out after curfew….I had lots of grading to get back to.
       Today was a busy day getting ready to leave for 5 days.  I needed to get caught up and ahead on school work, get ready for a sub, plan for Courtney to come farm sit, and pack for Daniel and myself.
     As soon as I pulled out a duffel bag to pack for Daniel, Abbey decided to hop in.  She is so cute, but not much help.
     I gave Joe a list of things to do as well. I needed to restock feed, clean house, water plants, write notes to my helpers, and think through the next 5 days.  Grades would be do upon my return so I didn’t leave school until almost 6pm.
     I am so ready to head south tomorrow….Can't wait to get an early glimpse at spring, see Daniel and the Sidensticks, and take a break from the normal routine.  I am not looking forward to the long hours on the road…. but I never like riding in a car.  Car Fever is worse than Cabin Fever.