Zorro "turned the corner" some- time over night and came out of the barn
almost his normal self Tuesday morning. It was such a relief to see him acting like he felt better. His two poops from over
night were much more normal and he had even been playing with his Jolly
Ball. He was eager to go 
out into the paddock with the other
two horses, so I let him do so. Frankie was up to his ornery steer behavior. He likes to challenge the horses sometimes. In the background of this photo, you can see Roni confronting Zorro. This is the first time I have seen Roni act mean to another horse. Of course, Zorro kind of had it coming for as much as he has picked on Roni.I had put Roni in his stall Monday night straight from unloading him after our long, and late ride at Moraine View, so he had not had the opportunity to roll like he usually does. Well, this video starts with him having a good roll as soon as he came out of the barn... and then him "kicking up his heels." For some reason I can't get the video to download from my camera or computer. I had posted it on Facebook but know many of you won't be able to view it there, but here is the link.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3648106234035
Walking before tea has not been happening. It is so nice to sit here on
the front porch and sip the hot, strong brew as I
wake up. In an effort to turn over a new leaf with exercise, eating
right, Bible reading, training my horses, wrist work, chores and
relaxing, I am thinking a check off chart might be necessary. I have
been so undisciplined since school ended.
I spent Tuesday tidying up the house in preparation for Cathy and
Ralph's visit. I cleaned bathrooms, dusted, mopped, ran to the grocery,
etc. I even did some mowing.
Dan helped Joe get Frankie loaded on the trailer. This drive in the country was to Frankie's final destination.
In Frankie's anxiety, he made quite a mess in the trailer, so Dan helped Joe clean that out once back home. You can see Babe below, by herself, at the corner of the corn crib. She wandered around "looking" for Frankie for quite awhile.
I had started a leg of lamb (from Carol's flock) roasting in the oven.
I consulted two different recipes to help with the spices and cook time. Periodic trips to the kitchen to check on the roast were made.
Cathy and Ralph arrived just after Joe had gotten back. Because we were all tired, and it was cocktail
hour, we sat in lounge chairs and enjoyed unwinding after our busy
days. 
Moving horses to and from grazing "pens" is a regular job now that the back pasture is off limits. Cathy was photographing Hercules, and caught me on film in the background leading a horse out front.
She also got this "butt shot" of all three of them eating away.The lamb roast came out much better than expected and everyone enjoyed it. The gravy, made by Cathy, was perfect.
After dishes were done, we
girls took Kaysha for a walk to start burning some of those consumed
calories. We had a leisurely morning Wednesday and the Leiningers hit the road at about 8:30am. Completely exhausted by 8:30pm, I realized I had been on my feet, except while in the saddle or car, since 9am. After Cathy and
Ralph left, I went out to water horses, cow, poultry, new tree
transplants and flowers. Notice how dirty the duck water is by the end of the day... but they still drink it. Then I worked in the garden for 45 minutes weeding and hand
tilling a small strip so I could plant the tomatoes that I had brought home
from school. Running out of time, I garbbed a sandwich, loaded Roni, and headed down to Marj's. We chatted while I brushed Roni, and then she took a look at how he was doing under saddle and with the bit. She gave me some good advice that I am struggling to follow because I really like to trail ride with Roni (vs round pen training) and I kind of let him go at a pretty fast canter sometimes. (Which does not help with his gait development or speed control.) Slowing him from a canter is a problem and I am pulling on his mouth too much. Marj did lower the bit on the bridle so it does not pull his cheeks up as much and allows him to have more play with the bit in his mouth. He seems happier. It should not be pinching and causing sores anymore either. So I felt good about that.
I helped Marj get a horse ready for Austin, the youth who has been working for her. You can see Roni waiting in the background as Marj instructs Austin. I rode briefly while Austin did, working on speed and direction changes.
Once home, I put Roni out to graze and rounded up Dan and we headed back to Wellgreen Farm to meet Courtney and do stall cleaning. It was tricky getting all the mares in because they did not want to cross a big mud patch that had been created by a water tank that had overflowed. Some of them were also leery of a newly made stack of gate panels and fencing.
The spraying at Becks requires a different magnitude of chemical and equipment. Back here, Courtney and I did chores. I ended up
eating a quick bite of dinner standing by the kitchen sink talking to
Joe. After my shower, I finally sat down here. 
Thursday was another gorgeous day. I messed around on Facebook and played "Words With Friends" way too long as my lack of discipline continued to prevail. I did get out and do my watering and also planted flowers, transplanted some other flowers, and planted the tomato plants from school. Notice lonely Babe behind my row of tomato plants. I read my novel while eating lunch then weeded in spots and picked up sticks.
Dan (Who was great help unloading tack) went with me to Marj's to drive the trailer home so I could ride Roni home.
Lacey was at the barn and greeted Roni with her usual smile and constant gentle loving touch.
Roni did a nice job in the indoor arena. There were occasional miscommunications, a few because Roni wanted to impart his will and some because I was confusing him.
The ride home was awesome. Roni walked calmly for me the whole way. He
never rushed, refused to go a certain direction, or got excited. When
we got to Brian's, we stopped so I could check Roni's hooves because he
was walking oddly on the gravel road. 
There were no rocks stuck in his hooves. He was warm, so I decided to give him a brief rest in the shade and watch Brian's cows, who watched us.
Joe and I finished up the last of the "Touched" episodes, which was two hours long this time.
Friday was another exhausting day. I can't really figure out how or
what leaves me so tired at the end of each day. The watering chore is
not labor intensive, except maybe carrying buckets way out back to the
willow, but it does take about an hour to hit all the plants, buckets,
bowels and tubs. Cleaning stalls, neatening up the barn and paddock area,
occasional pulling of weeds that catch my eye, picking up sticks and dog
dodo, etc. are all part of the daily routine. I continued with
transplanting of house plants and then read while lounging in the
hammock.
Mid afternoon I met Ashton at Marj's. She is the
girl who has lined up to get her senior pictures with Roni. She was the
first to ride him when Marj rescued him early last spring. I brushed,
picked hooves, fly sprayed, tacked, lunged and then rode Roni. He was
doing well, so then Ashton gave him a go. He did very well for her
too. There was some initial instruction time to aquatint her with what Roni is used to now. She was happy to
see how much Roni has improve
since last year. We were going to try him outside, so I got on first.
Well.... he did not perform favorably. He got over-excited and was not
listening. We agreed to wait to have her try outside later next week.
After she left, I took Roni back indoors and really worked and tired him
out. Then we headed back outside. He was so much better.I left Roni tied at the hitching post and went out and helped the barn crew with fence demolition for about an hour. We were pulling big staples to remove six foot chain link fencing from around the outdoor arena. It was feeding time when I got home with Roni.
Then I picked up
where I had left off with my novel while eating dinner. Getting very
sleepy, I was tempted to take a nap, but opted to walk the dog instead.
The skies were darkening as we got back home. The end of another busy day.
Britney has been very busy in Guatemala with the summer mission groups coming and going every two weeks. To the left she is seen "jeeping" around. She has complained about being sick for several weeks now which worries
me. 
It was going to get quite hot Saturday, so Joe and I got started on outdoor projects by 8am. I had finally talked him into renting a tiller so he started in on the garden.
The weeds were so bad they kept
getting wound around the tiller blades. I worked at digging up the big vine-y ones and raking up as much foliage as I could. 
By the time Joe made a third pass, we were in full sun and getting hot and tired, but the soil was breaking up very nicely. He took back the tiller and I got started planting. I ran out of steam after getting the peppers and corn in. I was also getting sunburned even with the sunscreen I had applied.
Everywhere I turn there are more weeds that need pulling. I love my flower beds, but they are a lot of up-keep. 
Dan snapped this photo of Betty. She is always underfoot. I think she must have been feeling somewhat threatened by him. She is putting on her "mean chicken" look.After some R+R in the hammock with a book while Joe napped inside, we headed to Moraine View. I with Roni in the trailer and Joe with the kayak on top of the Expedition. I hit the trail with Lisa and Joe hit the water. We had a beautiful (and shady) ride through the woods. Lisa gave me a "tour" of all the different paths that circle / branch from the north end of the main loop around the lake.
Sunday morning I walked the dog.
At the last minute Joe decided we should go to early service, so we rushed around and got there during the first song. Then it dawned on me that I had completely forgotten to work in the nursery. I went in to apologize after the service, and luckily they hadn't needed me. But I still felt really bad... totally irresponsible. It had slipped my mind because I didn't get the e-mail reminder (my school e-mail has been closed). And I didn't have my calendar marked... I hardly ever look at it anymore anyway. This is a bad change I have undergone due to retirement. I have got to turn over a new leaf! 
I planted beans, peas and spinach in the garden. I had raised the beds and put down old shavings/manure in the walk ways. I hope to buy a cucumber, pumpkin, squash, and zucchini to plant in each corner of the remaining end of the garden. 
Joe went to golf with Bob and I took Roni to the park for a ride on my own. I felt confident about finding my way on the trails, so did the whole long loop around the lake. Roni did the best he has ever done for me, even slowing from a canter without me having to pull on the reigns. He never got over excited and all revved up. I had to video this awesomeness.
Bob came to fix the leaking pipe Joe had tried to solder together when replacing a broken outdoor faucet by the garage back in April. Then Joe grilled hamburgers and Bob joined us for dinner. I barely got a page of my novel read at bedtime, I was so tired. Joe and I were both woken just before midnight by a loudly quacking duck. It is the one who has been sitting on eggs somewhere. I had found a nest yesterday and threw out all the eggs, thinking "problem solved." But she was missing most of the day and at bedtime as usual. So we both got up to herd her into the coop.
Today I watered everything even though rain was in the forecast. I've learned not to wait for or count on rain. I was also excited to get all my hoses hooked to their respective faucets. Then, instead of dragging around over 200 ft of hose, I had 50 to 75 at each of the four spigots I use. As I was winding up the last of the hoses after watering, it started to sprinkle. But by the time I got into the house with the dog, it had stopped. Joe and I have switched cars because his is not very road worthy and I rarely use mine. It makes the most sense, instead of pouring money into
fixing up his car, but I had a pang of
jealousy as he headed out in it, because of my possessive nature. Missy stretching... it was a day spent in the barn... or house in my case. I worked at my computer on the front porch, read my novel, and took a nap. Turning over a new leaf is easier said than done. But I am enjoying this time of R+R. 
No comments:
Post a Comment