In reviewing the land at the barn, I continuously was drawn to looking at the spot in front of the barn. Every time I have been there, it has been mud. Dark brown to black, kicked up in hills and craters, sometimes sopping with puddles, others drier but still moist, MUD!
As I stood there quietly observing with a thoughtful look on my face, Lisa came up and started talking with me. I mentioned the mud. She said it would be better once they get grass planted. I looked at the land again.
"You're not going to get grass to grow there."
Dumb look.
"You're not. That's why it's mud. That's why it's always been mud. The land slopes down here, this is a low spot. Water drains down to it. The barn is right there, it blocks the sun half the day. Shade. Shade in a low spot equals mud. You need to plant something that likes shade and will set up a nice root system that will soak up some water and dry out the soil. Then you can get stuff to grow."
"Good. That'll be your job."
Yay. Resident Scientist. Biologist. Botanist. Lisa suggested "Resident Nerd." I vetoed it.
She bought a composition kit. Off I went. I threw on my cheapy $4 bright purple ("Holy Cow are those some purple boots!" purple) plastic boots and did my best impression of a WWE female wrestler climbing through the ropes. Ok, really it was horrible. They make it look graceful. I make it look more like back up to the rope, turn, swing one leg through, duck and under, get the other leg through before you get zapped and don't fall into the horse or a pile of poop! I got through with only a mild speed bump into Sheldon - nosey little git that he is.
Tromp, tromp, tromp, SCHLUCK! Weight back into boot. Change weight. SCHLURP! Ok. Weight back into boot. Go slower. I sent up a prayer. "Please God let my boot come out of that muck with my foot!" It was like walking through 3 inches of guano. Wet, black, mud that you logically know isn't exactly "mud" at all. It's rather an organic mix of soil and natural fertilizer.
I found a good spot. I squatted down and began troweling away the top three inches of gook. Found the "dirt." Sample collected. As I was collecting, I felt a tickly sensation on my back left pants pocket. I swatted my hand back and encountered a horse nose. "Sheldon! Stop it!"
Tromp, tromp, tromp. Next site. Squat down, scrape away, find dirt, tickly sensation, tug. Great. Darn horse is now grabbing the button on my pants pocket and pulling it. "SHELDON! Stop biting my butt!" This went on for 3 more sample sites. Sheldon followed to each one. Sheldon sampled my pants at each one as well. Then he sampled my hair when I stood back up and went to walk out of the field.
The pH test was quick. 6.0-6.5. Right where we wanted it. The rest of the testing had to settle and wait for the next day. Nitrogen was totally depleted. Phosphate was ok, and Potash had a surplus. This led me to wonder about our "fertilizer." So I tested that, too. Yes. I tested the horse poop. Results were much like the soil tests. Good to know. That tells us we need to add nitrogen to the ground in order to get any grass to grow, our own personal blend of "fertilizer" is inadequate for start-up.
On a side note, I overheard Lisa talking to JJ at bedtime one night this week. The JJ quote of the week: "But I don't know how to think." And on that, I wish you all a great day! Thanks for reading!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Just Don't Die, Ok?
Monday, March 18th 2013
Cloudy, cold, rainy day. I tagged along with Lisa to Tractor Supply to get gate handles so she could fix part of the fence and have a gate to get in and out of the section the horses are in. When we got back to the barn, she gets the bag out of the truck, walks over to the posts, and starts trying to hand screw in an eye bolt. I stood there watching for a few moments. Then, I voiced my thoughts.
"You know, you'd have a lot more luck and a lot less headache if you took a power drill and made a guide hole first. That post looks like oak. You're gonna be out here all night doing it by hand."
So off she sends me to get the electric cord from by the tack room while she gets the drill. I tug the cord. It's going under ground. She says keep yanking. I give her one of my best disbelieving faces and shake my head. She encourages me some more. I tug again. Up comes some more hay and dirt. This cord is going into the barn. It is OBVIOUSLY not the cord she thinks it is. I express his to her.
"Fine, plug it back in and go around back to get the one from the chicken's water tin."
Around back I go. Follow the cord. Follow the cord. Follow the cord. Tractor. BIG TIRE right on top of cord. Tug, tug. Nope. Hmm. Look around. Ah! Another cord. Follow the cord. Tug, wrap up, cart to front of barn, plug in, lead to Lisa and power drill.
She hands me the cord. Then she says, "I am standing in a big puddle of water, holding a power drill. This is probably not my smartest move ever." Ya think? I back up two steps. Go for it, girl! I'll tell the boys to call 911 and unplug the cord if you zap yourself. I am NOT, however, going to touch you. You're on your own until the medics get here, so just don't die, ok?
She drilled the guide holes and held the drill out to me. I shook my head. She looked at me. I said, "Unplug it." I took the drill in one hand, the cord in the other, and watched her easily screw the bolt into the post. One fence gate secure! Electricity on! Test - ZAP! Glad she was testing it, not me. HOT fence!
Now that we're both soaking wet, time to go home for dinner! Who knew my life would turn out like this?
Cloudy, cold, rainy day. I tagged along with Lisa to Tractor Supply to get gate handles so she could fix part of the fence and have a gate to get in and out of the section the horses are in. When we got back to the barn, she gets the bag out of the truck, walks over to the posts, and starts trying to hand screw in an eye bolt. I stood there watching for a few moments. Then, I voiced my thoughts.
"You know, you'd have a lot more luck and a lot less headache if you took a power drill and made a guide hole first. That post looks like oak. You're gonna be out here all night doing it by hand."
So off she sends me to get the electric cord from by the tack room while she gets the drill. I tug the cord. It's going under ground. She says keep yanking. I give her one of my best disbelieving faces and shake my head. She encourages me some more. I tug again. Up comes some more hay and dirt. This cord is going into the barn. It is OBVIOUSLY not the cord she thinks it is. I express his to her.
"Fine, plug it back in and go around back to get the one from the chicken's water tin."
Around back I go. Follow the cord. Follow the cord. Follow the cord. Tractor. BIG TIRE right on top of cord. Tug, tug. Nope. Hmm. Look around. Ah! Another cord. Follow the cord. Tug, wrap up, cart to front of barn, plug in, lead to Lisa and power drill.
She hands me the cord. Then she says, "I am standing in a big puddle of water, holding a power drill. This is probably not my smartest move ever." Ya think? I back up two steps. Go for it, girl! I'll tell the boys to call 911 and unplug the cord if you zap yourself. I am NOT, however, going to touch you. You're on your own until the medics get here, so just don't die, ok?
She drilled the guide holes and held the drill out to me. I shook my head. She looked at me. I said, "Unplug it." I took the drill in one hand, the cord in the other, and watched her easily screw the bolt into the post. One fence gate secure! Electricity on! Test - ZAP! Glad she was testing it, not me. HOT fence!
Now that we're both soaking wet, time to go home for dinner! Who knew my life would turn out like this?
Don't Stop a Tire Swing With Your Nose
Friday, March 15th
Lisa and Dave met with the guy about the farm and house. We did a walk through to see the layout. As we were coming into the kitchen, JJ comes running in screaming and throws himself at Lisa's legs. What happened? Jeremy bonked him in the nose with the tire swing. No blood. Nothing out of place. Hugs and all was ok.
The folder came out and the discussion turned toward dollar signs. I excused myself outside to sit with the kids. Not my business. Lisa said I could stay, I have good questions and think of stuff they don't sometimes, but this is their thing. I already feel like a third wheel enough of the time.
Upon talking to Jeremy I learned that he was playing on the tire swing and JJ tried to stop it. With his face. Hence the nose bonking. What did the 4 year old learn? Don't try to stop a tire swing with your nose. Lesson of the day.
So there they are, Jeremy swinging along like a happy little monkey without a tail, little brother looking on wanting to be just like big brother. Too short. I suggested, "Try standing on the tree roots." He tried standing on the tree roots. He got on.
I walked over to the fencing to pet Sheldon. Out of the blue the screaming began! "DONNA!" I turned around. There's JJ sitting in the tire, swinging around and around, clutching on for dear life. Jeremy is two steps away hollering for me. JJ is screaming his head off with tears streaming down his little cheeks.
"What's the matter?" I began walking back to them.
"JJ wants to get off!"
"Is he hurt?"
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"
I got to the swing, stopped it, the kid nearly tangled his legs up trying to get out. I calmed him, helped him out, and held him up. He tried running off. I held him still for a few moments. "You need to stand for a minute. You were just swinging in a circle, you'll be dizzy. If you run now, you'll fall down." I gave him a huge hug and waited for the tears to stop.
When Lisa and Dave came out of the house, they toured the garage. I heard a comment along the lines of, "When one door closes, another will open." I thought, "Oh no, they can't do it." :-( They had their heart so set on this. The owner and his wife left, we packed the kids into the truck and drove up to the barn to care for the chickens and horses before heading home.
As Dave and the boys got out, Lisa sat with me for a minute. I frowned and said, "No go?"
She turned and said, "What?"
I explained, "The house? Can't do it?"
She smiled. Apparently, the numbers they discussed might be doable. She broke out into a huge smile. This is their dream property. This is what they have been searching for every time we went to view houses and land on the market. Every time we walked away from them frowning with a list of why they weren't right. This has a few "not so perfect" qualities, but everywhere does. It's all fixable. We decided this was akin to "a big greasy cheeseburger with double cheese and extra bacon done just right, not too crisp but not fat limp and dripping, all covered with awesome sauce." :-) So happy for them!
Lisa and Dave met with the guy about the farm and house. We did a walk through to see the layout. As we were coming into the kitchen, JJ comes running in screaming and throws himself at Lisa's legs. What happened? Jeremy bonked him in the nose with the tire swing. No blood. Nothing out of place. Hugs and all was ok.
The folder came out and the discussion turned toward dollar signs. I excused myself outside to sit with the kids. Not my business. Lisa said I could stay, I have good questions and think of stuff they don't sometimes, but this is their thing. I already feel like a third wheel enough of the time.
Upon talking to Jeremy I learned that he was playing on the tire swing and JJ tried to stop it. With his face. Hence the nose bonking. What did the 4 year old learn? Don't try to stop a tire swing with your nose. Lesson of the day.
So there they are, Jeremy swinging along like a happy little monkey without a tail, little brother looking on wanting to be just like big brother. Too short. I suggested, "Try standing on the tree roots." He tried standing on the tree roots. He got on.
I walked over to the fencing to pet Sheldon. Out of the blue the screaming began! "DONNA!" I turned around. There's JJ sitting in the tire, swinging around and around, clutching on for dear life. Jeremy is two steps away hollering for me. JJ is screaming his head off with tears streaming down his little cheeks.
"What's the matter?" I began walking back to them.
"JJ wants to get off!"
"Is he hurt?"
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"
I got to the swing, stopped it, the kid nearly tangled his legs up trying to get out. I calmed him, helped him out, and held him up. He tried running off. I held him still for a few moments. "You need to stand for a minute. You were just swinging in a circle, you'll be dizzy. If you run now, you'll fall down." I gave him a huge hug and waited for the tears to stop.
When Lisa and Dave came out of the house, they toured the garage. I heard a comment along the lines of, "When one door closes, another will open." I thought, "Oh no, they can't do it." :-( They had their heart so set on this. The owner and his wife left, we packed the kids into the truck and drove up to the barn to care for the chickens and horses before heading home.
As Dave and the boys got out, Lisa sat with me for a minute. I frowned and said, "No go?"
She turned and said, "What?"
I explained, "The house? Can't do it?"
She smiled. Apparently, the numbers they discussed might be doable. She broke out into a huge smile. This is their dream property. This is what they have been searching for every time we went to view houses and land on the market. Every time we walked away from them frowning with a list of why they weren't right. This has a few "not so perfect" qualities, but everywhere does. It's all fixable. We decided this was akin to "a big greasy cheeseburger with double cheese and extra bacon done just right, not too crisp but not fat limp and dripping, all covered with awesome sauce." :-) So happy for them!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
A Day with Dusty
Earlier this month I posted about the day Lisa and Dave saddled up the horses and we rode a bit. Lisa got some pictures up. Here's a few:
That's me riding Dusty in the round pen. We don't do anything exciting, just walk basically. My back isn't well enough to do much else. But it's nice to try for a few minutes.
I think Dusty was blinking there.
I think this picture looks much more exciting than it actually is. We were really just walking.
Coming to the end of the day...
Looks like I am riding off into the sunset :-)
That's me riding Dusty in the round pen. We don't do anything exciting, just walk basically. My back isn't well enough to do much else. But it's nice to try for a few minutes.
I think Dusty was blinking there.
I think this picture looks much more exciting than it actually is. We were really just walking.
Coming to the end of the day...
Looks like I am riding off into the sunset :-)
Seiji says Good Night
On the chicks first night home, Seiji got brave. He decided to try climbing in the bin with the baby chicks. A few times he just sat on the arm of the couch and peered over. Then he tried to step over. Yeah. Seven pounds of kitten on one side of a plastic bin set it off balance. Over it went!
Of course, that in turn knocked the heat lamp set up and caused it to detach from the wall and crash right into the bin with all the chicks! Dave, Lisa and I jumped off the couch and raced over. Seiji tore out of there. Dave unplugged the light, Lisa grabbed two chicks, I grabbed two chicks, and we started loading them up in her shirt, apron-style.
Dave handled cleaning the glass out of the bin and resetting it up on top of the washer for the night. Lisa and I sat on the couch cuddling the baby chicks to calm them down. Everyone is safe and accounted for.
Of course, that in turn knocked the heat lamp set up and caused it to detach from the wall and crash right into the bin with all the chicks! Dave, Lisa and I jumped off the couch and raced over. Seiji tore out of there. Dave unplugged the light, Lisa grabbed two chicks, I grabbed two chicks, and we started loading them up in her shirt, apron-style.
Dave handled cleaning the glass out of the bin and resetting it up on top of the washer for the night. Lisa and I sat on the couch cuddling the baby chicks to calm them down. Everyone is safe and accounted for.
Third Corneal Abrasion in 6 Months
Saturday while I was checking my email and enjoying my coffee, my eye allergies started acting up. Goopy. Wipe the gunk out. Itchy. Scratch the eye lash line. Few more emails, bit more coffee, blink, blink, ouch. :-( Hmm. The longer I sat up, the more I blinked, the more my eye hurt. I got up, put some Erythromycin ointment in, put on a make-shift eye patch, and lied down for a bit.
By the time Lisa and Dave got home from working at the barn I was in PAIN! My eye hurt. I had a splitting headache. My nose was running like a faucet. I was blowing it so much I had a few nosebleeds. I took my pain medicine at 10pm, and it still wasn't helping.
At midnight I let Dave take me to the emergency room. I brought along my tissues and a brown paper KFC bag for my used tissue garbage. They were pretty empty. I sat right down, vitals taken, BP and heart rate up (as expected in severe pain), and walked straight back. The nurse came in and asked the preliminary questions:
-Do you have any health issues? Yes.
-Are you on any medications? Yes.
-Are you threatened or is anyone beating you at home? No.
- Have you considered suicide today or at any time in the past 12 months? Hmm. No.
The doctor knocked, came in, and said, "You came with your own eye patch. I like it! And you brought your own tissues. You know I give those out for free, right?" He introduced himself as "Ace." He was a trip.
4 numby drops and a dye drop later and we checked our attire out with the black light to see what awesome glowing duds we had on. All I had were glowing shoe laces. His lab coat glowed.
"You have an ulcer."
"Brilliant!"
"Right in the middle. Looks like you gouged it with a finger nail."
"Well, that would explain why it hurts like crazy."
"I imagine it would."
He picked up my tissue box and drew a picture of an eye. "The circle in the middle is not your pupil, it's the ulcer you have on your cornea." Wow. I done good this time.
"Is the stuff you take for your back sufficient for your eye?" God, no! It's not touching it! "Want something stronger?" YES PLEASE!
Some eye goop and Percocet later here I am. My vision was a bit blurry yesterday, but it seems to be back to normal today. I'll have to remember to call the ophthalmologist tomorrow to schedule a follow up. I'm having no luck with this eye lately.
By the time Lisa and Dave got home from working at the barn I was in PAIN! My eye hurt. I had a splitting headache. My nose was running like a faucet. I was blowing it so much I had a few nosebleeds. I took my pain medicine at 10pm, and it still wasn't helping.
At midnight I let Dave take me to the emergency room. I brought along my tissues and a brown paper KFC bag for my used tissue garbage. They were pretty empty. I sat right down, vitals taken, BP and heart rate up (as expected in severe pain), and walked straight back. The nurse came in and asked the preliminary questions:
-Do you have any health issues? Yes.
-Are you on any medications? Yes.
-Are you threatened or is anyone beating you at home? No.
- Have you considered suicide today or at any time in the past 12 months? Hmm. No.
The doctor knocked, came in, and said, "You came with your own eye patch. I like it! And you brought your own tissues. You know I give those out for free, right?" He introduced himself as "Ace." He was a trip.
4 numby drops and a dye drop later and we checked our attire out with the black light to see what awesome glowing duds we had on. All I had were glowing shoe laces. His lab coat glowed.
"You have an ulcer."
"Brilliant!"
"Right in the middle. Looks like you gouged it with a finger nail."
"Well, that would explain why it hurts like crazy."
"I imagine it would."
He picked up my tissue box and drew a picture of an eye. "The circle in the middle is not your pupil, it's the ulcer you have on your cornea." Wow. I done good this time.
"Is the stuff you take for your back sufficient for your eye?" God, no! It's not touching it! "Want something stronger?" YES PLEASE!
Some eye goop and Percocet later here I am. My vision was a bit blurry yesterday, but it seems to be back to normal today. I'll have to remember to call the ophthalmologist tomorrow to schedule a follow up. I'm having no luck with this eye lately.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
I Taste Like Carrot
Last weekend we went to the farm. It was a beautiful day! I took advantage of the light to take some pictures of the horses. We cleaned out the fridge and brought some "getting old" produce for the horses and chickens to snack on. Since it was going to be getting cold, everyone needed blankets. Well, all the horses.
We had Sammy, Salty, and Magic in the one field. Magic doesn't like
men. He's not a big fan of most other people, either. Lisa got close,
then he bolted. I spent some time coaxing him with carrots. I'd toss a
piece. He'd take a few steps and get it. I'd toss another a little
closer to me, he would take a few more steps to get it. I managed to
get him close enough that he was taking it from my hand. Then Salty
came over and nudged him out of the way.
I went into the other field and gave treats to the other horses. After a carrot snack, Scout nibbled my hand a bit. They do that sometimes. I didn't think anything of it. Not until he chomped down on my index finger. OUCH! I guess I still smelled like carrot. Man, did that hurt!
Lisa and Dave groomed Dusty and Sheldon one day and saddled them up. Dave led the boys around on Sheldon. Then Glen was brave enough to try. He followed Dave's direction. Left hand in the mane, right hand on the horn, left foot in the stirrup, and saddle comes sliding down the horse's side! Whoops! Slight adjustment on the saddle and Glen was up and Dave was leading him around the pasture.
Once Dusty was ready, the boys doubled up and Lisa led them to the ring. They rode for a bit like that, then they went a turn each solo. Jeremy is getting really good controlling the horse on his own. I took a bunch of pictures of each of them, but they are on Lisa's phone. Once I get her to put them on the computer, I'll post them. I even took a turn for a few minutes. I, of course, needed a step stool and a spot to get on and off Dusty, but at a walk he's pretty smooth. I'm still learning how to control him. I have the basics, but he doesn't always do quite what I want yet.
This is a picture of Dusty enjoying the grass by the hitching post outside the pasture while Lisa was grooming him. I took it while I was sitting on a stool next to him :-) He's such a sweet horse. He's about 20 years old now. He was a handful when Lisa got him 2 years ago. She did a lot of work with him and he's so good now.
Sheldon is pictured below, tied to the other post outside the pasture. Dave was just getting ready to groom him when I took that picture.
It was such a beautiful day!
 |
| Scout |
 | |
| Scout and Pepper up front |
I went into the other field and gave treats to the other horses. After a carrot snack, Scout nibbled my hand a bit. They do that sometimes. I didn't think anything of it. Not until he chomped down on my index finger. OUCH! I guess I still smelled like carrot. Man, did that hurt!
Lisa and Dave groomed Dusty and Sheldon one day and saddled them up. Dave led the boys around on Sheldon. Then Glen was brave enough to try. He followed Dave's direction. Left hand in the mane, right hand on the horn, left foot in the stirrup, and saddle comes sliding down the horse's side! Whoops! Slight adjustment on the saddle and Glen was up and Dave was leading him around the pasture.
 | |
| Scout, Pepper, and Salty |
Once Dusty was ready, the boys doubled up and Lisa led them to the ring. They rode for a bit like that, then they went a turn each solo. Jeremy is getting really good controlling the horse on his own. I took a bunch of pictures of each of them, but they are on Lisa's phone. Once I get her to put them on the computer, I'll post them. I even took a turn for a few minutes. I, of course, needed a step stool and a spot to get on and off Dusty, but at a walk he's pretty smooth. I'm still learning how to control him. I have the basics, but he doesn't always do quite what I want yet.
Sheldon is pictured below, tied to the other post outside the pasture. Dave was just getting ready to groom him when I took that picture.
It was such a beautiful day!
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