A visit

Barby returned yesterday afternoon, hung around in the trees bordering our yard. He let me stand right underneath him and talk to him. I offered him some raw meat but he wasn't interested, just flew to another tree. He hung around all afternoon, I even rode under his tree on Beamer, and he just stayed there. So I spread sunflower seeds around the perimeter of the yard to attract mice for him- if he doesn't get them, Foose will!

Speaking of visiting, we have friends from Alberta here for the weekend to help with the auction on Saturday- they're the ones who own Luke, Tess's littermate. we have so much stuff for the auction, it's crazy! We are going to be really busy.

Backhoe, tractor, seed drill, boats, campers.

Horse drawn implements, and yard decor galore

Antique furniture,

and a Singer Treadle sewing machine that works.

So much stuff that I don't have time to show it all! I am clerking the sale so I will have a long day tomorrow.

Owl update

The owl progressed rapidly, by Tuesday evening he was flapping his wings quite strongly.

So Wednesday morning we decided to set him free. After feeding him some beef and chicken ,we took him out and Ted got the honour of releasing him.

We released him about 7 AM.

He stayed in the tree all day, we checked on him a few times-and made sure we kept the cats in the house. This morning, he was gone. We feel blessed to have had this chance to spend time with one of the most beautiful birds.

Wordless Wednesday

The Owl and the Pussycat

Anyone remember that story?

Foose was sunning himself on the bed today; he's such a funny cat, lays on his back all the time. I haven't let the cats see the owl, I don't want it to have any more stress than it already has being cooped up.

The owl, which we have nick-named "Barby" because of the barbwire, is really improving. It's eating, and doesn't seem to mind being handled. Thanks to Cheyenne, who commented that owls don't drink, I haven't been trying to get it to drink, but make sure that he gets juicy meat.

He is looking much brighter, and seems to like the kennel we keep him in. When we are done feeding him we hold him in front of the cage and he hops right in. I will be talking to the vet tomorrow about getting him to an owl rehab place on the coast, but think that Barby might just be well enough to fly in a day or two. I hope so, it would be wonderful to see him fly away. I'll let Ted be the one to release him, he just loves having this lovely bird to care for.

In reading up on Barred Owls, I found out that they are one of two types that have dark eyes, the other large owl with dark eyes is the barn owl.

Blogger won't let me load videos, but when it does, I'll put one or two on. I notice that blogger will be doing image upload maintenance tomorrow evening, so hopefully they will get it right!

What a morning!

The Beamer photos will have to wait for Wordless Wednesday: This morning we found an injured Barred Owl; it had most likely been chasing a mouse and got it's wings tangled in the bottom strand of barb wire(I hate that stuff!). In this photo I'm pointing to the injury.

I brought it into the house and made a whole bunch of phone calls, but unless I want to drive for a couple of hours, there is no one who will take it, so guess what- we are in the rehab business as of today! One lady brought me a couple of mice in live traps, but the owl wouldn't eat. I think it got really stressed, and I was told that their normal eating times are dusk and dawn, so we will try again this evening. I put it in a portable dog kennel for today, with a dish of water and if it eats and drinks I'll move it to the Canine Hilton where it will have plenty of room to move- and when it can fly it will be able to fly out of there.

Ted was overwhelmed; he loves owls and when he walked in the door and saw me holding an owl he was so excited he could hardly talk.

We consider it a honour to try to help this beautiful bird.

UPDATE: The owl ate some raw chicken, and drank some water. It wouldn't touch a live mouse, or a dead one. We think it's a juvenile. It flapped it's wings today, so the damage can't be too severe. It may be able to fly in a day or two. Meanwhile, it will be developing a taste for chicken....

Bad Velvet, and a saddle update

Note to self- always give the horses a once-over even if you think nothing is wrong. When I put the mares out this morning, I barely glanced at them. But when I brought them in this evening, I noticed right away that Velvet had a swelling on her neck right behind her jaw, and a bump on her knee.

It looks like she got her head stuck in something and pulled back, banging her knee in the process. There is heat in both places, so I hosed the swellings, dried her as best I could, applied peppermint oil for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities, wished I had some DMSO, and put a blanket on her for the night (cold freezing night!) Well, I guess it was a horse eating blanket at first, but then it was horses eating blanket!

It was thoroughly investigated by Chickory, and she gave it the taste test too.

I wonder if there will be anything left of it by morning? It's a really tough cordura blanket that has survived many horses, so I hope so.

We went to Brian's Saddle Shop on Saturday so Ted could install a stock waterer for them, and I got to see the start of my saddle. The ground seat is under way, and the horn cap is installed. Brian was working on the tooling on the cap. There will be rawhide trim on the horn cap and the cantle.

I played around with the stamps that Brian will be using on it- so please forgive the sloppy job on this sample I made- Brian does it so much better! But it gives you an idea of what the pattern will be. It's the Association basket stamp and a pitchfork border.

Tomorrow I've got some fun Beamer photos for you- if blogger cooperates!

Sunday Stills

Today's challenge is cars, and I really have to thank Janice for my take on this challenge. She was looking through an old newspaper book we have, it's newspapers from 1929 all bound into a book, from the Butte Montana area. In it were all kinds of ads for cars,and she figured I should photograph them for this challenge- so here they are for your enjoyment- and thanks, Janice!

A good day

Well. I did it! Loped bareback, that is, inspired by Gun Diva, who rode her mare Estes at a lope bareback. Beamer was very careful with me, and didn't complain when I held the reins a little too tight, fearful for my balance. It was just a short lope, and he's easy to sit at the lope, I just need to learn to relax my lower back, and go with the flow. Not so easy when my lower back is my big problem. But I'll have fun trying!

We have been having misty mornings here until it warms up enough for the sun to burn it off; looks like this in my yard in the morning:

My strawberries survived the frost so far, I liked this shot with the frost rimed leaves, and the blossoms bravely trying to bring forth fruit even into the cold days ahead.

We went for dinner at the Mennonite fall Thanksgiving dinner tonight- what a great meal! So much food, and good company, topped off by their youth choir who gave a wonderful performance of spiritual hymns. They were the perfect ending for a beautiful fall day.

I was hoping to take the dogs to try Sammi out on sheep, along with Janice and Kali, and Jenn and Abby, but have to put it off until Monday- the sheep lady has a volunteer fencing crew tomorrow so she won't have time.

Friends

I know how good bloggers are at rallying around if anyone needs help or advice, so if any of you have any advice for my friend Carol over at All These Pretty Horses, head on over there; her blue roan stallion Shadow has been diagnosed with COPD, which is severe asthma. His treatment is pretty expensive.

It seems that a lot of us have been having issues with our horses this year, things just seem to go in bunches. I had a bad stretch where in the course of 2 years I lost 6 horses. Never again, I hope!

We've hit some beautiful weather, cold at night but clear in the day- true fall weather. Last night the Big Dipper was sparkling away when I brought the mares in late, there have been geese wending their noisy way through the skies, and the scent of smoke from wood stoves in the air. Beamer gets his blanket on at night, and he shares his shelter with Url; usually Url finds the deepest pile of hay and plunks hinself down on it while Beamer stands. Every morning when he hears me come out the door, I'm greeted with a hungry moo. Even if he still has hay left- fresh is better!

On Friday Ted and I have been invited to the Mennonites belated Thanksgiving supper and social. It should be an interesting evening.

It's finally here- fall!

Fall has definitely hit here, we got our first killing frost last night. Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful, and we had Janice over for ham dinner- no turkey here unless I can get an organic one. It was a beautiful day, and we got to enjoy watching 5 border collies play ball together. There is definitely a hierarchy involved, with Tess at the top.

From bottom to top: Kali, Sammi, Reba, Tess, Sage. Sage and Tess are half sisters, and daughters of Reba; Kali is Tess's daughter.

Our auction consignments keep pouring in; we just got a 1971 John Deere snowmobile in really good shape, and a John Deere model G tractor. I'll do some photos of some of the antiques this week.

I went to Idaho yesterday to haul a horse for a friend, and when we got to her place she showed me two little kittens, tiny little things about 3 weeks old. They were quite happy to snuggle in mycoat pockets while they loaded some chain link rolls for the auction.

Sunday Stills

Billboards is this week's challenge. Well this was a tough one; I only went somewhere where there were billboards once, and all I got was this one:

Complete with annoying power lines! Looks like it is growing out of the trees.

This has to be my shortest Sunday Stills ever! There just aren't any interesting billboards close by. If I had gone to Idaho, I could have seen plenty! But we have been so busy getting organized for the auction on the 23rd that I haven't had time to go anywhere. I will be clerking the auction, for the first time, so I hope we get an easy challenge that week. Have a happy 10/10/10 everyone, and to all my Canadian friends, Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Beamer feet

Left front

Mrs. Mom, this post is for you! I had Beamer trimmed today, and I would appreciate any input on his front feet issues. His left front as you can see in this photo, has a very straight inner side, while his right front is a more normal shape.

Right front

My farrier says that the separation at the toe is growing out nicely. You can still see some bruising from our trail ride. There is a little thrush in the heel of the frog, Coppertox is on my shopping list.

His feet look odd to me, is it normal for there to be more foot on the outside than the inside?

He doesn't really flare out, and the toe flare is growing out nicely, by spring it should be all gone.

Also, he relieved the quarters. That's where the foot breaks away just before trimming time. It's been 5 weeks and 4 days since his last trim, and once again he grew a lot of heel. I might have to go to 4 weeks.

You can't tell by the above photo but his left front foot looks smaller because of the flat inner side.

Mrs. Mom feel free to use your colored lines on these photos!

Recipe for the blues

What do you do when you're having one of those days that get you down, when it seems you'll never get to the light at the end of the tunnel?

Why, you get on your good horse and ride toward the light.....

and even if it seems far away and out of focus, the light is still there, and you can look around you and marvel at all the blessings God has given you, like a good dog by your side....

and the beauty of the land, and the creatures therein,

and know that as evening sets in, all is well, and tomorrow is another day.

And then you go in and bake an Angelfood cake. With creamcheese icing.

This 'n' that

It's supposed to get down to only a couple of degrees above freezing tonight, so I pulled my tomatoes. From 6 plants I got two full boxes of tomatoes- a lot more than I expected. A friend gave me a recipe of her great grandma's for green tomato mincemeat, so I'm going to try that. Anyone have a favourite green tomato recipe they want to share? I'll let the bigger ones ripen, and maybe can some of them and make salsa.

We are hosting a consignment auction here on the 23rd. We are getting some really nice stuff- antiques, furniture, boats, a pump organ, a piano, - oodles of stuff! should be a really good auction.

It doesn't look like I'm going to get to go hunting this year, elk season ends on the 20th and I just don't have time with helping out with the auction and trying to find time to work Chickory. I hope to haul her to the arena tomorrow.

I'm really enjoying my job, the hours are perfect, and the job is just challenging enough to keep me hopping. I was asked if I would help out again at the Therapeutic Riding center, so I'll probably drop down there in the next day or so to help out.

Beamer and Url are getting along just fine, Url now likes to have his head scratched, and moos at me as soon as I come out of the house in the morning- he knows who brings the wheelbarrow full of hay! Beamer bosses him around a little, but I've seen them sharing the shelter and eating out of the same hay pile.

Well, g'night all busy day tomorrow!

Sunday Stills

Red and green in the same photo, and no archives- that is the challenge for today. Turned out to be easier than I thought it would, and I didn't have to go too far. The lovely colors of fall helped me out.

Our national emblem is the red maple leaf, and there are a few of them around here!

A little blue sky sets off the red and green quite nicely.

My garden still has a little red among the green.

Red and green are two of my favourite colours to wear, so I have these earrings in my collection.

I have some brilliant red begonias still going strong.

And I always think that black and white goes with everything, even red and green!

A Breakthrough

Does this photo make you feel upside down? Actually, it's the right way up, I was standing under the tree and looking straight up. We're finally starting to get fall colours here.

Today I tried a different tactic with Chickory. I have left the mares in their dry pen yesterday and today, they have a fresh bale of hay and I've been too busy to take them out to pasture. So, today I took Chickory's halter over my arm and the stall fork in the other and set about doing chores in their pen, ignoring them. When Belle and Velvet came up to me, they got attention, scritches, and sweet talk. Chickory came close and let me pet her nose a couple of times. When I was done with cleaning, I wandered over to inspect their shelter (it needs repairs), then wandered over to the fence to visit with my dogs. Meanwhile, Chickory was watching me, observing how I was loving up on the other two mares, and finally when I went over to the fence and turned my back on all the horses, she came up behind me and bunted me. Not a timid little nudge, but a good solid bunt, as if to say, "okay, I'm over it, you can catch me now!" I couldn't believe it. I calmly haltered her, then took her out for grooming, and hand grazing, and we picked a couple of apples off the tree and she got the cores. (Mnomnom!)

Relaxed and happy, and doing a taste test on her lead rope.

I hope she has put the silliness behind and we can get on with her training!

A rant and a request

First of all, a mini rant. My internet connection is really slow lately, so on some blogs, posting comments is an issue. There is a reason I use the pop-up option for posting comments on my blog; it's faster. When I am on a blog that uses the option to post the comm box below the post, I have to click on the "comment" button, then wait while the window with the blog post opens, then make my comment, then hit post comment, then wait for it to open in another window that adds the word verification, then do that and hit post comment again, then wait for it to cogitate and tell me my comment was accepted or is awaiting approval. Very time consuming folks! And one reason I don't post comments as often on those blogs. With so many good blogs to read, commenting takes a lot of time to start with, and that system really slows things down. Anyway, enough ranting!

I got to ride my Beamer today, bareback around the hayfield, practicing all the things Gail was teaching me about body position, arms, shoulders and wrists. When I got back, just for fun I practiced dropping the reins and getting him to spin. Woo-hoo! Try spinning with your arms held out, bareback. And then ask him to go faster. Yeah! That was fun! Then I worked on backing up without using the bridle. A little more difficult, but we did it. Beamer and Url are getting along really well, in fact I left the pen gate open while I went riding and Url contentedly stayed put- now how many cow critters will stay in a pen when the gate is open?

Chickory continues to be standoffish, and I've come to a conclusion about her. She got really sweet when Kai was born, and after he left, she reverted back to being suspicious of people, unless grain is involved. When I round penned her, she never got really soft, just barely allowed contact. Yesterday she would come about 10 feet away, stand there licking and chewing, but wouldn't give me that last little bit. I quit the session when I could touch her. That took 2 hours. So I'm wondering if this is a hormonal issue with her, on top of her natural inclinations. I had someone suggest to breed her next year to see if that settles her, which may not be a bad idea, but I'd like some input- especially from those of you who have worked with mustangs, as Chickory was basically a wild range colt when I bought her. How can I get through to her? How can I get her to trust me enough that I can walk up to her anytime, anywhere and catch her? All her experiences with being caught are good ones; she has never been abused, or worked too hard. She gets brushed, hand grazed, and if it's a day when I have time to work her, she always does willingly what is asked of her, and gets put up on a good note. She has me puzzled.