Kickin' back

I am still wondering where the heat of Summer went? I can't seem to get myself in a rhythm this season. Cold, hot, rain, humid, dry...........I don't get it. Don't get me wrong, the cooler weather is more to my liking because more can be done outside without exhausting myself, too much. One afternoon we just kind of sat back and just enjoyed our critters and yard and sometimes that's what it's all about.

Happy boys!

Had the vet out to clean Meins' sheath and do a recheck on Paha's eyes.

I felt so bad that the vet found two nice-sized beans and he was quite dirty. Since I had never had a horse this long ,it took him nearly ruining his tail for me to realize he needed help. Now I know better and I hope Meins forgives me for that one.

The vet believes it is quite possible that Paha is missing some receptors in his eyes that would normally assist in going from dark to light, light to dark much more quickly. His pupils respond as they should and he sees no cloudiness or dullness to his eyes. Given his age (2) and the growth spurt he is experienceing he may well be just this side of clumsy and a sudden shift in light his eyes cannot adjust to quickly enough, could cause the tripping. I watch Pa and Meins nearly every day for an hour or so and they both seem so content and happy to be with one another. Lately Paha has been being a bit bossy and Meins has backed down. But I have not seen the all out and out pushing and bullying that Meins had done to him last year. Maybe Paha got a smidge of confidence this past Spring being out with other horses that were just as bossy and he learned to fight back, just a little.

Fun, family and FOOD!

Most of the July 4th holidays I remember were either sweltering hot or severe storms days. Yesterday proved that God decided we needed a bit of "Nice Day" and provided us with gentle breezes, sunshine and decent temperatures.

Hubby came home from Germany Friday afternoon, Paha came home yesterday afternoon. The kids came over for a cookout,which almost wasn't, I was dropping burgers on the ground and lost a couple hot dogs to the grill. Sammy entertained us by trying to climb a tree to get his ball. He is relentless about you throwing the ball, so being the mean, cruel person that I am, put it on top a nesting box on the tree. That was fun!!! My daughter's boyfriend enjoyed manning the fire pit and by evening had a beautiful fire going. My daughter ran back and forth to the house and us doing laundry. The dogs had just run through the muck and jumped all over her as she got out of the car. Hubby kept busy trying to catch up with 4weeks of trimming. I trimmed twice while he was gone and that is more than enough for me. Me, I mowed grass, harrowed pastures and went in the one pasture to rake and fill the dump cart with rocks.

By the time the kids arrived I had just plopped down on a lawn chair ready to take a snooze. I thought it was only 11:30. When the weather is nice I just keep going. When I found out it was actually 2:00 I ran in the house,washed up, put on my patriotic earrings and shirt, no time for a shower now, and went back outside. It was a looong good day and I enjoyed every minute of it.

We don't do fireworks. The critters get too scared. I no longer get any "spark" out of a quick flash and "BOOM".

I get a jolt just looking out the window and seeing those two Appy rumps and realizing they are mine.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

A nice, crappy day

Is there such a thing as a crappy nice day? I hope so. Today was a crappy looking day weather wise but other stuff I did today was nice.

My horse Meins still fascinates me. I believe all horses are beautiful and if this guy would have been an old broken down nag I still would have thought him beautiful. Why? Because he's mine! But when I look at some of the photos I or someone else has taken, well, he just takes my breath away. I still wonder why he got stuck with me. I'm no beauty queen, definately not thin and not the worlds most gifted rider but for some reason he has me! So today I took my camera and took some pics while we were out. Did not take too many because the main road was closed again and there were lots of cars and big trucks, you know, the kind of drivers who have no clue what to do going past horses, slow moving vehicles, bicycles, walkers, etc., etc.

When we were done I let him eat grass while I hosed him down and then turned him out so he could go to his special spot and roll.

So, yes, it was a nice day!

Now we look like a little farm!

The shed has been moved and attached to the floor. Actually does look much better. Now if it ever stops raining I can get my hay in. Thanks Mike, Ike and friend for moving this for me!

Aww look at that beautiful Appy butt! Folks always know where the boys are with those distinct butts. Paha will hopefully be home today, again, if the rain slows or stops. It was just a light sprinkle earlier when I went out to feed and figured on a short ride but now it is coming down heavier and Meins does not like to be saddled when his back is still wet (sissy!). OK, momma does not feel like getting wet either.

My hubby will be back from Germany on Friday!!!!!!! Yeah! He has been gone 6 long weeks on business, but he did get to visit his family while he was there. I am not a good traveler and more than an hour in a car (it would be 8 on a plane), my body (the Fibromyalgia) just cannot handle it. The spasms are horrible and I would be miserable and just make everyone around me miserable and uncomfortable. I am a bitch when I'm in pain.

My hubby and daughter understand now and know when something is up. I tend to get very quiet and want to keep to myself. I just get irritated (I really try not to I know they just want to help) when people keep asking me questions and overdo it trying to help. The animals always seem to know when I'm not myself either. I swear they attach themselves to me and hang on every grunt, groan and sigh. At times I really believe Meins knows when I am in great pain. He will be the perfect gentleman, and clown. All this wet weather has wreaked havoc on me this Spring and Summer but I always manage to get through it. So once my man is home and my horse is home I can relax a bit and enjoy their company and presence.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

To Juli Thorson I was so sorry to hear about Miss Rose. My heart goes out to you, Ed and the rest of your herd.

Paha's eyesight

We already suspect Moonblindness in Paha, something I need to go and do additional research on. My trainer says he tends to trip. At first it was thought that his feet were the culprit but it continues after his trim. My trainer has noticed that it seems to take him longer to adjust his eyesight either coming into a dark barn from bright sunlight or rapid eye blinking when going into bright sunlight from the barn. He also seems to be able to see at a distance but not close up. He'll walk into a wall, stumble out of his stall or even knock into you as if he isn't paying attention. He can be calm as a cucumber then suddenly react to something that moves nearby. Am I worried, yes, a little. My vet saw no cateracts or "shadows" when I had him out a month ago and had told him about the stumbling, eye blinking and shying.

He is coming home Tues. and will have the vet come out again to recheck him in a couple weeks just to make sure it isn't something more serious. My worst fear is having to have him surgically blinded. I know I'm jumping the gun on that one. I'll deal with that should the time come. Right now I can only hope for the best and just take care of him the best way we can. Oh, not to worry, we would never get rid of him if he was totally blind. There are others who have and ride blind horses. But he is only 2 so for now, we have time to keep things positive.

????????????

Did you ever take on a project with the best intentions and ask yourself later on "What was I thinking?"

Since it has become impossible for my hay guy to get in my backyard, I had decided some time ago to move the hay shed up near the garage. So step one, move the pasture/gate entrance. Not all that hard, a friend came with his tractor and dug the post holes, I put in the 4x6 posts, my farrier helped with the gate. Step 2, gravel to make a fairly solid driveway to the shed area. Gravel was also used to repair the driveway where hard rains washed it away and around the new fire pit so we can sit without chairs sinking into the ground, and as a base for the new shed floor.

So now we are at step 3, the new shed floor. What was I thinking????? I have no idea other than I should just go ahead and build my own barn! Do you know how much a 2"x12"x12' weighs? Neither do I but it is heavy and because I was getting tired and instead of quitting for the day, I kept going and dropped it and it slid down the back of my right calf. Not a pretty sight! So between drilling pilot holes for the screws and then turning the screws with a ratchet, my arms, hands, shoulder and neck are trashed. Thank God for Motrin! But the platform/floor looks great and will be a much better base than the plywood I originally used. So step 4 involves moving the shed itself. Guess what? Someone else is going to do that! And that is the easiest part of my simple project to move the hay shed so my hay guy does not have to stack it in the garage then we move it to the shed. WHEW!

I think Meins has been quite amused with all the goings on lately. Today I spent a good chunk of the morning with him in the round pen. Grooming, scratching, rubbing, rolling in the sand (thankfully no one saw me doing that!) and just hanging out.

Later in the day I went up to see Paha and just tell him how sorry I am that it may seem he is being ignored by his momma. I explained to him what has been going on and it is for them and to make things a bit easier for everyone involved as far as their care goes. Darned if he seemed to understand by resting his head on my chest and closing his eyes and letting out a big sigh.

Ahh to be loved by a horse.