We've been having some interesting happenings here in the frigid thumb of Michigan.
For starters, during a few bitterly cold days last week...all, I mean ALL, our outside water hydrants froze solid. There wasn't one hydrant that worked. And with, let's see....about fifty animals all in need of water...that was a serious problem. So we started hauling water from the house...and we continue to haul water as the cold has not let up and we don't expect the hydrants to thaw until spring.
Thankfully, the water for the sheep is still open so we don't have to haul water for them...that would have been a real mess. We ended up moving the cows over with them because it was just too much work to haul for two, thousand pound cows that drink how many gallons of water a day.
Other than filling up the buckets for the others to haul, I've pretty much escaped having much to do with this chore because of my back. (Which is doing great. I only wear my brace if I'm going to be doing work that includes a lot of bending and twisting. Or if I'm going out to work with animals. My back is feeling stronger every day...which might be a bad thing because I'm getting more courageous! Before the accident, my favorite seat was on the arm of the couch...well, I climbed up there for the first time in four months about three days ago! Dad looked at me and said. "Getting a little braver, are we?" Yep, we are! Still taking it easy(what is easy for me anyway!) but gradually getting back to normal. I'm itching to start riding again, but the cold seems to have a negative affect on my back muscles...they start tensing up when I am outside too long and that doesn't help my back...so I am waiting for a slightly warmer day to go for my first ride. Today would have been perfect but I was at the auction hall. A little sunshine, no wind and temperatures in the twenty's and I'll be all set!)
Libby's twin boys are doing great. Thomas was a little weak in the beginning but he seems to be getting stronger. Libby has been acting punky....Mom dosed her up with a whole bunch of stuff to ward off infection and pneumonia...still not really sure what's going on. Could be that the cold is getting to her.
Lena is getting chubbier every day. We are sure now that the donkey jack, Luke, is the father of her baby...and that would make her earliest due date sometime in March and her latest...probably sometime June. That's quite a span of time...I'm inclined to think it will be earlier than later....and that's just fine with me!! The other day I went out to put on her blanket and she was not happy with me. Being so long away from daily interaction with the horses has made us loose some of the connection we had before. I gave her a quick, but thorough lesson in respect!! She DOES NOT like the blanket straps, or anything really, rubbing on her stomach. I let her know that while she is welcome to communicate that fact to me by subtle body language, she is NOT allowed to bite me!
I put Smoke's blanket on too. When we first got her, she would not let me lead her by putting my arm around her neck. She would throw her head up and dash away. It took me awhile, but eventually she would lead anywhere with just my hand on her mane. No one has led her like that for four months, so she was a little resistant when I tried to lead her over to the hay barn to get the blanket. She is a very gentle, sensitive horse and all the correction she ever needs is a stern look and a firmly spoken "No." She settled down quickly and followed me quietly.
Bannie, on the other hand, is a much more laid back horse. He looks at everything through rose colored glasses and it is nearly impossible to scold him because quite frankly, he could care less what you think!! You can give him a stern correction with a swat and he will just stick his head in your chest and ask for a face massage. He's such a loving boy. He looks at you with those big chocolate eyes and blinks. He loves affection...I think he could live on it! He loves to snuggle his nose in my neck, or gently hold my hand in his teeth. His absolute favorite thing to do is to carefully grab a mouthful of my coat front or collar and give it a gently tug. He has nipped me on occasion, but always apologizes so sincerely it is impossible to refuse to grant it!! His favorite treat is peppermint candy! I give him one before I kiss him...that way his breath is nice and fresh!! The best place to kiss a horse is the top of their nose...its is very soft and velvety.
I've been posting on here a lot the last while because many of my normal activities have been limited so I've had some extra time on my hands. I expect to be getting busier so the posts will probably slow somewhat.
Stay warm!
For starters, during a few bitterly cold days last week...all, I mean ALL, our outside water hydrants froze solid. There wasn't one hydrant that worked. And with, let's see....about fifty animals all in need of water...that was a serious problem. So we started hauling water from the house...and we continue to haul water as the cold has not let up and we don't expect the hydrants to thaw until spring.
Thankfully, the water for the sheep is still open so we don't have to haul water for them...that would have been a real mess. We ended up moving the cows over with them because it was just too much work to haul for two, thousand pound cows that drink how many gallons of water a day.
Other than filling up the buckets for the others to haul, I've pretty much escaped having much to do with this chore because of my back. (Which is doing great. I only wear my brace if I'm going to be doing work that includes a lot of bending and twisting. Or if I'm going out to work with animals. My back is feeling stronger every day...which might be a bad thing because I'm getting more courageous! Before the accident, my favorite seat was on the arm of the couch...well, I climbed up there for the first time in four months about three days ago! Dad looked at me and said. "Getting a little braver, are we?" Yep, we are! Still taking it easy(what is easy for me anyway!) but gradually getting back to normal. I'm itching to start riding again, but the cold seems to have a negative affect on my back muscles...they start tensing up when I am outside too long and that doesn't help my back...so I am waiting for a slightly warmer day to go for my first ride. Today would have been perfect but I was at the auction hall. A little sunshine, no wind and temperatures in the twenty's and I'll be all set!)
Libby's twin boys are doing great. Thomas was a little weak in the beginning but he seems to be getting stronger. Libby has been acting punky....Mom dosed her up with a whole bunch of stuff to ward off infection and pneumonia...still not really sure what's going on. Could be that the cold is getting to her.
Lena is getting chubbier every day. We are sure now that the donkey jack, Luke, is the father of her baby...and that would make her earliest due date sometime in March and her latest...probably sometime June. That's quite a span of time...I'm inclined to think it will be earlier than later....and that's just fine with me!! The other day I went out to put on her blanket and she was not happy with me. Being so long away from daily interaction with the horses has made us loose some of the connection we had before. I gave her a quick, but thorough lesson in respect!! She DOES NOT like the blanket straps, or anything really, rubbing on her stomach. I let her know that while she is welcome to communicate that fact to me by subtle body language, she is NOT allowed to bite me!
I put Smoke's blanket on too. When we first got her, she would not let me lead her by putting my arm around her neck. She would throw her head up and dash away. It took me awhile, but eventually she would lead anywhere with just my hand on her mane. No one has led her like that for four months, so she was a little resistant when I tried to lead her over to the hay barn to get the blanket. She is a very gentle, sensitive horse and all the correction she ever needs is a stern look and a firmly spoken "No." She settled down quickly and followed me quietly.
Bannie, on the other hand, is a much more laid back horse. He looks at everything through rose colored glasses and it is nearly impossible to scold him because quite frankly, he could care less what you think!! You can give him a stern correction with a swat and he will just stick his head in your chest and ask for a face massage. He's such a loving boy. He looks at you with those big chocolate eyes and blinks. He loves affection...I think he could live on it! He loves to snuggle his nose in my neck, or gently hold my hand in his teeth. His absolute favorite thing to do is to carefully grab a mouthful of my coat front or collar and give it a gently tug. He has nipped me on occasion, but always apologizes so sincerely it is impossible to refuse to grant it!! His favorite treat is peppermint candy! I give him one before I kiss him...that way his breath is nice and fresh!! The best place to kiss a horse is the top of their nose...its is very soft and velvety.
I've been posting on here a lot the last while because many of my normal activities have been limited so I've had some extra time on my hands. I expect to be getting busier so the posts will probably slow somewhat.
Stay warm!
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