I spent my day off on chores. I feel like I've been run over by a truck. This will be a VERY short blog...
The nice couple who will be Clementine's human parents called this morning and asked if they could come back again today. When they got here, they headed straight for Fred...
I got his halter, put it on him, walked him out of the pen and out in the yard a bit, then handed him over to Mr. I told them he'd not been worked with much but wasn't too bad in my opinion... and both people said he was better than Mr.'s horse! They were ready to commit right then and there but I have to do some paperwork so they will come back next weekend to make it official... but Mr. really likes him and they want to take him home :)
He will be with us a few more months, as their two geldings are in a boarding situation currently, but when they pick Clementine up, Fred will go too. In the meantime they will be regular visitors and we will all be working on Fred's manners.
Yes Mikey, including picking up his feet!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Busy Sunday...
Wow. I almost thought I would actually miss a day blogging. But I made it. Whew! Not quite sure just where this day went, or that I even accomplished much...
Slept in a little, donkeys were hollering for breakfast. On a good note for Hannah, she heard me coming and was waiting at the crate door to come out. First time since the pup was born she left voluntarily, so - PROGRESS THERE! Decided it was time to let Fred in with the big horses, he's been gelded almost 2 months. He's spent the last week in an adjacent pen and they aren't fighting... Haltered him up, walked him over, he hesitated at the gate but went on in then... nobody seemed to care much, they wanted breakfast. Fed them, waiting for fireworks. Nothing. GREAT! MORE PROGRESS!
Fed the rest of the critters and turned most of the minis out into the arena which is adjacent to the small "pasture". During the week the big horses get it, on the weekends when I am home I lock them up in the smaller pasture and let the minis have the room to run. Today? Bad idea. Wiley the spotted mini jack runs right over to Fred and is challenging him, protecting his girls. Lovely. Just what I need. Fred, please be nice to Wiley. I decide I will have to catch him and put him away. So much for that idea, Wiley will not be caught. So poor Fred, it's not his fault, but he gets haltered up again and taken to one of the big horse stalls, and I bring him breakfast there. So he spent the day by himself after all. However I did let him out tonight with the other big horses. Tomorrow (because I have off) the minis will be out again but I will try to keep Wiley in the pen and not let him out... sure don't need those two fighting, Fred is 4-5 times the size of Wiley!
All this took so long I am starving, and Hannah has been away from the pup for quite a while, so back to the house for breakfast. By the time I fed Hannah and Darci and myself, it was almost time for the people to arrive that were coming to see Clementine. I went on out anyway to start cleaning stalls, sure enough before I even got 1 wheelbarrow full I got the call that they were close, so I went to open the gate. Really nice folks, Mrs. instantly fell in love with our girl, so we are 2 for 2 sold in less than a week. MORE PROGRESS!!! I hope this doesn't sound like bragging, I don't mean to do that, I am just beyond excited that my dream of being a mini donkey breeder is coming true! I am so psyched!!
And, to top off that visit, Mr. really liked Fred... so they went home to talk about him as well. Hhmmm... not counting my chickens but a little hope can't hurt...
As Clementine's new "parents" were leaving, Moses' new "parents" arrived. Did some halter/lead practice, got his little toes trimmed for the first time, checked and he is dropped and ready for gelding... and he is eating "real" food really well, so he should be able to go to his new home as scheduled. MORE PROGRESS!!!!
After letting them out the gate I went inside for a quick bite of lunch before getting back to my wheelbarrow... and suddenly OMG it's after 2:30!!! Wasn't it just 10:00???? Knew I would be getting another call any time, we are supposed to pick up friend Mary and go to see some shades a guy has for sale... sure enough, I barely get my hands on the poop rake and he calls to say he is home and ready for us. Quick call to Mary, she is NOT ready quite yet so hurry, hurry, finish cleaning stalls... and perfect timing, Mary calls back just as I dump the second and last wheelbarrow, so off we go. Guess I will do the mini pens after we get back.
The good news is, we are getting a 12x12 shade which I think will go into the small pasture for more shelter from the sun (in summer) and the rain (when we are lucky enough to get any). And we got a bigger swimming pool for the dogs, maybe they will stay out of the horse water trough (HA!), and he had a set of detached steps that I can use for a mounting block... have to go back next weekend to pick it all up, but we did come home today with a new soccer ball for Zacchaeus (since I ran over his old one with my truck and POP!) and some bamboo to plant as a screen between us and the neighbor... so, MORE PROGRESS!!!!
However it is now 5pm and the girls are gone for the weekend which means, because tomorrow is trash day, I get to walk the entire property with my trusty wheeled grocery tote, an empty dog food bag, and my mini poop rake (which works great for dog poop too). It's like a treasure hunt - only not. By the time I get that done I have to feed the critters, so no more wheelbarrows today after all. Which means more tomorrow. Sigh.
And we are out of Hannah's special food so off to the store we go, and gee since we are going all the way into town anyway, might as well grab dinner... so I got to watch my crab-leg-eatin' machine at work again.
Got Randy home and tucked in since he has to get up early and work tomorrow... I'm trying not to rub it in that I have the day off (smirk) but hey I will not be having fun, I have critters to feed and pens to clean and several small projects lined up... so it's not REALLY a day off...
Wow this turned out long. But did we accomplish anything? Where did this day go? And WHY am I so tired if I didn't DO anything???
Slept in a little, donkeys were hollering for breakfast. On a good note for Hannah, she heard me coming and was waiting at the crate door to come out. First time since the pup was born she left voluntarily, so - PROGRESS THERE! Decided it was time to let Fred in with the big horses, he's been gelded almost 2 months. He's spent the last week in an adjacent pen and they aren't fighting... Haltered him up, walked him over, he hesitated at the gate but went on in then... nobody seemed to care much, they wanted breakfast. Fed them, waiting for fireworks. Nothing. GREAT! MORE PROGRESS!
Fed the rest of the critters and turned most of the minis out into the arena which is adjacent to the small "pasture". During the week the big horses get it, on the weekends when I am home I lock them up in the smaller pasture and let the minis have the room to run. Today? Bad idea. Wiley the spotted mini jack runs right over to Fred and is challenging him, protecting his girls. Lovely. Just what I need. Fred, please be nice to Wiley. I decide I will have to catch him and put him away. So much for that idea, Wiley will not be caught. So poor Fred, it's not his fault, but he gets haltered up again and taken to one of the big horse stalls, and I bring him breakfast there. So he spent the day by himself after all. However I did let him out tonight with the other big horses. Tomorrow (because I have off) the minis will be out again but I will try to keep Wiley in the pen and not let him out... sure don't need those two fighting, Fred is 4-5 times the size of Wiley!
All this took so long I am starving, and Hannah has been away from the pup for quite a while, so back to the house for breakfast. By the time I fed Hannah and Darci and myself, it was almost time for the people to arrive that were coming to see Clementine. I went on out anyway to start cleaning stalls, sure enough before I even got 1 wheelbarrow full I got the call that they were close, so I went to open the gate. Really nice folks, Mrs. instantly fell in love with our girl, so we are 2 for 2 sold in less than a week. MORE PROGRESS!!! I hope this doesn't sound like bragging, I don't mean to do that, I am just beyond excited that my dream of being a mini donkey breeder is coming true! I am so psyched!!
And, to top off that visit, Mr. really liked Fred... so they went home to talk about him as well. Hhmmm... not counting my chickens but a little hope can't hurt...
As Clementine's new "parents" were leaving, Moses' new "parents" arrived. Did some halter/lead practice, got his little toes trimmed for the first time, checked and he is dropped and ready for gelding... and he is eating "real" food really well, so he should be able to go to his new home as scheduled. MORE PROGRESS!!!!
After letting them out the gate I went inside for a quick bite of lunch before getting back to my wheelbarrow... and suddenly OMG it's after 2:30!!! Wasn't it just 10:00???? Knew I would be getting another call any time, we are supposed to pick up friend Mary and go to see some shades a guy has for sale... sure enough, I barely get my hands on the poop rake and he calls to say he is home and ready for us. Quick call to Mary, she is NOT ready quite yet so hurry, hurry, finish cleaning stalls... and perfect timing, Mary calls back just as I dump the second and last wheelbarrow, so off we go. Guess I will do the mini pens after we get back.
The good news is, we are getting a 12x12 shade which I think will go into the small pasture for more shelter from the sun (in summer) and the rain (when we are lucky enough to get any). And we got a bigger swimming pool for the dogs, maybe they will stay out of the horse water trough (HA!), and he had a set of detached steps that I can use for a mounting block... have to go back next weekend to pick it all up, but we did come home today with a new soccer ball for Zacchaeus (since I ran over his old one with my truck and POP!) and some bamboo to plant as a screen between us and the neighbor... so, MORE PROGRESS!!!!
However it is now 5pm and the girls are gone for the weekend which means, because tomorrow is trash day, I get to walk the entire property with my trusty wheeled grocery tote, an empty dog food bag, and my mini poop rake (which works great for dog poop too). It's like a treasure hunt - only not. By the time I get that done I have to feed the critters, so no more wheelbarrows today after all. Which means more tomorrow. Sigh.
And we are out of Hannah's special food so off to the store we go, and gee since we are going all the way into town anyway, might as well grab dinner... so I got to watch my crab-leg-eatin' machine at work again.
Got Randy home and tucked in since he has to get up early and work tomorrow... I'm trying not to rub it in that I have the day off (smirk) but hey I will not be having fun, I have critters to feed and pens to clean and several small projects lined up... so it's not REALLY a day off...
Wow this turned out long. But did we accomplish anything? Where did this day go? And WHY am I so tired if I didn't DO anything???
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Rainbow Valley = Great Ride!
Went on a fantastic ride today, courtesy of the website AZ BackCountry Riders (I have their link on my list to the right). We rode in Rainbow Valley which is, if I didn't get totally turned around, south and east of Buckeye, or south and west of Goodyear.
It was just gorgeous and a perfect day for riding. Good people, good food, good ride...
Folks, ain't nothin' better!!
It was just gorgeous and a perfect day for riding. Good people, good food, good ride...Folks, ain't nothin' better!!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Clementine Comes Out To Play
I got off work early (thanks boss!) so Clementine got to come out of the foaling pen to play for a little bit tonight.
Something facinates her! Gotta LOVE those ears... they tell you a lot about what the donkey is thinking...
Here she comes, around the final turn and headed for... ME!
Mama watches her every move...
Ellie Mae and Mary Ellen sure want to check out that baby! They are lucky to get a second or two before mama chases her off...
Can you say, overprotective!?!
This one was taken AROUND Susie Q, who suddenly decided I might have something to eat... or something!
Say it with me now - AAAWWWWW, WHAT A FACE!!!
Sleep tight little one, see you tomorrow :)
Something facinates her! Gotta LOVE those ears... they tell you a lot about what the donkey is thinking...
Here she comes, around the final turn and headed for... ME!
Mama watches her every move...
Ellie Mae and Mary Ellen sure want to check out that baby! They are lucky to get a second or two before mama chases her off...
Can you say, overprotective!?!
This one was taken AROUND Susie Q, who suddenly decided I might have something to eat... or something!
Say it with me now - AAAWWWWW, WHAT A FACE!!!
Sleep tight little one, see you tomorrow :)Thursday, February 14, 2008
Hannah's Pup (Day 4)
Here's an update on the pup. He's still not doing much but eating and sleeping, but he does squirm around quite a bit. And he's starting to get noisy! He's not afraid to say he wants something... although we're not sure what exactly it is (probably mama's milk at this point).
I'm amazed at how much bigger he is already...
I'm amazed at how much bigger he is already...
(this was Day 1, remember?)
and he is getting his tan markings, they actually started showing up by Day 2!
Hannah is still very protective. In fact the only way to get her to come out of the crate to go outside for a few minutes, is to pick up the pup and bring him out, then she comes out and we grab her, then we put the pup back in the crate and carry his mama outside. But if anyone opens the door, watch out - she's back in the house like a shot!
Darci is very excited to meet the new arrival!
I got home too late for pictures outside, but Clementine is back to normal after her small adventure yesterday. Somehow she got her little nose where it wasn't supposed to be, and got stung or bit by something. Lindsey called to say that although the baby seemed to be breathing and nursing okay, her little muzzle was all swollen up, so I had Linz give her a benadryl. The swelling started going down almost immediately but she still had a puffy spot under her chin when I got home last night. So I was quite relieved to see that sweet little face back to normal today! I did let her and her mama out of the foaling pen for a few minutes today and she enjoyed stretchigg her legs, and visiting with her aunts Mary Ellen and Ellie Mae. They are so intrigued! I will get some more pictures this weekend...
It's incredible to watch the parallels - Hannah and Susie Q being so protective of their new little ones, Darci and the other donkeys so curious, and although the pup is quite a bit behind Clementine, I am sure that in a couple of weeks he will be exploring just as avidly as she is!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
My Amazing Man (Part Two)
So here’s the big horse trailer I was talking about:
The whole inside of the thing used to look like this:
We put in a divider wall, with a door:
And built out the front part for us. On the left here you see the inside of the door into the horse part, and the closet in the middle, and on the right the beginning of the shelves and bench.
This is looking in through the door, again the shelves (above) and the bench. Randy built all the frames out of angle iron, used corrugated metal for the roof and to build out the bench storage, and sheets of wood made to look like individual pieces for the walls.
This is the bed, with shelves on either side. As you can see we haven't finished the corners yet, but we do have the insulation in and boy does it help keep us warm when we camp in the mountains!
I also learned early on not to complain about the “junk” Randy drags home. Sometimes it sits quite a while, but eventually the things that to most people would be useless junk are either used to make something we need, or sold to someone else who recognizes the potential, or traded for something we need. His projects take a back seat quite often while he takes care of me. He’s fixed me up with a golf cart and trailer so I can feed without carrying all the hay and buckets etc. He’s built me a hay barn, repaired and put up a pellet dispenser, and had a container hauled in to be my tack room/barn.
He’s got most of the horse pens rigged with automatic water, and we’re gathering what we need to finish the rest.
He made an outdoor firepit thingy too, to sit around on cold nights.
He’s made me a lot of cool stuff out of old horseshoes and then, when my ideas got as crazy as his do, he taught me to weld so I could make my own cool stuff. But that’s a post all on its own… (I promise Debby, SOON!)
The whole inside of the thing used to look like this:
We put in a divider wall, with a door:
And built out the front part for us. On the left here you see the inside of the door into the horse part, and the closet in the middle, and on the right the beginning of the shelves and bench.
This is looking in through the door, again the shelves (above) and the bench. Randy built all the frames out of angle iron, used corrugated metal for the roof and to build out the bench storage, and sheets of wood made to look like individual pieces for the walls.
This is the bed, with shelves on either side. As you can see we haven't finished the corners yet, but we do have the insulation in and boy does it help keep us warm when we camp in the mountains!
I also learned early on not to complain about the “junk” Randy drags home. Sometimes it sits quite a while, but eventually the things that to most people would be useless junk are either used to make something we need, or sold to someone else who recognizes the potential, or traded for something we need. His projects take a back seat quite often while he takes care of me. He’s fixed me up with a golf cart and trailer so I can feed without carrying all the hay and buckets etc. He’s built me a hay barn, repaired and put up a pellet dispenser, and had a container hauled in to be my tack room/barn.
He’s got most of the horse pens rigged with automatic water, and we’re gathering what we need to finish the rest.
He made an outdoor firepit thingy too, to sit around on cold nights.
He’s made me a lot of cool stuff out of old horseshoes and then, when my ideas got as crazy as his do, he taught me to weld so I could make my own cool stuff. But that’s a post all on its own… (I promise Debby, SOON!)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Oh My Darlin' Clementine
Well since I didn't actually give birth to my new babies, I only got one day of maternity leave, and today was back to work :(
But by popular demand here are more pictures of the jennet foal. Her name is, thanks to my friend Mary who won the donkey foal pool... CLEMENTINE!
I thought when I first saw her (still wet) that she looked just like Moses, but that changed quick. She's frosted!
Grandma's lap is a good place to nap.
Zacchaeus was hiding from Susie Q!
Figuring out the nursing thing
All done snackin'
Such a pretty girl...
What's mama eatin'???
Hug from mama
Kiss from mama
Yum yum, gimme some!
Mama sure keeps an eye on her girl...
Look at those ears and that tail! I missed the kick... she is telling mama, QUIT IT!
Darci is terrified of Clementine
Susie Q is not sure she likes this grandma business...
But I sure do :)
I like this picture because it shows how small Clementine really is, compared to Lindsey's hand
Kisses from Linz
Checking out Zacchaeus who took her place in Lindsey's lap
Her dark stripe just kind of wiggles off to the side and disappears!
Oh, my Darlin' Clementine...
As for the pup, well, he still looks exactly the same as he did yesterday so we haven't taken any more pictures. I'm 99% sure he's going to stay and become dog #11 at the ranch... Randy's starting to talk names!
But by popular demand here are more pictures of the jennet foal. Her name is, thanks to my friend Mary who won the donkey foal pool... CLEMENTINE!
I thought when I first saw her (still wet) that she looked just like Moses, but that changed quick. She's frosted!
Grandma's lap is a good place to nap.
Zacchaeus was hiding from Susie Q!
Figuring out the nursing thing
All done snackin'
Such a pretty girl...
What's mama eatin'??? Hug from mama
Kiss from mama
Yum yum, gimme some!
Mama sure keeps an eye on her girl...
Look at those ears and that tail! I missed the kick... she is telling mama, QUIT IT!
Darci is terrified of Clementine
Susie Q is not sure she likes this grandma business...
But I sure do :)
I like this picture because it shows how small Clementine really is, compared to Lindsey's hand
Kisses from Linz
Checking out Zacchaeus who took her place in Lindsey's lap
Her dark stripe just kind of wiggles off to the side and disappears!
Oh, my Darlin' Clementine...
As for the pup, well, he still looks exactly the same as he did yesterday so we haven't taken any more pictures. I'm 99% sure he's going to stay and become dog #11 at the ranch... Randy's starting to talk names!
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