Javas Barn

Derailed

2011-09-21T09:11:00.000-04:00

Life got derailed, total derailment - off kilter, etc... several times.

Here are the bullet points:

Barn help left unannounced, the month I was due with the baby, and left a trail of destruction and drama behind. No joke. More on that to later.
Had the baby. Emergency c-section, Doctor saves lives, we all are OK.
Baby comes home and turns life upside down (they do not sleep as much as I thought they did!)
Mackie passed away. We are devastated. It was unexpected, I thought I had years before I had to say goodbye to him.
We got a puppy, another black lab, same breeder, she looks like a mini-Mackie, her name is Blair. :)
Java tried to back out of the trailer with the butt bar UP.
We hire a dude named Bud to ship Java to a show in a stock trailer, I squeeze into my breeches, and we have a blast and get a ribbon.

This is life. Now that you're all caught up, I can get back to posting regularly!

And, our baby is pretty cute if I may say so myself. :)

The puppy, Blair:

Blair and Bandy get along great, and they run around like terrors and play a tremendous amount.

This is down at the pond, Bandy is partially wet, Blair is terrorizing her to try to get the bone from her mouth.

I miss you Mackie:

And it's not 9:00 am yet

2011-04-07T09:07:00.001-04:00

Java fed, out, mucked, etc.
Then I'm waddling around, taking photos of the brown early spring.

I look around at the brown, knowing it will be green very soon and I take these photos...

Then Bandy and I walk around some more, and Mackie catches a whiff of something and dives into the top paddock to explore and investigate.

Bandy, as usual is at my side and I take these photos... but Bandy is saying something to me, I just don't know it yet:

Bandy is saying something like: Um, HELLO, Mackie is quite interested in something right now in the top paddock. Why are you looking at me, go stop him before he does something stupid!

You're not listening are you?

I carry on, what a nice morning, la la la la la, lets go to the house and get biscuits!

And Mackie bursts out of the top paddock, very proud of something...

Oh, neat, it's a branch that looks just like a horn?!

No, that IS a horn.

I don't have livestock, neither do my close neighbors.

But now I have a horn.

It's shedding or something.

Lucky me, I have an awesome sense of smell being pregnant, and I can verify that thing used to be attached to an animal.

Mackie was very proud of his find and let me take it from him before he went into the house.

the new addition

2011-03-30T10:32:00.000-04:00

The new baby, it's not our human baby, he's hopefully going to wait a few more weeks to arrive, but we had to get this new addition, now.

I used to have hay guys that delivered and loaded the loft. When I got small loads or 50 bales or less to fill in between larger loads, I walked the bales up the loft stairs one by one. My hay guys went out of busines.

Now that I'm pregnant, I cannot load 50 bales into the loft by walking up the stairs. Mr. Java's Mom does not want to walk 50 bales up the stairs either, but it's not because he does not want to go in to labor. It's because walking bales of hay into the loft is not nearly as much fun as using a hay elevator!

So, we did some thinking, planning and finally got this. Our new baby.

Hello beautiful hay elevator:

This little beauty ran like a charm. We tried to find a used one (for over a year), and finally bit the bullet and got a newborn hay elevator.

We went and go two loads of this:

We got a load of first and second cut. Java likes both, but of course she does, she's my girl! She is counting the days until she can spend all day out on the grass, and until then, picking through first cut is OK, as long as the neighbors are doing something entertaining. She's hoping for some landscaping or home improvement projects to start with the neighbors. But so far it's just been UPS deliveries. Boring.

silly time

2011-03-21T12:19:00.002-04:00

We have had the most gorgeous early spring weather lately... sun, chirping birds, the grass is eeking (let's pretend that's a word because I'm not totally sure right now) out some green color...

and then... this. It's snowing.

Don't worry, the horses were already out for hours this morning. Java clearly made her preference clear when the snow started that should would rather be inside for a little, so they are in the barn with the back windows open, eating hay and hanging their heads out to observe from their comfy stalls. When the snow stops, they will go back out, to roll in the wet ground and enjoy the afternoon. Tomorrow it will be sunny.

The horses also have a little spring fever. This translates into silly time. Luckily the boarder who's horse was on permanent silly time left last week. Yes it was dramatic. Not the actual departure, but leading up to it. But nobody got short changed so it all ended well. Java even seems to like this. She has her little chestnut pony (boarder) all to herself.

I'm huge pregnant. The help I hired has not been here for 3 days, so needless to say, I'm staying quite active. Getting on the tractor is a tough one though. Bending in general is pretty awkward. The rest is all pretty good.

So, as I'm looking for back-up barn help, a new boarder and organizing taxes, I'm trying to prepare for the human addition that is on his way! Sounds hectic, but surprisingly it's not. I think this is all going to work out just fine. Pregnancy hormones are magic, it's the only explanation.

Oh, and the snow won't last. It's OK. :)

time flies

2011-02-14T13:27:00.000-05:00

Time flies when you are reduced to a waddle through 3 feet of snow.

I has been forever since I've posted. Sorry. Sincerely.

Yes, by now we all know it's been a wild winter for a lot of us. We got a lot of snow, then a lot of snow on top of that snow, and a lot more snow on top of that snow. We are finally experiencing some melting... not beautiful warm breezes and little trickles of water as the snow receding and birds chirping... but the snow is now only about 18 inches deep.

I took a lot of photos, and they just don't show the depth. But we personally were spared any tragedy, emergencies or major inconvenience. Mr. Java's Mom spent days and days and days plowing, shoveling, and clearing the roof with each additional snowfall, and he did a great job. That made all the difference in dealing with the snow.

Snow photos:

This must be after the first big snow, because aside from this one day, we have not been able to get out to this particular paddock until yesterday.

we got more snow since this photo, but the snow was very pretty, and kept everything so quiet as it absorbed the sound (the only sound being the neighbor's dog...barking... all the time... at nothing...)

This lucky bush experienced enough thaw to be exposed to the real world again. Then we got a really neat and beautiful frost. Not a bad icy kind, like a covering of frost on everything.

We got rain on top of the snow, and very cold temps. As time went on, the snow got denser, and finally Bandy and Mackie could walk on top of it without falling through to their necks. Bandy took this opportunity to perch herself on top of a snow covered stone wall as we waited for Mackie to finish sniffing around during a recent walk. The only drawback of this, is now we can hear the neighbors dog loud and clear without the fluffy snow.

frost.

Le Tundra.

phase 1 or 2 of snow, but not phase 3 yet, because you could not see the bushes at all a couple of days later.

Mackie tried to romp through, and got totally stuck. He ended up resting his head on the snow and closed his eyes to take a nap! We got him out, no labbies were harmed in this fun. Bandy tried too, and inhaled snow, she's shorter than Mackie.

mountains of snow everywhere...

One particular storm was a little windy.

Java does not mind, actually all the horses have been great about it all. They have been only able to go out to the small pens, but they have not missed a day of turnout.

Little Shorty (new guy since Sugar left for Mississippi to join his owner) is in pretty deep.

There is a pile of snow out a door in our kitchen (not pictured). Mr. Java's Mom and I were to bet if it would melt by the time the baby is born. No bets, since we both think there will be snow there when our son is born (due date April 23). At least the snow is pretty! This has been an anything but drab winter. A little cumbersome, and a lot of work for Mr. Java's Mom, but we're all safe. :)

Drat

2011-01-10T12:13:00.002-05:00

Drat. I can't seem to catch rats in the zapper. The bait slowly disappears, with no stiff rat reward inside.

So I brought back the pros and we placed additional bait boxes. The bait is secure inside the box, the opening into the box is small enough that only a rodent can get to the bait that is secured in place with a pin in the box. I have not seen any more rats, although, I think the big ones are too smart for this bait box stuff, the smaller ones prove to be very easy to catch with snap traps.

I was having exciting yet revolting luck with the snap traps. I took photos but it's not worth hurting your eyes, or brain. All I can say is that rats are more disgusting and strange than I imagined. Think a mix of blood, mystery, creativity and my strong will to protect Java's Barn from rat life. Mr. Java's Mom has not assisted with any rodent issues, but he can barely tolerate the updates, so I'll spare you too. Oh, and for the record, the rodents are not in the grain bin. They prefer the first floor apparently (grain bin is in the loft).

Sugar healed from his injury that he came here to heal from. He was a wonderful lameness rehab patient, and of course we became completely attached to the little guy. But, the day finally came for him to join his owner in Mississippi and he left last week. His replacement arrives this coming weekend. The replacement belongs to someone who will help me at the barn and with the baby when it arrives. So the herd will consist of Java, T and Shorty, all sound and healthy. Sugar left with a nice horse transportation professional and a day or two later, we got a beautiful blanket of snow.

Java clearly excited about the snow outside. Time to play and roll!

(that is one of the bait boxes under her blanket rack)

Sugar... are you in the barn, come out and play!

He has been gone for days now, but she still looks for him.

Totally heartbreaking. She has never missed a buddy like she misses Sugar. T is in the next paddock, she likes T's company, but not like she appreciated Sugar.

looking for goodies

Panoramic shot that looks mini because it does not fit on the page.

next post coming soon...

Doctors are very smart but sometimes annoying, and the rodent update:

2010-12-13T18:59:00.002-05:00

Many of the readers of Java's Barn blog are probably horse ladies... horsey women usually don't like talking about babies, pregnancy, etc. I am one of those. Especially since I am 5 months into this pregnancy and have found out that the worst symptoms and conditions of pregnancy are not talked about... until you are pregnant. This is a trick to make us think we can have babies and not go insane.

Either way, I think horsey ladies need our own doctors. Or we should be allowed to be treated by our vets.

Case in point:
I'm a the baby doctor's office (OBGYN) this past week. You are scolded if you are not eating anything home made from your own organic garden, and put on a plate while singing nursery rhymes. I've promptly and unfortunately gained 20 lbs, am constantly hungry, but have not skimped one bit on the barn work, upkeep or dog walking. I just do it a little slower than normal. But I am not miserable, but getting used to being perpetually uncomfortable unless I'm wearing size XL fleece pants, but smiling and happy.
The baby doctor informs me that I should watch my weight, eat more vegetables, fruit, beans and exercise. I explain to this doctor what activity I do on a daily basis and she looks at me like, yeah right, sure you take care of 3 horses and their millions of pounds of manure daily and walk the dogs through the woods in all weather for acres and acres.
Mr. Java's Mom and I agree that these monthly check ups are not fun. I will get back into my britches by next July, so the less weight I have to lose the better, but good greif!

No matter, I will take this angst and use it to finish eradicating the rodent population on the property.

The head count:
No mice in traps or zapper.
No rats in zapper.
Lots of dead rodent smells throughout the property from rodents eating poison and going somewhere discreet to die.
One horse (explained below).
Two dogs (also explained below).

Java and Zapper: I had the zapper in an corner of Java's stall under her food bucket, but she decided it was a toy. I'm lucky it still works.
Mackie and Zapper: Then Mackie found it, thank god it was off, and it took more abuse and I'm even luckier it still works.
Note to self, keep zapper away from dogs and horses, but near rodent places.
Bandy and mouse snap trap:
Bandy was spotted carrying a set mouse trap in her mouth, and thank god dropped it when i said her name in a confused, bewildered, and shocked way... "bbbbbandyyyyyy?????" She gently set it down. No wonder the trap has not caught anything, if the dog could get it out of it's hiding spot, start to carry it in her mouth and put it down without it going off, i probably won't when a mouse touches it.

Bandy the mouse trap inspector:

Mackie the Rat Zapper inspector:

That's OK, I walk the dogs 3,289 times a day, and as I come along a spot where dead rodent smell fills the air, I gladly relish the moment for a nanosecond and appreciate that they are killing themselves conveniently.

And, as for the baby doctor, I will hone my selective hearing skills.

Compost cooking and rodent body count:

2010-12-07T09:51:00.001-05:00

Every weekend, Mr. Java's Mom heads over to what we call the farmyard area of the property and takes the manure from the "turning bin" and puts it into one of the 3 other bins of the Manure Cabana. I'm pretty good in the kitchen, but I make good compost too. You can tell by the steam. We bed with straw, so it cooks down fast.

Nice and steamy:

Making sure he gets a good bucket full:

and, into the other bin for more cooking:

other compost shots:

I turn around, and see that everything is under control, we are being supervised:

The rodent count:
Rat Zapper has caught 3 mice, one of which got blasted out of the zapper. Zero rats. This means that I have many less rodents than I thought, they are eating the poison and dying politely somewhere else, or I have very smart rats and mice and they avoid the zapper.

Java has a confirmed abscess in her front right hoof. It is a doosey (this does not spell check but you know what I mean). Her heel bulb is bulging as the abscess is working it's way out of her hoof. Yikes. She is tolerating her prescribed veterinary treatment well (OK that's a small lie, she will not tolerate having her hoof soaked, but will let me wrap it in anything I want 24x7), and I hope we're done with this in a few days. I'm not complaining, I'd rather an abscess any day over most other lameness possibilities.

Rat strategy and general Java update

2010-12-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

If you are lucky enough to not need to know about rats, this is an important fact: They are smart. If you have tried ever to kill rats, you are saying to yourself, "duh! they are not easy to trap".

I have not caught one since the wonderful snap trap kill. I know there is at least one more. Darn thing doesn't even bother to be shy, GRRrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So... I bought a "Rat Zapper".

This thing is supposed to kill rats and mice with an efficient zap of electrocution. Nice and easy. Then a light goes on in the box indicating that something dead is inside, you slide the dead thing out (or over the wall, he he, just kidding) and re-set for more wonderful moments of dead-ness. (nevermind that this section of text for some reason is highlighted).

BUT. I have not caught a thing since getting it on Friday. This is disappointing for a few reasons, including that I was going to measure the rats for bigness (fun!). Bait is supposed to be dry. So the bait currently is a dried date and some dry dog food.

These rats are smart. I will get them though. Because I don't want to get a cat, I'm motivated to get the Zapper going in high gear. Tonight I'm going to try some left over stuffing... dry, but barely moist at this point. And I have plenty left over in case it works.

Meanwhile, Java is painfully lame. Her right front is the problem. I'm hoping abscess. The vet arrives tomorrow. She's tough as nails, bright, and weight bearing, but I can see it hurts her. She does not soak, but will leave a bandage on, so she is getting her hoof packed and today is on stall rest today (it's raining like crazy anyway). Well, at least I don't have to worry about riding.

Yesterday Java and Sugar were very interested in something across the neighbors chemically green lawn and into the woods. I'm guessing a trail rider. Sugar was sure it was a monster, before the pics he had his little arab tail up and was snorting. I took the opportunity to take some photos of the two of them, even though they are dirty. The third horse "T" was actually spooking at something in the opposite direction, so she did not make it into the photos.

OH, and Bandy's haircut. The one she got after getting into the burrs (a couple of posts ago). Poor thing, she likes it, but it's not exactly the best haircut I've given her. It's her long haired Jack Russel mixed with I-don't-know-what look.

rat update

2010-11-22T10:34:00.001-05:00

I've been very preoccupied lately... not with the impending baby, but with the rat challenge.

If I did not see it or them every once in a while, I would not have such a focused plan of attack on the Rat(s)... but they are big, and so incredibly disgusting, that I will not rest until I believe they are gone, dead... out of the barn. They aren't like mice, they are not as shy, this is bad.

When I first saw the/a rat, I called our fancy exterminators that we have a contract with. They quickly came over, assured me they would get them, and set me up with several bait boxes. Poison (lots of it) is placed in a plastic box so that other things, like the dogs, or cats, or people, cannot get to the bait. There is an opening in the bait box for the rat. I think our rats are too big for the opening. I would show you the bait box, but it is under a shelf in the overhang, and I'm afraid to put my hand under there... ew.

I called around for a cat. You would be surprised at the cat rescues that think having a cat live in a barn is not nice. Weirdos.

No matter, I'm persistent, I called the Humane Society, they have several cats suitable as barn cats that they would love to send me away with. Pregnant ladies (that would be me) cannot get anywhere near cat doo-doo, so this has been a big deal to consider a cat. But, I have not had time to go get the cat yet.

SO, for the heck of it I got some rat spring/snap traps. They are cheap, easy to set up, and might work. I do not think I will eradicate all rats forever with snap traps, but at least I could try and get a couple until I get the cat, or come up with a better solution.

Well my friends... this morning I have a little spring in my step and a big grin from ear to ear.

Because, I caught a rat.

Yes, I took photos. Yes, I had to be careful to not barf when getting the rat with trap out of where it was.

So, if you might barf, be careful, these are photos of a dead rat with a little rat blood. But YAY!!!!!!

OK, I heard from experienced rat killers that you should tie the trap to something. This is good advice. I also heard you should tie the bait to the trap. I use roasted carrot on one trap, and roasted brussel sprout on the other. They like carrots better.

Here is the trap and the white string is tied to the stairs. It was taught this morning, so I hoped we got a rat and not a mouse... I pulled on the string, and based on the weight of the trap, I knew we got a biggie. I almost wretched, so I left it there and got the camera and got psyched up for the big reveal.

Here is a fortunately blurry photo of dead fat rat.

Two more for positive identification, and because I was fascinated by the size of the thing. One photo on wood chips, one on gravel, for a better view, because I'm strange like that.

Now, dead rat with trap and all in bag.

I'm just going to toss this bag over the wall onto the neighbor's perfectly manicured lawn. Just kidding. I"ll put this bag into two more bags and take it to the dump... which is not open until Wednesday. Ha. Logistics.

Sugar watching me:

Java and her mare friend (new boarder, she and her owner are PERFECT) ignoring my drama:

Mr. Java's Mom was seriously worried about the rat making a screaming or tortured noise once trapped, and that freaking Java out. I was willing to risk it. Lucky me, it snapped it's mouth shut, so Java was not traumatized.

for the one time in my life, I wish it was skunk poop... but it's not

2010-10-28T16:06:00.002-04:00

This poor little dog.

She loves farm life.

But it does not love her coat.

I took my beloved canine beasties for a quick walk before hoping to fit in a ride with Java. We went all the way to the pond (the pregnant lady needs to stay active if I want to fit into my breeches next summer), and I'm watching Mackie and Bandy having their usual fun.

As Bandy is running back towards me, I see stuff on her. I'm thinking, whoa, that's a lot of wildlife animal feces you just rolled in, I'll get the bath ready... but realize, I WISH it was skunk poop... it's BURRS!

Wahhhhhhhhhhh. Bye bye ride, hello scissors:

The photos don't quite show the severity of this disaster. Her undercoat is matted, no hope to brush this stuff out. Poor little girl is sporting a funky haircut for now... I'll make her look less mangy tomorrow. I'm exhausted now!

ok ok ok, I'll finally update!

2010-10-26T15:19:00.000-04:00

Ok Ok Ok, sorry for not updating. I've been very preoccupied:

Meeting prospective boarders.
Tending to the gang.
Trying to kill the rat that I have found living in the overhang of the barn.
Getting more hay.
Procrastinating cleaning the house.
Looking at the gorgeous tress glowing with orange, yellow and red against the pretty green grass and blue sky and trying to get one decent photo of it.

And being pregnant. Not Java, me.

yep, I'm in foal. No, we don't know what it is, or if we will find out before the big day. Yes, I'm excited and trying to not freak out about how I'm going to muck and do horse chores as I get big-er. Baby is not due until late April... plenty of time to let this all play out. Yeah, that's it. Mr. Java's Mom is really excited. The animals have been perfect angels and that's about all.

I have been talking about breeding Java for a while. She will be glad that I am putting myself through this first. It will make me think long and hard about putting her through this. It is odd, exciting, but odd, and usually funny. I might have to start another blog about it.

load of hay

2010-09-27T07:59:00.000-04:00

My regular upstate New York hay guys don't deliver to me anymore.

It only took me for what seemed like forever to find the best hay with a great farmer to work with, luckily not too far away.

I told Mr. Java's Mom I was going to get some hay.

Mr. Hay Farmer loads my truck for me in about 5 seconds, and sends me on my way.

It was hysterical because this hay is not tied down. This guy can magically stack hay.

Yes, I could not see a thing.

No, I will not take 50 (FIFTY) in the back of the pick up again, too hazardous to other poor motorists if it happened to be a windy day. Luckily it was only a little breezy.

I had to pull over right after leaving the farmers field for this photo, I was in awe and shocked that he just tossed 50 bales on and advised that I drive slow and hope for no strong cross winds on a particular bridge that I had to cross.

Home safely. It's about a 35 minute drive, windy narrow roads. This is CT. It's not common to see this arrangement on the road. The other motorists, and the occasional pedestrian were terrified.

Mr. Java's Mom got home from work and almost fell over. I was laughing so hard trying to tell him I somehow got home with that load of 50 bales, not tied down.

After he unloaded the batch with Mackie's supervision, we had another good laugh.

I still have to get more hay, but I'll be more sensible next time. :)

Oh, and Mr. Hay Farmer called because he wanted to make sure I got home OK and did not lose any bales, and when I'll be back for more (I'll be back soon).

Stretch

2010-09-24T14:48:00.001-04:00

Hi All,
Sorry to be MIA.

We lost poor Stretch.

Whatever was nagging at him inside was bigger and badder than any antibiotic, hug, love, or vet team on the planet. His owner made the horribly difficult decision to let him go peacefully and comfortably.

He was one tough horse and he tried so hard to beat his condition.

He was also one very very gorgeous horse. What a pretty boy. Java and Sugar somehow understood that Stretch was sick and they are doing fine. Stretch's owner is still understandably devastated.

We love you Mr. Stretch:

Now that I've dropped that bomb of news you on, I'll be back to regular updates.

the new toy

2010-08-13T07:29:00.000-04:00

We bought the trailer!

We tried to go somewhere... I did not have enough time to practice loading to make it a perfect day... but hoped it would work out (hey, I'm hopelessly optimistic). It did work out, but Java stayed home. She is not keen on the butt bar yet (Java: "I don't like being trapped"), and I chickened out on making her keen on the butt bar ("I spoil my horse and let her dictate my life").

My mom snapped this awesome photo right after I decided to give up. She loaded (she has that part down pat), but she almost exploded when we put up the butt bar. So I said, DONE, here's your treat, I love you but don't want to kill you in your new metal box toy today, so let's put you back in your stall, mom and I are going to watch the show.

We practice trailer loading frequently now... but the big hurdle is getting her to stand when we put up the butt bar.

We are talking:
Java: "Just ride me there"
Me: "Java, there is a huge river (the Connecticut River) between here and there, we will never be able to swim it and make it in time for our dressage test time".

more photos of the trailer and the gang shortly...

You are invited to chime in with your opinion about this trailer

2010-07-29T15:24:00.002-04:00

OK, went to see the trailer.

It looks pretty good. They have used is about 6 times in the last 2 years for things like taking his tractor to a relative's house, and to help someone move a couple of weeks ago. When they had horses (that they sold 2 years ago) they used it frequently.

It's a 1989 Kingston, model "Brentwood".
It's 7'4 on the inside (Java likes to try to hit her head, she needs all the room she can get).

Mr. Java's Mom will go with me next to look at it.

Here are photos. It's not perfect, but seems sound.
Floor looks good from the top and under the trailer.
Lights work.
Turn signals work.
Windows and doors work.
The spring to make the ramp stay shut until you latch it works.
Butt and chest bars work.

Ok, photos:

That's the top left door in the trailer, they work, one is on, one is not.

it has imperfectoins, like this pad.

Replacement pads can be found (yes, I already looked).

Floor looks good, I would want to get any and all old bedding away from the flooring as it looks like a little is still in there. The owner must have washed it out this morning, it was a little wet in places.

Tires may be fine, but have some cracks...

We would probably want to replace them, but Mr. Java's Mom knows about that stuff, he will tell me what we should do.

The jack thing. It needs a pin (those are easy to find too).

This stuff all worked well.

So........ what do you think?

They are only speaking with us about selling it - meaning it's not advertised, they have not put the word out.

It's because I called their neighbor and asked about it that they are speaking with us to sell it to us.

I got under it (a little) and it looked fine, but Mr. Java's Mom and I will take another look.

I think we would need to get new tires, add butt bar pads, the chest bar pads need repair, the divider at the bottom is not perfect, that would be good to replace with new material, and I think that's about it...

That could add up. I have no idea what new tires for a horse trailer cost.

It's a steel frame with aluminum "skin"

I called Kingston and new the trailer cost $6702 in 1989 (it's a 1989).

Their asking price is very very reasonable. I am not sure it leaves room to negotiate.

chock full of events and news

2010-07-29T11:19:00.001-04:00

Ok Ok Ok, there has been so much going on!!!

First, Stretch:

he has been very very sick, since March. It is not contagious, without airing all of his details (since he's not my horse, I think I should keep it somewhat "private"), he almost left us for horsey heaven a couple of times. His loving owner, our amazing fabulous incredible vet, and I stuck it out and... He is all better! The vet pulled final bloodwork on him this week, and it's normal. The news brought tears to my eyes, and I actually almost fell out of my chair. He looks good, feels good, and is putting on weight. The easiest way to describe it is that he had in infection in his abdomen, surgery was not an option, so we had to find the right antibiotic to kill the infection, (it only took 6 meds to finally land on the right combination) and it looks like there was SUCCESS. This is huge. This is just wonderful news.

Java:
Her knee was injected as I think I mentioned. It's better. Improved, check that off the list. Radiographs were taken first and there are no bone chips, good news.
And, she is still chowing copious amounts of Doxy for her Lyme, and she seems fine. We'll pull blood again in September and see where we land on the titer.

Sugar Bear: is adorable, and has the most amazing manners. His lameness rehab/vacation here is going great.

The pens still ROCK.

And... you know how we are nuts about manure/composting/farm management? Well... we somehow have flies. I hate flies. So... I broke down (I'm a horribly frugal yankee) and bought Fly Predators!!! They arrived, and I spread them yesterday.

Meet my new friends:

Yes, I read the instructions carefully:

Just making sure I have enough:

You are supposed to get 1,000 fly predators per horse. We have 3 horses here. Well, I'm not messing around, I ordered 10,000. With follow up shipments of 5,000 for the next two months. Then cold weather (wah) will come and the flies will be gone anyway. The paddocks/pens are 99% free of flies right now. The flies are IN the BARN. It's so bright and airy, that the flies made it their house. You know can understand why I'm pissed, and waging an unfair war against them.

I always wondered what they look like... and they look like teeny tiny bees/ants with wings

and appear to be delicate. Squashable.

Around and in the barn they went:

Then to the manure cabana.

After I sprinkled them around, I found myself tip toeing around the stalls... hoping to not squash them.

Today, I'm going to look at a used horse trailer for sale. Can you believe it!?! It's not listed for sale... the owners live down the street, and if you crane your neck while driving... you can see what I'm pretty sure is an old Kingston horse trailer parked wayyyy off the road at their house. I know one of their neighbors, called them they gave me their number, and since I asked, they would be interested in selling it. YES! They had horses, competed in Dressage (which I consider a plus, since anyone I have ever know that competes in Dressage is a little... um... particular and fussy, this is a compliment), etc, and they don't have the horses anymore and the trailer has been sitting there... I'm taking photos when I go today.

Of course there is plenty of other stuff going on, but I don't want to make you read too much. The fence issue is on hold... we are hoping that the DOT forgets about it. Not likely, but that's the status. I'll call that "wait and ~~avoid~~ see" status.

Yep, Java doing this again:

They like the pens... maybe too much

2010-07-23T07:29:00.001-04:00

Java loves her new little buddy Sugar Bear.

She has lots of grass that she sometimes will work had at mowing down.
Here is a moment with Java working hard, look at that work ethic!

Then, she sometimes will call for me (truly, like yell for me in the house, or wait for me to pull in the driveway, then tell me what she wants)... which is "I'm tired from all this mowing I need a nap, and I prefer to nap with the company of my friend Sugar. He's so snuggly".

So, I put her in "her" pen, she promptly put her head over the gate into his pen, and she dozed off.
He happily ate hay while she snoozed:

He is a really good little guy. He is only here for a short time for rehab (lameness) so I hope she takes it well when he leaves. But if by some incredible stroke of luck, he stays, she will be so happy.

Here they are on a totally different day, happy as can be in the gravel pens... uh guys... there is grass!!

Sugar cannot go out into a large turnout space yet, Java and Stretch are being excellent hosts and keeping Sugar company... close company.

I look up, pray for sanity, and decide the weathervane looks pretty good for a photo.

Uh, Java, aren't you a little hot... there is shade in the grass paddock this time of day...

Nope, I want to be near my buddy Sugar.

These horses!! They will do what you want, sometimes... with patience, and just the right weather. As the temps got out of the 90s yesterday, Java grazed all morning, came in for a nap (with her gang) then they went out until a record late time until coming in for the night.

He is pretty cute:

Some photos of normal moments here:

2010-07-20T15:32:00.000-04:00

Just some photos of regular activity/inactivity here...

Java being... Java:

Stretch in for a mid day relaxing nap:

An unfortunately dark "panoramic" shot in the barn. Sugar is the only one wondering what I'm up to and looking at me. Stretch and Java have their heads in their stalls eating hay.

Bandy with a bone (between her paws):

Mackie looking a little dorky.

We were about to go to the pond for a swim (the dogs, not the humans).

They are off, racing to the pond, Bandy's tail a blur.

Soggy dogs playing (aka, Bandy terrorizing Mackie)

And, Java being... Java

the pens

2010-07-19T16:18:00.001-04:00

The pens went through a few final stages.

This is the total list, the top stuff you already know:
Excavate down.
Remove the dirt.
Lay down underliner/geotextile as farmtek calls is "non woven pond underliner".
3 inches process (gravel with sand).
3 inches gravel.

THEN, in Ms. Java's pen - mats with holes.
She is the destroyer of all footing.
She got mats, then more gravel.

Actaully, all the pens got more gravel.

We got rain today, great excuse to use the pens while the grass paddocks dry out. Since it's 80* and sunny, that won't take long.

The layout again is like an L. each is 12x24. If we want to open a pen larger without all 3 out, we can just open an gate and give that horse more room:

Mr. Java's Mom laying the mats for the Java - the footing destroyer:

Mats with holes, from Farm Tek, supposed to be used like this.

They were in one of the dirt lots, but this is a better use for them, or at least we think so.

Well, now that they are in the pens, we are sure, sure that we don't want to move them again that is...

He's pretty good at things like this, so nice and straight, flat and tidy.

Yes, he is putting the cut offs of the zip ties in an empty SMZ bottle.

It was hot, Mackie came out out to supervise and needed to hydrate.

Horse paddock water is his favorite:

All the gates open:

This is the size of the gravel:

Ah, nice pens:

Tidy, ready to go:

We love Tarter gates.

This is the pen with the mats underneath:

This photo is distorted for some reason, but you get the idea:

At last, project complete. We're ready for precipitation and next spring!

Mid morning we got a dumping of rain, the storm clouds cleared, the paddocks are drying out, it's time to go out again kids!

Java and Sugar testing them out. They did not bake in the sun, it comes around in the afternoon.

Each horse rolled, tucked into their hay, and last I looked, they were all in the shade napping.

Happy horses - That makes it all worth it.

This will give the grass time to dryout, and they can go back to mowing tomorrow:

Even Stretch likes the pens. He gets the end spot, because he has to have his own space.

And his favorite posession, his hay bag.

fence update and general farm stuff

2010-07-16T21:10:00.000-04:00

The next chapter of our DOT issue:

DOT meeting yesterday morning.

We were here and met with a regional DOT person, and a more local representative from the local garage.

The regional person says that she "presumes" the property line is on the other side of the fence, and we have to remove it, move it, whatever, make it disappear.

I explain that the funds for that do not exist right now.

It was not a nice meeting. Our local DOT person was very helpful, but there is only so much that he can do.

There is a lot to this, and it deserves it own post, or it's own blog. We are getting different information from all 3 DOT people we have been trying to work with. I'm considering making a sign and putting it on the fence, directing passers by to a blog to find out what is going on. Then if we need to take down the fence, the locals will know what is going on, and if someone can help us figure out the setbacks on the road, that would help too. DOT does not know the property boundaries, and neither do we for the road frontage part of the property... Next week we hopefully will learn more.

GRRR.

The new pens are being used. They are getting a second phase of completion this weekend, we are putting down mats (the kind with holes) and more gravel to help Java (the footing destroyer) keep things nice.

Sugar is on restricted turnout/movement for an injury (that's why he is here, to rehab).

So he got to test out the pens.

Java clearly likes the little guy. She kept him company for a little while in an adjacent pen.

Uh, Java, you have hay...

Stretch keeping an eye on his girlfriend and making sure to stay where he can see her while grazing:

Java resting. She has been on stall rest/restricted turnout too since she got her knee injected.

Her knee looks like it will be fine, and she is back to full turnout tomorrow:

See the green plant in front of her window?

It's tomato plants. When I put them there I never though they would get higher than her windowsill.

So far she is not bothered, and does not want to eat them. Funny to see though!

I did not bother to put proper tomato cages around them because they were so small when I put the seedlings there. Now, I could use some tomato cages... but I'm making do with bailing twine and stakes.

I'm taking photos of the next phase of the pens, I am excited that we are integrating the mats (mats with holes) into the project. The footing is awesome. But Java will work a certain area and excavate, she's um... needy. The mats might add just the right bottom to stabilize the footing and keep her from excavating where we don't need it.

More tomorrow. :)

new camera and neighbor drama

2010-07-15T09:41:00.003-04:00

The camera situation. Mr. Java's Mom had a really nice camera, which I "adopted" and killed. I got almost two years out of it. But, eventually it could no longer function.

The old camera:

The shutter is stuck open, and other problems.

You were good to me little guy, sorry to have accelerated your demise

I arrive at Staples and announce that I want the cheapest camera because I will kill it fast in the conditions I will probably put it through. Well, they make a camera for people like us! It's waterpoof up to 10 ft of water, can be dropped from 5 ft high, you can wash it off, dunk it, let it get rained on, horse snot, dropped in wet grass, jammed in my pocket with hay, withstand below freezing temps(!), and is supposed to work after a couple of years of that abuse.

So far; me likey. It's called the Olympus Stylus Tough. Staples had a sale and I had a coupon, so it was not too much. More than I wanted to spend, but if I don't have to get a new camera in the next year, I"ll come out ahead. I'm not saying yet that I would recommend this camera yet, I'm still getting to know it.

Horse stuff will have to be in the next post, this issue is important, and stupid, but hey...
I have edited this because my husband wants me to.
OK, neighbor drama. A complaint came in about our fence. Might be a next door neighbor, maybe not... but I do wonder...:)
We do have a neighbor named Jim, he has told me that he does not like the fence, but it may or may not be him. Nobody is telling us who, but the stories are a little wishy washy that they point in a certain direction. But, it's not important who complained, the DOT is on our case, and it hurt$! (yes hurts with a $).

This is what happened:
Moosie leaves.
Java is screaming.
My phone rings (cell).
The person on the other line starts in that he is with the state DOT (Department of Transportation) there has been a complaint about our fence out front, and... actually aside from this guy being really mad at me, getting extremely frustrated that Java keeps interrupting the call with absolute enormous neighing, and this guy's cell phone cutting out, we did not get to that part. But he was not nice, not professional, not helpful... to the point that when the "conversation" is done, I hang up the phone in tears. I was not having a bad day, Moosie had just left, on time, with her humans, that made me happy. I was getting the barn ready for Sugar, that is wonderful, this guy reduced me to tears. Not before I told him he could have this conversation in person, since I could not figure out what he was talking about.

Well, today, at 10:00 we have a meeting, with the DOT. We did not install that fence. We were going to replace it years from now with something of our taste, but it is going to be expensive, and baby Java needs meds, the garage needs a roof, etc. so... Anyway, it is one thing to have an issue, BUT it is a whole other thing to do something that will cost someone money. We will soon find out if we will have to remove or relocate the fence in front of the house. Maybe the little green trees too ($!Dammit). Because we live on a state road, and there are a certain number of feet off the road that the state and we share, and certain things can and cannot be done on those few feet. I like to comply with rules, laws, easements, but do not like it when surprises come up and cost us money. We'll fine out soon...

Photos of the fence (yeah, we probably would not have chosen that style, but we're working on other things right now and it does serve a purpose).

This house was built in the 1700's. There has been a fence in front of it for a long time, this fence was installed about 10 years ago, two owners ago, to replace another fence, which was probably there for 30 years, which probably replaced a livestock fence of some sort that was there for a looong time, etc.

20 mins until the big meeting...

new arrival

2010-07-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

OK, so I made it to Staples to choose a new camera.

The sweat had dried a little on the way, and I did not smell too bad, so off I went.

I wandered the camera section while wondering if I had a tick in my hair AND a bug up my pants leg, but was able to choose a camera. It's made to withstand dropping, water, abuse, etc.

We'll see about that, won't we!

But that took a lot of time, so this will not be the full scoop post, but some of it, still fun:

Sugar Bear is here.

More on him to come, but hello, he is cute!

He's looking around wondering, where am I?

Mr. Stretch. Checking things out, splattering the barn a little and being fabulous.

Java...

Java says, yes, the grass is greener on the other side.

All is well. The horses are great, we got rain, and I don't think I had a tick in my hair.

More tomorrow...

a new post coming up later today

2010-07-14T07:59:00.000-04:00

I'll put up an update post later today about:
The new pens are done, look great and I love them.
Moosie/Lucie left yesterday, she gave her 30 days notice, which flew by so I had not broken the news to you all yet. But, it was very much so the right more for the horse and owner, and I'm happy too.
New arrival comes in today. Very exciting.
The neighbor (the new one) is making life difficult here, he's a real gem, thanks JIM, you're a treat.
Java got her knee injected yesterday. I'll show you what it looks like and why.
Java got a Lyme test (blood draw) in 2007, it was 0, as in zero, that's the best it can be.
Java got another Lyme test, she's low positive. Meds start today.

Hm... this might be more info than for one post, but I'm keeping the camera going as much as I can until I have time to get a new one so there will be pics.

Either way, at least things aren't boring! ha.

I'll post later, thanks for understanding. :)

fencing staples for the all weather pens and a couple of horse pics

2010-07-09T21:42:00.000-04:00

The usual view, but the temps are hot.

The horses are dealing very well with it.

We have trees and cool shade.

I am coping, hydrating, and changing clothes a lot.

That's alright with me, these are good problems.

The "pens" still look like this.

It's been hot, and we can finish the fencing and gates this weekend.

So, there has not been a need to potentially drain Mr. Java's Mom's enthusiasm for farm improvements and put him to farm-work here after he gets home from job-work.

We have only gotten to the staples phase of fencing in the pens.

We pound the staples in a little, and then run the fence through.

It is not a great idea to pound staples first for large areas, but for this small area, it makes sense (efficiency sense) since the fencing doesn't need to be pulled too far.

The staples are little "U"s.

Then we string the fence through, and pound the staples in more.

As we proceed with the project, I'll explain more with pics.

Stretch has really been enjoying his days.

Long days out grazing, watching his girlfriend Java, and relaxing.

This photo is right after they were brought in for dinner.

His muzzle is covered with his mash dinner (wet senior grain) and he gazes out the window,

bottom lip drooping, getting ready for a little snooze.

It's hard work eating and putting on weight. He is doing a great job.

He's a cutie. And, so pretty. I'll work on better photos of him.

I absolutely love him, and so does his owner.

His personality is pretty unique, which adds to the mix, in a good way.

Hey Stretch, nice slobber on the barn. :)

Hey baby.

And, just in case Java sees this post, I don't want to leave Java out of the scene.

She knows and so appreciates how loved she is.

Her eyes are glowing because the flash kicked in. Oops.

The camera is about done with taking pictures for me. I can get about three photos out, then it quits.

Hopefully I can nurse it along for a few more days until I have time to get out for a new one.

death to carpenter ants

2010-07-08T14:53:00.001-04:00

There was a lot of death here today.

I'm happy about that.

Carpenter ant death.

I had a hose hooked up to one of the rain barrels this spring. I would notice carpenter ants (the big black ants) traveling up the outside of the hose toward the barn. Hmmmmm, that's strange. La la la la la, on with my day of horse stuff and I forget about it.

We get the house inspected every once in a while, and the guy mentions to watch for power lines that have trees touching them because carpenter ants will use it as a way to access the house. I said, well, how about a hose... We go and look, and there they are... happily doing whatever they do when not eating wood, milling around in and out where their colony must be up at the barn. Carpenter ants are aggressive wood destroyers. They hollow out wood to nest in. They do this quickly. They are dead now.

Today the man with the carpenter ant killer spray came. He killed them. The dogs and horses were nowhere near the barn, and the spray is a chemical that stays put where you put it and dries quickly. It's called termidor if you care. It's an excellent product, it works for termites and other things too. Termidor kills a carpenter ant that comes in contact with the stuff after a few minutes, and if that "tainted" ant comes in contact with an ant that did not cross the path of termidor, it will die too, the stuff on the "tainted" ant will kill the untainted ant. Like a really bad party. Termidor Site

This is before the poison guy came. This is the corner of the barn where I would see an ant or few.

There is an ant in this photo... but its hard to see because it's... um, an ant.

Hey ant, whacha doin'? Want Mr. Poison guy to come bring cocktails to your big party?
How odd that they made their colony here... along a concrete sono tube... they must be in a beam on top of the sono tube or under the ground in the wood chips.

Mr. Termidor poison man sprays the heck out of this area, and they are piling out of the ground evacuating...

There are several ants in this photo, sorry to dumb this down so severely, but the tiny black specs are ants.

Ants, about to die. They have touched the poison and are trying to remember what they were doing 10 seconds ago. In their ant brains... that don't exist.

Ok, don't let this photo make you cry. But, these are ants carrying their little ant baby cocoons out, presumably to save them since some chemical was just dumped on their colony. But, they too are going to die in a matter of minutes as they have touched termidor.

Sorry ants and your ant babies and ant moms and dad, and grandparents and aunts and uncles. But you should have found a tree to live in, not Java's Barn.

This morning there are heaps of dead ants near the area, like they piled out to find Java and apologize. Hey ants, too little too late.

Next up, fencing the pens in... The excitement!!!

Footing installation of the sacrafice/all weather pens

2010-07-07T08:25:00.001-04:00

This lovely hot hot sweltering hot weekend we got to the next phase of our all weather sacrifice pens.

Yes, I'm excited about these. Excited!!!

And, yes, I am glad that Mr. Java's Mom did more work than me on these, I think I would have melted into a useless heap if this project took one more minute.

There was a lot of seat time logged on the tractors.

Epic seat time for me actually.

I used the other tractor to move the dirt to another area while Mr. Java's mom graded and measured, etc.

I usually watch him, worry and say, "that's not going to work".

First, we box bladed the area.

We had to pull up the top soil, dig down and grade.

Then, I'm in the barn mucking and hear unhappy noises coming from Mr. Java's Mom.

The box blade is bent. in 6 places. That one tree root bent the steel. Oops.

That tree root is not even part of a tree anymore. It's a little surprise left over from clearing the barn site, that used to be buried... not anymore.

Well, the show must go on, the box blade had more work to do, bent or not.

Mr. Java's Mom scraped and graded, and moved dirt off the area... for what seemed like forever.

Then we cut the geotextile fabric to size and pinned it down.

This fabric will keep the area mud free by not allowing dirt to

come up into the gravel, and not allowing the gravel to go down into the dirt.

We got it from FarmTek. In a big giant 250 lb roll.

I remember this because I unloaded it off the freight truck, it was pretty heavy.

I tried to make it look easy as the driver helped. I'm not known for my strength.

Then, the first layer was put down over the cloth.

This is 3/4 inch process. There are a lot of names for the same things depending on what part of the country you live in. It is 3/4 inch stone with sand and smaller stone, the stone and the stuff that comes with in while being processed (I think).

Anyway, it makes a nice base because it drains well, won't make mud, and gives some grab. So the horses don't feel like they are walking on marbles, the gravel will grab and set into the process stuff.

Then, the gravel. This is 3/8 inch angular stone/gravel. That means the largest piece is 3/8 of an inch, and angular, meaning is is not the round stuff, but has angles so it does not have too much movement.

Java is barefoot, all the horses are, but we tested Java on the driveway with the same stone and we love the size. I get worried about larger making stone bruises, as some places I have boarded had larger angular big gravel and Java found that to be ouchy. This is cushy. Java is spoiled, she likes cushy.

It's so hot out. But we want to make sure it is spread evenly...

The piles are gone, the driveway is clear...

And, the footing is done. Well, done for now. We will probably add more stone, but this is 3 inches process and 3 inches stone. It has great grab, is soft underfoot, and looks good for a horse to enjoy a nice roll.

Next we will install the fencing. As you can see, the posts are in, we did those a while ago.

We hope to get the fencing up and gates hung by the weekend.

There will be 3 "pens". It's shaped like an L. Two on the long side and one on the leg of the L.

All 3 are the same size, and will be separated by gates, so a horse can use one, two or all three pens opened up depending on what we need.

Small Dry Lot / Sacrafice Paddock Project Starting Today

2010-07-03T07:36:00.000-04:00

3 horses.

4 grass paddocks.

2 "sacrifice" paddocks which are dirt/dry lots.

And the latest project...

3 little all weather dry lots.

The little dry lots will be used for days when I need the horses (or one or two, or whatever configuration) near the barn. Or, if the conditions elsewhere are too wet.

This also will be great for a horse who needs limited space turnout if possibly recovering form a veterinary issue.

The footing will be gravel.

No mud, drains well, nice to roll in, and hoof friendly.

Terry at Moondance Ranch in Colorado helped me feel confident with the choice of gravel.

Gravel is not used much for dry lots in Connecticut. CT people seem to think horses should be on sand for dry lots. Well... gravel gives better drainage and no risk of sand colic... so Terry and I corresponded and she gave a good review of gravel... so we ordered it.

There is a fabulous place not more than two miles from the house that sells wonderful materials.

Haynes Materials where we get our stone stuff from

So I headed on down to the quarry and place the order (their phone was not working).

Mr. Java's Mom gave me exact instructions on what to order.

First batch... oops. That's not gravel... well, there is gravel in it, it is gravel and washed sand.

OK.

Well... it's here now, we'll have to make it work.

Here comes the second batch.

Tada.

One batch of small hoof friendly gravel.

One batch of gravel plus sand.

We'll make it work. You will see.

This is the area that will be transformed.

This photo seems to accentuate the fact that neighbor Jim cut down almost all the trees on his property... except from those two... maybe some day they will look normal. :)

Those are our spruce trees, they are growing well. I like that.

More of the area we will be working on:

So, we will scrape off the topsoil in the little pens area, lay down geotextile cloth and spread this new material.

The weather forecast is hot hot hot. Bummer.

I'll take pictures for you.

Stretch finally gets paddock time

2010-07-02T09:23:00.002-04:00

This occured last week, and I hoped to add more photos, but have misplaced the camera... again. (update, FOUND IT).

But, this is the exciting post about Stretch coming off stall rest!!

The big day, Stretch comes off stall rest.

I approach the barn giving myself pep talks about how it will all be OK and he won't do anything stupid...

I remove the sutures and pull the catheter.

My mom is on the phone with me minutes prior to the big event shrieking "shouldn't a vet do that!!".

Well, Stretch removed a few sutures on his own, since he was sure that he was done with this stall rest bit, so he make the task pretty easy (Ok, he destroyed his last catheter and almost created a disaster by trying to rid himself of the last catheter).

He's been on stall rest for 6 weeks, it's been a long six weeks, I would do anything to accelerate to paddock time for him, and the vet showed me 5 times how to remove a catheter, since it had to be pulled and reset weekly. The vet told Stretch's owner and me that pulling the catheter would be one of the easiest things she has asked me to do so far, and she was right.

SO, I cut those stitches, pulled that thing, gobbed him up with antibiotic and a wrap, and said "let's go!"

Stretch looks at me like "sure you're going to take me out to the paddock, yeah right"

He would really like to go outside without me on the other end of a leadrope.

Suited up with a mini bandage to protect where the catheter used to be.

After a vigorous roll close to the fence line (doh!), he runs around a little (I was on the phone with the vet giving her the play by play so I could not get photos at the same time).

After testing out his wobbly legs, making sure they still work, throwing a few mean bucks, he did this:

Then, this: resting and staring at Java.

He really likes Java.

It was a big day for him. He made it until about 2:30 and I pulled him in to rest. Java came in too to keep him company so he could get a nice naptime and re-charge for the next day.

Day two outside. Wrap removed, that stuff is history.

Now Stretch's job is to go out, eat grass and get fat.

He's ready!

Roll...

Eat... (this is the new paddock by the way).

Roll more, rub face on legs, groan, etc:

And, eat.

Then he ran the fenceline like a dork,

got himself sweaty (dripping head to toe, risking heat overload, bad sweaty),

required a bath and cool down, and had to chill out.

I hope we all get to see him put some weight on. Hopefully the meds worked (he is still on some, but not via catheter anymore) and he will get fat, happy and healthy.

Now the group is re-acclimating to Stretch being outside.

More on the herd dynamics later, and I'll go find the camera!

Manure and Farm Keeping Recognition

2010-06-25T10:51:00.001-04:00

We strive for excellence in farm and manure management.

We pick our paddocks every other day, at least.

We use straw bedding to break down faster.

We turn our manure.

We cover our manure with special covers to keep the right level of moisture and let it breathe.

We take the temperature of our manure to make sure it is decomposing and killing bacteria and fly larvae.

We rotate our grass paddocks.

We have sacrifice paddocks.

We are solar.

We collect rain water off the roof and filter it and use it for drinking water.

We sweat a lot and go through a lot of pairs of gloves, this is a lot of hard work.

Well, lucky us: the state of Connecticut recognizes farms like ours with an award!!!

I took three inspectors on tour. One from the DEP, one from UConn, one from some water awareness soemthingorother. They apparently liked the place and today I was presented with our award!!

You can apply for this award every year, which we will be doing.

It is an awesome program. They will come out to your farm, recognize good practices, and make recommendations if they see things that they don't like. If they really like your practices, they give you an award. It is a great support for us to be able to call and ask questions, find out things or check to see if we are doing things correctly. And we are. YAY!!!

Here is the "turning bin". The freshest stuff goes here, gets covered, then moved and turned to another bin.

Steaming...

170* Nice and hot. This means that any bad stuff is killed.

We take out a scoop... steamy... like a smelly sauna.

Mmmmm... look at all that composting goodness.

This is me moving some of the stuff from one of the other bins and putting it on a windrow where it is covered and will wait for us to spread. It is a nice fluffy compost. Apparently that is very good.

Me on top of the windrow shaping it.

We like a certain shape and uniformity to our windrows.

OK, I don't care so much, but Mr. Java's Mom is particular.

And finally:

Being presented with our award.

It's the Horse Farm of Environmental Distinction award, which is part of the Horse Environmental Awareness Program, or HEAP program.. Get it HEAP. catchy.

That's me on the left and Carol Donzella on the right who is head of the heap program.

This is exciting and really an honor. Thank you!!!

a few photos

2010-06-21T10:46:00.003-04:00

Java and Lucie (aka Moosie) were out in the top paddock yesterday morning and all was well... until one of them got running confused with grazing. So I separated them.

The one that does not run stayed on the grass... that would be Java.

Playing, feeling good, getting a little fun in between grazing, that's fine. Running like a dope and looking for attention warrants a demotion.

We got a nice rain mid-day yesterday, then they went back out. Yes, I bring them in when we get a good hard rain. :)

Java back out after the rain. It's close enough to dinner time that she is staying near the barn. She does not get dinner, or breakfast, but she likes being with her peeps for their meals.

Stretch holding down the fort (that's his head in the window on the right). He ends stall rest this Saturday.

We are counting down the days, I am so happy for him that he will be out and get to be a horse again. He has been a very good boy. At times a crazy horse, but that's understandable.

Java still grazing...

Mr Java's Mom and I put a little splash tub in the paddock for Java (to the left of her head in this photo).

She likes to paw the water and splash herself. SPOILED. She has a separate bucket for drinking.

This is taken from the far side of the paddock... the side Java should graze more often, the grass is nicer back here. She is in the background in the middle of the photo looking at me wondering what I'm up to. We were checking fence.

2010-06-17T13:54:00.000-04:00

Hey mom, does this grass make my butt look fat?

Stretch, what do you think (he's looking out the window, he's still on stall rest)?

OK mom, what about this angle. Do I still look fat?

I'll eat while you think about that...

Does this angle still make me look fat?

Yum! This is good stuff.

Oops, Stretch, did you hear that? Its actually really not tasty. Too long to taste good.

What did you say, I can't hear you with my head in the grass like this:

OK, I think I look less fat from this angle.

Java and I had a great ride yesterday. And, we're heading out for another ride now. Mr. Java's Mom mowed this paddock the day after these pics. Java did a test graze for me, the grass is not established enough for grazing full time yet. So it's mowed and resting more. Good thing, she does not exactly need any more weight on her. :)

paw issue mostly resolved

2010-06-16T08:39:00.000-04:00

Bandy has taken the paw problem into her own... hands? and is mostly better. Front paw: all fixed. She licked it better. Back paw... not lame on it, but it is irritated. I would categorize the issue somewhere close to athlete's foot. She got a hair cut around the paw and it is being treated successfully.

Bandy says: I feel good. Back to business.

Java and Moosie (that name! Lucie would be so much nicer...) out this morning.

Java yesterday came in for a nap.

We are going for a ride this morning... I hope!

paw problem

2010-06-11T10:06:00.001-04:00

Lame. Bandy is lame. Poor little girl is sitting on the sidelines instead of patrolling around and keeping everyone in line.

While Mackie is licking buckets and eating grass... poor Bandy rests. Her front right paw has some irritation. I have examined it thoroughly. I'm going to try an oatmeal foot bath, dry her out well between the toes and see how it goes. I've called our awesome dog vets and they are ready to see her when I give up trying to fix her myself. For such a tough little dog, she is taking this badly. She will be OK. :)

Same ol' here with the horses. Moosie chowing, Java mowing and Stretch unfortunately fretting in his stall. He can see the girls, but he is reaching his limit for stall rest. It's been 4 weeks. Two more to go, but he's done with it.

News Flash: Stretch has worked part of the catheter in his neck out. Yuck, and inconvenient, and expensive. Since he gets meds 4x a day, this puts a crimp in any plans I had for the day and fixing his catheter is a top priority. I don't mind seeing the vets, but we almost made it to his next appointment on Tuesday when a new one would be installed (for lack of a better word, like stitched).

Java and I have actually gotten out for some awesome rides lately. Hope to keep up that trend!

Food

2010-06-09T10:12:00.000-04:00

Java first thing in the morning: This is her, "hi mom, please take me out to the grass now" look. She gets no grain right now. She has become a very easy keeper, so she gets to be out on the grass all day, and comes in at night to rest and eat a little hay. Since she does not get much hay either, just enough to keep her busy when in the barn, by morning, she is done with this stall/barn stuff and ready to go back out.

Just a few minutes later, she is where she wants to be.

Moosie pretends that she is starving, inhales her grain and supplements, and then stuffs as much hay into her mouth as possible... even though she eats more hay than Java... and Stretch actually. It is strange, but she does not like being out on the grass for more than an hour. After about an hour, she runs and runs and runs. SO... dirt lot with hay for you. Maybe she will adjust eventually.

What I really see in this picture is the steam coming out of the manure cabana behind her.

Poor pretty Stretch is on stall rest. He is fighting an infection in his abdomen and is only responding to one med. The one med that is administered safest via catheter. He did not respond to any other meds, we tried them all... and this is the ONE med. He has been on stall rest for 3 weeks, and has 3 more to go. Actually 16 days, but who's counting. He has handled stall rest incredibly well. But, sometimes, he really really wants to go out. He gets hand grazed and walked by me, but it's not the same as getting to go out, roll inthe dirt and be a horse. Sometimes he wants to kill me, but since he has not succeeded yet, we take this day by day. He is a wonderful horse, I don't get mad at him, even when he gets a little feisty.

Stretch's Feisty Look:

Stretch with a more sane look:

finally a post

2010-06-08T10:00:00.002-04:00

OK, finally getting a blog post out. I wrote one yesterday, but deleted it, on purpose. The brief version: I mentioned my dislike for the neighbor, one horse and it's bizarre choices, and my concern that I am going insane. Not certifiably insane, just a little nutz. With a z.

Things are fine here, the horses are good. But when it comes time to post here, it is hard to just hit the sunshine pretty sky la la land details and not mention the neighbor, manure, and other things that sometimes drag you down.

So, good point: the trees are growing quickly between the neighbor and us.

Bad point: I went to the store with 3 things on the list, and forgot one. How???

Photos:

Mackie and all of his beautifulness with the koi:

Bandy with hair tied up so that she can see and swimming obviously with a large stick:

Bandy terrorizing anyone with her stick. Practicing her ninja moves:

My excellent photo skills hard at work...

I know you are not supposed to take a photo into the sun, but I did anyway.

Java is in the corner in the shade in this photo.

We rotated the horses off this paddock, mowed it even and let it rest for 3 weeks. It recovered nicely and now Java is back on it grazing while the other paddock is resting. We are installing fencing around one more space for 4 total grass paddocks.

Green

2010-05-06T15:07:00.000-04:00

Things are getting green fast here. No complaints there.

Bandy with stick after a swim in the pond.

The leaves are coming out, the oak behind the barn looks

like a pom-pom to me, no I was never a cheerleader

AHHH, the gorgeous sight of grass. Java is out there eating, correction, chowing.

My dear Java, you are getting round fast from this grass. This means we will have to work in an exercize program that we both need, soon.

Stretch enjoying other grass on the farm. The horses are thrilled with the situation.

For the record, I know he's too thin.

That's a bigger issue with him, we're working on it and we hope he will be OK.

No crisis

2010-04-19T14:01:00.000-04:00

Why do I spend so much time with manure, freeze, sweat and put up with all the mess and hard work of horses?

Well, Java of course, she is worth every bit. But the other reason is walking out the door to feed, and this is my view. They are in there, ready for breakfast and to start the day... and I get to do all that here at home. I like that.

While they are eating their breakfast, I set up the paddocks with hay, water, etc.

The dogs come with me. Bandy is always near by, keeping watch. Mackie is always wandering around.

This area is bigger than the photo makes it look, but this finally will be another paddock soon.

Then I wrangle the dogs back into the house and head back to the barn... gazing at all the grass growing, and what a nice spring it has been.

And, toss the horses out. They are still acclimating to grass, so they spend most of their time in their sacrafice paddocks... eating hay and looking at the grass... They get it later in the day.

And, good news. I am going to skip the midlife crisis.
And, our septic problems worked out. We built an outhouse... just kidding! A couple of experts checked everything out and we worked out a plan. All is well.

The builder neighbor finally moved in... I'll update you soon. No, he does not have horses, that's OK.

Life is normal here:

2010-04-16T15:54:00.000-04:00

I would post more often, but I'm busy. Taxes, dogs, feed deliveries, riding, grooming, septic tank failure, concrete deliveries of the wrong size, property tax reassessment, tree people that work for the state to get approval to cut down trees along the road, you know all the stuff! As soon as I got over filing our taxes, the septic system is having some form of mid-life crisis... which seems like something that I want to have. Those are fun, right?

Blue skies and sun this week. Mackie loves sun baths:

The barn is still here:

The horses are spending a lot of time outside, the love the warmer temperatures lately:

Java's favorite paddock has been re-seeded and is resting. Germination is prolific, and that is good:

Bandy got a hair cut.

The top paddock is still resting, growing, looking good so far:

Bandy and Mackie, both have their toys safely in reach, ready for dinner:

tax time

2010-04-13T11:15:00.000-04:00

I'm alive, all the animals are alive... but it's tax time, as I know you know... I LOVE tax time. I am almost done and will post pretty pics of green grass and happy horses later... after I'm done with all this paper!!! Do you love tax time as much as I do?

we did not float away

2010-04-01T14:35:00.000-04:00

We got 8.44 inches of rain in a day. Awesome.

The rain finally let up for a few mintues, and I took these photos.

The barn, it's still here.

The horses at the time of this photo are in the barn happy as can be that they did not have to endure the monsoon.

Mackie's realistic squirrel toy looks drowned:

Mackie: I did not know there was a stream here:

Bandy: Uh, I'm a little soggy:

Then I go down to the koi pond and walk along the stream that feeds the pond and quickly confirmed something. I had a suspicion for a while that something was not right... YES, I have a hole in my welly boots. It's been a great 3 years wellie boots, I thought we would be together forever, but... apparently not.

SO, I wore my much boot shoes the next day. The mud sucked the shoe off, and my foot with sock went right into the mud, deep. Then I had to put my mud socked foot BACK INTO the shoe. I wonder how long until I wear those again. The sun is out today, so I'm back in my wellies. :)

rain, new tractor - John Deere 2320

2010-03-29T18:33:00.000-04:00

I'm miss you all... but it's been busy. One horse out (good), one horse in (great!) and a new tractor. We can get twice a much done now with me on one tractor and husband on the other... and the more we get done, the closer we are to one day... doing other things other than getting the property the best it can be. We have a lot of projects going on, and neighbor drama, and horse antics, so we're not worried about being too boring at least.

But... sometimes the weather gets in the way... like... every three days.

Hmmm.... we empty the rain gauge regularly, since it only goes up to 6 inches. But now the rain gauge is SITTING in water. It's just a lot of rain that we are getting. As long as we don't float away, it will all be fine. Unfortunately, about 75 lbs. of grass seed that we just meticuliously planted probably has, but I"m sure someone, somewhere downstream will enjoy it.

The new tractor. It's a John Deere 2320.

About one minute after I took this photo, the delivery guy carefully unloaded it off his truck...

Then ran the ROPS (roll over protection) into the garage frame and door.

The ROPS folds over... too bad be are about an inch short. Well, at least we know now.

So, what do you do with a brand new tractor? Well, it was raining, big surprise, so we go to the one thing that always needs to be done... move manure!

Jeremy (that's Mr. Java's Mom's real name) takes the tractor up to the barn right away for some work! Don't worry, I opened the gate for him:

Clean, shiny bucket (except for the delivery writing on the bottom that the dealer apparently was too bust to wipe off... that's OK, we'll get to that, or wear it off in about two more days:

Clean, spanking brand new bucket:

Manure in. Welcome to the family 2320!

As you can see in the background, Jim-bo's house is up. He's getting ready to move in. Suburbia found us. Darn. :)

no title

2010-02-16T12:27:00.001-05:00

More snow...
It's nice.

Lobster leaves at the end of this month. We have a new resident coming in. I approve of this move.

We got the most awesome load of hay and straw in yesterday, and Mr. Java's Mom loaded it all. Wow, it is stacked beautifully... neat as a pin. Its the most the loft has ever held, about 225 bales. Thank you.

I will soon be bedding on straw with pellet bedding underneath to absorb wetness. Shavings don't break down fast enough, and there is more waste. I like mucking the straw, and it makes such a nice fluffy comfy bed. Java was my test case. A couple of months ago I got a starter bale for her, and got the hang of mucking it, and lucky me, she does beautifully with it. Stretch is going to start soon after I make sure he does not eat it, and the same scenario for the new horse when she arrives. Lobster is on only pellet bedding. Dear pellet bedding: I love you, your little pellets take the worst situatoin stall and make it nice. No horse, even one who lives here cannot make me go insane based on his housekeeping habits, or lack thereof. I would prefer pelleted straw, but the pelleted straw dudes don't call back...

Envisioning green grass and happy horses out here soon:

The kids were in the barn eating breakfast as I set up their paddocks:

Miss Super Princess Java enjoying her life:

Bandy making use of the freshly plowed path. And, always on guard.

Pretty snow...

I can't wait until this paddock is done "resting". Patience is required for propper paddock rotation. I'm not great with patience.

Stretch munching on his soaked hay cube brunch and hay. He is wonderful:

Java bored:

Mackie being Mackie.

Irony

2010-02-04T10:25:00.001-05:00

SO, life and manure management gets in the way of blogging sometimes. When I figure this all out, I'll write a book for other small farm owners.

The chapter for this week would be: Isn't it Ironic.

I wrote about 3 drafts for this post. And before I was able to post a single draft, the situation changed. I'm even hesitating big time about posting this one...

I find the camera and take pics, then it snows. The pics with no snow seem out of date. Then I have to find the camera again to take new photos.

I move Java away from a crowded, develeoped area to get away from machinery and development and a builder buys the lot next door and develops it. And, stores all of his machinery there.

The boarder experience. Ironic from every angle possible in a good and bad way.

The neighbor across the street ... editing out my comment. Some people can be real Greedy Buggers. I would like to invent a game called The Greedy Bugger's Cookie Jar. Teach us all that at a young age if you get too greedy, diving in for another cookie, being greedy, rude and ugly, you get your fingers slammed in the cookie jar. Whap! I would whap someone today.

There are a few things I can depend on: manure, irony, and annoying circumstances. When I was younger and less worried about being "nice" things worked out better.

This is actualy is very funny to me.

I'm ready for whatever today brings. Aw, isn't that nice. nice nice nice.

Recent photos, because that's the good stuff:

Snow on the big field. It is still resting since it was renovated this fall. The new grass has taken very well and the horses and I are looking foward to putting this big paddock into use as soon as it's ready... probably late spring.

Java supervising my gear in the gator. Muck buckets to be dumped at the manure cabana compost station, hay for the boys, water for the boys. She is so bored, we have got to get out for a ride.

The usual photo, Java looking fatter.

Lobster laying down the day before more snow. Not the best pic of him.

He loves to snooze in this corner, it's very soft there.

Stretch's sweet face. He is about to sneeze in this picutre with his nose crinkled and crooked.

back in action

2010-01-26T10:58:00.000-05:00

Lost the camera again, twice. Found it. I can tell you how many times each horse poops a day, load the loft with food for the horses to the n'th degree, but cannot keep track of the darn camera. Something to improve on...

The latest here:
Snow is gone for now.
It's gorgeous out.
The horses (Java, Lobster and Stretch) have been amazing and perfect angels (some censorship there).

Today though... it's cukoocukoo day. Wore my hat to turn out.
Really wondering why I did not attach stalls to paddocks... oh, because I wanted the horse to have manners and human interaction and not run all over me. Well, they have manners after I yell profanities at them. And I swear to god I'm not making this up, Java, no matter how stupid the geldings act, is perfect. That horse has amazing manners and is so smart. Ah, I love you Java.

She is shiny because she has rolled in the wet muddy ground... a beautiful effect. Very nice.

Not much has changed... except I put half and half in my coffee now, and switched to organic yogurt, it is runny just in case you are tempted to switch too.

But I am pleased with the way my window box looks with it's evergreen winter mode:

dogs

2010-01-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

I took these pictures after we got a little more snow...and since then we got more snow...

Bandy mid stride getting warmed up for a good walk in the woods:

Bandy choosing a stick to swing around and hopefully not poke Mackie in the eye with:

Bandy miffed that this particular 15 foot long stick is not cooperating with her demands:

Bandy getting a good view of her land:

Mackie looking... black... as the day ends and we're done with our walk:

Java watching us.

Thinking: You know I don't love blankets, please remove this one soon. And, I'm about ready for dinner. I would like... hm... I have to think... oh yeah, oats, hay and well, that will do for now.

snow and horses

2009-12-31T14:33:00.001-05:00

The tons of snow from my last post got rained on and melted... and today we got more snow. Snow is better than mud, ice or mud and ice at once. Now that the horses are home, I prefer only two things on the ground: snow or growing grass.

We know snow looks like here:

Christmas wreath on the gate that is open at the moment of this photo and luckily nobody unwelcome pulled into the driveway (yes, I can be antisocial). The wreath on a closed gate says "Merry Christmas, please keep driving past, not in". That's not too antisocial, right?

Java. Baby Java. The most wonderful horse in the world. She is watching the boys (Stretch and Lobster), I am near their paddocks. Super Princess Baby Java likes to be near the barn best, but that does not stop her from supervising at all times.

Snow...

Stretch. The new guy. He is AWESOME. I thought I was going to die when he first arrived, but we get along great. He was extremely nervious when he arrived, is bigger than Java and very sensitive. We do yoga together after meditation hour daily and then everything is OK. Just kidding, he settled in well, and gets fed constantly (ulcer prone) and he realizes that I can be useful for things like delivering food to his paddock or stall at any moment, gentle grooming sessions and... food. And, Stretch likes Java, he gets bonus points for that. We are both very relaxed around eachother now, and he knows that he is safe and his job is to gain weight and get old and chill. He happens to be cute too. I'll get some pics of his adorable face soon.

Lobster is right next to him in another paddock (the infamous sacrafice paddock that we split into two). Not that Lobster and Stretch seem to appreciate eachother much, but they are a good pair up there.

Lobster on the right of photo: "Hey Stretch, want to pretend to be friends?".

Stretch: "Hey Lobster, No."

Lobster: "Hey Stretch, I have tons of hay, but do you want to share some of your alfalfa cubes?"

Stretch: "Hey Lobster, No."

That's OK, Lobs is allowed candy, apples, etc, and Stretch is not.

I'll go take more photos now and post more later. :)

video in snow...

2009-12-20T11:48:00.000-05:00

Until I figure out how to get the window with the video up, i have to use links:

Java in snow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jowySjL_io

Dogs in Snow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgCQXaUb2ZI

I'll get some pics or video of Stretch and Lobster next...

OMG!

2009-12-20T09:57:00.000-05:00

OMG, I found it!!!!! (I"m making fun of myself with the OMG (dad, that means oh my god in computer speak).

Camera battery is charging and will post pics today... we got snow, bandy has to hop like a bunny to get around. The horses I'm sure will be amusing too.

Yay, I'm back, the camera has been unearthed...

It's pretty bad that I could not find it... I looked in the barn about 342 times, every coat pocket, in the car 321 times, under the car seats, around the property, in drawers... it was under a pile on my desk... good god. I think I need therapy.

still no camera.

2009-11-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

still cannot find the camera. I will either find it soon, or get a new one.. ouch.

Sorry honey! Yes, I lost your camera. I liked your camera A LOT.

We split the sacrafice paddock into two. Covered my Carhartt gear in concrete dust to concrete in the corner and brace posts, and Mr. Java's Mom's boots in concrete dust, but it's done. Mr. Java's Mom did 99% of the work, and it looks great. Thank you.

Does Java like it? NO. She has spent the last two days out there, and she is protesting. Lobs is like "hey, cool, this is nice, and Java is next to me now". Java is like: "what is this bullshit, put me back in my paddock by the barn".

Stretch arrives Sunday. Then Stretch will go in one sacrafice paddock and Lobs will go in the other, and Java will go back in to her paddock. We're riding lately, she feels terrific, and is very happy, aside from the whole protest-the-sacrafice-paddock stuff.

I'll find the camera, I promise!!!

And, the concrete dust came out of the Carhartt gear, good stuff. Those gloves held up well during the process and washed well too.

:)

I can't find the camera

2009-11-17T10:33:00.000-05:00

Thank you all so much for your input for sacrafice paddock size. All of your input has been very helpful.

We are still working on a decision, and considering some other options. So far, so good.

And, I have not posted lately because I cannot find the camera. Fascinating. I'm really sorry because it's been beautiful lately, sunny, gorgeous.
I'll keep looking for the camera. I'm fine, I read your blogs, and figure I'll find the camera... soon!!

sacrifice paddock size

2009-11-06T08:46:00.001-05:00

OK my blog buddies. I could use a little help.

As you know this place is a work in progess, and the latest is getting the grass paddocks established to hold upto hooves and grazing. The top paddock (the largest paddock) has been re-seeded, is doing great with grass growing, but is off limits until late spring. The lower paddock (the nice grassy one down hill from the barn) has nice grass, but horses with shoes are too tough on it right now and we need to baby that paddock a little. And, Java's paddock, it's nibbled down to the nub and is barely hanging on, but Java loves it there, so I have let this happen. Then, there is the newest paddock, the one Lobster has been in, it has no grass. It is our sacrafice paddock. It is very pleasant though, sun, shade, room to run, and the barn and other paddocks can be seen from that spot.

This is the issue:
We want 3 sacrafice paddocks. (3 stall barn, 3rd horse arriving later this month).

Do we split the existing sacrafice paddock into 3. Each horse would have it's own sacrafice paddock of 44x73. (3,212 square ft of sacrafice space each horse).

OR

Do we split the existing sacrafice paddock into two and clear more trees and auger more fence post holes (you get the picture) and make a third sacrafice paddock. (4,818 square ft of sacrafice space each horse ).

The ring will be fenced in soon(?) and that would be a larger space that can be rotated into the mix if one of the horses would like to stretch out a little more. That is like 125x150, plenty big to get a little more exercise.

I'm reading everwhere and the recommended sizes for sacrafice paddocks is small, 400 to 1,200 square feet. This sounds too small to me. If we took the existing sacrafice paddock and split it into 3, each horse would have 3,212 square feet. If we split it into two, each horse would have 4,818 square feet.

Your thoughts on what you think is best for the horses? I'm really stuck on giving each horse as much space as possible. And, I want their joints to not get too wrenched if they have to screech to a halt too often if they feel like playing. OR, Im crazy because for example, Java is standing still taking a nap in the sun, and would be fine in a 1,000 square ft. paddock right now and 3,000 would be plenty, especially if she gets to be with her buddies. When weather permits, grass permits, conditions permit, the horses will be on grass. Like great grass. This is our transition period to get to that point, and if we want it to happen we have to work in some rotation. Oh, and we are adding a 4th grass paddock to the mix for good measure. That grass is growing establising and we just have to fence it in.

Ugh, please, your thoughts. You guys can help, and I would really appreciate it. Thank you thank you thank you.

Below are pictures of the sacrafice paddock that will be either split into two... or three...

Bandy says: "Thank you all very much for your help. I cannot make ALL the decisions around here".

familiar sights:

2009-11-05T14:05:00.000-05:00

The norm. And, where is the sun!? I swear it is not this dismal in CT.

Mackie rolling with toy in mouth, Java coming in for a close look, Bandy happy trying to destroy a dog bone and my half-eaten-by-a-chipmunk-kale in the pot on the wall:

Mackie up and shaking. Java bored already, and Bandy still happily knawing away:

Here's a litte morning sun:

Yep, she loves bones:

This is a familiar sight:

Is it groundhog day?

Same old... BUT I changed out the Kale for a mini blue green bush in the pot for our winter interest:

Lobster looking bored. But I know he's happy. And he is a very good boy.

Lobs:

Lobs watching Mackie now:

The third horse arrives later this month. This works out well with Java and Lobster settled in, and the third horse, Stretch, can join in on the relaxation spa. The horses have been great. The dogs have been great.
Things are well.

I'm not quite sure what it is about Mackie and cars...

2009-11-03T08:19:00.000-05:00

Had to take my car in again, no major issues.

This is the loaner car, and I'm unloading groceries...

Bandy: "Uh mom, you need to come see this"

He's probably thinking, yep, this works for me.

Please remove the rest of the groceries so that I can really get comfortable.

And, I'm not getting out for a long time.

I'm still not getting out.

Bandy: "see what I've got to work with here"

Mackie was very proud, and stubborn about his new spot.

Alas, it goes back today and I'll return with the wagon.

Java, Lobster and Kale

2009-10-31T12:28:00.000-04:00

The new horse is here!
His owner brought him over yesterday afternoon, he is settling in very very well. Actually so well that maybe he does not need to settle, he's very... chill.

His name is Lobster. Yes he is big and red, but he's a Dutch Warmblood born in the "L" year (Just like Java, born in 1997, when all Selle Francais are named starting with a "J"... Lobster was born in the Dutch Warmblood year of L) and the name Lobster stuck... and it's very easy to remember. Convenient.

As we approach the barn right after Lobster has unloaded, Java perked up ASTONISHED that another horse is on the property. Absolutely stunned. Like when you were a kid and you opened the ULTIMATE gift and looked at your parents like, really, for me?! That was the look.

They are quite cute.

This is all I can get of him so far. Maybe he's camera shy...

They both rested well last night, no issues. Today they just came in to rest, and the wind has picked up, so it's a good time for their siesta. They were out all morning in separate paddocks, and both quite happy but a little tired. Java has a relaxed look to her face.

Mr. Java's Mom and I will be doing noisy leaf cleanup and then this afternoon Lobster and Java will go out again. It's incredibly warm out, a nice surpirse. Maybe they will dine al fresco.

I planted some kale for the Fall planters about a month ago. I've enjoyed watching it turn colorful as the weather gets colder.

I thought that it had bolted because one pot of kale got very stemmy... well, I was wrong. Something ate it. That's actually cute.

carhartt for women inventory

2009-10-30T14:42:00.000-04:00

Mr Java's Mom knows that if you have the right gear, the day to day work is sometimes... pleasant. I pretty much love all barn work, but hate being cold.

So, to gear up for winter I received:
(you guessed right, these are the manufactures photos, my stuff is already in use and dirty)

Carhartt for women jacket. Super warm, very comfortable. Already very dirty.

Double front pants. Double layered fronts for... stuff... like protecting you from poking hay when moving bales, general stuff. yes, I'm wearing them for the second day in a row... and probably tomorrow too...whatever... in that yellowish color dirt just blends rignt in.

And, my brother and his wife got me these bad a** gloves:

they are waterproof baby. that means that you can scrub the water buckets and not turn your hand into a popsicle. Uh huh, these are pretty good gloves.

So I'm pretty well outfitted in Carhartt now... my current carhartt for women inventory is: a vest, jacket, summer weight pants, jeans, double front pants, gloves, and TWO pairs of overalls, lined and denim unlined. It's OK to be jealous.

And, Mr. Java's Mom also got me a pretty flannel shirt.

Wait, there's more!! We are getting a new resident today... It's been in the works for weeks, probably months if I bothered to check, but he's arriving in a couple of hours. I'm so excited. Java is unsettled today probably because she knows that I'm giddy about something... And, if all goes as I'm told, a third lucky horse arrives in about a month... we'll see... I don't count on these things until the horse is on the property. You know horse people... we're ALL a little crazy.

If I can find the camera, I'll take photos. I'm going to start looking right now!

Stuff

2009-10-27T07:22:00.001-04:00

Same old here. Mackie did hit his head on the door again, this time on our way into the house. My mom was with me, and I went to open the door and Mackie got his timing wrong. Mackie, it goes like this: I open the door, you walk through.

Mackie got the order mixed up and tried to go through before I opened the door.

He head-butted the door and I stood there stunned. I said to my mom, see what goes on here... who will believe me? She said she does, especially since she saw it too and just about collapsed laughing. Mackie is OK.

Java in her stall for a second before I tack up and we go for a ride. She's fabulous.

This would have been cute if it did not come out blurry:

Our house was built in 1738. That's what the historical society says...

There is a nice little cemetary down the street, so we went and looked for the original builders/owners of the house the Baley's (later changed the spelling Bailey).

Check it out! Here they are, sheltered under this ancient cedar tree. These headstones are in wonderful condition and we could read them. They are the childern and grandchildren of the original owners of the house (some very young, 3 mos, some made it to their early 80's). Right near these stones are others, not sheltered by the tree and the writing is almost totally worn off, but I'll go back and see what I can figure out... I think they are the older markers. The stones that you see in the background are others, from the 1800's, other famlies, etc.

This is really exciting, and so... important... and historic. And, it was not creepy in the cemetary, it's nice. I'm hoping that there is a map of who is where in the cemetary. I'm also hopefully going to get the historical society geared up to do more research on the house. I'm so glad these markers are pretty well preserved.

Then we (mom and I) pull back into the driveway and I see that Java is happy as can be.

Next Post: Exciting new things that Mr. Java's mom gave me...

All is well

2009-10-23T17:37:00.000-04:00

A couple of pics...

All is well.

pictures

2009-10-22T09:39:00.000-04:00

It's warm out... still wearing long johns, but it's really nice out. The warm air has created fog... and I actually had the camera battery charged, and remebered to bring the camera outside this morning and the camrea worked. The camera stars aligned...

Da Boss:

The usual shot:

The two tall trees in the far right of this photo are two trees that neighbor Jim decided to keep.... how beaucolic... pastoral... developer

We're mid leaf-fall now. The oaks have barely started and the maples are done. Odd, but still nice:

Java's barn in this photo looks like a nice little doll house:

The gang waiting for me... Java is in her stall having breakfast:

The new grass growing in the top paddock... how I miss using the top paddock. Summer 2010 will be very fun and GRASSY. Meadow like... ah, I can almost see it now...

Le Cabana:

We'll see if I can put two brain cells together and bring the camera out this afternoon too!! Wow, the challenges that I set...

rountine crap, but good crap

2009-10-21T20:40:00.001-04:00

The sun only came out in the morining, and I brought the camrea out in the afternoon... hey, to say, "oh that's murphy's law for you" would be so much more polite than "well shit, that figures". Well, lucky you, you get the polite and the not polite version.

By the way, I did not officially fall down the stairs yesterday (my mom was worried), I started to fall down the stairs and turned into a flying monkey and saved my butt. I'm very sore today. But I think I got all the splinteres out of my knuckles. If you live in an old house, you understand this. If not, well then, if you fall down the stairs and turn into a flying monkey and save your butt, you will not get splinters. It has to do with wood that was cut by hand vs. by machine... If I had not turned into a flying monkey I would have been very very hurt, so sore muscles and splinteres is cool with me.

Java rocks.

We rode. She is perfect. Still filthy, but good. Maybe tomorrow will be the big bubble bath event... only time will tell. Is this suspenseful or what!?

I'm filing as a farm with the town... it's taking up a lot of brain space. I think I'll be able to hand in my application by the end of the week, then, it's party time. I stink at getting big projects done, but this one will get done, and done darn well... Unlike my photos for the day...No sun equals less ladybugs for the day. Here's ONE. There were more, but not like the swarm yesterday.

BUT, there was another bird in the cupola today. Jee, that's fun... trying to get a bird out of the cupola. Two days in a row.

Life really is so good. I think this is quite funny, and I love every minute. Well, if I remember to bring the ipod docking station to the barn, I'll love tomorrow even more... but this is pretty good so far. I hope you all had a fun, enjoyable and unpredictible day like I did...Without having to help each of your dogs with a poop issue... I ALMOST left that part out. :)

no pics, tomorrow I'll have pics.

2009-10-20T20:31:00.000-04:00

pictures tomorrow, but I did not want to leave you hanging... but there's no excitement just the usual:

Java's great. Actually she's a filthy pig and it may be warm enough tomorrow for a bath after a ride.
There was a bizzare ladybug outbreak today at the barn. I WILL get pics tomorrow if they are still there. Really, lots o' ladybugs.
A bird got stuck in the cupola today, I spent a good amount of time getting it out, it was so pretty... and so exhausted. It joined it's family outside the barn eventually and I hope that it is OK.
Mackie is absolutely in love with his $7 TSC dog bed, that is worth a photo too.

That's all I can remember, I'm tired. It was a big day full of other stuff, like a refinance, falling down the stairs and somehow catching myself and now feeling it and getting sore, sweeping out an empty stall in the barn and blowing brown dirt snot out of my nose for a while, you know, stuff like that. But I think I'm tired from lugging around the extra weight of long johns...

brrr.

2009-10-19T10:20:00.000-04:00

This weekend was a whirlwind. A cold whirlwind.
Got a great ride in, Java is feeling fresh with cool breezes, falling leaves, acorns and some branches. We got a heck of a rain storm all day yesterday, and what is the ultimate rainy day thing to do? Go to TSC (Tractor Supply Company)!!! I'm in love with pellet bedding for Java's potty corner lately. And, they were having a sale on the pellet bedding, so we loaded up. Java's stall is sheer luxury right now. Deep bedded with shavings, hay galore and under her bedding in that one corner, super absorbant pellets. Cold lonely nights with the rain and wind outside, I think of her snuggled in her super comfortable safe stall.

At the end of the day, we went for a walk with the dogs (light rain at that point) and Bandy showed her appreciation by rolling in something nasty. I love this, as I'm giving her a soapy lavender scented bath, Mr. Java's Mom keeps saying "Poor dog!!" Ha!! I'm the one decontaminating her from wildlife feces, and she's POOR DOG!! Too funny.

And, what's actually funny is that Bandy is the one with hair over her eyes, yet Mackie ran square into the end of the door with his head yesterday, and about an hour later, ran his toe into the same door. He's OK, and we got him a bed from TSC to help him rest up ($7 for a dog bed, $7!!).

Photos hot off the press from this morning:

Ah, blue sky... it's been a few days without sun. But brrrr it's cold too!

Java watching the top paddock for spooky things:

Java watching me return from the Manure Cabana acting surprised:

Java getting bored with acting surprised and looking for something exciting to react to:

Java in her world

2009-10-17T09:28:00.000-04:00

The norm:

Closer, and look... there's neighbor Jim's house... and flag pole. it is a decent looking house, we'll let him stay.

I like to pretend that it's not there, and take photos without his house in the background:

Java sees... the grain delivery truck. We got more alfalfa cubes... it's the key to keeping Java happy as the only horse here. Java's best friends are me, mackie, bandy and... alfalfa cubes.

Uh, I'm going over here to watch, I want to make sure you don't want me to get on that truck:

Let's watch together.

She plants herself a little closer as we unload the goods. Java is trying to look thin so that I'll give her an extra large alafalfa cube mash:

The "aren't I a sweet tiny little baby horse look":

Ok, dinner time. When she's ready to come in, lately she will put herself in this corner. It's a good spot to see who is coming home, what the screaming child is doing across the street and to talk to me as I get to the gate to go to the barn.

Plus, we rode! A really nice trail ride. She was sound, and sane which was a nice surpise (the sane part) after the spunky behavior/bucking the morning before. After our ride, I was brushing her again (she wanted to be sure to look pretty for turnout) and she made a point to help me find a tick at the very top of her tail. I swear that must have been why she was bucking so much the other morning. It must have just gotten her. It's gone now.

moody weather

2009-10-16T09:14:00.000-04:00

I was mucking Java's stall first thing, she was out in "her" paddock... a normal scene for us. I hear commotion, and see her bucking, fussing and doing some pretty interesting moves. I approached her at the fence, she reared. Huh? Well, I decided to not ride.

Mares are funny. She bucked more, completely pre-meditated bucking exercizes along the best firm footing in that paddock and was having fun. It eventually started to rain/sleet so I brought her in.

This indoor happiness lasted for about an hour, then she clearly wanted to be back outside. So, on with the foul weather gear (insulated rain sheet) and out she went. This made her happy. Oh ha ha, mares are funny. Ha.

Finally she signaled to me that she had enough outdoor time and I brought her in.

Snow was trying to form as I headed out to the barn to feed her dinner.

Shooting udpate: hunting with shotguns are currently allowed in the state land for... SQUIRRELS. Ahem, I don't think they were shooting squirrels. I DO think they were practicing for tomorrow though. Shotgun hunting allowed on most things that fly starting tomorrow: turkeys, pheasant, crow...

Hey, at least I know what to expect. The guy at the DEP was very nice, very helpful, and the gear that Java and I wear out on trails he said is just right for safety. (orange and bells)

About 10 minutes ago, 6 big beautiful turkeys were right outside my window. I'd like to set up a little home for them here for the hunting season because I'd hate to count less than 6 on Monday. I like to think that we have enough land that they will stay in our woods, but I know that's unlikely. They are probably already in the state land finding a nice spot to hang out, hopefully not right next to a spot that a hunter is checking out for tomorrow morning.

And, the humans: I met another prospective boarder yesterday. "how soon can I bring my horse". I say, tomorrow, next week, next month, whatever... she says OK, but I can't commit right now. Uh huh. Interesting techinque to look for stalls. Right. Java: It's you and me girl. I'm thinking a mini would not have trouble figuring out if he/she wanted to live here.

Sorry about typos, I still cannot find the spell check on this blogger post thing.

guns, cars and animals

2009-10-14T20:59:00.001-04:00

Java is less lame... we'll ride tomorrow. It's like a hoof (not leg or shoulder) sensitivity... I pray that it's not something major. I'll wait for now.

And, I awoke to shots in the distance... in the state land that we back onto. But, it's not rifle/gun/shotgun/firearms/whateveryoucallit season yet. Just BOW. Like, I can't hear you bow hunting season. So, I'll call the DEP (they regulate these things) and we'll find out if it's some really hungry hunters trying to feed their families, or some nuts who might shoot Mackie one day. We're safe here, we have enough of our own land to buffer us, but if it's not time to shoot the guns in the state land woods to kill deer, turkeys or whatever yet, then don't wake me up at 6:30 am doing so. YES, I admit, I'm supposed to be awake at 6:30. SO, I'll get an alarm clock, there's not need for the gun shooting alarm clock. Possum, that's another thing, kill them however and whenever you like.

I'll let you know what the DEP says tomorrow. I'll be supportive and helpful. I don't hunt, but don't have anything against it.

My car needed some work, mechanical work. I had a loaner car that was a sedan for a few days. Mackie would beg to get into the back. Uh, Mackie, that's a TRUNK.

So what does he do the SECOND I'm home with the real car, my car, just about flattens me on his way out the door and sits a the back of the car to get into the back. I deny him the opportunity, they vaccumed it... So, he turns away from me in disgust:

The usual barn shot:

The usual barn shot today, after the sun went away. Leaves are falling rapidly, and it's getting pretty chilly. Java is watching me:

Java in her dark Autumn wardrobe. Getting fuzzy...

She has her pick of paddocks, and absoultely LOVES this paddock. It's totally overgrazed, the smallest paddock here, and she loves it. She is the happiest in this paddock, with less grass, more exposure and total command of me, the dogs and the house. She is a good girl. The grass is toast, but Java is still the best.

Bandy thinking something smart-alec-like:

Mackie is keeping guard of Java while she grazes. He's like the herd stallion.

Sorry.

2009-10-13T21:14:00.001-04:00

OK OK OK, a little coaxing and I'm BACK. I honestly went to do a new post... like two weeks ago (no I'm not 12, just being frank) and could not come up with anything that was worthy. I wrote about 5 posts and they all... stunk. Not that things are boring ...exactly the opposite, but things seemed trite, whiney and false.

So, it occured to me yesterday what I should do: BLOG EVERYDAY... with a MIMIMUM OF ONE PHOTO and make it the TRUTH. Not long wordy posts, but the everyday that several of us probably go through, and a general status update and to keep things upbeat.

For example:

Java's perfect (well, still a little lame, but I don't know what's wrong, but she's still happy as ever).

The dogs are so adorable that I've considered engineering a dumb waiter to transport Mackie to the second floor so that we can spend more time together. (we live in a super old house and the stairs are not Labrador Appoved).

A bird pooped on my CLEAN barn jacket sleeve in the morning and it was so cold that I ate my cereal with my jacket on and THEN saw the bird poop. ICK.

Sun's mom (the horse that left a while ago) apparently has been to A LOT of barns and has not lasted anywhere for long, looks like she did me a favor by making the decision on her own to leave without me having to ask her.

I'm working on getting a ton of things done by the end of the month and actually forget to call family members back. SORRY.

I've had plenty of boarding inquiries, and the one that I wanted to come the most can't ($) but I so wanted to come into the barn and greet a horse named Twinkie every day, that is good for a laugh daily.

See... isn't this more fun?! And there's so much to say when I don't feel like I have to write a story about it.

Same mediocre (spell check button, where is it?) photos, same Javacentric world. Daily. Just for you guys.

Glad to be back and I'm looking forward to writing a great blog. A great blog that you will actually tell your friends about, friends that don't even have horses or get pooped on by birds. They might like it too. We'll see...

Sorry, I wrote this after it was dark. Let's see what I can dig up for photos... somehow none of Java. Well, that will be on the top of the list tomorrow!:

The Management Team:

Leaves starting to turn... sorry it's blurry.

This is actually a photo from last year, but it could have been this afternoon:

The mornings are a little darker, but the Fall light is pretty:

The boss:

The negotiator

(he's facing up the path with pathetic posture to evoke sympathy and negotiate a longer walk):