more snow pictures...

I took off Javas sheet to see if she wanted to roll in the snow... no go. I'll put it back on her soon if she looks cold. She seems to be happy with nothing on. It will warm up later today and I'm sure Creme will want to get in a bunch of blanket-free rolls, he'd like that.

snow

We got just enough snow to cover the ground, it's a nice fluffy snow. We are definitely going for a ride this morning. It's going to get windy and yucky this afternoon, so I'll make the most of this morning. They are having breakfast right now. I opened their windows first thing and you could see the surprise in their expressions that outside looked different. I have a feeling that they are going to love rolling today!

solar

Java's barn is solar. It is not a crazy as it sounds, and is not as expensive as you think. And, it's not as expensive as the solar experts make it sound. The solar experts were scary. So we stopped talking to them and figured it out on our own. OK, I did not figure out much, but the electrician did.


Solar panel on roof:





















"nightlight" solar panel above one window:





Nightlight: I turn this on when I do night check so I don't have to go full blazes with the lights to top off water and drop more hay, Java needs her beauty sleep. And, just in case something happens with the system, I still have a light.























Example of a light in the barn with reflector to make the light go where we want it, and tubes to go around the tubes so I don't break a bulb while trying to do something, or in case Java raises her head that high. We have two lights in the loft, one in the tack area, one in the overhang, and two in the aisle for grooming. Plenty, and there are three switch options, tack & aisle, loft, overhang. All at the same time too, of course, but I don't push my luck and run them all at once frequently.






















Power pack:

































Etc:

You want motion sensor lights... no problem they, make these solar too: Light under gutter and panel sticking off the roof on the left side. They come even smaller too, this is the largest one we have, and it seems to work exactly the same as the smaller ones (these are LED lights).

Why? Well, I did not really want to have a trench dug, and deal with an electric bill. Mr. Java's mom figured it all out. The solar panel charges the battery pack, which if we need to can tote it to the house and charge it of electricity off the house if we have a 4 day solar eclipse someday. The battery pack has outlets. The outlets feed the wires that are connected to the lights, water pump and outlets. I walk in, hit a switch, just like normal. I'm conservative with energy anyway so don't use much, but no worries so far. We hired a regular electrician who knew nothing about solar. Tacked the panel up on the roof, the electrician read the manual for the panel and the power pack, and wired us for code. Bright lights, me likey. I'm not a patchouli wearing hippie, and definitely don't have peace sign stickers on my car (yes, there is a John Deer sticker on it though), I just didn't want to deal with something complicated.

Small building, but 6 lights, water pump, switches at both doors, and in the tack area. Nightlight powers itself, we have one and several motion sensor lights.

whatcha doing?

I'm running around the property (in my muck gear), yelling, and Java comes over to investigate.













Hi mom, what are you doing?



Yelling at the new dog.




Why?



Because she ate something (I'm imagining something like dead possum head)...







Ew, that's gross. Aren't you glad I don't eat bad stuff.





Yes Java, you're fabulous, and so pretty.

hors d'oeuvre

This was a couple of days ago: Java having a little grass hors d'oeuvre before dinner. She spent a decent amount of time napping in her stall that day and I thought I would toss her out to have a little grass before evening grain time. When it was time to bring her in, this sunset was just forming. Bummer the battery in the camera died, but this gives you the idea. And, yes, life is that good here, for all of us. Granted true winter is not here yet, freezing toes and fingers, and spring mud, but so far this is pretty good stuff.

dirt

Creme is the master of getting dirty. His rolling repertoire is to roll, both sides, then stay down on the ground and rub both sides of his head too. He has a nice coat though, and by the time he comes in at the end of the day, some has dried up come off all by itself. They are both standing proud at the gate after goofing off in the paddock together playing around a little. Java is dirty too, but she rarely gets both sides. Creme rolls like he's doing a yoga routine. Java rolls like a big giant horse, and is less coordinated.

morning paddock time

Java and Creme: After grain and a little hay in their stalls, they go out. First thing in Creme's agenda is to decide which pile of hay is his (hint, it is whatever pile Java is eating from). Java barely seems to care as Creme swings his butt around time after time to threaten to kick her (I've seen many threats from Creme, but never seen him kick and aside from the one boo boo Java planted on Creme day 1, they have remained scratch free together). Of course if I catch him threatening, I give an appropriate "CREME!" growl. He acts shocked that I was watching and settles back down.

Then, before I know it, they are in a totally different part of the paddock eating something, tiny tiny bits of tiny grass?

Then they are completely separate.

Then... I see them back together near the gate. Creme eating, Java napping standing up - totally zonked out, I think she might have involuntarily laid down during it because as I'm mucking, next thing I know she is getting up off the ground, half asleep. oops.

Then the barn looks like this. Ah. Warm sunshine filling the clean aisle and stalls.

back in action

We're back. Actually, I never left, neither did anyone else, but Thanksgiving is my excuse for being absent on the posting front. And I missed the 7MSN giveaway, and that stinks, so I'm never dropping off again.

SO, what did you miss here in the land o' Java?

Manure:

Java: Doing the usual Java stuff plus more hair. She's getting good and fuzzy. By the way, she's still a little thin for my liking. I had her eating Nutrena, and think she got a little too lean from it, so she's on Legends and we love it. Already she looks better.

Mackie PLUS ONE. We got a new dog. It was almost 2 new dogs, but one of them wanted to run away, and this cute little thing decided we are awesome and is staying. The other one went back to his original home. Now we have Mackie (famous for rolling, snorting and slobbering) and Bandit (not my favorite name, but she actually comes when called so that's a plus) who is a Bearded Collie (with a haircut that I will let grow out) and is so far a total star. They look like quite the odd couple, but have become a total pair. We are all thrilled. Even Java likes her.

Creme: Happy as a clam, doing the usual eating, pooping and rolling. He's been very good.

The barn is still here.

Oh, and in addition to the new dog, we have another new addition: Mud.

Uh, Hello, I actually got comments, and have followers! COOL. In exchange for visiting my blog, and I am so thrilled you do, I will promise to post DAILY and sometimes more!! YESSSSSSS!

what the???

SO, what the heck is up?

No posts lately.

Somethings wrong with my www link and you have to go directly to the blogspot address?

http://javasbarn.blogspot.com/

Well, I've been busy. And, distracted.

The animals are great. OK, that's the short version of that topic.

Leaf clean up (some)

It got really cold. 20s at night at LOW 30s during the day.

Work has picked up (yes, I work, sometimes).

We're looking for a 3rd boarder to join our paradise. We can't let me get bored! Let's add to the mix! And, I did not even mention the dogs that might come live with us in addition to Mackie. Oh, I just did mention it, whatever...

And, I found a new forum. It is awesome, and so funny that I got an asthma attack from laughing so hard at a thread about stupid things you have done around the farm. They are all horse people of different disciplines across the world. Common denominators of self inflicted pain from farm work were: tractor, ice and electric fencing. It's the Chronicle of the Horse Forum. I'd link to it, but I know you won't go there. They have mostly serious topics, but it's a great resource, and at times very entertaining.

Oh, yep, it's cold here, speaking of ice. Did you know that picking frozen manure out of the field is SO much easier because it all clumps together so you don't have to chase down individual nuggets!? There is an advantage to 20 degrees!!

The barn is keeping the gang happy at night though. No frozen buckets inside, not even a sheen of ice, and happy sleeping horses.

Farm life rocks.

Barn in the cold:

Java's eating:

Creme with his best angelic look wondering what the heck I'm doing (taking his picture of course).

foggy

Foggy, all day. Quiet and nice. Creme was out with Java in the photo but hiding under a tree, they were both in weird moods, I'm sure that I'll find out why soon. They seem to give me about a one day notice before some disruptive behavioral issue is revealed, usually it is Java acting neurotic. :)

invader

Uh, what's HE doing in here? Whatever, I'm cool with sharing. Creme, not so much. Creme took one step toward Mackie and Mackie ran out of there very quickly. Creme and Mackie have this debate of who is the top male here? Well, it's Mr. Java's Mom, but when it comes to the animals, it's Creme: he's bigger. Mackie loves the horses and likes to see what they are up to every once in a while. Supervising maybe.

mackie is wackie

Mackie is such a lab. Slobbery at times, loves to swim, and will sniff a glove out of nowhere and make it look like the most fun discovery of the day. Oh, maybe it is the most fun discovery of the day, now that manure has lost it's attraction, thank god. There is video of Mackie rolling, oh and snorting, like a pig.

And Java? What's she up to? She may be chilling out and becoming a horse again (instead of being a stressed worrisome beast, like me). And, she and Creme had a blast yesterday goofing off in the paddock blowing off steam. Bucking, running and rolling. The photo from inside the barn is at breakfast time this morning, fueling up for more fun.

brown is the new green

Most of the leaves are down now. Everything seems brown, but it's still pretty. I've decided to write more about the animals. But not yet. This is still about brown leaves. These photos are from my walk with Mackie this morning out back.

another secret?

Should I tell you all another secret? I don't think so--- Only 3 responses so far (hello, the survey about whether I should disclose another secret to the right of the page?) My mother was underwhelmed with the Java's lame secret anyway. Apparently you all like more gruesome stuff, like the baby grave and threatening contractors to finish stuff.

The gutters are on. The electrician came. Work appointment went well.

Rode lame Java today. She was getting antsy and wanted to know if she still was useful here on the farm, so we went for a little walk. She was perfect. :) Her right ear has a little dirt that I see I have to get to though. She's staring at a jump I made. She's too lame to jump it now, but later for sure.

I'll dish a little controversy tomorrow. SO, all 3 of you who read this, be sure to check back for more good stuff tomorrow.

A Secret

OK, a little secret: Java's lame. The day we took that honkin' long trail ride where she had to get us home because I got lost... later that day I think she stepped on a rock here at home. She was eagerly greeting me as I was walking out of the house to her, and she trotted along the fence line (looking at me, not where she was going), and there was a rock just above the surface. I had not carefully inspected that fence line yet, and she took a bad step. I think it's a heel bruise, which might be turning into an abscess. She's still bright eyed and happy, but with a little limp going to the left. I bring her in to rest mid day. But it's kind of funny in a non ha way. I obsess over the barn. I whip the carpenter to finish it. I bring Java home and now she's lame. Actually that may be a ha funny thing. Oh, and if I feel like it, I'll tell you another secret tomorrow.

just text

No photo today. Kept forgetting to put camera into pocket. Believe me, it was gorgeous today, glowing golden leaves, crisp bright blue sky...
In the moment, I'm just thinking about the gutter installation tomorrow 8am. Electrician 8am. 12:00 appointment. I wonder if it's OK if I wear my muck out gear (no)? My mom visited today and brought some ultra fabulous Chanel moisturizer - that is So needed. Good thing there were no photos today: dirty hair, imperfect complexion, grungy. It was great. :)