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. :)

1 great day, many more to come

End of the day:

Mr. Java's mom is perfecting our night light in the barn (solar) and Java decided she would go out for a grass snack after her dinner while we were all around working on the light fixture. Creme chowed down happily on dinner and hay.

Mackie supervised, and brought toys - two balls (one tennis, one paddle tennis). Slobbery.

What a great day!

peace at last

It's been 4 weeks since the barn was finished and the horses home... and no two days have been the same. There seems to always be something new, and NOT QUIET.

Except for today:

I keep checking on the horses, thinking they are up to something again. How wonderful... they're not. They are way back in the photo. Java is on the left looking at me checking to see if I'm bringing bushels of apples or something, not like that's ever happened before. I was just topping off their water.

drama

Ah... romantic autumn. Bummer. Creme wants to get to know Java beyond being "just friends". NO NO NO NO NO NO NOTTTTTTTT. Java has been sent to her room (stall) for the afternoon. Thank god they don't have cell phones. The text-ing bill would be huge.

mission accomplished

My mother called me yesterday, and asked, yes, and I quote (pissy tone) "what the hell are you doing?". I had totally forgotten about her voicemail the day before, and had not even given her the courtesy of a call back.

SO, what was I doing.... waiting for my hay, grain and bedding order.

Took up 3 days of my life: hoping the order really was placed (monday). getting anxious the day before the order was to arrive (tuesday). waiting for the order and hoping it would all work out (wednesday).

Mission accomplished.

New supplier.

New supplier handled tight driveway with with a smile.

New supplier loaded loft with good stuff and was wonderful to work with.

Me likey.

I'll order more, bigger in about a month.

That will be interesting, it will for sure test the capacity capabilities of the loft.

Cool.

oh, you again.

Java and Mackie in a rare moment of acknowledging that each other exists, then quickly looking away. I think they said to each other "oh, it's you again, hi." They get along well, but don't seem to care what the other one is doing... ever.

foliage bandwagon

Many blogs seem to have foliage photos posted lately... maybe because there is just something about the unique beauty of each leaf and tree that makes you want to share!! I was taking a walk with Mackie and found myself picking up leaf after leaf thinking - this one is so pretty.... no wait, This one is SO pretty... and another...

SO, I took a couple of pictures.

routine

Java might be bored.

Or... maybe she thinks I'm bored.

Or... maybe Java is thinking: "hmmmm. I have my own fabulous stall at mom's house now. I can probably get anything I want. Let's see. I want in." I bring her in.

"I want out". I put her back out.

"I want to be brushed and look my best". I groom her (in an effort to calm her since she today for example since she was being a prime example of neurotic.

"I want back out, and we want hay please."

I'm actually wondering if she knows what she wants, or maybe she can't decide what she wants and will try a little bit of everything until she finds what makes her comfortable... I will figure this out... someday. She's still worth it.

Creme seems to understand her , and the direct line to his heart is food and a little snuggling, and he's happy. Good little guy, doesn't hurt that he is adorable.

The farm equipment

Java, Mackie and the John Deere 2305 all in one place. Java mows, Mackie mows (then barfs), and the 2305 does the rest.

Ghost tag thing - THE BABY GRAVE

Spooky things about the things and land around Java's Barn...

There apparently is a blog thing where another blogger "tags" you to tell a ghost story, say nice things about others, and then "tag" other bloggers to do the same. It's kind of cool because it may lead you to blogs that you have not discovered yet. And, 7MSN tagged me, so I feel pretty special since I'm a HUGE fan of her blog!! http://the7msn.blogspot.com/

Then I mention the ghost it forward thing: http://ghostingitforward.org/

and name 3 other blogs I like aside from http://the7msn.blogspot.com/ and say nice things about them. I follow a lot of blogs, and found some I really like. But, I've picked some pretty serious bloggers, like celebrities of the blog world, but I'm being honest here:

1. OK, so surprising, but aside from 7MSN, I visit the Martha Blog daily. Her photography is beautiful, I like the down to earth tone, and get ideas for our property since her property is so gorgeous. Go Martha: http://www.themarthablog.com/

2. Pioneer Woman. Serious blog with so much to it, all fun. So much to see, explore, fun, great blog: http://thepioneerwoman.com/

3. Wow, just found this one. really nice, and inspirational. Also makes me think I really need a new camera, and more time to read: http://blog.bedlamfarm.com/index.cfm/live-your-life

Please horsey friends, don't be upset I did not "ghost" you. These are blogs that remind me of all the great things we can share with each other, big, small and fabulous things, all different people. mushy.

Here's my ghost story...

THE BABY GRAVE:

The house we live in is super old, built in 1738. There is a good bit of land (for CT) with it, and we never know what we will come across.

Old bottles:

And, something else?...

Mr. Java's mom and I got most of the work done on the property ourselves with the John Deere 2305 and Gator TS. The top field had some (uh, a lot) trees that needed to come down. One was a large oak (no, not a spectacular oak, but a big, ugly un interesting oak leaning over the wrong way waiting to crush me someday), that before Mr. Java's mom perfected his chainsaw skills fell a little askew and got hung up on a cedar. This was this summer pre-blog so I don't have any pics. Well... I get some rope, and we rig the tree to the tractor (funny) and Mr. Java's mom starts directing me. "go that way, keep going, keep going, keep going" (this is to drag the oak off the cedar). I'm screaming "the tractor is sinking!!!". Finally he stops barking orders and looks at me and the beloved 2305 half up in the air, still attached to the tree (huge oak), and one wheel mysteriously sunken down a couple of feet into a rectangular hole. We got the tractor out no problem (used the front end loader to push it up and put it in 4 wheel and got it out of the hole.).

Then, I remember, there is an odd piece of cut granite that marks that spot for some reason... I now call it the BABY GRAVE. Yikes. Heck, with the house built in 1738, there could be someone buried here...somewhere. We filled the dent we left in the mysteriously soft rectangular patch of land with wood chips so Java would not fall in. Left the marker though... just in case.

And, the funky looking outbuilding in the below photo (just past Mackie) that I don't mention and try to leave out of all photos, I call it the Blair Witch Shed. I think it's an old chicken coop. The whole house and property have wonderful, good vibes, but I DO NOT like the Blair Witch Shed. It's creepy, and something seems to die in it frequently, yuck (how do I know some something had died in there some of you might ask, and yes, the answer is gross: because all of the sudden, when I have to go fetch a shovel or rake, it smells super rank and there are big black flies all in there!!!! EEEWWWWW).

Entertainment

Not all of the leaves have turned and fallen, but quite a few so far. SO, we are trying a new strategy: ongoing leaf cleanup. In theory we will make it easier on us to clean up each layer as it falls instead of waiting for them all to fall, then possibly get rained on and have to clean up tons of wet leaves in the freezing cold. Java and the John Deere 2305 are cool. Java checks in to see what Mr. Java's mom is doing with it and goes about her business. Not yesterday: this is one entertaining attachment. The Cyclone Rake. It is very spooky because it wheels around very quickly behind the John Deere 2305, makes tons of noise and the dry chopped up leaves makes a lot of dust that to Java may look like smoke. She is in her stall for a snack and nap (she hurt either her hoof or leg and being out all day straight is too much, so she came in to rest).

These two below are video of her watching, it's pretty funny, like a person eating with their mouth open watching something fascinating. Its VIDEO.

Java watched for HOURS:

October

It's getting very autumnal here lately. The sky and colors are gorgeous.

The Navigator

Hm... think I'll go for a ride, now. Hm, Java... want to go for a trail ride? Yes please. OK. I'll throw on this handy dandy blaze orange vest and hope for the best (hint, we did not get shot by a hunter). We have NEVER been on this trail before. We have NEVER trail ridden out the back of our house before off the property. And, yes, about 45 minutes into the ride, of course my phone rang and I happily chatted away for about 15 minutes trying to get a good price on my next shipment of hay...blah blah. Java meanwhile said "you go ahead and talk mom, I'll keep going". SO I chatted and let Java walk along. I hung up as we reached water/stream/swamp and I figured that I should put the phone back in my pocket before dropping it while crossing water. We keep going and going, and eventually I have no idea where we are, but I know we have done a loop of some sort. I did not pay attention while on the phone. I tried to turn around, Java would barely turn around and would not go forward in the direction I asked. We tried this twice in two different areas. In CT you can't get too lost without eventually hitting a road somewhere, so I knew we would be home eventually, but at this point we had been going for over an hour at a brisk walk and occasional power trot (java is the ultimate trail horse). I was completely turned around. I decided to let Java lead the way, and she politely took us home!! It was a beautiful ride, leaves turning, etc. and not only did Java happily go out on a trail alone, but got us home too!! Yeah Java. How cool is that?!