A Gift and a Lesson

Wednesday in the mail I got a package.  I love getting packages, even more so when I don't know they are coming :)  Well to be honest I did know this one was coming but had no idea what it was or when it was coming.  So when I opened it was amazed at the amazing art work inside.  A whole pile of cards from Deb (Greymare) at Never Too Old blog.  I had won her foaling contest and she sent me cards her daughter had drawn.   They are so nice I never want to use them.  But we will have to see, will certainly be picky about who they would go to.

That afternoon I had a lesson so away me and Jessie go. I was pretty excited but nervous as well.  It had been a while again, Doug was in Vegas for a week or so and I was busy and I dunno no real reason.  But I finally went over.  It was the day after our fairly hard ride so she was kinda tired.  Kinda nice really.  We warmed up and then he asked if I wanted to work cows and so I said sure (although was surprised we didn't work the flag first) And we picked slow cows and she was pretty good.  A lot better than I figured she would be after that long.  She still needed help stopping and staying straight sometimes but all in all I was impressed.

I untacked her and went to talk to Doug and he asked if I was leaving her.  Well that was a surprise. I knew she was staying but I didn't expect it to be that day!  So I did.  He said don't come back for 3 weeks, and I said that was forever, so he said 2 weeks, lol.  I am pretty excited for her to get finished but kinda sad to have her gone.  Wish Jazz was back cause at least she would keep me busy.

I found an empty pen and put her in there and got in my truck to leave as I was driving away, she was looking all sad so I thought I should take a pic and as I stopped she was like Oh this feeder still had hay in it!` Guess she will be fine there, lol.

Thursday

So I feel like I haven't gotten anything done this week with going to the Supreme Tuesday and going back this afternoon and staying till Saturday. In between, on Tuesday Neil took in a dry heifer to be butchered and today he is taking in the other two drys to the sale. Last night I rode both Kali and Razz. I need to get Kali ridden a few more times before she goes, so she will at least be sorta legged up for training.  She is pretty good now even takes longer for her to start puffing and for the whole ride yesterday she walked super fast to keep up to Ricki.  So she is feeling good.  I am pretty excited for her.

I haven't done a lot of canning since last week, made 2 batches (13 jars) raspberry jelly and canned 2 batches tomatoes(6 jars of Italian and 6 jars of Mexican).  I still have to make more jam and jellies but the fruit is frozen so its not as big a rush now.  But since we took a beef in, I will have to start cleaning out the freezer to make room.

And since we got a good hard frost last night I now should be putting away hoses and all summer things and closing up the garden shed for winter.  I hope that means the rest of the flies are gone.  Can't say I'm really sad about that frost now.  As long as it doesn't get really cold I'm okay.

Pretty excited to meet up with blog friends this weekend, should be lots of fun :))  So much to talk about and yet we all know all about our lives so kinda weird like we know each other with only meeting a couple times.Will also be fun staying at my moms for the evenings and visiting with her.

I am pretty excited for the trade show at the Supreme cause I know I need a few things and stuff is usually on sale and some new stuff to check out too.  I need a winter blanket and maybe a lighter blanket for Kali, and another neoprene pad and a show pad, I really like the one I have and wish I had saved it instead of using it for the last three years.  And I hope there is a chap booth and always like the art even though I usually can't afford any of it, and I want to look at all the arena/barn booths and get pamphlets to take home and try to talk Neil into an arena this winter.

Oh and I got a fun package in the mail.  Carol from All These Pretty Horses sent me my prize in the foaling contest and it was coasters!  They are so cool and even better I dont have them yet :)  Thanks for the prize. 

Helping Friends And A Winner!!!

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday down at a friends house helping her pack up so she could move.  It was kinda nice to get to visit with her that long even with all the packing work we did.  She is moving from the farm to the city, so it will be a big change for the kids, but I think it will be better for them to get away for a while.

Her kids were trying to help us pack, but they got sidetracked very easily, which sometimes was just as good that they were occupied and not bothering us.  In the two days I was there, we packed all the upstairs and basement, kids rooms and videos from living room.  She still has to live there a while so we couldn't pack everything, but sure got a good start on it.

And since I said the foal naming contest would go till the Thirtieth, that was yesterday and I love all the names I got, it was very hard to decide but I think I will go with Disco Chip as a registered name (if they will take it) and Casino as a barn name, so that means Brown Eyed Cowgirls is the Winner, congrats, just send me your address via email and I will mail the stapler out as soon as I get to town which probly will be next week cause I'm sure the post office is closed today for Canada Day.

She's Here

Well yesterday morning I had to take Kali to ge her feet done and so since I am catching Razz everyday, supposed to be twice a day to treat her foot for thrush, I took both of them with me.  As I walk out the gate, Neil says you got  another horse out there.  I said no I never seen one, but Disco was laying down and I never got her up and turns out she had a baby next to her laying down as well.   Soooo of course I had to go back out and check.  Its bay roan and I think its a filly.  I say think cause Disco wouldn't let me touch it, she let me walk up to her and scratch her, but kept the foal on the other side of her while I was that close.  I shoulda brought a halter, but since I didn't, I am not gonna worry about it now.

This morning I got a better look and it is for sure a filly.
So I took a few pictures, treated Razz's foot and loaded up and left.  It was raining overnight here, but we only got a couple tenths.  I sure was glad that we never had as much as they did over in Dalum where I went for the trimming.  They had 3/4 last night and probly half inch this morning, it sure is soggy over there.

We trimmed up Kali, was thinking of putting shoes on her cause her feet are so flat, but she hasn't been tender so far and her feet trim up nice as long as we keep her on schedule, so no shoes for now, which is what I prefer.

Afterwards, since he has a big riding arena there, we rode.  First Kali and she was really good, kinda leans her body out towards the gate for the first couple minutes I ride, but after putting a leg on her a couple times while passing it, she is good to go.  She has a lot more energy and is getting more responsive, pretty nice, I sure like her.

Then I traded saddles and got on Razz.  First time I rode her since she got sore at the beginning of the month.  She is so awesome.  Still has a hard time rating her lope, but even when going super fast and looks out of control, she will stop within a step or two of me saying whoa and using no reins.  So that is an improvement and I can't complain about that. She has figured out when I ask her to slow down at the trot, but needs more lope work.

Then I headed home and had to look at the baby again :)  So the contest I am thinking of, for the prize of the stapler I need a name for her.  Her dam is Play like Disco and the sire is Redford's Blue Chip.  Not sure what kinda of name I am thinking of, I haven't thought much about one so far so I need help.  Can be a registered name or just a barn name, give me some ideas!  I will pick my favorite one and that will be who the prize goes too.

Updates

This week I opted out of Sunday Stills, cause it is similar to one I did last year about getting low and looking high and I have lots more to say.

To start off with Disco has dapples!

Oh and she hasn't foaled yet, although she is uncomfortable and I'm sure she is hoping it will be soon as I am.

So the foaling contest is still on, and it looks like Mini Beginnings, and Janice and Brown Eyed Cowgirls need a new guess if you want, since yours have passed.  Well almost for BEC, but...

And we had a visitor for a few days here. Sandy came so Jardi's Dad could come ride with us on Thursday to move cows.

And we had visitors of another kind on Wednesday, although luckily they didn't stop here, just flew overhead.  Not sure why the army was flying over Finnegan, but there were 4 helichopters I saw.

And Neil has been fencing and last week his post pounder broke, so he was putting it back together and it looked really complicated what he was doing.

Oh and we have picked a branding date of June 6. We wanted the weekend, but since we need help and its a rodeo weekend, lots of our neighbors want to go to the rodeo to compete or work or just watch.  So it's a Monday, so if anyone wants to let me know what days they want to come for a blogger ride, we will try to accommodate you guys.  Its gonna be so fun :)

 

Wordless Wednessday (On Thursday...ooops)

Foaling Contest

Okay its that time of year again...foaling!!!

I only have one mare to foal out this year, which I am glad for.  Disco.  She is 15 and this will be her 5th foal (I think).

Two years ago she had a bay roan colt and last year a brown filly.  She is bay and the stud this year and previous two foals is a bay roan.

I need a guess on color, sex and date.  The prize will be a horsey stapler!  Its so cute and it works good. ( I have one myself)

A Whole Bunch of Tidbits

Well, Shirley asked if Gypsy will move her bum at a standstill or moving forward.  The answer was neither, not even from the ground.  Not sure if she was never taught or is just being stubborn, either way we will figure it out.  I tried from a standstill and she gets so anxious about me holding her head still she can't think of what I'm asking, so we walked in a tiny circle and I put my leg on her back cinch and she moved a couple steps, I did this a few times each way and it got easier for her, I'm hoping I will be able to ask her in a straight line one day soon.

I went riding yesterday, or rather tried to.  Charlene helped me lift my saddle on and I used a block to get on and it wasn't bad, I walked a long time and trotted for a few minutes but that was a little too much, so I just waked a little longer till I was cold.  It actually was my arm that was worse, when I put it forward on the reins it felt sooo weak, but I'm glad I went anyways.

It has been so frosty out here lately and I love to take pics in the frost!  I won't bore you with hundreds of them (even though I prolly could, lol).  I just like it when the ponies look so frosty.  You cant tell on Dinero though, he looks frosty all winter!

I got the side/end table that I won in a blogger contest and it is wonderful!  CSN stores are pretty cool, but it came totally assembled, so shipping was kinda expensive, will have to watch for that in the future. 

Our mail lady phoned on Friday and said it was too big a package for her to fit in her car, but I could come pick it up in Hanna anytime.  I am going today, so I thought that would be the day, but Neil went yesterday and he picked it up for me!  I'm glad, that meant I didn't have to carry it.

I have it all set up by my chair in the living room and its wonderful, the drawers keep the top clean (at least so far) and the shelves will be handy, and it has a magazine rack on the back which I didn't realize when I ordered it, so that even handier!

I also got a message from the guy who traded my Belgians and he sent me a picture of them working.  He said when he hooked them up this fall, they thought they were chuck wagon ponies for the first mile, but they settled and even took the neighbors for a sleigh ride, so that makes me happy, I'm glad they are getting used.

Its been a busy few days again and will be until after the weekend of the clinic.  I am going to the dentist and chiro today and if I feel up to it, we are gonna try the ponies on the mechanical cow.  I might have to get Jardi to ride Razz for that, cause I'm not sure I am up to going that quick with her yet.

Contest Winner A Little Late

Well I guess I am kinda running behind because I said the contest was goon be drawn on Friday and all the sudden its Monday!  I even missed Sunday Stills yesterday cause I wasnt home.   I kinda been busy riding everyday and cleaning the barn at Jardis.  I am going to a cutting clinic in Ponoka with Jardi and Vic Almond this coming weekend, so we thought we should get our ponies rode lots this week before the clinic.  I am taking both Gypsy and Razz and it should be fun, I cant wait!

I been having trouble with Gypsy moving her bum.  She moves her shoulders very easily, but its hard for me to get her to move behind, so I put her in a three piece snaffle (which she seems to really like) and I got like two steps!  I was pretty excited. 

But then on Sunday I was loping and I never tightened my cinch before loping, even though that little voice in my head said I should, and I could feel my saddle slipping to the inside, so I leaned to the outside and slid right off and hit the wall pretty hard.  I scared Charlene pretty good and we decided to go to the hospital even though I wasn't feeling too bad, so he looked at me and wanted me to come back this morning for x-rays on my sacro/lumbar region.  I stayed over at Jardis overnight and she drove me back to the hospital and we got the x-rays done and had to wait to see the doctor again to read them, and it looks like I will be fine, but just strained the muscles/ tendons in my shoulder and hip area.  I am supposed to rest and then move carefully, so if I feel okay I may go ride tomorrow and see how that goes.  Prolly will be a short ride though.

Anyhow, my contest winners are Lisa from Laughing Orca Ranch, and 5 Starr Farms!  If you will email me your address, I will get the soap on its way.  Congrats all winners, and it sounds like Family is the best gift of all!

Winner!!!

On November 1st, i was declared the winner of a $75 gift certificate at CSN Stores.  I won it over at Linda's blog, Just Another Day on the Prairie.  She is a neighbor of mine and has a very interesting blog, go check it out.

I haven't been home much, but yesterday I finally picked out what I wanted and ordered it.  I really liked a few things that were not in stock so I didn't order them, like this end table

I really wanted something in stock that ships to Canada so I could get it soon.  Of course there were cool tables like this one as well.

I also looked at wine racks and seen some I liked. But finally settled on Anthony California End Table in Dark Oak and the shipping wasnt too much, although they do say Imy postal code was from a remote area and shipping needs to be calculated seperatly so I will see.

They have so many options there, and almost everything a person could need, but no horse stuff! 

More Contests

Okay so now that Gypsy has finally foaled, I will put up the other two girls.

First Belle. She was pasture bred from June 3- July 11. Although he thinks she was in heat around the 15th. She is bred to a buckskin son of Chuck Manness Ill Smoke Ya. (I'm kinda embarrassed to say I cant remember his name, so Joe will do)

She really has no bag to speak of yet, but she is a maiden mare.




Her prize will be a horseshoe keepsake gift box.


And Razz. She was bred when I got her as well, but they said she is due the first weeks of June. She also is a maiden mare, but she has small bag.

She is bred to a black overo paint horse named Strait Cut. He is from Anchor Y Paint and Quarter horses. Pretty nice looking horse, cant wait for this one!

Her prize is a western candle holder.

And we cant forget about Fly, she learned how to run!

More Pictures

As promised I went out and got more pictures of the cute little girl. I should warn you, over the summer there will be many pictures of babies, along with some other pictures of course. Oh and no one old me, (but I shoulda figured it out) when you iodine the umbilical cord, watch out, it gets ALL over!

(trying out grass before teeth, lol)

(so tired, but not sure how to lay down without falling)

(Standing by Mom while eating salt)


(Just being her cute self, looking at the world)


(hanging out in the shed this morning)

I talked to the guy I got Gypsy from, and he said last year all Joe's babies were roan, and this year they are all bays and duns, weird how that happens like that. And he said all Gypsy's babies are leggy, but this is the only one that got Joe's nice head. So I guess that's a good thing.

Oh and the contest winner I decided was Shirley (sorry Linda) because she was born between Shirley and Linda's guesses and Shirley had the right sex and possibly the color as well.

But not to worry, I will be posting a contest about the other two here in the next few days after I get a few more pics of them.

Beaver Dams and a Contest

Today Neil asked me if I would help him tear out some beaver dams in the creek. There are three that are blocking the flow on the creek.

The one we tore out today was just past a crossing, so the crossing was sitting under water and made ruts whenever we tried to cross it.

We took two tractors, one on each side of the creek and in between was a homemade beaver dam ripper outer. It was just pulled back and forth between the two tractors and eventually the dam gets broken up enough to let water through.

Neil is gonna put a piece of irrigation pipe in the bottom, so if they rebuild it the water will still flow through.

I also went and put a salt block out with the mares today and had a good look at them and thought I should have a "guess the foaling date" contest as well as Shirley and Prairie Ridge.

So I guess just guess the date and color and sex of the baby and we will pick the closest one to win this!

We will start with Gypsy. This could be a challenge cause I am not sure when she was bred, cause I bought her that way last October, but I was told she is due on April 21. She has had three colts before this and not sure if they were early or late or even different every year.

Here's a couple pics of her I took today at the salt block.

and a front view



and a cup of ovaltine with cool whip to warm us all up on a rainy/snowy night.