Acreage living:
I went before the Municipal Planning Commission this morning in support of my Development Permit for moving the 'new' mobile home onto the acreage. This was necessary because the spot I want to locate the 'new' trailer is right beside a big-ass coulee and the County is reluctant to approve that. Fortunately, the Development Officer was quite cooperative and recommended that the MPC approve it and they did that this morning. There is still a 2-week waiting/advertising period in which anyone who opposes my application can appeal it ... but I honestly can't imagine who would do that. I am surrounded by pasture and farmland so its not like the neighbourhood will be ruined!
Spring Cleaning:
I am diligently cleaning, sorting, organizing, packing and purging everything I own in an effort to get my house in order. I want to list it for sale soon but there's a lot of work to be done first to make it as saleable as possible. And for that, it has to look bigger than it is. Which means no clutter. The bedrooms are pretty much done but the clutter has seemingly migrated into other rooms which now need the same treatement. It also needs to be spotless and with 2 dogs and a cat that have all been shedding their winter coats for several weeks already, its kind of an uphill battle. Oy!
I owe I owe. Its off to work I go:
The new job is going well but I'm still riding the learning curve. Lots of questions, sometimes I feel pretty smart, other times I feel pretty dumb. But I foresee that with a bit more experience and mentoring, I will be fine. I feel pretty lucky.
Volleyball:
Rant warning: Our season ended with a less than stellar performance in the year end tournament and a loss in Tier 4 finals. Not unexpected since this team doesn't seem to believe in warming up before a game (or even touching the ball for that matter) and plays a system that's about as sophisticated as a bunch of Fifth graders with ball-control skills that are about the same level. I wouldn't be so bitter except that I have tried to educate the team on several occasions on a better way (which is based on my experience being coached by national team players, having played co-ed ball on a team of ex-college championship men and assistant coaching at the club level, not to mention just playing A LOT of v-ball back in the day) however no one was really interested and the team "leader" dismissed my suggestions quite unceremoniously by implying that I don't play my position well. Kind of offended. So when we were up against a Tier 1 team and we had a huddle to "strategize" I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Whatever. We're not going to beat a Tier 1 team. We're just not. All the strategizing in the world ain't gonna save our butts in that match! To summarize, it was not a fun season. Glad its over and next year I hope to find a different (better) team to play with.
End of rant.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Sunday, March 01, 2015
March Madness
Well its only the first of the month but I can already see that March is shaping up to be a crazy busy month. But its a good crazy! I'm feeling MUCH more optimistic about everything struggle-bus related :-D Life is moving forward again. I will be off that bus very soon ... Insha'Allah!
I am an SCO
The biggest leap forward was landing and starting a new job in mid February as a Safety Codes Officer. The job search was really crushing my soul (and my savings!) but I put it out to the Universe exactly what I wanted, a check list of criteria and this job checks off almost all the boxes. I've had 2 weeks of really excellent training and I got good feedback from my colleague/trainer and my new boss. And last Friday was payday (yipee!) Starting on Monday they are sending me out into the world (or at least the south-east corner of the province) with a truck, a cell phone and a list of inspections ... but in reality, I was already doing my own inspections last week so it won't be a big jump to this next level and having seen how the job really works, I am feeling much more confident in my own knowledge and skills. I will be fine on my own and I think I will really like it.
Funny story (in a peculiar kind of way): My colleague/trainer and I were toodling down a secondary highway south of Lethbridge when we noticed a mobile home on a farm that appeared to be on fire (the big black billow of smoke coming from the roof was a clue.) We decided we better check to make sure everyone was OK so we pulled off the highway to investigate. While my colleague went to check on the people, I called 9-1-1.
911: What's your emergency?
Me: I'm calling about a house on fire!
911: Where are you located?
Me: We are 1km south of Standoff and about half a km off the highway.
911: (pause) That's not a fire.
Me: (standing 40 feet from the mobile home with massive flames shooting out all the doors and windows and thick black smoke billowing from the roof) Umm, no, clearly its A FIRE!!!!!
The dispatcher insisted several more times that it was "not a fire" and when my colleague returned from speaking with the fire chief (who was on site), he explained that the "storage shed" was intentionally lit to get rid of it. So it was not an emergency ... but it was definitely a fire!
And for those few minutes that I thought someone's home and entire life were burning to the ground, possibly including the people themselves, it was a horrible sight!
Home Sweet Acreage Home
I will be moving to my acreage this summer. I found a solid, reasonably priced, used double-wide trailer on Kijiji, I put a deposit on it and booked the moving company. There are still a lot of little details to work out such as approval from the County on the location, logistics of getting the trailer onto my place, utility hook-ups, etc ... no doubt there will be other hiccups along the way (there always are!) And paying for everything will be a stretch; what started out as an affordable solution to some of my problems quickly moved into "not as affordable" territory once all the bits and bobs and real prices were factored in. But in spite of all the challenges, it is still the right thing for me long term both financially and personally.
Good-bye Old Home
And as part of the "paying for everything" quandary noted above, I am putting my house in town on the market. I had the realtor come by and give me a rough idea of what it's worth right now and I was a teensy bit disappointed. But it is what it is and its better to make budgets and decisions based on realistic numbers rather than wishful thinking. So the cleaning, purging, moving, sprucing up has been cranked into high gear. As well, this realtor provides the services of a "staging consultant" as part of her fee (finally a realtor who offers VALUE for her fee!) so I will definitely take advantage of that! This is a small house that might only appeal to a small-ish segment of the market but it has 'cute' going for it so a staging expert can only help to maximize that.
Farrier's Report
The farrier came out yesterday and I came to realize that my guys are not so behaved these days and pretty buddy sour. Cruz was a little bit kicky with the farrier and was quite distressed when it came to be Cash's turn and Cash was out of his sight. That in turn made Cash antsy dancey whereas he's usually very polite when getting his feet done. It didn't help that a mini-blizzard was blowing through when we were working on them. And what I thought was Cruz's quirky, playful personality coming out is more likely a bratty, pushy attitude due to lack of having a job to do. Unfortunately I haven't had very much time for them and the weather has either been too cold to be out there for long or too warm and muddy to work with them. And unfortunately my lack of time is not likely to get any better for the next little while. But I need to devote at least a little bit of time and energy to them and once I get settled out there, I will focus on them much more consistently. The good news to come out of that appointment is that the farrier is really happy with how Cruz's back feet have improved. There is still some work to do on his front hoof cracks and again, that is my fault for not paying more attention to him.
Its Not Over Until Its Over
My ladies volleyball league is now into playoffs, single knock-out format and last week we won. Unfortunately. Which means I will be subjected to at least one more week of torturous "hack ball". I know, first world problems.
I am an SCO
The biggest leap forward was landing and starting a new job in mid February as a Safety Codes Officer. The job search was really crushing my soul (and my savings!) but I put it out to the Universe exactly what I wanted, a check list of criteria and this job checks off almost all the boxes. I've had 2 weeks of really excellent training and I got good feedback from my colleague/trainer and my new boss. And last Friday was payday (yipee!) Starting on Monday they are sending me out into the world (or at least the south-east corner of the province) with a truck, a cell phone and a list of inspections ... but in reality, I was already doing my own inspections last week so it won't be a big jump to this next level and having seen how the job really works, I am feeling much more confident in my own knowledge and skills. I will be fine on my own and I think I will really like it.
Funny story (in a peculiar kind of way): My colleague/trainer and I were toodling down a secondary highway south of Lethbridge when we noticed a mobile home on a farm that appeared to be on fire (the big black billow of smoke coming from the roof was a clue.) We decided we better check to make sure everyone was OK so we pulled off the highway to investigate. While my colleague went to check on the people, I called 9-1-1.
911: What's your emergency?
Me: I'm calling about a house on fire!
911: Where are you located?
Me: We are 1km south of Standoff and about half a km off the highway.
911: (pause) That's not a fire.
Me: (standing 40 feet from the mobile home with massive flames shooting out all the doors and windows and thick black smoke billowing from the roof) Umm, no, clearly its A FIRE!!!!!
The dispatcher insisted several more times that it was "not a fire" and when my colleague returned from speaking with the fire chief (who was on site), he explained that the "storage shed" was intentionally lit to get rid of it. So it was not an emergency ... but it was definitely a fire!
And for those few minutes that I thought someone's home and entire life were burning to the ground, possibly including the people themselves, it was a horrible sight!
Home Sweet Acreage Home
I will be moving to my acreage this summer. I found a solid, reasonably priced, used double-wide trailer on Kijiji, I put a deposit on it and booked the moving company. There are still a lot of little details to work out such as approval from the County on the location, logistics of getting the trailer onto my place, utility hook-ups, etc ... no doubt there will be other hiccups along the way (there always are!) And paying for everything will be a stretch; what started out as an affordable solution to some of my problems quickly moved into "not as affordable" territory once all the bits and bobs and real prices were factored in. But in spite of all the challenges, it is still the right thing for me long term both financially and personally.
Good-bye Old Home
And as part of the "paying for everything" quandary noted above, I am putting my house in town on the market. I had the realtor come by and give me a rough idea of what it's worth right now and I was a teensy bit disappointed. But it is what it is and its better to make budgets and decisions based on realistic numbers rather than wishful thinking. So the cleaning, purging, moving, sprucing up has been cranked into high gear. As well, this realtor provides the services of a "staging consultant" as part of her fee (finally a realtor who offers VALUE for her fee!) so I will definitely take advantage of that! This is a small house that might only appeal to a small-ish segment of the market but it has 'cute' going for it so a staging expert can only help to maximize that.
Farrier's Report
The farrier came out yesterday and I came to realize that my guys are not so behaved these days and pretty buddy sour. Cruz was a little bit kicky with the farrier and was quite distressed when it came to be Cash's turn and Cash was out of his sight. That in turn made Cash antsy dancey whereas he's usually very polite when getting his feet done. It didn't help that a mini-blizzard was blowing through when we were working on them. And what I thought was Cruz's quirky, playful personality coming out is more likely a bratty, pushy attitude due to lack of having a job to do. Unfortunately I haven't had very much time for them and the weather has either been too cold to be out there for long or too warm and muddy to work with them. And unfortunately my lack of time is not likely to get any better for the next little while. But I need to devote at least a little bit of time and energy to them and once I get settled out there, I will focus on them much more consistently. The good news to come out of that appointment is that the farrier is really happy with how Cruz's back feet have improved. There is still some work to do on his front hoof cracks and again, that is my fault for not paying more attention to him.
Its Not Over Until Its Over
My ladies volleyball league is now into playoffs, single knock-out format and last week we won. Unfortunately. Which means I will be subjected to at least one more week of torturous "hack ball". I know, first world problems.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
When I grow up I wanna be a blues guitar legend
I never get tired of watching this clip! This woman is bloody amazing on the guitar, a real talent! Makes me want to pick it up and play a few chords ... both of them that I know haha I love how she waves at someone off camera at 2:00 and just keeps on rockin'! You go girl!
Her name is Joanna Connor ... http://www.joannaconnorband.com/
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Photo Flashback: My Girl Minka
The first dog I had as an adult was a boxer I adopted from Boxer Rescue Canada. Her name was Minka. She and I definitely had our moments, mostly good but a few that were not so good. When I moved overseas I decided to rehome her rather than bring her along and a very nice couple (guardian angels!) who had recently lost their boxer took her in. She was in good hands! From time to time they sent me pictures and updates, she was definitely living the dream!
In 2010 as I was packing up to move back to Canada, they sent me a sad email letting me know that they had made the hard decision to put her to sleep. When she still lived with me she developed tumours in her throat that were inoperable but not causing her any problems. However they eventually did progress to the point where they were affecting her quality of life. She was 13 years old.
These pictures are from 2003(?) when my (now ex-)boyfriend and I took her for a run/rollerblade around Glenmore park. It was a very long day for her, the poor thing just laid down in the grass about 50 meters from the truck would not go any further. I carried her the rest of the way.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
A couple of new photos of Cash and Cruz
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| The Boys. |
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| Cruz: We should really find a new place to poo. Cash: Yeah. I think I see a spot over there! |
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Cruz: Seriously? Zebra print? This is not Africa! I look ridiculous.
Me: Sorry but that`s what was on sale. Deal with it.
|
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| Cash: Does this blanket make me look fat? Me: Yes. That`s because you ARE fat! |
The Struggle Bus Update: What a difference a day can make!
A huge weight has been lifted, I finally got a job! Yay! I had an interview yesterday which didn`t seem particularly promising at the start but towards the end of the meeting, the big boss said the job is mine if I want it. That caught me off guard and a little unprepared!
I`ve held my certificate as a Building Safety Codes Officer for a several years but wasn`t very successful at it. I am just not `salesy` enough to find new clients and build that as a business. This new job eliminates that, I can focus on what I do best. Life can now move forward on a whole bunch of ways that were stalled because of my floundering career. The job doesn`t pay quite as much as I`d hoped and I still have to prove myself but in many ways its an opportunity that is even better than I could have asked for.
I may not be getting off the struggle bus for a bit longer ... but the bus is slowing down and maybe, just maybe, it will slow down enough so I can step off :-D
I`ve held my certificate as a Building Safety Codes Officer for a several years but wasn`t very successful at it. I am just not `salesy` enough to find new clients and build that as a business. This new job eliminates that, I can focus on what I do best. Life can now move forward on a whole bunch of ways that were stalled because of my floundering career. The job doesn`t pay quite as much as I`d hoped and I still have to prove myself but in many ways its an opportunity that is even better than I could have asked for.
I may not be getting off the struggle bus for a bit longer ... but the bus is slowing down and maybe, just maybe, it will slow down enough so I can step off :-D
Sunday, February 08, 2015
Don't give up -- you're not beaten yet
This evening, I came across this version of the Peter Gabriel song, "Don't Give Up" and I think the Universe is finally sending me a word of encouragement (via Facebook no less!) I've always loved that song, I haven't heard it in a long time and the lyrics are eerily fitting for where I'm at right now -- both the dark and the light. And I love this version, its *almost* better than the original with Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. I don't share Pink's sentiments at the beginning about being useless when happy and pain as a motivator ... but I sure love her voice. John Legend's voice is so smooth. And I could listen to Herbie Hancock on the piano all day long.
Don't Give Up
In this proud land we grew up strong, we were wanted all along.
I was taught to fight, taught to win. I never thought I could fail.
No fight left or so it seems. I am a man whose dreams have all deserted.
I've changed my face, I've changed my name but no one wants you when you lose.
Don't give up 'cause you have friends.
Don't give up, you're not beaten yet.
Don't give up. I know you can make it good.
Don't give up, you're not beaten yet.
Don't give up. I know you can make it good.
Though I saw it all around, never thought I could be affected.
Thought that we'd be the last to go. It is so strange the way things turn.
Thought that we'd be the last to go. It is so strange the way things turn.
Drove the night toward my home, the place that I was born, on the lakeside.
As daylight broke, I saw the earth, the trees had burned down to the ground.
As daylight broke, I saw the earth, the trees had burned down to the ground.
Don't give up, you still have us.
Don't give up, we don't need much of anything.
Don't give up 'cause somewhere there's a place where we belong.
Don't give up, we don't need much of anything.
Don't give up 'cause somewhere there's a place where we belong.
Rest your head you worry too much.
It's going to be alright.
When times get rough you can fall back on us.
Don't give up. Please, please don't give up.
It's going to be alright.
When times get rough you can fall back on us.
Don't give up. Please, please don't give up.
'Got to walk out of here, I can't take anymore.
Gonna stand on that bridge, keep my eyes down below.
Whatever may come and whatever may go,
That river's flowing. That river's flowing.
Gonna stand on that bridge, keep my eyes down below.
Whatever may come and whatever may go,
That river's flowing. That river's flowing.
Moved on to another town, tried hard to settle down.
For every job, so many men, so many men no-one needs.
For every job, so many men, so many men no-one needs.
Don't give up 'cause you have friends.
Don't give up, you're not the only one.
Don't give up. No reason to be ashamed.
Don't give up, you're not the only one.
Don't give up. No reason to be ashamed.
Don't give up, you still have us.
Don't give up now. We're proud of who you are.
Don't give up, you know it's never been easy.
Don't give up no matter what you do
Don't give up now. We're proud of who you are.
Don't give up, you know it's never been easy.
Don't give up no matter what you do
Don't give up 'cause I believe there's a place.
There's a place where we belong.
There's a place where we belong.
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
Riding the Struggle Bus
I don't usually scam graphics from other people's blogs but this one just fits the mood d'jour and so I did it. I stole it. And I'm not sorry ... well, OK, that's a lie. I do feel bad but I'm too tired to Google something better.
Struggle #1: I have been actively looking for a job for several months now and have sent out about a zillion resumes. Responses? Zero. So I widened my search to include jobs that I am marginally qualified for and/or grossly over qualified. Nada. My Mom, bless her heart, has sent numerous leads my way. All dead ends. Its weird but there's just nothing around here!
So I cast a wider geographical net and included Calgary in my search. I wasn't thrilled about relocating but it seemed necessary. Finally, surprisingly, I got a call-back from a resume I had sent out over a month earlier and had written off as a dud. It was a job that I was qualified for, the pay was very good and the type of work it involved was very appealing. I had a promising interview and I was just waiting for the offer to come through. And waiting. Waiting.
Meanwhile back in Riyadh, the King of Saudi Arabia decided to tank the price of oil and in the wake of a panicky oil-based Alberta economy, my potential job fell through. I was disappointed for sure but not totally surprised. I've been in this industry long enough to know that that's the way it goes and to be fair, I have had a charmed career, I've come through every boom-bust cycle smelling like a rose. So I guess its just my turn. But it still sucks.
All's not lost though, I had another job interview for a Medicine Hat based government job that would at least pay 'some' of the bills (but not all) for the time being. I jumped through all the hoops -- the "do you have a brain?" test, the interview, the physical fitness assessment -- and I was lead to believe I would be starting ASAP ... but still no offer? I don't get it. I really don't.
Struggle #2: When the job in Calgary fell through I came to the conclusion that no one, anywhere, will be hiring until this oil price thing sorts itself out ... which won't be anytime soon. Years I'm sure. I crunched some numbers and decided that without a 'real' job I can't afford the house I'm in and as per Struggle #1, there doesn't seem to be a 'real' job on the horizon for this little worker bee. Switch to Plan 'B' ... or 'F' or 'M' or wherever I am at now.
As luck would have it, I found a double-wide mobile home on Kijiji that is reasonably priced, local and actually looked nice in the photos. I went to see it and it is nice, its perfect for my acreage and its affordable! I was ready to put down the money, move it to my place, move in and live happily ever after on my little piece of acreage heaven! But hold the phone, nothing comes that easily in my world these days!
There was a mobile home on the acreage for a number of years until last spring when it was sold and moved off (in hind-sight that was a mistake. My mistake.) Back in the day, my Mom successfully got the Development Permit approved by the County even though the trailer was located within the coulee setback. My intent was to place this 'new' mobile home on the exact same spot as the old one but seems the County is now enforcing their by-laws more stringently and my chances of getting a DP approved in that same spot is, well, slim at best. With some Engineering magic, I may be able to challenge that but Engineering magic doesn't come cheap. I can find a different location for the 'new' house which means a new septic system. New septic systems don't come cheap. And it seems house movers REALLY don't come cheap ... like, quadruple what I had budgeted. Ouch! Suddenly its not so affordable anymore.
Struggle #3: One morning in January I happened to notice that I have a rather large lump in my neck. I feel OK but went to see my Doctor anyway. He felt around, ordered some blood work, ordered an ultrasound for late-April, told me to stop taking thyroid supplements and said there is a very very very small chance it could be cancer but most likely is something quite innocuous. I did the blood tests and went back two weeks later to review the results. Nothing to see here folks, everything is 'normal' ... until he felt the lump again. The tone of the appointment changed. He will expedite my ultrasound if I want and if I feel any change in my health I am to immediately go back to see him. Disconcerting to say the least.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Lilly's Head Update: Vet Follow Up
Well there's good news and bad news after Lilly's follow up with the vet.
The Bad:
The muscle deterioration on the right side of her head has progresses even with a high dose Prednisone and has started on the left side now too. She will probably never regain those muscles so will always look a little goofy (which is really the least of my worries) and according to the research, she will need to be on the drugs indefinitely. The drugs are very hard on her, she's had numerous side effects and its making her irritable (she snapped at me a few days ago when I woke her up from a nap, that is very out if character; not acceptable behavior but I can kinda understand.). She has a very bulgey mid-section, I'm told that's from an enlarged liver which is worrisome.
The Good:
Although she has deteriorated a bit, it is not affecting her ability to open her jaw yet. And we have reduced the dosage in half and that seems to be easing the side effects. More and more, the old Lilly is coming back. Yay! She plays more with Diesel, plays with her toys, tries to play with the Kitty! If we can maintain this and have it keep her healthy, then I think that's the best we can hope for. Its still "wait and see" but its not as bleak as it was last week.
Some pictures of my little Dent Head :-)...
Friday, January 16, 2015
Photo Flashback: Cash and Me (and My Big Butt!)
As I was browsing through my photos folders tonight looking for a picture of Thor, I came across some pictures of Cash and I from the fall of 2013. Just kind of reminded me of how much I love that big lug and how lucky I've been with all the creatures that have made their way into my little furry family :-)
As an aside, my butt looks pretty big in that picture! Pretty sure its not that big now ... I need to go look in the mirror! And 'em are darn shexshy boots too! ;-)
As an aside, my butt looks pretty big in that picture! Pretty sure its not that big now ... I need to go look in the mirror! And 'em are darn shexshy boots too! ;-)
Lilly's Head
Just before New Years I noticed something funny with Lilly: her head was mis-shapened (if that's a word?) Kinda flat on one side.
It wasn't pronounced but it was definitely there. Initially I panicked thinking that she had been kicked by one of the horses but she wasn't showing any signs of distress, was perfectly normal in every other way so I decided I was probably being a hypochondriac. None the less, I took a picture in to the vet's office to see if they thought it was a 'thing' and without skipping a beat, the vet basically said 'yup, its a thing!' The following week I took her in and the diagnosis is Masticory Myositis. Something is causing her immune system to attack the muscles (or the nerve that feeds those muscles) on that side of her head which causes them to atrophy. And its not just a cosmetic anomoly; left untreated, she would eventually be unable to open her jaw (those muscles control chewing). Not good.
She has been on a fairly high dose of doggie steroids for a week now to see if we can't get the muscles to rebuild but so far there's been no improvement, and I'm thinking the drugs are not fun for her. My normally happy bouncy skinny little trouble-maker is lethargic, bloated, weak, sometimes seems confused and scared. Her tail rarely wags anymore. At the acreage, she is normally running running running, pester Diesel into a wrestling match and if he's not game, running running running some more. And when its time to go home ... running running running until she gets caught ... then sleep all the way home! One of the pure pleasures in my life is watching the dawgs run and play and exude the sheer joy of being alive. Now, its Diesel trying to get the game going and she is really not that interested. It makes me very sad.
This is all kind of reminiscent of 2012 when my heart-dog, Thor, developed a limp. It was a torn ACL and I took him to Great Falls for TPLO surgery. It was very expensive and very onerous but very worth it since he was just a young dog with his whole life ahead of him and he was my big buddy.
Sadly, a month into his recovery, he suffered what I think was a heart attack, collapsed and died in my arms. I was heart broken and I still miss him. Once again, I have a puppy facing an uncertain future and potentially expensive treatment. She will be 2 years old in February and I will probably do whatever it takes to get her what she needs even though it will be a big stretch financially. She has her whole life ahead of her too, she's my baby. We'll see what gives at her follow-up appointment next week.
When I first noticed the dent Lilly was about the same age as Thor was when he died.
Pulleeessssse can I come up on the bed for a snuggle? I'm asking as nicely as I can and I'll be good, I promise!
On a lighter note, she was given a Ginger bread man stuffy for Christmas. I delayed the impending demise of the Ginger bread man for about 3 weeks but I finally gave it to her and she promptly shredded it to get at the squeaker. She loves the squeakers! She even sleeps with it! Goofy dog!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Brag-book of My Herd
And now, at the request of my one and only follower (Thanks Kate!), pictures of my herd.
This is Cruz after a good roll in the snow. He's the most "rolly" horse I know!
Cruz all saddled up. I did ride him a bit towards the end of our month in training but not very confidently. He's definitely a handsome guy!
While Cruz was away, Cash needed a buddy. The lady who boarded Cash before I moved him home was nice enough to loan me Buck for the month. He's a lovely horse to have around, very uncomplicated, quiet, lovey-dovey.
I am using a hay net for waste reduction and "waist reduction". Not sure they are terribly thrilled with it but it seems to be working out well. Cash hasn't gained excessively, Cruz has filled out nicely and the pile at the end of the bale is minimal.
Cash was very snoozey yesterday morning. So much so that I unblanketed him while he was still laying down! I was a little concerned, that's not really like him but eventually he got up, strolled around and he doesn't seem any worse for wear since. So I think he was just having a super-lazy morning (I have those too!)
A word about my new farrier: fantastic! He came on recommendation from my Aunt who has known him for several years. A few weeks ago I was in a conversation with Cruz's previous owner and another lady, she mentioned that she knew of someone that was really good and wondered if I would like the name. I said that I thought I had found someone that I really liked but pass it along anyway, one never knows (farriers are a fickle bunch.) She texted me his contact card and turns out it is the same guy! Ha! When the farrier was out last week, I relayed that conversation to him and turns out that he was Cruz's farrier several years ago! Small world. Cruz has a few potential 'issues' so based on those two recommendations and seeing the results so far, I feel pretty confident that he is in good hands.
Update on my summer boarder
I was surfing Kijiji this morning and noticed that the lady who was boarding her gelding at my place this summer has put him up for sale. The ad says he is "good to catch" which was a bit of a stretch when he was at my place but who knows, maybe she's worked that out of him since I last saw them.
The ad also says, "he needs someone with more experience than me." I sincerely hope that this realization came about in due course and not because of some grievous accident. I don't wish failure or injury on anyone, but I can't say as I'm surprised that that particular partnership didn't work out. She didn't seem interested in investing the time to learn to train him and/or maintain his training, nor was she particularly receptive to suggestions that what she was doing was wrong and maybe a little bit unsafe (although she had plenty of suggestions for me!) Horses are always learning so if you don't train the horse the right way, the horse will train himself in whatever way he pleases and that gelding had things figgered out pretty quickly, even before he moved away!
There's a teeny tiny piece of me that feels vindicated that my instinct was correct, my slow and steady approach to horsemanship is the right one. But the bigger part of me wishes her well and hopes she finds the right horse so she can fulfill her dream.
The ad also says, "he needs someone with more experience than me." I sincerely hope that this realization came about in due course and not because of some grievous accident. I don't wish failure or injury on anyone, but I can't say as I'm surprised that that particular partnership didn't work out. She didn't seem interested in investing the time to learn to train him and/or maintain his training, nor was she particularly receptive to suggestions that what she was doing was wrong and maybe a little bit unsafe (although she had plenty of suggestions for me!) Horses are always learning so if you don't train the horse the right way, the horse will train himself in whatever way he pleases and that gelding had things figgered out pretty quickly, even before he moved away!
There's a teeny tiny piece of me that feels vindicated that my instinct was correct, my slow and steady approach to horsemanship is the right one. But the bigger part of me wishes her well and hopes she finds the right horse so she can fulfill her dream.
Monday, December 08, 2014
This and That
A quick update on miscellaneous stuff:
Cruz at Boot Camp:
I picked a bad month to start this, things have been more busy than expected. But what little time I have devoted to Cruz's training these past 2 weeks has been very encouraging and regardless of how far we get over the next 2 weeks, its a good starting point. It has taught me to take control of his training rather than wait around for someone to hold my hand.
He follows a fairly predictable pattern at each lesson: nervous and poopy (which is a nervous thing), then come the sillies (typical young horse stuff) and finally focus and calm. The cycle through steps 1 and 2 goes quicker with each lesson and then we get down to some real learning in step 3. I can't wait to be able to ride him, he has such a lovely floaty trot and lope and when he's calm he is VERY calm! I admit to having buyers remorse this fall when I felt like I was in over my head and suspected some conformation and hoof issues. But I think I have found the right trainer to help with the training challenges, a good equine chiropractor/massage practitioner and a fantastic farrier. I'm feeling like Cruz and I have a promising future.
Cash:
He's just hanging out in the pasture with his old friend and temporary companion, Buck. I've enjoyed having Buck, he's just such a nice horse to have around. I have made some good progress with Cash too. He no longer plays the "you can't catch me!" game and he does not need to be haltered every time I do something with him (pick out the ice packs under his hooves, blanket/unblanket, grooming after a good roll in the mud.) The boys are learning that the white bucket usually contains oats (their fave!) so when they see/hear the white bucket they come running (which means I don't have to trudge out across the coulee to get them!) I believe that when I start riding lessons on him again (hopefully after Christmas!) it won't take long for us to be a solid team. My goal with him is to pass the search and rescue certification this coming summer and I'm feeling like that's totally achievable.
Its not so easy to take pictures of Cash, he's very intrigued by the phone/camera!
Kitty and The Dawgs:
Just the usual routine for my other four-legged friends. Kitty lays around all day and snuggles with me on the bed all night. Pretty easy life! The dawgs don't get as much outdoor time as they'd like because of the cold weather a few weeks ago and they get snakey being inside all the time. I am starting to think that Lilly will never grow up (she's almost 2 and still a nut case!) She seems to think that hiding under the desk with the spoils of her counter surfing expedition will save her from a spanking ... which worked in a way, instead of reprimanding her, I took a picture.
This is her best attempt at using cuteness to feign innocence. Sometimes that works too, how can you be mad at a face like that?! (I know, I'm a push over.)
Selah Singers:
I joined this choir this fall along with my niece. She has been a vocal student of the choir director, Ralph Browne, for a few years now, an extremely talented teacher and musician. We had our Christmas performances this weekend and all in all, everything worked out well. I hope to continue on with that (if they will allow it haha!) I will try to post a video of this weekend's performance at a later date (not yet available) but in the mean time, here is a You Tube clip of the Selah Singers from a couple years ago (before I joined) ...
http://youtu.be/rCfJpq8GMPA
Twitter:
Yesterday was my "Twitterversary" ... apparently. I received an email about that so I guess it must be true. I have tinkered around on Twitter a little bit (see the sidebar for my Tweets ... all four of them haha). It seems like a useful tool for many things and one of these days I will really get down to figgering out how it works.
Volleyball:
This fall I joined a new recreational ladies volleyball team. I played beach doubles this summer with my niece and it rekindled my love for that game, both indoor and beach. I used to play several times a week and occasionally I got the chance to play with some high-ish caliber teams (ex-college players, co-ed and ladies). I was no superstar "back in the day" but I could hold my own. I had a ranking on the AVA tour one summer ... albeit a very very very low one!
The good news is that with this new team, I get to play every week rather than just the occasional call to sub for other teams. And we are friendly, drama-free bunch. The bad news is that (rant alert) this team is VERY recreational, very non-competitive, very ... frustrating. The most frustrating part is that when I play "hack" ball, I myself play like a hack ... grrrr! I joined up with realistic expectations so I'm not exactly surprised that its nowhere near the level of competition and intensity that I used play (and would like to play again!) We are improving as a team and I keep my feelings to myself, just focus on my own skills and roll with the punches whether we win or lose ... but some nights I am just not having fun. *sigh*
Cruz at Boot Camp:
I picked a bad month to start this, things have been more busy than expected. But what little time I have devoted to Cruz's training these past 2 weeks has been very encouraging and regardless of how far we get over the next 2 weeks, its a good starting point. It has taught me to take control of his training rather than wait around for someone to hold my hand.
He follows a fairly predictable pattern at each lesson: nervous and poopy (which is a nervous thing), then come the sillies (typical young horse stuff) and finally focus and calm. The cycle through steps 1 and 2 goes quicker with each lesson and then we get down to some real learning in step 3. I can't wait to be able to ride him, he has such a lovely floaty trot and lope and when he's calm he is VERY calm! I admit to having buyers remorse this fall when I felt like I was in over my head and suspected some conformation and hoof issues. But I think I have found the right trainer to help with the training challenges, a good equine chiropractor/massage practitioner and a fantastic farrier. I'm feeling like Cruz and I have a promising future.
Cash:
He's just hanging out in the pasture with his old friend and temporary companion, Buck. I've enjoyed having Buck, he's just such a nice horse to have around. I have made some good progress with Cash too. He no longer plays the "you can't catch me!" game and he does not need to be haltered every time I do something with him (pick out the ice packs under his hooves, blanket/unblanket, grooming after a good roll in the mud.) The boys are learning that the white bucket usually contains oats (their fave!) so when they see/hear the white bucket they come running (which means I don't have to trudge out across the coulee to get them!) I believe that when I start riding lessons on him again (hopefully after Christmas!) it won't take long for us to be a solid team. My goal with him is to pass the search and rescue certification this coming summer and I'm feeling like that's totally achievable.
Its not so easy to take pictures of Cash, he's very intrigued by the phone/camera!
Kitty and The Dawgs:
Just the usual routine for my other four-legged friends. Kitty lays around all day and snuggles with me on the bed all night. Pretty easy life! The dawgs don't get as much outdoor time as they'd like because of the cold weather a few weeks ago and they get snakey being inside all the time. I am starting to think that Lilly will never grow up (she's almost 2 and still a nut case!) She seems to think that hiding under the desk with the spoils of her counter surfing expedition will save her from a spanking ... which worked in a way, instead of reprimanding her, I took a picture.
This is her best attempt at using cuteness to feign innocence. Sometimes that works too, how can you be mad at a face like that?! (I know, I'm a push over.)
Selah Singers:
I joined this choir this fall along with my niece. She has been a vocal student of the choir director, Ralph Browne, for a few years now, an extremely talented teacher and musician. We had our Christmas performances this weekend and all in all, everything worked out well. I hope to continue on with that (if they will allow it haha!) I will try to post a video of this weekend's performance at a later date (not yet available) but in the mean time, here is a You Tube clip of the Selah Singers from a couple years ago (before I joined) ...
http://youtu.be/rCfJpq8GMPA
Twitter:
Yesterday was my "Twitterversary" ... apparently. I received an email about that so I guess it must be true. I have tinkered around on Twitter a little bit (see the sidebar for my Tweets ... all four of them haha). It seems like a useful tool for many things and one of these days I will really get down to figgering out how it works.
Volleyball:
This fall I joined a new recreational ladies volleyball team. I played beach doubles this summer with my niece and it rekindled my love for that game, both indoor and beach. I used to play several times a week and occasionally I got the chance to play with some high-ish caliber teams (ex-college players, co-ed and ladies). I was no superstar "back in the day" but I could hold my own. I had a ranking on the AVA tour one summer ... albeit a very very very low one!
The good news is that with this new team, I get to play every week rather than just the occasional call to sub for other teams. And we are friendly, drama-free bunch. The bad news is that (rant alert) this team is VERY recreational, very non-competitive, very ... frustrating. The most frustrating part is that when I play "hack" ball, I myself play like a hack ... grrrr! I joined up with realistic expectations so I'm not exactly surprised that its nowhere near the level of competition and intensity that I used play (and would like to play again!) We are improving as a team and I keep my feelings to myself, just focus on my own skills and roll with the punches whether we win or lose ... but some nights I am just not having fun. *sigh*
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Cruz: Let the games begin!
I started working with Cruz in earnest last night. The bad news: he sure has a stubborn streak! I am used to Cash; he already knew how to lunge when I bought him and he's actually quite cooperative and respectful; the more I work with other horses, the more I appreciate Cash. Cruz and I will get there too, it will just take more time and effort than I expected. Cruz has so many good attributes ... and even his stubbornness could be a good thing if channeled in the right direction, so I believe he's worth the effort. Working with a younger horse that has less training will also be a good learning experience for me; I'll try not to ruin him!
The good news is that I built my round pen on the weekend (almost, need to liberate 3 more corral panels to finish it) and fill in a couple of big-ish holes that were left behind by some sort of wild creature. I've been meaning to do that all summer. I built it near the arena which is out of sight of the sacrifice pen; Cash and Cruz are quite attached so I think/hope he will be less distracted when I work him away from his buddy. And its not a bad thing for either of them to be separated once in a while. As well, I'm not sure if he's used to the lunge line so using the pen without the line might be a better way to get started. I will feel more confident riding him in the smaller area too when we get to that although the ground is harder there than in the arena so an "unscheduled" landing might not be very pleasant.
There's not a lot of daylight now before or after the work day so not sure how consistent I will be with this but I'm going to do what I can whenever I can. Something is better than nothing ... and so far I have done basically nothing with Cruz since I got him (except one ill-fated trailer loading training session; I had to abandon that when the boarder showed up in the middle of it and all the horses got amped up almost instantly; no point continuing when they are like that.)
On another subject, I think I have found a new farrier, a recommendation from my Aunt. He has been doing my cousin's mares for a long time and finally went and got some formal training to do it full-time. Cash is not due for another 2 weeks but Cruz is *really* overdue so I'm going to get both done at the same time to synchronize their schedules. If this guy does a good job with Cash, I won't have to trailer him to Brooks all the time; that was inconvenient but it was worth it to keep his feet in good shape and being hauled regularly wasn't a bad thing for him either. Cruz can't be hauled anywhere right now, we're still battling that one out (its that stubborn streak!) so taking him to Brooks wasn't even an option. I had to cancel 2 appointments for him because of that! Thus the round pen.
The good news is that I built my round pen on the weekend (almost, need to liberate 3 more corral panels to finish it) and fill in a couple of big-ish holes that were left behind by some sort of wild creature. I've been meaning to do that all summer. I built it near the arena which is out of sight of the sacrifice pen; Cash and Cruz are quite attached so I think/hope he will be less distracted when I work him away from his buddy. And its not a bad thing for either of them to be separated once in a while. As well, I'm not sure if he's used to the lunge line so using the pen without the line might be a better way to get started. I will feel more confident riding him in the smaller area too when we get to that although the ground is harder there than in the arena so an "unscheduled" landing might not be very pleasant.
There's not a lot of daylight now before or after the work day so not sure how consistent I will be with this but I'm going to do what I can whenever I can. Something is better than nothing ... and so far I have done basically nothing with Cruz since I got him (except one ill-fated trailer loading training session; I had to abandon that when the boarder showed up in the middle of it and all the horses got amped up almost instantly; no point continuing when they are like that.)
On another subject, I think I have found a new farrier, a recommendation from my Aunt. He has been doing my cousin's mares for a long time and finally went and got some formal training to do it full-time. Cash is not due for another 2 weeks but Cruz is *really* overdue so I'm going to get both done at the same time to synchronize their schedules. If this guy does a good job with Cash, I won't have to trailer him to Brooks all the time; that was inconvenient but it was worth it to keep his feet in good shape and being hauled regularly wasn't a bad thing for him either. Cruz can't be hauled anywhere right now, we're still battling that one out (its that stubborn streak!) so taking him to Brooks wasn't even an option. I had to cancel 2 appointments for him because of that! Thus the round pen.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Boarder gone and pics of my guys
T came and took D this morning so the boarding situation is done. I'm sad that it ended in an awkward way but I feel like the drama at the end wasn't my doing. And I honestly believe that she will get more enjoyment out of her new hobby at another place. So it feels a bit sour right now but in the long run, this is best for everyone.
Anyway, after they left, my guys were all full of themselves, they both had a roll in the dirt, Cruz had a rare "piss'n vinegar" moment, bucking like a wild bronc! He's normally very mellow but every so often he reminds me that he is still a young off-the-track thoroughbred!
Anyway, after they left, my guys were all full of themselves, they both had a roll in the dirt, Cruz had a rare "piss'n vinegar" moment, bucking like a wild bronc! He's normally very mellow but every so often he reminds me that he is still a young off-the-track thoroughbred!
Thursday, October 09, 2014
Rant: More boarder drama! The end.
Yet another post about the 'T', the boarder at my acreage. I said wasn't going to make these 'rant' posts a habit but things just keep popping up and I'm pretty much done with it (both the rants and the boarding situation.)
On several occasions I have given T a choice on where to keep D: in the pen by himself in which case he needs to be fed twice a day or in the big pasture with my guys in which case he needs to be caught out there in the wide open spaces; he's not exactly amenable to being caught at times. One such occasion was when I was going out of town for the weekend and I would not be around to feed him. She agreed that he should go out to pasture, she doesn't have time to feed him ... but I am to bring him back in when I return (it wasn't phrased as a request, as in "would you mind?, thanks, really appreciate your help"; it was an expectation and an implication that I am responsible for this inconvenient situation.) So much for relying on her help when I need it.
I am really not keen on the horses being in the small pasture because it has gotten to be *very* grazed down; I underestimated how quickly the grass would be consumed so this was my fault. Its to the point where I don't know if it will recover anytime soon. T and I had a conversation about this 2 days ago and only D was allowed access to that area (my way of compromising on the "can't catch him in the big pasture" thing) but somehow all the horses found a way in there (either a gate was left open or they managed to jimmy the latch which is entirely possible.)
On the weekend, T complained that the horses were on the far side of the coulee and her hubby spent 45 minutes trying to catch them.
Yesterday D was again out in the pasture with my guys. I received this text:
"Can you bring D in if your out this morning please and thank you (smiley face)."
Now maybe I am taking this out of context but it felt like I was being "voluntold" (I think I know how her hubby felt on the weekend!) I brought D in as she asked, partly because I am a spineless wimp and partly because I wanted to see for myself how difficult it was to catch them (any of them, catch one and they will all follow). It took a bit of effort, had to cross over to the far side but eventually D came to the oats pail, I haltered him and away we went. Less than 15 minutes. I responded back to her that I did it this time but:
"I can't be doing that every day though, I'm late for work."
Her reply: "Lol that was my complaint too. Can't spend an hour casing them Lol".
REALLY?! So its too much of a bother for you to catch your own horse but no problem sending me out to waste an hour of my time ... chasing your horse? I was already feeling a bit miffed and with that, I had enough. I hardly even saw my guys because I spent all of my limited time on D.
I was in a bit of a hurry to get to work and I probably hit the send button without really thinking it through fully, but I texted that I strongly suggested that she consider boarding D somewhere that is more suitable for her needs. I tried to frame it in such a way that she would see that my place really isn't the best for what she wants to do, which is the honest truth. I have few real 'facilities' (which is part of the reason I am charging her only nominal board) and she needs more help with D than I can provide, nor do I want to provide. I am not a "full board" place. Of the few things I do have to offer (pasture, riding arena) she doesn't use. She doesn't seem to notice (or maybe she ignores) subtleties but she caught my drift on that message. In a bit of a pout (again, maybe the context is lost via text), asked that I give her a few days, she'll get him out of there. As well, she wants half of this month's board back (no mention of the week and a half in August that D was there that I didn't charge her for.) I agreed to refund that because, again, I'm a bit spineless and she succeeded in making me feel bad for hurting her feelings. I am going to chalk it up to lessons learned and the price of getting back my peaceful sanctuary.
After all that, she didn't even go out there yesterday to see him which was the whole reason this started! She did go out in the evening since D was still in the pen and needed to be fed, I'll give her credit for being switched on enough to remember that. I wasn't planning on going out but I changed my mind and decided to take a drive out there before I went home that night. Low and behold, the gate to the small pasture was open and all of them were grazing on it. She either didn't get the subtle hint or ignored it.
It just feels like a constant barrage of 'things' with this arrangement. I did a quick calculation this morning: I came up with a list of about 18 'things' (not counting yesterday) that have transpired in the ~7 weeks she's been there, it works out to something every 2.73 days. Way too much drama!
On several occasions I have given T a choice on where to keep D: in the pen by himself in which case he needs to be fed twice a day or in the big pasture with my guys in which case he needs to be caught out there in the wide open spaces; he's not exactly amenable to being caught at times. One such occasion was when I was going out of town for the weekend and I would not be around to feed him. She agreed that he should go out to pasture, she doesn't have time to feed him ... but I am to bring him back in when I return (it wasn't phrased as a request, as in "would you mind?, thanks, really appreciate your help"; it was an expectation and an implication that I am responsible for this inconvenient situation.) So much for relying on her help when I need it.
I am really not keen on the horses being in the small pasture because it has gotten to be *very* grazed down; I underestimated how quickly the grass would be consumed so this was my fault. Its to the point where I don't know if it will recover anytime soon. T and I had a conversation about this 2 days ago and only D was allowed access to that area (my way of compromising on the "can't catch him in the big pasture" thing) but somehow all the horses found a way in there (either a gate was left open or they managed to jimmy the latch which is entirely possible.)
On the weekend, T complained that the horses were on the far side of the coulee and her hubby spent 45 minutes trying to catch them.
Yesterday D was again out in the pasture with my guys. I received this text:
"Can you bring D in if your out this morning please and thank you (smiley face)."
Now maybe I am taking this out of context but it felt like I was being "voluntold" (I think I know how her hubby felt on the weekend!) I brought D in as she asked, partly because I am a spineless wimp and partly because I wanted to see for myself how difficult it was to catch them (any of them, catch one and they will all follow). It took a bit of effort, had to cross over to the far side but eventually D came to the oats pail, I haltered him and away we went. Less than 15 minutes. I responded back to her that I did it this time but:
"I can't be doing that every day though, I'm late for work."
Her reply: "Lol that was my complaint too. Can't spend an hour casing them Lol".
REALLY?! So its too much of a bother for you to catch your own horse but no problem sending me out to waste an hour of my time ... chasing your horse? I was already feeling a bit miffed and with that, I had enough. I hardly even saw my guys because I spent all of my limited time on D.
I was in a bit of a hurry to get to work and I probably hit the send button without really thinking it through fully, but I texted that I strongly suggested that she consider boarding D somewhere that is more suitable for her needs. I tried to frame it in such a way that she would see that my place really isn't the best for what she wants to do, which is the honest truth. I have few real 'facilities' (which is part of the reason I am charging her only nominal board) and she needs more help with D than I can provide, nor do I want to provide. I am not a "full board" place. Of the few things I do have to offer (pasture, riding arena) she doesn't use. She doesn't seem to notice (or maybe she ignores) subtleties but she caught my drift on that message. In a bit of a pout (again, maybe the context is lost via text), asked that I give her a few days, she'll get him out of there. As well, she wants half of this month's board back (no mention of the week and a half in August that D was there that I didn't charge her for.) I agreed to refund that because, again, I'm a bit spineless and she succeeded in making me feel bad for hurting her feelings. I am going to chalk it up to lessons learned and the price of getting back my peaceful sanctuary.
After all that, she didn't even go out there yesterday to see him which was the whole reason this started! She did go out in the evening since D was still in the pen and needed to be fed, I'll give her credit for being switched on enough to remember that. I wasn't planning on going out but I changed my mind and decided to take a drive out there before I went home that night. Low and behold, the gate to the small pasture was open and all of them were grazing on it. She either didn't get the subtle hint or ignored it.
It just feels like a constant barrage of 'things' with this arrangement. I did a quick calculation this morning: I came up with a list of about 18 'things' (not counting yesterday) that have transpired in the ~7 weeks she's been there, it works out to something every 2.73 days. Way too much drama!
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
The #100HappyDays challenge
I have been doing this challenge for the 100 Happy Days last 28 days (give or take.) The idea is to find something that makes you happy every day, take a picture and post it on your social media of choice. Take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the good things in life, to really look for those things on the days when you don't feel like it. I have been doing it on Facebook but I am going to share them here too when I remember.
The impetus for this was that I was feeling very unsettled this summer. Things are a bit off, not really where I want them to be. What I've discovered is that I really don't have any difficulty finding good things to post about. But that doesn't solve life's problems. So I don't know that its accomplishing what I thought it would when I started but its still fun to do so I plan on finishing out the 100 days.
So without further adieu, a smattering of 100 Happy Days pictures (captions and commentary will have to come at a later date, don't have time right now):
The impetus for this was that I was feeling very unsettled this summer. Things are a bit off, not really where I want them to be. What I've discovered is that I really don't have any difficulty finding good things to post about. But that doesn't solve life's problems. So I don't know that its accomplishing what I thought it would when I started but its still fun to do so I plan on finishing out the 100 days.
So without further adieu, a smattering of 100 Happy Days pictures (captions and commentary will have to come at a later date, don't have time right now):
Hurray for Hay!
Thursday, October 02, 2014
More boarder gripes
A continuation of my last post (yes I'm going to whinge some more!)
I forgot about one of the big irks that happened. T's 'horsey' friend was hosting a clinic that we were planning to attend. She sends me a text to make me aware that if my horse bucks he has to wear a ribbon in his tail. First off, it is horses that kick that get the ribbon, not ones that buck. I'm sure 'horsey' friend told her that and she was only half listening and relayed bad information to me thinking that she was being pretty smart. Secondly, I was already aware of that ... but nice of her to let me know just in case. Thirdly, neither of my horses are known to kick. They are big but generally pretty gentle and harmless. In fact Cash once had a kitten climbing up his tail and he never even batted an eyelash. He does get pissy at Lilly when she is circling and barking and he has cocked his leg as a warning but so far, he hasn't let it fly (when I see that happening, its back in the truck for the dawgs!)
Today's request from T was if I could trailer D for her on Sunday or if she could rent/borrow my sister's horse trailer (which is half mine.) Her Dad will drive, etc etc. Kind of a sob story about how she doesn't want to disappoint her son for his birthday party yada yada yada. T has been genuinely helpful about sourcing out hay so I feel like I should reciprocate but I worry about setting a precedent with the trailer. So I decided that I will borrow my sister's truck and bring him to the party, she can pay for the gas. Its more work for me but that way I can return the favour, she has D for her son's party and (we, my sister and I) retain all control (real and perceived) over the trailer. She texted back a "thanks" and she's looking at "options" ... whatever that means? Maybe she'll find someone else to help her out. And I'm OK with that.
Sigh. I'm exhausted by all these little things. I just want peace and quiet out there.
I forgot about one of the big irks that happened. T's 'horsey' friend was hosting a clinic that we were planning to attend. She sends me a text to make me aware that if my horse bucks he has to wear a ribbon in his tail. First off, it is horses that kick that get the ribbon, not ones that buck. I'm sure 'horsey' friend told her that and she was only half listening and relayed bad information to me thinking that she was being pretty smart. Secondly, I was already aware of that ... but nice of her to let me know just in case. Thirdly, neither of my horses are known to kick. They are big but generally pretty gentle and harmless. In fact Cash once had a kitten climbing up his tail and he never even batted an eyelash. He does get pissy at Lilly when she is circling and barking and he has cocked his leg as a warning but so far, he hasn't let it fly (when I see that happening, its back in the truck for the dawgs!)
Today's request from T was if I could trailer D for her on Sunday or if she could rent/borrow my sister's horse trailer (which is half mine.) Her Dad will drive, etc etc. Kind of a sob story about how she doesn't want to disappoint her son for his birthday party yada yada yada. T has been genuinely helpful about sourcing out hay so I feel like I should reciprocate but I worry about setting a precedent with the trailer. So I decided that I will borrow my sister's truck and bring him to the party, she can pay for the gas. Its more work for me but that way I can return the favour, she has D for her son's party and (we, my sister and I) retain all control (real and perceived) over the trailer. She texted back a "thanks" and she's looking at "options" ... whatever that means? Maybe she'll find someone else to help her out. And I'm OK with that.
Sigh. I'm exhausted by all these little things. I just want peace and quiet out there.
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