My buddy...Buddy

This face is a face I smooch alot. Yes I kiss my horses...they deserve it. Not as much as I smooch Mark, but they come in a close second.

I am looking forward to lots of fun trail rides this year...on Cheech and on Buddy. The best thing about Buddy is that we've developed this partnership...I don't worry when I ride him...I relax. We are past that hump of me being on guard...I know his next move in advance and trust him completely. I just adore him. And that face...who wouldn't love that face!

ps. Buddy turns 8 on March 15th. I plan to sing to him. Don't worry...I'll post the video here. Check back when you have time. And if you don't have time...MAKE time. I promise you'll be happy you did.

Smitten

This is Doc...Cheyenne's boyfriend...yup...that's what I said...boyfriend. They are SO in love, it's almost nauseating sometimes. I mean really...look at those faces...I almost wonder if I caught them doing something inappropriate. Hmmmm...better check her for hickies.

Sleigh Ride

We've been shoveling and plowing for days...and I'm not gonna lie...we were starting to loathe the snow. We knew this negative energy was not good for either of our spirits. So yesterday we decided to make amends...bury the hatchet so to say. We hit the hill on our sleds. What a blast!

My sled was more of the modern style...but it's super fast...I think the pink makes it that way. Mark's is more a vintage style and this thing cranks. I mean seriously it goes scarey fast. Must be the weight. (Mark and I had just had HUGE subs from Subway for lunch)

First we had to clear the gate of snow so we could have an escape route. (this took a long time) Of course we did not have anything to stop us from careening down the hill and into the boggy spring swamp mess in the woods...but sometimes it's fun to live dangerously.

Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!

See that hump of snow? Man I totally caught MAJOR air on that hump. So fun. I also careened into the swampy spring bog in the woods. It's all good...it's part of the game. You know?

Luckily we did not have any major mishaps...so we figured we'd stage a few. We call it the redneck Olympics. Mark got gold in the downhill fence one man toboggan. His form was unmatched.

I got Silver. Hey...I had stiff competition!

Tree hugger

Can you imagine the surprise when I looked out my french doors and witnessed Diesel two stories off the ground? This my second story deck/porch that he is above.

I "think" he was hunting birds. But we all know the birds are way smarter...and therefore in no real danger. It didn't take long for Diesel to decide that it is much easier to come inside...whine incessantly for wet food (to which I oblige and feed him) and then curl up for a warm nap.

I feel sorry for Mark sometimes...he frequently becomes the napping space. Shoot...frequently? Almost always is more accurate. At least Diesel is safe here.

Dessert

Mark and I love dessert. We love dessert so much we sometimes plan our dinner based on what's for dessert. Usually we have ice cream...even in the winter. We warm it up by adding a brownie...warmed. YUM! And then there's Mark's idea of warming up dessert. I tend to agree...YUM!

Plbbbbbbbbb

I think Cheyenne is sick of all the snow. At 4 years of age going on 5, raspberries are the most appropriate way to express oneself. (I have to say that I totally agree with her...snow...plbbbbbbbb).

POWER restored!

Happy to report...we have electricity again. Yay! It almost didn't happen (I think). I was on my way out to run errands...and I was making my way up our dicey little road...fishtailing the whole way and thinking there ain't no way a big ole BGE truck is gonna get down and then back up this road. As I crested the hill, what do I see? The BGE truck! Two guys are standing outside the truck gathering materials. I rolled down my window and asked hey...you aren't by chance heading down this road to (our address) are you? They were!

I offered to drive them down in my Jeep...there was no way that big ole BGE truck was gonna make it. So they climbed in and off we went. Once we got to the farm, they were able to pinpoint the problem right away. They used this LOOOOOONNNNGG pole to remove the old blown fuse and install a new one. Voila...power restored. I could have kissed those guys...but that just wouldn't have been appropriate...so instead I gave them lunch money.

Some will say...they were doing their job. I say...these guys were gonna WALK down my road to see if they could fix our power outage. That spoke to me. Anyway...in celebration...I am now doing laundry. Whahoooooo!

Hello...hello..hello up there

Lovey...who we've nicknamed Xena because of her Crazy B*$@h fighting instincts has been allowed upstairs when all the other cats are safely hidden away. She loves these few hours with us. And she LOVES to roll around near the woodstove...which is just to the right in this picture. Mark's rain gear just happened to be in the perfect spot...for her to climb inside the leg. Well she tried anyway. We think we may change her name to LCB (Lovey Crazy B*$@h).

Down for the count

Seems the horses were really enjoying the sunshine...after the Blizzard of 2010. (like these lazy sacks did any work)

Timbre agrees...horses are lazy.

Need I say more?

I owe ALOT to our little generator...I really do.

Enough already!

We are so done with all the snow. We've received a total close to 3ft. We are without power, but thankfully have a generator. Phew. The new woodstove is getting a work out and is doing fabulously. Phew again. Anyway...I have a few pictures...and will post more in the next post...so stay tuned.

This gives you an idea of how much snow we've gotten. This was BEFORE we got the additional foot. God help us.

Leroy says...screw this crap...I'm so done with it too!

Scarey night for Buddy (and Mark and Me)

Last night when I was about to bring the horses in for dinner, I noticed that Buddy had laid down to roll. I was not alarmed by it because the horse have been enjoying the snow. But this quickly changed when I caught Cheyenne to bring her in and Buddy was not on her heels. (he always comes in with Cheyenne). When I glanced back I noticed he was up but pawing the snow. Uh oh. I shifted into medic mode. I quickly got Cheech in and then grabbed Buddy. I knew we were in trouble when I put him in his stall and he immediately started pawing. I yelled for Mark and grabbed Bud's halter. Mark immediately took him out to start walking. I gave him 1gm of Banamine and called my vet.

Remember it is Sunday night (around 6) and the Super Bowl is on. I left a message on the answering service and within 5 mins had a call back. I love my vet. He took down the info I had to offer, told me to keep walking him and said he'd be here shortly. His farm is about 20 mins away and he was at my farm within in a half hour. He listened for gut sounds and took blood. He then gave him a shot of banamine (in the vein) and we took Buddy inside for a rectal.

The manure he pulled out did not look bad...but Dr. H thought it had not been moving as quickly as it should be. He was not surprised that horses were not consuming enough water. He was happy to see that I had heated buckets. He removed 3-4 handfuls of manure and then we turned Buddy around and tubed him with warm water and oil. From that we got lots of gut sounds...a good sign. Buddy was showing signs of being more comfortable too.

We walked him for a few more hours. Last night we kept horses in and by morning Buddy had produced 2 nice piles of manure. Believe what was just on the other side of the blockage. So things were moving. He got 1/2 of his morning ration with TONS of water. Doc noted the importance of getting things moving again.

So now I am on poop watch. Looking for the oily manure that shows what was pumped into him last night is moving out. I have my binoculars as the horses are out to pasture now. Dr. H also mentioned that Buddy moving around was best. He produced another nice pile as soon as we turned them out and one more just before he headed up the hill.

This am Mark and I installed another water trough complete with a heater...anything to encourage them to drink. Kris...what is the name of that stuff you put on your horses feed to encourage drinking? Quench? I want to buy some.

I was so scared last night...I kept flashing back to the night Quest died. Luckily this time I caught it early and I don't think it was caused by a stricture...but more dehydration.

Now I plan to double up on the water I put on my feed (which is already alot). And Mark and I plan to change out buckets out after every feeding...to encourage them to drink since the water will be super fresh. And we added the heated tub.

I'm so tired...and therefore so happy my boss closed my office. But I'm the happiest that Buddy is okay. Okay...gotta go watch for poop.

Simple pleasures

I love that Reese's has attached itself to every holiday. There was a time when you could only get Reese's peanut butter treats (aside from the typical cups) around Easter. Peanut Butter eggs were my favorite. (still are) But not anymore...now you can get them for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Yay!

I also love these new smarties. Bigger AND they have cute little sayings on them. The one I just ate said sugar lips on it. tee hee

Feline groovy...and a bit surrounded

I think it's an understatement to say that Mark likes cats...and that they like him. Of course it doesn't hurt that the woodstove is situated on the far left side of this picture. So one could argue that the woodstove is the draw...but I know Mark and am familiar with his magnetic personality. I think it's Mark.

ps. That was Gigilo in position #3 this past weekend. We have these fond memories to help us.

He fought a good fight

Today we put Giggy to rest. While it is hard for us to not feel like quitters, we remind ourselves that we are not. None of us are. Mark, Gigilo or me. There just comes a time when we have to decide what is best for the patient. At our followup appt. at the vet this morning, they were very concerned with the amount of tissue Gigilo had lost and was continuing to lose on his hind legs. Upon further inspection (while Giggy was under sedation, so he felt no pain) they learned that his patella (and the knee joint) was exposed as well as his femur. The open joint was their main concern. There was infection present there.

In most cases an amputation would be in order. And believe it or not, most animals do just fine with one less appendage. The only problem was that Giggy's other leg was not in great shape either. Multiple wounds, and a few of those wounds affected joints. So even if that leg healed, it would likely not be able to support his weight if the right leg was amputated. The vet did not have a good feeling. Money was no object, so I knew that the vet was not thinking that way. Even with money, this could not be fixed in a way that would have been fair to Giggy. And that is and was always our primary concern.

Mark and I talked and decided that Giggy fought a good fight...that he deserved to leave in dignity...not in pain and bandaged and drugged. So we are freeing him from this fight. We will bring Giggy home and will bury him on our farm. We have a spot on top of the hill where his good friends are. I'm sure they will be waiting for him.

Gigilo you have touched our hearts, our souls and our spirits. We hope you enjoy a place that is free of pain and full of cat treats. We also hope you visit us often in spirit. You will be greatly missed and we are thankful to have had you in our lives.

RIP my friend.