First Blooms

The daffodils have been pushing their way up out of the ground.

Today, one finally made it all the way open.

There are several more getting ready to pop. 

We will see how the blooming goes.  Looks like Zipper doesn't respect the flower bed border much. 
 

Thankful Sunday #9

I am thankful for the Facebook groups and Youtubers that post Dollar General deals.  I have gotten so many things that I ordinarily never would have tried because I thought they were to expensive.

I love this Dawn Powerwash.  It really works on grease and a whole host of other things not on the label.  At $5 a bottle, I never before would have bought it.

But at 50 cents a bottle, I am cleaning out the store. 

There is a sale, buy the spray bottle get the refill free, and a digital coupon for the same thing.  Both are stacking together making each pair 96 cents plus tax. 
 

Zipper's New Toy

Zipper chewed up a solar light so I thought it would be a good time to give her her new toy.

She loves it. 

Now maybe she will leave a few other things alone.

Like the turtle shell,         

the sea shells, 

and whatever was in this pot that I never found. 

And the powerline guide wire cover, to name a few. 
 

Ponytail Palm, The Small One

I have 2 ponytail palms.  This is the smaller and younger of the two.  

A neighbor gave it to me as a get well gift after a surgery I had 4 years ago.

The top had been cut off to encourage "branching".  

It is planted in some sort of concrete like rocks.  I can't see any dirt.  But it seems to like the situation because it keeps living and growing.  

 

Bad For Sale Picture

 Cute puppy, nothing wrong there.

But who goes into a dog pen BAREFOOT!  That's just gross. 

Better Late Than Never

Our clinic Christmas party was December 2nd.  One of our drug reps was suppose to have sent prizes for our staff.  They showed up this week.  No idea where they have been for the last 3 months.  So we had a drawing to divide up the gifts. 

I won a tennis ball and chew frisbee.  Perfect for Zipper.  I'll let you know how she likes them.  
 

Sorting and Shuffling

Today I helped J sort and shuffle the cows around. 

First, we had to get them out of the bottom

through another field 

and into the barn lot.  Here we sorted out the bred heifers so J could start feeding them a little better before they calve.  There was also an open cow and a few late bred second calf heifers that will move to the fall calving herd.  

So the cows went back to the bottom.  The first calf heifers went behind the house.  The late bred heifers out to the red barn, and the open cow stayed at the barn lot to be sold Thursday.  Sorting and shuffling complete. 
 

Baby S's First Ride

The weather was nice and V and M had the day off so they brought Baby S to the farm for her first horse ride!

Otoelene was a dream, even with Zipper barking and biting her tail and the bird stuck in the downspout fluttering around.

I think Baby S had a good time.  She even started singing. 

I know I had a good time.

I think it was a great first ride.  Looking forward to many more. 
 

Thankful Sunday #8

A simple one today.  I am thankful for this little mortal and pestle set from my sister's old chemistry set. 

It seems like I am always having to give one of the horses medicine of some sort.  Right now it is bute for Little Girl.  This has been a great tool to crush the tablets so I can mix it with pear sauce, then get it in a syringe to squirt in her mouth.  
 

Poinsettias

For the last few years I have bought the 99 cent poinsettias at Lowes on Black Friday.  I figure they make pretty cheap Christmas decorations.  They last at least until Easter when I usually get tired of them and throw them out. 

This year I also found these ceramic pots.  They came in a three pack with succulent plants in them.   When I saw that the poinsettias fit perfectly, I had to have 2 sets. 

This group of poinsettias has been exceptional.  Maybe I will set them outside this summer and see how they do. 
 

I'll Take "Extra Farm Work" for $100 Alex

Ash trees killed by Emerald Ash Borer, 50 mph winds and fences.

one,

                                                               two,

                                                              three. 

What are "things that don't mix well on a farm?"  

That is correct.  Unfortunately, you don't win $100, just the extra work. 
 

Lesson Learned The Hard Way

This was not my surgery but easily could have been.  I did get to deal with the aftermath the next day.   It was a 5 year old 64 pound dog neuter.  Our policy is to keep spays and neuters overnight after the surgery.  This is so we know the pet will be confined and resting. Some owners choose to take them home the same day.  They have to sign a release that this is against our recommendations.

This is why. 

(standing on rear legs scrotum huge and oozing blood from pours)  Apparently, he felt good enough to wrestle around with their other dog.  This is not what we recommend the night of the surgery and why we what them in a controlled cage in the clinic. He showed improvement after several cold compresses so I am hopeful I won't have to do a scrotal ablation.  The dog didn't know any better but the owner should have.  She said she learned her lesson.   

Bad Dog

Ok, she wasn't that bad, just using some click bait.  But I am every so slightly annoyed.  

I walked out an noticed a random empty pot in the yard.  I don't have random empty pots laying around but I do have some pots with plants that I have rooted or divided awaiting new homes.  So where was the plant?

Here was the first clue, a pile of dirt. 

Ah, a chewed up black berry vine along with some eggshells I had thrown on the garden, a stick and a bird feather.  Zipper is quite the collector.  I have now put part of the prickly cedar Christmas tree over the remaining plants.  Maybe that will protect them from Zipper.  
 

Another Nice Ride

With the temperature in the 50's today after a stretch of 20's and 30's I thought it might be nice to go for a little ride on Otoelene. 

I usually head downhill and do a loop around the lower part of the farm.  But today I headed up hill.  The view is always spectacular. 

I didn't get my camera out in time to catch the deer running and jumping but Otoelene noticed them.  About the only reaction was her putting her ears forward. 

I spied J getting some firewood. 

There are still a few pockets of snow on the northern shaded slopes.  But the ground is pretty dry now so walking was much easier than our last ride. 

A nice ride makes any day better. 

Lots Of Random Items

Sorry for so many pictures, but I have a project that needs lots of random items.  

I have a ton of J's old jeans. 

An old pair of Pointer overalls.

Some pop tops. 

Lots of beads,

and buttons. 

Some yarn.

A container of magnetic Stix & balls. 

A jewelry craft set. 

The string from a hoodie. 

and some felt.   Have you guessed it yet.  

I am making Baby S a Quiet Book.  I had the idea when she would go to the coat rack and try to zip up her coat.  I knew there were fastener play things but when I looked it up I found they were called Quiet Books.  I have been scrolling through Pinterest for ideas.  This is what I have so far. 

String art around buttons.  The inspiration was actually a spiderweb but I liked just the free form approach. 

And a page of counting beads.  That is all I have finished so far.  But I have a good start on some other pages. 

A shoe tying page.  I was racking my brain to figure out how to mimic eyelets since I don't have the tool, and finally came up with the pop tops.  I think it will work perfectly.   

The I will do something with the magnetic sticks and a long magnetic beaded string.  

And since a zipper started everything, I will have to use that somewhere.   This is why it is so hard for me to get rid of anything.  You never know what random item you may want.