Clean Slate

Wow, it's so nice to have such a big open space.

 Unfortunately, this is the last time it will look this way.

J has already started moving my stuff out of the garage to the shop.  I still won't be able to use the wood working equipment until we get electricity to the shop.  I also need lots of shelves, places to hang tack and a work bench.  This construction process is never ending.

Trail Ride

Our 4-H group had a small trail ride yesterday.  The person that was going to go with us that knew other trails got kicked and couldn't ride so that left us going on Horse Heave again. We had 2 4-Hers and 5 adults. Joe was going to ride his dad's horse Lady but she coliced the day before.  She seemed fine yesterday but we didn't want to stress her.  Someone else brought an extra horse for me to ride.  She was a 3 year old QH that had not been ridden since last  October.  She actually did really well. 

 E rode Hank because we haven't put shoes on Pep in over a year.  It doesn't seem to make a difference though, she gets abscesses weather we shoe her or not.

E rode up near the front for most of the ride.  This was an entirely different position for her.  I think she liked the change of scenery.

Daylilies

I currently have lots of daylilies in bloom.  Here are some of my favorites.  They were all a gift from J's aunt Gail which makes them even more special. 

I especially like this double one.

Jessica

Jessica is lame.  J is very depresses because he was planning on being able to take her on the endurance ride this year.  She had never been lame before, unlike E's horse Pep who seems to have more lame days than sound. 

 She pulled a shoe the day before the farrier came and was extremely lame when he reset her shoes.  I was hoping it was just sore from having pulled the shoe but it hasn't gotten any better.  Now I'm worried that maybe she fractured her coffin bone.

 I borrowed the portable x-ray machine from work and J was a willing helper.

 It takes some effort to get the right angle.

I took several views and don't see a fracture.  She is still lame however.  I might have to get the local equine vet to come take a look and possible re x-ray her with her digital machine.

Late Comers

The last nanny finally kidded with a set of twins a mere 2 months after everyone else. J has named this one the midnight caller because it yelled all night out in front of our bedroom window the night it was born.  

 They are about 2 weeks old now

 We have been keeping them in the barn lot because they won't be able to keep up with the herd yet.

J thought it was time to band them so I said I would help but he had them caught and banded while I was still taking pictures.  I said "what are you, a one man band?"  Then I realized the pun.

The Garden

The garden is doing great this year. 

 The 4 cabbages are huge and ready for the fair.

 The snow peas are growing wild.  I have tried to contain them with twine but they have outgrown the supports.

 E has already picked a mess of beans and cooked them for us.

 I can't wait for these to turn red so I can start having bacon and tomato sandwiches again.

 I have no idea what is wrong with this puny pepper plant.  It stays wilted half the time and is 1/4 the size of the others.

 I don't know how many squash I've picked (and given away).  But I noticed something has been eating the blooms.

 Then I found Toad.  I can't decide if he is eating them or after whatever else is.

I'm trying the cucumbers on a trellis this year.  It looks like they are off the a good start.

The Great Escape

 We got the dreaded call the other day, "Your cattle are out."  The last time we got the call it wasn't ours, but this time it was.

A group of cows and calves found a section of fence where the post had rotted off and they were able to get out and into a neighbors  hay field.  The problem is that the hay field is along the main road and there is no fence between the field and road.

But J hasn't been training his cows for nothing.

He just swooks and they follow.

Two bulls also were out but they were hidden by the tall grass.

 It took a little more effort to drive them back in but still pretty uneventful.  J moved them to another field so he won't have to worry until he can get the fence fixed.  It's nice to have calm cattle that are use to rotational grazing.  they are so much easier to work with.