Saddle Pad Rack

I'm still trying to get use to having a big organized tack room and shop.  Keeping it clean is a problem because sand from the indoor arena is continually getting tracked in.

 But back to organizing.  I thought I would try and make a rack for the saddle pads to keep them from piling up on top of everything else.

The design changed from how it was in my mind to reality.  I was originally going to use old plastic posts for the cross pieces but decided to dismantle a wood pallet and salvage to boards from that instead.  It remains to be seen if it was a waste of time or if it will work out to keep things organized.

Oh No, We're At It Again

Yes, we went to look at horses- again.  I don't know what keeps possessing us, it's not like we don't have enough already.  But every time I ride Otoelene and tell J how well she is doing he keeps saying, "Let's go get another one."  So really, it's J's fault. 

 So now the question is, which one?  Yearling or weanling?  We have narrowed it down to a gelding/colt.  I think we have enough mares.

 This was the brown yearling J liked in the spring.

 And this was the palomino E liked.

 Otoelene's mother had a foal this year.  She skipped getting bred last year so no yearling full brother.  This one is a little more shy than Otoelene was.

 But he is still really cute.

 Where as this one is her twin.

 This is the brother to the yearling E liked.

 I think this is my favorite of the weanlings.   (sometimes these pictures aren't doing justice)

 And I don't know if J was attracted to the creamello or he was attracted to J.  But I think J wouldn't mind having him.  He was quite the pet already.  Although, blue eyes always seem a little freaky to me.

What would you do?

Bowling Ball Art

I finally finished the project I started HERE.  

 I think it turned out pretty nice.

 I had a little trouble with the glue not being strong enough but I ended up using Fix-All Adhesive by Super Glue.  I'm hoping it holds up well.  I also started out polishing the pennies but soon gave up on that idea.

It might stay here or move around some.  We'll see.

Sissy Stays

It was a close call Friday when J hauled off the goats. 

 Sissy showed up.  This is very dangerous because I'm not too sure J cares much for Sissy.

 She jumped right in the trailer.

 Had a look around.

And decided to stay.

This is more to her liking. (and could be why J doesn't like her).   When I turned the nannies back out I tried to get Sissy to go with them but she has a mind of her own and stayed with her cattle friends instead.

Pear Sauce and then Some

It's that time again.  Yes, PEAR SAUCE TIME.  No apples again on our trees this year and the pears aren't as abundant as the last two years but there are still plenty, more that J can eat raw.  

 We still have sauce left over from last year so J wasn't having to count containers to limit himself until this year's crop was ready.

 But hating to see them go to waste, I'm making more sauce.  Of course, it starts with a bucket of pears.

 Peeled and cook just like for applesauce.  But a little different is the fact that pears seem to have a much higher water content.  So, to keep from having the sauce too runny I've been draining a lot of the liquid off and pouring it out.  That is until the last batch last year when I saved some with the idea of maybe using it in a punch at Christmas.  Well, that never happened and it was still in the freezer.  Then a friend came over for a first time riding lesson and she saw the jars of sauce.  She said she use to drink pear juice until it got too expensive to buy. WHAT?  You buy the stuff I've been pouring out?  I gave her what I had in the freezer and

am now bottling the juice.  I drain it before I add the sugar and it is still very sweet.  I'm now drinking it myself (it is very good, the taste of the pears without the yucky gritty part), but J still won't touch it.  Looks like this bottle might run over $4.00.  Who knew?

Fridays Fences #52 and The Big Goat Roundup

Another twofer, but sorry fence lookers, yours are at the end.  

 We started literally at the crack of dawn this morning.

 It was time for the Big Goat Roundup.

 Through years of experience we have discovered that a plastic bag on a stick seems to be the best way to really get the goats moving.

 So it was off the hill, into the barn lot,

 then into the barn.

 J separated out the nannies.  We ended up keeping 40 adult nannies, 2 little ones and a late born billy.  I'm not sure how to count Sissy, she absolutely won't stay with the goat herd.

 Through the fence, here's the kid crop for this year.  58 total sold with an average weight of 67 pounds.

Poor Emma was so overcome with excitement (sorry you can't hear the high pitched whining) that we had to banish her from the process.
For more of or through a fence pictures click HERE.

Early Weaning

Because the late summer here was so dry we don't have much fall grass.  To try and help the situation J decided to wean the bigger steer calves and all of the calves off of the first calf heifers. 

 He had the temporary fence in place, the 4-wheeler, and a little hay on the tractor to help encourage the cows to come.

 This deep hollow is where most of them were hanging out.

 J has them trained pretty well to come when he calls.

 Then it was the game of  'follow the tractor'.

 I brought up the rear on the 4-wheeler.

 Emma was giving Sissy lessons on helping.

 She was learning how to stand in the gate hole to thwart our sorting efforts.  Luckily, the cows didn't pay much attention to her and she soon gave up.

We sorted out a good group of calves to be dewormed and started on feed.  They are now through with the bawling stage and even though they have stayed on the farm and not mixed with any other cattle, have now started coughing.  It's always something.