It’s interesting that, on March 3rd, 2023, we had brought Zorro and Amiga down from the upper paddock to make a herd of four with Cowboy and Polly's horse Rio. And now, two years later, the two Pasos have been moved back up to join Rico, my second horse.
Things at the ranch have certainly changed over the four years we have owned it (bought in 2/23/2021). Sometimes these changes were due to events that befuddled or disturbed things. Other times, the changes themselves caused one to feel a bit discombobulated.
The horses are resilient, and able to bounce back and get use to the change, although they are always a tad thrown off and rattled at first. Whether it's boarders, renters, pets or livestock, all have adapted well to the changes.
Saturday 4/5 - After getting last week‘s blog finished and posted I went to the ranch, with the intention to help Joe with some projects, but according to him, he was managing on his own.
One change at the ranch I have been concerned about, is the erosion of soil from the lower paddock. 
This second photo was taken back in October of 2021. The area between the shop and pond has since really washed away. Before, the embankment along the pond's edge was much steeper. Now the flat area along the fence is narrower and the sloping hill is wider, so more gradual. And the horses have made a second walking path closer to the pond.
I had planned to help Joe get the fencing attached to the gate post, but he had already done it, using clips because the post wasn't firm enough to be hammered into. Oops, and it's not quite vertical.
I raked up all the old hay from the round bale that the horses have trampled, peed on, and decided not to eat. There was a little bit to salvage, but most of it I spread out over the dirt in the paddock, what I usually do with bad hay, to help slow erosion.
While doing a few other little jobs, I noticed that Dorado and Cowboy are starting to buddy up, which is a good thing.
These two big guys are so mellow. And Banner, as usual, just comes and goes as he pleases, not paying much attention to the other horses.
Rico is in limbo, a bit discombobulated, wanting back with Dorado, but sometimes migrating towards Amiga and Zorro. I hope all three Pasos soon become friends.
Patty had been mowing and then picked up some sticks. When I helped her empty a wagon load, she pointed out this cluster of hair thrown over the fence into the neighboring briar patch. It looked like a baby Sasquatch.
It was good to see these three boys doing well together when I left.
It was a fairly warm day, although a tad overcast. Once I got home, I had lunch and read my book out on the deck with Rose near by.
Eventually, I took to the task of picking up sticks in the yard, spending nearly 2 hours at it. I had made some piles but had plenty more scattered throughout the backyard. I carried many bunches across the creek and up the hill into the woods.
Rose and Maggie kept watch (supervised) while I worked. Before calling it quits, I also took the Christmas lights off the Blue Spruce.
News from Britney - she got her stitches out and all incisions looked good.
Joe ordered a Domino’s Pizza for dinner and I gladly partook of it, with him. While he watched the final four ball games, I tried to organize my thoughts to get this blog started and also do some communications with various people.
In bed, I continued reading my James Patterson novel.
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Sunday 4/6 - It had rained all night (with wind and torrential downpours) and continued most of the day. We were under a tornado watch and freezing temperatures were expected Monday and Tuesday night. Shirley did not feel up to Church, so I stayed in my PJs almost all day. I love my Sunday, days of rest.
After blogging, I spent too much time putting together a playlist of country songs, but enjoyed listening to the music.
I wanted to see how the horses were doing with the transition at feeding time, so met Joanne at the ranch to 'help' (support her as needed).
Dorado is doing great with Cowboy and Banner, having kind of bonded with Cowboy. He followed him in to eat.
Amiga and Zorro, behind the shop by the paddock fence, had watched the other horses go in for dinner. Rico was hanging around near them, looking for Dorado. Then they went to the red gate to be let into the paddock to eat. Nope, wrong paddock.
Barely seen in this photo, Joanne was leading Rico up for dinner. I haltered Amiga to take her up and Zorro followed and then actually went running past us.
After getting them into their 'feeding' positions, everything went well.
I was at the gym from nine to nearly noon. I tried my full workout, at reduced weight levels for several, but unable to do eight of the ab and upper body exercises because of sore ribs. Although I am making progress, I feel disgruntled or discombobulated, not being able to do my usual workout still.
When I got to the ranch at 1:30, Rico and Amiga were resting (at a distance from each other) while Zorro stood watch over Amiga. Notice that the dogwood along the back fence line, is in full bloom.
Patty arrived moments later and we got to work on the oak table. It took considerable effort to pull it apart so the leaves could be added. The gears were rusted and the sliding mechanism gunked up.
This is an internet version of what a clean sliding mechanism should look like. We set to work cleaning all the parts of the apparatus using Milsek antique wood restoration (polish & cleaner). Patty continued polishing the table and chairs while I used the Old English furniture scratch cover/polish on the little pine cabinet. We had everything looking so much better.
Karen arrived and when we got to a good stopping place, we went out with her to support and coach her about the new chore proedures. The Pasos came in better, but it is still a work in progress getting them into the correct feeding positions. Karen went down to the barn, Joe arrived, and Patty did some grooming after the Pasos were done with 'dinner.'
I went with Joe out to the upper feed room to assist in getting three boards (from a long one Patty had brought, that Joe cut), screwed into place. This was to keep water and wind out of the last three cracks that had not gotten covered a few years back.
Patty had time to help me hang one picture in the guest room. It had two metal hangers on the back, so is difficult to get perfectly straight. There were a few struggles but we got it up, and level. The angle of this photo makes the picture look crooked, but it wasn't.
It had been cold and cloudy all day, but just after dinner, the sun broke through for a bit. I love how it pours in through my corner office windows, which face due west. The windows and especially screens are filthy as can really be seen with the sun shining.
Joe and I watched TV (Suits) early so he could catch the start of the final game of the NCAA men's March Madness, championship.
Tuesday 4/8 - The sun was actually shining today, but it was still very cold outside. And for some reason, I lacked total motivation to do much of anything. I just felt discombobulated. I had things that needed doing, but the timing wasn’t right, like a chain of events - one thing had to happen before another and I just felt like I couldn’t accomplish anything. So, I ended up eating crap food (and a large quantity of it) that I shouldn’t have been eating, giving me a sour stomach.
I did go to the gym, first stopping at The Center to inquire about library room rental for Britney's reception August 16th. I needed to make an appointment to talk with my supervisor. While there, I dropped in on the Volunteer Expo and I ended up chatting with the ladies at Wild About Cats for quite some time. Stevie, Mama Styx, Babe, and Wanda were all rescues from this wonderful organization.
Patty sent this photo of the Pasos after their dinner.
I did an aerobic workout at the gym. I was actually feeling a little sore on my ribs from what I had done the day before, so I just tried to stretch and do minimal range of motion with my upper body.
Once home, rather than being productive, I read in the sun on the living room floor and took a long nap. I fixed myself a big dinner, which I really didn’t need to be eating because I'd been snacking all day.
At almost 11pm we got a message. Britney's surgeon had thoroughly examined her head and found nothing, no liquid draining, the pump was working fine, and the incision was healing well. There was no explanation for why a clear liquid had come out of her head and into her hand (twice) when she had bent over. The second time she showed Juan Carlos the liquid in her hand. It is a mystery, an unknown strange occurrence. Whatever it was, I believe our prayers were answered and God took care of it.
Like the cats and I, Amiga loves laying in the warm sunshine. Zorro (seen above) and Rico, were off grazing.
Jean wanted some chicken photos, so I took several. This shows three of the four. Gloria, not seen, tends to stay clear of these three.
I finished cleaning (refurbishing) the last two dinner chairs, cleaned the chick brooder and messed with hanging a picture, but would need Patty's help.
Then I fetched Amiga to go for a ride. While grooming, I noticed a marble size glob in her ear. Gently picking at it, the whole thing popped right off, exposing this sore underneath it. I medicated it and was soon ready to head out on the trail.
We had a nice, slow, easy ride (video), being out for 50 minutes. Returning to the barn riding down Hathaway, this fallen tree blocked our way, so we had to turn around. Amiga was not happy about it.
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I got news from Juan Carlos and Britney just as I was heading home. Britney's head was definitely leaking CSF still, when she leaned over. Juan Carlos took a video of it to show her surgeon. In this photo (from the video) you can see her wet hair but also (hard to see) the fluid was dripping onto the floor. Dr. Caceres told Britney to go to the hospital, so they were heading there. Surgery looked imminent.
Besides praying and sending out prayer requests, there was not much else I could do. Agitated, irritated, frustrated, and discombobulated; I went to the gym rather than starting in on eating junk food.
Both doctors were in surgery, so B & J had to wait... for a long time.
Finally, a prognosis from the surgeons: Britney's shunt
pump needs replacing, with probable additional modifications to the
catheter. 
Before they can do surgery they had to be sure there was no infection because of the opening in her head. They taped into her shunt to get the CSF and sent it off to the lab. After a two hour wait the results came back. There was no infection! Thanks be to God, if infected, she would need three days of filtration before the shunt surgery. They also did a CT scan to compare from March 26th to today. And to slow the leak, they changed the pump pressure, and no bending over for Britney. And then more waiting because the doctors had another surgery.
Thursday 4/10 - Sleep was spotty at best. I was questioning God. Why had they not seen the leak Tuesday, so sent Britney home instead of fixing the problem then? But I realized that all of this is God‘s timing. Maybe Tuesday was not a good time for her to have surgery, for whatever reasons. We don’t know God‘s ultimate plan but have to trust in Him.
I got up at 4am and soon heard from Britney. They had her take a scrub shower in preparation for surgery. Juan Carlos sent this photo at 5:05am. Britney was ready to go. She reported feeling good, and calm. 😌 And I hoped the surgeons were well rested.
At 6am they took her back for surgery.
It was cold and gloomy and we had a pop-up shower for about an hour.
Here is a zoom-in on Rose who is difficult to see in the first photo. Maggie helped me chase away the black tomcat last night and again this morning. 
Minutes
before 10:00 Juan Carlos sent photos of Britney coming back from
surgery.
His tender touch, holding her hand was heart warming. 
This is a close up of the red vial on her bed. It shows the old, broken shunt pump that was removed. 
Juan Carlos also sent a video of Britney answering questions, before
she was really awake. It was reassuring that she was thinking and
responding correctly.
Mama could now relax, as I'm sure is true for Juan Carlos and
many others. 
With Britney now resting comfortably in her hospital room (sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia), I could get on with my day.
I had an early lunch, ran a few errands, including talking with my supervisor about renting the library building for Britney and Juan Carlos' reception. Then I met Patty at the ranch to ride. 
We brought Rico and Zorro down from the upper paddock and got them saddled.
After a few photos in the round pen, we were ready to head out.
Amiga had done some calling and we saw Banner run up to the corner of the back pasture to be with her.
Cowboy and Dorado hung out watching us until we hit the trail.
Rico looking at Dorado who had been nickering to him.
The temperature was perfect, cool but not too breezy. We had an enjoyable 3½ mile ride. It was a little slippery in places but we kept the pace fairly slow. I was glad it didn't bother my ribs, other than when I swung the saddle up on Rico.
Amiga had not gotten too stressed being by herself, but was glad to see Zorro and even Rico when we brought them back up. I am so thankful that the Pasos are becoming a happy little herd.
Juan Carlos sent more photos. Britney had been awake for awhile and eaten. Now she was resting, listening to music.
Again, I am so thankful for the great care given to her by doctors, nurses and JC; for all Juan Carlos' reassuring photos and encouraging up-dates.
Joe had been waiting on me, and we soon got to work in the chicken yard. First to straighten this Leland Cypress that was leaning way over onto the roof of their little shelter.
We had it straight, but by the time I came back to take photos, it was leaning a little bit, even though we had added and tamped in dirt all around it. We will need to stake it up.
Notice the sky getting dark. We were under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8pm.
Joe helped me pull the poop filled tarp (that is under the roost) from the chicken coop which I cleaned off later and put back in.
Then, with a big ladder and chain saw, I assisted Joe while he trimmed dead branches off the 'downed' dogwood tree that the chickens love to perch in. We also cut the dead side off the last remaining up-right dogwood and trimmed the dead top part off of what was left of it.
It looks pretty pathetic. We'll see how it does, but I know it's days are numbered. I like the trees in the chicken run to help protect them from hawks and other birds of prey - swooping in and catching them.
The wind had picked up, the skies in the near distance darkened, and it was lightning and thundering way off. I knew a storm was blowing in, and not just because my phone app said so.
I got the tarp back in the coop and chickens cared for, for the night, and then went to feed horses. After the Pasos were done eating and let back out of their 'stalls,' Zorro joined Amiga on her side and Rico stayed in on his side. Were they hunkering down in preparation for the impending storm?
Some rain drops were starting to hit the roof as I rushed off to go feed the three boys in the lower paddock. And of course, they were way out in the back field, not coming when I called (videos). .png)
I was glad I didn't have to walk all the way into the back pasture to get them. And, I was just getting hit by occasional raindrops. Once they were all in their feeding locations, eating, it began to rain, but it only lasted a few minutes as the clouds blew over. 
Later, when I was home and on the computer, I saw this posted on the Fairfield Glade neighbors Facebook page. Some parts of the Glade got drenched in heavy rain and others got some hail, as seen in this photograph. Those silly golfers. 
An update on Britney showed her alert and eating dinner. She had been up to use the restroom and seemed to be doing well. She was still on IV antibiotics, to ward off any potential infection because of the breach in her shunt system and the leaking of CSF.
Joe and I watched Survivor after dinner. I was feeling much less discombobulated.
Friday 4/11 - We had more rain overnight, but not the storms that were predicted. It was a cold, dark, damp morning. I sat here to get caught up on blogging. Two cats watching three ducks later in the day.
Again I had morning duty at the ranch and was to put on fly masks, but again it was cold, breezy, and rainy. So I waited for it to clear off.
Juan
Carlos had sent late night voice messages from Britney and Dr.
Caceres. It was so good to hear her voice and the doctor's surgery
report. Also sent was this photo of her having a breakfast of champions.
Britney had also posted this on Facebook: "So today they took out the old pump from my head and put in a new one, in a slightly different area because I’ve now had 14 shunt surgeries and my skin over the pump was so thin (that's where it was leaking out at). The pump was 10 years old, and the doctors said the silicon had fissures where it leaked out of it. I still have my 10 year old proximal catheter that goes into my ventricles, but now my pump and distal catheter are new."
Karen, Joanne and I decided to cancel our ride because it remained cold, gloomy, and rainy. So I worked here at my computer. By the time I downloaded photos and blogged yesterday‘s events, it was late morning.
I had
a big early lunch and then went to the ranch to put fly masks on, but it
started raining again so I didn’t need to do that. I took care of the
chicks. One had a crusty butt, so I soaked it in a glass of warm water. 
After their brooder was cleaned, and they got fresh water and more food and sand, they all started getting sleepy. Notice one perched on the stick and the others beginning to conk out.
The rain had stopped so I went out to finished picking up sticks in the chicken yard from our tree trimming yesterday and also mucked the upper paddock.
Home for a quick change, and I was off to the gym for 2½ hours of working out and a shower there.
Britney with Dr. Caceres. By now, Britney had gotten her bills paid, released from the hospital, and made it home.
A look at her new additional hair cut and longer incision.
Jean reflected with this thoughtful sentiment - Just remember she has a whole different definition of beautiful and she probably wouldn’t care if her whole head was shaved!! That’s why she is so amazing. Beauty runs so deep within her, it really doesn’t matter what happens to ‘the shell’.
My plans to blog and prepare for an early morning departure for Nashville did not happen because I got tired and went to bed at 8:15.
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