Kickoff

Let the fun and games begin!  This week marked the kickoff of several things, while also observing the ending of May.
It was to be a first for: opening Dorchester Pool, attending Mirror Lake Blast, putting Rico in the same pasture with Cowboy and Banner, trailering Rico to a park to ride with Betty and Dorado, and baby Layla making (or starting) her entry into this world.

Saturday 5/24 - Babe on the inside and Rose outside this morning.  I worked at the pool (cleaning, moving deck furniture, and planting more flowers) from 8:30-12:15, shopped at Food City, and then had another great ride.  Today's ride was with Karen.  The weather was like yesterday‘s ride, cool with very few flies but still lots of ticks.  I forgot to set my horse tracker, so I'm not sure how far we went, but it was probably about three miles.  I took the nightlight out of the chicken coop, so the chicks are officially big girls now and will be treated as such.  No more pampering.  It was again after 5pm by the time I got home.
 

Mama Styx and Monita having a 'stand-off' as usual.

With spring turning into summer we also have had a kickoff of more activity with our Horse Hotel/Air B&B.  We had four different groups of overnighters (last Friday, tonight, tomorrow, and Tuesday nights).  I think business has picked up because horses are being transported more often over the summer months. 

Sunday 5/25 - It was the 109th running of the Indy 500.  I was going to try to listen to parts of it on the radio at work, but was unable to.  Sister Carol reported that the race end was exciting with close leaders, low fuel, and bald tires.

After Church I did household chores and gathered things for my pool bag (including a packed dinner) to take to work.  It was kickoff day for the pool for this summer.  Jackie had opened and I went in a little early so we could collaborate on a few tasks.  We never could get the receipt printer to work for our mid-day/shift-change money report.  We only had ten customers all day, as it was a bit cloudy and scarcely 71° for a high.  And Sue was the sole person to get in the 70° water, barely going knee deep.

I called IT who walked me through the possible problems with the receipt printer.  Jackie and I had checked all the cords, but the one in the power pack hadn't been completely in all the way.  Once I got it, the machine started printing all of these receipts.  LOL  Then a thunderstorm after all the customers had left enabled me to close early and come home for dinner and to get Sunday chores done.  I took a Tylenol PM again, which has enabled me to get a full seven hours of sleep the past two nights.

Monday 5/26 - Have a meaningful Memorial Day.  Honor those who served and remember those who gave their lives to keep our freedom.  We'd had storms overnight, but all was calm when I got up at 5am.  It was cold, damp, and cloudy; and didn't look like it would be a good pool day or kickoff for the summer Mirror Lake Blast concert series.

It was a foggy drive to the ranch.  When I arrived at 7:30, five overnight horses were in the corral and one was in Zorro's stall. 









I couldn't put the three boys out in the field yet, so fed Wanda and went up to feed the Pasos. 






I noticed the round pen had gotten rather trampled from the two horses that were there overnight Saturday.

I got to the pool at 9:00 and prepared for opening. 

While working at the pool, in a cold, damp drizzle; Patty sent these (videos) and I got these photos off of.  Look at the big stock trailer down by the corral that the overnighters put their six horses in. 





Patty said when she opened the gate to let the horses on the front pasture, they ran right up to see the other three.  Then they proceeded to run around and show off. 








After tomorrow night (with more overnighters and needing to shut these three in the lower paddock) I plan to put Rico out on the front pasture with them every night.  He will then get moved into the upper paddock with the two Pasos during the day. 

We are trying out this new herd arrangement due to grass shortage on the side pasture, Rico needing more calories, he is still going through the electric fence at night when it isn't hot (instead of around to the open gate to get into the paddock) and he continues to pester Amiga.  But he has to be in with the Pasos during the day so he will eat hay and take a break from all the grass.  We'll see how this goes for awhile.

Most of the time the three Pasos just stood and watched while the crazy boys raced back and forth. 





Amiga did turn her backend to them but otherwise, they all three basically just stood by the fence.  Although Rico did get a little animated at one point.







I think Rico's going to have fun when he gets out with the three boys.

The drizzle had picked up and was now a light rain.  I only had one pool customer who decided not to stay, and then got word to close the pool for the day.

I was cold and wet when I arrived home.  I brewed a cup of tea, got back into my loungers, and spread out on the couch to read.  Notice I had the space heater on, my hot tea, a fuzzy blanket, a dog, and three cats; all to keep me warm.

I read, napped, and messed at my computer until kickoff time for Mirror Lake Blast. 

Joe and I had beer, pizza, and popcorn for dinner and were just finishing when the band started up.  Even though it was rather cool and gloomy, there was a decent crowd turnout. 

The Second Wind Band did a nice job, although a little slow to play the good dancing tunes, so the dance floor was not real crowded to begin with.  It is always fun when the horn section comes out onto the dance floor. 

And I was able to get Joe up out of his seat and down on the dance floor. 

We can be seen on the left in this photo.

One of the musicians took and posted this photo.

It actually turned out to be a great crowd and a nice evening.  The sprinkles started up during the last song but the rain didn't hit until I was home and in my PJs.  It had been so nice to see old familiar faces and be dancing again.

This (video) was posted on Facebook Tuesday morning, shows we were having a good time.

Tuesday 5/27 - We had plenty of rain overnight and it proceeded to linger as a drizzle much of the day.  Seen in back, the pregnant doe, who was chewing her cud after eating some corn. 








I made it to the gym relatively early.  It was quite crowded because they had been closed yesterday.  I was in no hurry because Betty and I were waiting on the weather to ride. 






The forecast changed, not in our favor, and there was a good chance of rain much of the afternoon.  So we cancelled our ride and I went in to town to do some much needed shopping.  I scampered through rain showers with my goods and am always thankful for a garage when unloading everything back home. 

Poker Joe was gone, so it was a quiet night.  I was falling asleep a 7:00, laid down on the couch for a catnap, and didn't wake until 9:00.  I brushed my teeth and went to bed.  Joe had sent me a text at 8pm.  He reported getting the overnighters (with four horses) settled, and was back at the poker table for some more action.

Wednesday 5/28 - I was at the ranch before 9am for the farrier.  Patty and I had walked Rico and Zorro down to the barn, and Amiga was looking for the two boys when I came back up to walk her down.  









Brooke showing Amiga baby Raylan while my horse waited her turn to be trimmed.

Look at my dirty boy Rico.  At least his feet were getting 'beautified'.  











Even when he is dirty, he is still rather handsome.

I mucked our paddock and Joe helped me move feed bags.  Then I did some cleaning in the chicken coop.  





The girls are getting so big, only three can fit in the dust bath at one time now. 

Time had gotten away from me and I had to hurry home to grab lunch, take my morning supplements, and then get back to the ranch for a 1:30 ride with Betty.

And wouldn't ya know, it sprinkled while we were tacking up.

It had started out a nice relaxing ride, but soon got more exciting than we had planned.  Early on our horses had spooked at a loud noise, heard twice a few minutes apart, that sounded like tin roofing falling off a truck maybe.  This (video) was taken several minutes after that, while riding side-by-side.  Both boys were very energetic, but kind of on high alert.  



Rico was being a bit of a stinker.  This photo (from the video) shows the bite attempt, or was it a love nibble? 

After a bit, when the horses had settled down and relaxed into a slower pace, we were on a different dirt road, deep in the woods, and they started acting a little spooky again.  Now what?

Well, as we were walking along, I thought two dirt clumps had come dislodged from the underside of Rico's hoofs, but then they moved into the brush at the side of the road, as did 6 to 8 more.  And then a large turkey flew out, causing big spooks (180° turn to run) in both our horses.  Betty and I both stayed in the saddle.

At this point we realized it was a mother turkey and all her tiny babies.  We kept heading down the road away from the babies, but the hen turkey continued to act injured, running back and forth across the road about 10 to 20 yards in front of us.  She crossed the road in front of us at least a dozen times.  
These four turkey pictures are from the internet because I couldn't photo or video them.  I needed to keep both hands on the reins to focus on keeping Rico calm and staying on him.  

But this looks very similar to what we saw.  We were so happy with both our horses for doing so well, cause this turkey stayed with us for at least a half mile. 

I didn't realize turkeys did this (video - watch first fifteen seconds, which is very similar to what we saw).  I found on the internet that: Birds like the killdeer, including turkeys, may act injured to lure predators away from their young.  This behavior is called a "broken-wing" or "distraction display."

The turkey eventually disappeared into the woods and we hoped found her way back to her babies.  This last photo shows the relative size of the babies compared to the hen.  They were so little.   

I wish I could say the ride continued without incident, but later we flushed another turkey, on the side of the road by Rico.  We had another big spook by both boys.  


Although this time, I was not able to stay in the saddle, but I did keep hold of the reins.  I imagine I looked like the first rider in this (video) on the white horse.  Rico shot left, spun right 180°, while also dropping his shoulder.  There was little chance of recovering from that.  I landed on my feet, then left butt, back, and head.  Luckily the ground was soft and I wasn't hurt.  However, my reins did break (first set of reins I've owned, and they were used when I got them = old).  The buckle snapped off and two braided parts broke. → 

I imagined I'd be a little sore, because I could feel it in my butt, shoulder and neck.  My pride was not hurt, but my confidence in my abilities definitely was.  

Oops, this photo was taken before our ride, when I went to get Rico.  Notice Zorro was staying between Amiga and Rico, but they were all in the large shed together.  

As Betty and I untacked, the ladies (Bonnie, Brooke, and Joanne) started arriving.  while the horses from the lower paddock ate, I walked Rico around the whole perimeter.  Once Dorado finished his feed, he came to greet us.  Then I let Rico loose and Cowboy was turned out from his shed/stall where he eats.  There was no incident and the three boys headed to the front pasture before we even got Banner out with them.  Everyone had come to see how the horses would get along.  It was a non-event.  

I didn't hurt much, but did a lot of stretching before bed and took a pain sleep aid.       

Thursday 5/29 - This is what the corral looked like Wednesday after the overnighter left.  There had been three horses in here all night (which had been rainy).  Her one horse in Zorro's stall had also done a number on it, circling and pawing, tearing up the sub-floor.  The downside of this business, is that some horses can really tear things up (including the ground).  We had a horse last year bend a stall gate.  

Looking back at what the corral looked like Monday morning after a rainy night with five horses in it, you can see they did not trample it.  If you have good horses, that stay calm and settled, which is so much better. 





Today, Joe added the bottom boards to the two sides of fencing in the corral that only had two rails on it.  Now we can take on smaller horses/ponies possibly.  

I had an intense workout at the gym and by the end of all the weight lifting, was too tired and hungry to do the elliptical.  I reasoned I'd go for a long walk after dinner, but it never happened.  




I went back to the ranch ahead of chore time to refill feed and supplement containers and move the feeders to better spots in the chicken coop.  






When I put Rico out in the front pasture for the night, I waited, and waited to see how he and the three boys would get along.  At first he stayed up near the side pasture where Amiga and Zorro were turned out, but then he started wandering and eating his way towards the boys.  I took several photos and (videos).   

Eventually, Rico ended up down with Banner, and Cowboy and Dorado were headed up towards me.  I merged these two photos.

Later, just as I was leaving and the sun peaked out from behind clouds, I saw that the four boys were now fairly close together and all happily eating.  










I was wet and dirty and past due for a shower when I got home at 6:30.  Joe asked if I wanted to watch TV and that sounded like the only thing I had energy left to accomplish once I was done with pet chores.

Friday 5/30 - I waited until the rain had stopped before going to the ranch for morning chores.  It was 8:45 when I arrived and the sky was cloudy.  The four boys hardly looked like they had gone anywhere since the night before.  








I fed Wanda down at the barn, grabbed fly masks for the three boys, and went up and put them on.  After getting the three Pasos set and eating their breakfast, I opened the chicken coop.  I swear these babies are growing like weeds.  This one now takes up half the dust bath.

I was mucking the upper paddock before letting Amiga and Rico out of their stalls to hang with Zorro, and a rain shower came out of nowhere.  I got this photo of Amiga munching hay, off this (video) of the pouring rain.  

The rain hadn't lasted long and soon I had the Pasos fly masked, out of their feeding stalls, but shut in the upper paddock.  And right away, they were jockeying for position, with Zorro trying to keep Rico away from Amiga.  





Rico was going to try to get near her if it meant reaching for her through the window.  






Amiga was in heat, so she was trying to get near Rico part of the time, and eventually Zorro gave up.  She is acting a bit marish still, but I think the Mare Magic is helping some.  We'll see come the next cycle.  

Betty and I were planning to trailer to East Fork to ride, but the weather was too iffy.  With the wind and pop-up showers, we decided against it.

I had putzed around so long at the ranch, it was lunchtime when I got home.  Poker Joe was already gone for the day and evening and more rain was coming, so I put yardwork on hold and did laundry and some organizing.  


Rose and the black cat seem to take turns out front, although sometimes both are out there together.  To see the black cat in the right photo, I enlarged it and circled his head.  You can see his one eye.

My cute, very pregnant daughter-in-law, Valencia, coming out of the clinic today.  

I had thought kick off for baby Layla was today, but then remembered Vale said that she wouldn’t be induced until May 31st at the earliest.  So tomorrow at 6am, they have a birthing room reserved and will 'get the ball rolling.'

The family dinner with Courtney, Dan, Yaneth, Vale, and Ava... and soon to be added, baby Layla.  Courtney was spending the night (or two) to babysit Ava while her Mom and Dad would be at the hospital.