A day at the lake!

Today was a good day. Douglas and I went to Nolin Lake to visit with our friend/neighbors who have a house there. (the picture above is a view of the hill we have to climb up you can barely see the house from the water..talk about a long hard wear-you-out walk!! We swam for about 3 hours and went to the neighbors beside them Ronnie and Carrol and ate a huge meal! It seems that each time we are there there is a cookout! I'm not complaining! Except that I probably added the 6 pounds I lost right back! it was some great food!
The kids had a blast playing in the water and I finally got some much needed sun! Here the kids are all waving at me!

Douglas and Neil had a lot of fun playing Marko-polo (sp?) and Neil had fun throwing Doug into the water off his shoulders. Poor Michaela in the background looks like she has fallen asleep! LOL

We always have a great time, going out on the boat fishing, and laying in the sun! I do have to say it really wore me out and drained me, the sun was so hot about 93 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky...I have no idea what the heat index was but I can tell you it was hot!
Back at the farm:
Pepper is doing well free ranging, so far she has kept the kittens at bay and in fact they seemed to not really be obsessed with her yesterday. I know she can defend herself with those claws, I'm actually more worried about the kittens loosing an eye! LOL
Norm didn't get to go with us today to the lake, since its supposed to rain and storm again tomorrow he had to stay back and finish planting the soy beans that got flooded out a few weeks ago.
Molly had been a little sore footed, and since she wont let us pick her hooves I was worried about her. She gets a little rank and since she is SO big its something I dont attempt! She foundered (not badly) several years back and a shoeing makes her a little sore, but this happened a week or so afterwards. She actually has pretty good hooves even with the founder, and bounces back quickly and I noticed today she is fine and dandy. I intend to start working with her picking up her feet, but I've had so much here to do and like I've said recently I've just had too much going on and havent done much with the horses at all.
Did I tell you I went the other day to see Babe? Larry isnt keen on giving her up and I was afraid he was going to back out. But now its a done deal and I'll be happy to have my special girl back home with me! Leah and Douglas are just as excited, Leah thinks its so cool that Douglas will get to learn to ride on the same horse that taught her to ride. And yes I meant it that way - Babe did teach her to ride! She was all fat and slick and just as beautiful as ever. Her age (about 14 or 15 yrs) doesnt show and she looks like she is about 8 or so. She is in great health and shod all around, ready to go! WOO HOO!
I've been looking online for some used tack. I want the works (not really needing a saddle but if I found a great price and it matched everything I'd consider it!). We want a tie down and nose band for King since he is into throwing his head around the first 15 minutes he rides. Bad habit, however the last time we rode he didn't do it at all. So maybe he has learned his little trick wont work. We are going to move Jack to another pasture for awhile, he needs to learn to not be so dependant on King. It's almost like we need to wean him all over again! And King worries too much about his friends when he is away from them. Big Baby's.
We will miss Bella - we are trading her for Babe- she is a sweet horse, but too much horse for all of us besides Leah. She is a great horse and very showy but you have to decide which is more important..Bella who we all cant ride, or Babe who we bonded so strongly with when we had her and who has taught us all to ride and can be ridden by anyone. There was no question for me...Since I had to sell Babe to Larry when I moved I've regretted it and longed to get her back.
Poor Buck got his nose shocked on the hot wire but is slowly realizing I'm not the one who shocked him! I think since I was feeding him both times it happened he thinks I did it! He has loosened up though.
Well off to lay on the couch and unwind from a long day at the lake!
See ya'll later, its time to post my Sunday Stills photos. Click here to see mine and others great pictures!
Later! ~*~Rae~*~

Hi Ya'll!

Couldn't think of a good title for my post! So hi ya'll it is! LOL

Its been a busy weekend. Cleaning house, checking cows and calves, pulling a calf on Saturday, worrying about Georgia foaling, grocery shopping, out to eat with friends, soap soap and more soap, feeding the furries, ummm I think thats all for me in a nutshell!

Georgia, as I've told you in my last post, is very very close to foaling! I'm just so excited but I'm worried i'll miss the action! I cant wait to see Radish when he is born....You know - HorseRadish! LOL That still cracks me up. Leah definitely has a sense of humor doesnt she!

I didn't know it but I've got a bigger saddle for King already over here at the house! DUH moment again! (I've had a lot of those lately) sometimes I wonder where in the world I left my brain.

I havent taken any pictures lately, been so cold I've hated to go outdoors. I sure wish warmer weather would arrive! I just absolutely hate the cold.

So I've done a lot of indoor chores one of which is making soap, my kitchen smells sooooo good right now!

I think that Pepper takes Sundays off from laying, so far the last several Sundays there have been no eggs...it is the day of rest ya know! Silly bird!

Calf count:

28 babies in all as of 6:00pm today.

Three of which we have lost...which I've already posted about, and 1 cow was calving when we checked this evening, baby hasnt came yet, but she is an old pro and should have no problems at all so we arent too worried. We'll get another calf count tomorrow.

I'm really worn out but getting the munchies...bought a lot of healthy food at the grocery, veggies and fruit to snack on. My goal is 20 pounds in 90 days....I begin exercising on the treadmill tomorrow, and walking outside when its warm. Thinking I'll dig up my weight watchers stuff too. I've gained too much weight! I'm not happy about that at all.

our neighbor came by today to give me the KY goat registry. She is weird. She never comes outside, has a daughter that has been home schooled but only seen out of the house on two occasions, she is painting for a portfolio, but the mom told us today how she tells the girl how to lay out things and decide what to paint and how. The mom doesnt paint....hmmmm can you say controlling? An artist should never have to be told how and what to paint. She felt she had to tell me all about goats however, she isnt really informed, her way is totally different than my friends here, whom have healthy and happy goats and MUCH more info on raising them. She said she tried to breed but never mentioned if she had a live birth..I dont think she did by the way she talked. I was NOT impressed one bit, in fact she was really WEIRD, did I say that already, well she is weird enough to say it again. She is one of those people who know everything, and controls the conversation and her way is the only way. I cant tell you enough just how weird she is. LOL Okay onto something else.

Well actually, I have nothing else, I'm so tired and hungry I'm gonna eat some carrots and head for bed. I've read blogs this morning, but Blogger didn't co-operate and let me leave any comments, I hope to get by tomorrow and speak my peace! LOL

Arent you lucky! ha ha!

See ya guys soon!

Love
Rae

Can Horses Eat Bananas?

Seriously! Can horses eat banaynays? (not a spelling error Ba-nay-nay's) What can horses NOT eat? Finding this info on the web really turned into a chore that saw no end in sight, so therefor asking my horse lovin friends! HELP!

No farm picture today, too cold and I just didn't feel like getting out, well I did - we fed this morning and saw about 50 turkey and had an excellent photo op, but didn't have my camera...figures. So you get my boy, Levi. He is a doll, finally learned to stay ( he's a year and half) slow learner, course that is the hardest for a dog to learn. Bo (my maine coon cat) knows what it means and keeps telling me the dog is just stupid....sometimes I tend to agree. You know its been a long time since I've posted anything about Bo...hmmm lets see...for having a stroke about 5 or 6 months ago...he is doing exceptional! He is about 98% his old self! I didn't think I'd see this day. I havent weighed him to see if he has gained any more weight, he feels like it and I can no longer feel his spine...will do that tonight and see if he has progressed since his last weigh in.

Jack update....I've been working with the little bugger a lot, he now lifts his front hooves and lets them be cleaned, he now tolerates his belly being rubbed and even patted! He is not spooking at movement or touch any longer, and loves me when he see's his food bucket, for a moment I am his best friend!

Pepper is mad at me today because I didnt let her out of the coop, with bad weather coming in i didnt want to have to find her, or end up with frozen chicken.

King....improving every day, I'm loving watching his 'awakening' to this world!

Cows are ready to pop! Bags are swelling and we'll have calves any time..watch..tonight or tomorrow we'll have them begin to come - worst weather of the year!

Norm is improving but is pretty achy at the end of the day. He has been fixing the silage wagon, that needed to be fixed 5 weeks ago, but the fella that was going to come out to fix it ( and talk to me about selling me some goats) has not shown, and we are at a critical time and need to feed the silage. Hay supply is short this year, and cows are not looking as good as they should.

Douglas made a 95% on his Science test! Which is something he should have been doing all along and then wouldnt have gotten his two bad grades on his report card.

Here is what we are expecting weather wise-

DAY ONE...TONIGHT.A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS. AT THIS TIME...EXPECT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA TUESDAY MORNING. EXPECT 3 TO 6INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY. ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS REGION...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED.FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY...SNOW AND SLEET TOTAL AROUND 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN.THIS WINTRY WEATHER WILL MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS OVERNIGHT A SUN TREATED ROADWAYS WILL BECOME SNOW AND ICE COVERED. SLICK SPOTS MAY DEVELOP ON TREATED ROADWAYS TOO AS HIGH PRECIPITATION RATES WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCUMULATIONS ON ROAD SURFACES. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...USE EXTREME CAUTION AND ALLOW LOTS OF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. A WINTER WEATHER KIT CONTAINING EXTRA FOOD...BLANKETS AND OTHER SAFETY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN ALONG IF YOU MUST TRAVEL. LET OTHERS KNOW WHAT YOUR PLANNED ROUTE WILL BE..DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.A WINTER STORM WARNING WILL STILL BE IN EFFECT...WHERE SNOW WILL BE ONGOING ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA...AND A SNOW AND SLEET MIX WILL BE ONGOING ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS REGION TUESDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AND A WINTRY MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW IS LIKELY ACROSS INDIANA...WITH MAINLY A SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MIXTURE OVER NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY. OVERALL...SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE NORTH ON TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH ICE ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH.A WINTRY MIX TUESDAY EVENING WILL TRANSITION TO ALL SNOW OVERNIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING BEFORE TAPERING OFF AROUND MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE...ON THE ORDER OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.CONDITIONS WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND OUTLOOKS ON THIS WINTER STORM..SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE AMOUNTS TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/ WEDNESDAY...ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY...THE BEST CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 4 INCHES OF SNOW BY TUESDAY EVENING.ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS REGION...2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED BY TUESDAY MORNING WITH ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY EVENING.FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY...MAINLY A SNOW AND SLEET MIXTURE IS ANTICIPATED. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION ON TUESDAY EVENING.UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF ICE WILL BE POSSIBLE MAINLY OVER THE BLUEGRASS REGION AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY TUESDAY EVENING.USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVELING THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT AS UNTREATED ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLICK.BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WILL ALSO DEVELOP SLICK SPOTS AND TRAVEL MAY BECOME TREACHEROUS.A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE

I know you dont want to read all that, but there it is anyway!

LOL

And to boot...we need to go to the grocery cause we have been putting it off for a couple weeks...so now I'm forced to go. I hate going to the grocery.

I want a few of my blogger buddies to know that I'm praying for them and their families...you know who you are and your needs, not gonna place your business here, but just want you to know that your on my prayer list!

I'm so far behind on everything to do with soap! I have so many soaps to list and my etsy shop has been ignored for weeks now....hopefully the weather wont be too bad tomorrow so I can go to Mari's and list my products in my shops.

Crossing my fingers Mari!

I know there was a lot more I wanted to talk about...however...due to getting older, my mind cannot recall what it was that I wanted to blab about.....fact of life, and one I'm fighting every day...I will not grow old without a fight!

So until I remember what it was I wanted to blog about...I reckon I'll go!

Wishing you all good weather over the next few days!

Luv

~*~Rae~*~

This is my today...worming calves, making soap, and cleaning house.

This morning we ran the calves that are to be sold in a couple weeks through the chute for worming. All went well...pretty quiet, and uneventful. Which is really good considering Norms knee....Josh helped run them up to the chute, Norm wormed, and I worked the gate that comes down to keep the cattle in the chute. The worming meds get poured the legnth of their backs, and then they are let out back into their lot. One calf got an antibiotic shot, his poo is runny and bloody, a result of eating too much grain, and being too little. He went in with the other smaller calf that is in the stock barn where their feed is more measured. For the next two days they will only be given hay to dry up the little calf we just put in. The one calf that has a few screws loose, that before has gone after us..making me climb the walls...litterally! LOL was more calm than normal. In the picture above you can see her stance...neck stiff and straight, almost bowed like, ears pointed out, these are the signs of a very nervous cow...the kind that you need to watch closely. When a cow is that scared, they tend to try to go after you. Luckily this one was better than the past, with no problems except being the only calf in the chute who threw a big fit, then somehow got the side door open to the chute and running back over top of the meds and making a huge mess....with no where to go she turned and ran out....luckily not going for anyone. The rest behaved well. Oliver however knows no fear with humans, in fact loves the attention that they give (oooops my fault!) and he is just a big ol baby! He didn't go up to the chute easily rather turned around and Josh couldnt get him to move on through...he doesnt know to go away from people! LOL Yep my fault, I made him into a gentle and hooman loving calf! I'll be so sad when he goes.

Norm had PT yesterday and they worked him harder, his whole body was more sore, muscles that he hasnt used much since he got hurt. Today he is achy again and tired, but there is much to do...as they say..."no rest for the wicked". Hee hee....kidding Norm.

I came home after working with the calves and started on making some soap for some orders that I have gotten yesterday, and now my kitchen and dining room smell like Oatmeal Milk and Honey, Dragons Blood, Soapy Clean, Love Spell, and Chai Tea and Yuzu......yummmmmm its better than burning candles!

Have a great day ya'll! I'll try to get over to your posts later tonight!

~*~Rae~*~

Wordless Wednesday....

Can you tell he was fearful at first?? This is a big step for Doug...if you dont know his story by now..let me know I'll tell it again....tho I hate to revisit that day, it helps to get it off your chest too.

King...reaching his horse soul, chipping away one chip at a time...

King
a.k.a. Old Man
Red Roan Quarter Horse 20+ years old
I LOVE this picture I took today!
I've written about King before...
But some really cool things are beginning to happen with him! I'm just so excited!
As you know I have now read several books about training, horse behavior, communicating with the horse through your own body language...some of the old cowboy ways.
etc.
I've begun over the last two weeks to incorporate what I've been reading each day when I walk to the barn!
I owned King previously....purchased him from a horse sale about 5 years ago. He was going to the "killers" and I outbid them. Why would I want a horse under weight to the point he was a skeleton, a horse that may have had health problems, or could have been nutso?
My gut told me too. The whole night he was all I could think about, yes there were some beautiful well broke horses, but I HAD to have HIM.
At the time that I bought him I was partners with a friend.
He also saw something....King had now found a new home.
It took a few months but he quickly gained weight, walked with more "life" than before.
However, he never bonded with any of the other horses...he was always aloof and to himself.
He made me so sad.
I divorced...had to sell my horses. He and Babe (will talk about her and her story...she saved my life in a very hard and scary time)
were sold to a mutual friend, Larry.
After a couple years he got rid of his horses and King and Babe went to new homes.
Well my friend whom I partnered with in the past called me last Spring to tell me King was needing a new home, was I interested....YES!!!!
He came back to me again...it was meant to be!
King is what horse people refer to as "bomb proof", the perfect teacher for a nervous friend like myself.
But he hadn't changed...still so sad. When peering into his big beautiful brown eyes, you cannot see into the depths of his soul. Not like you should in a horse. That dreamy quality has long been gone over years of hard work and hard hands.
The light is not on.
Sadness is what his eyes tell me. Disappointment, beaten, broken, and withdrawn. He tugged at my heart and I have been determined to turn on that light that is missing from his gorgeous eyes. I've been so happy to have him back with me, I've watched him get to a normal weight, he even bonded with Bella- the first time since I've owned him that he has done that. His coat began to show signs of good health, even if he is slowly going blind in his left eye.
However even with this progress, he never sought out attention, never considered me his friend. He again, remained aloof to my attempts.
Like I mentioned I've been doing a lot of reading....I want to change his outlook on life, though once a horse has withdrawn so deeply into himself this is very difficult and often times impossible if he has been that way for a very long time.
I've been working on bonding with King more than ever using everything the books suggested.
Saturday I was laying out a huge pile of straw for him and Jack to lay in while it was cold. King did something he's never done...and it was enough to stop my heart a few beats. I was cutting the twine off the bails as I heard him walk into the barn...this was good! I soon felt his soft warm nose on the back of my neck, inspecting my hair with his lips. He gently and softly nibbled my hand, I had ceased moving, paralyzed with joy of the moment, afraid if I even breathed I would forever miss this moment! As I looked up into his kind and lovely face, he didn't move!, but reached toward me for affection!
It was a small quick moment....but I'm finally breaking away at that wall...will he just change tomorrow - No I dont expect that...it will take time for him to trust me and bond with me as my best friend. But I'm confident it WILL happen.
Norm thinks I'm crazy with all my reading and my new efforts....but he doesnt love the horse like I do. And King? He is worth every and any effort.
Lisa asked me what my goals were with the horses this year.
I think the above has answered my goals with King.
Break that wall King has built
Work on trust
my confidence
being the "herd" leader
communicating through body language
begin Jacks Kindergarten classes
Ride more
get over my fear of the other horses
imprint Georgia's foal when he arrives
Take Bella and Buck back to 1st grade for more riding time and to cure Bellas barn sour
Well, thats the basics...I'm sure there are lots I'd like to accomplish...but I'm so tired from listing items in my Artfire shop I cant seem to think and Im seeing double.
I've gotten several messages I cannot reply too due to lack of time. I havent forgotten anyone, but rather been busy out the wazoo today and last weekend. I'll get there! I will get to everyones blogs as well to catch up.
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill
~*~Rachel~*~

Friday Farm Forcast: COLD!!!! & the day in pictures.

Good evening! I've only got a few minutes here, so I've got to make this fast! Busy day, and unfortunately all of it was spent outside, except for the last 3 hours I've spent indoors making soap, lip balm, and body butter......soooo yummy!

And now, going to figure out how we are going to fit in supper, and Douglas' basketball game!

Tomorrow Norm and I are going to a farm auction.

Sunday! Meeting Libby, a sweet friend ( on my Bluegrass etsy street team-whom I must call my "teacher" cause she has helped me out soo much when I first started making soap) face-to-face for the first time! YEA! I cant wait! I'm hyped!

Kids are gone this weekend, and it looks like its going to be another busy day tomorrow!

Nite all, sleep well and warm.

~*~Rae~*~

"Regret for wasted time is more wasted time."-Mason Cooley

How To Think Like A Horse....

Which is what I'm learning by my new book of the same title! I've been eyeing it for a couple months and have skimmed through the pages while at Tractor Supply....I finally broke down and purchased the book today!

So far......I LOVE IT! A "new" approach focusing on the "old" cowboy ways....basically along the lines of how horse whispering is done and how and why their methods are successful.

Just in the first chapter...I've learned soo much....

So I'm pleased!

I'm so excited! I've gotten 3 soap orders this week...things had slowed down after Christmas! I havent even had time to "make over" my shop like I had planned this week.

So again- I'm pleased!

Saturday I'm meeting a fellow Bluegrass Etsy Street Team member who lives in Louisville. Libby and I are gonna grab a great lunch at Panera Bread...she's never been there and she'll be in for a treat! Plus I get a little treat by getting to meet her daughter Maylee! She is such a beautiful little girl! I'll have to think of a treat to take her! Must win over the munchkins with treats you know! LOL

So did ya'll hear about the plane crash today? I'm sure you have its all over the news! US Airways and a flock of Geese...they dont mix well, made an emergency landing in the only place he could lay the plane down and that was the Hudson River....good quick thinking on the pilot's part saved EVERYONE! Thank God for Miracles!

Poor Norm has been busy and out in this terribly cold weather all day. He had to take his mom to town for grocery stops...5 places....then feeding, several people have called about the farm trucks we have for sale and the old trailer that we pulled off the lot for Josh to put his in. The trailer isnt worth ANYTHING - nasty and old, but with money can be made livable....I'd never live there, but you would be surprised at people! Just like with a yard sale, why is it the things that you were gonna throw away but in after thought said "heck I'll lay it out there and just see if someone wants my totally trashed out item that is useless..if anything I can throw it away with the other junk thats NOT coming back in the house"...THEY ALL SELL AND SELL FIRST!!!! Why the heck is that??????

Some trash can never be made into another persons treasures no matter what you try! LOL

Doug helped with feeding which involved getting all the gates open and shut for him, and today required pushing a hay bale after it was spun and the small tight bunch wouldnt come off the thingy that turns...Norm will laugh when he reads this cause I should know what thats called! LOL Oh well - laugh on Norm!

Its my job to make you smile!

I had a doctor apt...I've been told..NO carbs at all, EXERCISE no matter what, and get a light box.......hmmmmmm where am I gonna come up with the funds for that box? I've been looking on line for the last 3 months and I couldnt find any cheaper than $300.00...however today i decided to check on Amazon and found a better one for $125.00 I'm praying that we can swing it......

I do need it, very badly actually.

The weather is too cold to do anything with my critters and this dampens my mood. I know that you must be confident and happy and excited in a good way when dealing with horses and I make my first trip out to the barns with a good attitude keeping that in mind no matter how I feel. I'm met with the same loving and exuberant attitudes from my horses. It's giving me more confidence with them each day. My little Pepper never ceases to make me smile, I never knew I'd love a chicken SO much..but she is a joy! Little Carrot greets me happily too waiting for her treats she knows I'll bring her. So with the weather today, bitterly cold, coldest its been in 8 years I'm stuck inside. Stalls need to be mucked...coop and rabbit cage need to be cleaned, barn needs to be cleaned, dog needs some loving, hooves need picking and mud cleared from those magnificent bodies of my dear horse friends....Right now its 9 degrees, low tonight to 0 degrees..wind chill.... like negative 12 I think....you cant be out long in this. I'm still running a fever so the cold seems to bite even more. I'm really worried about my dear chicken and rabbit, hoping they will brave the weather okay....they are snug in the barn cages surrounded by thick hay, hopefully insulating them from the cold. I even thought of putting them together in the same cage to help them warm up with more body heat...but I dont believe Pepper will tolerate the rabbit being so close...she is a Diva....I'll be out to check on them before bed and thats all I can do. The basement is way too hot for either of them with the wood stove...and Norm wont let me bring them in...though I'm gonna ask him again. He did let me have a baby starling i tried to nurse back to health.....so we'll see. The answer will be no I'm sure. But worth trying.

Okay....time for me to snuggle under a blanket with my new book....tomorrow is soap making! And Dougs Basketball game.

Night all - stay warm.

*BTW thats me and Oliver back in March! I miss my little calf being a little calf!

A barn possible for Goat and horse use....need some opinions here my peeps!

My post are updating!!!!! YEA! Fixed FINALLY!

Okay take a look at these barn pictures...need some for real opinions:

This 1st picture is the back side of the barn

Okay, here is the deal....this barn is located on the property...not so easy to get to without a 4-wheeler, 4-wheel drive in the summer only, and surrounded by cattle, the way there in Spring is flooded mostly, have to go into corn field to get there-can be done tho. Or you can go through the pastures (a few hundred acres or more maybe) on 4-wheeler to get there. SOOOO its not convienent at all.

BUT it is large, and roomy, not used really except for the few pieces you see in there, which can be located elsewhere....so it is perfect, with lots of work, for the horses and goats......

What are your opinions on this idea....how would you turn it around into something I can use??

This MAY be my winter/spring project....just dont know if its worth taking on or not.