a health day...

It is late... (for me) but the sun in out and the weather says it will be above freezing today for more than 30 minutes... So I am taking a day for me, for my horses and I am leaving!

Do not expect any news from me today as I need to feed my soul and rest my worries.

Soapbox! l

Here it is ... While I normally do not do this... I can't help it today!  After having my own horrible day, I did not need to see this in the world, BUT it must be shared ... it must be discussed.

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/sanctuary-lost-death-in-the-montana-mountains/

I am the first to admit I take care of my animals a VERY SPECIFIC way.  I take the responsibility of another life very seriously.

While I do not have children (by choice) I do know EVERY child in the world is different and requires different things.  The same is true of any animal... No matter if it is used to ? make money, by breeding, fiber, meat or just to enjoy by companionship, showing, or riding.  We all are different but we all need basic care!

I believe we all have the right to live naturally and die of natural causes... But there is nothing natural about life once a human in involved with the keeping of ANY animal.

Get it through your head!  if an animal is wild it is NOT being taken care of by a human.  It is a caged animal with wild tendencies.  If you have or are given an animal you are now responsible for ALL it food, shelter, water, health issues, and preventative care!  

In this specific case... there is nothing normal or natural about the hooves of horses over growing to the extent of causing (so much pain) the horse to give up and DIE.   No this would not happen in the wild, but the herd would be constantly stalked by bobcats, wolves, or wild dogs running for its life and wearing down its hooves.  There is so much more to wear down their feet BUT not being pinned up even if they had been on plantation size lot

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/sanctuary-lost-death-in-the-montana-mountains/

A day not worth sharing.

We all have them!
Today is a day ... not worth words.

I am fine, there are no real worries.  Animals are fine, Weather is not worth the trouble,
Truck is in the shop, Car is stuck down the drive way, But the husband has been nice enough to drive me around today... and allow me to use his SUV tomorrow before he awakes.  Life goes on..  I am just tired!  How is it Winter has just started?  How is it the forecast was mild for 2011 on all three sources I live by?   Oh how mother nature has her way of knocking the wind out of your sails after allowing you to glide gracefully into open waters, where only the stars are your guide.  I now look for my stars, but the clouds are a plenty and darkness is overwhelming.

I will post again once I can get my feet planted firmly on the ground.

Another snow for 2011

I could hear the snow trucks every 20 minutes before dawn.
As the weather has YET to stop snowing, the efforts of all those workers was all to no avail.

I live ALL TOO close to a FIVE lane highway.  Doesn't look like anyone has tried to clear it, but trust me the workers in my area were buzzing with scrapers, sand and salt too many times to count.

I truly expected the highway to be clear, with it this bad, I started to get worried about my drive to the barn.

Stepping out into the snow... this is the sidewalk that goes to the highway... I didn't mind it so much, as the texture was not what I consider deadly... So on my way we go.

I put corn oil on my horses feed every morning and every night.  WHY because it helps coat their intestines during the high season of colic...AND it creates more oil in their coats to retard wet weather etc... ALONG with the fact... it is fat and helps them with a little (not much) heat.

I was packing in with... corn oil, mittens, two bridals, and a bare back pad just in case I got to ride in this beautiful snow.  I love riding in the snow as does SweetPea.  It is beautiful and QUIET.... two things she enjoys.  (as do I)

I put the oil in small containers then also in zip locks, just in case I fell.   I tend to do that climbing a mountain in the snow and ice.

I did my best to dig out the truck, and get on my way...

This is one of the few more level roads in the area... so I took a snap shot.

As soon as I saw Sweetpea I knew I was in trouble.  The look on her face!  I quickly got her in the stall, checked her from her feet up.  Sure enough she was frozen... Have you EVER known a rain coat to FREEZE to a horse?   NOT me, but I experienced it for the first time today! 

I quickly took the sorry thing off, took off my sweater and wiped her down, trying to get some of the water out of her hair.  Got a barn towel, rubbed her down again... She was REALLY shaking and I was getting worried.    I put the wicking blanket on her, then the quilt blanket on top of that.   I then started in on getting the ice out of the water when... by the grace of a higher power, my neighbors showed up.

I wanted badly to get the horses out, I wanted to pull the kids back up the mountain as they sled down BUT not with the issues I had this morning.  L.(as I will call her on line) My sweet little neighbor, is in love with horses, she brushed and loved on SweetPea as I took care of other issues.  water, feed, hay, alfalfa and oil.

Chris helped me with the water container.  It was getting low and I didn't want the "crud" in the bottom to be an issue with Sweetpea being so cold.  We turned it over; and GG (as I will call her on line) held and played with the hose pipe filling the container back up for me.  I was then able to tend to ... Navarre.  

You have to understand... this horse is phased by nothing (thus far) all he cares about is food!  I can not give him very much feed, I can only give him grass hay, but he weathers cold like it was 70 degrees outside for you or me! 

This is how I found him

He (Navarre) was covered in ice head to toe.... 

His ears had little chucks of ice hanging from the hair inside to out!  

This was his stomach... 

His feet... while covered in ice I felt my way through all the ice and found NOT ANY of it was within 1/2 inch of his skin.  He was fine!     

This kid will have me as worried as the other... the first day spring hit 50 degrees.  I'll be wanting to shave him to keep him from over heating.  

Sweetpea is the hardest horse to get a blanket on, much less a WELL fitted, PULL over that is snug as a rug... While Navarre! give him hay and throw it over him, he could care less.

I left them both as well as I could.... fresh water, alfalfa, a bail of hay, and clean blankets.

.

 I love my kids... it took me over five hours to get there, do my work, and get back home.  I've been home a little over an hour and I need to leave to do it again in another hour! 

Life!  It will keep you fit if you  need it to... apparently there is a power that has deemed me in need to stay fit! 

Cold Weather expected.

There is little to say when you live in the South, your area has no means of handling inches of snow and ice.  We are expecting to get 5 to 9 inches tonight and tomorrow.

I can only say... I have topped off the horses water, I have given them a full bail of hay for the night.  Sweet Pea has on her rain coat, while Navarre doesn't need one with four inches of hair hanging off his sides. Oh how bad he looks, but no matter what I do he rolls in the mud ... What is a mother to do?

The truck is pulled as far forward in the drive as the two extension cords will allow.  Wiper blades are in the air, and hubs are locked in for the early morning drive to the barn.

I will TRY to take the camera...IF it amounts to anything.  I have no faith in the weather announcers around here,  and can only do what I can, to be prepared.

Cold weather focus

While winter is a down time for most.

My winter consist of walking up the mountain in order to feed, water, hay, and check on my horses twice a day, BUT only in the ice.  Snow I will drive up, but ICE... no thank you, unless the county or state wants to put up guard rails... (which is not going to happen)

Even without ice, my winters are NOT slow.
As an example... I am researching more and more about my garden site.  More and more about Forrest Gardening,  Permaculture, and your basic companion gardening.

I have such a small plot of land, but with the economy and life as hard it can be I only feel that much more determined to support myself, put food on the table for my family, and ... SAVE money by doing what ever it is I can.

As you can see several of my magazines are repeated.  Not in the same month but I keep things I know will be a positive resource later.  Each of these magazines have pages torn out that are of no use (adds, etc... ) But some are an easier read that the resources they quote for more in-depth information.

I doubt I will ever have a "beautiful" garden, but I do hope to have one that is functional.

While the site this year is FRESH, having been rested soil for the last 10-15 years.  It has much work to be done.  It is full of weeds... It is in need of tender care...   But at least now I have a plan in order to work a little, use even less, while making the rest of the garden more ready for years to come.  I have decided to use OLD European ways, not only rotating crops and compost piles... , but allowing rest to the soil every so often as well.

It is what it is... and I can only do what I can do.  We shall see.

I will how ever gladly post my plans, and progress along the way.

Wow!

What ever it is you see, it is in you! 

My thoughts to my Aunt Nancy, Aunt Gale and everyone else out there with bad news today.

Their stories are not mine to share, My life is good, full, and even the mundane is beautiful.  I can not imagine the thoughts that rush the minds of those facing hard choices, no choices, or few choices to choose from.

Focus for the new year 2011

I have to say welcome!

If you are reading this blog then... well you have Internet access, and although considered a life necessity, YOU MUST consider yourself lucky! Too many people today can not afford such things you want to call basic.  Internet is NOT a basic! It is a luxury some have come to think they deserve. It is no different than earning a book, earning an education, or earning a job/wage.

Basics again for those of you that have forgotten are. 
Food, Water, Housing, and Clothing 


All of which, MANY are lacking in these hard times.  So while you think I am being political I am NOT I am simply pointing out ...  You are more lucky than you think, as even these basics are not handed out, they are earned! 

I can only see what has happened, I can not imagine what will happen.  We as a generation (one off the WWII baby boomers)  have never seen a time with unemployment is over 9%.  I had never gone to a job interview I didn't get; until I moved to this area.  It is a repressing area, that does not pay a living wage as basic living here is more than most places I have lived.  Although it matches having lived in San Fran for a short while.... Although I get no benefits I had while out there.   The area (as with any) has its down side, but the up side is just a great, and thus the nearest town ... in 2009 and 2010 was always on the top 10 places to live in the U.S. thus again bringing in more people and less available.

I am NOT making "resolutions", I am only continuing the work I started YEARS ago.  Jerry and I moved to the "small" US mountains and I immediately started testing, and trying soils, foods, plants, and trees.

Why? Well I enjoy it, and two... I worry about being as efficient as I can be.  Why does it matter?  It doesn't to anyone else, but it is MY LIFE DREAM to know I can do it!

How may of you know how to can foods? 


How many of you have had the pressure of putting up enough food for your family?


How many of you have actually DONE the physical labor needed around your house and not hired it to be done? ... on that same line... how many of you know how to do it?

We as a people (yes myself included) have forgotten, have turned our backs on more than we know today
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We as a people can not continue to live life without realizing what we are doing or not doing.

Thus far, we have our barn up! HUGE task marked off the list!
     We have four dwarf apple trees planted that as of today 1/3/11 they look happy and healthy!
    To see what I choose to plant and why see previous post...Apples  


I am likely to dry, freeze and make apple sauce as soon as nature allows me to.
Drying is the easiest thing, giving us healthy snacks all year.  Some have been chosen purely for their ability to be put away intact for winter eating, but I am sure as potting shed is after all the perfect cellar positioning I will try the other methods first.
I planted the trees only a short time ago... so I do NOT expect anything from them for years yet to come.  But this is just a basic I hope to expand as time and money allow.

I have done so much research on this tiny estate, my brain oozzzesss with crazy thoughts of Independence for me, Jerry and ALL my animals I have and will have to bring the estate full circle.

My task this year is to get rid of things I am not using, organize my house better, and continue on the estate.
this years estate task is ? easier...
1.     I want to build a fence around what I want to be a garden area. 
2.     I want to create compost piles for the garden area. 
3.     I want to create a small water area for the garden area. 
4.     I want to create mounds for planting in the garden area. 
5.     I want to share this area with the neighborhood so we may all benefit from what it can put out.

I do not expect to get this all done.  After all I have no real equipment and can only plan as if I live in a small area, with no tools.  All to be done by hand, as I will spend as little money as possible, but do it in a fashion that should last for years to come.

That is what I want for 2011!

What is it you want?

an UNBELIEVABLE story.

We... Jerry and I have tightened our belts, even more than normal, this year; and in doing so I did not spend the extra money on purchasing a Gypsy Vanner Calendar.  I generally need a calender on every floor so not to miss something in my life.

My lovely step-daughter always gets Jerry and I both our own calenders, we so look forward to getting them! I got mine for Christmas this year.  A lovely horse calender, as I sat in the plush, fluffy, large chair glanced at the back of the calender to see the examples... as my eyes widened and my heart started to pound... oh no it can't be... so I opened the calender and a some what larger photo example just above December... and that was ALL it took for me!

My heart stopped, my body went into convulsions trying to get out of that chair... I knocked over something, trying to get around the foot stool.  Jerry, Barb, and Donna all looked at me like I was crazy!  

It's him, It's my baby!  Jerry just looked at me with a blank face, Poor Donna and Barb didn't know what to think... it was likely the first time they had seen me in such an uncontrollable state of mind.  Are you sure? It does kinda look like him.

Of course this just upset me... as if I didn't know my own child! Kinda my ASS, IT IS NAVARRE, ok... ok he said... forget it!  I'll prove it to you when we get home.

So here You all make the call!

I've taken the photo of September and focused more on What I say is my horse...

And now... I am adding a proof, sent to me.... from Mark Barrett... who just happens to have had this calender printed...

while I am NOT able to blow up these proofs... I will add more... of Navarre from that same day of shooting.

And while the light is different... I have other photos of Navarre that day...

So is it Navarre?
You tell us!

A Walk around town.

I'm just posting some photos I took while out walking a dog.  I enjoy taking a fresh look at places I go all the time.  I hope you enjoy looking at old things as much as I do.

I well kept old structure, used for ? garage etc...

Many places in the area are abandoned and then used for storage?

this last one I love... old, but updated and still being used!   This is what it is all about.