Newborn Filly

This morning we got a call from our trainer, her clients horse had a foal and he did not want it. He is selling the mare soon and the foal will soon be an orphan. So my friend, Effie, picked me up and we drove to the stable to check on the foal. The little filly was nursing and getting around well. We are hoping to have the mare for at least 4 months if the owner will hold off on the sale. But in these times everyone is in a hurry and time is money. And baby horses cost money to raise, especially without a mare. My friend is willing to take the time to hand raise this foal even though she is a working grandmother with horses of her own.

Bale Monster

We have a bale that is eating the heads off our horses. Not really. Our mares know where the best part of the round bale is in the center of it. They are eating all the good stuff in the center and leaving the outside to the weanlings.

Deer Me

On my walk to the training barn Luna was alert to movement in the field across from my neighbors house. Instantly three deer jumped over the barb wire and ran into the forest next door. I will have to be quicker on the draw with my camera next time. These deer were silent in their march over the pasture.

Chicks Go Marching In

Our game hen, Whitey, is taking her two chicks out farther on the farm. They have to run and fly to keep up with her. But both are thriving and growing up fast with their flock. One chicks is a green legged Ameraucana and the other is an English game variety. We hope both will be hens when they grow up.

Flax Seed Crackers

My neighbor, Nancy, showed me how to make flax seed crackers using my dehydrator. The recipe is in the book the dehydrator comes with. I soaked the seeds overnight and that is what is holding the crackers together. I added pumpkin seeds, tomato, and cucumber to the mix. Wow, we are hooked on this alternative to chips. These are very filling and easy to make. It's so nice to have control over what we put into our foods instead of store bought. If you want info on how to cook raw foods, here is her website, Rawberry Kitchen.

He'll be Coming 'round the Mountain...

Here is my husband walking Luna home from the trainers. Luna was not worked today so she was having a lazy Thursday. Both were greeted by the other horses and the chickens. Luna gets to taste some fresh green grass after a long winter with hay.

Luna Gallop

Luna is a fox trotter and a lope or gallop is not very nice on a gaited horse. They are better in their gaited fast trot. But in training you keep the legs going if the horse will not give to the request. And Luna being lazy has to gallop a lot when she begins to be willful. She is getting better and more responsive now.

Busy Rooster

Now that we are down to two roosters our game cock is a busy guy. He has to keep a sharp eye out at dusk for the owl and fox. Both have been spotted by the guineas and chased away. We also have wild turkey and deer foraging nearby. All are warned about by the rooster and the hens run to him for safety. Today is raining so all are "cooped up" until it stops for the day.

Then there were Two

We lost a chick to drowning in a deep water dish. Chicks can't swim and they drown fast. We learned to only have shallow pans for all the chickens to drink from. This leaves us with two whitey wackers who are doing very well. Every day is a new lesson in life out here on the farm.

Valentine's Dinner for the Mill

This past 14th our group threw a thank you dinner for our Mill Restoration donors. Our antique grain mill has been worked on for years to keep it intact and restored for future generations. Our town had blue grass music, homemade desserts and food all donated at our community center to say thank you to our benefactors. A great time was had by all who attended.

Luna Training Days

Here is my 7 year old Fox Trotter on her 5th day of training. She is gaited and smooth but has some issues that need work. Luna got tired of trotting and threw a fit. My trainer worked on her and galloped her, but Luna was willful. So my trainer dismounted and tied Luna on her left rein to let her fight herself. After an hour Luna learned and was soft in the mouth. The next day Luna was great and only needed a 30 minute ride. Luna has stopped running me over when I lead her in her halter. It is not fun getting run over by a horse. These are the thing I am learning how to do with a horse that was trained poorly. She is in good training hands now.

Whitey Wackers

Our 3 chicks are growing fast and leaving mama hen often. They are now a week and a half old. We call them the whitey wackers since they climb all over Whitey, our white hen. They peck on her when they are cold or hungry. I had no idea chicks were so demanding to their moms. I am glad she only has 3 to watch.They climb on her when they are cold. They run right into the flock for bread without any fear. A hens work is never done until all her chicks go to sleep in the coop.

Roosters Agone

We got a call on Sunday from a friend wanting to do a trade. He wanted our 2 roosters in exchange for a huge aloe vera plant. We had 4 roosters and our flock was stressed out. So I caught 2 of our young roosters, boxed them and delivered them to our friend. The plant was too big to haul home in the winter since we don't have a greenhouse. We will pick it up in the summer. Our flock is a lot calmer and quieter without all the fighting roosters do.