Mama and I both got over to Amarillo safely yesterday – separately. She called me soon after I left the farm on my way to Amarillo to tell me how the Lord had spared her from a very bad accident. She nearly rear ended a truck that had stopped to make a left hand turn from the fast lane of the highway. She was going to pass a semi when she saw the stopped vehicle. Somehow she was able to make an emergency lane change and very narrowly avoid the collision. She was going 75 mph at the time. God is good!
I had her drive the little van to Amarillo so we could get the power steering pump replaced as well as have it to take some items back to Bowie when we return on Thursday. At least I will be going back on Thursday. She may wait until Friday. We thought it best with Nate and Cori coming over on Friday to get the van done at a shop rather than put the repair on Grandpa who will be getting home on either Wednesday or Thursday.
As we were sitting together last night Chase told us that Makaila got saved either last Sunday or the Sunday before. I did not get a clear date but the event is what is important. It is an answer to prayer. She said she remembers praying with her dad when she was very young but she was not sure if she really understood. She understands now and wanted to make that known.
Mrs. Chadwick is going to talk to her about baptism this week. We are still praying about her dress standards but that will come with growth in the Lord. We do know that in Central Baptist she will get a healthy dose of Christian growth and incredible training in prayer. Again, God is good!
While we sat and watched some recorded programming a storm blew in to Amarillo. It looked pretty dark as Mama and I went for a walk around the block but when the storm really hit the winds were impressive. Limbs began to break and fall as the rain slammed the city. The road in front of our house looked like a river. It was at least eight inches deep. I regretted parking the truck at the curb. Chase took some pictures and videos in the waning part of the storm. I am not sure if he will post them but the event was impressive. I am guessing that two inches fell on us in less than half an hour.
Grandpa and Grandma are getting ready to leave West Virginia this week. I have not heard if it is to be today or tomorrow but it should be this week. Both of them are dreading the trip back. Grandpa is dreading hauling the loaded trailer and the risk it represents – as well as the fuel cost it requires. But it is filled with things we desperately need at the farm. Grandma is dreading the time in the vehicle. She does not have the expectation on fun events she had on the trip over. Pray for their safety in transit.
I am not entirely sure at this point what is coming back with him other than a baler. I am not sure how he loaded that on the trailer but I know there was a plan in place to get it done. I do know that he was finally able to recover many items he had in storage there. Those items, many of them are electrical parts, will be put to use in the shop and the house. Hopefully we will at least be able to use the help we have coming to bale hay – although we have no good place to store it yet.
I am quickly running short on time to get things done to prepare the shop for a work crew. Mama is insisting that we have it ready (concrete poured and the building totally enclosed) to house all of our things when we empty the house in Amarillo. I am beginning to sense that I will not have the time to get that far in the construction project – even if I had the money to hire all the work out. Oh, well. Storage is plentiful in several rental places in Bowie.
The idea does not appeal to Mama.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Departures and arrivals, wanderers
We had a busy weekend. Mama had talked to David (a man we go to church with) on Friday about going ahead and picking up Toi and Rain. He and his family operate a horse rescue of sorts and he seemed really receptive of the idea of boarding the two horses. Mama had not allowed them to go last week because she thought there might be some value in keeping them, but that changed with the offer to board Wes’s horses.
So David came in the morning on Saturday and after we got a tire repaired on his trailer – one blew out about two miles from our farm – we moved into the calf lot to load the horses. Rain proved to be a challenge. As we struggled with her I began to pray that the Lord would send us an angel to help us get this done safely. David and I soon came to the realization that Rain did not trust either of us so we asked Mama to lead her.
We had to repark the trailer and back it up to the loading shoot but with Mama leading, Rain was soon in the trailer and David, the two horses, his wife and their two young sons – as well as the two pups he had in the back of the pick up truck – were on the road home. We found out yesterday that they made it home okay and that the horses were adapting to their new location. We will go see them some time next week.
Wes showed up in the afternoon with Jazz and Flashy, two of his horses. We unloaded the two of them with out any effort and loosed them in the lot after introducing them to the donkeys. Wes said they had never been around donkeys before and both species were leery of each other. Fortunately they are in separate paddocks so we do not have to see them fight for a pecking order.
I wish I could say the two big horses and Misty were getting along splendidly but that is not totally true. Misty is the odd-man-out but she is tolerated. Jazz, who is a gelding, seems almost protective of Misty when feeding rights are not in dispute. Flashy is a mare due to foal next spring. She is not the least tolerant of Misty - a recent weanling. Flashy wants to make it extremely clear that no nursing will be allowed.
It is a good thing that the two horses were dropped off that afternoon. Misty was noticeable lonely after her two lifelong friends were taken away. She did not venture too far from the calf lot but was constantly whinnying for her mama and Toi. Mama was worried for her. All is well now that she has company.
For some reason, I let the guineas loose on Saturday morning to see how they would do. It did not turn out well. They fed across out meadow into the neighbor’s fields and then on down the road from there. Our neighbor was quite worried about them but there was little we could do to contain or capture them. What I should have done is let them out one at a time over several weeks so they would stay nearby. Too late.
They were last spotted on the shoulder of the highway on their way to Montague. I hope they end up on a good farm somewhere. If not they will be coyote or fox food within a few weeks.
My bad.
So David came in the morning on Saturday and after we got a tire repaired on his trailer – one blew out about two miles from our farm – we moved into the calf lot to load the horses. Rain proved to be a challenge. As we struggled with her I began to pray that the Lord would send us an angel to help us get this done safely. David and I soon came to the realization that Rain did not trust either of us so we asked Mama to lead her.
We had to repark the trailer and back it up to the loading shoot but with Mama leading, Rain was soon in the trailer and David, the two horses, his wife and their two young sons – as well as the two pups he had in the back of the pick up truck – were on the road home. We found out yesterday that they made it home okay and that the horses were adapting to their new location. We will go see them some time next week.
Wes showed up in the afternoon with Jazz and Flashy, two of his horses. We unloaded the two of them with out any effort and loosed them in the lot after introducing them to the donkeys. Wes said they had never been around donkeys before and both species were leery of each other. Fortunately they are in separate paddocks so we do not have to see them fight for a pecking order.
I wish I could say the two big horses and Misty were getting along splendidly but that is not totally true. Misty is the odd-man-out but she is tolerated. Jazz, who is a gelding, seems almost protective of Misty when feeding rights are not in dispute. Flashy is a mare due to foal next spring. She is not the least tolerant of Misty - a recent weanling. Flashy wants to make it extremely clear that no nursing will be allowed.
It is a good thing that the two horses were dropped off that afternoon. Misty was noticeable lonely after her two lifelong friends were taken away. She did not venture too far from the calf lot but was constantly whinnying for her mama and Toi. Mama was worried for her. All is well now that she has company.
For some reason, I let the guineas loose on Saturday morning to see how they would do. It did not turn out well. They fed across out meadow into the neighbor’s fields and then on down the road from there. Our neighbor was quite worried about them but there was little we could do to contain or capture them. What I should have done is let them out one at a time over several weeks so they would stay nearby. Too late.
They were last spotted on the shoulder of the highway on their way to Montague. I hope they end up on a good farm somewhere. If not they will be coyote or fox food within a few weeks.
My bad.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Timing, shopping, the dogs
It began to dawn on me yesterday that if we stay the four days in Amarillo next week as we are intending, then we will not be ready at all to begin work on the shop as I had hoped. There will be plenty to do since the hay will need to be cut and baled, but the work I had hoped would be under way may not be ready. Oh, well. We will have fun and get things done that can be done. It all starts next week on Friday evening.
I have meetings all day today in Decatur. They will be some of the final meetings I will have to take over the training responsibilities. I am still pushing back on some of the duties being left by the person I am replacing but the assignment of those is still up in the air. That makes some people very nervous.
Cori was telling Mama last night that the grandkids are excited about coming to Papi’s house. I am just thankful to have something attached to me in their minds. To this point everything associated with Mama and I belonged to Grammy. Now I have an entire dwelling with my name on it. I feel rich.
Mama is going to go to the outlet malls in Gainesville today. She knows we are still limited on cash but the exercise will do her good. She told me what she is looking for but I do not really remember other than a certain style of shoes – as if she really needs another pair. She is looking for something more comfortable that is closed toed since she feels like she is hurting her feet by constantly wearing sandals and flip-flops.
When I got to the farm yesterday I was greeted by two very dirty dogs. The rain is a blessing to us and the ground. The mud it brings is less inspiring. The dogs do not mind at all being filthy dirty. The wet ground and cooler temperatures are a noticeable relief to them. However the two dogs we consider inside dogs make it a challenge to keep them clean enough to still be inside.
Dodger cannot decide whether or not he is an inside dog. He has no problem lying in the wet dirt after getting groomed and bathed. He does not see the problem in swimming in the horse’s water trough them licking himself clean while sitting on the couch. Rosie is a neat freak of sorts and would not generally resort to any attempt to bring the great outdoors inside – other than an occasional roll in something scratchy or smelly.
We have not let the guineas out yet for fear of how the dogs will react to them. Chasing the chickens is quite a game to them but the chickens do not normally fly to get away so the chase is prolonged. Neither of the big dogs has showed signs of wanting to kill a chicken – not like Dodger has – but they are still dogs and we will have to find a way to teach them to get along.
Maybe that will suffice for Grant. He wants to get a cat that will fight with our dogs then watch them become friends so he can live out a book his mommy reads to him. If we can convince him that is happening between the dogs and the birds, it could suffice. I do not want a cat.
Not until we have a barn.
I have meetings all day today in Decatur. They will be some of the final meetings I will have to take over the training responsibilities. I am still pushing back on some of the duties being left by the person I am replacing but the assignment of those is still up in the air. That makes some people very nervous.
Cori was telling Mama last night that the grandkids are excited about coming to Papi’s house. I am just thankful to have something attached to me in their minds. To this point everything associated with Mama and I belonged to Grammy. Now I have an entire dwelling with my name on it. I feel rich.
Mama is going to go to the outlet malls in Gainesville today. She knows we are still limited on cash but the exercise will do her good. She told me what she is looking for but I do not really remember other than a certain style of shoes – as if she really needs another pair. She is looking for something more comfortable that is closed toed since she feels like she is hurting her feet by constantly wearing sandals and flip-flops.
When I got to the farm yesterday I was greeted by two very dirty dogs. The rain is a blessing to us and the ground. The mud it brings is less inspiring. The dogs do not mind at all being filthy dirty. The wet ground and cooler temperatures are a noticeable relief to them. However the two dogs we consider inside dogs make it a challenge to keep them clean enough to still be inside.
Dodger cannot decide whether or not he is an inside dog. He has no problem lying in the wet dirt after getting groomed and bathed. He does not see the problem in swimming in the horse’s water trough them licking himself clean while sitting on the couch. Rosie is a neat freak of sorts and would not generally resort to any attempt to bring the great outdoors inside – other than an occasional roll in something scratchy or smelly.
We have not let the guineas out yet for fear of how the dogs will react to them. Chasing the chickens is quite a game to them but the chickens do not normally fly to get away so the chase is prolonged. Neither of the big dogs has showed signs of wanting to kill a chicken – not like Dodger has – but they are still dogs and we will have to find a way to teach them to get along.
Maybe that will suffice for Grant. He wants to get a cat that will fight with our dogs then watch them become friends so he can live out a book his mommy reads to him. If we can convince him that is happening between the dogs and the birds, it could suffice. I do not want a cat.
Not until we have a barn.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Church, a little scare, rain, apartment shopping
Church last night was fun. It has been a while since I have been at Central Baptist so the common joke was people reintroducing themselves as though I was a first time visitor. I was asked to read a mission letter almost as soon as the teasing was over so we are still welcome. Mrs. Patrick and I talked a long time about a variety of subjects but she is very sad to see us go. Mama and I will be back next week to attend a couple nights of the mission’s conference. The church is really getting geared up for it.
On the way home from church I stopped to get gas. I was still in my white shirt and tie when I went into the convenience store to buy an Arizona Green tea when I decided to call Mama. We talked for some time while I stood in the store and watched people come and go. When I got done talking to Mama and went to the register the lady working the register asked me rather sheepishly if that was all I wanted. When I told her it was, she breathed a huge sigh of relief and said, “You’re terrific!”
“Why is that?” I asked. She told me that she thought I was a constable and she was afraid she had sold cigarettes to a minor which was a $500 plus ticket. Her relief was very obvious. She said she had actually been given a ticket last month and was still working on paying it off so another one would have sunk her. I felt bad for her but I still thought it was funny.
More rain is predicted for Bowie over the next couple of days. In total about another two inches. That will put us way ahead for the summer. I do not know if it is unusual to get that amount of rainfall at this time of year but I am praising the Lord for it – normal or not. Along with the rain, the temperatures are a good bit cooler. Mornings will be in the sixties and afternoons will top out well below the century mark. Tomorrow is predicted to be only 85 degrees. That will feel good.
Mama says feeding is a mess with the ground muddy. We have an area of clay that we all try to avoid when it is wet but since it is right in the middle of the lot where all of the activity takes place, it is difficult to do. At least I will not have to water the grape vines for a few days; which is good because Mama and I will be in Amarillo most of next week.
We have decided to take our surplus of eggs to the language institute here in Bowie. We know the families that come here to study are often in great need. The semester will start soon and we are not sure how many families will be there, but it is one little thing we can do to help. We are not having much success selling them so the idea of giving them to missionary couples makes sense. When I got to Amarillo I found we had over fifty eggs in the fridge there and with the chickens laying eight to ten per day we should continue to have a surplus.
Chase is hoping Mama will look at some apartments with him when she is here next week. I am planning on going with him tonight to look at one he thinks he likes – across from the mall on Coulter. There are more to choose from in Amarillo than I was aware of. Andrew Fie told him he may have had a change of heart on taking him in as a roommate but after Chase took his truck keys and hid them through the service last night, he may have reconsidered his reconsideration. With the mess I found in the sink when I got to the house in Amarillo, I told Chase I did not think he was ready to be a roommate yet.
He took the hint and washed the several days worth of accumulation.
On the way home from church I stopped to get gas. I was still in my white shirt and tie when I went into the convenience store to buy an Arizona Green tea when I decided to call Mama. We talked for some time while I stood in the store and watched people come and go. When I got done talking to Mama and went to the register the lady working the register asked me rather sheepishly if that was all I wanted. When I told her it was, she breathed a huge sigh of relief and said, “You’re terrific!”
“Why is that?” I asked. She told me that she thought I was a constable and she was afraid she had sold cigarettes to a minor which was a $500 plus ticket. Her relief was very obvious. She said she had actually been given a ticket last month and was still working on paying it off so another one would have sunk her. I felt bad for her but I still thought it was funny.
More rain is predicted for Bowie over the next couple of days. In total about another two inches. That will put us way ahead for the summer. I do not know if it is unusual to get that amount of rainfall at this time of year but I am praising the Lord for it – normal or not. Along with the rain, the temperatures are a good bit cooler. Mornings will be in the sixties and afternoons will top out well below the century mark. Tomorrow is predicted to be only 85 degrees. That will feel good.
Mama says feeding is a mess with the ground muddy. We have an area of clay that we all try to avoid when it is wet but since it is right in the middle of the lot where all of the activity takes place, it is difficult to do. At least I will not have to water the grape vines for a few days; which is good because Mama and I will be in Amarillo most of next week.
We have decided to take our surplus of eggs to the language institute here in Bowie. We know the families that come here to study are often in great need. The semester will start soon and we are not sure how many families will be there, but it is one little thing we can do to help. We are not having much success selling them so the idea of giving them to missionary couples makes sense. When I got to Amarillo I found we had over fifty eggs in the fridge there and with the chickens laying eight to ten per day we should continue to have a surplus.
Chase is hoping Mama will look at some apartments with him when she is here next week. I am planning on going with him tonight to look at one he thinks he likes – across from the mall on Coulter. There are more to choose from in Amarillo than I was aware of. Andrew Fie told him he may have had a change of heart on taking him in as a roommate but after Chase took his truck keys and hid them through the service last night, he may have reconsidered his reconsideration. With the mess I found in the sink when I got to the house in Amarillo, I told Chase I did not think he was ready to be a roommate yet.
He took the hint and washed the several days worth of accumulation.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Travel, horses, accidents too close, short on time
I was traveling yesterday for most of the day. I left the farm at 5 a.m. and drove about four hours to Elk City, OK. After spending five hours there I drove to Amarillo – about two and one half hours. I was worn out last night. I was supposed to wait up for Chase but I did not make it. I will have to get together with him later today. I think he is working a much earlier time slot.
Mama called last night to tell me they had gotten a lot of rain. The weather app I use was predicting over an inch through the night. That should liven up our dead, parched ground. The rain is predicted to continue through Friday morning. It makes a bit of a mess for us when the ground is muddy, but the benefits far outweigh the mess. Besides, over time we will grow grass to cover the muddy spots and cover buildings to house the things we need to better protect from the wet. It’s all good. Of course, it is easier for me this morning since I am in my office in Borger.
After Mama kept the horses rather than let them go to David I have felt she regretted the decision so as we talked briefly yesterday I asked about it. I think we are back to letting them go even if Rain is pregnant and even it Toi ends up being worth something. Rain gave us Misty and Toi was given to us so we are amply paid back for the two if we let them go. If David and his family get a blessing out of the two of them, it is all the better. The current wet conditions will slow any transfers so we will continue to feed and care for the horses as we always have until they are gone.
Wes Bowman stopped by Monday evening to look over the farm because he would like to board some of his mares there. Mama is familiar with two of the three he suggested bringing and she is very excited. The two she knows are easy to ride so the hope is that she and Victoria will have opportunity to do just that. It will also put them close when the grandkids are here. They will think they are on a petting zoo/ dude ranch for their vacation.
Mama and I were supposed to look at a house in Montague that would be a good pattern for the metal home Mama has decided we want to build. We were waiting at the house for the realtor to come when Victoria called to tell us that a bad wreck on Hwy 59 had slowed her up in her drive to work. She was not involved but it had happened just before she left the farm because there were no emergency services on the scene and the traffic had only just began to work around it.
As it turned out, one of those involved in the wreck was the realtor that was on her way to meet us. We found out as we called to see if she was on her way since we had been waiting about half an hour. She was okay but the accident totaled her car. Mama and I felt a little bad since the meeting was to look at how the house was set up, not to buy it. Mama had been very honest with her about our intentions so she was aware that we were not potential buyers, but we still felt bad for her.
With this week almost over – at least, that is how I see it – I am looking to next week and all the activity that is coming at us during that time. Grandma and Grandpa will be traveling back to the farm with a loaded trailer (baler included). Mama and I will be in Amarillo for several days to participate in Central Baptist’s Missions Conference – if Grandma and Grandpa make it back as anticipated. Nate, Cori and the kids will be arriving at the end of the week. Joshua will be traveling to Dallas by bus at the same time. We will pick him up and get him to the farm for the week.
We have a lot to do in a few days. Mama and Victoria will be rearranging in the mobile home to accommodate everyone. Mama and I will be moving our bed to Bowie to help in that rearranging. I must get the building to the point that we can put everyone to work on the initial construction. We may have hay to put up in addition to the construction projects. Additionally, I have to keep hammering away at learning my new assignments while keeping up with my current ones.
We are getting short on time.
Mama called last night to tell me they had gotten a lot of rain. The weather app I use was predicting over an inch through the night. That should liven up our dead, parched ground. The rain is predicted to continue through Friday morning. It makes a bit of a mess for us when the ground is muddy, but the benefits far outweigh the mess. Besides, over time we will grow grass to cover the muddy spots and cover buildings to house the things we need to better protect from the wet. It’s all good. Of course, it is easier for me this morning since I am in my office in Borger.
After Mama kept the horses rather than let them go to David I have felt she regretted the decision so as we talked briefly yesterday I asked about it. I think we are back to letting them go even if Rain is pregnant and even it Toi ends up being worth something. Rain gave us Misty and Toi was given to us so we are amply paid back for the two if we let them go. If David and his family get a blessing out of the two of them, it is all the better. The current wet conditions will slow any transfers so we will continue to feed and care for the horses as we always have until they are gone.
Wes Bowman stopped by Monday evening to look over the farm because he would like to board some of his mares there. Mama is familiar with two of the three he suggested bringing and she is very excited. The two she knows are easy to ride so the hope is that she and Victoria will have opportunity to do just that. It will also put them close when the grandkids are here. They will think they are on a petting zoo/ dude ranch for their vacation.
Mama and I were supposed to look at a house in Montague that would be a good pattern for the metal home Mama has decided we want to build. We were waiting at the house for the realtor to come when Victoria called to tell us that a bad wreck on Hwy 59 had slowed her up in her drive to work. She was not involved but it had happened just before she left the farm because there were no emergency services on the scene and the traffic had only just began to work around it.
As it turned out, one of those involved in the wreck was the realtor that was on her way to meet us. We found out as we called to see if she was on her way since we had been waiting about half an hour. She was okay but the accident totaled her car. Mama and I felt a little bad since the meeting was to look at how the house was set up, not to buy it. Mama had been very honest with her about our intentions so she was aware that we were not potential buyers, but we still felt bad for her.
With this week almost over – at least, that is how I see it – I am looking to next week and all the activity that is coming at us during that time. Grandma and Grandpa will be traveling back to the farm with a loaded trailer (baler included). Mama and I will be in Amarillo for several days to participate in Central Baptist’s Missions Conference – if Grandma and Grandpa make it back as anticipated. Nate, Cori and the kids will be arriving at the end of the week. Joshua will be traveling to Dallas by bus at the same time. We will pick him up and get him to the farm for the week.
We have a lot to do in a few days. Mama and Victoria will be rearranging in the mobile home to accommodate everyone. Mama and I will be moving our bed to Bowie to help in that rearranging. I must get the building to the point that we can put everyone to work on the initial construction. We may have hay to put up in addition to the construction projects. Additionally, I have to keep hammering away at learning my new assignments while keeping up with my current ones.
We are getting short on time.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Chase, Toi & Rain, construction for the move
Chase and Makaila came over on Friday evening to get the little truck so he could have transportation while in Amarillo. I am still trying to get things straightened out with the wrecker service and salvage yard on the Breeze. Chase made several calls but what he was told makes absolutely no sense so I have to follow up. I am hoping to get the correct information today and get the problem solved early this week. I will be in Amarillo tomorrow afternoon.
Chase has had no luck finding a roommate. Bo was not allowed to move out and Andrew Fie, who also goes to church with us at Central Baptist, is not receptive to the idea of sharing an apartment either. Chase and I are going to look at some other apartments this week while I am there but I think Mama will also want to be involved when she is there next week. We are still praying about the arrangement but seem to have no clear directive one way of the other from the Lord. Those are the situations where it is difficult to know exactly what is best.
We had a friend come over to the farm Saturday. He goes to church with us in Decatur. He and his family do horse rescue and he was going to Trade Days in Bowie on Saturday so he came by to look at Toi. He, like the horse breeders that were at the farm on Friday, said that Toi was not really in that bad a condition. They also agreed that if she was fattened up and doctored a bit that she could carry a foal.
We found the papers that show Toi’s registration and Mama called the breeder to give him the information since he had requested it when he was here last week. He seemed familiar with the bloodline and said he would do some research and see if he could find someone interested in taking her. It is hard for us to imagine her carrying a baby in the condition she is in and at her age. She is twenty three years old.
Rain is troubling Toi pretty thoroughly. She will not let the older horse near her especially is there is food to eat. It keeps Toi on the run unless there is a lot of open pasture. With the lack of rain over the past month, there is little out there to graze on so what we feed out morning and evening is pretty much all they get. We have been told by two horse people that Rain does look pregnant so we are inclined to keep her for the duration of the gestation period – just in case. Personally, I would like to see both of them go, but I am willing to wait.
Some severe storms blew through last night but we did not get a drop of rain. I am assuming the rain will hold off until we begin to pour the slab for the shop and apartment. With the end of September yet six weeks away (our targeted move out date) things look fairly hopeful, but time is going pretty fast and I am not sure if we will even have the shop shelled in by the end of next month. Somehow we will manage regardless of where we are in construction, but I am not holding out for the building and apartment to be complete.
So far we have not sold the log package. There have been several people interested but no takers. We offered the logs for a price or for trade for cattle. At this point I am more interested in getting cattle for them. Grandpa will be coming back with a baler so we will have hay to feed and October is the normal beginning of predictable rain in our area. Timing looks good for us to get cattle, but we will watch and wait.
It has been interesting to note that the horses will not eat the hay we got in West Virginia. They push it aside and wait for the hay we got off of our meadow here. We are a little hesitant to feed out the hay we will be cutting next because we have been told that Blister Beetles infect alfalfa grown in warmer climates and ingestion of infected hay will kill a horse. I am inclined to go with what the local horse breeders think rather than to attempt to prove them wrong and end up with a dead horse.
So far we have been blessed. The hay we scraped off of the meadow was harvested before the beetles swarmed the area.
Chase has had no luck finding a roommate. Bo was not allowed to move out and Andrew Fie, who also goes to church with us at Central Baptist, is not receptive to the idea of sharing an apartment either. Chase and I are going to look at some other apartments this week while I am there but I think Mama will also want to be involved when she is there next week. We are still praying about the arrangement but seem to have no clear directive one way of the other from the Lord. Those are the situations where it is difficult to know exactly what is best.
We had a friend come over to the farm Saturday. He goes to church with us in Decatur. He and his family do horse rescue and he was going to Trade Days in Bowie on Saturday so he came by to look at Toi. He, like the horse breeders that were at the farm on Friday, said that Toi was not really in that bad a condition. They also agreed that if she was fattened up and doctored a bit that she could carry a foal.
We found the papers that show Toi’s registration and Mama called the breeder to give him the information since he had requested it when he was here last week. He seemed familiar with the bloodline and said he would do some research and see if he could find someone interested in taking her. It is hard for us to imagine her carrying a baby in the condition she is in and at her age. She is twenty three years old.
Rain is troubling Toi pretty thoroughly. She will not let the older horse near her especially is there is food to eat. It keeps Toi on the run unless there is a lot of open pasture. With the lack of rain over the past month, there is little out there to graze on so what we feed out morning and evening is pretty much all they get. We have been told by two horse people that Rain does look pregnant so we are inclined to keep her for the duration of the gestation period – just in case. Personally, I would like to see both of them go, but I am willing to wait.
Some severe storms blew through last night but we did not get a drop of rain. I am assuming the rain will hold off until we begin to pour the slab for the shop and apartment. With the end of September yet six weeks away (our targeted move out date) things look fairly hopeful, but time is going pretty fast and I am not sure if we will even have the shop shelled in by the end of next month. Somehow we will manage regardless of where we are in construction, but I am not holding out for the building and apartment to be complete.
So far we have not sold the log package. There have been several people interested but no takers. We offered the logs for a price or for trade for cattle. At this point I am more interested in getting cattle for them. Grandpa will be coming back with a baler so we will have hay to feed and October is the normal beginning of predictable rain in our area. Timing looks good for us to get cattle, but we will watch and wait.
It has been interesting to note that the horses will not eat the hay we got in West Virginia. They push it aside and wait for the hay we got off of our meadow here. We are a little hesitant to feed out the hay we will be cutting next because we have been told that Blister Beetles infect alfalfa grown in warmer climates and ingestion of infected hay will kill a horse. I am inclined to go with what the local horse breeders think rather than to attempt to prove them wrong and end up with a dead horse.
So far we have been blessed. The hay we scraped off of the meadow was harvested before the beetles swarmed the area.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Horse sense, the logs, Chase, Becky
Mama and I met with a couple last night who had come out to the farm to look at the log package we have advertized. They were not so much interested in the log as they were in the horses. They own a ranch near here and are nationally recognized for their knowledge of horses. They have obviously made a lot of money over the years buying and selling horses. They were both attracted to Toi even though we see her as an old, ailing horse they saw some great potential still yet in her. He even remarked that if she was fattened up (she is very bony at the moment) she could be bred and have one more foal. I cannot see it but he really wanted to see her breeding papers so he could know if she could still be worth some money. He seemed to think we should hold up on getting rid of her until he had a chance to advise us on who we could sell her to. It is worth looking into.
We have someone from the church coming by Saturday afternoon to look over the horses to see if they can take them as rescue horses. The couple last night seemed to think Rain is bred back. I only know of a white horse that had been kept in the field next to ours right after Misty was born. They said she looked about five months along, which would be about right. A barbed wire fence would be no obstacle for breeding we were told.
We stood around and talked about horses for most of the evening. They gave us some good advice on what to look for and offered to be available to us at any time to help with questions, purchases, care tips, etc. We may not have sold the log package but we made a great contact which I will capitalize on going forward.
We have had several more calls on the logs. A guy I talked to last night said he would be coming by today to look them over and see if he and his ranch hands could use them to assemble a line house on the back part of his ranch. I do not know if he is a serious buyer or not but I am pretty sure he will take the time to come and look. I do not know if we will end up selling the logs or not, but Mama and I have prayed about it and we hope to sell them.
It will be some time before I will be able to put them together and I do not like seeing them sitting in the heat. It cannot be good for them and they cost too much to let go to waste. We have more pressing projects at hand right now. Just in case we do not sell them, I now have an idea how to cover them to protect them for the coming months. We will let the ad run and see what will come of it. God is in control.
Chase and Makaila are planning to drive over today, spend the night and drive back tomorrow morning. He is taking the little truck back with him. Losing the Breeze was a costly experiment and hopefully the lesson the Lord was teaching got root in Chase’s heart. I do not know what that may be but I know the Lord does. Anyway, it will give Chase a chance to show Makaila the farm – just in case she is interested and he will recover his transportation.
Becky texted me yesterday to tell me that Charles had a new job. When I congratulated her in response she mentioned that they had been on vacation and gotten a “ton” of free stuff and now Charles had a job. She was pretty excited. I could not figure out if she was more excited about the free stuff or Charles working. But praise the Lord for both.
Mama is aching and sore from her little run the other day. I try not to laugh when she complains but I guess I am not trying hard enough. Dodger is back in the house and I seem to be forgiven. I guess it was all a misunderstanding – at least, he is willing to see it that way.
It will not stop me from “misunderstanding” if the same thing happens in the future.
We have someone from the church coming by Saturday afternoon to look over the horses to see if they can take them as rescue horses. The couple last night seemed to think Rain is bred back. I only know of a white horse that had been kept in the field next to ours right after Misty was born. They said she looked about five months along, which would be about right. A barbed wire fence would be no obstacle for breeding we were told.
We stood around and talked about horses for most of the evening. They gave us some good advice on what to look for and offered to be available to us at any time to help with questions, purchases, care tips, etc. We may not have sold the log package but we made a great contact which I will capitalize on going forward.
We have had several more calls on the logs. A guy I talked to last night said he would be coming by today to look them over and see if he and his ranch hands could use them to assemble a line house on the back part of his ranch. I do not know if he is a serious buyer or not but I am pretty sure he will take the time to come and look. I do not know if we will end up selling the logs or not, but Mama and I have prayed about it and we hope to sell them.
It will be some time before I will be able to put them together and I do not like seeing them sitting in the heat. It cannot be good for them and they cost too much to let go to waste. We have more pressing projects at hand right now. Just in case we do not sell them, I now have an idea how to cover them to protect them for the coming months. We will let the ad run and see what will come of it. God is in control.
Chase and Makaila are planning to drive over today, spend the night and drive back tomorrow morning. He is taking the little truck back with him. Losing the Breeze was a costly experiment and hopefully the lesson the Lord was teaching got root in Chase’s heart. I do not know what that may be but I know the Lord does. Anyway, it will give Chase a chance to show Makaila the farm – just in case she is interested and he will recover his transportation.
Becky texted me yesterday to tell me that Charles had a new job. When I congratulated her in response she mentioned that they had been on vacation and gotten a “ton” of free stuff and now Charles had a job. She was pretty excited. I could not figure out if she was more excited about the free stuff or Charles working. But praise the Lord for both.
Mama is aching and sore from her little run the other day. I try not to laugh when she complains but I guess I am not trying hard enough. Dodger is back in the house and I seem to be forgiven. I guess it was all a misunderstanding – at least, he is willing to see it that way.
It will not stop me from “misunderstanding” if the same thing happens in the future.
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