Manure Happens

Mike has been frantically hauling manure since noon today and it's almost 9pm. We got a late start (our son let us sleep in!) So now Mike is trying to get the majority of the drylot cleaned out before it starts raining again. Our tractor arrived earlier this week so we wanted to put it to use right away! What better than to start scooping manure. Poor Mike has only taken two breaks in the past nine hours. I think going to the paying job will be like taking a break.

To prepare for hauling manure, I had to move horses around to different pens. The mares went into their stalls because it was just easier. I don't think they minded. We've had an east wind and I know Rabbit does not like wind. The ponies went into a temporary pen I put up so that the horses could eat grass near the hay barn.

Hopefully Mike will be done soon so I can go out and do chores. I moved the big herd into the small pen after moving the mares and ponies. At first I was haltering each horse and then decided it was too much work and that I would try and dig out the gate that was somewhat buried and broken. Luckily the gate broke free so I could get the rest of the horses in. There was a lot of bucking, running, and farting going on. Of course the horses were mad that I'd waited as long as I had to get out and do chores. And then to move them to a different pen really had them all riled up.

I need to go out and move the horses back. The pen they are in is just too small for ten horses. It works perfect for four.

I haven't seen the weather report in a while. All I know is that at some point it's supposed to start raining but I don't know when or for how long. Mike and I are trying to do some extra cleaning. I was talking with my sister the other day and we realized that it's been four years of just "surviving". We haven't really been able to do too much in the past few years to improve the place. We've been simply surviving and I've been struggling to just keep my head above water. But now we (ok, more like mostly all me) are on a kick to get the place cleaned up and looking better. Having moved into an old farm place means that you always have something to fix and since we haven't been "fixing" anything for the past four years, you can imagine the predicament we are in currently. I'm going to spend all summer fixing and repairing everything that's broken. Ok, not everything but at least fixing all the major things that broke...or at least that's the goal. I'm sure I'm over estimated myself but that's just what I do I guess.

I also realized that it's the first of May already. And that means we need to pick another horse of the month. I'll get something posted later this week.

I also forgot, on Saturday morning we ran to Sioux Falls to pick up some donated hay. Thanks to J and D for donating hay. The horses love it.

Well, I'd write more but it sounds like the tractor attached to the manure spreader is dying so I better go and rescue Mike. I'll write more later.