Still Here

We are still here, just super busy.

Erin from Head Heart Hooves (http://www.headhearthooves.com/) donated a blanket to Junior. I tried it on and it fits perfect. I've been meaning to post pictures so you can see Junior in his new blanket! He looks pretty sharp.

When we had hay delivered, we ran out of room and put some in the red shed. Unfortunately, when we have a normal winter, the snow piles up and we can't get the doors open on the north side (which is how we'd get the hay out). We decided that once the 2013 hay was gone that we'd move the hay. We did that on Sunday. I'd put Junior in his stall to eat his grain and we started moving hay. Mike got six bales in and said he couldn't get any more in. The ice in front of the hay shed was making it impossible to push the bales in. The tractor is too big to fit in the hay shed (not like our hay guy's tractor which can fit in almost any place!)

Mike had me go and look to see if the bales would be ok where they were. Umm. No. I couldn't get Junior out of his stall! He was trapped in there. I'm sure he would have been fine eating his way out of the stall but I wasn't fine with it. So back out two bales go. Then I look and still Junior is trapped in his stall. So out goes another two bales and then I can get Junior out. The only problem is that whoever is in that temporary stall can reach over and devour the entire gigantic bale so now I'm frantically working on that bale.

So, lesson learned. Don't try to put bales in that side of the hay shed! It took an hour to move six bales, only to have to move four of them back in. We're actually worse off than when we started but shhh, dont' tell Mike that.

I was rather disappointed. I'd hoped on Sunday to be able to do chores in the light but with moving hay and the like, I didn't get the chance and had to do chores in the dark. I'm ready for the days to be getting shorter and unfortunately, we still have shorter days to come. Soon the sun will be setting at 4:30pm and there's no way I can get out to do chores before then.

I'm worried about Junior as well. The last few days I've been late getting out to do chores so I've cheated and not grained anyone. I know, it's not good practice but it's been warm out. But I'm throwing hay. I also decided awhile back to stop stalling Junior at night because he seemed unhappy. So the other night, I pulled him into his stall to let him eat and he wouldn't touch his grain. I decided I'd stall him and throw hay. I wanted to keep an eye on him. He devoured his hay. He dove into that hay like he'd never eaten before. So I'm wondering if the mares are pushing him off his food. I also think that his teeth are bothering him. That first bite of grain was like he took the bite and then got turned off from him. I'd soaked it but not very well, which makes me think it's all about his teeth. So I'll be making a phone call to schedule an appointment for a float. Now to figure out how to juggle a vet visit in with all the other day-to-day activities and Christmas.

So much to do and so little time. But we are here and struggling to keep up with the daily grind. I'll hopefully be able to get caught up and post something more entertaining soon.