There's a skunk in my boot!

OK not really but I had you going for a while there.   Actually you probably thought Sheriff Woody invaded my page.   Just me. Thought it was about time I gave an update.  Where were we?   Ahhh yes.  Hubby was about to arrive home and when he did  I suggested that we head straight out to the barn to do the dirty work.  Of course, Jeffy and and PJ wanted to come and Billy and Dolly...did not.

We grabbed our tools for giving lead injections and Jeffy talked us into letting him bring his along too.  Their job was to stay a safe distance...I mean provide back-up should the need arise.   SHH and I went into the shed and counted about 10 bales that could be hiding an unsavory character.  It was decided that I would hold and dispense the lead injector and SHH would pull a bale off and run like heck in the opposite direction.

The tension continued to mount as at each bale there proved to be. .. no skunk.   We started to wonder if indeed, as some had guessed, that after aquainting our dog and therefore also myself with its "aroma" sir or madam S. had moved on.  With only two bales left we were fairly confident. ..but still. .. better proceed with caution.   Like a shot Stink E. Skunk squirted out of the nest and ran into the corner.   I started to ready for dispatch except that Jeffy and PJ were just past the line of sight.   Then suddenly it moved again,  ran out the door and was out of sight.

Neither one of us saw where  it went (and miraculously no one got sprayed) but when we went over to check on the boys this is the report we got.  "It ran out the door and headed straight for us!   But then it saw that I (Jeffrey) had my BB gun and got scared and went around the panel.   It saw that (PJ) was holding a stick and probably thought it was a shot gun.   So it ran off!  I had my safety off just in case he came near us! "  (true story.  He was so brave protecting his little brother.)

Well I wish this were the end to this tail.   I called our dog over to scent it and wouldn't you know. ..I think it's setting up home, behind those panels.

Stay tuned!

I think there's a skunk in the barn...

For all of you out there who ever wondered if getting hit by secondhand skunk spray is as awesome as it sounds I'm here to tell you...yes it is. The only thing that could actually be better than getting hit by secondhand skunk spray is getting hit by secondhand skunk spray in the mouth.   I suppose you could ask our dog rocky if getting hit first hand by skunk spray is as awesome as he is making it look.  Check this out.

Me thinks he got hit by first hand skunk spry in the mouth. 

 

There really is a pssssssst sound right as a skunk is spraying!  And I want you to know that if you are carrying a huge armful of hay and tossing it in the hay rack and you hear a pssssst sound...do NOT turn back to look at your dog in the barn.  And for sure do NOT open your mouth to yell at him to get out of there!  It will be too late. 

 

Now before you go feeling too badly for him, keep this in mind.  Every day we go out to the barn together to feed the horses; and every day I say to him "Rocky!  Leave the bales alone!  I think there is a skunk in there!"  But does he listen?  Noooooo!  So today we finally got to experience the essence of skunk.

 

And SPEAKING of reminding...I do recall telling SHH just the other day that I thought there was a skunk in the barn.  SHH moved some bales and check it out for me but didn't see anything.  Now I ask you...who should wash the dog?  We COULD take a vote, but because the man of my dreams committed his life to me and makes all my dreams come true (that and technically, I am in charge of the ranch) I will go and tomato my dog.  And after that...I think I will go take a dip myself...and have a v8 for my mouth.

 

Just another crazy day of Life on the Farm!

 

Precious PJ

I don't often write about my kiddos since they are frequently in school when I am out doing farm stuff.  However, not all of the awesome stuff that happens here is about farm life; some of it is frankly, regular life.  Take this sample of PJ's classroom work.  This was done to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I couldn't be prouder.

Can you read the words?  The statement was "I can make the world peaceful by..." and the student fills in the blank.  PJ wrote "I can help the world by prching the bible to others."   That melts this momma's heart.  The misspelling and illustrations (smiling faces with arms lifted and the "preacher" holding up the bible) highlight the tenderness and innocence of a 7 year old with a love for Jesus!

Just another day of Life on the Farm!

The end of an era

It is with deep sorrow that I announce the loss of a good friend today.  As a member of the Navy...the Old Navy...this friend has been with me through thick and thin; cold and warm; sweat and ... probably manure.

It all started out innocently enough.  I went out to the barn to do chores as usual with my good friend.  At a balmy 6 degrees, you would think that I would have noticed when he... passed.  However, I kept on about my duties so unaware of this great tragedy.  Upon returning to the house to celebrate our morning accomplishments...this is what I discovered

Now, how does one not notice such a thing in 6 degree weather?  This is how...

That there...is loooooong underwear folks.  And this is precisely the reason God created long underwear!  Six measly degrees is no match for my new-toasty-red long underwear.

Alas, I am a fickle friend and I have already moved on from the loss.  Please welcome Maurice...the newest member of my team.

And this is all part of....Life on the Farm!

Who let the...horses?...out?

So I went out to do chores yesterday morning to find 6 sweet little muzzles staring at me...not unusual...except they were on the wrong side of the fence...all 6 that were in that herd.

Anywho, it turns out that one of the boarders forgot to lock the gate (it happens...it's kind of like "who left the milk out"...except your milk can't run away and doesn't poop all over) and these beasts figured out how to escape...little stinkers.  They were happily munching hay...and recycling it..... allllll over my yard!  "Well", you might be thinking, "you do live on a ranch".  Yes, but I keep this ranch in tip top shape, and I insist that everyone clean up after their horses, which is why I went ballistic at the over 30 "piles" littering the pristine snow.

My first duty was to get the horses back in.  So I pointed to the gate and said "lets go you guys...party's over."  It was like a police raid at a college frat party...I'm assuming here.  Siri went first hanging her head and sauntering back into the corral.  The others followed and I went to get them more hay (not sure why...they were already full) and by the time I got back Siri was out again!  (Siri is Dolly's forever-irritated-at-life-but loves-Dolly pony)  So I went back to the other side of the gate and gave her a stern "REALLY?" and pointed to the corral and she sauntered back in again.

Now, time to deal with the "piles" left by my precious ponies.  I picked up the phone, dialed the boarder and filled her in.   Her response, "I'll be over in a bit to clean it up"...good woman.  To her credit my ranch is beautiful once again!!!

And there you have it...Life on the Farm!

Stay tuned...I have some disgusting stories to tell...

It's been too long!

Get ready!!!!  I'm hoping to Blog more!  The reason I haven't is simple...I have a dumb phone.  Now before you think me snooty...consider this...I blog about farm stuff...stuff that happens outside.  When funny stuff happens I say to myself, "well shoot I carry my phone for safety reasons but not my camera.  If only I had one of those smarty pants phones.  I could really crank out the funny!"

Well good news!  It is a strong possibility that I will get one of those bad boys in Feb!  Stay tuned...I'm working on SHH to get him to agree!

Guess what?  A package just arrived from Jeffers Equine!!! Along with secret birthday gift for Dolly, came...pony measuring tape (so we can reeeeeeealy know how much everyone weighs), collapsible water bucket (who knew they made such a thing...bring on the camping!), a bot knife (bring it botties!), a stethoscope (so I can pretend to know if a horse/cow/pig/chicken? is healthy or not), and my first ever pair of breeches (to which SHH said..."you'll wear a long shirt right?" What a kidder!