Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category

A Busy Week with Grandchildren

What a great week we had with children and grandchildren. Tammy, Neil, and the three grandchildren were here from Maryland for a week. We had a scary close call I blogged about on my other blog.

family

ronnie tyler

Papa, Marmee, and Tyler. Is he too cute or what?

horse cart

mini horse cart

animals

Feeding the Goats


Neighbor’s cows

cows

neil

tammy brothers

Tammy and brothers (funny that all wearing camoflauge shorts)

kitten

tyler lide

robin tyler

pool

great pry

trampoleen

Happy 9th B Day David

bday
Army theme birthday Party

Steak and Shake

swings

sunset

Popularity: 16% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Our New Twin Girls

Announcing Cameo and Sweetie,  3 month old Nigerian Dwarf goats

Precious (our female Great Pyrenees) has taken the girls in as her own babies

Rocky is their new daddy

Twins meet the horses

mimi goats

Up on the roof top

The plants are greener on the other side

David jumps out of the pool for a quick photo.

 

Are You Making Homeschool Decisions?

Popularity: 15% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

4H Youth Day at Our County Fair

This has been a super week. We’ve been going to the Agriculture Center every day for the Bedford County Fair.

Tuesday night the Horse Whisperer spoke. We learned a lot about connecting with horses and working with them instead of against them.

Yesterday afternoon was 4H Youth Day. The participants played games,  ran relay races, and took various agriculture classes (yes, it counts as school work!) Here are a few photos.

 


Christopher was timid with the chickens.


Egg Race


Small town - we bought our home from the family showing this calf.

 

Look at these happy faces.

We’re looking forward to the miniature donkey and mule shows on Saturday.

Popularity: 14% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Another Use for a Leaf Blower

Ever think of using your leaf blower to clean the garage, barn, or patio? I “dusted” and “swept” our horse barn and metal storage building with a leaf blower. No more sweeping yucky cobwebs on my head!

We have an old wooden barn for our horses and large metal barn (half enclosed for storage and half open for hay, tractor, etc.)

Since no one has been in the barn for a month it was full of cobwebs. Our horses are in another county being trained and due home this week. I was cleaning and organizing the horse barn and hanging hooks for tack. I was using the broom to clean. Then I had a light bulb moment and grabbed the leaf blower.

It worked so well I used it to “dust”and “sweep” our storage barn. I have a lot of shelves full of boxes. The leaf blower “dusted” all the shelves, the top of my freezer, and swept the floor much faster than a broom. I also wind blasted cabinets where I keep the horse medication and brushes.

Then it was off to the patio to blow away all the dirt our two giant dogs drag in daily. It worked so well I’m keeping the leaf blower inside my laundry room to be nearby for a quick “sweep” of the patio daily.

So what do think. Shall I try blasting the legos in the family room? (JOKING)

Get More Great Ideas Every Tuesday and Wednesday

Every Tuesday and Wednesday hundreds of bloggers post super organizing ideas, cleaning tips, recipes, parenting helps, and more! You can browse and visit the topics you are interested in or join in by posting your tips on your blog. Use the links below.

Tackle it Tuesday is a blog meme to motivate you to tackle a project each week. Tackle It Tuesday is about giving ourselves incentive, deadlines and satisfaction in getting our household tasks done. (It doesn’t even have to be housework… just whatever is on your To Do list.) Go over and read through the encouraging posts.

Works for Me Wednesday is a “blog carnival” (explained here). You will find TONS of super organizing ideas, and home improvement tips on Works for Me Wednesday. Join in. Post a tip you’ve learned on any topic–anything that has “worked for you” in making your life easier.

Popularity: 25% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Neighbor’s Shooting = New Fence

 

Putting up a new mesh fence around our home works for me (at least for now) . We have 20 acres completely fenced, but because of the angry neighbor have to tighten the play area for the dogs and children.

 

Our neighbor doesn’t like the dogs barking. About a month ago he began shooting at our dogs. We have two Great Pyrenees. They don’t bark a lot but they do bark at squirrels, rabbits, badgers, deer, foxes and other things that run in our yard frequently. This is the drawing I made to mark off the area for the new fence:

 

Click image for better view

When the shooting first started DH and I discussed it and decided the best course of action would be to talk. So I went over and gave the guy our phone number and said please call us if our dogs bother you. We never met him before this. He was civil and agreed. DH went over another day to touch base and make sure he was happy. We don’t want an angry man with a gun nearby. We began tying up the dogs near the house (out of the neighbor’s vision and range).

All was quiet until last weekend. My children and hubby were in the pool and both dogs were tied in our yard but barking because the neighbor had company in his pool. Out of the blue we heard screaming “Shut those *%$#@ dogs up and shots were fired. We sent the kids in the house.

Dh and I decided we needed to report him to the police. I went to get the phone and by the time I got got back the guy drove up on a motorcycle in our driveway screaming and yelling and waving his arms like a mad man to shut our dogs up because he can’t enjoy 5 minutes of quiet. I believe he was drunk. It was 11 am. He was so wild I called 911.

If he would have called as I had asked I would have taken the dogs in the house.

He was gone by the time police arrived. The dogs never barked once while the police were here (they bark at people who shoot at them). We had a trespass warning issued (so he can’t return). BUT the police said he could shoot and we couldn’t do anything about it. He told the police he was shooting into the ground.

Once the police left, he marched up and down the fence line with a rifle shooting every few minutes. We can only hope nothing sets him off again. What if a bullet goes into my window and shoots my children? I pray for safety daily.

Tightening the area my dogs and children play in works for me for now. I also have a tripod set up on my front porch to video tape any shots fired into my property (as a deterrent). Here are photos of the new fence and front gates.

We chose mesh because we will be getting goats soon.

Hard to believe anyone would risk hurting these guys:

 

Get a Gun?

By now you are wondering why we don’t get a gun. The only thing worse that an angry drunk with a gun would be a menopausal protective mother with a gun. It just wouldn’t be a good witness to shoot my neighbor. We will lay low and pray. God has a way of working these things out.

Works for Me Wednesday is a “blog carnival” (explained here). Be sure to check out lots of great tips on Works for Me Wednesday.

Related:

  1. Miniature Horse Driving School
  2. Puppies Meet the Miniature Horses
  3. Miniature Horses on the Porch!

Popularity: 16% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Driving and Riding Miniature Horses

Today we drove our miniature horses and saddle broke Bubbles. We drove all three minis (individually rotating in two carts). The photos show us in one area but we had a ball in the fields, pastures, and woods (over 40 acres) for several hours. Works for me!

It was a great family day. We walked, trotted, galloped, and backed with each easily. David (8) and Christopher (7) both drove solo for the first time today.More...

 


David and Bubbles (background: Dale the trainer and Tobby the smallest mini.)


Christopher and Comanche

 

Saddle Breaking Bubbles: Green on Green

Today was Bubbles first day with a saddle. Green on green. David (8) has only had a dozen riding lessons so I was apprehensive but it went beautifully. Bubbles was a perfect gentleman. Isn’t the western saddle too cute?

Bubbles is a Class B miniature, larger than our other minis and can handle David’s 60 lbs. Tobby and Comanche are much smaller and will only be used for driving (only very small children, that weigh 40 pounds or less should ride a class A mini).


” There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ” ~Winston Churchill

Works for Me Wednesday is a “blog carnival” (explained here). Be sure to check out lots of great tips on Works for Me Wednesday.

Related:

  1. Miniature Horse Driving School
  2. Puppies Meet the Miniature Horses
  3. Miniature Horses on the Porch!

Popularity: 16% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Miniature Horse Driving School

Two weeks ago my miniature horses started driving school. Today my sons and I began our training. The trainer, Dale, put his horse, Smurf (the black horse), with Comanche for awhile and then Toby. We rode like the wind! I had a blast. It was even better than riding for me.

Here is a video of my first solo with Toby (the child’s voice in the background is my grandson, Jordan, telling us to go faster).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-FKDWImpyI[/youtube]

 

My son, Danny, and Dale the trainer.

Jordan, Danny’s son.


Christopher and David with Dale

Smurf and Comanche. Comanche is too small to drive with Smurf, but eventually I’ll drive Toby and Comanche together (they are the same size). Dale said they’ll make a cute team.

Smurf in his work harness. It will take me a few lessons to learn how to strap and buckle this getup.

Popularity: 20% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

File Under Just Too Cute

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqSI5_3lOEY[/youtube]

Too cute mommy otter and baby pup.  Suddenly my arms feel very empty. Off to find find a child to hug…

Popularity: 17% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Look What Daddy Brought Home!

We are all mourning the passing of our Great Pyrenees, Peppy (especially Precious, his sister) and then Daddy came home with Rocky!

Rocky was born on Christmas day.

Precious is thrilled with a new companion. Precious is 7 months. Rocky is 3 months.

The boys say they have the BEST Daddy who is on the world! I agree.

Outside to meet the horses

We miss Peppy terribly but Rocky is a perfect fit for our family. I had no idea how much puppy play Precious was missing out on because Peppy was so weak.

What a joy to watch them play. Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts over Peppy’s passing.

Popularity: 22% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Peppy Died This Morning

I wrote about Peppy’s passing here.

Popularity: 20% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Peppy is Very Sick

My heart is very heavy over my little Peppy. Peppy is one of two Great Pyrenees we got last year. Peppy is like a baby to me. Peppy has a liver disease.

Peppy is deaf so I have has to take special care of him. We knew something was wrong when we got him but we fell in love with him and took him home. I wrote Spiritual Lessons from a Deaf Dog a few months back.
Peppy is only 30 lbs. His sister is 65 lbs.

He is very weak. We carry him around in a wagon back and forth each day to the barn so he can be part of our daily routine. He’s too weak to make it to the barn and back on his own.

We’re waiting for more test results from the vet, but yesterday he said it doesn’t look good. I can’t imagine Peppy not being here. He spent the night at the vet’s last night. I’m on my way to pick him up now.

 

Robin Sampson

 

Popularity: 20% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Growing Puppies

Wordless Wednesday

Our Great Pyrenees puppies, Precious and Peppy, are now 4 months. Precious is the big one. Peppy is a deaf dwarf. He’s bigger than we thought he was going to be. It will be interesting to see how big he gets. The photos above show the growth between 5 weeks and 4 months (good thing children don’t grow this fast).

(more…)

Popularity: 12% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Puppies Meet the Horses


Peppy and Mr. Bubbles

 

miniature horse
Peppy and Comanche

 


Peppy licking Mr. Bubbles

 


Precious and Mr. Bubbles

 


Precious, Peppy and Mr. Bubbles

 


Peppy is tired.

 


Too cute!

Popularity: 100% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Great Pryenees Puppies

Great Pryneese puppy dwarf deaf


Popularity: 24% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Miniature Horses on the Porch

I let my miniature horses’s out in my front yard today. (Don’t tell my hubby).  I parked my car in the driveway to let them “mow” my yard. Smart right?

Next thing I know they are snooping around on the porch peeping in the windows.

v

Getting into my UPS delivery. Can’t wait to see the look on the UPS man’s face.

Getting a head scratch on my wicker furniture

Typical boys. Fighting over who gets to stand on the porch

Awwwww, Mr Bubbles, you are sooo sweet. He puts his head in my lap because he thinks he’s a puppy.


HEY, t hose are my toes! Not peppermints!

Oh man, he pooped on the porch (no photos of please). That’s it. Get off my porch!

I gotta get the hose now.

Backyard for you guys.

Visit my blog.

More Horse Photos.

Popularity: 2% [?]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!