Denim Deb Hay, hay, hay. Thank the Lord!

[Denim Deb]

Actually, what would solve my problem would be for someone to run into it someplace (when I'm not in it) and total it! I might get more for it that way.

My husband did talk to someone, and he does feel more hopeful. He doesn't think it's as bad as he first thought. But, I'm still going to try and get something different next year-if God so wills. I've seen people that rush ahead of God in getting a vehicle, and have the thing die on them, be too costly to repair, and not have the money to replace it.

 

[Denim Deb]

It got cold last night-down to 9*!!!!! It's very rare to see those types of temps around here, and they were only forecasting a low of around 20*! But at least it's getting above freezing during the day.

I thought my hubby had cut more wood than he did. Last night, I split the last of what he cut up and the rest of the wood is covered w/snow! So, I dragged a few pieces off the top of the pile. I'll leave them propped up against something this morning and cut them up when I get home. If he had covered the wood pile w/the tarp I had there, the wood would be dry. Oh well.

I'm ready to quit my job. She wants me to clean the stalls faster than I am. But, if I clean them faster, either they're not that clean, or I waste a ton of shavings. Then, she'll complain about that. If she didn't insist on having the bedding so deep, it wouldn't be as hard. But, she's using really fine shavings. The bedding is about 5 inches deep, and the horse manage to cover up their poop. If I took out only what I could see, it would take almost no time at all, but the stalls wouldn't be really clean. And, if I didn't try to get the poop w/out the shavings, I'd be using 2x as much shavings. The shavings would cost more than what it costs for me to take the extra time. Plus, the manure spreader would fill up faster, which would mean I'd then have to spread it more often. So then she'd have to pay me for the time for that, as well as the gas and wear and tear on the truck. I just can't win! If I didn't need the money, I wouldn't be doing this.

I used to do a Children's message during church. I'd use everyday objects, including the animals, to teach a Bible truth. The adults enjoyed it as much as the kids and I was often asked what book I got the lessons from. I didn't. I believe that the lessons came from God. I've been told I need to write a book of them, and I did start. I just haven't had the time to do more. If I can find the time to do more, and if I can find someone to publish them for me (or self publish them if I can't), I would hopefully make enough to quit. It would be much easier on me, and I wouldn't have to leave the house to do them.

 

[Farmfresh]

As one who has scooped a lot of poop in my day ... there are far easier ways to make a buck. I will always be scooping something, just not for money that I really need.

I was glad to see your response on Abifae's journal about how horses helped you to regain your health. I think lots of people underestimate horse therapy. They do so much for us mentally as well.

If it hadn't been for my horses I really don't know how my life would have turned out. My mom was unmedicated bi-polar and my grandpa was a drunk. When I was a kid my chickens and horses provided an escape from my crazy household. There is a new kind of therapy in our town these days. It is equine therapy for mental illnesses. There is NO riding at all, only grooming and ground work. The group uses horses that are lame or unable to be ridden and they are doing some pretty interesting work with at risk children as well. My sis was looking into getting involved with the group, but then life keeps happening.

"I'd use everyday objects, including the animals, to teach a Bible truth."

Are we sisters? For about 10 years my hubby and I taught the 2 and 3 year old class at our church. I was always doing this stuff. People still talk about the day the chicken came to church to help teach about Creation. What better way to teach that, then to show the a work of the Master?

 

[savingdogs]

If I can find the time to do more, and if I can find someone to publish them for me (or self publish them if I can't), I would hopefully make enough to quit. It would be much easier on me, and I wouldn't have to leave the house to do them

I recieved a Kindle e-book as a gift last September for my birthday. Did you know you can self-publish e-books for free? Amazon gives you 30 percent of the proceeds (forever) and you set the price yourself. I had toyed with the idea of writing a book before, but getting it published is a job in itself. But there are many religious themed books available on Kindle. Some are offered free, to encourage you to buy more books by that author.

 

[Denim Deb]

FF, I've never taken a chicken, but I have taken eggs. And, I really thought about taking a chicken. I also took a bunch of different whips one time.

At times, my husband complains about the horses. I honestly don't think he gets it. When I'm riding Misty, I can forget about the things I can no longer do. Instead of having 2 legs, I have 4. And, while I'm sure there are some places I can't get to on her back, I can go farther than I ever could on my own 2 feet. If I ever had to get rid of the horses, something w/in me would curl up and die. And they're the whole reason I'm willing to muck stalls. I was able to go faster today. I've started using a different type of manure fork. The tines are closer together. It's a bit more awkward to use, but I'm starting to catch on. And, the stalls are cleaner when I get done. Using this fork, I just may be able to shave the time that I need down. She wants me to have a stall completely cleaned, water bucket dumped, scrubbed refilled and hay in the stall in less than 15 minutes. Right now, it's taking me just over 20 per stall. Of course, if I could just get the horses to do all of their business outside of the stall, it would be much easier!

SD, I'll have to remember that if I can't find someone to publish my book(s). I do have a lead as to one place that I may be able to get to publish them, I just need to find the time to work on it.

Right now, I'm taking it easy. I was beat when I got home. I had to put a RB out for RU's horses, and got the tractor stuck. I had to go and get a shovel and dig myself out. But the snow is melting, so as long as it doesn't make the ground too soft, I should be able to put more hay out for them as needed. RU is away, so she's paying me to care for her horses. I don't charge her anywhere near as much as I'd charge someone else. She's done a lot for me over the years, and will let me use her tractor to put out hay for my horses. I don't know of any other place that does self care that would let me do that.

 

[Farmfresh]

I had one stallion (Tennessee Walking Horse) that would do just that! He would go out into his personal pen, into one certain corner and THEN he would poo. I wish they were all like him. He would never wet in the stall either!

Another friend of mine had mares that seemed to always poo in the same corner. She bought some big soft sided trash cans and secured them into the favored corner. Sure enough MOST of the mess was in the can each day, so all she had to do was dump it and then do a little extra picking, clean the wet spot and done!

 

[Denim Deb]

I can only dream! There's one horse out there who may on occasion poop in the field, but it's rare and forget peeing in the field! I think he holds it all during the day.

If she has the horses in separate fields w/access to the stalls, I have to shut him out of the stall in order to clean it. Then, he'll pace up and down right next to the stall. Or, he'll just stand there and look at me. I swear, I think he has his back legs crossed, and his eyeballs are floating. As soon as I finish the stall and let him in, he'll assume the position. I swear I've heard his say aaaaahhhhhhh a few times.

 

[Farmfresh]

This sounds weird but give it a try ...

My aunt has a show horse that used to just NOT pee whenever they went anywhere. It was actually quite a problem and effected his performance. Finally she noticed that he seemed to always pee in the same spot at home, so she took some of the wet bedding and would bag it up and take it to the show with her. Problem solved.

Maybe you should put a pile of pee pee bedding OUTSIDE the stall for him?

 

[Denim Deb]

If it was my horse, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But, not my horse and not my farm, so I can't do it.

 

[Denim Deb]

Last week, we got snow on Sunday, today, we have rain! And, I'm so glad. I checked my garden b4 I went out to feed the horses, and almost all of the snow was gone. So, I should be able to finish getting it all ready this week! Plus, I can now drive back to my tack shed. I just wish it had either warmed up a bit sooner, or I could have waited to take the chicken feed back and bring a bale of hay up. But, I shouldn't have that worry now for awhile.

RU is away, so I have to feed all of her horses, as well as CL's and LF's. RU is paying me. Normally I would have waited because I don't really have time on Sunday morning to feed everyone. But, I'm sick and KN has actually come out to the farm 3 days this past week and done some of the feeding. I don't know if she thinks she's getting paid or not. But, if she is expecting to get paid, she's not, or I'd give her very little. I never asked her to feed, and I need the money. If I was getting more, maybe, but I don't charge RU even half of what I'd charge someone else for the same work, especially since I had to dig the tractor out 2x, and pull it out once. (Couldn't get any traction, there's no weight on the back, and I had a RB up in the air. I was all set to dump it over the fence when the tractor slipped so the RB was now over the top of the fence. I couldn't put it down to see if I could get out w/out damaging the fence.) That might sound harsh, but I'm out quite a bit due to her, and I doubt very much I'll ever get any of it back, so she's not getting any money.

As for my truck. My hubby just put some kind of sealer in the engine. If this doesn't work, and I do need a new engine, my son has said he'd buy me one. I think he might feel bad. He bought a big screened TV for his father for Christmas. (I don't know if it was originally supposed to be for both of us or not, but I can't watch it. It's too big, and bothers my MD.) All he got me was a necklace and a puzzle. But, I'm not going to complain.