Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[SSDreamin]

Sure hope the weather improves for your visit! Lately, above us(those cray Canooks ), they've had some REALLY cold weather, and have shared it generously with us! I should NEVER see my breath at night during the summer! We've been told here to brace ourselves too - Canada will be sharing it's horrendously cold weather with us this winter too
Our hay guy lent us his hay wagon to bring home 11 RB's - which we had to unload and arrange by hand - DH busted a big chunk out of the wagon deck on the third to last bale! Man, do we need a tractor!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I sure hope it does too... I looked at the temps today and their high was in the mid 60's and lows in the mid-40's. But one day this week it's supposed to get up to 80 with lows in the 50's. So, I'm still holding out hope that it will be pleasant when we are there. However, we are packing accordingly. I don't mind the cold as much, but I hope it's not rainy at least.

We added a couple more sheets of roofing on the chicken coop yesterday but the heat has been brutal and we're taking our time. No great rush, but I'd like it done before we go. I intend to put some chicken feeders in there for the pasture birds.... and nest boxes where the dog can't get to 'em. I'm tired of getting NO eggs from the 'outside' birds. The ones that live in the front barnyard may hide them too, but there's not as many places and I usually find 'em pretty easily.

The horses in Canada will be happier to know that I've lost 8 whole pounds this month! Five more and I'll be at the weight that I lied about to the dude ranch lol. I've got two and a half more weeks and I WILL drop those 5 lbs by then.

YIKES - only two and a half more weeks! Geeeze, time is flying by. I found some great sales at Wally World the other day. T-shirts for $2.00 so I grabbed 3 of 'em. Maybe shoulda got more, but didn't want to be greedy. Picked up the hubster a couple 'western' type shirts and grabbed myself a cheap pair of jeans. Don't really need designer jeans on a dude ranch and I'm really happy about that. They have a "boots for riding" rule so we're deciding whether to get hubby a pair of boots or rent the ones they have available at the ranch I'm taking my ropers and hope they pass inspection with their 'walking' heel. If not, I'll rent boots too. Somehow, somewhere I've totally lost (or loaned out) my other pair of boots and of course, they have a riding heel. ARGH! Heck, I might be renting boots too...just can't see spending great big chunks of money on new ones.

 

[goatgurl]

sounds like you will be having a blast. hopefully the snow there will hold off till you get back. love me some wally world bargains! must be the time of year for t-shirt sales, i got a couple last week but not for $2. i paid $3. and didn't gripe about that either.

 

[Denim Deb]

I got a long sleeved T in Target the other day for just under $6 and was happy about that. That's the only place I can find them. I've found if I have long sleeved Ts, I can wear them w/my summer PJ bottoms in the spring and fall.

Hope you can lose the weight you want to by the time you leave. Do they make you get on a scale to be sure you don't weigh too much?

As for boots w/a riding heel, I like Ariat Terrain boots. They make them in both mens and ladies sizes, and you can wear them w/a pair of jeans for a casual look.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/ariatreg;-mens-terrain-boot-distressed-brown

 

[frustratedearthmother]

LOL - no they don't make you get on a scale! If they did - I would not be going there. They don't even care how much you weigh nor do they have a limit. BUT, they ask for your weight so they can match you with the right horse. DH weighs about 235 and when he asked they said he was a lightweight compared to some of the people they've put on horses!

DD is mailing me another pair of boots with a higher heel. I really think my ropers will be ok, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Geeze, looks like I'll need another suitcase...

Busy day at work today...fall semester starts next week and we're crazy busy.

 

[hqueen13]

That crazy before you leave for vacay is always rough! Of course its crazy when you get home too.... Wait, I think its just crazy.

We have started to build hay feeders and sell them for the very reasons you're describing. Our hay feeders have a wooden bottom to keep the hay off the ground and then a net to cover them to prevent the horses from ripping the hay out and throwing it all over everywhere. It reduces the hay waste off of a big bale down to less than 4% which is really great. They even have a roof on top to keep it covered and a little dryer (won't save them from that sideways precipitation... but at least it helps!).
Because of the hay feeders we also found out you can get cut to length metal roofing sheets that are SO nice to work with. We have been using them instead of the corrugated stuff and it is SO much better to not have to risk cutting up our hands trying to cut the 12' pieces down to the correct length. Plus the metal roof comes in COLORS! And it costs the same as the corrugated stuff. We order it at the pro desk at Home Depot, and its nice and easy. Love that stuff.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Woo Hoo! My barn is full of hay! I'm so excited I could just.... Anyway - I called my two favorite helpers and even the guy next door came and helped (cuz he's borrowing my trailer for two weeks and wanted to make sure we got it all UNloaded so he'd have access to the trailer tomorrow, lol!) and we picked up those bales in about a half-hour. Brought 'em home and unloaded em in another half-hour. So, for an hour's work-- (and a big fat wad of money) I have 70 new square bales. And, I've still got about a dozen from last year and last weekend we picked up 4 big round bales. I think I'm set for the winter now! That is such a good feeling and quite a relief from paying feed store prices. I got beautiful Tifton hay for $6 out of the field and that same hay would sell for at least $12-14 a bale at the feed store. Definitely doing the happy hay dance today.

Poor Spooky - she cut her foot and is hobbling around practically on three legs. It was just about 6 months ago that Red cut her foot....what's up with these guys? There must be something sharp out there that I haven't found even though I have looked and looked. I soaked it and wrapped it good yesterday, gave her a tetanus booster and some penicillin. I'll re-do the bandage tomorrow and see if it looks any better. Poor girl.

We're still doing vacay preps. I picked up another auto waterer for the dog pen. I need to move some chickens around too, but not much more after that. Now we're just counting our clothes...jeans...light jackets...heavy coats...socks...gloves... This will be so much different than when we went to Grand Cayman. For that trip I had a couple outfits and three pairs of shoes for every day we were there, lol. Not gonna happen on this trip! Pair of boots, pair of athletic shoes for hiking and biking, and a light weight pair of Keds...that'll do it! Minimal make up, no curling iron and very little bling...earrings only. Probably not even going to take my wedding rings...would hate to leave 'em in Canada. Two weeks from tomorrow!

 

[Denim Deb]

That's great that you have all your hay! It's always a good feeling when you have it all in for the winter-especially if you still have several months B4 you need it.

 

[goatgurl]

yea you! i love the feeling that there is one less thing to worry about for winter. i still have to get square bales for in the barn but can't do that for a couple of weeks. I'd love to get some alfalfa too but the guy who bales it here was late this year and the blister bugs were already out so i'm afraid of his local hay and can't afford imported stuff. last year i fed some chaffhaye. kind of fermented alfalfa in a bag and the goats really liked it will probably do that again this year.

 

[Denim Deb]

That's one thing I don't have to worry about here, blister beetles! While we have some, we don't have them like they do in other parts of the country.