Visit to the Vet

Tuesday,
     We took our miniature horse, Possum, and our quarter horse, Cooter, to the vet today.
   Little Possum hurt himself during the storms.  We have to take him to another vet because he is too big for the dog X-ray and too small for the horse X-ray.  Vet couldn't tell if he is really bruised or if he has a fracture on his shoulder by his chest.  No punctures.  We need to have him X-rayed to see what his treatment needs to be.  He can barely walk he is so sore.
    I thought Cooter had rain rot from the wet conditions.  Turns out he is allergic to Arkansas!  Vet doesn't know if it is insects, grass, or what, but said he needs to return to an environment he is used to.  He is not going to get better, only worse.  Right now we are giving him steroid shots twice a week then once a week to see if that helps within a month.  Poor Cooter keeps breaking out with what looks like Chicken Pox sores. Some of the sores are dime sized and they are raised, oozing, and others are raised crusty sores.
    Not a good day with our horses.  I have to get something to help Possum with the pain that won't injured his stomach or cause ulcers.  Minis are so prone to having reactions to pain meds.

Lightning strike

Sunday, April 27

   Thank goodness today is a better day than yesterday.  I am just going to take a breath about the electric fence for a day or two.
    On the way back from Harrison this morning , during a thunder storm,  lightening struck the power pole  next to us and almost at the same time the next pole in line.  The sound was shocking! I saw the one transformer shoot out fire and a big poof of smoke.  I can't help but think someone is going to be without power for a bit.
     Aside from that little scare,  Joe and I enjoyed the lightning, thunder, and downpours that lasted until we reached home.  It has rained off and on this afternoon and everything is so green and clean. We really need the rain for the ponds and pastures.

April 26

   Today has not been one of my better days.  I am frustrated trying to get ground rods for the electric fence deep enough in the ground.  I keep hitting rocks and gave to start setting the ground rod again.   The rod is about 7 feet tall, and awkward  and the post driver is heavy and I am just tired and frustrated!  I read the manual again and found where the rod can be placed at a 45 degree angle.  I think that may be more doable .  I will probably pay one of our workers to drive  in the grounding rod tomorrow.
    I came home from town today to find my horse inside a 10 foot long by 5 foot wide Guinea pen eating their corn. He stepped over about a foot high concrete footing to get in the pen that was not all bolted together since I was redoing it.  Thank goodness He didn't panic when he realized he just couldn't back out and the pen collapsed on him.  I was able to un-bungee the door and let him out forward.  Bo is really becoming a huge pain.   Then, many of the movable electric fence posts I put in and wired were down today.  I guess the cows don't have much respect for my un- electrified fence . If I don't get the solar electric fence going soon I am going to scream.
   Aside from my fence meltdown, all is going well back here.  Joe and Bill have both been sick with coughs and sore throats and feeling super tired for over a week now.  Could be a cold and allergies combined.  What ever it is, they both need to get well soon!

Interior walls going up

April 24
   We have the back of the house sheeted and covered in Tyvek.  There are interior walls framed and up for the mud room and part of the long hallway through the house.  All the joists and 2 of the 3 floor beans are in.
   We may not have a house yet, but I bought 3 hanging baskets of petunias and a huge fern to put out on the patio.  They add a touch of color and a bit of "hominess"  to the construction site.

Asparagus

April 23
   What a surprise I had today when cutting across a corner of the yard and noticed asparagus stalks growing by what used to be an old garden spot!  Some stalks were almost a foot tall and others just sprouting.  I apparently haven't walked in that area very much .  I harvested enough for us to have a bit to cook.  I was surprised to find out raw asparagus tastes very much like raw peas.
    Picking the asparagus reminded me of a memorable day in my childhood in Maryland .  Mom and I visited a friend of hers that lived in a beautiful house with an emasculate yard and asparagus patch.  The lady had rows of asparagus stalks coming up in about a 50' x 20' plot.  We got to pick a bunch of asparagus.  I remember how much I enjoyed the experience and the day spend with Mom.
    Joe and Bill pulled the remaining old chimney down and drug it out under the house.  Now the rest of the jousts and subfloor can go in.  I think one of the bearing walls is going in today, between the old house and the old fireplace room .
  Now it is time to be sure where we want the windows on the front of the house placed.  That side will be our closet, master, and master bath.

                             

Old cabin

Apri
We took a different road out of Harrison heading to Lead Hill the other day.  While on a back road we found this OLD one room cabin.  It is right across the road from a little stream.  What a beautiful homesite some family had.  I hope to find out more about this cabin and it's owners.

April 18 sheeting is up

   Today I could really see progress with the house!  The patio side of the house is framed and sheeted outside.  On that side of the house the exterior door , windows for the two guest bedrooms , and the guest bathroom windows are framed and cut out of the sheeting.  We temporarily hung  a few pieces of our siding and the guest bathroom window to see  how they looked.  We are pleased with our decisions so far.   The new front of the house is sheeted.  We will measure for the windows on that side next week and get them framed in and siding cut out.  The mud room even has the subfloor down.  Joe wound up redoing and reinforcing the old floor as joists were 24 inches apart and he changed to 16 inches apart for better support.
   Interior walls can't be too far off in the future!!!
First two pictures are of the SAME wall.  First is of the Old sheeting, insulation and siding taken off the house.  Second picture is of the new sheeting put up the next day. New windows will have to be framed in.  Last picture is on the patio side.  Two guest rooms, guest bathroom, and hall to exterior patio door.

  

                                 

  

Farm Field class

Saturday, April 12
     Today, Joe and I attended our first Farm Field Class sponsored by the Extension Office.  We visited a local farm and learned about pasture management with animal rotation from field to field to help the soil and allow the grass to have a few weeks to grow before regrazing.  We learned about different types of field grasses,  using temporary electric fences,  and movable water tanks for livestock.  There was no charge for attending, and they provided a wonderful bar b que sandwich, coleslaw, potato salad and cookies for lunch.  Joe and I might become participants just for the lunches. Just kidding.
    The morning was very informative, but walking up and down a few steep hills kicked my butt. I had to take a nap when we got back!
     I had started putting up a temporary electric fence around the front and back yard and I learned a few pointers from the field class today.  This knowledge will really come in handy sooner than I expected.  My horse, Bo, has discovered grain in the Guinea pen.  He can just stuff his fat body all the way in the pen to eat the Guinea food.  I leave the pen gate open so the Guineas can come home to eat or roost at night .   Bo scared them and they didn't come home tonight.  Hopefully they are in the trees and safe.  I will get the yard electrified Monday as soon as the feed store opens and I can get the rest of the temporary fence stakes.  Eventually I will electrify a pasture to put the horses in so they don't eat too much of the new grass and get foundered.  They will be locked up during the day and let out to eat at night.  About June we can let them out full time as the grass won't be as potent .
    All and all a great day with beautiful weather.

Signs of Spring

Thursday, April 10
    I am not writing much tonight as I am really tired.  I didn't do much today but worked hard Wednesday and my body wanted a day off.  Joe sucked it up and worked all day on the house.
    I did finally meet a lady that lives a few miles away and is a horse lover.  She drove her large pony over to my place and we had a good visit.  We are going to try to make it to a horse show together in a week to show her pony and my mini.  So nice to meet someone with similar interest.
   Signs of spring all around us.  The  fruitless Bradford pear trees are blooming in various spots around the property.  I am marking some of the trees to make sure they are not cut down as we clear out some of the small trees .  The tiny purple flowers are another surprise blooming around the yard.  The pink flowers are about 8  to 12 inches tall and blooming between the daffodils.  I do not know the names of either flower.
   Good night.

 

Walls coming down

Monday, April 7
     I had a great day with Leslie, Callie and Emilee .  We went to Branson, MO for Callie to get her Yellow Fever and Typhoid Vaccinations before her mission trip to Tanzania , Africa.  The health department in Branson is the only place anywhere nearby that Callie could get the shots, as they are a live virus .   After Callie got her two very painful shots - one in each arm-  we went to Olive Garden for lunch.  We celebrated Leslie's birthday a day early.  Then we headed to Harrison to get Callie's passport application submitted.   She also has to have a VISA application submitted to Tanzania .
   Joe and Bill made good progress on the house today

We're Cooking Now

Saturday, April 5,  2014

      We bought a used range in Branson today. It's a white Whirlpool Gold oven with the flat top burner surface.  A condo unit was updating so we got this one for $150.  Joe hooked it up in the shop next to our refrigerator so we can bake when we want to!!  The stove top in the trailer  only has two propane burners so having 4 burners will be a treat.  Thank goodness Joe knows how to set up the fuse panel and add the 220 for the  range.  We will sell the range once we get our kitchen set up in the house.
      I am looking forward to baked egg plant.  Great low fat snack and only takes 10 minutes to brown both sides.
      Joe, Bill, and Grandkids Callie and Meghan , went to the lake and were fishing for bass.  So glad we are just minutes from many access spots on the lake.

Lumber arrived

Friday, April 4

      Our first order of lumber and supplies to start on the floor and some walls arrived today!!
We are now ready to start the building process!!
       Cold front blew through last night so we are back in the low 50's today and mid 30's tonight.  We won't see 70's again until mid week next week.
        Joe made asparagus wrapped in bacon tonight.  I think we have at least two Grandkids hooked on this appetizer.

Thorn Trees

  Work continues on the outside, especially cutting down and killing the thorn trees.  Some thorns are 3 inches long and the young shoots and trees are covered in thorns of various sizes.  You can't just cut the tree down or it sends out roots that sprout new trees.  I have been digging up small shoots about finger size around and pulling or digging up the thorn shoots roots which grow horizontally just under the ground.  I dab Tordon on the end of any root I can't remove .  Each shoot or tree grows off one main root.  Once a tree starts growing, it can put out one root in a different direction.  You have to use a special treatment that causes the tree to try to grow so fast it kills itself.  I am drilling holes in some of the larger roots I find and pouring the Tordon inside the hole.    I am sure this will be an ongoing project as we have a farm with 30 years of neglect to turn around.  We have hundreds of various sized cedar trees we will cut down to allow the large oak trees more breathing room and open up more areas for pasture.  We will still leave hundreds of cedars along the fences and in the upper areas as a forest mixed with hardwoods.

Guineas

April 3,

    Just a quick note to say I was jumping for joy yesterday when my 5 squawking Guineas came home!  Guineas are very hard to teach to roost in a certain area.  I kept ours locked up for weeks and just this week let them out to free range.  The first two nights they came home and went in their pen.  Night before last they did not come home.  I was sure they had flown the coop so to speak.  Later yesterday morning they come down out of the top wooded 30 acres, squawking and flapping all the way to their pen.  They are staying closer today so I feel they do know where they live and where the food comes from.

    Oh- current cattle count is 15. For two days we had NO cows. Now we have our cow and calf, then 3 of my granddaughter's,  and the rest visitors. I looked up yesterday to see 2 cows running across the pastures to join what cows that were here.  Word must be spreading that we have really good grass over here. We heard a good sized calf bawling about dark.  We went to let it out the gate to find its momma but  it turned and went up to the top of the tree line trying to find its mom just across the fence. Joe drove me up the hill above the calf and our dog Pia stayed with me as I herded it back through 3 fields to get back to the gate. Mind you I am in shorts and flip flops out in the dark.  Doesn't really conjure up an image of a cowgirl.  Poor Joe kept taking the truck from pasture to pasture trying to pick me up but the calf, Pia and I were moving too fast along the fence and hill and dale while he had to go around fences and cross the creek bed on the road.  I felt I had a good workout by the time he picked me up at the gate.  All is well and calf and cow were reunited.
The Cow Fairy strikes again!
 

Stocked the big pond

Thursday, April 3
     Joe and I were up early today and headed into Harrison to find out about fish to stock our big pond.  I planned on getting some minnows for the ducks and turtles and just to have in the pond.  I wound up buying 2 lbs of LITTLE minnows ( about 200 minnows), 100 little catfish, about 4 inches long, and 2 grass carp.  The carp are about 9 inches long and supposed to eat algae, water grass, and green stuff in the pond.  Not sure what we are going to do with 100 catfish but minimum order was 100 for $39. So we now have a pond full of catfish.  I asked the man what to feed them and he said until they get a bit bigger, throw them some dog food.  You'd think they would want cat food being catfish.  Haha.
     Joe and I took turns releasing the fish.  What fun being in the country.  Releasing fish is something that never crossed my mind until I saw the flyer about pond fish being sold outside the feed store April 3!  This sounds terrible and cheap but, if all the fish die or are eaten by the wild ducks turtles, and herons, then I am not out too much money on fish.  On the other hand, if the catfish grow big,  we might be eating catfish quite often. I can't get the picture of Joe releasing the fish to download!  I tried to cut and paste, but the picture may be too large to view.  Bummer.
     The weather has been beautiful today, with light rain off and on, and occasionally the rumble of distant thunder.  Temperature hit 75 which was wonderful with the cloud cover.  We will be under a thunderstorm watch later tonight .  We are camped in our LQ trailer right by what we call " the bomb shelter "since it is made out of concrete and blocks in the side of a small hill.  Shelter is just across the drive from the house.
      Think I will go sit outside as soon as the news is over and soak in the beauty surrounding us. Well, the thunder is getting closer, so I might just lay here on the sofa with Muffin (my Yorkie) and listen to nature and look out the screen door.

Wasps

Monday, April 1

       Today we noticed wasps starting to come out of an old dead looking branch on the huge oak tree right off the patio.  Joe took his 32 inch chainsaw and cut the branch off the tree.  Only about half a dozen wasps came out.  We are going to haul the branch off tonight and burn it in our enormous burn pile of all the junk and wood and trees we have collected so far.  We need the branch gone before any more wasps hatch tomorrow.  We are hoping wasps don't come out at night as we need haul the branch off tonight with the tractor.
      Joe and I volunteered to work at the two snack shacks at school games tonight from 5 pm - 9 pm. We enjoy helping when we can and like working with Leslie and Bill in the snack shack.
     LUMBER IS COMING TOMORROW MORNING!
       

Grandkids

    Sunday, March 30

       Wonderful day at the cabin on the White River with all the Grandkids!  I haven't seen Doug's kids since Halloween.  Leslie and her girls were there also.  We had a campfire Sat night and made s'mores.  Good times making good memories.
       Jack turned two in January, and Evan is 7 months old.  Leslie is holding Evan, Emilee, Meghan,  and Callie in the chair.  The last picture is the view off the side deck towards the river.