I have a couple of rhubarb pies in the oven at the moment. I was supposed to make them last night, but I was so tired that I just didn't. But I'll get there in a minute. First, let me tell you about Wednesday evening.
I loaded myself into the car as it was going on five (I meant to leave a little earlier) and headed off to Ruth's house. I ran into some rain on the way down--including a little hail. I realized after the first couple 'whack!'s that sounded like rocks hitting the car that it was hailing. Thankfully, that didn't last long. It bugs me how people in this state don't turn their lights on in the rain (or twilight). It's not safe. But anyway...
I arrived at Ruth's and I really should have taken my mud boots--because I ended up with wet boots and my jeans soaked half-way to my knee. The main purpose was to introduce me to "the girls" (as she calls her horses), but I also wanted to see if I could help out around her place any. However, all I ended up doing was scooping one of the horse-stalls. According to Ruth, just working with the horses (which she doesn't have time to do much) would be help.
Alright, so there are three horses--but only one to be ridden. First, there is Beulah, a sweet little quarter horse. She can't be ridden because her knees. She's about the same color as Snip, though a little darker. Second, there is Rose...this is the one who can be ridden. She is a Halflinger--a little short draft breed. While she is around 4-6 inches shorter than Snip, her feet are twice as big! After watch Ruth do a little ground work with her, I tried (with helpful commentary and instruction from Ruth--she actually explained what things meant!) a little bit. Rose was confused because I was confused, but I think we got along okay for a first time. Third, there is Annie (also Halflinger). I like Annie; she reminds me of Snip. She's the youngest of the three and the worst behaved. Ruth worked with her a little bit and then I worked with her a little bit more. I was starting to get the hang of it...
Ruth also has sheep--they all have names, but I couldn't tell them apart...even though she does and has names for them all. There is also an old male Llama...those guys are kind of interesting looking. :) He seemed nice enough.
Then...there are the dogs. Jacob (an old dog) and Amos (both are Great Pyrenees). Amos is around a year old and his so full of life! Such a BIG puppy...the only way I could semi-control him was by taking a huge hand full of his fur at the back of his neck and attempting to steer him like that. He didn't seem to mind at all. (I came home with dog slobber all over me. You should have seen Abby sniffy daintily at my pant leg...and then Runty doing the same thing! It was hilarious!)
Anyway, I had a good time, got home after dark, and am supposed to go back sometime next week during the afternoon, as Ruth has her vacation next week.
Yesterday, I spent most of the day on the Bolins, tilling the garden. Nothing very exciting about that (in the telling), but I enjoy running the machinery. I was very tired by the end of the day, but I feel fine (except for stiff muscles in my shoulders and neck this morning). After these pies come out of the oven here in around fifteen minutes, I'll head back out to try to finish up. I probably would have gotten finished yesterday, except that the ground was too wet and you simply cannot get mud clumps smoothed very well, because everytime you come back over it, it makes new clumps. Hopefully, I turned it up enough that it will be dry enough to really finish it up today.
I did get a little more sunburn yesterday on my forearms where they hung out of my sleeves all day...and a little on my face. Golf caps work alright for a sunshade over the eyes, but don't keep the face from getting a little fried. So...I pulled out my old big brim straw hat (I got it at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, way back in '03; it's seen a lot of use and is still in pretty good shape) and brought that downstairs this morning. I really don't want any more sunburn on my ears, thank-you very much! ;P
Anyway, I'll be off to the barn here in a few minutes to grease the Bolins up again (that is a job--particularly getting to the rear U-joint on the upper drive shaft (there are two; one runs the machine, the other runs the attachment). I wasn't quite sure I actually got on the grease port back there yesterday...
See ya later!
I loaded myself into the car as it was going on five (I meant to leave a little earlier) and headed off to Ruth's house. I ran into some rain on the way down--including a little hail. I realized after the first couple 'whack!'s that sounded like rocks hitting the car that it was hailing. Thankfully, that didn't last long. It bugs me how people in this state don't turn their lights on in the rain (or twilight). It's not safe. But anyway...
I arrived at Ruth's and I really should have taken my mud boots--because I ended up with wet boots and my jeans soaked half-way to my knee. The main purpose was to introduce me to "the girls" (as she calls her horses), but I also wanted to see if I could help out around her place any. However, all I ended up doing was scooping one of the horse-stalls. According to Ruth, just working with the horses (which she doesn't have time to do much) would be help.
Alright, so there are three horses--but only one to be ridden. First, there is Beulah, a sweet little quarter horse. She can't be ridden because her knees. She's about the same color as Snip, though a little darker. Second, there is Rose...this is the one who can be ridden. She is a Halflinger--a little short draft breed. While she is around 4-6 inches shorter than Snip, her feet are twice as big! After watch Ruth do a little ground work with her, I tried (with helpful commentary and instruction from Ruth--she actually explained what things meant!) a little bit. Rose was confused because I was confused, but I think we got along okay for a first time. Third, there is Annie (also Halflinger). I like Annie; she reminds me of Snip. She's the youngest of the three and the worst behaved. Ruth worked with her a little bit and then I worked with her a little bit more. I was starting to get the hang of it...
Ruth also has sheep--they all have names, but I couldn't tell them apart...even though she does and has names for them all. There is also an old male Llama...those guys are kind of interesting looking. :) He seemed nice enough.
Then...there are the dogs. Jacob (an old dog) and Amos (both are Great Pyrenees). Amos is around a year old and his so full of life! Such a BIG puppy...the only way I could semi-control him was by taking a huge hand full of his fur at the back of his neck and attempting to steer him like that. He didn't seem to mind at all. (I came home with dog slobber all over me. You should have seen Abby sniffy daintily at my pant leg...and then Runty doing the same thing! It was hilarious!)
Anyway, I had a good time, got home after dark, and am supposed to go back sometime next week during the afternoon, as Ruth has her vacation next week.
Yesterday, I spent most of the day on the Bolins, tilling the garden. Nothing very exciting about that (in the telling), but I enjoy running the machinery. I was very tired by the end of the day, but I feel fine (except for stiff muscles in my shoulders and neck this morning). After these pies come out of the oven here in around fifteen minutes, I'll head back out to try to finish up. I probably would have gotten finished yesterday, except that the ground was too wet and you simply cannot get mud clumps smoothed very well, because everytime you come back over it, it makes new clumps. Hopefully, I turned it up enough that it will be dry enough to really finish it up today.
I did get a little more sunburn yesterday on my forearms where they hung out of my sleeves all day...and a little on my face. Golf caps work alright for a sunshade over the eyes, but don't keep the face from getting a little fried. So...I pulled out my old big brim straw hat (I got it at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, way back in '03; it's seen a lot of use and is still in pretty good shape) and brought that downstairs this morning. I really don't want any more sunburn on my ears, thank-you very much! ;P
Anyway, I'll be off to the barn here in a few minutes to grease the Bolins up again (that is a job--particularly getting to the rear U-joint on the upper drive shaft (there are two; one runs the machine, the other runs the attachment). I wasn't quite sure I actually got on the grease port back there yesterday...
See ya later!
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