Winter break has been a much-needed reprieve.
I have been helping my sister feed the horses and goats in the morning. It's a great way to get out of the house. Otherwise, I'd be in front of the computer knitting all day.
I need to get the Christmas sewing done, or nobody gets their flannel jammy pants I try to pawn off every year.
Luigi the love goat has been successful with his ladies. In just a couple more weeks, we will have the pitter-pattering sound of baby goats bleating and trundling around the pasture. According to my sister, nothing is cuter. (I might object- a baby Panda is pretty darned cute. So is a piglet. But that's an argument for another day).
Feeding the horses is a great way to eliminate any grouchiness you might possess. I start up the quad, (four-wheeler) and the dogs go crazy. Whiskey and Babydog think they are quad-herders. They circle around me like sharks in a feeding frenzy. It's hilarious.
I load a couple bales of hay, and head out to the field, where the geldings are standing at the gate, looking at us like we abandoned them forever. They are muddy-faced from rolling. Sometimes we have to re-adjust the horse blankets because they've all but torn them off. (Horse blankets are for keeping them dry, not so much warm. In W.Oregon, dry is the more important of the two). It's a sight to see: Dogs wagging and barking, horses standing around me trying to snag a bite of hay, me waving my arms to get them out of my way.
When I'm done, I race around the field with Babydog chasing me. It's a good work out for her. A way for me to get better at riding a quad really fassssst. (I see the appeal- those things can move.)
Then it's the mare's turn. Snoopy and Nocona are pretty patient- they act like it's no big deal. But soon as I get through the gate, her comes Snoopy running full tilt at me. I zoom off and she chases me. It's too funny.
Then I stop, and this is what I see when I turn around:
Snoopy is rightly named. She has to put her nose right on yours and get a whiff of your breath. That velvety nose is one of the best animal kisses a human can get.
This morning, Sis had me help her trim goat hooves. Luigi was needing it pretty bad. Normally I avoid him becase he STINKS to all high heaven. Trimming goat hooves is not a cake walk, but we get it done. I had to take off my gloves to get a good hold of him.
Now here I sit. I've washed my hands about 30 times and I STILL STINK like Luigi. Pee. Yew. Times a Billion.
I guess I better break out the tomato juice.
