What love can do..

Last Sunday was three months exactly since Chance and i found each other.

day one Jan 22, 2012 

 

April 22

Doesn't he look handsome! His winter coat has all but shed out, he has a shine to him and his back has lifted a lot.  His ground manners and food aggression have improved so much, I'm happy to report that i haven't been bit in a month now yahooooo. I am so proud of the progress he's made and thankful  for what a bit of love and patience can do. 

up on my soap box

Humankind has not woven the web of life.  We are but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound together.  All things connect.  ~Chief Seattle, 1855

Man must feel the earth to know himself and recognize his values.... God made life simple.  It is man who complicates it.  ~Charles A. Lindbergh

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Muir
 

 This video makes me both mad and sad. The price of plastic and one time use trash is taking over the earth. This is one of seven gyres found in our oceans,  how gross is that!  Our oceans are so polluted that fish, dolphins and whales are becoming more toxic and have been found to have cancer. Imagine that a whale the largest living thing on earth is not impervious to pollution and is suffering. What about those of us who comsume fish? Are we eating fish who's bellies are filled with toxic plastic pieces instead of natures nutrients? What do you think that does to us?

 In our home we live by the motto, reduce, recycle and re-purpose. I have spent the last several years reducing our waste and have totally eliminated one time use items like paper plates, paper towels, water bottles and plastic bags from the market to name a few.  I've made my own fabric bulk and grocery bags as well as continue towards a self sustaining lifestyle. It's not easy to eliminate the use of plastic it's everywhere but i know every little bit helps. Imagine if everyone did a little the impact would be great.

This is one of my favorite quotes, i think about it often as i wonder what i'll leave behind for my children and their children...

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.  ~Native American Proverb

This week i watched Vanishing of the Bees and WalMart, the high cost of low prices documentaries that are really good, if you  like documentaries check them out you can watch them for free on netfilx. I'm stepping down from my soap box now,  Sunday is Earth Day i plan on spending the day in the garden planting, weeding and enjoying nature, do you have any plans?

love...

My dentist appointment last week was a doozy and has left me feeling quiet. Quiet time to rest and heal. I noticed though while my body and mouth have been quiet my mind is loud. Here are a some things i thought about and love in no particular order:


brown dog kisses
family
Chance
second chances
chickens
God's love
cloth napkins
spinach
Loretta Lynn
ranuculus
black beans
the music man
flip flops
J bug
caprese salad
home
laughter, the kind that leaves you with a belly ache
fresh pasta
monkey girl
kindness
working from home
Faith
my parents
sun soaked skin
early mornings outside
horses
George Strait
The God Father Trilogy
my sister
Joy
my mother in law
time with friends
the music mans voice
Adele's voice
stillness
singing birds
my nieces
growing garden's
hugs
my nephew
knitting
dogs
my camera's
documentaries
comfies
a nice walk
new adventures
blueberries
Grace
a cold beer on a hot day
a good glass of wine
cloth bulk bags
my husbands hands
sunshine
weekends
rain
dark chocolate
my boots
coffee
peonies
a good book
days at the beach
lady bugs
my life
Jim Croce
wool socks in winter
that i don't have to go back to the dentist for a month

What are some things you love?

John Wayne

Our Easter weekend was wonderful, my parents and the bug came out. I spent time at the barn and in the garden. The weather was perfect and i soaked in the sunshine before the April showers returned. We finished off our weekend with pasta of course.

The rate at which my days go by seems to have ticked up a notch this week. The last couple weeks i was seriously busting a move and getting so much done, this week i am simply trying to keep up with my daily chores and work. Do you ever feel like that?



Thankfully Jack doesn't seem to be in any pain and has mastered the three legged walk. His bad leg bows out when he puts weight on it though and the music man has started calling him John Wayne. Bow legged or not this week he is able to again jump up on the bed. Not totally happy about that but happy is feeling better.

Now the attention of soreness has been focused on Chance. His trim last week has left his front end sore. The farrier trimmed him to short, especially on his club so another week of taking it easy will hopefully have him feeling much better.

I am having some dental work done later today so I'll be getting a jump on the weekend with some quiet time for healing. Happy Thursday i hope your weekend is full of sunshine and goodness.

Smooches for Chance and an update

I had the opportunity to talk to someone who knew him before he came to me. I learned more of his history and was deeply saddened at what he's been through. This horse is incredibly kind, smart and now that he's settled in and has been receiving proper nutrition and care he has a bit of spunk and stubbornness too.

Although we are still working a couple things out like the random bite and solo trail rides he is quite amazing. He has bitten me three times now and I believe its when he gets anxious or scared although, there are no warning signs or pattern. We are making progress... knock on wood its been a week since he got me last. I am determined to correct this as quick as possible, they hurt and leave nasty bruises, ugh.

Our trails rides are wonderful as long as we ride with others, he is so good. He likes taking the lead and exploring. I know he enjoys riding on trail, as long as we are in a group. Our main trail buddy left the barn and i have been working with the trainer to get him to go out alone, just he and i. This is the other item were working on, but i am sure we'll get there with continued patience and trust.

When i first brought him home he would become very aggressive at feeding time. He would pace, try to bite and crowd the space if you came around him when he was eating. I understand his meals were few and far between before so this was completely expected. I would be protected if i went through what he did too. I'm happy to report that he has mellow so much. I can touch him, walk around him and this week even sit down close to him while he eats without any aggressive behavior at all. He's now taking a break from his food, lifting his head for me scratch his nose!

Our Arena work and his ground manners are coming along nicely. I know i mentioned before but he really is very smart. He didn't like to pick up his feet for me so i could clean his hoofs, now i simply say "up" while standing next to the hoof i want and he lifts it for me.

He likes to work and learn and slowly but surely he is building muscle and getting healthier. He's also enjoying his daily stretch and massage time this week. I am a very proud horse mama.

Our relationship is developing stronger everyday and I am so very thankful he is mine now, safe and loved. Life IS good.

this week
hoof trim
deworming
message and stretching back legs 50%

bits and pieces of our weekend

We kicked off our weekend early as both the music man and i took Friday off work. The weather was warm, wonderful and we wanted to take full advantage and spent the entire day outside.



We went gopher hunting and caught this one within minutes of setting a trap but not before i lost another plant, cabbage this time.





We put the first layer of paint on the coop while the girls enjoyed their first outing in the garden.







The weather man's forecast was wrong and we had rain and really cold winds all day Saturday. So much for a weekend without rain but that's okay. We enjoyed visits from friends and went wine tasting while the garden was being water by mother nature, it turned out to be a great day.



Sunday the sun played peek a boo with the clouds and the rain stopped so Monkey and i spent the afternoon riding.

Happy Monday!