Just a quick note

Dogs are fine, which is a major relief.

I'm home for a few minutes to check on them and let them out while FarmBro takes Youngest Nephew to the doctor... munchkin has another ear infection, and I'm sitting with him today so that FarmBro won't have to miss work.

We've been watching Las Vegas (his pick, he liked the flashy lights) and munching crackers and popcorn.

And cuddling. Lots of cuddling, which I don't mind in the least.

What the hell kind of world...

Just a few days ago I was praising the virtues of living in a small town. Unfortunately we're not immune to the bad shit, either.

Over the last few months there have been a couple of poisonings of people's dogs.

This evening, I went to bring the pups in from the yard, and found Farmdog gnawing on a big juicy ham joint.... that I didn't give her.

I took it away from her just in case, thinking that the step grandpa had given it to her and forgot to mention it. When he got back from his walk I asked and no, he didn't give it to her.

I don't know if it was poisoned or not... but I'm not taking any chances. I'll be watching both Farmdog and Fuzzy Pup (no actual evidence that he got into it at all, but I'm paranoid) like a hawk tonight.

The offending bone is in a plastic baggie in the kitchen, I've located the place it must've been thrown over the fence from, and a call has been placed to our vet, letting him know that we may be making an emergency run to see him.

It's gonna be a long night....

Things That'll Make You Smile...

Sitting on the porch on a warm spring day:

A breeze carrying the scent of freshly turned earth from the next block.

Noticing your dog, who has a notorious dislike of winged creatures of all kinds in her territory, very pointedly ignoring the pair of tweeters that have set up house in a mud daub nest under the eaves of the porch.

Folks waving as they drive by, or hollering out the window asking "How's your folks?"

Two young boys passing by, meandering and laughing, one of them popping wheelies. In his wheelchair. As his friend pushes from behind, running as hard as he can.

I love living in a small town.

Spring Is Here!

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the faint green haze of buds on the trees has sprung, nearly overnight, into tiny vibrant little leaves.

And I'm inside cleaning today.

Ah well when I get all the cleaning and such done I'll haul my big pot out into the sunshine and plant my baby spinach.

Life seems to be full of the good and the bad, lately. Beautiful weather, finally feeling the release of the cold grip of winter. There's a difference between a warm winter day and real spring... a feeling in the air.

And then there's sadness. A guy I knew since highschool killed himself last week. We weren't really close, but he was tight with my brother.

I found out last night that a good friend of mine that circumstances have prevented me from keeping in very close touch with, lost his child when it was six days old. I ache for him and his wife.

So. Smile and rejoice because spring is here, at last.

But never forget that there is sadness in the world, as well.

Er...

I swear, I have real posts percolating. Local events have precluded me being able concentrate on anything but how stupid people are, and other depressing things.

Soon as my head straightens out a bit, I'll get posts out.

Meanwhile in a mini-update, I got to ride in the new indoor last week, hauled Etta up. The extra room is nice!

Ah Plans, How They Change

Well, we didn't get to the sale yesterday. Went to get the trailer and discovered that at some point, somehow, the rim on the front driver's side tire had gotten bent. We discovered this because the tire was flat, and when we aired it up, past a certain pressure the bead on the back broke loose to release some of the air. So, we hauled it into town to get the tire fixed.

When they took it off, they discovered the badly bent rim, on the inside. So, we ordered another one, which will be in around noon today, and they'll replace it.

So, we'll haul the cattle to the other sale barn on Friday, instead.

Plus, I got invited to a poker game on Thursday night, where I'll be the token female, I'm quite sure, but for five bucks an evening of bsing and playing cards is a good deal.

But, I got my presentation written for class today, which is a good thing, I just have to gather up all the bits I'll be talking about, and I'm ready.

And, not being gone all day yesterday gave me some time to clean up Grandpa's saddle, which I'm still working on conditioning. A post on before and after pics, and a little more explanation on my method of conditioning leather, is upcoming.

Also upcoming, for those of my readers who are gun people but not horse people, is a post on caring for your leather holsters and carry belts. If I can come up with some good examples, I'll post pictures on that, too.

This Week...

Tomorrow: Cattle sale. Looking for more jeans in the irregulars section of the western store in that town. What can I say, irregulars in Wranglers are rarely badly disfigured, and they're about half price of the fancy stuff.

Wednesday: Catch horses, place in pen for easy loading Thursday. Oil my saddle and put a quick clean on grandpa's... since I fully intend to steal it for the day Thursday so I don't have to strip a saddle to switch horses. Set up a pot and plant my baby spinach. Start the rest of my herbs in the little hothouse thingymabobber we got today. Go to class, do a presentation on bits that I haven't written yet.

Thursday: Haul horses to the barn, and ride in the fancy indoor. I gotta do it just once, and I got the go ahead. I figure I'll take Monkey and Etta both up. Monkey will show off because he is a show off, and Etta will make the rest of the horses look like nags because she's smart and can do twice what the older horses can in some cases.

Friday: Um. I dunno. There'll be something I'm sure.

Saturday: Run away with Best Friend R, and funkify my hair. 'Tis time to be a little weird.

Next few days are gonna be busy, though. I'm lovin it!