When to GIVE UP!

When to Give Up!

….and how was your Saturday?   Today at 7:30 a.m. I awoke to my dog whining to go out.  Nothing unusual about that.  I do what I always do in the morning and take a head count of the horses…

            They all missing… wait…no, the old mare Sugar is still here, and donkey is at the end of the driveway.  Remington who is temporarily stationed in the round pen neighs his disapproval as I take Sugar away from him. Both Donkey and Sugar are rewarded generously with treats and grain as I lock them up after moving the riding lawn mower out of the barn isle. This of course,was done in true Windy Hill fashion, riding lawn mower got stuck on the edge of the door three times before I was able to get it out of the barn isle successfully.

         Sugar is put in a stall and Donkey is put with Mystical Magic and my little black cart pony in the open area of the barn.  

      I note that Mystical Magic and Pony have knocked the gate off of the hinges.  I blame Magic.  **Note to self** fix gate after retrieving horses. 

            I trudge upstairs and look out all of the windows, as they give me a great view of everything that is around me.

no horses in this direction

no horses in this direction

no horses in this direction either

horses?  Nope

no horses here

 I see no horses.

I get in the car that has the bad (something or other mechanical that makes it so I can’t drive the car)

I have to take the car because when I find the horses, I don’t know how I am going to lead one out the window and drive a stick shift.  The car in an automatic, and I will be driving very, very slowly.

The gas tank reads empty.  I pray it lasts long enough to get the horses.

Realize I forgot a halter and lead rope. 

Stop car, leave it running (chastise myself for leaving car running on an empty tank)

Find halter and lead rope, and get back in the car.

Drive around looking for horses.

Text mechanic asking if he would like to help put up a fence today.

No response.

Text my friend Traci and let her know all the horses are out.

  Assure her that her horse is safe in round pen.

Traci tells me to call mechanic. 

Continue to look for horses.  Finally find them peacefully grazing in the neighbor’s yard.

Neighbors cars are all there, neighbors are conspicuously absent from scene when I knock on the door in hopes of pleading for help. 

Chalk it up as par for the course.

All horses are looking at me, ears perked, bodies poised for running away.  Except Silky, she looks at me with her soft eyes and puts her head down and comes to me.

I praise her greatly and silently wish I had a treat for her.

I put the halter on her and head for the car.  I then put the lead rope through the window and I drive at zero miles an hour towards home leading ever-faithful Silky out the window.

Silky out the window as we drive zero miles an hour

I thank God it is not midnight in January in a sleet storm this time. 

The other horses watch doubtfully.  I tell Piper to “come on” because he seems to be the one who is most concerned with this odd sight.

Piper canters to catch up with Silky and the car, calling to the others to follow.  The others follow, except Lila, she continues eating.  I continue to drive.

Piper stops.  I stop, Silky stops.  Piper neighs again at Lila, Lila slowly begins walking our way.

I thank Piper and God.

I note that there are no cars on the road and thank God for that also.

Horses following car and Silky, Piper in the lead

I receive an interesting text from my son that says “were you chasing Donkey this morning?”  I respond that I am chasing them all right now.

No response.

I distractedly wonder if my phone is on the fritz.  I shake the phone slightly.  No response.

Continue driving at zero miles per hour stopping when Silky gets too far behind.

Princess neighs, and look in my rear view mirror to see that Princess has stopped and is heading back the other way. 

Horses in the rear view mirror

Decide to get Princess on a second trip.  Tell Piper that one of his girls has escaped the herd.  Piper looks back and neighs at Princess. 

I look in the rear view mirror and see that Princess has gathered the wayward Lila and is bringing her at a full gallop back to the car. 

Piper nods with approval and we carry on.

The home stretch ~ we are going up the driveway!

Once we have arrived at the barn, I decide to put Silky and Sahir in the remaining two stalls, knowing that Piper and Lila will not stand for such things.

I turn around to see a human exiting an SUV. 

“Would you like some help?!”  She asks.

I want to grovel at her feet with gratitude. 

I restrain myself and say  “I would love some help”

She introduces herself as “Tracy”

I find out that she is a neighbor from one road over.  She also has horses.

**Tracy’s are good people, I have never met a Tracy I didn’t like.  I have firmly decided that I shall one day marry a Tracy.  Michaels are good people too, if ever meet someone named Michael Tracy or Tracy Michael I shall propose on the spot!  If I am rejected, there is always Rohypnol.****

 

We get the stall horses put in stalls and I decide to put Piper, Princess and Lila in the round pen with Remington.

Silky, Sahir and Sugar in stalls

I open the gate and Princess walks in immediately. 

I take Piper next because he has been following me around begging to be haltered.

I halter him, I take him to the round pen.  He touches noses with Remington and squeals and strikes out, getting his foreleg stuck in the bars of the round pen. He panics and pulls back on the round pen, Remington panics and runs out of the round pen. 

Princess remains in the round pen. 

After a quick once over to ensure myself that Piper is unharmed, I put him in the round pen with Princess.

Remington is contentedly eating grass with Lila.  They trot happily down the driveway towards the road. 

My new found friend Tracy (with a “Y”) and I follow, chatting amicably. 

Remington realizes that he has never gone that far, screeches to a halt in an admirable sliding stop, turns on his haunches with finesse, and canters to the barn, Lila trailing behind.  (I saw her roll her eyes at him)

Tracy and I exchange phone numbers while the horses traipse about the yard joyfully stopping to grab a bite of grass upon occasion.

Lila decides she has played enough and comes to me asking to be haltered.  I don’t bother haltering her, as I don’t have one handy. *note to self, take halters off the horses in the round pen.*   I place a rope around her neck and put her in the round pen.

Remington follows, with grass hanging out of his mouth. (Like mother like son.) 

Piper charges the fence at Remington, ears pinned and teeth bared, pouncing on his front legs in a cat like motion.

Tracy and I decide that Remington does not need to be in the round pen. 

We say our good-byes and I thank her profusely again.  She smiles and nods, and lets me know that she will keep an eye out for my horses in the future.

I call Traci (with an “I”) ~Remington’s owner ~ and let her know the continued saga.  She suggests putting Remington in the mini pasture next the round pen. 

A splendid idea!

The first thing Remington did is go to the lowest portion of fence, hand his head over the edge and eat the grass on the other side. 

Remington reaching over the fence

I sent Traci a photo. 

Remington looked directly at me and then chose to back away from the low part of the fence and eat in the pasture.

Fix sagging fence with a likely looking piece of wood and fiber glass post.  Decide it will work temporarily. 

I decide Remington is content, and send Traci another photo of his Royal contentedness.

Contented Remington

With a big sigh I realize there is more to do.

 ~ and to think, I wanted to sleep in today…perhaps catch up on the house cleaning, hang a few pictures.  Maybe go for a nice horseback ride in the afternoon.

I text the mechanic letting him know that I found the horses.

No response. 

I then proceed to try to fix the gate that Pony and Donkey have taken off the hinges.

Not quite....

Fail.

Figure one hinge is good enough, put a heavy tote in front of the gate and latch the other side. 

Shrug in semi-approval.

Mystical Magic knocks over full water bucket kicking at Donkey and Pony.

Attach hose to spigot and go about getting water for everyone.

Donkey, Pony and Mystical Magic in open area

Note that Remington is happily grazing just outside the round pen and Piper is herding the mares to the opposite end of the round pen away from Piper. 

Remington outside the round pen

Send photo of Remington to Traci (with an “I”)

Ensure that all creatures have food and water.  This goes off without a hitch.  Thank God for that.

Piper pinning his ears at Remington

The Rest of the day is as follows:

     Determine I am going to put up the fence today.

            Call the mechanic ~ he’s a friendly sort, maybe he will help.

            Mechanic doesn’t answer (I think he is on to me)

            Glare accusingly at horses. 

Back the pick up truck up to the barn. 

Note that riding mower is in the way.  Get out of truck, move lawn mower, mowing a cheerful circle as a go.  Why not?  It’s fun, may as well have a good attitude about this whole adventure. 

Mighty Mower

Look at goofy mowed circle and laugh to myself.

Get back in pick up truck and back up to barn…

Note that truck slides a little in the mud near the barn.

Wonder if this is going to be a problem in the field.

Put T-posts in the back of the pick up.  Note that the T-posts are tied together with a tough plastic.

Pride myself on realizing I should grab a pocket knife.  (Think ahead, plan things out)  I smugly grab the mini scythe we use to open hay bales. It came with the farm, I’m sure it is a good luck piece.

Place all the posts in the back of the pickup, stop by the mini pen to grab post-pounder.  Leave the post hole digger there.

Drive pickup into field…slide all over the place.  * Note to self, I really need to get the 4 wheel drive in this thing fixed prior to winter.

Thank God it is not 90 degrees outside or raining. 

Get the truck parked.  Pray that I can get it out of the field when I am finished.

Reach for the first fence post telling myself how self-sufficient and independent I am.  Who needs the mechanic when I can do it myself?!

Cut my finger on the sharp edge of the T-post.  (Pride commeth before a fall)

Try to be tough and ignore the blood streaming from my finger.  Take the post to the spot I have chosen and realize my finger really hurts, and putting a fence in with a one finger held out is stupid.

Roll my eyes and walk back to the house to get gloves. 

Dig through winter clothes bin until I find suitable gloves.  Try to put them on.

Realize I need a band aid for cut finger.  Put on band aid, proceed with gloves.

*** back at the fence

Notice that the weeds are quite bad and chastise myself that if I am going to “do something, I need to do it right”

Trudge back up to the barn to get newly purchased super weed eater.  

Glare accusingly at horses.  (Pretty sure Sahir was laughing at me)

Note that the barn door had been left open when I picked up the weed eater and poured copious amounts of water out of it. 

Sigh heavily and pray to God that the weed eater starts.  Weed eater doesn’t start.

Pray again, and this time promise to feed a starving child in New guinea for a month for less than cup of coffee a day if the damn weed eater starts.

Weed eater starts…begin calculating how much it is to feed a starving child in New guinea.  Slyly begin making excuses about how I can’t really  feed a starving child in New Guinea…. Weed eater sputters….recalculate how much it is to feed a starving child in New Guinea.

Weed eat a few weeds on the way to the fence line. 

Find my best halter in the yard.  Pick up halter, hang it over shoulder.

Reach truck, put halter in truck.

Reach fence line, take care of the weeds in the immediate area.  Note that some of the weeds are trees. 

Ponder if trees will short hot wire out?

Decide to move on.  Plant a few fence posts in the ground in the spots I would like to have them.

Note that Remington has left the pasture he was put in to investigate what I am doing with the fence. 

Wonder where Remington managed to get out of fence.

Wish that I had my phone to take a photo of my horse helper.

Decide to trudge back up and get my phone and a drink of water.

Thank God again that it is not raining or 90 degrees.

Note the storm clouds rolling in.

Ponder if I can afford to feed a child for two months.

Decided to let it play out for awhile.

Upon fetching phone and water send text to Remington’s owner to ask if a tool for tree cutting had been left here.

Remington acting as chief fence inspector

Send photo of Remington in the field with me.

No response

Realize she is most likely calling all of her horsey friends in hopes of finding a new abode for Remington. 

Look for tool again.  Fail to find it.  Shrug shoulders and go back out to the fence.

Realize I left my gloves in the house.

Shrug shoulders and begin planting posts again.

 

Pinch hand between post pounder and post.

  Curse mechanic and wish for gloves.

Shrug and move on deciding that nothing more should happen to hands as I have already injured both. 

Thank God I am at least wearing muck boots.

Step in deep mud and water; realize I have a hole in muck boots.

Continue planting posts to the squish, squish sound of right boot.

 

Remington laughs out loud at me whilst standing in a dry spot several feet away. 

I roll my eyes and continue.

On a happy note, I found a wild raspberry bush!  I ate a handful for sustenance. 

Wild Raspberry Bush

~ I hope I don’t get bird flu or some other weird bird disease from eating them without washing them ~

I get far enough down the fence line that it is time to move the truck and plant more posts.

Trusty old pick up revs to life…

Stupid old pick up is stuck.

Stupid old truck is stuck

Doesn't look stuck does it? 

Text mechanic whilst wondering how much a case of beer costs to bribe him with.  No answer…(he really is on to me )

Curse mechanic again, and try to move truck again. 

            Fail

Curse truck, mechanic, and ex room-mate.

With a heavy sigh, I pick up T-Post and carry it to the next spot down the line. 

Return to bed of pick up for fence post pounder.

Go on in this manner until all posts are planted.

Posts planted

Return fence post pounder to bed of pick up tripping on fence wire along the way ~ twist 
ankle, and thank God I didn’t fall on something sharp.

Realize that I need about 30 more T-posts to make a fence. 

Pray that truck will get unstuck.  Attempt “rocking” truck out of mud. 

Remington laughs, the other horses line up in the round pen to watch curiously.  Lady Lila has hay hanging out of her mouth while she watches. 

I wonder if they are rooting for me.

Pray again, this time promising to feed a starving child in New Guinea for two months.  Truck stalls out.  (I guess HE is onto me also)   Pray one more time, promising that I really mean it. 

Truck starts.  Calculate the price of a cup of coffee for two months.  Wonder if it can be cheap coffee.  Truck remains stuck. 

Pray again, stating that I will pay gourmet coffee prices! 

Truck rocks forward encouragingly and dies.

Curse truck, mechanic, ex room-mate, broken car, twisted ankle and both hurt hands.

Remington laughs again, other horses have gone back to hay eating. 

Curse Remington and other horses.

Feel guilty and pray for forgiveness.

Attempt to get truck unstuck again, reiterating my promise of gourmet coffee prices.  Truck cheerfully comes to life and rocks forward encouragingly and does not move.  Try reverse, truck rocks backward, and does not move.

Do this dance several more times with Remington and other horses watching on.

Give up, grab phone and water and trudge inside the house to the squish, squish, squish of my right boot.

Note the spot where fence is down indicating where Remington got out of the pasture I put him in.  Ponder his decision to become the chief fence inspector and comedy back up while I planted posts. 

Wonder which horse I shall choose to ride to the store for supplies.  I eye Remington thoughtfully…. Finally settle on Silky.  Contemplate taking pony and cart to store for supplies instead.

Upon entering the house notice that Karma has gotten into the trash (she was still playing with it when I walked in)

Notice that Doom in sleeping in the living room on the forbidden couch. 

I don’t even bother to curse the dogs.

I clean up the trash, get the dog off the couch, and thank God I have a sheet over that couch because there is mud all over it.  Resolve to wash the sheet.

Look at the phone and wonder if I should call mechanic again. 

Ponder how long it will take me to ride a horse to mechanics house.  Wonder how much beer I can carry with me on the horse.

Wish I had beer. 

Send photo of Remington to Traci.  Text her that my truck is stuck in pasture.

Traci texts me to say she will bring out tree cutting tool tomorrow.

I eye the cold coffee in the coffee pot and decide it’s not even worth the effort.

Text Traci to tell her my truck is stuck in pasture.

Traci’s response:

“lol!”

I have to admit, it is pretty funny.

Tracy advises that I should stash a case of beer in the basement for mechanic required emergencies!

She has a point.

Another typical day at Windy Hill.

All horses are safe and secure and accounted for.  I am going to take a nap and hope that nothing goes wrong in the meantime.