Abby Goes To School!

 The trainer, Mark Noel, came over yesterday to get Abby.  I called her and she came running.  Every little girl is excited for the first day of school!

 Anna, her momma had to say goodbye and walked her to the bus stop.  Mark quickly haltered her and led her down. 

Of course, Iney had to say farewell, too.

 

 Abby has never seen or been on a trailer before.  I was VERY nervous as to how she would fare, but I should have known better.

 Mark walked up in the trailer and gently asked to approach.

 Abby wasn't too sure, but curious.

 Mark never got impatient, just watched her sniffing and processing the event...

He put a lariat around her bottom to encourage forward propulsion, and very gently applied pressure.

That did the trick!  She tentatively stepped up...

and hopped on the trailer.

He had her get on and off several times to make sure she was comfortable with it.  She was.  This all took a total of 10 minutes!

At the barn.  They have a wonderful indoor round pen.  She is in a lot with a little Hackney horse, and seems to be excited about her new adventure!

Mea Culpa

 It's all my fault.  I forgot to put the girls up on Thursday night, and 6 of my 8 Dixie Chicks were killed by a predator.  I did have the coop door open in the barn aisle and they typically put themselves to bed and I would just go close the door.  It was storming out Thursday night, thunder and lightening.  I figured they would just go in the barn to get out of the weather.  I let them down.  Friday was their first birthday.  I took out a container of sour cream to celebrate their special day and only Mable and Ida Mae greeted me.  I realized I hadn't seen the other 6.  Jenn, the nanny, made a comment that she had only seen the 2 girls as well.  I started looking around.  They typically hide in the barn, up in the pines, and in the playhouse.  I looked and looked.  And then I saw all the feathers.  Above is Blanche, Gail or Gloria's plumage.

 Above is Goldie and/or Honey Pot's.

This is near the silo and their main coop door.  They must have been huddled up waiting for me to open the door when they were attacked.  I'll be honest--I cried.  I have such guilt knowing I let them down.  Shannon and some others laughed at me for my tears saying they were "just chickens" but they were MY chickens.  They had feelings, felt pain and fear.  It wasn't a very joyous birthday for them at all.  At least I have 2 others and the baby Dixie Chicks.  But my 6 girls will be missed for sure. 

Open Up and Say, "AHHH!"

In preparation of Abby, our 2 year old filly, going off to training this week, we had shots, Coggins and wolf teeth excised.  You may be wondering what all this stuff means, but the shots are to protect her from a range of diseases.  Especially since she will be going to a barn off the property with a bunch of unknown horses.    A Coggins test is a test required for all horses when they go to a show, cross state lines or sometimes when sold.  Coggins is not a disease, but instead a test performed for equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). It's recommended to have a  Coggins test and shots annually.  Typically done in the spring.  Wolf teeth a little teeth that the horse doesn't really use or need.  Instead, they can cause mouth pain when the horse is introduced to the bit, and why it is recommended to remove them to rule out any bit problems in the future. 

This is not Abby, but it does illustrate where Wolf Teeth are in the horse's mouth.

See how little they are?

 

The picture above shows how the bit can hit on the wolf teeth and cause mouth pain.  The top arrow is pointing to the wolf teeth. 

Frances Grubb, our trusty vet and wonderful friend, came over yesterday evening to give everyone their shots, pull Abby's Coggins and wolf teeth.  She looks and feels in Abby's mouth and feels a little something...

She gives Abby a sedative and pain killer to relax her and prevent any discomfort.

 

Then Frances brings out this mid-evil looking halter and Abby starts dancing.  She's probably thinking, "You've got to be kidding me lady!  You're not putting that contraption in my mouth and expect me to stand still for it!!!???"

But, she does.  Abby didn't object too much.  It just fits like a halter with a mechanical mouth opener thing-y.  I'm sure there is a technical term for it, but whatever.

Abby knows she looks silly and is hanging her head in shame.  Not really.  She's drugged out of her gourd.  :)

"Momma, whath thith thing doing to my mouwf?  And why ith Iney laughing at meh???

Frances gets a good look in her mouth and tries to get a hold on the little tiny teeth...

Frances says they have barely broken through and are positioned to the inside of the jaw.  She tries several times, but can't get a good grip on them.  She doesn't think they will cause any trouble with training as they are so little.  She'll try to get them out in another 6 months or so.  I have learned to trust Frances' opinion and will wait.

Poor Abby is drunk and wobbly.

Frances mentions taking advantage of her state and clips her bridle path.  She did great.  She's now ready to go to training!!!  Thanks, Frances, and thanks, Jenn for taking pictures.

Progress!

 It's really coming along.  Shannon took this picture from what will be the hallway looking out.

 Looking in from the front door.  You can see the bulk head (metal curved thing hanging from the ceiling) is now in place.  That indicates where the pharmacy counter will be.

 Looking straight back.

 View from the education room looking into the storage room (far left) to the office (right).

View from the education room looking to the front of the store.  The hallway to the far left, coat closet is in the middle with the kitchen in to the right.

8 months

 Itty Bit is now 8 months old.  It amazes me to look through pictures and see how much my little ginger baby has changed and developed.  This month, she has really embraced solid foods, and sleep.  A girl after my own heart.  She is so quick to smile, loving attention from anyone, especially Pyper.  In the picture above, she was Pyper's guinea pig for playing beauty parlor.  ha!  She takes it in stride. 

She shakes her head from side to side, as if to say, "No, No, No!" when she's being silly or has had enough to eat (particularly vegetables!)  She bends down, touches her nose to the floor and then pops back up thinking that is the funniest thing.  She loves to be worn (I wear her on my back as often as possible) and loves to be rocked to sleep.  She plays with my hair and pats my face as I feed her and I see her eyes roll into the back of her head in a milk coma.  She is so loved and so very different from Pyper.  I love that they look so different, but they still share a sweetness that only young children have.  

Rough Outs and Concrete

I'm a week behind on posting pharmacy progress pics, so you may see two posts this week.  Last week, this is what we found when we visited.  The workers were pouring concrete and working hard in general. 

Shannon talks to the foreman about schedules and progress.  Above you can see the rough-outs for the 2 bathrooms.  One for customers and one for staff.  Also, the clinic area will have a sink and the education room will have a sink and dishwasher. 



This guy has knocked out the existing cynderblock wall to make the door that will go into the education room.

To the far left, you can see the markers on the floor for the storage room.  The wheel barrow is sitting in the office and to the far right will be the area for table and chair storage to be used in the education room.

Looking from the middle of the pharmacy to the front.  It's really coming along.  I can't wait to see the finished product!

Following a Chicken...

I decided to watch Gail, our feisty Dixie Chick, one afternoon.  She waddled down to the abandoned Christmas tree/branch pile we have in our old garden space (awaiting burning).  She conspicuously looked from side to side and stepped in.  I heard some scratching...

Then she gingerly stepped out of the Christmas tree...

And booked it.



I peered in, and viola!  A beautiful egg just for ME!!!

I looked around for Gail, to thank her for her present and found her talking with Pyper and Honey Pot.

They love the play yard.  Pyper went into the house to "make dinner."  Gail decided she needed to be invited to eat, too.

Gail sat on the "table" Pyper made and enjoyed herself.  Don't tell me chickens don't have personalities!  I just wish I had more time on my hands to watch the chickens, children and other critters and relax.