Rain, rain, rain!

As you can tell, today it rained. A lot...but not as much as Duluth! Where they got over 7 inches in 18 hours. Aren has sent incredible photos and videos; http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kare11.com%2Fnews%2Fphoto-gallery.aspx%3Fstoryid%3D980146&h=zAQGwAbFyAQE5fg4OWh1l8QASW2loxOQoOUfgUtfq-sDp3A.
Sorry, that was a REALLY long web address. Maybe I should just copy a picture for you. Also so I can look back and remember...




This is on the Old North Shore road that we took all the time as a scenic drive. I often thought I'd like a place on this road!


Well, lets move on. Today was spent filling out boarding sheets. I'm absolutely full this weekend and  there's lots of prep work to be done. Other than that, I answered phones...etc.... But here's a picture of a really cute 6 week old puppy that was almost dead yesterday. On Monday the puppy came in as an appointment, sick. Mike gave it an antibiotic shot, couldn't really find anything wrong. Yesterday the puppy came in throwing up blood - or bleeding out as they say. I wasn't there but I guess she was almost dead from blood loss. Mike used Pam's dog Nicky as a blood donor (he just happened to be boarding at the time) and Vitamin K for clotting the blood. Mike suspects the puppy got into rat poison even though the owners said no way. But the treatment he used is for rat poison and it worked. As you can tell, the puppy is MUCH better and went home this afternoon. We all spent lots of time cuddling her!

Not the best picture, but she wouldn't stand still! 

Yesterday was busy. Emma and I went to town to do our shopping. She took me to an antique store which was marvelous. Now I need to redo my rooms and put some of their furniture in it! When we got home, Jacky and Anna went to get a load of dirt - which turned out to be all clay - for the south side of the barn. Because of how the barn sits on the hill, there's run off and we have to try to periodically replace the ground. Otherwise the animals can't get in the barn it's so high! The clay was incredibly heavy and the tractor couldn't handle it. Jacky had to pull the flatbed over to the site and the three of us shoveled and literally threw chunks of clay off the trailer. But we got done before the rain came!

The llamas managed to pick their way in and out but the horses aren't sure about it yet. It needs to get packed down first, somehow. While Anna and Jacky were doing the majority of the work, I took care of all the other chores. The geese had been setting on infertile eggs which eventually rot and explode (just like in Charlotte's Web!). Earlier I had kicked the geese off their nest and out of their pen (this in itself is fraught with danger as geese do not take kindly to this!). Now I went in to steal the eggs and destroy them before I let the geese back in. Imagine my surprise when I found this little guy snuggled up to the goose eggs:

For those who are biologically challenged, this is NOT a baby goose. I repeat, this is NOT a baby goose! This happens to be a baby barn swallow! Somehow the babies fell out of the nest. One unfortunately didn't survive the fall but the other one made it's way to a warm feathery mother figure and ducked underneath her. He actually wasn't doing that well but I tucked him into another swallow nest in the goat barn and hope it makes it. Those babies were about the same size and I didn't fancy cutting up bugs from now to kingdom come. Pretty cool story, lets pretend it has a happy ending...

Also I was watering everything in preparation for tomorrow since Tuesday's high was 93 and I wanted the plants and bird bath to be full before I went to bed. Another surprise jumped up the wall. We hardly EVER see these little guys so I was thrilled....

His color pattern is so very cool - patchy gray and green to blend in. Lots of toads around but not frogs. Probably the chickens don't help that...and maybe we get too dry at times.

Well, long post tonight and tomorrow is early. We put all the horses and llamas in because they were soaked. I think it felt pretty good but they like to get dry too. Brandy was shaking a little and Rudy needed to get off the wet grass because of his foundering. He's been sore the last few days since the rain started. 

Sometime I hope to write about my dog training class! But not tonight. Good sleeping tonight!

Bats

Just a quick note. Finished the day watching the bats swoop to and fro in the darkening sky. I have never understood why people fear bats so much. Maybe we should name them something prettier sounding! They take care of a great many mosquitoes for us though.! I have a bat house to put up - maybe tomorrow...
Sat and pitted 5 1/2 cups of sour cherries on the front steps tonight. There's still more on the tree but not much. I have a bowl of them in the fridge to pit and freeze unless I make a pie. Haven't finished the Bing cherry pie yet! Too much food in this house. Pitting cherries is such a relaxing activity - surrounded by dogs and cats, listening to the birds....watching the barn swallows on their paths through the air. I would have taken a picture of Lilly, my white and red barn cat , who now has a cherry juice pattern across her white coat. She insisted on laying right next to my bowl as I pitted. And those sour cherries have a LOT of juice!
The garden is needing weeding but, after the 2.8 inches the other night, it's a little muddy. It should make things jump! I got 5 cherry tomatoes before the brief rain shower that chased us all inside. When I went back out, Jacky and I  saw the second planting of beans had come up and I had a 2 inch zucchini! Looking forward to  the upcoming veggies!
Made a delicious artichoke spinach dip tonight for tomorrow's Father's Day. I hope we can take a drive tomorrow and picnic somewhere. Just been too stressful  at work lately and Anna wants me to work too much when I'm home! Started clearing out the dining room today too.
Horses really bothered by flies today - no fly spray works. When it cooled off things were better. I gave Dove the pony a Recover shot yesterday because her allergies are SO bad, she's pushed over the gate and everyone's escaped twice now. She pushed over the gate by scratching on it! She has sores all over her body from rubbing on everything. The shot seems to have helped some. I was nervous doing it - sticking an inch and a half needle in her neck and shooting in 10cc - I had given a horse vaccinations 20 years ago and left a large bump because I did it too high up on her neck. Never had the courage to try again. Hopefully I know more now and did it correctly!
Talked to Ben and Maggie on Skype this pm. They have a very nice duplex they're renting - I'm sure they are enjoying the added space!
 No pictures, too late.

Beautiful Day!

Day off. I know it's been a few days but you know...busy, busy, busy! Still eating those cherries - and the first pie with them was good but I can do better. Didn't have time today but soon, very soon. Also started picking my sour cherries today since I noticed the birds in the tree eating them! I hurried to get a bowl, and when I got back to the tree to start picking, a robin began scolding me. He sat up in the top of the tree gobbling them down faster than I could pick them!!! It was actually quite amusing and since I can't reach the cherries at the top, that robin is free to stuff as many as he can in his beak. HOWEVER, he must save the ones at the bottom for me!
The weather was absolutely beautiful today! High in the upper 60's maybe? I spent almost the whole day outside in the garden. Planted watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, marigolds....The I watered everything..The garden is looking good,and the weeds are beginning to appear. Now I really must start hoeing after work every night.

I know it doesn't look like much now but this is the before picture in the before and after pictures! When the garden is knee deep in weeds, I can look back on this pictures and .....*sigh*.
I had to "water" the animals which, in the summer, can be several times a day. The horses trough was empty so I cleaned and filled it. As you can see from the pictures, the horses aren't the only ones who enjoy the water...

After I filled the trough, the horses came over to see who was messing up their water. Bryn got out and started stalking/herding the horses. They mostly ignore her but the potential for her getting kicked is there, as well as a horse getting hurt so I discourage this behavior. However, I did happen to have my camera so here's a picture of a border collie crouch (somewhat, she kept moving)

I called her off and treated her to her favorite thing - water! Bryn and Trixie love the hose - Bryn to the point of biting my hand holding the hose! It does cool them off....

Can't forget the cats who helped me too. Here's Leia keeping cool in the asparagus-

We went out to eat at Wedgewood Cove tonight for Jacky's 60th birthday which is tomorrow. Emma's not with us - still in the cities visiting a friend. The pasta was delicious as always. Had to go tonight since it's pasta night on Tuesdays. Don't know what we'll do tomorrow!

Finally a last picture of my dogs heading to the house with me. It's something I see all the time but probably not many people do! Happy dogs, happy Lori !

Cherries!

Ok, we won't start with cherries, although I am sitting here eating fresh, organic Bing Cherries...yum....excuse me for a moment...
That's better. Today started with training Annika again. Things are going well there, I think she'll do all right. More training with her on Sunday morning and then maybe she can be on her own. Little bit of everything today. Treating Odie, the horse, who tore open his shoulder on a gate latch. Jen doesn't think the sutures will hold but it takes a week to 10 days to know for sure. In the meantime, he's staying with us and needs treatment twice a day. Today I didn't help but got a picture after things were all done.

He's a really good horse too. Hope it all comes out ok. One of our many pig producers call;ed needing vaccine made up ASAP. He was already on his way and we have to mix some vaccine together and bottle and label it. Beth who usually does it has Friday's off and Pam (the second person who does pig vaccine) was doing a dental. I'm number 3 on the list so off I go. The client showed up in about 20 minutes and I was still in the middle of making it. These guys must think we're sitting around waiting for them to call to have something to do! In between the call and the appearance I had to help bring a dog in, and help euthanize it, had to also try to figure out what I was doing with this vaccine since I had never made it. The math can get quite complicated and you sure don't want to mess up as it could possibly mean the death of lots and lots of baby pigs. Here was my problem for the day - He needed 600 doses of Circo/Myco 1st dose 2cc dose. That means I had to mix 600cc of Circovent with 600cc of Mycogard Silencer ONCE using a sterile graduated cylinder and a sterile funnel and sterile bottles. With an actual dose of 2cc per pig, the total cc is 1200cc but I have actually 600 doses for him. And you have to figure out how to charge him for it (about $320). You charge for each vaccine separately then put in a Misc. charge for the actual combo, but don't charge him for it, just the separate vaccines. Phew! Makes my brain hurt! And to top it all off, I hand it to the client who looks at me (since I'm not Beth) with a look that says "Can I trust this yo-yo? Does she know what she's doing? Is this stuff the right stuff?" He does well to wonder since Pam made up the wrong stuff one time for him...Here's the lab after I finished. The vaccine is already with the client.

I really enjoy doing it, just wish I did it more often so I was sure of what I was doing!

Enough about work,Came home to water the garden - it was 89 degrees and the next two days are supposed to be 90. Very excited - the Zucchini are flowering and I only transplanted them last week, my first cherry tomato is almost ripe, the potatoes are looking good.....and one of my Aronia bushes has leaves!!!!

While I watered the plants, Anna played with some of the horses. Here's SueBee with her - however, SueBee thinks I have treats and Anna has lost her attention!

Ok, now to the cherries. The Youth For Christ fundraiser every year is fruit, and I order peaches (wonderful peaches) and pears from them every year. Usually these arrive in August and September. This year however, they added Bing Cherries to their list. I ordered a 10# box which came today! They are organic and come from Colorado. I have never bought cherries just to eat - but these are fantastic! Probably there's a fresh cherry pie in the future as well as cherry chocolate cupcakes. I hope there will be enough cherries!

And yes, this is my own picture of these cherries....

Rainbow

Leaving for work today, I watched the clouds that seemed to promise needed rain for my garden. Alas, it was not to be - but I didn't know that at the time. Just as I was turning onto the road, I saw a half rainbow. What a nice start to my day! Other people saw a double rainbow this morning but I was happy with my sliver. Rainbows are such amazing things!

Today was my busy surgery day. Only two surgeries (very unusual for a Thursday!) but I still kept very busy. The first one was a neuter/declaw cat called "Eskimo". He was very scared - had been a wild kitten all winter and was still quite distrustful. But things went fine and he will stay until tomorrow when he will get his bandages off.
The other surgery was a spay dog - a cuteie patootie named "Birdie". She is a brindle pug/Boston Terrier mix that I wanted to take home! Here's a picture of Jen spaying her:

I tried to get the whole set up in the picture, but then you can't see Birdie. She's covered with a sterile drape and hooked up to the anesthesia. Yes, I do do things - I help get the dog under (get the sedative in, the endotrachael tube down her throat, shave the area, scrub the area, and watch her breathing during surgery).

Horses in the barn today. More Percheron's in for ultrasounds to see if they are pregnant. Here's a picture of a mare ( the mother in the stocks) and her baby. Often these mares have foals at their side and the owners are trying to get the mares pregnant again - thus the term 'brood mare". That is their total job in life, to raise babies. Horses carry their young for 11 months so basically it takes a year of pregnancy to get that foal. In this particular photo, the baby is all over the barn and into everything! He took Mike's papers off the table, stuck his nose everywhere, got tangled up in Mom's lead rope....

Busy again getting boarding sheets ready for the dogs coming in tomorrow. Another fairly busy weekend in the kennel. Tomorrow I'm training my new assistant. She was here Wednesday also but I was sooooo busy, Annika was basically on her own. I hope tomorrow will be better. Also getting ready for my first dog training class that starts Monday. Yep, I will be teaching it this time - "Dog Manners 101". My first public class so there's lots to plan and think about.

Strawberry Moon

Lovely Day. Nice weather, lots to do. Had to run to the kennel to speak with my kennel assistant but after that got lots done in the garden.
Anna was playing with Ladybug and teaching her how to pull a cart. She's made great strides and is pretty calm. I got my first ride while Anna walked alongside with the reins. It was awesome!

I know, Lady needs to lose a few pounds....So do most of us!

Filled all the bird feeders again. I must say, that Balimore Oriole is becoming one of my favorites, The other day I actually had two catbirds eating the grape jelly too! I had to look them up because I'm not familiar with them up close. They have a very subtle rust color under their tails. Not easy to see in the trees, but you can when they're on the feeder!
 
Bet you didn't know they were so pretty either!
Garden time!I am behind on planting but we're getting there. Finished my third raised bed and put the transplants in - tomatoes, hot pepper, petunias. Planted sweet corn, pole beans, more purple potatoes, yellow squash.Jacky tilled up the other half (he had to kill the weeds first). so I will have more garden to plant in about a week.

The fence is up to keep dogs, geese, and horses out! (yes, it's been a problem in the past - I had to get rid of a goose egg laid here last week).Oh yes, the animal angle...the dogs played in the hay field while I planted.
Picked the first strawberries today. Some were already kind of mushy but there's lots more to  come. The snow fence is surrounding the bed - it doesn't look pretty but it saves the strawberries from the geese. As Jacky and I were sitting on the front steps enjoying the evening, Jacky told me it was a full moon tonight and they called it on the tv the "strawberry moon". Very appropriate I'd say!


It's a little dark, but here's our Strawberry Moon:

Friday Again!

Yep, a whole week has gone by without a new post. It's been a very tiring week, much worse than usual. Possibly because of Memorial Day holiday with the kennel being quite full and the kennel assistants not available....Then I worked Tuesday on my day off because of the number of dogs going home, Wednesday trained my new assistant, Thursday nuts and now it's Friday! And my day off!
Anna and I started by sanding/painting a little in the spare room that Anna has been kind enough to work on. Two layers of carpet were pulled up Wednesday - that were still damp from cat urine and  whatever. Yuck! Lots of Spackle yesterday (thanks Anna again) and today some paint. It will definitely need a second coat, and even then Jacky may need to put a skim layer of plaster on it and paint again... One step at a time!

Then its off to Northfield to spend some time with my mother and Anna. Fun day! Delicious Mexican Food! Good shopping! Lots of traffic! Excellent company!!!!!
Back early so Anna can go see the movie Snow White with Emily Peterson.
After being glared at by an oriole at the window, I decided to check the feeders. Horror of Horrors! All the grape jelly in both feeders absolutely gone! So I hurried to put fresh oranges on and loads of grape jelly. Also filled other feeders with sunflower seeds, nuts for the red headed woodpecker, and suet for the woodpeckers. Tomorrow fresh sugar water for the hummingbirds...
Feeding time. Anna bought grazing muzzles for the ponies to keep them from getting so fat on grass. I wanted to take the muzzles off for the night to give them a break. Weellll ponies aren't completely gullible and suspected I wanted them inside for an ulterior motive (even if it was in their best interest). FINALLY we got them inside and fed. I left them in so we can catch them in the morning to put the muzzles back on.

Ladybug here has had her mane "roached", or cut off,  because it is so thick. If you look close you can see a very large belly area that shouldn't be there!

Dove is always hoping for another treat! She likes to come inside because she has horrible allergies and is itchy everywhere. She spends all day scratching parts of her and she actually has sores all over her body from scratching on metal and trees...
I had to water some plants. We've been cool and rain y this week but there's a few things just planted that need extra care.

My new hazelnut bushes from Arbor Day. They are tiny now but are supposed to grow to 8-10 feet and be a great wildlife nesting area, windbreak, snowfence...and will give me hazelnuts! I hope they grow. The fencing by the way is to protect the tender plants from the geese.. and husbands with lawn mowers...

Lovely night, the moon was already out and I got some nice pictures of both barns with the moon above.

Time to eat a little chicken dish, finish Big Bang and get to bed. One last picture of my baby maple tree. It has it's first red leaf at the top!