Tuesday Twitterdeedum

The significance of this photo of Foster, our mini Aussie pup, is that he is gradually spending more time off leash.  Now that he knows the place and that he's used to a general set of commands, I'm feeling more confident in regard to his common sense about staying safe---around horses and cars.  This morning we accomplished a big milestone.  We went outside for the morning trip to pasture for the horses.  Foster stayed at the barn and played with Jonas Kitty while I led Lily and Lefty down the lane.  As a testament to how smart he seems, I must add that the second I closed the pasture gate after the second horse, Foster came running down the lane to meet me----with no cue.  We'll see if that happens again tomorrow morning. Our dogs have all been taught a healthy respect for the horses and to stay out of their enclosures and their space.  It's looking like Foster is learning that respect. After horses went to pasture, we moved on for a walk in the woods south of the house.  Again, Foster raced around like the energizer bunny but stayed where he belonged.  Each day of accomplishment makes me feel better about his safety and gives me more flexibility with my own activities.

The significance of this photo is just to show that Jonas has what it takes to put up with a bouncy, busy pup.  I never worry about Jonas, no matter how much Foster jumps on him or grabs him by the neck.  There's a toleration zone that Jonas has established, and when Foster's activities exceed that, the tables turn.  I actually watched the two in the front yard the other day take turns chasing each other in circles.  Their interaction seems to be a constant game of offense and defense, always ending in a friendly tie. Jonas is an excellent babysitter.

This photo was taken yesterday afternoon on North North Boyer.  The roar and turbulence of Schweitzer Creek was impressive, to say the least.  I took my mother for a drive, on as many back roads in the old neighborhoods as possible.  She thoroughly enjoyed the countryside, and I enjoyed taking her.  We finally had a lovely day for such things, including plucking a lilac sprig and a couple of columbine for her to take back to The Bridge.

Lefty has a new saddle.  This one seems to stick to his flat withers better than the other two saddles in the barn.  Lefty is an "easy keeper," and easy keepers often have enough meat on their bones that their withers (bone behind the neck which holds a saddle in place) almost disappear. Now,  viewers may notice all those strange spots on Lefty's hide.  He's my horse with a skin allergy or some weird condition.  Now that he's 5 years old and we look back, we think he was born with the condition because we called him Patch when we first brought him home from Montana,  with half his mane gone.   Several times a year he rubs his hide raw while scratching what must be terribly itchy skin.  Each rub takes about a month before the hide peels off and new hair grows in.  Vets have tried strategies with him, and I've tried just about every home remedy available to help him deal with the problem.  The latest idea came from my farrier, John Fuller.  He suggested diluting a fungicide for roses and spraying Lefty.  I've done so.  He has not rubbed a raw spot since BUT that doesn't mean anything.  In the past, I've thought he was all over the itch and have even made the mistake of boasting about it.  Invariably, the next day or so, I'll go out and CUSS really loud cuz Lefty's done it again.  I feel sorry for the poor guy, but he still has a good attitude and loves his peeps.  He's a pretty boy when he has all his hide and hair.   And, I like the new saddle---even rode Lefty for the first time yesterday while trying it out.