Twas another test of patience when the rains came mid-afternoon yesterday, but we appreciate the little hand-outs of manageable spring weather Mother Nature has been doling out on a day to day basis.
We had a fairly decent morning, allowing more outside projects. I alternated from checking on CB to attacking a few more small yard projects.
All went well in the round pen until the end. I'll get to that later.
While I worked in the yard, Bill spent more time out in the south woods with his chain saw and the doggies. He alternated between throwing balls and cutting branches, etc.
Dogs were happy, and so far, Liam seems to be getting the message to stay OUT of the round pen. CB is not helping, though. He is used to playing through the fence with the grandpuppies, also Border Collies.
They, however, had a fence construction that would not allow them to sneak into the corral where CB spent his time with three other horses.
So, here at the Lovestead, I'll have to keep a closer watch, and CB will have to look at Liam, Kiwi and Foster from afar.
We're in the process of determining a new temporary shelter for the doggie run after their longtime shelter caved in over the winter.
Knowing that sometimes both of us may want to leave the place for more than four hours, it will be nice to have the new shelter so the pups can stay in the run rather than the garage and do their business at their leisure.
After looking at dog houses yesterday and knowing that Bill plans to build a permanent shelter once the ground dries up, we have pretty much decided on purchasing a 4-person tent, which can be filled with straw and will allow enough room for all three to go inside during wet weather.
So, that project will get some attention soon. Lots of stuff like that to get into place before nonstop gardening and lawnmowing and horsing and all that spring and summer stuff begins.
As mentioned, we did get a thorough dousing yesterday afternoon, and that seemed to put Lefty in a bad mood. When I went to the round pen to put them in the barn, Lefty decided to vent by giving CB a swift kick as I was putting the halter on CB.
I did not see the blow, but I sure did hear it. Fortunately, Lefty's hoof landed in a spot below CB's rump which does not seem to be sore this morning.
Bad Lefty.
I've never seen him behave like that, but later, I deduced that maybe it's a gelding thing. Could be if CB was a filly, it may never have happened.
Obviously, that anomaly on Lefty's part ended the "perfection" mode of CB's amazing adjustment to his new home, but that's life on the farm and life with animals---often unpredictable.
Plus, CB seemed to take it in his stride, and when the rains stopped last evening, he and I went for a walk out the driveway and even on to the road. Horses were whinnying from the barn, but the little guy pretty much ignored their calls.
I'm looking forward to more such walks as the place dries out and he is feeling more at home.
Later, I went for a short walk on my own, even visiting the Meserve Preserve for the first time in ages. Wetness was ruling the territory pretty much everywhere I went.
Still---even with the grayness of the early spring evening---with virtually every step I took, I enjoyed a combination of bucolic and nostalgic beauty along with the challenge of avoiding a myriad of wet cow pies from last year.
The air was fresh and promising, causing my mind to think about the upcoming burst of yellow soon to arrive here at the Lovestead when all those new daffodils, planted last fall along with their longtime forerunners add welcome splashes of bright yellow loveliness around our yard.
With warmer temperatures, that could happen any day now. Progress!
Happy Wednesday. Happy Pet Day to all the beloveds of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment