Sunday (Water Towers & Silos 6/14/09)

Here's a hodgepodge of water towers and grain silos. For more Sunday Stills photos, please visit this site.

Sunday - song: Sunday, artist: David Bowie, album: Heathen

Happy Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday Boy!

It was 13 years ago today, that Renegade Scout was born in the wee hours of the morning. Here's his very pregnant Mama, Beighley, an Arab Appaloosa with my six year old daughter astride.Unfortunately, we missed seeing his birth. When we went out to check on Beighley around 4:30 in the morning, he was already up and dry. I saw a falling star on my way to the barn so I knew he'd be special.

This is Sparkler, Scout's Daddy. He was named Sparkler because he was born on the 4th of July. Just look at all his color!Don't ask me what they were thinking when they bred those two! When I bought Beighley, she was already pregnant. What a mixed up mess Scout is! However, I love my one-of-a-kind horse! And I think he finally grew into his ears.

Happy Birthday Scout!

Ha ha, fooled ya! You thought this was going to be about Annie's foal, didn't ya?

Well, hopefully, the next post I make is going to be about a brand new little purebred Arabian foal with only a few white markings.

Annie must be getting close, right?

Hang on to yourself

Annie is still hanging on to that foal. Today, she is at 336 days of gestation.



A few nights ago it was a full moon.

One night, it was very, very windy.

Yesterday, I was away at school all day and attended a meeting that lasted late into the night.


It rained all last night and most of this morning.

What does it take?

She isn't as active as usual and she seems to have slowed down on eating. She stands at the back of the paddock away from everybody and hangs her head low, quite often now.

Her teats are very full and hard.


She likes to be scratched on her neck, always has, but maybe even more so. Look at that lip curl down. Her bottom lip trembles.
She really likes to back up to me and spread her hind legs as if I can do something about it! I would name this foal Erotica but the name has already been taken. lol.


I also noticed this morning that her hind leg has swollen up. She's not lame. I think it's from the pressure of the foal, or something. Has anyone experienced anything like it?



I have slept out in the barn four nights now. So has Lisa and her kids. We use the tent because the air is so dusty with hay bits and dirt. Also, it's cold! It's been in the 40's every night this month, I think.


I just wonder if, when the time does come, we'll sleep through it. I do like to sit in her metal feeder and watch but Scout drives me crazy by hanging his head through the rail and teasing me. He nuzzles and nuzzles and every once in a while, nips. Such a bad boy, Scout.


Place your bets, people. It can't be much longer, can it? (fingers crossed!)



Hang on to yourself - song: Hang on to yourself, artist: David Bowie, album: TRAFOZSATSFM

I could fall asleep at night

Last night, we had a barn party, of sorts, to "mare stare." My neighbor, Lisa set up a huge dome tent in my barn and she and her two children slept out, 'in the barn,' in the hopes of being there for the event. (Friday night, I split my time between the barn and the house, sleeping a little in each place alternately.) Last night, some time after 11PM, I left Lisa to do the mare watch and I went back to my house for some family time and 'shuteye.'

My two boys came home from summer camp for one night, last night, and I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible since they left at 6:30AM this morning. They had laundry to do last night so I helped them by turning on the dryer first thing this morning to finish drying their clothes. Then, I made breakfast burritos with eggs, ham, fried potatoes, cheese, and green chili. Too soon, we said our goodbyes and I went out to visit the campers between 6:30 and 7:00AM. Lisa was already awake, having woken to the dawn chorus of swallow chatter.

Jackson and Jenna were still asleep.While feeding the horses, I accidently left Scout's door ajar and he came bursting out to investigate.The last few days the wind has been blowing fiercely, bringing to mind spring weather rather than the summer month of June. Here in the high desert, we can expect chilly nights all summer long and lately the temperatures have been hovering in the forties at predawn. Last night was no exception. It was cold!

It is quite an experience sleeping in the barn. There are small mysterious noises all night long: creaking from the big barn door blowing in the wind grating against the other door, chains rattling at the gates, the sound of horses munching, stamping, breathing, snorting, snoring, and sighing, yes, Annie's huge deep, breath cleansing sighs every so often, just to remind us that she is as anxious to shed the extra pounds as we are to see her little darling.

The last two nights the moon has been full and bright, throwing shadows on the ground. It was a perfect night for foaling.

We all thought so, except the foal. He/she just isn't ready to meet the world yet.

I was so sure Annie would have her foal by now. However, she justs seems to be getting bigger and bigger!

So, anyone who hasn't entered the Annie foaling contest, cast your vote. Or, if your guess has passed, as mine has, please reenter!!

I could fall asleep at night - song: Star, artist: David Bowie, album: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Sunday (Sillouettes 6-7-09)

Today's subject is sillouettes.

These photographers are bird watching at Bosque del Apache. Here, Coronado points the way from Kansas.
I liked these metal art sillouettes too.

For more Sunday Stills, please visit here.

Sunday - song: Sunday, artist: David Bowie, album: Heathen

And it was Stalking time for the Moonboys

This morning, my two cats, Terra (gray) and Simba (Siamese mix), had a wonderful time exploring the great outdoors. They are 'inside' cats because we have coyotes frequently patrolling the area and I am afraid for their safety. When they do go outside, they really enjoy themselves. Terra hides in the grass and climbs on the rock walls. They explore the gardens and stalk each other. Until other things become more interesting.
Then it's time to come into the house again and dream about the wild outside.

And it was Stalking time for the Moonboys - song: The Bewlay Brothers, artist: David Bowie, album: Hunky Dory

Contest!

I am running a contest on my Arabian mare's actual foaling date. Annie was bred last July 9 & 10. Today she is at 329-330 days gestation. Foals are normally born at 320-360 days gestation and the average gestation is 340 days.

Her teats began filling over a week ago and she is incredibly huge, ROUND!, like she swallowed a 65 cm exercise ball. She is still eating for two but she is not moving around as much. She also holds her tail out and a little to the side. Last night, she seemed very irritated, biting at her side and there was lots of little twitches all over, not just baby movements. For anyone with foaling experience, will she become less "round" as she nears delivery? Are there any other signs I should watch for, like not eating, maybe?

That's actually her belly on both sides of the photo.

Those of you who had your guess date pass by, please try again. For those of you who are still in the running, good luck! I am posting the guesses on the sideboard. Please check your vote for accuracy.

Roll in the daylight

The other day I let the horses wander around the barn to eat the few grass sprouts that were growing.

Scout took a few minutes from his grazing time to have a good roll.

Doesn't he look satisfied?

Roll in the daylight - song: How Lucky You Are, artist: David Bowie, album: Deram songs