A New Life Arrives at Catfish Corner

Long before the demise of my horse herd a little soul was conceived. We waited for this new one who arrived on Earth on December 3. Little did she know she had a job upon arrival. Perhaps to rescue me from the grief of loss. She came from Kim and Brian Schlomann who operate Bear Kreek Chesapeaks, at Big Bend, WI, near Milwaukee. The same kennel that produced our precious Phoebe who we lost to theft. 

That was a soul sucking event that I would wish on no one. However, the suspected perpetrator has left this earthly realm so I can rest assured that that event won't happen again. 

Having a new puppy in winter has been different! Lots of getting winter coats and boots on just to get outside for walkies and potties. Thankfully she loves her kennel and, other than the first week in bed with us, she sleeps there all night and has been peaceful until she hears me stir in the morning.

I cherish her at this little stage where I can still lift her (21# now!) and give her a cuddle. But that won't last long which will please Win. At 80# he wants to be on my lap but it just doesn't work!

We got out to the big field before the last little snow came it. She pesters Windsor incessantly and, grumpy as he is, I can see he is taking on the role of a big brother as best he can.

 

Their End of Days

The phone call was made. The event scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15. It was past time for Cerra. It was in time for Ty. But Chy, the least obviously ill one was the hardest one to say goodbye to. My Honey Horse. My heart was breaking since the decision came and so many tears already shed,  I was strangely somewhat composed when the vet arrived. It wasn't a pretty day like the prior weekend but at least it wasn't raining. Dr. Kristen's kind manner eased the passing of my three best friends to green pastures where there would be no more pain or suffering. 

Later the excavator man came and dug a grave to hold all three. Joe is a longtime horseman and I almost hesitated to call him because I knew it would be hard on him as well. He skillfully placed each horse to be facing east in a running position toward the light. Ty, then Cheyenne, with Cerra leading the herd. He brought apples along which he put in place for each of them to enjoy on the journey. I knew I picked the right man for the job.

Then it was over. 

Really?

I was feeling better on Friday when I planted three cheery pink bunches of my flower box impatients on the site. I decided to take the tractor out to smooth the excavator ruts and was headed back to the gate when smoke started coming out of the hood! I immediately stopped and tried to shut off the motor, but it wouldn't stop. I ran to the nearby barn to retrieve the water hose. It barely reached but there was enough stream to put water on the hood. I'm shaking so bad I can hardly dial 911.  Smoke and flames were now rising to a serious level. I just kept running water while waiting, thinking "This week just keeps getting better and better".

Only in a rural area would you get not one, but two fire departments to respond to such a small event. First a sheriff deputy arrived, then a quick response vehicle and young man who put a couple extinguishers on the blaze. The Pepin rig arrived and was followed by the Lund department. I had so many firefighters here it was an embarrassment. As I was apologizing for sounding the alarm one replied, "Don't worry about it. We hardly get called to do anything so we are happy to have the chance to get out!" That they did in full firefighter regalia. They stayed until the heat was gone and then started pulling off the plastic hood and side panels to find the fire source......a mouse nest next to the exhaust pipe. 

This Photo Sums Up The Last Two Months

Since my last post it feels as though the world has been thrown off its axis. Hideous actions by maniacs, bruising the country, states and worked its way down to my little piece of heaven. My world revolves around taking care of Don - first priority. Second is taking care of the four-leggeds. Three of which have now been diagnosed with Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Horses, Cerra, Cheyenne and Ty have been increasingly non mobile in July. The vet tests confirmed all three have the illness. Who knows for how long, but long enough to cause a cascade of problems. Ty developed thrush. Chy is lame as well with an abscess. Poor Cerra is full-body lame. Barely able to move. Scary lame. The kind that makes one think of having a hole dug before winter sets in. Then she developed an eye infection called urvitis or commonly called "moon blindness". Her eye is watering profusely, clouded over and large spots of infection and drainage. I won't embarrass her by including a photo. All three have had a month of doxycycline and Cerra continues to have it. Three times a day she gets THREE eye potions so nine times a day she patiently lets me poke her sore eye with drops and ointments. Some days we just hold on to each other and have a long hug while I tell her to keep going. Fight, fight, fight. I'm sure she has wondered "what on earth is happening to me".

Pink Lady Update

 

The Pink Lady apple seedlings got new larger homes and they are really coming along. Our hot and humid weather has put growth into high gear. I have seven healthy starts and they are getting lots of TLC.

My orchid collection of two has been spending summer outdoors under the patio porch roof. Lots of air movement and the welcome humidity has them singing a happy tune as well. The white orchid is so delirious it has sent out a large second flower stem. I have new pots for them as well but will probably wait until the blooming season is over. That stem of white flowers has been going since mid-February so who knows when that will be! I just ordered four baby orchids to expand my horticultural pursuits. It is said if you are lucky to live long enough you will learn how to care for orchids. I didn't get a very early start so I'm grateful for the bit of success I have had so far. 

Easily Distracted by Flowers

And CATS!

 

Bucky Badger at Work

 I took my tractor out to mow the trails a couple weeks ago and found a huge hole in the way! A large amount of sand dug out and it was right in my way. I have found many of these huge dugouts in the horse pasture from time to time, but always figured it was coyotes digging for rodents. This one was much larger although there was no sign of any recent activity of which I thought might be a badger. 

Winnie included for perspective. I decided to just go around the hole as far as I could to the right. Which worked fine until the front wheels of the John Deer fell into the excavation that went far into the opposite direction of the hole! OK. Now I'm thinking "How am I going to explain this one?" However, I have been a regular viewer of the shows that have heavy equipment in situations such as this. After having a think about it, I set the bucket firmly down, which lifted the front tires enough to let the back tires move us out of the pit. I'm free!

Later I went out to refill the holes and tamped down the huge cavity so I don't fall into it the next time I ride Cheyenne out there.

Run, Bambi, Run!

 I took the horses out to their pasture one morning recently and noticed a doe at the NE corner of the enclosure effortlessly bound over the 4' fence. Thinking.....I wonder if..... And sure enough I found a tiny fawn tucked into the corner of the fencing. The horses were already out there, so I couldn't just leave it sitting there for hours until they came home, so I made the executive decision to take the little one to the other side of the fence to reunite with momma. 

The little one was barely the weight of my largest fatty cat. She bleated her disapproval right away when I picked her up! All legs but not struggling to escape. We made our way back to the gate and then back to nearly the corner of the fence. I released the fawn with all my best wishes for her and her momma. She scampered off and I was hoping she found her way to a reunion. My wishes were granted when in the early morning hours a couple days later I saw a doe with her little fawn relaxing in the water of our creek.