So many changes!

We have had a lot of changes in the past week.
We sold two of our goats; Lacey and P went to a good home in Fort Collins. We still have the two bucks and two doelings, which will probably go to the special breed auction next month. We are trying to decide if we want to keep that small barn for something or take it down and just be done. It is a hard decision since I love my goats. My neck just can't handle the strain of taking care of, breeding and milking. I am trying to adjust to the new me and it is hard.

Dan went to his new home today. It was sad to see him go, but he went to a great home. He was bought by a guy named Kelly Moore that trains stallions and competes in team roping and cutting. Since Dan was bred for those types of activities, he will be in his element. Kelly also has a breeding program, where Dan will be well used.

We spent most of yesterday afternoon/evening trying to take apart the wood splitter. The seals are leaking and need to be replace. It wasn't really a hard two person job but it was fun to hang out together and work together doing something simple! We got stuck a few times and had to phone a friend, but we finally got the part out and ready for me to take to town tomorrow.

We moved a 16x16 barn today with a trailer, ropes and pulleys. It was tough, but R did most of the work. Now the barn/shed is on the other side of the property and is a garden shed for all of our mowers and tools! That took most of the day. With Dan gone and the barn moved it looks a lot different out at our barns. The biggest difference can be seen in our garage, which is darn near empty!

I went to the hay auction on Saturday morning. Let me tell you! The price of hay has doubled in the last 6 months! I'm glad we got some a few months ago and filled the barn. It was ranging from $225-300 per ton, which is ridiculous! I am also glad we have one less horse and 2 fewer goats to feed!

To top off our weekend, we went to see Gunner at the trainer. I go at least 4 times a week, she must think I have separation anxiety, but I can't help it. He is my baby! She had a saddle and bridle on him today and had been working on ground driving! Yay! Progress! He is eating a ton, he is still small and ribby but his hay belly is HUGE! He has two more weeks then he comes home!

I think he looks smarter, don't you?!

So much work...

My goodness! I am totally worn out! We have had so much work to get done before leaving late this Saturday night to pick up Dan.

Yesterday, I started on the trailer lights. I had 6 of the 14 working right from the start. Those are not good odds! Two were quick fixes, another needed a new bulb, the other 5 had me stumped. Granted they are running lights along the top of the sides and are not totally necessary but I don't want to make the drive, half of which will be in the dark with out everything in ship shape order.

As I was working on the lights, I climbed up into the sleeping compartment to find the carpet wet. No, no, no, bad, bad, bad! The roof was leaking at the seams. So I proceeded to finish the 5 lights, which all needed new grounding rivets (I prefer to call them ribbets and make froggy sounds but its not as much fun when working alone!).

I climbed on top of the trailer to remove the old sealant and sand the rust. I repainted and resealed. There are 2 junctions along the top of the living quarters and a skylight. I got both done and did the sky light. By that time, I was exhausted and my knees hurt. R climbed up with me to help finish the skylight and was kind enough to point out that there are not 2 but 4 junctions that needed to be done! ACK! My knees hurt, my neck hurt, by back hurt, my head hurt; I was done! What do you mean I have 2 more to go?! I'd been doing it for 4 hours!!!

Today, after therapy I came home to finish what I had started. However, I had a road block.... My knees are bruised. When I say bruised, I mean BRUISED.

Yeah, and I have a clotting disorder, so I DON'T bruise!!

So stressed after a bad day at therapy, still being sore, having a grumpy friend take his anger out on me, I couldn't do it. I lay down in the back of the truck, cried! I hosed out the trailer and put in fresh bedding. Then pulled the trailer to the house to sand the 2 junctions I forgot and primer them. I need to seal them tomorrow. I cleaned out the living quarters, which is really just where I store EVERYTHING and sleep if need be.

During my cleaning I discovered a few things... I have lost enough weight that my half chaps fit now! Yay! My hoof sealant leaked in my medi bag and now I need a new one. Boo! And finally, we have WAY too many blankets for Max and Bella. Where in the world am I going to store ever more blankets for Gunner and Dan?! By the way, his name won't be Dan, they call him Dancer but he is a 6 year old stallion and Dancer makes sound a little girly... So, he is Dan until we can figure out his name.

Anyhow, we got got everything done and while I was resting, I heard the telltale hiss of a leaking tire. NO!!! So close and yet so far! Stupid tire...

My plan for tomorrow is to get up early, seal the remaining junctions and be at the tire shop by 8. Possibly meet a friend for a soda and much needed mental health check, then come home, prepare all of mystuff (meds, ice pack, food, clothes) and sleep from 11AM until midnight. With my sleeping habits and excitement, I bet I'm awake until midnight!

Since we have 3 dogs and are trying to supervise Dozer and Rex - they play hard and sometimes too hard and one gets hurt - it has been decided that Dozer must come. Yes, spitty, farty bulldog on a 8 our (one way) trip just thrills me... Guess what?! I'm going to do what I have to do to save this horse!

I think I'll be ready, I hope I'll be ready, I'm sure I'll be ready. I pray for a quick safe trip!

Our new addition - Dan

We are rescuing this horse from a friend; he is fed but has been neglected in many other areas. He is a 6 year old registered Quarter Horse stallion with no training. They call him Dancer, but we don't think it fits so we have been calling him Dan; until we can get to know him and figure out what his name should be.

We get to pick Dan up on Sunday. It is a 14 hour drive round trip! I know these photos are bad, but wanted to give you all an idea of what we are looking forward to. As soon as we get him home and settled in, we will post more photos and explain a bit more about his situation.

He is people friendly!

They cut his hair with shears so we could see his eyes....

This photo makes him look grumpy and like he has a HUGE head.
Not the case!

A true red roan with Hancock breeding!!