Denim Deb Hay, hay, hay. Thank the Lord!

[BarredBuff]

Hey Deb...nice to hear from you. Im glad you had a good day. How big is your coop gonna be??

Not sure. It won't be real big since I only have a few birds. I won't get a lot of chickens as long as they're at the farm. I don't think it's fair to RU. And, I won't have a lot at home since I'm not really supposed to have them there. Right now, the neighbors aren't saying anything, but I don't want to push it.

Ohhh sorry Im OCD in the chicken area

 

[Denim Deb]

After getting the cats, my hubby decided that he didn't like cats and wanted to get rid of them. I refused. It would have broken our daughter's (and mine) heart. So, we compromised, and they have to stay in the basement. Well, he decided that since Dust Bunny sheds so much, that they have to stay in just one part, the same room as the wood stove. And to keep them in, he stuck in a door. The bottom half is wood, the top is screen. He figured since they were stuck in there, he'd leave the basement door opened in an effort to get more of the heat upstairs. I have not been in the basement since I got home from church. But, I haven't been w/out the company of a cat. I've been reading this forum and replying w/a cat trying to help me. Rerun climbs the screen, and gets over the top. He's asleep right now, so he doesn't know she's up here. And I figure, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

 

[BarredBuff]

After getting the cats, my hubby decided that he didn't like cats and wanted to get rid of them. I refused. It would have broken our daughter's (and mine) heart. So, we compromised, and they have to stay in the basement. Well, he decided that since Dust Bunny sheds so much, that they have to stay in just one part, the same room as the wood stove. And to keep them in, he stuck in a door. The bottom half is wood, the top is screen. He figured since they were stuck in there, he'd leave the basement door opened in an effort to get more of the heat upstairs. I have not been in the basement since I got home from church. But, I haven't been w/out the company of a cat. I've been reading this forum and replying w/a cat trying to help me. Rerun climbs the screen, and gets over the top. He's asleep right now, so he doesn't know she's up here. And I figure, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

Yes very true.

Why doesnt he like cats?

 

[Denim Deb]

I haven't a clue! In fact, many years ago, he brought me home a kitten, and never had a problem w/her.

 

[Wifezilla]

Because he is an alcoholic and alcoholics don't make sense?

 

[Denim Deb]

That's a possibility.

 

[ORChick]

Because they are important to you?

 

[Denim Deb]

I was too beat to post this last night. I didn't get done work until just after 1:00 yesterday, then went and worked some more at the farm, then came home and did more work, all physical, so I was beat! I heated up a frozen pizza, tried to read on here a bit, finally gave up and went to sleep.

Yesterday morning it was about 20* when I got up! I still have a ton of stuff that I need to do b4 the ground gets frozen. Some of it involves my garden. And, I couldn't do what I needed to get done w/the maple tree in the way. I tried digging it up, but wasn't having much luck. And, my hubby was talking about cutting it down. So, I decided to try and pull it out. Only problem being, I couldn't find my chain. So, I tried a rope. I tied it around the trunk, then tied it to my hitch. Needless to say, it didn't work. The rope broke. So, I hunted some more, and was FINALLY able to find my chain. I tried to protect the trunk, and put the chain around. And, while it didn't pull it right out, I was able to find the roots. I tried to leave as much of them as possible, but did cut them. It finally got to where I couldn't go in the direction I was going any farther, so I undid the chain, and got in a different position. By then, it was getting dark. I did one last pull. I thought I had the tree out, but have found there's still one more root. I'll try and cut that this afternoon, then I should be able to move the tree. I just hope I didn't kill it.

Then, I turned the outside light nearest to my wood on, and started to split wood. I would have gotten more done, but my hubby came home, and was complaining cuz I let a cat up. And, I couldn't find her. So, I decided to just stop doing the wood and do some work in the house. I figured if I did that, she'd come to me, and that's what happened. But, I was able to get the majority of the dishes caught up-again. I also threw a load of clothes in the washing machine. By that time, it was 7:30. I had been working almost non-stop for about 12 hours, so I decided that was enough.

While I was at the farm on Sunday, I had talked for a little bit to RU. Someone is looking for a place to board their horses come spring. If you remember, instead of paying her any money, I buy the hay for a certain number of her horses, plus use some for pony rides. And, since she knows I plan on splitting the herd come spring, she figures she'd just take some of her horses out of the herd, and then if this person does come, she'd have a place to put their horses. At first, I was a bit upset, though I didn't say anything. I have enough trouble doing the bookkeeping as it is. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how I was going to do it. Then yesterday as I was driving to work, it all became crystal clear. I believe God gave me this idea. I talked it over w/RU, and she's agreed to it.

We had been going to move a gate between the front field and the back field. The barn in that field is being made into stalls in both the front and back. While there's stalls right now, the ones in the back have no doors. One of the ones in the front opens into another field, so we don't use that. Then there's 2 that used to have a wall up. The horses that used to be in there broke it. We're going to put a gate in so that it can be shut to make stall, or left open so the horses can get in there for shelter w/out having to worry about another horse cornering them in and kicking them to pieces. That's where Misty and Stormy will be. The other stall in the front has no side on the one side. I've been working on getting it all cleaned out. That will be Licky's stall. W/where the gate is right now, if it's closed, the one back stall is not accessible from the back field. But, then I got to thinking. One of RU's horses that I care for is a mini. She's only in there because she kept getting into the field. I have no problem w/her leaving. There's a pony that we tried using for pony rides. I never wanted to use him. I didn't think he'd be any good-he bucked my daughter off 2x in one day when she was little. And while we have used him, he's really small, so there's not much call for him. He can go.

Then there's 2 that aren't even broke! They're only in there since KN figured we could work w/them, and either lease them out, or use them for the pony ride business. I don't have time to work w/them, and she never does. But, the business pays for them. If we take them off the books, we'd have more money for ourselves. There's one horse in there that KN rides at times. She's supposed to pay towards his upkeep for being able to do so. More often than not, she has no money, so I end up paying for the farrier, vet and feed. He can go. Plus, RU wants him over w/her horses since she wants to ride him more.

Last but not least in the Haflinger. She's the one we mainly use for pony rides. Most of the calls we get are for one pony parties. So, we take her. You'd be amazed at how many adults want to ride, and most of them can ride her. Plus, she's the only pony that will ride double. And, many of the children like that. So, she will go in that end stall. We (or should I say I) will only have 4 horses to care for and clean up after. Since Halfy and Licky are the ones that are used for pony rides, the bookkeeping becomes easy. Hay cost would be divided in half. They eat a different feed than my other 2, so that's not a problem. One time I'd buy the salt, the next time the business would.

I am not renewing any of the ads for the pony rides. There are several campgrounds in the area and I know for a fact that at least one is looking for someone to provide pony rides during the summer. I plan on contacting all of them and seeing if we can't set something up. And, if KN doesn't like this idea, then TLC. (Tough Luck, Chump) It's either this, or no business.

And, RU and I will decide what's fair for me to pay instead of buying the hay. That means I don't have to buy as much. I don't have to go to the hay auction as often. I don't have to stack as much. When I came up w/this plan, I felt my stress level go waaaaaay down! That right there is a plus for me w/my MD. I can hardly wait. I will probably end up w/more money in MY pocket as well.

 

[savingdogs]

More money, less work, less stress......sounds like a great plan!

 

[Denim Deb]

I agree. And, we're not saying anything to KN for now. I know she'd object. but, I don't care.