We're still here!

It's been a while, I know since I've posted, but we praise the Lord that all those walking on two legs all doing fine and in good health - those on four legs are a different story, but we're still praising the Lord!

Mr. Wiggles (orange cat) has now been gone for about two months. We think he has tried to make his way back to his beloved pond on Papa's farm. He has about 30 miles to cover whilst dodging a whole array of other animals, roads and fences. I hope he makes it, and if he does, he will have earned the right to stay there. My M-in-law gave encouragement that our cousin's dog got lost in this town and it took her 3 monthts to get back to Alma. I think it might take Mr. Wiggles a little longer. I do miss him though.

Pudda is healing from wounds on her haunches caused by a trespassing stray cat. They are pretty serious wounds a little larger than a quarter coin. I have been doctoring her with Benodine and Neosporin. She is walking good still and keeping them clean. Needless to say, that offending cat now has a death warrant on his head.

Mr. Pepper decided to take advantage of the chain that had slipped from around the gate last Wednesday morning, and he pushed his way through the gap. Fortunately, Pi was too big to get through. We noticed Pepper running up and down the fence line teasing Pi as we sat down to breakfast. Shaun ran out to try and catch him, but Pepper charged off down the road at a full gallop. We grabbed halters and rope and bundled into the car, but by that time had lost sight of him. A man on his back porch pointed out the way he went which we followed but there was still no sign of him. We crossed over a road and saw a man walking towards us so we stopped and asked if he had seen a little black and white pony. He said "Yes, he charged by me about a minute ago!" and pointed the way.
After driving a mile from the house we saw Pepper in a field behind a fence which held in a burro. Mr. Pepper had gone visiting!!!!! He could have gone down any number of side roads or into the woods, but he had made a bee-line for this burro's pasture. I followed his tracks in the dirt to figure out how he got behind the fence and shook the bucket of feed in my hand to which he came without delay. While I was putting on Pepper's halter I got too close to the fence which was 'live' and the shock went through both myself and Pepper who took off again at a run, but I managed to stop him :) Shaun walked Pepper home and we are so thankful that he was ok and had not caused any vehicle accidents or got hurt/killed. Pi was very glad to see him and I'm sure from his body language, was giving him an ear-full!

H is growing up very fast. She has now gone swimming twice in a friend's outdoor pool and mostly enjoys it. She's still learning that she shouldn't suck the water in! But she relaxes well and is not afraid of the water.

H is also learning to use a spoon for eating.


Her hair is growing long enough now for adorable pig-tails!


She likes to color in her coloring book: (We need to get her a proper kiddies table and chair!)


And she loves to feed her babydoll.


Spending time with Mama and Dadda is fun too...




The weather is starting to cool here. We have had some really good storms lately which has helped my pumpkin patch nicely. The pecan tree outside my study room window is loaded with pecans that will provide a wonderful harvest and hubby's favourite pecan pie!! After I'm done here, I will be going out to the fence in the back yard and pick the last of the bullace grapes. I made grape jam last week and it turned out well. Maybe there will be enough grapes left to make another batch.

Well, I think I'll close for now and try not to leave posting for so long next time. I hope you are all doing well and having a wonderful weekend.

Put the reins over the horn!

Each morning I go out to the pasture with some feed for Mr. Pepper who noisly greets me and is sometimes echoed by Pi. I lead Pi to the round pen (rp) and then let Pepper have his breakfast and the roam of the field while Pi and I go to work.

In the rp I walk Pi to get his legs stretched out. He's been pretty stiff due to the surgery wound but it's looking really good under there and healing well. This morning I put on the bosal with the reins attached to the halter and over his neck(we haven't taught him about the bridle/bit yet) and let him have a sniff at the blanket before I put that on him. Instead of leading him at a walk this morning I made him walk out from me as I stood in the middle. A few times around in both directions.

Next I got the saddle, let him sniff it and put it on his back. I did the girth up, but not real tight, and I remembered the tie-down clip! I forgot it yesterday and had to call him back in to do it up! Everything went well. He sniffed the stirrups a little irritated they kept banging him, but all was routine and he's remembering!

Out he goes, walking around at a nice pace. Then his head goes down and I see the danger. I call him in but I can't make my own body work as fast as my mind is going. His inside foot goes through the reins. AGGHHH!!! I had forgotten to put the reigns up over the horn and now he's fighting to get his head up and his leg free!

I try to get the reigns unclipped but there's no slack in them as they are around his neck and leg! "Lord, Please help me. Woe, Pi. Slow boy, it's ok, let me undo the clip. Please help me." I keep my voice calm and low. He is still moving but allows me close to try and help him but there's still no slack. I thought to myself, "I need a knife! Quick! I'll just cut those reins!"(which were brand new, but I didn't care!)

Down he goes. Oh, I didn't want him to go down. Still trying to get his leg free, and now the saddle is in the mix with the stirrups digging into him. I get the clip undone. There's blood. His leg is free. "Oh, where are you hurt, Pi!" I'm praying, Lord please don't let him be hurt! I start looking over him but I can't find the source. I reach for the girth to undo it and see the blood is from a gash in my thumb. I flip the saddle over him and move the stirrups out of the way. He sits there. Then he turns his head and sniffs his hind leg that is under him. I'm praying, Lord please, please don't let his leg be hurt, please!.

I stop myself thinking about the ramifications of a horse having a broken leg. Remembering what the Lord has been teaching me recently about thinking on things that are true. (Philippians 4:8) From what I knew at that moment his leg wasn't broken and I should stop imagining the worst.

I try to encourage him to get up, but he won't move just kept nosing his leg. As I watch I realize that it's not his leg that hurts, but his surgery wound! The wound hasn't opened again, but it was the stress of going down that made him hurt.

I get the lead rope and attach it to his halter. "Get up Pi, Come On! On your feet! You're not dead! Get up Pi!" I put sterness in my voice, pull a little on the halter and he gets up :)!!

Joy! Thank you Lord! :) I walk him around a little, I do not detect a limp in any of his legs. Oh thank you, Lord! I pet him and talk to him quietly. I apologize for causing the trouble. I tell him we're both learning together, that there will probably be more mishaps, but with the Lord helping me, hopefully they will be few. I tell him I'm going to put the saddle back on him as I don't want him frightened of it. He stands there and allows me to put the tack back on him. He is a good boy.

I tell him to walk out and he does. Hubby calls from the house and asks if I had run him. I say no, and tell him what just happened. He comes to the rp and has a look under Pi and says that all looks well. I said I thought I shouldn't try to ride him today, but Hubby said to go ahead. So I did. I got up and Hubby led Pi around and then let go. Pi took a few steps forward on his own and was well praised :) He definately earned his breakfast this morning! :)

As I go about the tasks of my other responsibilities, I pause to watch Pi through the kitchen window as he walks around the rp swishing his tail against the flies and watching Pepper who has come as near to him as being in the pasture will allow.

I'm thankful I was able to call on the Lord for help to get us both out of that situation. I'm thankful that we were both not seriously hurt. I'm thankful for the lesson it has taught me about being diligent to check the tack. I'm thankful that drawing on the Lord's strength helped keep my emotions under control.

I'm sure that by now Pepper has heard the full story and they both hope I remember to put the reins over the horn tomorrow!!

sa.