News - 2008 - April thru June

2008 APRIL *** 3 Thurs- Madira has her 2nd appointment with physical therapist. *** 5 Sat- Sierra goes to Summer Camp training at WHHS JROTC. It is felt that she should be taken to the Dr. to find out if there is a problem w/ asthma - either "real" or "exercise induced". *** 7 - the Dr. (PA at Boone Trail Medical Center) doesn't feel Sierra needs to undergo any testing at this time since her lungs are clear. He does perscribe an inhaler to be used IF needed. *** Madira has her 3rd appointment w/ the Physical Therapist. *** Darryl trims Magic's hooves (down at Karen's) along with Justin & Tally. *** 10 Thurs - Madira has 4th appointment w/ PT. *** 11 Fri - Chaunter has a bay filly!!! Dr. Dean says she's big and healthy. Pictures to follow - Gail and I go down to see her. *** 12 Sat - Sierra & WHJROTC go to Winston-Salem for drill meet. Sierra felt that the teams did extremely well, but we don't have the results since the team returned home rather than waiting for awards. *** 13 Sun - Madira & I get to see Chaunter & baby. ***




*** 17 Thur - "Foxy" passes away at Gail's home & Gail's family bury her. *** 17 & 18 Thur & Fri - I chaperone for the WHJROTC Color Guard going to Charlotte for the Mecklinberg County awards ceremony. *** Thursday nite, after the presentation, Linda & Mike are called home as their home is on fire. *** On the way back Friday morning, we stop at the Aviation Museum. *** 19 Sat - WHJROTC goes to 71st HS for a Drill Meet, but it's cut short & we return to school. *** The girls get ready for Prom and have a great time Saturday evening. ***







*** Gail & I take Masquerade & Loverboy to Dunn, to see if a family would like to do a trade off on Masquerade. Storm in the background - holding off. We end up doing a trail ride that is "EXTREME RIDING" - wow!! Gail & I stop to eat before returning home. *** Not long after Matt delivers the girls' back home, the water heater finishes it's rusting out - and we have a flooded laundry area and kitchen with no way to turn water off. In the storm outside, Sierra and I figure out how to turn the water off at the road while Matt & Skye mop up the resulting mess inside... *** 20 Sun - Gail & I ride at home rather than going on the trail ride with the Cape Fear Trail Riders. Then try to pick up the new water heater at Lowe's in Sanford. Didn't happen. *** 21 Mon - Landlord says the water heater there, paid for and ready, so I return only to have manager say "No, it's not." Laundromat & Gail's house for shower time. *** 22 Tues - Larry stops and straightens out "mess" at Lowe's and returns w/ water heater & torch, then finds out that work is more than he can do. Home owner contracts w/ Roto Rooter to come out and do the work on water heater. *** 23 Wed - Gail & I pick up 17 bales of hay (12 mine/5 hers). *** 26 Sat - Ride with Gail to deliver Masquerade to new home in VA. Very pretty farm & great folks getting NICE horse!***Madira rides PG around AC Morrison loop (2.3 miles). *** 27 Sun - Gail picks up Jazzy in the morning. *** Madira rides PG at home while mom @ Gails actually weighing out feed for feeding program and checking on Jazzy. *** 29 Tue - Gail takes Jazzy & Loverboy to Twin Oaks to work them in arena, then Jazzy refuses to load in trailer. Steve picks up our stock trailer & me to go help. I worked Jazzy outside back of trailer, then she decides it's much better to load then to be behind it. *** 30 Wed - Harli, for some reason, runs into the road & is struck by a motorist. Death is instant & he's now buried in Gail's pature. ***

2008 May - 2 Fri - Gail takes Jazzy & Loverboy to Twin Oaks to work in arena 2nd time - they do great and she asks me to go back with her in evening to watch. Awesome - no problems w/ trailer loading issues now. *** 3 Sat - Sierra & Shem go to JROTC Summer Camp Training. Long day - Gail teaches several of the stations. I volunteer to help and to watch. *** Before lunch, Linda steals me away to do some shopping and give me a tour of the new house they are currently renting. The old house wasn't completely burned & we stop over there to look for a missing "Kitty". *** Skye & Matt go to Sanford's Pottery Festival. *** Madira is working on Suessical Set w/ the Set Crew. *** 4 Sun - after going to get new blades for Gail's lawnmower, we spend the next 5 hours mowing & weedeating at our place. Wow, what a difference. Hadn't realized how much the "grass" (weeds) had grown since we'd had the rain. ***6 Tues - "Monster" gets away from Larry. Searching doesn't bring him home & he doesn't return. On a good note - there are no "bodies" on the roadside anywhere around us. *** 7 Thurs - Skye & Sierra go to the production of the Suessical. *** 9 Fri - Harnett Cty Animal Control hasn't had "Monster" turn up. Larry & Paula go to watch the Suessical. *** 10 Sat - WHJROTC has 4th & final Summer Camp Training day & Sierra finishes 5th for the day & 9th for overall. There are only 8 slots at this time, so we'll have to wait and see if Sierra is going. *** We go to Gail's for an evening cook out in celebration of her 20th year in the Army. *** Madira goes to Cast Party after the Saturday production. *** 11 Sun - It's an enjoyable Mother's Day. *** 12 Mon - I've learned how to set up video on YouTube & insert the results into a webpage. Currently have video on Chaunter's, Satin's & Star's pages. *** 17 Sat - Armed Forces Day Parade for WH JORTC in Sanford in the morning. *** AJ goes to "kiddy" party in Spring Lake & does about an hours worth of work for a group of little girls & 3 boys. The B-Day girl turned 4. ***






*** 18 Sun - 1 round of Coastal & 3 of Oat hay picked up from Little River Trails (Lanier Brothers). *** 19 Mon - Darryl out to do pony's trims - AJ, Rhythem, Pretty Girl, Iggy & Star done at our place while Jazzy gets done at Gail's place. *** 21 Wed - Video done for Stuffy's page. *** 25 Sun - Gail, Sierra & I go to Raven Rock. Gail rides Lover Boy, Sierra on Jazzy and I rode Pretty Girl. We did the "new loop" first, then the older loop. Pretty Girl is practicing her walking - she's not a happy camper. *** 26 Mon - Star bred to Iggy early morning. *** Gail, Niccole & I haul Lover Boy, Jazzy and Pretty Girl to Moss Foundation in Southern Pines. Jazzy decides to escape during bridling (giving Gail a scare!), jumps over the hitch between the truck and the trailer and gallops merrily from one end of the trailer area (next to 3 board fence) 3 x while avoiding capture. I start to mount up one of the times that Jazzy races by & Pretty Girl has a come apart, causing me to hook knee under the cantle & then to hit the ground. PG looks at me as if asking "What are you doing down there?". I ache, but get mounted & when both Gail and I close in on Jazzy, she flirts her tail over her back, whirls away & races down May Street towards Southern Pines. UGH, poor Gail - I think she's now having heart failure. Rather than "chasing" along w/ Gail, I stop Pretty Girl creating issues w/ her as she's highly upset that her "pasture mate" has left her behind... I get that under control, send Niccole back to our trailer and "PG" & I head down May Street at a more relaxed pace, looking for a loose horse & a mounted horse. Finally found them at one of the barns that Jazzy decided to visit at, about 2 miles down the road. Gail has bridled her and puts her to work by riding her back. We join up and ride back to trailer - where Gail takes a much needed cigarrette break. But we aren't done - since we "haven't ridden". We head out & spend approximately 2 hours practicing walking and behaving w/o getting upset (of course, both Jazzy & Pretty Girl are, while Lover Boy & Niccole are wondering what all the "hubub" is about). Arrive back & don't know about our mounts, but Gail & I are "whipped". Lunch at El Chapalla's in Southern Pines brings us back to life & we head home. *** 27 Tues - Star bred to Iggy. *** Star & I go for walk. *** 29 Thurs - Star bred to Iggy. *** 30 Fri - Star bred to Iggy. *** Gail picks me up at work (Larry has car) and we hook up horse trailer and go pick up Pete from Kim T for training w/ Gail. *** 31 Sat - At 8, I'm in the saddle headed towards Gail's house. Pretty Girl is insistant on not walking, along w/ lots of screaming for pasture mates. In minutes, she's worked up and drenched but she's responding. Meet up w/ Gail on Loverboy. We start on a road around the field on McLean & Ernest Brown Rd & get stopped. Billy Ray Brown invites us to ride, anytime, around their property. He said it's about 13 miles of trails. We continue & wind up at the Triangle store on Peach Farm & Hwy 27. Then go to Gail's where she washes and swaps Loverboy for Jazzy & I wash/cool down Pretty Girl before remounting. She rides Jazzy down to the intersection of Ernest Brown and Tim Curry. I continue home - having spent almost 4 hours riding. A bath for PG, a shower for me & I'm ready to head to CNL Anderson's home for the Pig Pickin' & JROTC awards. I get my hat!! *** Still no word on "Monster". ***

2008 June - 1 Sun - Nicole, Madira & I arrive at 9:30 for CFTR Horse Show & get right to work. Both Madira and Nicole work with the concessions & I hit the show office. *** I did see AJ's son - Grasshopper. He's being ridden by Tyler Hornbeck for Willow Chase (Kim Krivit's daughter). He was done up nicely in proper braids & presented in hunt seat. So exciting to see another of AJ's offspring out doing things! At 12:30, I leave the girls & go home to meet w/ Darryl who is bringing the girls' home. *** Darryl arrives & I worm and get a halter on "Ellon" in the trailer. After unloading, Chaunter gets wormed. *** After Darryl leaves, I take pictures of the two, watch to make sure they are settled and then head back to show grounds. *** When the girls and I leave CFTR grounds, we go to check out Kim Young's new baby, Illi. *** Arriving home, I eat first, then it's out to catch Chaunter & Ellon. That becomes a workout as Chaunter doesn't want to be caught. 20 minutes later, she gets a bath w/ Ellon also getting her 1st bath (while loose). Then saddle Chaunter & Ellon is upset because momma looks different. We ride a while - 1st having Ellon follow us then turning and following her. After our ride, Sierra comes to check her out and we get our hands on her. Once we're holding her, she's great to work with - even dealing with the Fly spray. ***



*** During the week, Ellon gets worked with several times while Chaunter is ridden. *** 6 Fri - Skye and Matt both graduate from Western Harnett High School.***



*** 7 Sat - Gail & I actually SHOP - going to Fayetteville - Southern Gin & Grain, Family Farm Store & Bronze Fox. Then to Coats, to "our" Double L. Fly masks purchased for Rhythem, AJ, Ellon, Star, Iggy & Jazzy. *** 8 Sun - Gail, Niccole, Madira & I meet up with Cape Fear Trail Riders - Roy Carter, Herbert & friend at Raven Rock. Sorry, no pics. *** Ellon does OK - takes a spill after settting back and rolls into stream, but gets up and crosses water on her own. Barks up her legs a bit later when refuses to step over a log and Chaunter pulls her across. She leads now. *** After our ride, we flyspray everyone heavily and then stop at MiCasita's for lunch in Lillington. We are back at home by 12:30. *** 9 Mon - Volunteer w/ WH JROTC getting group ready to go to Summer Camp at Oak Ridge Academy. *** Pick up Madira & attend Danny Stone's funeral. *** 11 Wed - Sierra & WH JROTC leave for Summer Camp. *** Horses haven't seen me much as I've pulled something in my arm & w/ heat wave & 3 visits to Chiropractor I'm more dead than alive. Skye has kept up basic chores this week. *** 14 Sat - AJ & I are picked up by Rob to go to Brownie Party. AJ works for about 2 hours being petted and doing "pony rides". *** Gail, Niccole, Madira and I check out pools in Lillington. We'll stick with going to Ft. Bragg. *** Gail & I continue up to Siler City Critters Tack to check out equipment & some good looking QH. We both bring home built up & cut back pads & other equipment. *** A stop is made at Blue Sky Equestrian shop and I find another Cashell mask - for Chaunter & a SuperMask that should fit Star. *** 15 Sun - Sierra returns from JROTC Camp with fun stories to tell. *** 16 Mon - I ride Chaunter w/ Ellon & then 'Dira takes video which is now up on Elon's photo album. *** Gail & Niccole ride over on Lover Boy and Pete. They return home via truck & trailer. ***21 Sat - Gail and I go to Blaine McLaughlin's clinic in Four Oaks from 9 - 1. *** Then go to Fuquay to go to Tractor Supply Co. *** 22 Sun - Gail w/ Lover Boy, Kim Timbs w/ Pete, Paula w/ Prettty Girl & Sierra w/ Star haul to Twin Oaks Trail Rides. We ride for about 1 1/2 hours. Kim is getting a feel for the riding/fitting that's been done by Gail with Pete. *** 25 - Wed - Off from work and working on "the place". Shem weed eats the ditch and around the outside of the 3 "board" paddock along road. He also finsihes putting in the posts for the stocks. *** Sierra, Skye and Paula are alternating mowing and picking up downed "timber". Madira is working inside the house. *** Late afternoon, we head down to Kathy Oxford's with Niccole to visit with Karen and check on Stuffy and get to swim. *** 26 Thur - Off - and finishing up with cleanup. Skye replaces boards on the fence. The weed eating and mowing are finished up, old washer is sold to shop, new washer repaired, trash to the dump, the door on shop is repaired. *** I ride Pretty Girl towards Gail's house. We are still having problems with that WALK. *** 27 Fri - After work, Paula rides Chaunter w/ Ellon. *** 28 Sat - Gail picks Sierra & Paula up w/ Chaunter & Ellon. With Gail on Pete, Sierra on Lover Boy, Paula on Chaunter ponying Ellon - we ride out to B & B to ride past the lake on Ernest Brown RD. Ellon is ponying great - still using a "butt rope" along w/ the "harness". Ellon is turned loose later - to run w/ Chaunter. Get a really nice gallop before coming out on tobacco fields closer to Gail's house. Ellon is caught and led w/ only the lead rope on the way home. *** 29 Sun - Gail picks Paula & Pretty Girl up and we again leave from her property to ride on the B & B. This time - Sierra is on Lover Boy, Gail riding Jazzy & Paula on Pretty Girl. We turn in from around the tobacco fields. Working on Pretty Girl's WALK - getting there, but when seperated from the other two - still a "screaming demon". Ended up backing her into the pond - but we went in belly deep, go girl! *** 30 Mon - I bathe and clean up Ellona for pictures. *** Darryl out to do Chaunter, Pretty Girl, Rhythm and Star's hooves. *** He's quite happy with "Ellona". ***

News 2008 - Jan thru Mar

2008 March *** 1 Sat- Skye goes to Triton HS to take the SAT exams - she drives herself and arrives home OK (1st time driving so far alone). *** Sierra competes with WHJROTC at the Lee Sr HS Drill Meet. They do VERY WELL, but I don't have the list of events/placings yet. *** I spend time working in/on the barn - spring cleaning. Getting blankets, legwraps & horsey meds in order; cleaning area so that Shem & Steve can put a kitchen cabinet set up that they removed from their tackroom in mine for storage (yea!!). Now have to put all the wood in order and clear more area so that we can build two stalls (looking at doing a total of 4 - 6x12 ones with the grooming area remaining the same between them on the right side of the barn where the water hydrant is. The center wall between the stalls can be removed returning them to 12 x 12 "regular sized" stalls). *** Paula rides PG in the evening. *** 2 - Sun- Mom rides PG in the morning. Then, Sierra goes with Gail to Barrel Racing event at Triple T Farm in Benson, while I go by myself to catch part of the Pony show in Smithfield at Promise Land Farms put on by the Carolina Welshpony Club. *** Skye and Madira stay home for down time. *** Paula is riding Pretty Girl to get both in shape & to be sure that PG doesn't do anything "bad" when Madira finally given ok to ride. Usually going 3-4 times a week now... *** 12 - AJ & Iggy get heads and necks clipped (can't finish body clips yet - too cold). ***





*** 13 - Madira in "7th heaven" when allowed to ride her pony for a little bit at a walk. Her next appointment is on March 27th. *** Rhythem is bred to Iggy - evening. *** Sat 15 - Morning - Rhythem is bred to Iggy - am. *** I work Pretty Girl while also working with Michael riding Star. He graduates from the round pen to basically doing "Simon Says" & "Follow the Leader" in the bigger paddock. Afternoon - Sierra is already ready for the Military Ball when I come in to shower & get ready myself. Eve - Donna & Nancy pick Sierra and I up for the Military Ball at the Officer's Club on Ft. Bragg. As we leave, the storm hits, but we manage to arrive w/o mishap. The ceremony held up as several people & the bus are late due to storm & accidents. Dinner was great (they know how to prepare steak) but much else - couldn't say. Our ride is ready to depart by 11, so Sierra asks to stay & ride bus back and Larry picks her up at school at 1:30 am. *** Sun 16 - CFTR has their trail ride at 10:30 am at Moss Foundation in Southern Pines, but we have headaches & trouble w/ trailers. So we decide to go later, after wet from rain gets dried a bit. Karen w/ Tally picked Sierra & I up w/ Jazzy & Pretty Girl. Gail & Nicole bring Lover Boy and Masquerade and we have a great time riding the perimeter. *** 17 - Rhythem is out of heat. *** 17 & 18 - Work w/ Michael & Star in roundpen & pasture. Pretty Girl coughing & running a bit of temp - 101 on Tuesday evening. *** 19 - Pretty Girl seems to be over whatever had been bothering her. *** 22 - the start of spring break. Sierra works one day in JROTC motor pool & one day working personally for the Andersons. I spend time braiding some more orange hay string & then use it to "build" temporary fence to allow ponies to graze on grass not in pastures. *** We put in several posts & brace posts, but need to finish putting in bracers before can string wire. *** 27 - Madira gets her brace officially off. YEA!! *** 28 - we work with Karen's family - removing the roof off of her barn. ***

2008 February - Started w/ 'Dira bringing home both Strep and Flu. Working it's way thru all of us - I can't shake it (OF Course!!). *** 14 - Is a memorable Valentine's Day w/ Skye down w/ the bug (& 2 hours at Dr office), "Monster" gets booster shot w/o Lepto. *** 16 Sat - Sierra at WHJROTC Drill Meet w/ Overhills High School. Our Team does GREAT! *** New source of hay, 2 round bales from Ausley (Christian Light rd, Lillington). Ponies happy. *** Justin & Skye break up. *** 24 Sun - Gail & Paula go pick up "Star" in Greenville. *** 26 Tues - "Pretty Girl" is confirmed in foal by Dr Krivit, DVM. She will foal in October. *** Diana Dunham-Scott (formerly English - Chaunter's breeder) called from CA! We had a great conversation about "Chaunter", her dam - Khemo Sonata (ASHA pony carded @ 14.2 hh) and possiblities. *** 28 Thur & 29 Fri - Madira is in the production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dam". OK, Mom isn't a big play/drama buff & it seemed slow - but otherwise good. Madira looked awesome in a bodice she designed and sewed herself from a Western Horsemanship vest pattern. She had a blast at the Cast Party after the play & arrived back home flushed and happy at 12:30 pm. ***

2008 January - The New Year started with a bang - Justin helped bring in the start with us. *** We started on the 1st (Tuesday) with trail riding at Twin Oaks with Gail Miller and her son, Shem. Sierra rode "Jazzy", Madira rode "Pretty Girl" & Paula rode "Chaunter" & ponied "Justan" - Karen's arab gelding. Near the end of the ride, Madira switched and rode "Justan" for a bit on the trails - w,t & c (with a little "woo-hoo" buck) and then moved into the arena for about 30 minutes. ***2 - Return to work and school after a great Holiday Break! *** 5 Saturday - We take a turn at Gail's property - helping to clean up loads of pinestraw & cutting down small trees - when Madira is injured. EMS arrives to find her and says that w/ vital signs good she can get up and walk to ambulance herself, but she says "...my back hurts.." and I say no, she needs to be carried out and checked. A ride to Central Carolina Hospital and a check by the ER doctor and again... not bad, we'll wait for x-rays, but vitals good and don't believe there are any problems... That changes when the exrays back - I'm told that there is a burst fracture to the L3 and that Central Carolina isn't prepared for dealing w/ this type of injury and UNC Chapel Hill - orthopedics is expecting us. This time, her clothes are cut off and she's put back on a back board (w/ much more care - isn't that amazing??) & an IV put into her arm (no fluids, tho). She's loaded into ambulance again while Shem and I wait for Skye and Larry to arrive so we can take one vehicle up. Then the hours start as we wait for more "pictures" and also for an MRI to be done. The injury occured around 11 am, we arrived at UNC Chapel Hill around 4 pm. The MRI isn't done until around 8 pm. She's admitted (I didn't understand why, nor did she - the actual severity of the problem)! It's almost 10 pm before we see a doctor who gives us some idea of what's going on - but that we are looking at not being able to get a back brace until Tuesday and surgery to "fix" the problem much later... He lets us know that it's not L3 but L1 that has the problem. Larry stays and I return Shem home & check on Sierra at Gail's house. DOES anyone hear Madira screech when she's told she won't be attending the audition for the lead (Esmeralda) in "The Hunchback of Notre Dam"?? *** 6 Sunday- Before I can get all the chores done and shower, Larry calls and says she is headed for surgery. Plans change - I pick up Skye (in tears), Sierra and Shem and we head back up to Chapel Hill. They are all a little grim. Madira hadn't gone into surgery yet when we arrived, so we were able to visit a bit while waiting for pre-op.There is a healthy bit of horseplay and teasing before she's picked up around 3:20 and we have between 5-6 hours to wait. Karen Eaker arrives as well and spends the time with us (Tally & Justin's owner) waiting. At 6:50 we are told she's out & in recovery(that was FAST), the surgeon tells us it was a great surgery, little/no bleeding (that's GOOD), what he did & she's doing fine. Shortly, a recovery tech tells us that she's awake but not ready for visiors - but soon. Then we get to visit with Madira and all head back to her room... Karen visits for a bit then she & Larry take Skye, Sierra & Shem back home while I stay. The night is quiet as the night nurses do all their checks on 'Dira. *** 7 Mon - Larry gets Sierra and Skye into school before coming up to visit/stay. Madira is measured for a back brace. When I head out, we hadn't heard from a doctor as to next steps... Darryl Taylor (farrier) arrives to take care of Gail's, Karen's & our horses while I'm making arrangements to have several picked up for a time. "Justan" gets the pad pulled off, left shoe reset and the right front shod. A few bobbles when we take him out to watch him, but he goes sound (YIPPEE!!). *** 8 Tues - Darryl is back to pick up Chaunter - keeping her at Dr. Dean's, DVM, farm down in Parkton until she foals. Larry again calls - "She's being released this afternoon". While I frantically straighten the bedroom, take apart bunk beds & do laundry (when was the last time the girls' did theirs??), Gail picks up Larry & Madira. Before they arrive, "Bud" and Erin arrive to pick up Karen's two ("Tally" & "Justan") as well as "Magic". *** 9 Wed - Madira sleeps most of the day while I continue doing laundry and get a nap myself. ***



*** 10 Thu - Larry takes Madira, Sierra & Skye to school & takes care of school/county paperwork. He also goes back every 3 hours w/ pain meds as paperwork from hospital wasn't acceptable for Harnett Cty school system. Keith Pittman & Barbara Davis arrive to pick up "Star" for a while. Keith sees "Monkey" & asks if we'd be interested in re-homing the 2 Finnish Spitz's his dad had (he'd had a stroke and his dogs were kenneled on daughter's property). He says he'll call w/ info about the dogs - will be seeing them when he goes to Jacksonville on Saturday. Larry picks up girls & 'Dira takes a 3 hour nap! (when is mine??) *** 11 Fri - Larry again takes girls to school & is dealing w/ the pain meds running, while I take care of bills, errands and taking Kayli for annual checkup & heartworm check. BAD NEWS - she tests positive (OK when is this ending?) I head home to pick up Harli, Monkey and Kona - to have them checked, though they aren't due. Gail rides up with me. Harli also tests positive while Kona and Monkey don't (how is this possible when I've kept them ALL current on Heart Worm prevention??). We swing in to WHHS to pick up Sierra from JROTC practice on way home from Sanford... GOOD NEWS - Madira is very excited - she's landed a bit part in the play that doesn't require dancing - she's thrilled (YES!!). *** 12 Sat - I'm up early (hmmm...) to make breakfast and take Madira to Saturday study class for Biology. She's concerned about her exams next week. Back at home, I feed & work on pasture until other two up. Then we clean out carport so that we can set up kennels that we're getting from Gail in preperation for the extra dogs I'd said I'd take on. Pick up Madira, load trash trailer w/ trash, hook up horse trailer to pick up hay from JT that we missed picking up last Saturday (imagine that). ATM/lunch run - then I'm off to pick up Gail and Skye & Shem are taking trash to dump while Larry and 'Dira are going to get groceries... Before Gail & I get on the road, a call - accident, no one hurt - Skye now understands that taking turns too fast will tip a trailer. We get probably the last round coastal bales we'll see in months and actually build a hay feeder for Gail's pasture & put an already built one from our pasture over the 2nd bale. We bring the other two bales to our place. *** 13 Sun - a slooow start, then off to meet Gail - need dog food & feed. On the way, we finally hear that Keith didn't bring the dogs back from Jacksonville as planned and he'd had a late night, but if we wanted to go and pick up dogs we could... So we did. The dogs (3 not 2) were kenneled on family property and Gail and I picked up all 3 to bring home and care for. "Porky" is very overweight, his double coat is matted in feces, urine and who knows what all. "Little Gurl" is the opposite - very underweight, shy and matted coat but not with excrement. "Monster" is the healthiest of the three, but still has a very matted coat and is overweight. 3/4 of the way home, "Porky"is very ill and foaming at the mouth. We get back and he is the the first to be bathed. He seemed to appreciate the attention - but it didn't get the mats loose at all. So the horse clippers came out - and as the mats came loose, we found they'd either created sores (especially where most matted around neck) or the sores had created the thick and nasty matts. Except for the tip of his tail, his head and his legs, he's shaved completely. While I'm shaving w/ partners that switch off w/ another set of clippers, the other two dogs get bathed and groomed - pulling out loose hair and matts. Then, the 2 - 3 inch long claws are attended to. Wow. I didn't even know that dogs claws could get that long... We'd bathed and clipped at Gail's house, so "Porky" was put into a sweatshirt, then he & "Monster" get loaded into our blazer to go home with us. *** 14 Mon - "Porky" has the 1st of 6 total siezures while with us. ***



***16 Wed - "Porky" has 3 siezures almost back to back this morning and I call a friend for help. We lay "Porky" to rest. He was comfortable, warm, fed and loved before he passed. *** 21 Mon - ML King Day is a relaxed day for us. I join Gail to work on a puzzle she wants help with. "Little Gurl" weighs in at exactly 15 lbs today. Wish I'd gotten her weight sooner. Gail and I wonder if "Little Gurl" will "make it". We just don't know. She's warm, but has trouble standing sometimes, she's urinating a lot and doesn't always keep her food down... Time will tell? *** 24 Thurs - Madira's appointment in Chapel Hill goes fantastic (Yea!!). Dr. Mathur says looks great, can sleep w/o brace & take a shower. No running, jumping, roughhousing, riding and - careful around the dogs. Stitches removed. Off Hydrocodone - take Tylenol if needed. *** Afternoon - "Monster" to All Animals Vet Clinic for health exam, shots & heartworm test (positive). Age guessed around 5-7 years. *** 29Tues - Sierra is leaving for the trip to Myrtle Beach, SC w/ the WHJROTC. *** "Monster" very ill - we clean him up, bleach kennel - i get put on hold by vet clinic & then cut off. *** Round bale in Jazzy, Pretty Girl & AJ paddock gone. *** 30 Wed - "Monster" much better. ***