Monday, February 22, 2010
NEWS - balance of February 2010
Feb - ***21 - Ashleigh & Sierra do horse stuff once they drag out of bed. ***20 - WH JROTC goes to Overhills for a Drill Meet. *** 17 - afternoon Vicki brings Drayson, Jasmine, Laura & Vagen over to see Cupid. He's taken out of the stall so that Stuffy can graze while he gets "oohed & ahhhed" over. *** 18 - EJ Womac delivers 4 round bales - getting stuck on our hill. *** 16 - Stuffy foals between 8 & 8:15 pm. By 10:30 - "Cupid" up and nursed, navel & hooves iodined, enema done, milkbar found. Calls go out to various people w/ our news.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"STUFFY" Foaling
***Feb - 16 @ 4:03 am. ... She was bred the first time on 14 Feb 2009 & last day of season was 20 Feb... So by all "general" guesstimates of 340 days - she's LATE. We've had signs that she's getting close - but "no bananna", so to speak.
************
email sent to family & friends at 3:30 -
Finally have our "wax" - secretions at end of teats. Unless she's now going to do the wax on/wax off thing (some do), we should have baby in the next 12 hours or so. Of course, she's already late and doing this all "wrong", so I don't know...
Flanks still not "pouched out" like I'm used to seeing before they foal, either...but maybe she won't do that. Took enuf pics to learn that lighting will work, only to have batteries die and can't download pics on camera now. Can't find batteries or re-chargeable ones or the charger either, dog gone it...
Foal HAS changed position - further back and she's looser now - tho not real loose. Her bag is overfull -teats/nipples still turned inwards, hmm - & almost painfully tight (she seemed happy to have a warm water wash just now) and milk vein has shown up at bottom of abdomen - we'll see. I'm cleaning the stall and taking a 2 hr nap.
Course, this could be a false alarm (imagine that - another one!)... I'm not sure I like doing the "baby watch thing" - even if she is in a temporary stall in the carport. Gak. At least the wind's not blowing and it's not as cold as they were predicting. Think I DO like them foaling during the day out in the paddock/pasture - tho still want to be there for it. When I double checked her, "miss piggy" thought I was going to feed her (again). Wouldn't stop wickering at me and kept nudging her feed pan...LOL.
*************
It's almost 4:3o - I've cleaned her stall and put a bag of fresh shavings in the middle. She did normal move around things - and then stretched out till her belly almost touched the floor and stayed that way for about 2 minutes... Now - she's just standing w/ her hind feet suported in the shavings (I kno - bad but much nicer than nasty NC straw. I have pics of the most beautiful golden straw in CO and remember same from GE but can't seem to get it here). No worries, between towels and lots of hay - don't think we'll have any problems w/ the shavings. Plus these are great big fluffly type - not like straight sawdust.
Dogs have taken up positions on my bed... but I'm not in it. Monkey out enuf that he didn't budge when I turned lite on to hunt up footies and another shirt. Weird being able to turn lite on w/ Larry back at work at nite...
Well, nothing happening. I'm going to take a 2 hr nap - since I haven't been to bed yet... before the girls get up for school. Glad not doing JROTC recruiting after all - I'm not going to be fit company later.
**********
It's 10:16. I've been up and down every couple of hours (like a good mom, I signed Sierra's JROTC forms that she neglected to give to us last nite, and saw them off to the bus - but just barely!) and she's been down in-between. I fed her & Kechara about 8:50 - late, but that's ok - they've had free choice hay in their stalls. Now seeing some "movement" - getting ready and of course the camera isn't ready.
I believe she's in active stage 1 labor. Could still be up to 4 hours or so... She's kicking her belly, stretching, breathing more rapidly, stretching and circling the stall. When still, she's shifting from rear hoof to rear hoof (like an anxious kid expecting something bad outside the principals' office). Not still long! Waxed beautifully (aww, need the camera) and teats now hanging down and full, and really soft around perennial area and at the sides of her dock. Tail staying lifted up and away from her haunches - would be funny but I'm loving the fact that it's up and out of the way...
Called Vicki - she's going to bring her camera over when this set of laundry done (about 20 - 30 minutes). If she's not in actual labor - well , we'll be closer.
**********
1:33 - Well, progress, but not there yet. Lots of circling, tail raising, pawing. She's been down - but not when I've seen her. Some stretching and lip curling. Just did a series of "winks". Passing lots of small amounts of manure - firm. After I finish my lunch - pizza - I will go clean her stall and check on her again (live, hands on check, LOL). Vicki can only stay until 2:30 - then will need to head home as grandkids coming over today. Disappointing to spend several hours on "foal watch" and then possibly miss it (may have her bring the kids back here - but not sure...)
**********
It's almost 2:30 and Vicki will have to go. I'm going to clean stall and re-wrap her tail - she's rubbed and it came loose.
I pick up the girls at the HS and we get back just before 5 pm. Still no foal. While watching Stuffy, I'd done laundry and worked in the kitchen. When we all get home - Larry takes over w/ laundry and girls do some of the chores. I succomb to some sleep. I don't really sleep (needed to) but did nap/wake/nap etc until about 7:00 and then was out to check her... nothing new - still upset/restless, stamping, waxed - no other changes to her shape. Disgusting pony! Larry's cooked dinner and I head in to eat and sit for a bit. I was going to go out and feed Stuffy and Kechara at 8 pm - after we visited and ate. Peeked out at 7:45 - no baby nothing new... Hadn't even gotten started when Skye arrived home about 8:15 - "We have a Valentine!" No, I just checked on her - other than restless - nothing. NOPE, I didn't believe it. Well, she wasn't kidding! DARN PONY!
Went out to help w/ drying off, check it out and check on Stuffy (who is still very uncomfortable)... Took me a bit to check for sex - I was more worried about making sure breathing OK, and getting dryed off in the cold... Stall pretty wet now, too - will need to pull wet bedding out & add another bag of shavings.
By 9:15 - he's up off my lap (where I'd drawn him to - to dry him off) on his own and wobbling around. He's started to look for the milk bar - mostly missing, tho Stuffy is standing pretty well for him. I call Vicki and get thru to her while watching him. He finds what hes' hunting and sucks for a bit - good deal.
So "Cupid" is here and doing OK. I go back in to let them bond for a bit and finish my dinner.
By 10:30, I've given him his enema, checked him over better, iodined his navel and his hooves, cleaned and added bedding to their stall. Stuffy has eaten a good diner - made into a soupy mash. She's still uncomfortable - wants to lay down, which is ok. Talking to him - such a good mom. I haven't seen him really latch on well - so I watch until I do - I speak w/ Karen E & Gail M while watching this time around.
************
email sent to family & friends at 3:30 -
Finally have our "wax" - secretions at end of teats. Unless she's now going to do the wax on/wax off thing (some do), we should have baby in the next 12 hours or so. Of course, she's already late and doing this all "wrong", so I don't know...
Flanks still not "pouched out" like I'm used to seeing before they foal, either...but maybe she won't do that. Took enuf pics to learn that lighting will work, only to have batteries die and can't download pics on camera now. Can't find batteries or re-chargeable ones or the charger either, dog gone it...
Foal HAS changed position - further back and she's looser now - tho not real loose. Her bag is overfull -teats/nipples still turned inwards, hmm - & almost painfully tight (she seemed happy to have a warm water wash just now) and milk vein has shown up at bottom of abdomen - we'll see. I'm cleaning the stall and taking a 2 hr nap.
Course, this could be a false alarm (imagine that - another one!)... I'm not sure I like doing the "baby watch thing" - even if she is in a temporary stall in the carport. Gak. At least the wind's not blowing and it's not as cold as they were predicting. Think I DO like them foaling during the day out in the paddock/pasture - tho still want to be there for it. When I double checked her, "miss piggy" thought I was going to feed her (again). Wouldn't stop wickering at me and kept nudging her feed pan...LOL.
*************
It's almost 4:3o - I've cleaned her stall and put a bag of fresh shavings in the middle. She did normal move around things - and then stretched out till her belly almost touched the floor and stayed that way for about 2 minutes... Now - she's just standing w/ her hind feet suported in the shavings (I kno - bad but much nicer than nasty NC straw. I have pics of the most beautiful golden straw in CO and remember same from GE but can't seem to get it here). No worries, between towels and lots of hay - don't think we'll have any problems w/ the shavings. Plus these are great big fluffly type - not like straight sawdust.
Dogs have taken up positions on my bed... but I'm not in it. Monkey out enuf that he didn't budge when I turned lite on to hunt up footies and another shirt. Weird being able to turn lite on w/ Larry back at work at nite...
Well, nothing happening. I'm going to take a 2 hr nap - since I haven't been to bed yet... before the girls get up for school. Glad not doing JROTC recruiting after all - I'm not going to be fit company later.
**********
It's 10:16. I've been up and down every couple of hours (like a good mom, I signed Sierra's JROTC forms that she neglected to give to us last nite, and saw them off to the bus - but just barely!) and she's been down in-between. I fed her & Kechara about 8:50 - late, but that's ok - they've had free choice hay in their stalls. Now seeing some "movement" - getting ready and of course the camera isn't ready.
I believe she's in active stage 1 labor. Could still be up to 4 hours or so... She's kicking her belly, stretching, breathing more rapidly, stretching and circling the stall. When still, she's shifting from rear hoof to rear hoof (like an anxious kid expecting something bad outside the principals' office). Not still long! Waxed beautifully (aww, need the camera) and teats now hanging down and full, and really soft around perennial area and at the sides of her dock. Tail staying lifted up and away from her haunches - would be funny but I'm loving the fact that it's up and out of the way...
Called Vicki - she's going to bring her camera over when this set of laundry done (about 20 - 30 minutes). If she's not in actual labor - well , we'll be closer.
**********
1:33 - Well, progress, but not there yet. Lots of circling, tail raising, pawing. She's been down - but not when I've seen her. Some stretching and lip curling. Just did a series of "winks". Passing lots of small amounts of manure - firm. After I finish my lunch - pizza - I will go clean her stall and check on her again (live, hands on check, LOL). Vicki can only stay until 2:30 - then will need to head home as grandkids coming over today. Disappointing to spend several hours on "foal watch" and then possibly miss it (may have her bring the kids back here - but not sure...)
**********
It's almost 2:30 and Vicki will have to go. I'm going to clean stall and re-wrap her tail - she's rubbed and it came loose.
I pick up the girls at the HS and we get back just before 5 pm. Still no foal. While watching Stuffy, I'd done laundry and worked in the kitchen. When we all get home - Larry takes over w/ laundry and girls do some of the chores. I succomb to some sleep. I don't really sleep (needed to) but did nap/wake/nap etc until about 7:00 and then was out to check her... nothing new - still upset/restless, stamping, waxed - no other changes to her shape. Disgusting pony! Larry's cooked dinner and I head in to eat and sit for a bit. I was going to go out and feed Stuffy and Kechara at 8 pm - after we visited and ate. Peeked out at 7:45 - no baby nothing new... Hadn't even gotten started when Skye arrived home about 8:15 - "We have a Valentine!" No, I just checked on her - other than restless - nothing. NOPE, I didn't believe it. Well, she wasn't kidding! DARN PONY!
Went out to help w/ drying off, check it out and check on Stuffy (who is still very uncomfortable)... Took me a bit to check for sex - I was more worried about making sure breathing OK, and getting dryed off in the cold... Stall pretty wet now, too - will need to pull wet bedding out & add another bag of shavings.
By 9:15 - he's up off my lap (where I'd drawn him to - to dry him off) on his own and wobbling around. He's started to look for the milk bar - mostly missing, tho Stuffy is standing pretty well for him. I call Vicki and get thru to her while watching him. He finds what hes' hunting and sucks for a bit - good deal.
So "Cupid" is here and doing OK. I go back in to let them bond for a bit and finish my dinner.
By 10:30, I've given him his enema, checked him over better, iodined his navel and his hooves, cleaned and added bedding to their stall. Stuffy has eaten a good diner - made into a soupy mash. She's still uncomfortable - wants to lay down, which is ok. Talking to him - such a good mom. I haven't seen him really latch on well - so I watch until I do - I speak w/ Karen E & Gail M while watching this time around.
Friday, February 5, 2010
NEWS - Jan & Feb 2010
***Feb 12/13 - 2.5" of snow - again "shuts down" NC. Since it's Saturday, it's not too bad! ***Feb - 11 - Joined JROTC for Honor Flight award presentation - held during 1st Battalion' 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment's Change of Command Ceremony. Pictures can be seen here *** 10 - Sierra's 1st meeting/lesson w/ her mentor for her Sr Project. *** 9 - Took JROTC quilt project to Imagination Quilt Shoppe but didn't take sewing supplies. Liked project. *** Rain again, but not as heavy! *** 7 - "Stuffy" is still stuffed! *** 6 - At Joanne Fabrics, Madira finds a burgundy/maroon wool for her sewing project in school. *** Madira, Sierra & Mom (ME) get a sample ribs together at Lone Star (wow). *** Dira finds two dresses at Ross, Sierra is disappointed in finding nothing. ***5 - Can someone make this rain stop? Everything is flooded. "Stuffy" is trying to float away. *** I meet PonyDriving List member Bobby McEntyre in Sanford at the newly re-opened Imagination Quilt Shoppe. EXCITING - talk about quilting, driving and her new pony/cart/harness - Maggie. ***1 - No "Stuffy" baby, yet.
***Jan - 26 - 27 - JROTC does presentation at 4th Brigade Conference - Myrtle Beach, SC. Sierra & Paula go. On the way back - visit Ripley's Aquarium & the USS North Carolina. *** 18 - Martin Luther King Parade in Dunn. JROTC participates & Paula a volunteer marcher. ***1 - rings in quietly... Even the girls' go to bed early. *** Larry starts back on NIGHTS. He is much happier.
***Jan - 26 - 27 - JROTC does presentation at 4th Brigade Conference - Myrtle Beach, SC. Sierra & Paula go. On the way back - visit Ripley's Aquarium & the USS North Carolina. *** 18 - Martin Luther King Parade in Dunn. JROTC participates & Paula a volunteer marcher. ***1 - rings in quietly... Even the girls' go to bed early. *** Larry starts back on NIGHTS. He is much happier.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
NEWS - Nov & Dec 09
*** Dec - 24 - Jan 3 - Christmas Holiday for Paula. 21 - Jan 3 - Christmas Holidays for the girls. *** WH JROTC participates in Christmas Parade in Broadway and Lillington. A Jeep "dies" and Paula stays with Cadet Barnett. Part way thru - jeep stays running and we join the parade, too. Fewer "snafus" in the Lillington nitetime parade.
***Nov - *** 25 - 27 - Thanksgiving Holiday for the girls & I. Larry working - so we have our Thanksgiving family celebration on Saturday. ***16 - Teachers meeting canceled, so Madira ends up presenting her Sr Project to only 2 teachers after school. ***11 - Veteran's Day celebration held inside at Govenment Complex in Lillington, NC due to rain. ***7 - Veteran's Day Parade in Lillington - JROTC participates. Sierra rides as Calvary on Loverboy & Paula in a jeep. ***6 - JROTC colorguard & parking detail support - home game. ***2 - JROTC Brigade Inspection - Sierra gives instruction on S4 & Paula a Booster Volunteer. *** 1 - CFTR show in Wade, NC. Paula & Madira volunteer.
***Nov - *** 25 - 27 - Thanksgiving Holiday for the girls & I. Larry working - so we have our Thanksgiving family celebration on Saturday. ***16 - Teachers meeting canceled, so Madira ends up presenting her Sr Project to only 2 teachers after school. ***11 - Veteran's Day celebration held inside at Govenment Complex in Lillington, NC due to rain. ***7 - Veteran's Day Parade in Lillington - JROTC participates. Sierra rides as Calvary on Loverboy & Paula in a jeep. ***6 - JROTC colorguard & parking detail support - home game. ***2 - JROTC Brigade Inspection - Sierra gives instruction on S4 & Paula a Booster Volunteer. *** 1 - CFTR show in Wade, NC. Paula & Madira volunteer.
NEWS - Sept & Oct 09
***Oct - 30 & 31 - Madira at Drama Competition in Little Washington, NC. Competition plays are "And" & "Reservations".
***Sept - ***26- Madira meets w/ Connie Davis Thairapy. ***JROTC Raider Challenge - Sierra and Paula help out. ***24 - Southern Oaks calls to confirm Stuffy is in foal. ***19 - Madira and Anna go to Lillington Public Library to research their Senior projects. ***15 - 21 -Trip to NE thru KY, MO... ***12 - Madira meets with her Mentor - Connie Davis at Thairapy. ***10 - J ride in round pen. Spent lots of time on putting boots on today.*** L doesn't ride - has a headache & sleeps in the truck. ***D & V start riding. The boys spend time learning to put on boots. D rides Stuffy english & V rides Magic.
*** 27 - L rides Stuffy. ***Riding in barn due to nasty weather - but finish outside in round pen.
***D & V ride in the roundpen. *** Haystring braided reins finished & D riding Bit w/ them.
*** 25 - Magic, Koalah have trace clips finished. ***Koalah & Bit are grounddriven. ***24 - Madira carves a pumpkin at Miranda's house. *** Bell trace clip finished. ***24 - 26 - Sierra goes w/ JROTC to Honor Flight in Huntsville, Al (The Cadets send off the Veterans in uniforms matching what the vets wore in the wars they participated in. The Vets are flown, thru Honor Flight, to the Memorials in Washington, DC w/ guides/helpers if needed, then flown back to Huntsville, AL). *** Sierra wears Paratrooper uniform in the Colorguard. *** On the way home, JROCT Cadets stop at the Military Museum & the NASA Space Flight Museum.
*** 23 - JROTC support for football game. *** No school. J & L no lessons. D & V learn to clip ponies (helping w/ trace clipping Bit & Koalah). D reallly likes clipping! V is not thrilled. V rides Koalah by himself for the first time in the round pen. Turning and stopping. Using a crop to encourage forward movemnt. ***20 - L practices lounging Stuffy on line outside of roundpen before riding. *** Lessons in paddock next to barn - under the trees. ***J getting good @ lounging Magic. Mounting and riding by herself. Over and thru/around obstacles. *** D lounges Bit over obstacles and rides on the line. Practicing using the reins for stopping & turning. ***17 - Koalah worked in bitting rig in round pen with Eclipse. **16 - L rides Stuffy outside of the roundpen on her own. ***D riding Bit - doing balancing exercises on the line. At end of lesson - he handles reins to start turning & stopping by himself. Boy's Dad, Ace, comes to pick them up and watched them during last part of their lesson.
***10 - Madira takes SAT @ Lee Sr HS in Sanford. ***9 - *** JROTC support for Homecoming game. ***L & J ride in paddock behind the barn.
*** D rides Bit & V rides Koalah - both on the loungeline. When wating for their turns to ride, they practice mounting and dismounting while their mounts are standing tied. ***Bit's braided headstall done except for throatlatch snap. Hers is braided from haystring - solid orange. *** Koalah's headstall done - braided in purple paracord w/0 filler. Bit needs bit guards. ***Madira helps and Mark takes pictures of todays lessons. ***3 - Vicki out to work w/ Eclipse. Both James and I take pics. I take video. *** 1 - Madira's Bday. *** V works with "Bit" - grooming & saddling. *** D works w/ Koalah - grooming and saddling. ***
L rides Stuffy & J rides Magic.
L rides Stuffy & J rides Magic.
***Sept - ***26- Madira meets w/ Connie Davis Thairapy. ***JROTC Raider Challenge - Sierra and Paula help out. ***24 - Southern Oaks calls to confirm Stuffy is in foal. ***19 - Madira and Anna go to Lillington Public Library to research their Senior projects. ***15 - 21 -Trip to NE thru KY, MO... ***12 - Madira meets with her Mentor - Connie Davis at Thairapy. ***10 - J ride in round pen. Spent lots of time on putting boots on today.*** L doesn't ride - has a headache & sleeps in the truck. ***D & V start riding. The boys spend time learning to put on boots. D rides Stuffy english & V rides Magic.
***J plays w/ AJ - practicing mounting bareback. ***New synthetic child's saddle is fit on Magic - the rear girth IS NOT fastened. Using Vicki's barrel racing pad - she's brought 3 out to try on the ponies. ***7 - Ordered synthetic saddle thru eBay. ***4 - Madira's roughdraft Letter of Intent is typed and gone over by class. Mentor's name/number is called and first appointment set up. *** 1 - J rides Magic on a trail walk - 2.3 miles around the AC Morrison Loop. V walks along w/ us, Paula leading Stuffy. *** L is sick today. *** At end of ride, V sits on Stuffy for a while.
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