Ok, even though I posted earlier today, that was actually a note from Tuesday night. Today was its own adventure, but a good one, and I really don't have much bitching and whining to do. Hope I don't dissapoint.

I drove down to the Peninsula yesterday afternoon to pack up my barn stuff. Sopas, the groom at the barn who looks after Miles for me, had pulled out my stall mats and met me in the afternoon to help load them up in my truck, as well as my trunk and feed bins. He is so fabulous, bless his heart, I will miss him. He said he will always remember Miles and pulled up his shirt sleeve to show me the bruise (which he showed me the other day) of where Miles bit him while he was putting his turnout boots on. Oh Miles, he's such a naughty pony!!! I ran to the bank and got some cash to give him as a tip, which he tried to refuse. I insisted, because I am so thankful and grateful to him for all he's done for me. (And as a side note, the barn cat that he said we could take home with us got squished by a horse last week. Too bad, he was the best mouser there was and he was sweet and Miles really liked him.)

Laura and I then went to dinner and a movie (The Terminal which was at best OK, but considering it was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Tom Hanks, I would have hoped for more. I really don't think there was more they could have done with the story, though. Not a bad movie, but definitely for renting, not seeing in the theatre.) She was kind enough to host me at her house last night and she helped me set the alarm for 4:30 this morning.

Just before 4:30 a.m., I heard the tick-tick-tick of her clock (really, it is a wind-up and makes a loud ticking noise), and then the bell went off. Last night I was debating on really leaving so early, but once the alarm went off, I figured I should just do it. So I got out of bed, put on a bra and t-shirt and jacket, but left my jammie bottoms on because it was so cold last night. It was dark but not too cold and I left for the barn. Amazingly, I was able to back up my trailer and get it hooked up in the dark. And it took me no longer than it does in the light. Actually, I did it in three tries and sometimes it takes me as much as ten. So I figured that was a good indicator for how the trip would go.

Miles loaded like the champ that he is, I grabbed the last of the items from his stall, and off we went. I left at 5:19 a.m. by the clock in my truck. I tried to think of where I could stop for coffee and a chocolate croissant on the way, but knew it wouldn't be until I went over the bridge that is on highway 80 - Solano, maybe? Traffic wasn't bad at all, but it was tiring to drive on 880. I hate that freeway - there are too many on-ramps that have to merge with the traffic, and people don't realize that I can't just slam on my brakes to stop. I felt like getting a sign for my truck/trailer that reads "I will not slam on my brakes for you, so if you cut me off, prepare to get hit." But all in all it was fine. That drive just requires a level of alertness that is hard to come by at 5 a.m. with no coffee. But I found a Starbuck's somewhere between the bridge and Vacaville, and all was right with the world. Really, nothing can compare with coffee and chocolate in the morning.

Nothing exciting happened, thank goodness, on the drive. Except that the vet called me. That really was exciting because I needed to get a vet and Miles needs his flu/rhino shot. We made an appointment for July 13th. Aren't you glad you know that?

I called Colin on the way and asked him to leave the girls inside while I got home and unloaded Miles. The last few yards up the street were tough - I tried putting the truck in 2nd gear with 4WD, but I think regular Drive is better. We made it up the street and into the driveway and Colin came out to meet us. We moved some things in from the pasture, threw some hay in a stall, filled up a water bucket in the stall, and brought Miles in. Oh, first I let him and Monty sniff. Miles is always very well-mannered when meeting other horses. He never squeals or strikes or does anything rude. Monty, on the other hand, did both! So I brought Miles up to the barn (Monty was in the big pasture), put him in the stall and let him eat hay and get a bit settled. Colin went back to work, and I unloaded part of my truck and trailer and set up my "feed room", with Miles munching hay in the stall across the aisle, and sticking his head out the feeder window to check on me. It was really cute (insert picture here of Miles hanging his head out). I love getting organized and getting things set up, so even though this was "farm work", it was really fun for me.

After about 45 minutes, Miles seemed to be a bit more settled so I took off his shipping boots (Dover's, I highly recommend them) and opened the door from his stall to the pasture and out he went. At first he just looked around and wandered a bit. I got the pitchfork and wheelbarrow and worked in the small pasture cleaning up old manure so I could keep an eye on him. All was quiet until he went to the front of the property and something got his attention so he spun and farted and bucked and ran away. Then he snorted, turned around and ran back. He's so cute! This will be a different experience for Colin to watch than Monty is...Miles is only 6 - I'd say Monty is 26...and lame. So there's a big difference in their behavior and energy level. After Miles seemed settled in the pasture a bit, I met Colin inside and we put the dogs on their leashes and took them out to meet Miles. Miles loves all animals and is very friendly and he put his nose down to say hi to Kenya and she snapped at him!!! No barking, at least, but still!!! So he said "that smarts!" and tossed his head and trotted away. He came back and I had Kenya on the leash and tried to teach her some horsey manners. Maybe he scared her, I don't know. When the Invisible Fence gets set up, we'll keep that pasture off-limits for the dogs. If they just ignore each other, that will be good enough for me. Colin brought the girls to the big pasture, Kenya went nuts with her in-the-pond-rock-digging, and Barley just roamed around while I shoveled poo (do you see a theme here?).

Kenya is so funny with her rock digging - I swear she has ADD! She digdigdigs in the water, barking all the time, and you wonder what is going on...just when you think she's lost her mind, out she comes with a rock. She deposits it on the bank of the pond, then goes back in for more. I swear she could do this for hours, and I'm pretty sure she'll do it every day. Next time, I'll get pictures. It is pretty funny, actually. She got two rocks today.

Miles just seemed to settle in. I put a hay feeder up on the fence and gave him a flake (in addition to the flake he had in the stall) and he ate a bit, then wandered around a bit. I showed him where the salt block was, and he found the trough and actually drank! I was surprised that he drank right away, considering this is different water than he's used to. But it seemed to be no big deal, thank goodness.

I was satisfied with how he was settling in, so I parked the trailer and went inside for a snack and other chores. And eventually a nap.

After nap time, Colin helped me unload the rest of my trailer and I put Miles in the stall again while I fed him his num-num dinner (Purina Strategy and supplements), and I fed Monty some of it, too (but smaller amounts since I don't know if/what he's had before), and he lapped it up right away. While Miles was eating, I cleaned my tack and organized my trunk and temporary tack room (insert picture). Colin was a champ and put the stall mats from RV out in the pasture under the hay feeders (insert picture). Then I took Miles into the "grooming stall" and realized that the cross-ties are too short. I made do with one cross-tie and a lead rope, covered him in fly spray, and turned him out again. I cleaned up in the barn and went inside to check on Colin who was very busy with work today.

A bit later I went out to the arena to check it out, being hopeful that I could ride tomorrow. It is so rocky, that I spent a lot of time tossing rocks over the side of the arena and stressing out. That is the one thing that I'm stressed about with this property is the rocks. We're going to have to do some clean-up in the rock department, and unfortunately Kenya's specialty is under-water rocks. She doesn't work in the "in-the-dirt" rock category. Barley is a good digger, though. I will call the footing people tomorrow so I can get started on that.

Colin made a fabulous dinner, the girls are in the garage being quiet, and the kitten is enjoying some freedom in the house right now.

I have 75% of my stuff unpacked, and I feel much better now that Miles is home.

Miles seems to be totally comfortable here and really happy with his outdoor lifestyle. I may not do the shavings-in-the-stalls until winter. There's no need. He doesn't want to be in there, and likely won't go in there unless his num-num dinner is in there. He probably won't even go in there for shade, since there are trees in his pasture. I'm glad he can be outside roaming around...that is the whole point of us being up here. Well, maybe not the whole point. I mean, I know that Colin has his reasons, too.

So the next steps are getting the washer and dryer (Saturday), getting the tractor (sometime next week), and finding a contractor to help me with my footing (I'll make some calls tomorrow).

So far life on the farm is pretty sweet.


- posted by Susan @ 8:46 PM