Once again, I am completely exhausted. Did I write yesterday about how Colin and I spent time picking rocks out of the arena yesterday? So I thought that "rocks" would be my project of the day. We went out to feed the boys and I started cleaning Miles's pasture. Then I got sidetracked, as I am frequently wont to do, and started sorting for rocks instead of poo. Next to Miles's pasture, along the fence line, is a trench for drainage. I was working in the corner closest to the end of the driveway (or is it the beginning? the part closest to the street), and I'd use my pitchfork to sift the dirt out, and then throw the rocks into the ditch. I worked for 30 minutes or so, then Colin called me in for a pancake breakfast - yum! Except I had only about 30 drops of syrup left in the bottle so I ate them dry...which wasn't bad because they were good pancakes...but I like my syrup (and not maple, mind you - I hate maple syrup. I like the Knott's Berry Farm Boysenberry).

After breakfast, we made a grocery list to include syrup and coffee. Even though I drink decaf, I like me some coffee in the morning.

I went back out to the pastures and finished the corner in Miles's pasture, then went to clean Monty's pasture of manure. That went fine and I decided that it was time to start my big rock project - the arena. So I called out to Colin to release the hounds, and we went into the arena. Boy the ground is hard in there. I spent some time sifting the dirt/rocks in the pitchfork and put them in the wheelbarrow. Rocks weigh a LOT more than poo, that is for sure. I only got one load done (and the w.b. wasn't even full) before the Invisible Fence guy arrived.

We had a nice visit with the I.F. guy and drafted a plan - now we just have to review the cost and decide what to do.

I had a list of calls to make afterwards (and thankfully the farrier wasn't one of them - he finally called me back last night and we have an appointment for Monty on Monday), and the first order of business was footing for the arena. I talked to the woman at West Coast Footings to find out how I get a base installed (knowing full well that I don't want to do it myself). She said the best type of person to do it is a contractor who does road work. So I looked in the Yellow Pages and made two calls. I had to leave a message for the first guy, but the second guy said they just did this for someone else (that's good!) and we made an appointment for someone to come out Monday. I have NO idea how much this is going to cost. Not an arm and a leg, I hope, because I REALLY don't want to do this myself. And I'd like it done soon. I remembered from a conversation with the sellers that the neighbor is an instructor and has a nice arena, so I decided it was time I introduced myself. Armed with pen and paper, I walked up the trail (there's actually a trail that goes between our two properties, and she's very close by...even though if you wanted to drive there you'd have to get in your car and go about 5 miles). Her students were getting ready for lessons, but one of them was kind enough to show me inside the house where "SR" was making lunch. She was very nice and I'm very happy to have met her. She's going to do some schooling on an XC course next month and I may join her and her students. She boards and teaches at her farm, and also teaches Pony Club. We had a nice long chat about the local geography and building an arena. She and her boyfriend did it themselves! Whew, I can't imagine where they'd find the time. They also built their barn themselves and are building another one. I'm amazed. She had to teach, and I was getting hungry, so we parted ways. I asked if I could ride in her arena until mine gets set and she said sure that I could work it off or pay some arena fee. I'm down with that. I think her arena is a bit smaller than mine, but it is nice to see that it is workable.

As a side note, I'm trying to think of farm names. While I was digging for rocks (why can't Kenya help with the rocks that are in the ground??!!), I thought "Quartz Hill" because there's so much of it here. Or I also came up with "Wild Hare Farms" or "Jack Rabbit Farms" because there are so many rabbits here - yesterday there were four of them in Miles's pasture at dusk. They are so cute! Of course, I guess "The House on Poo Hill" is still in contention.

Colin and I went to town for lunch because he had some downloading to do for his computer, which is having problems. He can get a faster download at the cafe than at home, so we thought it best to at least buy something in order to use that service. After lunch, as he was working, I shopped for a white bookshelf for "the purple room". Amazingly enough, white bookshelves are hard to find. But I did find one at an antique store - that can be made to order in 5 weeks...at an antique store. Maybe it isn't really an antique store and I was just confused.

Colin and I then met up again and took my riding boots to the local repair shop. In Palo Alto, I was quoted $120 for replacing the zippers. Now for that money, I could go buy new boots (these are just for schooling). But I held on to them thinking I'd try another shop. So this guy quotes me $35 for new zippers in both boots - sold.

Colin drove me back home and then went out again for errands. He got materials at the hardware store to finish the walls in the pump house which will become my permanent tack room. Right now my temporary tackroom is in the barn. I decided that while he was out, I'd get to work on the arena again. I grabbed a rake from the barn and a shovel from the garage and made my way out there. I lasted about 10 minutes. The work was so hard and I was so overwhelmed by the task that I just gave up. The tractor should be here next week and then the work will be much easier, I'm sure. Plus, if the contractor can start right away then that ground has to be compacted anyways so maybe I shouldn't bother.

So I went back to poo and rock shoveling in the pastures. I decided it is easier to actually turn the pitchfork over and "rake" the rocks vs. trying to scoop and sift them. I can rake them to the fenceline, then just scoop them over. Very efficient. Miles tried to help, and while I was raking he'd stand there pawing, clearly trying to assist me with the task at hand. It was cute...for about a minute. Then he was just crowding my space and getting in my way. Then he made his intentions clear - he thought it was playtime and nipped me, so I had to jab him with the end of the pitchfork and yell at him to knock it off. Then he moved away, but reared. Butthead. It is always a hard decision (and it has to be so immediate) as to what to do in that situation. I didn't sense aggression from him. He likes to play. If I engaged him any further, it might escalate. So I just stood there and looked at him and he quickly got the point and walked away and ate his dinner. I finished raking the rocks, cleaned up a little more poo (geez, I thought I was done...it is like deja vu...) and ran inside to get carrots and apples for dinner. I mixed up their supplements and Miles was funny. He knew where I was but couldn't really figure out how to get to me. He walked into the stall next to me (he walked in from the outside, but the inside door is closed so he can't get in the aisle), and knew I was on the other side of the wall, but knew that he didn't solve the problem because he couldn't see me. So then he walked around the barn and found his stall that was across the aisle and watched me while I made the dinner. Fed the ponies, came inside and drank two big glasses of ice water.

Then I sat my tired ass on the couch and took a short nap while Colin finished some work on the couch next to me. I didn't intend to take a nap, I just couldn't help myself. I took a shower, Colin made dinner, and while we were eating, I saw a bug on the wall outside so I had to take its picture to show how gross and creepy the bugs here are.

After dinner, Colin was kind enough to do some houseboy chores and while he was in the bathroom putting bathrobe hooks on the back of the door, he called to me to bring the camera for a nice dog/cat moment. Of course, as soon as the moment started, it stopped and Barley started barking at the kitten so she got excused and the cat got to relax by herself.

I had to run outside to take a picture from the front porch of the lovely twilight and the horses in the pastures. Now we're sitting on the couch watching a movie, and kitten is taking turns at lap warming.

Oh yeah, it finally got hot enough for us to decide to turn on the AC. Colin can't stand to be hot when he's sleeping.
- posted by Susan @ 9:37 PM