Daily observations of my simple life.

Hugging Sage:

The last few days Sage has been enjoying me scratching her head and ears through the fence. She closes her eyes and just looks so relaxed and happy.  Wednesday, I decided to go in the pen and try doing the same thing. Well, it turned into a love fest. She just laid her head on my chest took hold of my jacket in her mouth and let me pet her all over. Arms around her neck I patted and scratched her down her back, down her legs, around the ears, on the forehead, under the belly and she was just loving it. Since that day, I can go in the pen and hug her and pet her. She wants to follow me out of the pen. I will be working on teaching her to lead and lifting her feet next. Wow, I really do have a pet burro now what a great feeling.

I can pat Cheriki on her neck but she is still sensitive about touch except on her terms.

The barn got up this week , the corral is finished and the ranch is growing. Holidays up a head.

We're having wonderful weather, gorgeous cool days, bright blue skies, floating clouds, green fields.

I'm leaving for California tomorrow for a few days. Good week.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 22:29 | link | comments (2)

Carlos returns:

Still sad, I woke this morning and gazed out my window with my coffee drink. It's lovely after a rain. The greys and greens and soft purple of the mountains. There's a sheen over everything. Clouds rested on flat topped mountains across the desert directly behind Cheriki's corral. I watched as Lenny harrassed the fat pidgeons that come to steal the grain. I was glad to still have him and Luchia but I missed the sight of the beautiful little silkies racing about scratching.

So nice to have Cheriki home. I put a coat over my pj's and went out to feed. First Sage who called in her little hee haw brey, then Cheriki who nickered and waited patiently. She seems very content here. Next I turned to feed Goldie the goat and Chocolate the sheep and as I turned I looked over at the open field outside the fence. There was Carlos walking the fence looking for a way back in. Oh my beautiful Carlos! Then Lenny spotted him and went to the fence line to greet him. It's clear they are pals. Next came Luchia happy to see her mate made it home. Carlos kept walking the fence and didn't seem to know how to get across, so we cut the fence. We will replace it with a gate. Next, I saw Carlos and Luchia over in their favorite spot happy to be together again and preaning themselves.

There were new dog prints this morning and I haven't seen my sad little rooster yet. I'm still hoping some of my chickens may still come home. This dog must be removed.

I woke thinking of printing a flier and leaving it around the neighborhood. I would ask about Carlos and about the dog. Now I think I will print a flier and pass it about the neighborhood about the dog. Wanted Chicken Killer!

Yesterday afternoon when I returned from town there was the most brilliant rainbow, right across the back of my property. Shirley and I stood out looking and somehow it gave me comfort.

Today, I'm planning my new chicken yard. No more chickens until they are truly safe. I love freedom. I love to see my chickens roam but I will not chance another slaughter until they are safe.

My neighbor who I gave 4 of my little silkies  this Spring told me yesterday that one of the little hens had hatched 11 chicks. She will give me some in due time. She has an enclosed pen where they can safely grow. It's like having a yeast starter, these little hens just love to set and they are such beautiful little birds. I plan on ordering Aracana chicks in the Spring. By Spring the chicks my neighbor has will be grown and ready to lay and set. It will be a new beginning and hopefully a safer one.

Found some wonderful benches in my favorite antique store yesterday. Think I will go in and get one today. I also got the most beautiful old iron bird bath yesterday, along with two bar stools for $5, a large file cabinet with deep drawers for $3 and 4 folding chairs for $2, $10 total for those finds. My daughter has been needing the bar stools for her kitchen. I also gave her 2 folding chairs and kept 2 for me. She needs seating for when her daughter and grand children come for dinner and of course me. The two couches are fine for her family but get a whole house full of people, barstools and folding chairs make for much more comfy sitting, eating and visiting.

 I have to wonder why I use things to fill a void, a sadness. I'll analize it later, the day waits. 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 18:09 | link | comments (1)

The Bitter and the Sweet:

I woke to the sun shining and sat in my bed with my coffee for some thoughtful time. Gazing out the window, I felt happy at the beautiful surroundings, my growing ranch, as my neighbor and Frank call it. Is 16 acres a ranch? Amid the relaxed medley of thoughts I told myself to get up and let the chickens out of the chicken house. As I starred through the window I thought, " Why Frank must have opened the door, it's all ready open."

I took my shower and got dressed and meandered out to feed Cheriki and Sage. Cheriki nickered and Sage called. Busy feeding I didn't notice but something seemed not right. The chickens weren't in their house and I saw none running here and there. Then I saw some wet white cotton looking stuff and walked over to find soggy white feathers. There were wet dog tracks and more feathers closer to the entrance driveway. There were paw prints on both sides of the fence where it was clear the dog had jumped the fence. Big prints.

I spent the morning tracking, searching to see if any of my chickens were hiding in the desert. Mid morning one sad little rooster straggled home. No sign of Carlos, my peacock, and none of his feathers. I drove around the neighborhood, looking.

Finally I just got in my pickup and went to town. I was too depressed and sad. I went to thrift stores.

I have now, Luchia, the peahen, Lenny, the genuea fowl, and one sad little rooster who lost his friends and family. Lenny and Luchia roost on top of the garage, their salvation. Who killed my pretty chickens. A dog or me? In the pouring rain I had forgotten to go out and lock the chicken house door. I'm angry at people who let their dogs run but I'm angry at myself. I loved the sight of my chickens running and scratching. I loved their personalities and colors. I loved gathering the eggs.

I suppose if it was a coyote I would feel it to be a natural thing but dogs don't kill to eat, they kill for pleasure and there are laws here that dogs must be within 100 ' of their owners and under their control. I take my dog out in the evenings and let her run free in our evening walks but she is with me, circling me and not loosing sight of me.  I suppose people get dogs for watch dogs or yard decorations but dogs running out killing other peoples pets is disregard and selfish.

My daughter saw the dog. She told me this evening that there was a dog in the yard when she dropped my grandson off to catch the schoolbus. It ran away when it saw them but she got the discription.

There is a pall hanging over my little farm. Something I love is gone. A sadness, an insecurity.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 10:34 | link | comments (2)

Cheriki and rustic corrals:

It's been quit a week. I was a bit under the weather with something like the flu. Cheriki's rustic corral sat empty. Friday, I woke with anticipation as a young cowboy had promised to come to  help me get Cheriki home. I had made a plan. For several days I had used the three panels I bought when I first got Cheriki as a little blind where I fed her. Friday  morning I closed it up into a little triangle inside the outer panels. This was my plan when the truck and trailer arrived I would have him back up after opening the outer panels. Then open the inner triangle panels and she would have no where to go but in the trailer. So with the plan made and Cheriki quietly eating I went back home and patiently sat waiting with Sage so I could hook a rope on her halter. The young cowboy was going to tackle loosening her halter that was growing to tight for her.After some time I suceeded and Sage had a rope on we could hang onto.

Then I went in and waited. No show all morning. No show early afternoon and then the phone rang.  He had had a dificult time with the early load of horses but would be here in twenty minutes.

Cheriki loaded like a dream, the plan seemed flawless. We headed home to deal with Sage while Frank brought my three panels home that we needed for the end of the corral where the barn will be. Sage was a bit difficult but she took it well and was very relieved to have a loose halter. The tall thin, young cowboy told me she was a real fine burro and was going to grow lots more. My long legged zebra/apricot burro is going to be big enough to ride. He said it will be at least another year and a half before we can start training. I have read that you don't stress their bones until they are four. Right now she is a gorgeous young lady.

Cowboy went back to the trailer and the efforts to put Cheriki's halter on was not pleasant. I regretted it when I saw her jumping around in the trailer. Once over and she was in the corral she was very human shy. She wouldn't come up to me even for a carrot. Next day it was a differnt story. She ate carrots and even licked and nuzzled my arm. Sunday she seems very content and happy in her new surroundings and nickers at me when I come out the door.

This day, Sunday we were going to work on the barn but the 10 O'clock meeting time met us all with rain. It has rained all day and is very wet. I was glad that I went out early this morning and finished cleaning my neighbors corral . Now I don't have to go out in the muck to clean up.

Been watching movies all day with the rain outside. Did go up to my daughters  to see the puppies. We are beginning to think the Dad was a Mastiff or St Bernard. They have those cute squeshed faces and massive necks and shoulders. So cute, so fat.  The most special part of the day was being able to look out my window at a rustic corral with my horse right there, my very own first horse, Cheriki Feather.  

Posted by: cactusandquail at 03:13 | link | comments (2)

Tarantulas and Preying Mantis:

I was sitting at the computer when I spotted a beautiful little face sitting on the cord. It was a preying mantis. We exchanged looks and he/she hung out with me for the evening. In fact he/she hung out with me for a week. I truly enjoy preying mantis's . They remind me of little people or a bit like the gecko lizards that used to watch tv with me in Hawaii. They have personality and I give them names and talk to them. They respond with little movements as though they are listening. They're great black eyes peer  piercingly.

It was about the 1st of October that I saw my first tarantula. The Arizona tarantula's are smaller and prettier than the California tarantula's. These smaller tarantula's have a soft yellow furry center while the California tarantula's have hard black unfurry centers. It's always a treat to run across one on my evening walks. I always speak. This year I woke in the middle of the night looked at the ceiling before I rolled over and there in the corner was a pretty Arizona tarantula. No I didn't run for the raid. Tarantula's are not poisonous and I am always happy to see them. I went back to sleep. Next evening I found one walking across the kitchen floor so I picked it up with a little rake I keep to get the papers or remotes that fall behind my bed and put it outside. A few minutes later I found another one in my kitchen. Guess they were seeking a cozy place for their love making. Sent it outside as well. I'm pretty gentle with all critters and even though they may have some harmful traits I enjoy seeing them.

I think a lot of the spiders that resided around my garage have been picked over by the chickens and peacocks. Haven't seen hardly a spider in the garage.

Evening walks have tapered off a bit due to the rain. I do love to see my dog, Manna, stretch out and run when she sees a rabbit. Such good exercise for her and she loves it so. Once she did catch one and break it's back. I was pretty unhappy when I had to finish the job to end the suffering. Manna went and sat by the barbeque pit expectantly like "Well, I caught us supper."  I wasn't up for that. Sigh.

 

 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 20:23 | link | comments (2)

Changing Seasons:

It's hard to believe just a couple weeks ago I was sleeping outside with hardly a cover. This past week we've had over 2" of rain and the beautiful Haulapai's are capped with snow. Today there is a cold wind blowing. I went out with a stocking cap and three layers of clothes and warm gloves. Still very cold. I was glad to see that the garage was protecting Sage from the full surge of the chill wind.

This weekend the corral for Cheriki was finished and it has all ready had some good comments from outsiders who think it's super looking. All the materials are here for the barn so if next weekend is not so windy hope to have the crew to put up the barn. I've been calling all around to see if I can get someone realiable to bring Cheriki home, trim her feet and Sages feet. Once that's done we can settle into a training routine. With the barn up the North wind will be blocked and it will be easier to just go out and hang out with Cheriki.

I'm cuddled up here in front of the computer wishing it would warm up a bit so I could go clean corrals. May have to brave the wind some today. Brrrr----.

 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 20:03 | link | comments (3)