I've had a busy couple of weeks, but things may be calming down for a few days. I finally weaned my last baby today--he was a June foal, and still kind of small, but the poor mare was getting ganged by the 20 other weanlings in the field, and they were stealing milk and she was starting to lose condition. Anyways, next step will be to separate the colts from the fillies, probably next month. I also vaccinated and dewormed them all, so I feel like maybe I'm caught up for now.

Our pony is finally off maternity leave, and has been very grumpy about it. I guess the 6 month vacation made her realize that being a pasture ornament is much better than being a working horse. Too bad for her. We are getting excited about halloween--the Kentucky Horse Park has a halloween trail ride where you can dress up yourself and your horse in costume and win prizes and ride around the park. It sounds like lots of fun, and we are going to dress like "Indians" and put war paint on the pony and have a good old time.

Read in the paper where dogs are getting the flu now. Talked to my SIL, who is a vet tech, who said it's nothing really to worry about, that it's totally different from bird flu and can't be spread to humans. But, if your dogs start coughing, you should get them checked out, because most people have been mistaking it for kennel cough. And, it is transmitted from horses to dogs, so especially if you have horses, pay extra attention to your dogs.

Hope everybody has a good week. If anyone has any extra rain, please send it my way. I just reseeded the lawn, and could use some moisture to get things germinating.

Jen

Another week gone in the march to winter. Here it is Indian Summer. Been in the 60s with only a few light showers for 2 weeks now. Leaves still filtering down slowly. Hoping they finally finish dropping soon so I can muclch and mow for the last time.

Winter preparation time. Need to winterize equipment. The splitter may get done today, the mowers after the last use. Get the snowblower out and running just in case. Prediction is for 'warmer than normal' winter here. Bad news. This area is dropping further behind in moisture every year.

gldno: "have got all my pot ghetto planted". That is a term I have never heard. Just what is it you do? Just curious.

Harry K

Well, we brought my mom's two cows home on Sunday. Had to use my stepdad's 4x4 truck, so no problem pulling the trailer out of the mud, but found out dh didn't have the right sized ball for the hitch! Have we sure been lucky until now! Went back for the rest of their hay and the larger stock tank. Going to be seven weeks until we can take one to the butcher. The other is a really nice Gelbvieh. Hope we can find a way to breed her, let alone be able to afford it. Sure seems strange to see a "herd" out in the pasture after all these years of just our one.

Had to take the dog to the vet last week - ear was swollen and drooping. Vet said it was a broken blood vessel. Treated him for a week, but little improvement, so took him back yesterday for the ear to be drained. Picked him up this evening and was he ever glad to see us. Whined all the way home - something he never does. Dd got a big kick out of it.

Very nice here in central Indiana this week, but we sure could use some rain, too.

Planning to finish out work on the wood pile today. Stack the wood I blocked with teh saw yesterday and clean up the shavings. Nope. Currently RAINING! Doesn't look to add up to much but is real rain not just sprinkles. From teh wx report last night we weren't supposed to get any - it was supposed to stay north of us.

Still cussing the leaves. They just won't come down. About 30% still on the trees.

Another night of mouse hunt for the dachsy and Alma. I suspected it would be as just as I was falling to sleep I heard the cat meowing. Usually a sign she has brought one in and playing with it.

Off to the doc tomorrow for flu shots. Not the problem with shortages like last year. Need to get an appointment for a physical again too.

Harry K

Not much happening here. We are still very warm for October; 85° and counting. Cool-down is headed our way and I sure hope it brings a few showers.

Harry, 'pot ghetto' is a term I picked up on a garden forum. It describes it so well. It is a collection of potted plants placed close to the hydrant for watering ease. These are plants that we don't have a permanent home for them yet or just don't have time to plant them out so we put them in potting soil in larger pots and keep them watered and fed until we can get our act together!

I planted my (3) fruit trees today so am almost finished outside. I will leave the hoses out to water for another month or so.

We sold a black bull today. What a handful he was! He scared both of us so we just got out of the pen and let him find his way into the trailor and slipped in behind him and closed the door. Next cattle project will be working the beef herd and dehorning one Holstein heifer then on to looking for a new Black Angus bull and some heifers.

All for now.

gld