Crocheting Daisies

Just sittin' with friends, crocheting and watching Pushing Daisies, which BTW is the best show EVER! Perhaps a slight exaggeration, but not by much. It's that awesome.

I am so sad though, because of the writer's strike and whatnot there are only 9 episodes in the first season and they didn't even air the last 3 episodes of the second season! This is one of those genius shows like Arrested Development. With clever writing and fantastic visuals. 'It's different in a quaint sort of way like dessert spoons.'

Check it out, it'll be your new favorite!

Another one bites the...snow?

The Corner has claimed another victim this weekend. Passed a couple of sheepish looking girls in a white Camry firmly wedged in a snowbank on The Corner.

Drive Safe everyone!!

Thought for the day

Why are some people so shocked at the idea of a pet chicken?


My theory is that we want to believe that there is some difference between the animals we keep as pets and those we use for food. Animals we eat MUST be dumber or in some way inferior to pets otherwise we wouldn't eat them, right? That's why other cultures are so wrong when they eat dogs, cats and horses. Cows, pigs and chickens are just different, right?


Yeah.... not really.


The animals we use for food have the same personalities, the same quirks that make us so fond of our pets.


My chickens rush to the edge of the roost and demand hugs under threat of pecking. They have complex relationships with each other, being able to recognize 100 different individuals and where they fit in the pecking order.


They have an extensive language of over 30 different calls with distinct meanings. They form friendships and rivalries and are acutely aware of their enviroment. They call out when they see a hawk long before I can see anything.


They're smart too. In fact, chickens know that an item recently hid still exists, a fact that's lost on small children. They're so quick to pick up on things, clicker training, such as is used to train dolphins, whales and other wild animals, was pioneered using chickens. They learn to associate sound with food almost instantly and can easily learn to perform tricks for food.


Watching them interact is a daily joy for me. They're silly and weird, affectionate and and just so much fun. Really everything you want in a pet.

So does that mean it's wrong to eat them? Well yeah... at least the ones with names. ;)

MIA

It's funny, whenever something big happens in my life I tend to shut down everything else that's going on. It's like I'm on overload and can't handle anything else. Even when the 'big thing' that's going on isn't actually all that big.

Since I got the little horses I've shut down. A lot of stuff has happened that I think is blog worthy. Like giving some guy the british version of the finger. Two of my young hens laid their first eggs recently. Been skating, shopping and crocheting like crazy. Plenty of good material there.

But no, horses have taken over my brain and they're not letting go! Must go muck stalls...

Home

The girls are home safe!

It was a scary drive in a homemade trailer but it all went well. Candy loaded right up, Skyler did NOT like the look of the trailer we had to back it up to a hill so the ramp into it was less steep. Then it took some persuation to convince her to go ahead, but we did it! She wasn't really scared she just didn't want to do it.

The drive went fine despite my paranoia that something bad would happen. Unloading them and walking them to the barn was a piece of cake. Ben was THRILLED when he saw them. He did his best to impress them with his speed and agility. They were less than impressed. When they all settled down I felt comfortable letting them in together.

It went as smoothly as possible with horses. A few warning kicks from Candy and Ben kept a respectful distance. He followed them around as close as she would let him. They did all get to sniff and walk around together. I'm very optimistic that they'll integrate really well, Candy is just setting herself us as boss. Once she knows Ben will respect that she'll relax, it's a horse thing.

Slight Delay

Sigh, my girls aren't coming home today. It's ok though, it's giving me a little more time to get things ready.

Dad has possible jury duty. For the next two weeks he has to call in twice a day to see if they need him so everything is very iffy. Frustrating timing.

We could have gone this evening to pick them up, but I don't want to trailer them at night in case something goes wrong. I don't want to deal with traffic. Also daytime will be warmer and easier to spend time with them to make sure they're settling in. So the new plan is for tomorrow morning.

But the trailer is built and looks great. It's nice to have a trailer, we never did. Even when we had the big horses we always just borrowed one if we needed it. This time dad decided to make one, well reconditioned really. We had the base, he put a new bed on it and made walls and a ceiling. It even has nice windows for light and ventilation.

Normal little worries about how everyone will get along and what could go wrong, but I'm still excited and happy. I want them to be home and settled.

BIG day!

Today was the day we went to look at three mini horses for sale. Gorgeous farm about 40 minutes north of us. I thought I had a pretty nice horse barn. Mine looks like a shack compared to this place!



So we walk in and she leads out Skyler, darling girl. After a quick introduction I was able to pick up each of her feet, no problem. That is so important, if you can't handle their hooves, daily chores are just a pain. Not only that, but she leads and stands and pays attention to you like, well like a perfectly trained little horse! She was just perfect, but since we're there why not look at the other two right?



So she gets Candy, she's a little smaller and daintier, even with her heavy winter coat you can see she's got great lines. Turns out Candy was rescued from a breeding operation where all she did was have babies one after another. No handling, no training, just breeding. So sad.

She was a little nervous about us being there. Not panicky or fearful, just kind of alert and worried. I took a little more time to introduce myself. She gladly snuffled my hands and face- definitely a good sign- I would be worried if she refused to look at me. That would tell me she's truly fearful and that leads to spooking and getting hurt.

Within the 15 minutes we were there she settled down very well and would let me run my hands over her and pick up her feet. When you put her on a lead line she follows quietly and calmly, so very nice. When loose in her stall we couldn't get a picture of her because she kept snuffling the camera. Dad went in there with her and she walked right up and wanted attention.

Oh what a problem! Do we go with the perfect, easy, and gorgeous blue eyed Skyler? Or the heart stealing but troubled Candy?

But wait, there was a third! She pulls out Diva. Diva is a pony, not a mini, so she's a full foot taller. She comes out of her stall like she owns the world and sets herself up like she's being judged. She could win anything, heck I gave her a 10 just for coming out of her stall! She's perfectly proportioned, perfectly balanced, and just beautiful. But she's also $1000. She is truly a world class show pony and she should go to a home where she'll be shown to her full potential, not my place.

So have I lost my mind? Probably. We went to look at three minis today...ended up buying two of them.

Skyler (left) and Candy. We're bringing them home Monday. I'm happy :)