On Monday Kaine and Kade started a wheat harvest job in Kahlotus, right now they are doing preharvest work. That has made us pretty shorthanded, but the boys are all excited to get paid to work. It probably doesn’t shock anyone that the pay here at the ranch is in trade. Anna had a dr appt then picked up Jaxsen on her way home so he could work on his steers. Anna is working on her calves; she definitely has some favorites. Toni is catching up on work from being gone all the week before to Utah. During chores Windy, the orphan foal double grafted onto Blackie, realized that Toni leaves the gate cracked when she takes the grain into their pen. So Windy went for a walkabout out into the yard. Luckily her brother and mother did not go with her so she eventually ran back into her pen. She is a little stinker. Other than that, it was a pretty normal evening with lots of chores.
On Tuesday Erina, mom, Toni, Anna and I went to Coeur d’Alene for a girls’ day and had facials. The men did all our chores and we had a late dinner before we came back. We all had a great time. Jaxsen spent the day with dad and Skip. It was really nice to do something totally different, outside the wheelhouse, and the best part is that Erina set it all up so we just had to show up and enjoy.
Wednesday mom and dad went to town and got a new office fish for me. Daniela at work decided we should not name him George again and this one is Ramses off of Nacho Libre. Jaxsen worked on his steers again. He says they are great. The big boys are getting home late, they are rod weeding weeds. Chores were pretty normal. Since we are doing all the chores, the yearlings weren’t fed when Toni went to move water so July was in fine form. He chased her dog, ran around wagging his little donkey tail. Just a reminder that mom doesn’t want to ever sell July so he is priced really high, like ridiculously high at $20,000.00. And if someone came up with 20,000, well then, they have 40,000 they could spend on him. And if they would spend 40,000 on him then she does not think they are smart enough to have him since they are spending their money unwisely. We have had people ask if he is for sale and we don’t think that is a for sale price, so that she would actually sell him. Toni stayed with grandma on Wednesday. Grandma is still not sleeping.
Thursday Jaxsen and I discussed his next steps in working on his steers. He is becoming a good chore boy. Building muscles loading hay. Ben chopped down some more Russian Olive Trees with the Kitten. Boys are still farming. Anna has been working away on the post replacement project, she is almost done. She is expanded beyond filling for Toni. She is halter breaking some sale calves. The summer is speeding by. The big boys are still tying up their show calves in the morning before work, then Anna has been feeding them at night and turning them loose because the boys are getting home so late. Jax is working on both of his steers with minimal complaints. Chores were normal.
On Friday mom and Anna took the puppies in for their last shots and everyone except Snickerdoodle got spayed or neutered. Poor little guys. Erina and Terry brought Jr and Josie out on their annual trip to see the horses. Jr is a budding photographer and took Toni’s camera to take pics. He is 5 1/2. Everyone had a good time. Blackie refused to walk down the hill (yes, she is still walking through the hot fence to go up the hill), so they went up to see her and pet the babies. Windy has stranger danger which we did not realize. Red doesn’t. He doesn’t know a stranger which is a pretty typical Blackie/Tank foal. We don’t know where Windy’s attitude comes from. Marlo came out for chores so she helped Jaxsen. Marlo likes things clean so she had Jax clean off the back of the chore pu and clean off all the strings. They found the dull machete that is used to cut bales open and been missing for months. It was missing because it was covered in hay and strings. Jax thought he should get to keep it. We all were nervous about what he might do with it, so the machete is still in the chore pu. Long fun day. I headed to Grandma’s with Doodle for the night. She still isn’t sleeping.
I got some pictures of Kade and Carla, his Nile Merit heifer, on Saturday and a couple of pictures of a few of Anna’s show calves for sale. Anna and I went out to check the cows and look for bad eyes. The Hallowells came out to get Derringer to breed their mini mare, so we went on a small tour. Mom had not seen Jack Jack yet. Kade worked on Boon because he had not been riding her at night due to work. Kaine and Kade bought caught their extra show steers, since they need to be at least somewhat halter broke in case they need them. Kaine also took the lawn mower tire in and got it fixed and him and dad went to the Ace Hardware grand opening in Connell. Kade worked on Jag and Texas Red on Saturday night as well.
On Sunday, Sonny and Jeanie brought a gelding for Kade to ride, and they all went to look at the foals. Chad was out and timed some horses. Toni had two groups of people out looking at foals, and mares. Kade rode Butterscotch for one group. She had not been ridden for a few years and was great.
Habits start off as a choice and build into a habit over time. Making time for your horse and yourself is the best habit a person can have. It isn’t too late to start or get back on track. If your dream has been to have a horse, come get one. We have lots of choices and there is always time for a horse.
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