Rain

We had about 3 days of a wonderful spring rain. Or at least wonderful for the land and the plants and trees. Not for the town of Clovis that had about 13 tornados go through on Friday that did lots of damage. Not fun at all. Here we had a heck of a thunder storm on Thursday night that caused our dogs to get really upset. Especially our German Shepherd Codee. She has always been afraid of fireworks but never the thunder until this storm. We didn't get her to calm down at all until it was over.
Strange thing was that on talking to several people the next day, they, too, said that their dogs were real upset by the storm. Dogs that didn't used to be bothered by storms. Weird

Another Border Collie

Thanks Callie for your comment. Always glad to hear about another Border Collie. We had a cat named Spot once. An old, common name but I like it. Tuffee went back to the vet this week so they could read her micro-chip and make sure it hadn't come out. Thankfully it hadn't. I figured it would be my luck to have a dog who would reject it and have to pay for another. So now she is officially micro-chipped. We thought of changing her name to Chip, or Micro or Mikey.

Tuffee

Tuffee is our Border Collie. She is a rescue dog and is now 3 years old. She loves to herd the horses, and Codee our German Shepherd and the cats. Today I took her in to get her yearly vacaniations and a micro chip. I keep hearing so much about them I decided to do it. It seems like such a good idea. Tuffee seems to be having a little reaction to either the chip or her shots. Not quite up to her usuall self this afternoon. Normally she is up and running full blast at the least hint that I might be going outside to do something with the horses or what ever else I have in mind. I have taught her to be a house dog, but she prefers to be outside where she can keep an eye on the horses, and all that is going on around her.

Codee

Codee is my 7 year old, female German Shepherd. She is the 3rd purebred German Shepherd I have had. I consider them to be one of the best of the dog breeds. First bred as a farm and herding dog, later they became well known as a guard dog. They have been used for police and military work more than any other breed. Not only are they good watch dogs but they are great family dogs. If treated and trained right they are the gentle, loving, and loyal. I would never want to be with out one of these wonderful dogs.

Micro Chips

I took Codee in to get her yearly rabies and vacintions. She did real good. For once she didn't throw up. Just drooled everywhere. I was going to get her micro chipped but they had run out. So guess it will have to wait a bit. I think micro chipping pets is a good idea. I am sure a lot of lost pets could be returned to the greaving owners if they had been chipped to start with. I understand it will be required in some areas. A lot of people are complaining about added expence and trouble but it can sure save a lot of headaches in the longrun.

Where is Spring?

We had a couple of warm days so I have the erge to plant some seeds. I know it is way to early. But I did pick up a handfull of morning glory seeds at the store anyway. Altho it is warm I am sure it will turn cold again. March always had to throw another storm or two at us before it will allow Spring to arrive. My roses are starting to think about putting on leaves, and the flower buds on the trees are getting bigger each day. It will be so good to see green leaves on all the trees, and srubs, and plants again. In the mean time it is clouding up again. I guess it was just the barest of hints of the spring weather to come.

New Neighbors

We have new neighbors to the south of us. The old neighbors were asked to leave a few months ago. Apparently they weren't paying there bills. So far the new people seem like they might make better neighbors. At least that is the impression I got after talking to them for a bit this past weekend.

But they have a lot to learn about living on the desert. They are planning to put down landscap rock to help keep down the sand that blows. Little do they realize that the sand will just cover up the rock.

They will live and learn out here the same as the rest of us have.

Candle

Playing with the camera.

Weekend

We had some decent weather over the weekend. It was greatly appreciated after a week of high winds and blowing sand and cold. I spent as much time as I could - most of the daylight hours actually working with the horses and giving them as much attention as I could. We set up a makeshift round pen and worked the horses in it. Then I decided to ride BlackJack, but he acted as if he was real tired already or was he just lazy. Anyway I was tired after roundpenning four horses and we made it a short ride. But it was a ride - first time in a long time. He may have been just trying to get out of it because it had been at least a month since I had ridden him. He is a smart horse and always seems to be tring to figure out a way to get out of doing what I want him to do.

Links

I am finally able to add links to my blog. You will find some links about horsemanship, plus my son's site for his horse business - Gold Stud Stallions. And there are links for my email and computer friends - Cindy, Josie, and Cyndi. Also, some links I have found that I like.
Check them out - you might find something you are interested in, too.

Eye Dr.

Talked to the eye Dr. about these tri-focal glasses I can't use. She agreed to redo them again. This will be the third time. Why do my eyes have to be so screwed up? I had a detached retina about 4 years ago, and had to have lazer surgery to keep my other eye from doing the same thing. Now everytime I go to get new glasses it seems to be a long fight to find what I need to do the work I do.

Tumbleweed Crossing Time

We had snow last week and now the spring winds have arrived. The left over, dried up, tumbleweeds are blowing across the crossing here where our place meets the intercection of I St and 10th St. here on the Mesa west of Albuquerque, NM.

Snow Pony

This is BlackJack in the 6 inches of snow we had last week.

Tri-Focals

I was told by the eye doctor that I needed tri-focal glasses. After a week of wearing them I am still having trouble seeing through them, especially on the computer.

change

These times they are a changin'.
Words to an old song, and how true. My blog may be changing it's looks.

change

OK everybody things everything has to change. Nothing is good enough, it's got to be made better. All right I'll try this new blogger look. If this blog goes away, or changes or what ever it may not be my fault.

Sandia Mountains

Photo of the Sandia mountains from my home when the snow had started to melt, after the big storm of December 30, 2006

Melt Down

Now that the snow is over it is time for it to melt. The sun has been nice and warm past couple of days so there is plenty of melting snow. Have you any idea how much water two feet of snow makes when it melts. And even worse is how much ice it makes when it freezes each night. I watched my mare Nita go skating yesterday and it was a horrifing sight. Being a quarter horse she made a mad dash around the turn out field as she frequently does and then come running up to the gate to make her sliding stop. Only there was a big patch of ice where the horses like to stand and wait for there feed, treats and anything else they might wish for. This time Nita was unable to stop her slid on the preverable dime, as the cowboy saying goes. She slid about ten feet and did some fancy footwork to stay on her feet, hit the gate a glancing blow, which helped her stay up, then looked back as if to say "what happened".

Needless to say I have not encourgaed any running or trotting. It is not necessary at this time. And I won't be riding until the snow and ice is gone.

Yesterday I also saw several kids riding their horses on slick icey roads. Don't they or their parents have any brains at all. Those horses could easlly slide down, injuring themselfs or the children riding them.