On My Own

Ranchman John had mandatory overtime on Saturday morning so it was up to me to cowgirl up and take care of all the animals....AND I DID IT!!!
All by myself, no less!

And the first time since Christmas Eve! And technically, the first time since last year! hah!

(Excuse the following old photos from my archive folders, as I forgot my camera. I know! Me! Without a camera! Crazy! lol!)

First I walked Zuni outside to her tie-out. She still has a tendancy to get excited and pull, so I've avoided walking her for the past 3 months. But on Saturday, she listened pretty well. Everytime she pulled, I said 'Whoa', and she stopped. She'd almost make a good horse.

Then I let the chickens out, fed them some scratch and refilled their water. Chatted with them for a couple minutes. They always seem to enjoy that and I love listening to them cluck and chirp right back to me.

Afterwards, I headed up to the barn. I took both my crutches because of the uneven ground and the steep hill, and whew was I glad! The gusts of wind wanted to blow me away, and the crutches gave me a bit of a grip and some balance, and a little more speed.
(Archive photo from almost 2 yrs ago, the first day after our llamas arrived)

I fed hay to all the woolies and Baby Doll. I brought a folding chair into Baby Doll's pen and then I picked out her feet and brushed her. When I was done, I sat beside her, while she had her breakfast, and I ate my Clif bar and sipped my coke. It was really nice.

But then I realized that I forgot to turn on the water back down at the house. Darn!We've been keeping it shut off so it doesn't freeze, and we also have a small leak at both pumps in the barn. We don't want to waste anymore water, so we have to remember to switch the water on, down at the house, everytime we go up the hill to the barn.(Archived photo from almost 2 yrs ago)

So I trudged back down the hill and turned the water on. Then I pushed my way back through the gusts of wind up to the barn again.

A few months ago our crazy dog chewed the hose leading from the pump in the barn to Baby Doll's black bucket, in the paddock, and we don't yet have a hose long enough up there. So I had to refill a large laundry bucket 5 times and carry it to her bucket in the small paddock.
Baby Doll has a heated bucket in her pen, but she loves her large black bucket in the paddock better and will choose that one to drink out of, over the blue heated one, if given a choice.

I didn't get too far until I realized the bucket was way too heavy and awkward for me to carry and my knee was starting to hurt.
So after thinking a bit, I decided to load the water bucket into the wheelbarrow and then push it over to the side of the barn where my mare's black bucket is kept. I lost a pint or two of water each time, but it was much better than trying to lug the heavy bucket myself. It felt good to figure out a way to do it myself.

I could have woke up my twinlings and asked them to help me, but I wanted...NO...needed to do this myself. I also wanted to go back to the way things used to be, when I had the barn to myself with peace and quiet. Just animals munching hay as the morning sun gently warmed the barn. Hanging out in the barn with the animals is the best therapy, and not being able to do it had left a huge empty hole in my life.

After filling Baby Doll's water bucket, I refilled the woolies' water. Their water buckets are directly below the pump, so no lifting was required. The woolies were happy, too. Their buckets were almost dry. Ranchman John hadn't filled them up Friday night, as he thought he could do it in the morning. (hah!)

And then after all the work was done, I loaded up on some horse cookies and treated the llamas, goats, sheep (I was surprised the sheep would like them, but they sure did. Blanca, the Navajo Churro was nuzzling me for more!) and Baby Doll came over and stuck her nose into the muzzle mayhem for a few cookies, too.

It always makes me laugh when Baby Doll and the llamas rub muzzles. I remember how freaked out Baby Doll was about the llamas when she first came to live here. I think she considers them her herd now, except when she sees them off our property when I take them for walks. She's so funny. She acts like she doesn't even know them anymore. (Archive photo from almost 2 yrs ago when the llamas first arrived)


I was so happy to get my back-pay of llama kisses, too. I swear, you just haven't lived until you've been kissed by a llama. Their soft fuzzy lips tickling your cheeks, nose and lips with their rich grassy breath wafting around your face. I tell ya. Pure bliss!

I'm looking forward to taking the llamas out for some hikes when summer gets here. It's so relaxing walking with them. They don't spook like horses do and they are always so curious and willing to go wherever you go. They are also easy enough for a small child to walk as they don't pull on the lead and are very gentle. Most llamas seem to enjoy being near children, too.(Archive photo from almost 2 years ago. Jenna was only 4! Awww!)


Anyway, by the time I got back to down to the house, I was so stiff and sore, and could barely walk or bend my knee. My ankle was so swollen, too. Weird. After changing my clothes and cleaning up, I took my Tramadol and some Ibuprofen and spent the rest of the day in bed.

Was it worth it?

Hell ya!
(Archive photo from almost 2 yrs ago)



From the Tower of,