Last minute updates before work starts again!

Well today being the last day off, we had mulitple things going today.  First off was Micheal showed up-hence why it rained, we ended up trimming hooves in the barn, but everyone got theirs done.

Then I took down the hanging cages and put the new ones in-all the while it's pouring outside. 

It rained real good for a little while, what had been just a tiny dribble of water going down the drainage ditch became a mini creek:

This had been dry before the rain is now ankle deep.

My crossing is all wet again!

The other day when I stopped by to visit grandma the cows were calling to me to the fence- I think they just wanted alfalfa cubes . . .

The fix on my Breyer didn't hold.  I took the support bandage off after approximately 26 hours took a few quick pictures.  It felt sturdy enough.

But alas, I decided to put Cheyenne back up with the others and the Nokota horse got shoved over by Filine(who doesn't stand well to begin with-I must of bumped the shelf) and it knocked Cheyenne down and snapped the glue joint~had a minor domino effect.  So I took her down and used straight wrap on it until I can get some real Breyer resin/plastic glue and re-fix her leg, she's such a pretty model. 

But wrap and all she withstood the shelf(and I propped Filine a bit better) so it'll stay wrapped until I get the resin glue.

Model sorta day

I helped dad replace the window in my room, while he was finishing up the outside trim I took the opportunity to take down my hand painted models and get them spray coated to make them more water resistant(for future baths after they collect dust). 

Left to right: Starbuck, Tessa, Sedonia, Wonder, Jasmine, MoJo, Magic, Blaze

Left to Right: Duchess, Filine, Joyess, Angel

So after I got back inside and the last of them were drying outside, I brought the first bunch in and started to wash my shelf off and wipe down the other Breyers, and Cheyenne(the bay roan) I have I took her down and started to wipe her off and her leg snapped off.

So Super glue and some wrapping later she's standing back on my shelf again and once I know the glue is completely cured, I'll try to resculpt, sand and repaint the break in the leg.

Close up of the wrapping job.  I'm hoping to take this stuff off tomorrow afternoon, so I can see the damage that was done and get some pictures of the break.  This was what I was talking about on Facebook when I said fixing my broken legged horse. 

24 hours for the super glue to 'cure' and then I'll get some new pictures-possibly re-wrap it for support and put Cheyenne back on the shelf with the others until I get the time and putty to fully fix her. 

After visiting Aunt Lisa, Grandma, Jim and his folks, I came home and moved the horses back over to my side for Micheal to trim tomorrow(If it's not raining, if not it'll be postponed) and to let the rain and then couple days of sunshine to give it a boost to get ahead of the ponies munching.

Pheonix and Bahloo are both really sweaty as well, none of the ponies were quite ready for this heat spell.

Heidi's mane was braided to attempt to keep her neck cooler as her mane is THICK. 

Finally got the cages finished and some pony pictures!

First we'll start with pony pictures.  I finally found the Cashell fly masks in Small for Phoenix.  The 'Horse' sized one is too big for Phoenix, it fits Heidi and Bahloo.

I also picked up one of the fly sheets from Tractor Supply and I got it sized for Phoenix(since I know his size exactly) to see if it runs big or small.  Runs average sized. So as I have the extra money I'll get Bahloo and Heidi their own to be more protective of their summer coats(and bonus for fly protection!)

And after going with Aunt Lisa to pick up Charlie from Flemingsburg, I came home, got the fly stuff back onto the horses and then came back over and worked on the rabbits.  I had to tattoo 4 of the babies that are leaving tomorrow.

After I tattooed I double checked water bottles to make sure everyone had full cool water bottles, I came back over and cut the doors and feeders out of the new cages. 

I brought Zelda over to model for me and I just let her hang out over there with me, I brought her water bottle over so she could drink while I worked. 

Might have to watch where the water bottle sits so it doesn't rot the wood out or find a small peice of tin to put down on there.

Floor looks strong!!

She looks comfy in there, she may not be quite full sized yet but it's definently a good sized cage.

I put Zelda back for the night until I can find the trays for the cages and dad can help me build the supports for the trays.  I have to find more of hte wire edging to protect me, I only have it on the bottom right now, but I'll have to get the sides done as well. 

Now to just heal back up my arms and legs that met the edges of the wire, I came inside a bit of a bloody mess-hands, arms and legs were all exposed cause it was hot outside!!



Rabbits cages

We almost finished the rabbit cages today . . .  We found a few more minor miscalculations- the trays . . . . Opps. 

Without further adeu:

And Kansas and one of her babies munching.  Her babies have just started to come out of the box and sample solid food. 

A close up:

Quick little bits of everything

I realize I've been neglecting this a little bit. 

I've been busy on days off.  More things in planning that I want to do just either not enough funds or not enough time or both! 

The horses have been flipping feilds quite a bit, the last time they were on my side(not counting that they are over here right now) I was able to scrape up the 'wasted' hay from the two rolls and seed the ground that died off due to the roll laying there. 

There wasn't much to stuff into holes . . .

And I put the nasty hay down into several of the larger dips and holes in the feild

Between the rain and the horses beeing on it since it was shoved into the holes it has packed down quite a bit from this.  A few more rounds of this or getting some fill somewhere I should be able to get the holes all filled in- assuming more don't show up in the process. 

But the horses do enjoy being back on my side, they really enjoy the barn:

They all cram in there, I haven't the faintest idea why but they stay in there in a triangle.

All my baby bunnies are open eyed and the youngest-born May 2nd, are starting to hop around their cage.

Belle loves to climb out and get her food, she thinks I'm starving her to death!

Belle is apart of my control group that is eating Purina Show formula, her Raf, Hazel(she was always on Purina Show), Colby and Syd are the 5-some on the Purina Show.  Syd, Raf, Colby and Belle have lost coat condition on Manna Pro-Pro Series.  So if this works better, I'll start slowly switching the other dutch to it, the New Zealands will stay on Manna Pro as they don't necessarily have to have great coats, they are mainly meat, but keep good coats despite it for showing.

On Wednesday I gave Heidi a bath- she was dirty- shame on me for not being able to keep her clean either.  I've just been soo bad about keeping them clean!  I'm a horrible horsie mom, my kids are dirty!  Bahloo's next(again) and then lastly Pheonix will get one, probably early to mid June.  

I'll have to get some fur whitener for Heidi and Bahloo's legs.

I also picked up a Weaver rope halter that is for Bahloo-as it's red- and it's own lead so she now has her own rope halter and a nice red nylon halter.  I always ride with ropes underneath the bridle anyway as a secondary backup in case reigns break(I know the bridle is new, but better to be safe than sorry!)  

Today I took the last of last weeks paycheck to pick up the lumber and wire for the new New Zealand cages.  The hanging cages that I have are coming apart at a more rapid speed than I like and I wanted something that I knew would support them for years to come.  So dad and I got 10- 2x3's and 4- 2x4's  and a couple roles of 1 x1 inch square wire.  Well turns out that I miscalculated how much wire I would need so I have to go back and pick up another roll of the 1x1inch and 2 more rolls of the  1x 1/2  inch floor wire(which is also doubleing as the ceiling since it's perfect width) possibly 3 on that one.    I ran out of J-clips but I knew I wouldn't get done all in 1 day and will be getting up fairly early tomorrow before work, and running up to Southern States for the j-clips- SS has the best value on J-clips.  The rest will be picked up Sunday morning so I can hopefully get everything done and in place.

A few pictures:

Had to clean out the bed from moving hay- it's starting to grow it's own grass hay!

Built two of these as the bottoms- made with the 2x3's:

Eventually it'll be 2- 30 x 36 inch cages which is the size they are currently in.  I'll have 4 of thse cages(2 rows) But the framing is 72 x 30 with the studs 18inches apart.

Bottom wire tacked on and starting the side wire.  The bottom is the 1 x 1/2 inch rectangles, the sides are the 1 x1 inch holes. It took 1 full roll of the 1x1 to cover the three sides, and I got 2 rolls- opps I need one more roll.   

So I started the second roll to make full sides.  I'll get 2 or 3 more of the floor wire rolls to cover the floor of the second one and to make the tops as it's exactly the width we need.  The last roll of 1x1 will be used to make the doors and dividers later as well.  Dad bent the corners to square them as much as possible.

As finished as we got:

I think the New Zealand girls are going to like their new cages!!