Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Monday 20 August 2012

We get by


Monday night already! wow! ,gonna lose this week too if I am not careful! 
We had a great time with the barbecue. Lots to eat, lots to talk about.
Sunday we had a few things to do ,including  trying to help my niece with a mare who is a bit challenging to catch and handle . I did a bit of round penning with her, but frankly in 30 + heat with horse that is not responding to cues, I took the "discretion is the better part of valor" approach and walked away  before it became another chance for her to win. They have a good plan in place and I am quite sure they will get around this girl.Sometimes a different set of hands/eyes on a situation  can help , and that is what we were hoping for .In this case the mare was not responding any differently to me or my tactics.


Then on to our  next  "bull headed" adventure 

Met our neighbor who came  to help us with out bull. He had hoof rot earlier in the year, and we treated it and though it was resolved ,he was sound again and moving well ,but it seems to have flared up again . We trailed him in part way then got him in the trailer to bring home. It went fairly well with us all dancing around  from the mosquito in the long grass. I am here to tell you that ,the rain may have stopped , but there are still some wet areas ,one step wrong , and up to my calves in goo! 

We have him home now, and that is fine , he should be done his work by now anyway. And this way we  can get that foot cleaned right up 
By the time we finished that , and had a visit , it was into the house skipped supper and fell into bed.

I was off to work today (at my paying  job) and Martin was preparing to start baling . 
Well the best laid plans and all, we are awfully lucky to have  both Marc and Martin with balers and this year the kind help of another neighbor . Martin got a few bales done then had one breakdown after another ,Dad came out to help with repairs while Marc and Billy carried on .
When I got home, I assumed my regular duties of water/girl, parts  holder/finder/deliverer,  twine finder ,cook and bottle washer. I find I do a fair bit of dashing around in circles but I hope I am of some help .
Anyhow they got it done , this field completely with no rain whatsoever. The hay looks great for as long as I hung  around .(I am allergic to the alfalfa and the fresh hay while it smells great tends to make feel me a little like Dorothy in the poppy fields! )
(from far to near, Martin and dad working on repairs, Billy 's John Deer  in the middle and  Marc's rig at he back . All done and ready for refreshments ) 
I had quite a bit of BBQ beef left over  from Sat so we had  beef on a bun, and Caesar salad for supper . And of course cold beer for the crew !
We are so blessed , we don't need help all that often , but when we do we have great neighbors , friends and family , who are there to help out .
So like the song says 
"We get by with a little help from our  friends"
Stay safe everyone 

6 comments:

kden said...

Never a dull moment around your place and blessed you are for good friends like that.

Janice said...

Thank goodness for good family and neighbors. You maka me tired woman...I'm think'in you guys need a break.....over this way.......
Love the header shot.The BBQ made me hungry....%**t

Crystal said...

Wow does sound busy over there, but lots of work got done and mmm BBQ!

I too love the golden boys as the header :)

Nicole said...

Send some of that excess moisture our way! We're so bad off... Haybales that used to go for $15-$25 are going in upwards of $75-150... a farmer can't make any profit on that...

Shirley said...

Love the header too! Good you got your haying done. We all need a little help sometimes, and I'm sure that you get what you give.

sally said...

Oh boy how wonderful that you got your hay done ...thankgoodness for good friends and neighbours. I just love your header too