Well that went by fast!

Well it has been quite a month, finally we seem to have spring, after some warm and cold weather. Due to Covid we were not able to gather for dad's eightieth birthday last year but we made up for it with a lovely gathering of friends and family to celebrate his big day turning 81, and a few other May babies. 

His stepson brought a karaoke machine and we got some lovely memories of the original to us music man doing his thing. I did video but somehow it sounds a bit weird so I will leave you with this photo. 

Just a day or so later my sister and I ventured out to see Miss Birdie at her Ballet recital, she was wonderful, and I have to say when she saw my sister, that world class smile and call of NANA! melted my heart 

Obligatory Mystik shot , in her very large baby halter 

In other news, Henry discovered, again that not all black and white cats are created equal, SKUNKED

COuldn't find my usual skunk treatment but this worked really well 

ANd finally after several weeks of waiting for the calves to go out and the mud to dry up, little Miss got to go out to a big girl pen! Thank goodness, I am getting a little long in the tooth for daily stall cleaning , oh who am I kidding it's a warm up for weaning 

Some of the others have been eagerly awaiting the green stuff, but as always sweet Sixty comes to the gate even when there is greens to be had 

We did process calves and sent them out but this fellow got missed so Martin and I went out and banded him later, so horrified by his ordeal he tried to steal the gator lol 

Miss Foxy will be getting a name change and a travel permit in her future, but I will talk about that later 

Little girls and horses... Miss Birdie came out for a visit and of course came to see the baby 

That brings us nearly to the end of may! It has been a full month with lots of things left to do .I am trying to be more regular on the blog but a couple times a month might be it for a while.

Until we meet again, stay safe friends! 

 And a reminder from Henry, Frankie and I .

Go ahead and be a legend!  

Sometimes you just grow a horse for your dog

Lots going on as usual , taught Mental Health first aid, face to face for the first time since 2020! My feet hurt, my voice is shot, I was exhausted, it was wonderful! So much nicer to have the engagement of  people in the same room. I love that we have had the virtual option but this is so much better ! 

My evenings are spent making sure baby has a clean dry bed, hopefully have her outside full time soon ,once the cows are out and the grass is coming on better. Meanwhile, my keen little Frankie is slowly learning patience and manners with the outside horses, but Mystik? he has decided is his, and he is so much better with her, no barking, nipping or trying to herd her, just longing gazes and nose kisses 

 

Until we chat again friends, stay safe

I swear I am really back! just a little busier than I thought

 Hi friends, I am here, I have been working lots and keeping busy trying to keep the baby clean and dry in this wet weird spring, as soon as the mud dries up she will be going out but meanwhile its a daily bed "change". I am earing my cornflakes and I need to remember  to wear gloves as I burned right past irritation to a burst blister and bloody thumb on Sunday . But all things considered I am pretty happy. with how spring of 2022 is going .

I am attending as an alumni at an Equine assisted learning program this week, presenting tomorrow on self care and boundaries. Also I received a beautiful birthday gift from a fellow practitioner and friend Bev pictured below. I am truly blessed . I turned 55 yesterday and spent the day doing my favorite things, hanging with critters and eating cake lol. Family was over on Sunday to visit so I am  making it a week long affair. But enough about me, I will leave you with these photos and head off to cvatch up on what everyone else is doing

One week

 Hello friends, I am a week and a day old! And what a week it has been, I am living in the safe warm barn with mum, and the slaves come in several times a day to feed us, pet me, and fluff my bed.

The slaves have a couple assistants, one is big and soft and doesn't say much , but the other one is a wild thing! 

The big fluffy just looks at me now and then but the would one who has spots too but mum says is definitely not a horse is desperate to came into my space, like really really desperate!

I don't know quite what to think , but he is kind of cute so I will wait and see 

Well this is a surprise

 Those who know me know I own my mistakes. And this is no different. Am I a responsible breeder? Yep. Did I make a mistake? also yes, am I mad about it? Nope t least my mistakes are pretty! 

FV Dreamboat Annie is a mare my mom bought me years ago. Well bred, Dreamfinder line. We tried repeatedly to breed her but never could catch her cycle other than very occasionally in early March, sometimes April, which in Alberta is a no go for me. Her cycle would go quiet, and even with veterinary intervention nope. So I called it as I saw it and when Magic needed company I put her in with him to keep him settled till he was gelded. Apparently she can and does cycle ,but only on her own terms because even though she hid this secret from us very well, like very very well( I have ben raising horses for nearly 40 years and I did not look at her yesterday and think, Hmm maybe? ) But this morning, low and behold..

Meet Mystik Absinthe. Why that name? Well I am hardly going to call this little dreamer a mistake, and the other reason is as written below 

I posted this in January 2019, and the mare I dreamed of was a bay with a blanket. Honestly I thought that was the foal that we lost late term from Spirit. Because for all our efforts we could never seem to get Annie in foal. I guess it’s a good reminder that dreams come true in the time they are meant to. This is what I wrote;



“ I dreamed last night of a horse, not one I already own but a beautiful mare, her name was “Absinthe “

I knew that was a familiar word so I looked it up. “Historically Absinthe was thought to cause madness”

Fair enough, the horse I dreamed was an Appaloosa, and madness is what dreams are made of! "

So welcome to the world little one! We have been waiting for you , though we didn't know it

Stay safe, and thank you all for the feedback on the mental health post, lets keep talking!

Heart home and Health Mental Health Matters

This is not my typical post , but it needs to be said. May is Mental Health Awareness month , and I believe it should be every month. Conversations around Mental Health need to become more normalized . Only when we have the conversations and reduce the fear, stigma and judgement around mental illness can we begin to promote resilience and recovery. Those who know me know Mental Health awareness, is not only part of my job, but it is my calling.

Did you know one in four (25%) Canadians aged 18 and older screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in spring 2021 (Study ) 

One in 4, more likely one in two , why do I say this ? Because we often find people under report signs of declining Mental wellness. But as the statistics show 1 in 4 screen positive, but what about the family, friends and circle of influence of these individuals? 

Its fair to say that everyone is at some time affected by mental health concerns, whether it be their own symptoms, or the impact of a close persons mental health problem. 

So why aren't we talking about it more? 

How can we start the conversations? 

What can we do for ourselves and others? 

One thing you can do is find a Mental Health First Aid training in your area, in Canada it is offered in the Virtual (Zoom) model, and in face to face presentations. I have been teaching this for several years now and I am often surprised by the feedback I get from professionals who have taken the training, Nurses, educators, Social workers, health aids etc, all stating that they wished this was part of their initial education. 

Have conversations, ask questions, and notice the changes in the people around you. As we come out of the lock downs and restrictions, check in with people. And listen, just listen. we don't have to solve every problem a person has, and honestly most people simply want to be heard, listen to hear, not to answer, most importantly listen without judgement, my opinion has no place in anyone's mental health. So listen with as one of my students once said "with your judgement and or opinion in your back pocket 

And take care of yourself, self care is vastly underestimated. Consider yourself as the most important key in your toolbox, without you, physical first aid cannot happen, nor can Mental Health first aid. 

Agriculture and veterinary medicine are two very high risk categories for mental health concerns going unseen or unrecognized, let start to change that 

Agriculture and Suicide

Veterinarians more than twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts than other Canadians

Stay well and safe until we meet again my friends 

Its just a guideline

For years I have said April 1 is our calving start date, lol . There is nothing magic about that date, just typically the weather is on the upswing. 

Well whoever had March 26 in the "how close to April 1 are we gonna get pool " is a winner!  

3 before April 01 but as I said, more of a guideline 

Now we hope for continued good weather and outcomes. 

IN Typical springtime Alberta weather we had some big winds, and a tree we were concerned about fell before we were able to cut it . Hubby and I went out and with the ,super helpful Frankie, surveyed the damages and fixed the fence, upside is it fell just short of the feeder on the other side of the alley so we only had Cactus fence to repair, and he is such a good boy a mouse fence would hold him which takes a little pressure off . 

Then from mud and hard work, to a little R and R , an afternoon at the Ballet with my niece Tara. 

It's all about Balance this life! 
Stay well  until we meet again 

In my Mexico pictures I dropped a little hint about something I began working on while I was there. Will it become something more? time will tell but for now ,here is a little snippet. "

"In the beginning it was easy, it often is. We are born with open hearts and minds like blank canvas. The colours of our family and experience begin to paint what will become the canvas of our lives, personality, our fears, biases, judgment, capacity for compassion and empathy. Who we become.

Until we meet again friends, stay safe

Hey Shirley! and another little update

 I had a wonderful little surprise call tonight, an old friend we all know and adore gave me a shout to say hi and she is sop sweet! sending me a little something in the mail! Shirley of Ride a good Horse. So great to hear your voice.

And as promised here is the information on the stallion Andee is bred to 

I don't know a ton about his lines, but I know good minded. He unfortunately had suffered an injury and had his eye removed about 3 days before I saw him, he came out of the stall with me on his blind side, I had been handling the mare who was in a standing heat and pretty sweaty, all this gentleman did was stand and inspect my pockets for a cookie.  Gotta love a horse who knows how to read a room! 

I have been offline a little the last week or so because , well because we jumped the fence and took off for a bit. A week of sun and sea, peace and calming ! After all the mess in the world  these days and past couple of years, it was so wonderful to just be .

It was simply lovely! But it is sure good to be home as always . Back to the business of winter wrap up and waiting on spring.

Until next time , stay safe friends