What I do during the day

Someone asked me what I do during my days. She wasn't being rude or nosiy, she really wanted to know so she could help out. All I could do at the time was answer chores, take care of all the animals. So I thought I'd write down what I do. Every day is different though. Today the horse dentist is due and I need to pick up produce, and have riding lessons at 4.

6-7 am coffee, email, facebook, blog, photos, devotions
7-8 dogs out, dogs meds, breakfast for some
8-9 house work, laundry, kitchen, floors, scoop dog pens, human breakfast
9-10 clean dog crates, put food in crates, help feed horses or feed horses if no help
10-11 continue above if I have gotten side tracked. scoop horse poop, collect palm fronds, property maintence
11-12 continue above is I have gotten side tracked, walk dogs
12-1 dog lunches, kitchen again, human lunch
1-2 break time
2-3 dog grooming, continue what I missed, watch weather to bring dogs in
3-7 riding lessons, move and feed horses, dogs in, wash dog pens
7-8 cook and eat dinner
8-8:30 meds, feed house dogs, put house dogs out for potty breaks before bed
8:30-10 me time
10 bed

There is always more to this schedule, but this is the ideal world with no pauses. I often have to take short breaks during the day. Sometimes I have lessons in the late morning or early afternoon, Saturdays lessons start at 10. I don't usually have to take care of the goats or clean stalls. If I do, that adds time to my day (2 hours for goats, 2 1/2 hours for horses breakfast) There are lots of details attached to each chore block, which I need to write down again. Last time it was 8 pages.

Day 67

Gave a great riding lesson. The rider is developing confidence, learning to tack up almost on her own, trotting on her own and rode english for the first time. The dogs got a lot of play time. I got a lot of work done. And one of my favorite teens came to work and ride. She is a very helpful person.

Day 66

Monday, Memorial Day, was catch up day. It honestly seems like I have a lot of catch up days because it doesn't take much to put me behiend. I walk a very delicate line between everything running smoothly and the whole farm falling apart. Evelyn got to ride Spot for the first time. He wants to go fast. But we were able to keep her safe. She was very happy. I got poop scooped, dog pens scrubbed, trash out. laundry almost caught up. Today I need to do dog baths I didn't get to yesterday. I kind of accidently took a nap and lost a couple hours. I got some ideas for new designs for jewlery. No photos yet. I will take a couple, or more, today.

Day 65

Yesterday was my quiet day. I chilled in the air conditioning during the heat of the day and spent time catching up on cleaning the house. I still got all the chores done with Mike's help, clipped 4 dogs, and finished a necklace and made another. Bo got in trouble. He went after Tarzan. Fortunately I was able to hold him while Tarzan got away. Guess Bo does not get any off leash time. Bo is a bulldog from the pound, looking for a home. Tarzan is a miniture horse.

Day 63 and 64

These 2 days cover our camp out. It was amazing. We have a wonderful group of kids here that I am priviladged to share the farm with. One of the dads cooked dinner while the mom's set up camp and watched the kids. The kids swam for about 3 hours. I had to get them out of the lake to get the horses for our night ride. We shared 4 horses. 3 riders per horse but one rider got to ride twice. Some were a bit concerned before they took their turn, but all, including the newer riders enjoyed riding in the dark immensly. We then cooked smores (over the grill, too hot for a fire) and laid on the dock to watch for metors. And yes we saw several. Some small, but a few large. The next morning, one of the moms made pancakes for breakfast while I took care of the dogs. The kids got to feed the horses thier breakfast. We then cleaned up and rode. I had 11 riders and horses out. Two men who volunteer worked a couple of the non riding horses and groomed several others. I had to finish dog chores after the kids left, but martin and mike finished the horses and goats after a long day working on the barn roof. We ate meat for dinner that Martin smoked, now time for icecream with bananna, chocolate sauce and grahm crackers. Night night will come early. The dogs are already sleeping.

Day 62

I was able to scoop 4 manure spreader loads of poop and the kids scooped 2 more. I got 2 stallions manes brushed out and braided. A college friend came to visit and spend the day with the dogs and rode. Mojo had a visitor and Dana got to go for a ride and come back. He was terrified, but learned he wasnt going to be abandoned again, I hope. It will take a lot of time to restore his confidence. The house is starting reasonably clean. I had help from the riders last night finishing chores. Tonight is our camp out, I also have a doctor appointment today, followup from the bloodwork.

Days 59, 60, 61

This week is flying by as usual. I did finally cook last night...2 vegatable lasagnas. One for the freezer and 1 to eat now. I am really hoping these freezer meals pay off, but the shepherds pie took over an hour to heat in the oven from frozen. Riders have come and ridden every day. I even rode 2 days, the got sore. I am about over soreness, so can ride again! Thanks to one of the young adults we are making progress on finding homes for some of the foster dogs. One left for a trainer. A very expensive trainer. We still cannot find a volunteer trainer, so are loosing time finding homes for these guys and more die every day. I keep reminding myself and Katharine, that we are doing all we can do. We have 30 horses, 30 goats, 20 rescue dogs on top of her retired show dogs. I teach riding lessons to about 15 kids right now and those are the volunteers for dog walking. I really want to start dog training classes for them. They deserve it.

Days 55, 56, 57, 58

The days got too full so I have to catch up. We took 5 horses and 4 riders to a horse show on Sunday. Saturday was spent getting ready for it. The kids did very well and worked well together. Friday was full of cleaning and critter care, and riding. Thursday was rainy.One of the stallions got his foot stuck in his stall bars, but he is ok.  Following are photos. I took 180 at the show, so you won't get many of them.

Dana and Linda

Dana, looking for his forever home.

Panashe showing off.

Misty getting lessons from the boss.

Snickers, the windblown look

Beauty 

Snickers

Cheyenne

I am in the middle on Misty

Yep, we got a flat on one of the trailers on the way home.

It got changed and all was good.

This photo is out of order, Halter training with the boss.