Thursday, July 23, 2009
DH cleaned up my Bridle paths
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tractor antics
Yesterday, I decided to do some small tree removal... lots of little scrub Alder has been growing into my hay field for 20 or 30 years. Now that we have hayed the parts that the guy was willing to do, I can clear out some of the parasites and make the field more hay friendly.
As soon as I decided to do that, it became evident that there would be at least some useable lengths of timber from the trunks. 8" at the base, 6 to 4" 14 feet higher up the trunk. Lots of trash and stuff that couldn't be used.
Took the machete out and cut away all the blackberries and brush at the base of the trees, so I could get close enough with the chain saw to cut them down.... Multiple lacerations to the hands and fore arms later, I can cut down some trees. Took down about a dozen..... stopped when I managed to have a trunk 'pinch' the bar of the chain saw. The trunk weighs more than my motorcycle..... that's a contest I am not going to win.
So I went to get my tractor, so I could use the bucket and a chain to lift the trunk off my saw. Had to unhitch the brush hog from the 3 point hitch on the back, and I noticed that the right lower arm is not really attached to the tractor as it should be..... the pin that holds the arm to the tractor is backed all the way out and is about to fall out.
I had observed this before; the part in use is not the OEM part, due to someone in the past breaking the mount, and having had to repair it.
The mount itself (attached to the tractor frame) consists of two 'ears' with holes in it to pass the pin through like an axle. Once the pin is inserted all the way, a lynch pin retains it. Except THIS pin doesn't go far enough through the hole to allow that. The end of the arm rides in a socket, on that pin.
I take the pin all the way out and examine it, and the mount. Someone has welded a big nasty blob of steel onto the outside of the ear, and it now interferes with the pin.... it can't go deep enough due to hitting that weld.
I grabbed a file, and proceeded to reduce the size of that bead of weld. For about an hour. After almost 2 hours, I had it reduced enough to allow the pin to go 'home'......... only it would still not do so.
A hack saw and file job on the pin ensued..... 30 minutes later, I have removed a notch from the pin that allows it clearance to seat in the 'ear', and I can finally add a cotter pin to keep this from happening to me again.
Some of the trees DH cut down and cleaned up.
Massive brush pile.
Story is written by DH. ;O)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
DS rides Dyfra !
Think part of why she did so well... is DS has been helping me feed Dyfra for 6 years. So she knows DS very well and all the years of work and training I have put into her. Now I wish I brought the camera out.
Reason I tried this, is my Niece is coming for a visit and wants a pony ride. Was going to use Stjarna but I am still battleing her Ringworm, so I don't want to use tack on her or have anyone else around her for awhile.
Think Dyfra will do fine in the Roundpen with me leading my niece around on her back.
After that, I had a wonderful ride out on Dyfra, checked out, the clean up bridle paths in the woods. DH did a wonderful job! Thank you Husband. :O)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Getting their nails done.
This is Sadie, having her Soft Paw's put on. This is how we keep both us and the furniture from getting scratched. It doesn't hurt the Cat's and it is easy to do.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
One funny Morning, a DS and Mia ~
*
All I could see is this lump of something in bed. Mia was sitting there on the floor looking at the moving lump slowly come to life.
As it raised out of its bed, hair sticking out in all kinds of weird angles, Mia takes one look at him and fluffs up like a large bottle brush, tail, back, the whole 9 yards.
I just could not stop laughing, still can't stop laughing.
Guess Mia didn't recognize him for a minute there but then if I was Mia, I would of been scared. Too .... Much.... hair..... LOL
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Few Garden Veggies and a walk in the Woods
Only time I see this Owl in person, is when I am riding Dyfra and he has been known to fly right over our heads.
I had to use the riding Lawn tractor to get to the woods, as my walky bits aren't to happy with what I have been doing lately. So DH brought it over to me once we were done with the short walk in the woods. Isn't he handsome. :O) A knight riding shinny green metal.
Some of the many brussel sprouts interlaced with Onions in the Kitchen Garden.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The Magical Ride ~ a very short story
There in the distance ,through the dark forest to the meadow heights, mist dancing in the background, was the rare creature they were looking for. For you see, it is only seen once in a life time, a Miniature Chestnut unicorn wearing a neckless of tiny bells and protected by the good Fairies of the Forest.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Haying has started and more Edda and Stjarna photos
Sadly, the amount of hay we are getting this year is at least 1/4 less than last year, there is a good chance we will not have enough to sell, so we can cover the costs.
Pasture needs to be sprayed for broad leaf weeds, limed and fertilized. We just don't have the equipment and money for the lime and weed killer right now. But it will need to be done if we want to keep baling our own hay.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Ducklings, Garden and Rose Arbor
Edda photographs
The rest of the photos in the bright yellowish light of this morning... made her color not look correct.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Working in the Garden and Mia's says hi......or some such..
Can see DS weeding around the potato bed.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Edda and Ella Videos
Does make me wish I had a real video camera but I did get an Action shot of Edda.
And Below,,, Ella eating breakfast. Needless to say she needs to loose a few pounds and please excuse the clipping job.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More Edda Videos
I have Ella in the foals pasture during the day to give the foal a buddy... Stjarna doesn't mind her as much as she does the other horses at this point. Not sure if Dyfra is happy sharing her Donkey pet ???
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sewing ~ and this and that....
So the binding on Dyfra's 3 year old fly sheet, finally wore to shreds. So I used some very heavy duty curtain material I have had for years and made her a fancy new binding. Not the best sewing job but hopefully it will last a couple of years. The things I do for my horses. LOL
DH needs to take care of a rather large yellow jacket nest under one of the house eves. Should prove interesting. :O)
Sunday, June 7, 2009
More Edda pictures
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Peeling logs, pretty flowers and horses of course~
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Edda and Stjarna video
Stjarna is slowly gaining weight and looking a whole lot better. She still has some sores in various places but even they seem to be getting better, if slowly. Edda is doing well, happy and starting to play more. Has been a long time since I have had a baby horse on the place....we are all really enjoying it.
Theia was our last foal and she will be 6 years old at the end of June. Where has the time gone?!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Icelandic filly pictures and a video
Stjarna doesn't look as good as I would like in this video... however, she is looking much better in person. But here is Edda...