Febuary's About Gone

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.No kidding, for someone that doesn't do any more than Mikey does how can we be this far into the year already? Poor old Easter is 7 years now; Dudes' home from college; Jackie Jo's coming home in a week or so; Toby's going to be a project anytime now. Patrick and my dear friend Ted came out Tuesday for some smoked chicken breast, baked potatoes, and several mighty cold ones around the fire place. Boy were the fishing stories flying! That day went so fast I am beginning to see the answer. Patrick gave Ted and I a lesson on how a wood maul is swung to split wood, I had to mention that is was for the fire wood, not my maul handle, teh heh. It's OK I bought two back ups already, just in case. Did I mention the fish stories? While we were out there Irene came by a couple of times first riding Mandy, her very long time Palamino friend, later on Reiny her five year old Buckskin mare. Nice, we have plans for her and Dude. I also told her I have a couple of horses that could use riding if she was still in the mood, (non publishable reply)! While Pat and Ted were there it seemed like a good time for them to stock up on Idaho groceries, so they DID.
Potatoes; onions; red beans; and kidney beans all from Idaho. Not to mention Irene provided a couple dozen fresh scratch eggs. Em babies are no fish story. Pat seems to really like the idea of sitting by the fire, so he also loaded up on some fresh split fire wood for his place, you can never have enough I guess.


.Have some things I have to do, I'm sure that something will go haywire, you know what I mean, but life goes on at the LMA. Thankfully we take most of it with a grain of salt, and a dash of good humor. Keeps things that are over my pay grade from getting the best of me. See you around the fire place sometime soon!----------------------------Mikey


.PS----------------Love You MOM---------m

By now I'm sure you know Cookie is here and has been since Mon. and now Dawn Marie is headed this way. She will be here this afternoon for a few days so that will be wonderful. She has been so busy it is hard for her to get away for long. I think she would like to have all the siblings here at the same time like before, but, it is just about impossible with all so busy. Oh well, I'm just happy to get a chance to see whom so ever I can whenever I can. I will try to do some blogging on a little more regular basis now that I have my computer up and running.

Keep the blogs coming I promise I will do better about keeping up with them too.

Love you Mikey
Mom

Could Spring Be Here?

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My my my, sure is warm this morning. 44 degrees; no breeze; stars are out, yep. Come on Easter wake up time for breakfast, Mikey has to be to work by 6 o'clock. I wonder how Jackie Jo is this morning. Jerry told me she is quite the ruckus raiser when he feeds in the stables up there. I suggested he put her out with the 2 year old colts, but he was worried about a new brood mare they bought which didn't get along with Spice & Lulu to well, so she is out there now. Battles between brood mares can be expensive when it cost a foal. I have always found it difficult to do business with females. None the less I'm sure Jackie Jo has her opinion about it too, sure think her world changed after meeting "Elvis" (Milagro Smokey Dude) he's something for sure! Jackie Jo is scheduled for an ultra sound near the first of March. Spring came early for her, and quickly.

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Speaking of Spring a long time friend came waltzing through the front doors of work(Mom knows Dana), I walked up behind her and asked her for her ID, a stunned look came over her face for a few moments, then she recognized who I was and gave me a terrific hug. Yep Spring is in the air! Can't remember how long since, oh well forget about it! Spring is in the air. Speaking of Spring the first green shoots of life are starting to sprout on the LMA. This week is three days off, looks like I need to put my flower garden hat on, yep Spring is in the ground too! Drying out that fire place finally, man what a mess with all that rain and snow, not to mention cold wind, sitting inside is all I could do for a long time. Now the days call for get up off it, go outside, love it.

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That's about it from here. Waiting for you all to come by for a fire and a cold one before it gets too hot--------------------------------Mikey

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.PS--------------Love you MOM-----------m

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Dude's Home

Wheeeeewwwww.


That was the first breath out of my mouth on returning to the LMA. No "burning daylight" today! Anxious as I was about the journey up and back the roads and weather were blessed. My luck held both ways. Working in a cave like I do made being out west in the wide open spaces is a real joy. Wasteland is what some people call Nevada, wish they would take another look, might inspire them. Wide open spaces is cowboy reality.


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Dude weathered the trip home far better than his trip to college, Mikey was definitely out of his circle of trust for that one. However college seemed to agree with him. The trainer for Dude, Sean Williams did a terrific job. I also spent time with him while he rode Dude for me. Seeing a students teacher in action is worth a bunch of talking. After he ended his ride I took over. Absolute thrill let me tell you, outside of the fact I was nervous as Hell about it, been there done that, calamity and horse go hand in hand! Of course the whole experience had me anxious for quite a while before he went to be trained, just imagine completing a process like this, way above my pay grade I'll tell ya! Just lucked out. More than that I have to thank Jerry Eckhout for pointing us in Sean's direction, good young man who has done training for him before. Dude appeared to be fine with unloading as Easter and Toby made a big racket, he joined in while he led me to his corral, "ahem".


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You all know what's coming next, yep time for a cold one and fire---------------------------------Mikey.



.PS----------------I Love you MOM---------------m

Mid Week

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Still raining, getting nervous, I guess having three more shifts to pull has hidden benefits. I'm out of the rain; time passes quickly when one stays busy; get a break from weather worries on the road. Still a lot of preparation needed for the trip, at least Jackie Jo is ready to go. She has been feeding in the horse trailer the last couple of days. Jackie Jo hasn't been in a trailer since she came to the LMA. The really funny part is now she thinks it's her special place, she stomps in and out all night, gets out of the weather, and I suspect she let's Easter and Toby know that she is special. Jackie Jo was having a problem being bored lately so this seemed like a new toy to her, the first night she tore all the padding off the divider and threw it around her pen. Nice. Jackie Jo doesn't know this, but she's going north with me to get Dude. I'm leaving her at the Spruce Tree ranch.(Breeding Purposes).

The weather looks ominous, naturally, it is winter. Still, one has to do what one has to do. The life cycles of horses never seems convenient to humans who still love and enjoy them. I still feel for Jackie Jo, now she won't have to wonder what it must be like, she will have her instincts kindled in the natural way. Still a Hobbit must remember " you never know when you leave the Shire", keep that in mind.


Can't wait to see Dude, the reports have been scarce, but good for a three year old Stallion. We'll see. The trip both ways will be hard I am sure, I have traveled this route many times good weather and bad. Just use your experience and things work out fine, no rush no worry. It's just the anxiety for the horses, I am responsible for them too. I don't mind going, I just hate leaving, life is good here on the ranch. This is really exciting for me that's why I'm nervous.


.Usually I concentrate on the humor around here, but this is big stuff. See you all soon.---------------------------------Mikey

PS--------LY MOM------------m

Rain-what a concept

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You guessed it RAIN. Two weeks and counting. At first it was really nice, sit in the house look at the clouds rolling by, no dust, temperature down, not used to this. Reading, talking on the phone, start a rainy day crock pot. Make up some drop biscuits, more coffee, sit in my chair. You don't think it will freeze on the pass, 35 degrees for a low. Hope not my dually is not good on slick roads.

.Man I'm tired of this, my backside is getting sore from sitting here. I need to get up and do something before I turn into a vegetable. The rain seems to have let up, the ground is wet but not sloppy, sure glad we finished burning weeds and groomed the ground just before it started raining last week, the water will form a crust that helps keep the dust to a minimum when it dries out.

.Hey Easter want to get your feet trimmed? I know you and Toby are having a lot of fun getting to know each other. (I was doing all the corrals at the same time as the weeds, so I put Toby in the arena with Easter). I was going to put him in the small pen on the north end until he reared up on me a couple times. Feeling pretty frisky he was. I think Toby needs some of that worn off of him Easter. Here you boys get to know each other for a few days. ( I don't write well enough to describe how this went)!


.Now where was I? Easter, want to get your feet trimmed? Mikey's sore backside caused him to make a questionable decision, not having heard from the shoer in some time. Easter's feet were getting too long, well if I have to do it, then so be it. Toby! Get back! Just because I have Easter in a halter doesn't mean you can do that, now get back. It's OK Easter I'll take you over to the tree by Jackie Jo, she's lonely for company anyway, since KD moved next door. I was going to trim you in the arena, but that Toby is just too frisky still.

.OK Easter pick that foot up so I can clean the mud out, come on Easter hold it up too. Your feet sure are moist, this should be a breeze. (Is that the sound of thunder or my heart pumping?) Sit down for a second. OK Easter pick that foot up so I can trim, Easter hold it up!! This should be a breeze since Wood Cutter Brian sharpened the nippers. (Is that an earthquake or my heart pumping?) Sit down for a second. Where is the rasp? OK Easter pick that foot up, come on Easter Hold It UP!!!! (I think it's my heart) yep. There you go boy both front feet trimmed just like a pro. Sorry the two in the back will have to wait till next Monday, come on to the arena before this rain gets heavier,Toby is lonesome.


.Look at that rain, you know I love to sit here watching the clouds roll by, munching on stew and drop biscuits, drinking coffee, maybe MOM will call. On second thought a cold one sounds even better-------------------------Mikey.

Post Holiday

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Possibly one of the most confusing things about the Post Holiday to me is the fact that I have the let down. I didn't really have a Holiday, I worked straight through. This isn't all that tough for me since that's the way it's been for over 30 years. Trying to figure this out one must recall what has occurred over those years that bring about this little post Holiday let down. Even though some one lives the not norm life style there must be a commonality that is inescapable.
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Could it be the little cards and letters I received from people lost to my day to day existence for various reasons through time and travel? Could it be that every year since the start of the LMA someone has spent their first Christmas there? Maybe it's the birthday thing with the horses, they are all one year older on New Years Day. That makes the Holidays even more exciting, birthdays.

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The spirit of Holiday Season is inescapable. No matter where you are in life your heart came there with you so the price will always be paid in your mind. Wish I could feel even more of a let down now. Gee I don't know which way to go.


. Think about it Mikey-------------Start a fire and have a cold one!





.PS-------------------I Love You Mom------------------m