Mickey!!

Turning 14 years old this June 10th, Mickey is showing his age. Not just the white covering his face, but the distorted look he has. He had a nerve issue a few years back and it left his face dull on the left side. He has lost about 90% of his hearing and has a blurred look to his eyes.

That being said, Mickey still runs, jumps, plays, hoards his toys, loves his treats, and has the most incredible appetite! He is an obedient and loyal dog!

I never thought I, or my hubby would own a wiener-dog. I always thought they were kind of stupid, hard to train dogs...well, I was so wrong!

Mickey was a rescue, I just happen to be the one the owner dumped him on. He was 4 months old and after a few hours with him, my hubby and I decided we couldn't just give this little guy away! I have to tell you, we have had 2 Black Labs, a lab mix, German Shepherd, German Short Hair, Standard Poodle, add to that all the dogs we are around that our friends and family have, and Mickey...has the best vocabulary, the best understanding of the events taking place around him and the quickest response to the right action to take for the circumstance!

I write all this down and share it because I know it is inevitable we will loose him one day. It will be a very sad day. I got a phone call from a friend who winter's in Arizona. Their chow cross just up and died in their arms on New Year's eve. A couple months ago my youngest brother and his wife lost their little sheltie cross. And about 4 months ago, my oldest brother and his family lost their yellow lab. It's so sad and so hard on the families to go through such a loss...In each case, their dog was a HUGE part of their family! Mickey has been there, done that in our family!

Mickey keeps us all on a schedule here, he is a silent alarm as he barks very little...instead, he goes and gets one of the big dogs to challenge the intruder! (like I said, he's a smart one!) He has traveled everywhere with us! He is worldly! He is a perfect gentleman in any motel, and as a passenger in a car, you couldn't ask for better! He knows his boundaries, never runs off and always minds his manners! All of this came naturally...he was not trained!

I could go on for hours on how good and smart this little guy is, how accepting he is of all animals and people...but sooner than later, you will get bored! So, let me leave you with this...Never judge a book by it's cover...the content may be something you wouldn't want to miss out on in life!!

Happy New Year!

Today, January 2nd, 2011...who'd a guessed!?! Back when we were 10, 15, even 25, would have you believed we would this soon be living in the year 2011?! It seems like something out of a science fiction novel or movie! But, here we are! So, let's make the best of a Sci-Fi situation!

This year I would like to do more to improve my life...my relationship with God, my husband, my family and my friends. I'm going to try hard to be a better person, say nice things, compliment someone, support someone in need, share a smile with people that need one. I am writing this so there is a hard copy of it...that way I (hopefully) won't just say it and 2 days later forget it! So, feel free to set me straight if you see me be rude or out of line!

Of course I want to do all the regular New Years resolutions also...loose weight, quit smoking...wait, I don't smoke, What are some others? hmmm, can't think of any, so I guess I'll just call my mom more often!

Well, what ever you do in 2011, do it well, be blessed and happy!

Stay warm...it's cold out there! If you look close, you can see ice on Brio's eye lashes!!

Merry Christ-mas!!

From all of us at the "Farm Follies", to all of you who check with us...We wish You a very Merry Christmas! Please take the time to reflect on the real reason we celebrate Christmas and say a prayer of thanks for all we have been blessed with! I look forward to sharing more follies with you in 2011!!

Blend in!

Snow...we got lots!! Around 2 feet and it's still snowing!! Crazy!

Not many days left in this hunting season, so, if you haven't got your deer yet, you gotta hunt, even in the deep snow! So hubby went out, all done up in his snow-camo. It is the coolest camo! I had to take pictures. And no, he didn't see any deer:(

It "Snow" wonder it's cold!

Oh my goodness!! There's allot of Snow out there!! Right now we have over 14 inches, and that's after a couple of days of packing down! And now, we are due to get another possible 10 inches! Oh no!!

I have never figured out how the critters survive the winters! The chickens and duck follow me around as I shovel so they have a place to walk...I think about closing their coop gate, but have you ever tried to keep Banties from flying the coop? Impossible!

The dogs do well in the snow...they love it...it's like God does it so they have a personal winter wonderland playground...I think my dogs feel like God does it just for them!! The cats seem OK with the snow also...of course, they have a second story shelter with feeding area, and that's only if they choose to stay outside!

Now the horses, they are a real hoot in the snow! At least ours are! They run and buck and put their noses in it like the dogs. It is quite the sight seeing the horses play in the snow! We have trees all around us and occasionally a branch will break off from the wind or heavy snow. Well, one broke off...about a 5 foot long one...in the pasture! We recently bought a 4th horse and I think he is going to fit in just fine! I prefer my horses (well, all my critters really!) have personality! Well, Banjo does!

My hubby was driving down the easement road and he sees Banjo flipping this big ol tree branch around and running thorough the pasture with it. Then he would stop and mess with it and then flip his head around and run some more. Well, upon further investigation, it seems the branch was stuck in the mane of the horse! My hubby went in to rescue the horse from this killer branch, but the horse decided it was more fun to play! Finally, the horse let the branch be separated from his mane! I now have a few twists and knots to comb out! I wish I would have gotten pictures! -- The horses in the photo here are Banjo and Brio!

Thanksgiving Day!

To Garfield we went! Weather was horrific...really didn't want to go...but always glad we did after the day is over and the memories are made and the pictures are taken to preserve for generations to come! I love my family, oh, I can complain and find fault in them all...me included, but I do love them! My sister's oldest and his family were there. Because of their jobs and hours, they don't often make it to family functions. It was so good to see them!

I have 5 siblings, all showed up with their Sig Other, except my bro from MT. He was greatly missed, as he is the Knight in shining armor who rides in and brings the sunshine and smiles! Everyone loves him! And yet, he disappoints us...what's up with that!!! Maybe Christmas!!

20 of us did show! Dinner was great, fun was had by all! A little sledding, a little story telling, lots of hugging, visiting and reminiscing. But sadly, after all the fun is had and we head home, my dad is left behind, failing fast. He doesn't look well. He has pneumonia for the 7th time this year. Very thin and frail. We are all very worried about him. If you happen to read this blog...please include my dad (and my mom) in your prayers.

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and your families are well!!

horse of a different color!

Have had issues with Bombay's feet since December 2009. My hubby has went the distance to get this horse sound. Now he is ready to ride...but boots will be an added protection. -- Bought the boots, now, to try them on for the first time! Bombay has to be in the thick of things...everything! So he starts pulling stuff from the box, then picking the box up and flipping it here and there. He apparently didn't think I was doing a good job of relaying the instructions to my hubby, so he took the instructions from me! He is one funny horse!!

Can you see the yellow sticker on his nose? Well, I figured if he was ok with me putting this sticker on him, my horse Dali should be ok with it, right? NOT! Joe was under Dali, working on his feet, so I took one of the yellow stickers and put on his nose. Have you ever seen a horse look cross-eyed? Me neither! Dali looked down at his nose with both eyes and blew up! I was rolling on the ground with laughter...but hubby didn't find much humor in it...rightfully so, he could have gotten hurt, I should have thought it through a little better, but all is well, no one was hurt and Dali calmed down and his eyes are back in the proper position!!