One Step Closer to Coming Home

We got a very nice surprise on Sunday morning when we went out to visit "Olive"... Even though we haven't heard anything about our adoption yet, Tawnee and Larry discussed that we pretty much show that we care for our gal, as we keep driving way the heck out there every time we can! It is a bit off the beaten track, I admit...! It was all I could do to contain my excitement and not have us both jumping all over the pen! LOL!!

In the meanwhile, fly season has hit. I took some repellent out with me today. After we had a good brushing...right into my face...how does that work? *grin* Thanks Mom Nature! Anyway...After a good brushing, we rubbed down with the fly spray, face, chest, legs, back, tummy, flanks and rump. Whew. The only part that made her uncomfortable at all was touching her ears. Otherwise she was a perfect lady. It helped...not a whole lot it seemed. By the time I'd finished with her session, she seemed to have almost as many flies on her again. Maybe they won't stick around long enough to bite though...

So, it's time to finish what we have started. We found the last of our fence posts last night, and bought them! I think that's the last of the materials, except for 2 livestock panels. The panels are insurance...I'll feel better if we have them. None of the rest of the fencing makes me nervous yet, but the last little bit does. Then, I want to buy a panel a month for awhile, two if I can swing it.

So, we're incredibly excited! We're getting the last few things all put together for her, and on Wednesday they'll come by and do a site check...and then she'll be home! I still can hardly believe it's all happening!

For me, this is like a dream come true in all the right ways this time! "Olive" is the right age...she's not a "foolish filly" full of tricks and silliness, nor is she a "moody mare." I'm sure she has her moody moments though, don't we all? We "mature" ladies have a certain "seasoned" quality about us! LOL! We don't get overly excited by the antics of the youngsters. We know children will be children!


I love the way she feels with me...I love the way I feel with her! Even though I'm a little insecure, I feel her responding to me the way she should, the way I want her to, and I'm encouraged.

Today she played a little game with me. There's a little narrow V in the back of her pen, where she can put her nose and give me her rump. Little stinker...she did just that! This is what's going through her mind...Do you deserve my respect? I'm telling you that you don't exactly have it yet. You have to work up to that. It all depends on what you do next what happens next... It's kind of like a chess game! My next move is to continue to talk to her so she knows I'm still there, and to crowd her space by walking up near her rump, but not behind her. If she turns her head slightly to the right she can see me. Now she's thinking...Ok, not bad. You're crowding my space some, but you aren't disrespecting me. I'll get out of this tight space because I've trapped myself, and I don't want to hurt you or myself while I think about this. Continuing our semi-one-sided conversation, I walk on up to her fairly slowly, with my hand out for her. When I touch her shoulder, she moves off a step, but when I put my hand on her neck she yielded for the lead rope. Poor baby...she had to leave breakfast behind. I didn't keep her too long. 45 minutes maybe...long enough to brush her out, comb her mane (oh, am I qualified!), add some fly wipe, size her for a bit and take a pretty walk.

Visiting Phoenix Fields and Olive

The school/work year has finally come to a close, and I have 6 weeks off. It's been hard to be patient. Phoenix Fields is generally available daily, by appointment, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Mon-Fri., closed on Saturdays, Open without appointment on Sundays during the same hours. After I got to meet the horses the first time, and took a shine to Olive, there hasn't been an opportunity to be out to the Rescue without someone making a special trip out there for me. The first Sunday I had free, the crew was in Sacramento at the Western Horse Expo, so when Fathers' Day rolled around, it was my first chance to go out and really get to meet my favorite gal. (Photos courtesy of Nor Cal Equine Rescue - Thank you Tawnee! I didn't know you were taking our picture! Just had to "borrow" them!)

Larry went into the pen with me to get her (after having me sign the appropriate release of liability), and the two of us started getting acquainted. I just took it slow and easy following the advice of the Natural Horsemanship literature I've immersed myself in. She seems to respond very well to that philosophy. Everything I've done with her so far has gone pretty much right by the books. We spent awhile together on Sunday, talking and getting my hands onto her, then Larry and I made arrangements for another visit Monday.

When I arrived at Phoenix Fields the next day, the mood was very somber. The preceding night had been tough on the staff. Sometimes the other side of the Rescue business is pretty ugly and heart-breaking and Sunday night was one of those nights. I found it completely amazing to see how much these young, broken (physically) horses still trusted and sought human contact and love. It was an honor to be able to go out and visit my favorite gal, recognizing her scars for what they are, and be able to reassure her that those days are gone.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable time. She stood for my touch, even snuggling her head under my arm shortly after this picture for a quick snuggle. We even got so far as to introduce her to her brush. She let me know she wasn't so sure about it as soon as she saw it, but we talked about it. She sniffed it, but still wasn't so sure about it. Then she watched me brush my own arm with it. That bought me some trust. If it didn't hurt me, then maybe it wasn't so bad. This time when I held it up for her to smell, she let me touch her gently with it. After it was rubbed on her face without hurting her, she was satisfied I could use it on her body. Bless her heart. I can only imagine what has made her so tentative about touch. After a good brushing on both sides of her neck and sides, all the way to her rump, we called it a day. Our next "beauty appointment" is Thursday. *giggle*

The Adoption Papers have arrived!

Currently, her name is Olive, because she was abandoned in an olive orchard after the property had been foreclosed on. I simply can't imagine. She's a 16 yr. old mustang-mix. I'm enchanted by her, and very anxious to bring her home! She lives at the Nor Cal Equine Rescue, on Phoenix Fields right now. With any luck, it won't be much longer. It's just hard waiting... They permit visits, but by the time I get off work, they've left the Rescue for the day, and everyone is busy with the Western Horse Expo this weekend. I just need to be patient. I do appreciate them taking care of her...she's in fine shape and has really nice ground manners. She looks a little saddle-sassy, but we'll have lots of time to work on that. How in the world can they possibly have time to keep up with the training of all those horses? My goodness!

If you have a heart for horses, give these folks a look...it doesn't take much to sponsor horse care, and they do their best never to turn any equine away, or the occasional dog either. Nor Cal Equine Rescue Donations are tax deductible, and are truly appreciated. If you read any of the stories of the horses they've rescued, it will break your heart. It's amazing the lengths people will allow things to go without trying to find any kind of help. Merely $10 will purchase a bale of hay... Can you imagine how much hay it takes to feed 20 horses?

When we visited Phoenix Fields, there were horses in all stages of condition. Some were well cared for, others were just beginning their rehabilitation. Some horses you'll see there aren't available for adoption...Dottie & Macho Man in particular! Who knows...maybe there's a horse out there that will steal your heart away too!

Tika...is really Tiki!

I knew if I could just get the theory straight in my head about which was which...which gender resembles a double barreled shot gun and which resembles an exclamation point... Okay. Got it straight now. Female kittens genitalia is all inside but externally there is a tiny slit and a tiny rectum...looks kind of like an exclamation point. Boy kittens look more like double barreled shot guns. Tika is Tiki because Tiki is a boy! LOL!

Tiki is also very much larger than 8 weeks ago! He's very self assured, playing with Jasmine and the chinchillas, bounding through the house like a streak of cream colored lightning...with claws. Oh! Those claws!!

We've also discovered 1 male gray and white kitten on the laundry porch, and 5 miscellaneous kittens of various colors that were out by the shop and are now up by the house with 2 different moms. One mom is people friendly, but the other isn't. This ought to be interesting! There are 2 more kittens, a Siamese and a black and white kitten that were born out by the back door somewhere. Their mother is NOT people friendly, and neither are those kittens, but we're working on them! Some of the adult cats behave as though even a look hurts them somehow. Poor kitties. I know they haven't been abused...we've never been able to touch them!