Of Hay and Hair

I hope that the name change hasn't thrown everyone for to big of a loop and that your back on track with the blog. If not, and your reading this right now, well, then I'm not sure if there is much I can do to help you(but its okay, I've been there too).
This morning was so nice when I went out to feed. It was so quite and not really cold at all-36 degrees to be exact. No, the sun wasn't shining and I was a little bummed that it hadn't rained yet like they said it was supposed to, but what do they know-really-you can't read God's mind; so with that thought, I will be thankful that I didn't have to break ice and that everyone slept in which gave me the morning to my self.
So what's with "Of Hay and Hair" you ask.--There is plenty of it around here-never a shortage-that's what! Its that time of year that all of the critters are 'blowing' their coats-the hair is flying! As for the hay well, its everywhere all of the time-in my coat, my hair, the girl's shoes, their hair, clothes, my gloves, the vehicles, etc...........and when the wind blows, the hay and the hair just kind of swirls around and around. I don't mind a bit of a breeze, sometimes, like when the bugs are out, when its really muddy and I am tired of the mud that is everywhere with the hay and hair(esp. in the house) but otherwise nice and calm is the way to go.
Thankfully, the wind wasn't blowing when I took these pictures, otherwise it would of been a blur of hay and hair!

It was very nice and sunny and the haystack just seemed to be the place to be for both two legged and four legged creatures, furry and hairy.

There are 7 mores cats around here but I figured that if I tried to get anymore in the picture it would just blow apart-hair would go in every direction so I stopped while I was ahead.

Heide with Ruby in the background-she decided to join us for a few moments and then decided that there was to much 'hair' of the wrong kind(dogs drool and cats rule)

Lee is waiting patiently for me to get everyone else situated but he is ready to leave at the 'drop of a hat'. The pressure of the 'hay and hair' was getting to him.

Hank was happy! The only thing that 'pressures' him is the birds that he can't seem to catch, the shadows that constantly seem to escape his bite and the jollyball that has never seemed to completely succumb to his constant terrorizing.

Yes, Hank was 'happy' to sit here for a moment but lets just say that the desire to go 'seek and destroy' was starting to get to him.

After much persistence, bribing, lots of "stay"and "wait"(they respond to different commands) and threatening them I finally got a 'group' picture.

Confession-I had some help-Jessie was hiding behind Heide and Azule keeping them there. When we were done, the hay and hair was starting to get to Jessie-just a bit itchy!

Haystack Fun

Yesterday was just beautiful! It was a nice break in between storms and a reminder that spring is just around the corner-its that time of year for really unsettling weather-time to take extra vitamins too!
The girls and I got went out to enjoy the sunshine after lunch. We saddled up the horses and rode for a little over an hour(I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pics. of that) then I decided that I needed some more pics of them and the haystack is always one of my favorite 'props'.

The dogs were out enjoying the weather too so I figured that they should be involved in some pics-there will be more of them to come-talk about a challenge.
Little Miss always lookin' cute.

Jessie is starting to look way to grown up

Had to have a 'funny face' in there somewhere.




The realization of how fast they are growing up has really hit me hard lately-therefore I am making some changes to plans this summer and for the future. Last year was a good year but I feel like I missed a lot with all of the working and training that I did so I'm not going to work this summer and I'm not going to show-just going to simply enjoy and play.

name change

There is going to be some changes to the blog coming up with the first being a name change and address change. It will now be "Two Flying A's" and the website will be www.twoflyingaz.blogspot.com. We have been wanting to come up with a 'brand' so to speak and we finally agreed on it and the design. Why? you ask to which I would answer-why not; because we can; thought it kind of cool; marking territory/ownership.....okay, you get the point. Its kind of like a signature or trademark. The new address will happen on Friday the 26th. Thanks !

Its a Fowl Thing

The chickens that we got last year are doing well. They've been laying now for a few months and despite the really cold weather that we had, they only slowed down for about a week. We have a total of 31 birds, 3 of those are roosters so that leaves up with 28 hens(that's the extent of my math skills). Right now we are averaging 15 eggs a day so I don't that they are all laying, at least not every day but this summer things could really pick up even more. I'm going to have to find some more recipes that require lots of eggs!

Here are 3 faithful layers that are sitting on eggs everyday. Its amazing how many eggs can fit under one chicken-especially the little white bantam in the middle.

Good egg sitters!

The 'fruits' of their labor.

A couple of the other little faithful bantams out on a limb-gotta stretch their legs occasionally.

Today's gathering, so far, has totaled 17.

I bet you counted them, didn't you?

They haven't quite all figured it out though when it comes to consistency in size-we get a wide variety with a few extremes.

On one side, we get a few of these really little eggs that usually are yolk-less. Wouldn't bakers love it if they could get yolk-less eggs? I've got to try to figure this out-may be profitable.

No we don't have geese or ducks-this is a long, double yoker, chicken egg-I'm sure she felt better.

It must be a fowl thing-fresh eggs anyone?

Beauty Rest

Aahhh....the sunshine is so wonderful; just ask the horses. You know that spring is getting closer when they all start 'napping' together in the sun right after breakfast and then when they get up the ground is covered in hair. I've reminded them that its only February, there, it might be a bit early to be shedding their coat, but, they don't listen to me.

Riata is in a good REM cycle

But when the 'alpha' mare(Nina-the palomino) gets up, nap time is over-right now!

Time to shake, stretch, snort, blow and yawn............

Getting up can be so hard, especially if your not a mid-morning horsey(click on picture and notice Nina's mid-morning face)

"Riata, just another friendly reminder, the green piles that are in your pen ARE NOT body pillows and that shade or green is just not you!"

Afternoon Fun

A couple of weeks ago we had our friends Micah and Dania over for lunch and then spent the afternoon talking about guns, law, politics, married life, he said, she said, you said, I said and so forth and so on.
After conversing for a while we all headed out to get on the 'ATV's'. Dania and I saddled up the original atv's while Micah and Bryan took the motorized versions out.

It was a little nippy out but that didn't slow us down.

Micah was informing Nina that if she did anything to hurt his bride there was going to be a meeting-notice the firearm!

I told them that she was on 'good hooves'. Kind of like ' in good hand' but horses don't have hands, they have hooves so............oh, never mind.

And were off...............like molasses in January(literally, well almost; it was January)

out in the arena

The sunshine felt great

"and here they come around the corner, neck n' neck.......

'oh it looks like Lena is pulling ahead..........this is going to be a close race!'

"looks like its been a fun filled afternoon for all involved"

Have a great day!!

Little Posse

I remember as a little girl that I loved horses and would ride one at any opportunity that came up or that I caused by a sweet little 'batting' of the eyes, smile and of course 'please'. Hmmm...........not much has changed. Knowing how much I loved this as a child, it is a great experience that needs to be shared and I feel extremely grateful that it is possible for us to do this.
Today that is exactly what we did. Brianna, Shyla, Katie, Brooklynn, Nathan, Robert, Rodney, and of course my two Jessie and Marisa took advantage of the weather, friendships and two good horses and had fun riding for a couple hours. This is also the perfect recipe for pre-naps; Shyla and Brooklynn crashed right after lunch.

From left to right: Nina(horse), Brianna, Marisa, Shyla, Katie, Brooklynn, Lena(horse) and Jessie.

Brooklynn and Marisa-Marisa was a great help with the 'little' kids; it helped them feel comfortable to be around and on such a big animal.

Jessie showing us how a princess rides.

Brianna on Lena(paint) and Jessie was leading Nina with Shyla and Katie.

Her hat did not want to stay but she adapted quickly to riding with one hand on her head and the other on Shyla. This was Katie's first time on a horse. She had a blast!

Around we go again.

Nathan and Robert for their first time on a horse too. Jessie and Brianna were troopers and did a lot of walking around and around to help make sure everyone got a good ride or two in.

Jessie and Rodney.

Jessie again. Lena was sleep walking by this point.

When they weren't on the real horses, they were riding 'barrel horses'. These horses were tough to ride-they more than once got a taste of the dirt but they always got back on. After a while they decided that the 'gang-up' approach was the best way to ride them.

When all was said and done.....................