Dogs are miracles with paws. ~Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy
Maggie left us today to go be with our most high God. She had not been feeling well over the last two weeks. The vet shared it was her time and there was nothing we could do. I made the decision to put her down as I did not want her to suffer. As most of you know, she arrived one day following my brother up from the lake. She had been abandoned. Maggie had been abused and would not allow us to touch her. She was skinny and scared. She realized in a short time that the Blue Ridge Bed & Breakfast For Dogs was a great place to live! Slowly we were able to touch her and she learned our love was unconditional. Maggie was a beautiful sweet dog that we will miss dearly. Today, take the time to show someone or something you love that they are very special. Vicki
Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much. Author Unknown
Put a fork in me, I’m done! The last two days have been crazy. This is my story and I am sticking to it.
It all started yesterday, I finally gave in and went and bought bagged shavings. Forty bags to be specific. I have been waiting for sawdust going on a month. I honestly couldn’t wait any longer as my poor babies were on the ground. (On the ground means bedding was low with no cushion.) My sweet Dad went and picked them up and we unloaded all forty bags. I did my usual chores of feeding both am/pm, taught four lessons, stripped my 9 stalls and then bedded them back with my beautiful, expensive shavings! To me those flakes could as well been gold or diamonds. Clean sheets for my lovely steeds.
I started my Wednesday with my normal am feeding. I find that Maggie, one of my 5 dogs, is sick. I taught two lessons at 11:00 and 12:00. The phone rang and yes it was in fact my load of sawdust ready for delivery. Note to readers: One never, ever turns down a load of sawdust or shavings. They are too hard to come by to pass over. The walking bed truck arrived about 1:45 backed into the barn and started dumping the shavings every couple of feet. One problem was that I had to feed grain at 2:00 for the horses to stay on schedule. I also had two more indoor lessons at 4:00 and 5:00 with enormous piles of sawdust every few feet stretching across the hallway to the end of the barn. The highlight of the day was Katie showing up like an angel from heaven! We (Dad,Katie and myself) moved what we could by hand up against the walls to pave a place for lessons in the hallway. Dad shares he can do the rest with the tractor before my four appointment. He quickly jumped on the tractor pulled it in and it died in the hallway….out of gas. He runs to the store to get gas and is just finishing up when my first lesson arrives. Both lessons went off without a hitch:)
Post lessons I had not been able to finish cleaning stalls, hay or water earlier when they were grained. I started to my first stall and the door won’t open, it will not open, it will not open! We had banked the sawdust on the wall not leaving room for the stall doors to slide. Digging out my horses, was delightful as you can image. Katie and I then finished cleaning stalls, haying, and watering.
Thoughts to ponder today:
- Katie and Dad are angels! Thank you! (It does take a village)
- I purchased shavings and sawdust less than a day apart with no choice to the tune of $374.60 Cha-Ching
- I have never known my dad to let his tractor run out of gas. (HeHe)
- Don’t bank sawdust behind your stall doors, technically they have to open.
Maggie is doing much better but is still weak. Please pray for her.
As always, I am grateful to do what I love most: instruct, care for my horses, and manage our farm even on busy days.