Virtual Brush Box

Jasmine basks in the new dog pen. While we have fenced-in yard, it needs serious rehab before it is ready for the senior set, particularly Jas. She can get stumped by a twig in her path if she’s feeling ornery &/or particularly unstable. Now they can lie in the sun without someone having to stay outside to supervise.

Visiting the barn in the portable pen.

Favorite place for Pudge, formal name Reason. He has free run of house & barn. He wants to sleep in a feed pan in the front yard. In his defense, it is a sunny spot.

Internet wisdom says straw is the best outdoor bedding. Towels can get damp and cold. Hay can mold. Of course, that is for feral animals. Pudge’s straw is changed whenever it gets wet. Still, he seems to like it. The picnic blankets for the dogs get picked up as soon as they come inside.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

When he goes out lately, Rodney has been grazing farther from the barn, much to Milton’s dismay.

It could be as simple as spring grass.

However.

Rodney was so good about staying close, to the point of getting frantic if he couldn’t get back in immediately.

It’s almost as if he is now saying, ‘Milton’s good. My work here is done.’

We are starting to agree with Dr. Rodney.

Onwards!
Katherine

Apparently my writing career was not as dead as I thought it was. (Prone to tailspins? Moi?)

So that’s the good news.

The bad news is that the nerves were horrid. Before the interview. Before sitting down to write up the interview.

This does not bode well for future lessons.

I’m not talking a few butterflies. I mean full-on, hysterical, nervous attacks that are COMPLETELY out of proportion to a short interview with an amenable subject.

Lessons with lesson horses are the same. Utterly no reason to get that stressed about a simple ride on a kind school horse.

I know I can do it. I know it will go well. Really. I honestly and truly know that it will go well, even while I am nervous. Doesn’t help in the slightest. In either case.

I am so, so tired of having to go through that to get anything done.

I’ve talked to people.
I’ve talked to myself.
Nothing makes a difference.

It’s fun being me.

Why am I telling you this? Dunno. You’ve been with me this far. Figured you were due a report on my progress. Or lack thereof.

Follow-up note. Article turned out fine. Well-received by editor. This will not have the slightest influence on my behavior the next time.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Small blood smear on Milton’s right side.

First thought, his belly! The fact that it couldn’t logistical have dripped from his underpinnings up his side is irrelevant.

Little amount, spread thinly. Bug bite?

No obvious bites, marks, or cuts on the skin.

Well, he scratches that area with his teeth. Maybe the problem is on the other end of the equation.

Check mouth and gums. Nothing.

Wait, now I have blood on my hands!?! What was I touching?

Aha! Got it. Nosebleed. Left nostril.

How did blood get from left nostril to right flank? That’s some serious neck contorting.

He’s had nosebleeds in the Spring. Probably from snorting. Milton’s Head Minion remembers talking with the vet about them in a past Spring.

Wipe a few times. Trickle stops. We find spots in the stall where he rubbed his nose.

A brief sprinkle compared to the thunderstorm back when Rodney had a nose bleed. He painted the walls with his blood. Seriously. I compared it to a horror movie. [Conference Report. Not. Long Version., The Nose]

Rodney was fine then. Milton is fine now.

Onwards!
Katherine

Post #4000

Design from screenshots of previous milestone posts.
Post #1 [We Begin Again] December 22, 2011
Post #1000 [I Made It!] October 14, 2014
Post #2000 [Letter Art: MM] July 9, 2017
Post #3000 [3000 Dots] June 10, 2020

Four thousand posts took 4,094 days, or 11.2 years, from 22 December 2011. [Begin]

I stepped away from the blog four times, for good and for ill: one vacation (2012), two snits (2013 & 2018), one break to get Milton (2014). [A Sea of Statistics]

Continuously to date for 1747 days, from 26 May 2018 [Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed, & Back to Blogging]

I thought about going to weekdays only, but didn’t. Among other reasons, “The idea of breaking my streak bothered me even more than I thought it would.” [State of the Blog, Weekends NOT off]

I feel that I ought to have Deep Thoughts about this. All I got is ‘Wow, that’s a lot of posts.’ & ’11 years? Really?’

Where we all be in 4,000 more?

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Tenth week post surgery
Two weeks at clinic DONE
Four weeks of at-home stall rest DONE
Two weeks of paddock rest DONE
Starting week 4 of four weeks of paddock rest
Still to go, four weeks pasture rest

Milton got away during a graze.

Galloped around a bit.

It was both gorgeous and horrifying.

Gorgeous because he is a pretty horse.

Horrifying because the vet said he is not supposed to trot.

Technically, there was not trotting involved.

Fortunately, right now he has the endurance of a paper doily. After perhaps two big circles, he stopped, hoping someone would catch him and give him cookies.

Zipper still zipped. Checked in with vet by phone. As long as incision okay, Milton should be good.

Onwards!
Katherine

Explanation. We have a horse on stall rest following colic surgery. This has taken over the blog. Mostly. [Begin, Phase III]

Finishing week 9 post surgery
Finishing week 3 of paddock rest

Morning

Rodney! Is! Out!

I! Want! To! Be! Out!

Rage!

We finally gave up.

Rodney, come in.

Nah. I’m good. Nice grass out here.

We know it’s not fair, but you need to come back. I promise alfalfa.

Okay.

Zooooommmmm.

Incominggggg!

Um, dude, you know it’s muddy, right?

Skid. Skreech.

Here I am!

Great. Thank you. Here are cookies. Here is alfalfa. You go in the stall while Milton gets taken for out for grazing.

Per Dr. Cooper, “Sometimes the baby wins.”

Afternoon

Rodney! Is! Out!

I! Want! To! Be! Out!

Rage!

Milton, you were out. It’s Rodney’s turn. Scream all you want. Sometimes the baby doesn’t win.

Later. Rodney, time’s up.

Comingggggg!

Sound of thundering hooves.

Evening

Did you know horses can canter in place? When it was his turn, Rodney went dashing out of the barn. Milton hopped around in sympathy.

Onwards!
Katherine