MORE ON PUNCH AND OTHER STUFF

This is a momma Kula'n and her little one.  From what I understand these are even wilder and more dangerous than zebras

Heard today that Punch is still doing good, tried to chase a cat, told NO, eyed the sheep, told NO and seems to be taken the limitations as gospel.  He is also going to a friend of theirs that trains border collies to learn how to actually work as a cattle dog.  I think he will be a great dog, with some training, that's all he wanted was a job.  We just didn't have one for him.  

Still waiting for the big freeze, to get rid of the flies.  Of course I think tomorrow it's suppose to be 98* and they are talking about breaking records for the next few days for Oct, so the flies are probably going to stick around for awhile.  

We're trying to make the fly masks thru the season without having to buy some more, but it's getting more difficult every day.  Buddy Brat came in the other day with both eyes looking out of holes about 2 inches across.  I guess he found a good place to rub his eyes and went for it.  Boaz lost a good one with fringe on it.  Flies don't like fringe, but unfortunately the fringe gets hung up in the brush really easy.  Haven't found it, I have no idea how they can lose bright colored masks and we can't find them.  This winter I will do my annual order from Colorful Equine.  I will probably order extras, so hopefully next year we will make it thru the season.

The winter visitors are coming back, seems like they are early this year.  We've already got 2 tours from one of the RV parks on the calendar.  The couple that goes out and finds fun things to do locally, got in touch with us last spring and will probably set up regular monthly tours for the winter. 

PUNCH UPDATE

GIZMO AND JOHN WITH BOAZ IN THE BACKGROUND.  DR. DEBRA OFFERED TO HELP FIND HIM A GOOD HOME AS A HORSE COMPANION AND ASKED FOR A PICTURE.  THIS TIME OF YEAR THEIR FLY MASKS ARE ON CONSTANTLY, SO WE TOOK HIS OFF, SHOT A COUPLE OF PICTURES AND RIGHT BACK ON.  FLIES THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE FIERCE AND/OR DESPERATE.

Yesterday I went out for a luncheon with some horsey friends.  They meet about once a month at one of the restaurants in Benson, and I try to make it if I'm not busy. I only know a few of the women, but they let me come even if I'm not "really" horsey..........LOL  

When I got there I didn't recognize anyone, so waited until Joyce got there.  Sure enough a couple of husbands came also, which threw me off.  One couple looked really familiar and it finally dawned on me they are Punch's new family.  They said he is doing just fine, has partnered up with their other Kelpie and is sleeping in the bedroom.............on the floor, not on the bed.  So it sounds like a good match.  

Saddik is getting out twice a day when we are feeding now.  It didn't seem fair to let him out and not Punch, but we couldn't trust Punch not to chase the donkeys, especially little Cheyenne, so neither dog was going out.  Saddik doesn't stay in sight, and I'm pretty sure he goes off the property, but he's good about coming back in about 15 minutes, so we'll just pretend that's the way we want it to be I guess...!!!  He doesn't seem lonely, he still goes in with Doug at night, so he gets quite a bit of quality time.  He use to really love to ride on the golf cart when the guys handed out the hay, but now so far he likes running around better.

Tyler was here this morning to trim Penny's feet and reset Gigi's shoe on her crippled foot.  Both of those girls, would not miss Tyler if he went into outer space, never to return...........LOL  They are rather adamant the subject and have been known to throw fast kicks in his direction.  Gigi went into a snit when she heard his truck coming down the road.  Courtney does everyone else, but she works by herself and Tyler always has a helper with him, and they seem to enjoy the fight.  

Actually Tyler looked like he had already been in a fight and lost.  He has a really nasty looking shiner, although he said it's looking a lot better, at least he can see out of that eye now.  LOL

I guess he and some of the family were helping load some steers for his Dad.  Tyler said there was a yearling heifer there that had been mean since she was born and he talked his Dad into sending her out with the steers before she hurt someone.  I'm sure you can see where this is going............!!!!   LOL

He said they had her blocked trying to get her into the trailer, she spun around, judged which one to take out, and decided Tyler was the one.  He said when he hit the ground his helper jerked him up to his feet, when all he wanted to do was lay there for a couple or minutes to figure out where he was and what he was doing.  He said he had a full day planned, so as soon as he could remember his name and what day it was, off they went.  He said it was a little difficult shoeing with just one eye, no depth perception.  His last stop was a retired nurse, and she gave him some arnica.   I've heard about using it for swelling and bruising, but was amazed at what 2 days of using it has done considering what he said it looked like when it happened.   

Sure will be glad when doctoring and fly mask season is over.  Shouldn't be too long now, the nights are in the 40's.  I'm pretty sure a few nights in the 30's will probably take care of the flies, except for the few that manage to winter over every year. 

We'll probably spend the winter trying to get some of the fat off Rosie, Coquette and Buddy Brat.  I have a feeling next year as soon as the first mesquite bean turns from green to brown, those 3 will have to stay in the pens until the beans are no longer a problem.  Buddy has gone thru this torture before and he isn't quiet about it, every time he sees someone come out of the house, he starts screaming.  I try not to go outside when he's imprisoned like that.  LOL

PUNCH HAS A HOME......!!

 THE BOYS LANGUISHING ON DOUG'S BED, THANKS DOUG

Yesterday we took Boaz to Dr. Debra for a dental appointment.  He's got some chipped teeth and I wanted to make sure they didn't need grounding down.  They were OK, but he did have a few hooks that needed cleaned up.

When we got home there was a message on the phone from a neighbor, wanting to bring some friends over to see Punch.  Doug said he hadn't seen them, but about 1/2 hour later, they got here.  Nice people, they already have a Kelpie, and an Anatolian, they have horses and ride with their dogs.  Punch really took up with the woman, we visited for quite awhile and they took him home with them.  He wasn't very interested in getting in their car, John had to lift him up, but once in he was fine.  

I think it will be a good home for him.  It sounded like they spend a lot of time with their dogs, although sleeping on the bed, isn't going to be an option from what they said.  

Just yesterday, because Punch was going thru the cattle panels and getting out, John and Doug had strung chicken wire inside the cattle panels.  John made a special trip to Benson to get the wire and they spent all afternoon putting it up.  Did a nice job too...........LOL  John said that's OK, we're ready for any size dog now.............HUH?  Does he know something I don't?

We let Saddik out during chores and he hopped up into the golf cart like he use to, helped John weigh hay for awhile and then disappeared, which was about what he use to do.  John yelled and whistled and he came in from our dirt road.  The people across the road have a little dog, he use to visit with, so that's probably where he was.  I wish he would stay within the confines of our fence, but obviously my wishes don't count.  He also could have been looking for Punch.  Doug said he got to sleep in the middle of his bed last night for the 1st time in awhile..........LOL  I guess between the 2 dogs, he didn't have much room left and it was on the edge.  

As of yesterday Penny is out of confinement after about 3 months.  We let her out when we got back from Boaz's dental.  She wasn't all that interested in leaving the confines of her pen, and when John and Doug did round-up for evening feeding, she was waiting in her pen.  I've never seen her eating when she was out on the property, although obviously she ate a lot of mesquite beans when they got ripe this summer.  The clinic said to keep her confined until November 1, but I'm not sure that isn't the usual protocol for an equine that is ridden or worked in some way.  She hasn't had any problems at all and even if she is out, she's just going to be responsible for herself, no saddle, no human on her back, or having to trot or lope or lunge in an arena.  Actually lately she's been trotting a lot, when she sees us outside, hopefully headed her way with cookies.  I'm so glad we chose surgery over euthanasia.  It would have been easier, cheaper, less work, etc............BUT......it's really worthwhile to see her trotting over to the edge of the pen, insisting that she get cookies.  She's never been the friendliest donkey on the property, and she still isn't, BUT, she has really learned how to work us, during her recuperation, always on her terms though.  She will always expect the worst from people, unfortunately.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

PEPSI AND LYNN, THANKS DOUG

I have no idea, where I've been or what I've been doing.  I only know I looked up and it's been a week since I added to the blog...........I think that's a record.  We've been busy, but not anymore than usual, so I guess I have no excuse...........LOL

It's getting cool enough at night in the 40's that John is taking fly masks off now.  When it's cool like that we get up before the flies, instead of the other way around for a change.  Probably by the middle of November, fly season will be over except for a few hardy souls that always winter over.  

Doctoring is going well and is easier every day.  I don't think John and I will miss doctoring, but the "patients" probably will.  There are 7 that get doctored everyday, and know that they get 2 animal crackers when it's over.  Unfortunately there are "hanger-oners" that also know there are cookies being handed out, they just don't know why.  But they make sure they are available for handouts.  I can't get past Gi-gi without "paying" on my way to Rosie for doctoring.  Gizmo and Boaz escort us to the next patient thru about half the pens and fully expect pay for their diligence.  

Casper, the little white mini mule, the neighbor's are fostering doesn't have his goat buddies anymore. They got the 2 goats about the same time Casper went to live with them.  They also had chickens and ducks and in fact Casper got credit for running off a coyote that was shopping for a chicken dinner one time.

Unfortunately lately Casper's batting average had slipped and they were losing chickens.  Vic said he thinks the coyotes were watching for Casper to be elsewhere on the 10 acres before they came in.  Recently they had seen a bobcat stalking one of the goats.  I don't know if a bobcat could take a goat, but they didn't want to take a chance and found them a home.  They lost so many chickens in just a few nights, there weren't very many left, but they also found homes.

Vic says he doesn't think Casper even misses the goats, although the goats were bonded with him.  That just adds more info to the idea that Casper might not have been with other equine or maybe even other animals before we got him.  He definitely is an independent little guy

The other night we heard shrieking and thumping on the back porch, where the dry cat food is.  Went to see what was happening and there were 2 skunks locked in a wrestling match.  We turned on porch lights, opened the door, yelled, clapped our hands and they paid absolutely no attention to us.

Have you ever seen those dog or cat toys, you wind up and they flop around on the floor.  They usually have a big fluffy tail.  That's what it looked like except this "toy" had 2 fluffy tails, and the longer the flopped and squealing went on, they were starting to smell funny.......LOL

Finally with us getting involved from 2 different doors, complete with porch lights flashing off and on, one broke away and the other one chased it around the yard.  And they were smelling stronger.  Even the next morning you could still smell them.  I must be getting immuned to the smell, it doesn't bother me near as much as it use to........!!! 

CAR SHOW YESTERDAY

Had a good time at the car show.  Quite a few friends stopped by to say hi, it was good to see everybody. 

LARRY'S YELLOW CAMARO DOESN'T HARDLY SHOW UP

WE WERE HANDING OUT DISCOUNT TICKETS TO THE RACES AND CANDY........!!

KYLER AND GRANDPA HEADING OVER TO SEE IF ANY OF OUR CARS WON AN AWARD.  

We didn't, we thought maybe JR's our grandson's late model might win something.  The judges spent a lot of time looking at it, but no awards for us, guess they just thought it was neat.  My favorite car there did win.  It was a 1939 black shiny Chevy coupe, boy was it pretty.  

We had a logistics problem in the morning.  Larry was bringing his car in on his trailer, but we had 3 cars and 2 trailers to haul to the park.  After chores John put the bronco up on the trailer and hauled it in.  It took awhile for him to find someone in charge and then they really didn't tell him where our 4 entries should park.  That's why there is nothing around us in the picture I guess.  Actually they had plenty of room for all the cars, so we could all spread out.  JR's late model was already loaded, so when John got back, we loaded up my car and headed for the park.  

The last time the Hornet had ran, it sounded and ran just fine.  Started it up and the fan belt was squealing extremely loud, ear splitting squeal.  And it wouldn't hardly run, probably something in one of the injectors that shouldn't be there.  Got it up on the trailer, got to the park, started it up and it squealed a little and ran just fine.......GRRRRR........!!!  

Got ready to go, and JR said he'd drive the Bronco home,which would have meant only one trip home for John............except in the frantic hauling cars, loading cars and changing clothes in the morning, John had left the keys for the Bronco.......in his blue jeans.  You will notice in the picture above, he doesn't have on blue jeans...!!  LOL  So they decided to haul the late model and the bronco and leave my Hornet there.  I told John if someone stole it, I wasn't going to be very happy.  LOL

Kyler wanted to come out and see the donkeys, so they came out with us, Kyler and Becky saw the donkeys while we were unloading and then we all headed back to town, to hopefully get my Hornet and then go eat Pizza........!!!  

It was a fun day, we don't get to see JR's family very often, except at the track.  Then we are all too busy to "visit".  This wasn't their week to have Hunter, he's with him mom in Phoenix.

I don't know if the fly masks are going to make it until the fly season is over or not.  Some of them are really getting ratty, when you can see an eyeball, it's probably not keeping the flies away from their eyes very good.  I'll order a bunch of new ones from Colorful Equine in the spring. 

For the most part, Gizmo the little brown mini mule has finally been accepted as a member of the herd,  Boaz wouldn't let Gizmo get close to him for a long time.  But lately we've been calling them the odd couple, they are usually together when we find them.  One reason is he has settled down a lot.  When he first got here he was very reactive, if he thought you might have a cookie, he would quickly move towards you, leaving a trail of irritated donkeys in his path.  He's slowed down and they don't react to him as much as they did.  I'm really surprised someone hasn't adopted him, he'd make a great horse companion and he's got a wonderful personality.  

LOVELY ARIZONA WEATHER

This is the weather people come to Arizona for.  You couldn't ask for a more perfect day, not too hot and LOTS of sunshine.  I know many people want 4 seasons, I'm not one of those......LOL  I might be OK with 2 seasons, if one of them is spring and the other one fall.  

The weather in Saudi Arabia when we were up in the mountains was just about the same year round.  I asked a pilot friend one time where in the U.S. had about the same weather as Khamis and he said Mexico City.......!!!   YIKES, not interested in moving there at all...!!!   My perfect place, would be able to grow citrus, avocados, and mangoes in my yard, wouldn't that be fun?  Not sure such a place exists in the U.S. unfortunately.  Not that I'm going anywhere anyway, too much baggage.  John keeps saying we should load up the donkeys and take them to the White Mountains in NE Arizona for the summer.  Probably would cut down on my doctoring of skin problems, BUT the logistics would make my head spin.  

Almost no mesquite beans in the poo...........YAY...! Now maybe I can start them on a diet, although I don't know how we could feed them any less than we are now.  Rosie, Buddy and Coquette are the biggest problems, biggest is the optimum word here.  Buddy isn't as "fluffy" as the 2 girls, but he would be if he could get hold of more food.  I think you could probably put the 2 girls in a dry lot and feed them each 2 pounds of hay a day and they still would be fat.  Coquette was checked for insulin resistance and Cushings and she doesn't appear to be either.  A good friend runs a donkey sanctuary in Colorado and she says she has one like that.  She says the jenny is healthy, just fat and she's tried all sorts of things to get the weight off, and nothing works.  So she doesn't worry about it, maybe that's what we should do.  Hopefully they will slim down this winter, but next summer we'll have the same problem...........SIGH!

I have some pictures and information I need to print up for the Car Show Saturday, and am tracking my new printer, that is suppose to be on it's way from Canada.  This morning it is in Illinois, I'd like to think it's on it's way to Phoenix, but it hasn't moved since last night.  I have a feeling it isn't going to get here in time for me to use it before Saturday. 

WE'RE ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL

MISSISSIPPI RIVER 1906

As far as the donkeys daily routine, except for Miss Penny, who is still in the pen area 24/7.  The others are coming in to eat and going out when they finish, or whenever we get around to letting them out.  Penny has access to 3 or 4 pens except at feeding time, so she isn't being very mistreated, although I would imagine she would disagree.  

It's amazing, when the donkeys were only being allowed over in Burroland for a couple of hours a day, we had to go over and literally go in the brush after them, one or two at a time usually.  Now that they are back to being able to go where they want, when they want, John rings the bell and they come in and go in their pens.  Probably some kind of a power struggle, and us humans don't know the rules........LOL

Last night got down to 48 degrees, which makes for really nice sleeping weather.  John didn't turn on the fan, wonder why........????  Today really looks like fall, rather dreary and lots of clouds.  It would have been a good day to make chili or vegetable soup, both of which I don't "do" in the summer.  But it's just about time to start thinking seriously about changing over to cool weather "eats".

We are getting ready for the car show in Benson next week-end.  Originally we were taking the 1966 Bronco, my Dodge Neon race car and our grandson is bringing his Late Model race car out from Tucson.  Now our good friend Larry is bringing out his Camaro Pro Stock race car.  So there will be 4 of us in the car show.  They usually have quite a few cars at these shows.  John won a trophy with the Bronco years ago, don't even remember what class he was in.
 

Our grandson's Late Model

Larry's car is the 09 Camaro

I even got some discount tickets from the track to hand out if people are interested in coming to the races.  Should be fun of course we all enjoy showing off our cars.  They have food vendors and and I head straight for the Indian Fry Bread......YUM!!!  Someone else can watch my car........LOL