pair of clydesdales got hitched yesterday--- i would have loved to have them 20 years ago, but they really are beyond my capabilities now.. start with picking up the harness off the floor, let along getting it up and over their backs. I DID HEAR RUMORS OF JANINE HAD SOMEONE INTERESTED IN HAVING THE PAIR OF TEHM ---- mo is still aROUND-- I THINK AT MERIDITH FARM WHERE THERE ARE HUGE FIELDS OF GRASS.. THERE IS A DETAIL OF GETTING WATER TO THEM TOTING WATER INVOLVES A SLOSH EFFECT--- THINGS LIKE SUNAMI WAVES- APPARENTLY IT IS POSSIBLE TO BACK UP TO THE FIELD-- AND MY EXP[ERTIOSE OF SIPHONING MAY COME IN HANDY-- I CERTAINLY DON'T MIND BACKING UP TO OUR HOSE AND SIPHONEING INTO THEIR WATER TROUGH... IT IS THE 2 MILES TRAVEL BETWEEN THAT CAN BE EXCITING.
I REMEMBER..... DID YOU DOUBT I HAVE A STORY CONNETTED TO WATER TRANSPORT???? WHEN THE HOUSE BURNED THAT NEW YEARS EVE LONG AGO--- I HAD ?14 HOURSES IN TEH BARN AND THE HOUSE WAS MY SOURCE OF WATER- THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM I HAD MAYBE 3 HOURS TO GET THAT SOLVED..-- WHICH WAS A BRAND NEW 55 GALLON DRUM IN THE BACK OF A SHORT PICKUP - INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER--- WHICH I FILLED AT THE NEIGHBORS AND SIPHONED INTO WATER BUCKETS FOR TEH HORSES.. WITH THE HELP OF MY SMALL CHILDREN...-- LIKE4-5 YEAR OLD GWEN AND JANINE...
ALL WAS WELL AND GOOD UNTIL THE DAY I DID NOT USE ALL THE WATER QUICKLY ENOUGH AND ENDED UP WITH A 55 GALLON BLOCK OF ICE-- WEIGHING QUITE A BIT- SLIDING AROUND DURING QUICK STOPS, AND UPHILL ACCELLERATIONS-- I THINK IT WAS A BLOW TORCH THAT GOT IT LOOSE ENOUGH TO TIP IT OUT SO I COULD USE IT..
FOR OUR ACCREDITATION -- WE HAVE TO HAVE EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS... I WONDER WHAT THEY THINK ARE EMERGENCIES. SOME OF THE ONES I HAVE HAD ARE THINGS FOR WHICH THERE IS REALLY NO PREPARATION. FULL TANK OF GAS IN MY CAR- AND ALOT OF CAFFENATED COFFEE IS ABOUT AS FAR AS I CAN BE PREPARED.
I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT A HAND PUMP- OLD FASHION TYPE- ON A WELL WOULD BE AN INTERESTING AND USEFUL THING TO HAVE BUT THERE IS NOT A PLACE ON THIS 12 ACRES THAT IS FAR ENOUGH FROM MANURE PILES, WASHING MACHINE DRY WELLS AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS-- THIS PLACE IS USED... BIG TIME;
ONE OTHER STORY I ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS FUNNY... THE USUAL WAY OF WATERING THE HORASES IN LYNNFIELD WAS TO RUN THE HOSE FROM THE TACK ROOM TO THE INDIVIDUAL STALLS... THIS WAS A TWICE DAILY THING... STARTED WITH ME ON THE OUTFLOW END-- AND GWEN ON THE ON -OFF LEVER/HANDLE-AND THEN JANINE GOT TO BE ? 3 OR 4--- THERE IS A PICTURE AND SHE IS NOT MUCH OLDER THAN 4- AND SHE GOT TO BE TEH ON /OFF PERSON AND GWEN TEH HOSE CARRIER SCREAMING ON AND OFF AT TEH APPROPRATE MOMENTS AND ONCE IN A WHILE IT WAS LOUDLY--" JANINE OFF OFF OFF OFF...MOMMY HELP..."
IN HER BOOK, SHE TALKS ABOUT GRADUATING FROM THE ON /OFF POSITION TO THE FAR MORE PRESTIGIOUS HOSE END AS A VERY SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN HER LIFE.
ANIMAL CARE DOES DEMAND A ROUTINE FROM WHICH THERE IS NO ESCAPING-- WHICH IS WHY WHEN I WAS IN THE POSITION OF HIRING HELP FOR THE "WANT AD"- I SPECIFICALLY HIRED PEOPLE WITH ANIMALS- IT IS ALSO WHY-- FACED WITH A WHOLE SUMMER WITH MY 2 KIDS AND 6 OR 8 MORE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS- I INITIATED 7AM AS A FLAG RAISING CEREMONY- IN PREP FOR CIRCUS PRACTICE. GET UP AND GET GOING. -- ACTUALLY IT GOT THE BUNCH OF KIDS TO FEED AND WATER THESE 14 OR SO HORSES WE STILL HAD IN THE BARN.
I HAVE OFTEN SAID COLLEGE DID REINFORCE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT 4AM ON A SPECIFIC TUESDAY HAPPENS ONLY ONCE . THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON WHAT CAN ALSO BE TAUGHT BY 4-H....OR MIKE ROWE.
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Three volunteers from our local Pets In Need organization paid a visit this afternoon to the long-term care facility where I am a patient due to crippling arthritis. They brought with them three little dogs that we got to hold!!!
I told them about SDP and that you take SDP Service Dogs to visit nursing homes, and how important that is. That's one of the greatest things you do!!! You have no idea what a difference it makes in the lives of we who are "incarcerated" in care institutions!!! :)
Longtime SDP CP
