Store Rain & Head Colic

A recent visit to the Thrift Shop at 611 Walnut Chico found folks working hard.

Happy shoppers and cheerful volunteers make Home At Last Thrift and Gift a very special place. Shoppers always find something they need. Need some nice furniture?

There are lots of children's items.

So many pretty things to buy. Come on over and help support Home At Last.

Today the rain seemed wetter, the mud gooier and the horses crankier. Usually we enjoy the wet stuff, but today was a good day to stay inside.

The cats found a way to entertain themselves and us.

Let's see. Three boxes. Three cats. This should work, unless Princess shows up.

You take that one. I'll take this one. There's one left for you, Honey.

Mmmmm. Maybe this one is better.

Feisty and Patches claim their boxes while Honey hides.
Oops. Same picture. Oh well. Blame it on the rain.

Two in two boxes. Two lurking elsewhere.

When all is said and done, the cats have the best idea for a rainy Sunday. Teddy bears, clean warm laundry and good night.

As you know horses can get weather colic when the barometric pressure outside of the horse does not match the pressure inside the horse. Well, I get headaches when the weather changes and Jim says the air pressure outside of my head is not the same as the air in my head so I get head colic.

On that note, thank you Cathy S for your donation and as the kitties say, Good Night.

Thank You

There are so many people and business who help Home At Last. We want to thank everyone. Without your wonderful support Home At Last would not be able to keep going.
A rainstorm is due. Several of the horses wanted in, but some wanted to have a weather experience. We'll watch them closely and if they get cold we'll move them inside or at least blanket them.
Visited the Thrift Store today. Helen, Ron, volunteers and shoppers-what could be better? Well, maybe more shoppers. Come on by. They are open Sun 12-4. Closed Mon. 611 Walnut Chico. More donations are always welcome, too.
Two students from a local charter school are getting units for studying and help out at the ranch. It's great to have young people interested in caring for unwanted horses.
Jesse horse and I had a long distance talk today. He was in the upper turnout and I didn't want to slog through the mud to get him. I called to him and told him he could go in the barn if he came to the gate. Rico and Pedro were in the same area, but they paid no attention to me. They are happy being out. Jesse, however, is an old boy and enjoys the comforts of the barn. Soon he walked to the water tank, took a sip, then came to the gate. I let him out and he went to the barn. Neat, huh?
Lacey, Stuart, Levi and Rosie were already waiting in the barn. Babe and Skittles just needed a gentle reminder and in they went. Frankie and Moon Dancer and Bobbie are in the upper barn.
Those staying out get extra feed to keep them warm. Remember it's the fermentation of the hay in their cecum that keeps them warm.
Supposed to rain more tomorrow. Don't know whether or not volunteers will come. We'll see what the day brings.
Thank you, angels. You know who you are.

Stupid Flies

You'd think the flies would have the common courtesy to stay in hiding until the first day of Spring. Oh no. They have to start creeping and crawling around in the mud. Stupid flies. It's just wrong to have mud AND flies. Stupid flies. Don't they know they were supposed to freeze in the cold weather? Grumble. Gripe.
No pictures today, but lots to tell you. The weather was cloudy but nice so we let out Marnie, Tess, Amira, Jesse, Quest, Sparkle and Rosie. They joined the regulars Jessie, Jenny, Jonathan, Dobbin, Callie, Juan, Buck and Gracie. Frankie and Moon Dancer begged ever so nicely, so out they went. Then Marnie and girls went into an upper turnout and Jesse went into the big upper turnout.
I had let Aurora, Chardonnay and Sunny into the big turnout and was nearly run over by Rico and Pedro who zipped past me to go out, too. The boys decided they did not like the less than friendly reception they got when they tried to push Tucker and Jake off their food. They raced back to the barn, then around to the side with the gate. Jim felt sorry for the "little" guys (at least 151/2 hands) so he let them out. They romped around with Buck for a while then went in with Jesse. Whew!!!!
Buck is sure he is a big boy. He played bite your knees with Jesse, except Jesse can't reach his little short knees. So Buck tried bite your neck. This works a little better. Best of all is bite your belly. Buck is so little he can almost walk under the bigger horses.
Meanwhile, Marnie, Tess and Amira were seeing how fast they could run in their new spot. Soon they had Daisy, Levi, Chance and Harmony racing around, too. Lots of horsepower there.
Sparkle would not leave Ruby's side. Frankie lost sight of Moon and whinnied and ran around looking for her. Fortunately, she answered him and they were reunited. He was so worried about her. He's not always gentle with her, but he does not want to be without her.
At dinnertime, Frankie and Moon went into the big stall where Star, Dunny and Dancing Drum were. They were out in their turnout.
Ruby and Sparkle trotted to the lower barn when they saw me with the halter. They waited for me to open their stall door. Then Quest walked in and chose a stall.
Jim and I have changed the feeding chores a little. He takes the tractor out and I feed the horses inside the fence. We each feed about 30.
If our blog doesn't show for a bit it's because out computer is being goofy.
Thank you Christina F and Maurya F for your donations.
I know this time of year is tight money-wise. It is for us, too. The horses could use a little extra help. Any amount you can spare will be greatly appreciated, and will go directly to the care and feeding of the critters. Thank you.

The pictures shown were taken on Sunday when we had sunshine and I had some time.
The weather today was rainy and wet, but there were NO FLIES.
Jim picked up things from Chico State for the Thrift Store. I stayed home, fed, watered and just puttered in the mud.
Usually some one does something funny every day. Chance made me laugh today. While I was filling his water tank he lapped at it like a dog. He slurped and had his tongue hanging way out. He enjoyed it as much as I did.
When I water it is a good feeling when a horse comes over for a long drink, then looks up with a tongue stuck between his teeth, water dripping from his chin, and says Thank You.

Ruby, with Sparkle in the background, wears her mud nicely.

Rosie and Levi II dine in a sunspot.

Callie has a favorite spot behind the minis' pen and up on a hill. She played peek-a-boo on and off all day.

Many folks are sending donations to the Thrift Store. Thank you so very much. You all make our jobs easier.

We'll be doing a radio interview in a week or so. More information later.

Jenny, Jessie and Dobbin donkeys nap by the house while Gracie snoozes under a tree.
We are so fortunate to be surrounded by our friends, no matter what form they take. Who else gets awakened at night by donkeys rubbing on the deck- and sometimes on the water and gas pipes? Who else gets serenaded by the multitudes of frogs? (Yes, they are back in full voice).
Who else gets to drive a tractor and throw hay and water instead of having to cook? Who else gets to watch the miracle of an animal healing from neglect and abuse? Who else, but those of us who get to share their lives with other living creatures? Aren't we lucky-all of us?

Catch Up Day

We spent our 46th anniversary Sunday like every other couple with 60 equines does. We fed, watered, moved horses around and Jim went for hay. The love story is that he came back, knowing that after he had loaded 90+ bales, he had to unload them, then reload them on the tractor. If that isn't love I don't know what is.
Quest loves to be free. In fact he gets quite upset if he has to be penned up. He was ready to be put away tonight though, because he knows a storm is coming.

This is taken from my bathroom window. Jessie is enjoying the morning sun.

Four donkeys in the rock garden. Or a few rocks in the donkey garden.

Marnie nibbles on the "salad bar" with his girls Tess and Amira. Whenever we want to move these three, we halter Tess and lead her. Amira and Marnie stay right on her shoulders. Usually, wherever Tess goes, they go. Tonight they trotted ahead of her and waited for her in the barn.

Bobbie, Babe and Lacey enjoy some hay beside Harmony and Chance. Everyone has been put back in the barns for the upcoming storm.

Lady Bug came up for a visit. She is beautiful, but very shy. Would you like to sponsor her?

The back of our lower barn has its own lake. The springs are going great guns this year. We're thinking of naming it Manure Lake, Yucky Lake or Lake Goo. Any suggestions?

Lil Buck took off Sunday following 3 Thoroughbreds and 1 Arab. I don't know whether he thought he was an Arab or TB, but his tail was over his back and he was flying. Most of the day he played with the big guys. He doesn't know his club foot is supposed to hinder him.

Honey, Feisty, Princess and Patches say Good Night to all. Who wouldn't want to snuggle with them?
Worked at the Thrift Store today. Pictures tomorrow. There are so many wonderful things in the store-everything from new horse tack to darling baby clothes to great furniture. Shoppers, come on in. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you Carla G for your donation.

Thank you, volunteers, for helping and an especially big THANK YOU to Helen and Ron for their hard work.
Saw a very funny thing this morning. While feeding the Standardbreds Promise and Charity, their mule Wild Bill decided to have a nice roll in the mud. When he finished he sat up and just looked around. The he spun around on his bottom, still sitting, until he faced the opposite direction. He had a big sitting stretch, then stood up and went to his breakfast. Where, oh, where was my camera?

Lexi

Lexi got her wings today. She was a well loved, beautiful girl. Her owners wanted her to have a good retirement and they were very careful about where they placed her. She and Gracie traveled all the way from Southern California.

Today Bobbie and Gracie stayed right beside her until Dr. Darling came. Gracie had been her pal, but Bobbie usually is not so friendly. It was very touching to see them give her comfort.

Lexi's pain was severe and she was not going to recover.

She is now at the Rainbow Bridge, pain free and waiting for her family.

Lexi, Rico, Cash and 46 Years

Poor sweet Lexi. Her condition is is not good. Her stifle area is in constant pain. She does not have a good quality of life. Monday she will get her wings. As always, it is a heart wrenching decision. Jim, Dr. Darling and I spend a lot of time going over the pros and cons of the quality of life before we come to a decision. We consider each animal and its needs. We try to determine how life will be for the animal, and if we feel that suffering is a major part of their life, then our duty is to end the suffering humanely. Euthanasia means "the good death." It is truly the last gift we can give our beloved friends.
Lexi came with Gracie. They were well loved . Their owner wanted them to have a great retirement and I know they have had it. Thank you , Cathy, for sharing your beautiful girl with us.

Rico is one of the horses in the lower barn. Tonight when I went down to feed, he was standing stretched out trying to urinate. He'd look around as if to say, "Hey. Something's not working." Then he'd eat a bit and try again. A horse with colic stretches out but usually doesn't eat so heartily. After watching him try several times we called Dr Darling. Of course, it was after hours and of course it was almost dark, but the the good doctor was here soon.

He sedated and listened and poked and palpated and then Rico got two more shots- one for pain and one to relax his innards. Dr D feels that Rico had some spasms that pushed against his bladder making him think he had to go. We'll watch him tonight, but we're fairly sure everything is good. No fever. No blockages.

Cash gave us a scare tonight, too. He was down in his stall at dinnertime. He let me walk all around him without getting up. Not good. I let Breeze Bay in with him . They have adjoining stalls, but he can get pushy so they have their own eating space. As soon as Breeze went in he got up and started eating with her. While Dr D was examining Rico , Cash pooped. As all you horse owners know, that's a great sign. So he's OK. Whew!

It snowed today!!! It didn't last long, thank goodness. It was cold and windy, but the horses got double feedings. It makes chores take longer, especially since the big tractor decided to go on vacation. With the big tractor I can take 4 bales at a time, but only 2 with the small one. We are using about 12 bales a day.

It sure rained hard last night. We are due for a few nice days. Maybe the mud will dry out some.

Put in our fly predator order today. We use Spalding Laboratories and if you order from them and use our name Home At Last they will send us a donation. Thank you to all who have done it in the past. Every penny counts. www.reorderd.spalding-labs.com Phone 1-888-562-4552

Sunday is our 46th anniversary. Where did the time go? We were students at Cal Poly Pomona just yesterday and now it's decades later. We were best friends and still are.