Gracies Run Farm Blog Page

Allegro Update

2009-08-06T09:01:00.000-04:00

Allegro

OK, Allegro is now running with the boys and doing well around his new settings. He has come into his own now.

Thor and Allegro are being ridden on a regular basis. Nothing too much for the A-man due to his Stifle Injury but none the less he is doing great and has a job...

Allegro's First Day

2009-07-17T20:17:00.010-04:00

Gracie's Run Farm this week is blessed by and woman and her horse...

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a horse,” or,”that’s a lot of money for just a horse” or "That's a lot of work", "that's too much responsibility."

They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a horse. Jewel's does.”

Some of my proudest moments as a child have come about with “just a horse.”

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a horse,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a horse” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. King Charles when you left; gave a lot of people hope, taught us mortality, took a man and made him cry...

If you, too, think it’s “just a horse,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise" or the best one "It's just my spouse."

“Just a horse” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

“Just a horse” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person, brings out frustration in yourself...

Because of “just a horse” I will rise early every day for the rest of my life, I know not what the waking hour of eight in the morning is, better am I aquanted with five in the morning... When the sun takes hold of the day, and the night looses his grip on the world,

Three horses stand before me in all the grand passion you can muster...

In bridled, natural and ready to challenge you, challenge themselves, and show you the loyalty and love and the power God gave....

So for me, my wife and Jewel like me, it’s not “just a horse”, I am blessed with Jewel's just a horse for the rest of his natural life. At the end but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

I hope that someday they those city folk, can understand that it’s not “just a horse”
but the thing that gives the three of us humanity and keeps us from being “just a woman or just a man.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a horse” just smile, just chuckle, because they “just” don’t understand.

Jack Me UP - Please but slow and easy!

2009-04-06T16:05:00.005-04:00

OK,

Started the major summer project... Which after ripping out all the dilapidation from under the rear porch and determining the rear porch near the pool is in good shape... Minus the coverings of lattice work and badly installed trim we have now arrived at the core supporting structures of the back sun room.

I was amazed to find my large (previously nice) sun room supported by four 3 x 4's. I mean sweet mother of GOD who in the right mind supports a structure with this crap ass wood. One of which is not even touching the tube footing it is supposed to! So now we are down to three supporting pieces of crap wood. It is my understanding the owner who built the dam room was in fact and genuine flat-lander!!!!

The plan: Rummage around and get three good 10-15 ton bottle jacks... Six 3/4 inch squares of plate steel and some 12 x 12 pieces of wood to jack the hell out of the back part of the house about two and half inches level.

The Outcome: Remain Alive through the process with an acceptable escape route out is my first and foremost goal...
Move the house up two and a half level inches. Allowing the DOORS and windows to open with out beating the ever-living crap out of them to get them to comply. The last expected outcome will be the porch pitching in the correct position (away from the house) and the re-setting of those support posts... This all can be accomplished with a minimal amount of cost and a little effort should the jacks actually do the job I want them too...

Oh, and actually set the house back down on 12x12 treated posts that actually could support the entire house by themselves...

Novel dam idea to get this straight! Dam Flatlanders!

I will update the progress as we move forward...

Attack Cock!

2009-04-03T18:25:00.005-04:00

The week on Gracies Run Farm was met by mud, rain, more mud, wet dogs and dogs in the pool which I opened this week! Yes, so there were still small icebergs in there floating... The dogs; well they didn't care about that, they just had the pool back!

Thank God for spring and spring related fun...

We here on the farm have a had a dangerous moment this week! Well we didn't but one of our very trusted and loved friends was attacked! Yes attacked! She went to Log Home Farm Store and thought to stop by and visit us, as good friend do! She loves to see the boys in the paddock. This day they were we're in the barn so she tried to enter and and Tim (The White Rooster Pictured) accosted her. She then made it past him and he had her trapped in the barn and kept trying to jump up and kick me. She resorted to letting out a very girlie scream which we believe actually fueled him! The kicking continued by Tim, who by the way is relentless, luckily she was able to escape fast to her car safely driving away....

Offered this weekend at the farm is our class on rooster whispering tricks.

Next week looks like a open week for more fun...

2009-03-30T18:47:00.002-04:00

Good Day... The week is starting out wet in the Shire... I have more mud than most riverbeds and one white horse who has now turned brown... Off to work tomorrow into the city which should be hoot again!

This weekend is fishing time... I will be trying to school my Brother on Fly Fishing for bass while he pokes at them with hardware, from the decks of our transportation, a.k.a Skeeter!

Beware hardware boy! Fly Brother is on the way to school you...

Vie dans les bois!

2009-03-29T20:44:00.005-04:00

Cell phones... My Stepdaughter arrives home to our humble farm! Spends the weekend speaking about being board, totally! Why is all due to the country life... Ah to be back a college again! Hustle and Bustle of life...

Anyhow, the cell phone does not have a signal, unless you stand at eight-O'clock in the barn drive and face East, holding the one maple tree close to the road at sugaring season; so the sap acts as a antenna... I love the country... Need me, Drive the hell over, cuz my neighbors are too far away to walk... Fend for yourself is the key to the country...

As a husband, there is always something to do, you know the Honey DO list or your own list... As a wife well there is always something to do as well, like the mud in the house which never stops!

Times are not so easy now. Saving finances in a horrible economy. Keeping a house. Keeping your animals safe. Making sure you have enough on the table... Staying home...

So, why is the country a better place to be in bad times? You have plenty to do, there is always something interesting, fun and hard work just around the corner to occupy your days... Translation: Your entertainment is built in, your self-satisfaction is not related to any commerce! You save money... Your hands are dirty, and your conscious clean... Your animals smile at you and look forward to seeing you unconditionally!

So does you wife...

2009-03-09T19:25:00.003-04:00

Well, the winter drags on and we are constantly getting tired of heating the house. We never stocked up on wood this year and are paying for it... This summer we are going to do the duty get the place stocked up on wood...

Too much snow, too many piles and this stuff will never melt before June...

Too much mud at this point as well. Dogs come in muddy, horses are muddy... We need to do a drive way solution this year that is for sure...

Well enough for the 2009 first blog entry

Fall Happenings

2008-09-22T17:03:00.002-04:00

Fall Happenings

Finally, we have to close the pool and get ready to go into the fall season and hit all the fairs around the local area.

New goose house is getting ready to be purchased so they have a fantastic place to go during the winter. Not that any of the five of them actually care about going to the shelter during the winter it makes us feel better for them to have it.

The horses did good over the summer and enjoyed the new paddock we created for them to hang out in and graze.

So as we move into fall Aline is looking forward to much more time at home as she does not need to work any longer. Great news! She has several volunteer projects which were already going that will have her undivided attention and best of all the opportunity to have a life; other than a degrading job defining your life like the rest of us poor slobs...

Anyhow more to come.... Keep checking back...

New Goslins Have Arrived

2008-05-03T17:13:00.001-04:00

So, we have two new babies and the existing Geese have taken to being Mommies...

Spring is at the Farm and The Animals are Crazy

2008-04-27T08:38:00.002-04:00

OK, so spring and the mud have arrived at the Farm, so have the grasses and the weeds.

Yesterday was the first adventure with the Big Boys. We decided they needed a walk around the farm property. So, I hooked up THOR, the resident Percheron, and we went for a walk; much to the dismay of MAX who was NOT at all happy about being left in the paddock. Max wanted the same hand grazing which Thor was enjoying. We walked around much to the amazement of the passing cars as to the the Giant Feeding in the yard... He makes a great lawn mower!

Next was MAX. Now Max is bigger than THOR and we have never had him out and about before. While very comfortable with the boy he brings a unknown to the picture. I know what Thor is capable of doing and can read him. Max is not so easy to read outside the paddock. So, I walked in asked him to come over to me, which he promptly did. Off we were, out of the barn down the drive and into the yard. He was a bit skittish at first but after talking to him he settled down and realized this was a good thing, nothing to be scared of and go nutty. We walked over to where the grass is and he was in heaven. He behaved like Thor, calm and at peace. Both boys were fantastic... Sunday is another day and another treat for the afternoon feeding.

Sad Day at the Farm Sunday

2008-03-03T11:52:00.002-05:00

Last night we had to put down one of the three geese we raised from babies in the kitchen. She was lethargic, hacking and would not move, drink and I suspect she may have caught something no so good from the chicken area by accident. The two other girls are looking around for her today and I assume will adjust at somepoint.

She is in a better place now with God... She will be missed.

Max Updates

2008-02-18T17:49:00.002-05:00

Max has the ferrier coming this week again. We are now going to need to shave the back of his legs that we have the overall crusting area cleaned up. His skin is coming along nice now with less dander and all the other fun stuff.

Max is a wonderful addition to the place and has now come into his own...

Updates in the Shire

2008-02-17T09:44:00.002-05:00

Max and Thor are now well integrated and working out a harmonious relationship. Thor being our resident guzzle gut still insists most of the food would be his...

Max has now come into his own personality, and he now is keeping Thor-master-2000 in check most of the time. Thor runs the paddock but is less of a force thanks to Max's persistence.

Last week Max thought that the lower half of his Dutch door looked much better flat in the paddock for some reason and removed that for us. It's now repaired and we have had a discussion with him that this needs to be opened by a human, and the latch actually does work, contrary to his opinion.

His coat is looking great, skin is gaining it's moisture back again and he is sporting a glistening coat. His legs are looking great and we are working on picking up the feet. He is not fond of this but we have him giving the feet for a couple of seconds before he needs them released. Praise and and working with them have come a really long way.

The snow is lousy, we are all tired of the Ice and need a break from this weather patern. The Farmers Alminac says this will subside in the beginning of March... We shall see if this is true.

Max Comes to Gracies Run

2008-01-20T07:38:00.001-05:00

Well, Max our recent new horse is a large Shire. He came home last night and this morning was his first morning. Watching Him and Thor coming out of the barn into the paddock is like watching two very gentile giants emerge from their house. Massive in size are both yet gentle and caring in one big package.

More to come...

2007 Goes OUT with a New and Changing Farm

2008-01-01T08:51:00.000-05:00

Last year brought Aline and I all but one child driving around the great white north. We have both Ian and John with new vehicles to run around in and fix up. New jobs for them as well to support those expenses.

It brought us a new Grandchild who spends every weekend with us and sleeps over during snow storms and bad weather. She is a gift!

It brought Aline's mother and Brother David to our home for the first time after our marriage.

It brought THOR home and many daily changes in our lives.

It brought busy lives, fun times accomplishments that we never thought possible.

It brought about the good termination of an age old demoralizing relationship!!!!!!! The Wizard is Gone!!!

Onward today into 2008...

Where we have Many things to think about, nothing to worry about...

The farm will change again this year with new projects, personal initiatives are at the forefront for Aline and I. As we keep moving forward we will keep you all posted...

Our best to you from Gracie's Run Farm!

Thor is Home!!

2007-12-03T18:26:00.000-05:00

Thor came home for good this weekend! He has been running around his paddock. Eating hay checking out the Geese. He is not at all fond of the chickens that come to visit and scratch in his area? Shew's them away.

He is doing ok with the dogs and everyone. I will post more and pictures of his home this week on his page.

November Updates - Farm - Horse - Fencing

2007-11-24T17:57:00.000-05:00

Well, November is a busy month on Gracies Run Farm. We spent numerous hours reconditioning the barn to accept two horses. One of which is THOR our 2000 lb. Gelded Percheron. He is second level dressage and rides like a champ. We enjoy both riding him during the week. He is due home from Inspriation Farm the first week in December.

We have almost finished his Paddock area and he now has plenty of space to be a horse. I extend a huge thanks out to Joshua. He help build the entire fence and is a great holder or the fence boards. We can watch Thor when we get up in the morning for coffee. Check the THOR page out for the new pictures.

Thanksgiving was met with a 30 lb turkey and all the fixings. We had Amy, Adrianna (grandchild), Stacy, John and my father here for dinner. It would have been nice to see my boys but they were with the Parker side of the family and enjoying dinner in the City.

Well that is it for this week. I will try to get new picture up of the barn area...

Long Overdue Updates

2007-10-14T18:15:00.000-04:00

Well, the farm is going nuts. We are in the process of adoption...

No, no more kids; with five we have enough of that species and enough ex-husbands who don't want to pay support, hum that was nasty... Did I say that out loud... Truth hurts, and the world is full of Freedom of Speach... Ok, I'm done the sarcasim....

Oh well, they are all great kids and I'd just as well take care of them anyhow...

I digress though, our new baby is soon to be a horse named THOR... He is a rescue horse from EPONA.

A small guy at 17.2 hands tall, and at last weigh-in 1,975 lbs. at at best estimate. Think of him as a small Toyota Corolla on hooves... We owe alot to Melissa and Bev for helping us and being great people! We met both of them while volunteering at EPONA rescue. The best saturday mornings Aline and I have had in a long time. Cool bunch of people doing a lot of good stuff for some less than fortunate horses.

Anyhow, the barn has undergone a lot of changes; building of two stalls and the woods behind it now is wide open for a paddock area for THOR to come home to after he spends some time in training at a local farm with Aline and her trainer.

The chickens and Geese are doing fantastic! We have a regular supply of eggs now from the 17 hens... Three roosters are making sure that everyone at the house is up at a reasonable time, say 4:30-5:00 AM...

Ian and John both just bought new trucks... John went Ford, Ian went Dodge Ram...

Amy, made Aline and I Grandparents... Adrianna Mary !!! Great little girl and we went apply picking this weekend with her, Stacy and Megan this weekend at Dermitt's Farm in Lee. Her pictures are on the Farm Sites Grandparents page!

Josh is just finishing up the old football routine and we should be into basketball very soon.

Well that should sum up since the last time I wrote and we are now on to the holidays which should be light this year. No big plans... Just having the kids over...

Chicken's and Roosters Move IN

2007-07-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Ok,

So the chickens and the roosters now have moved into the new home. They have pictures on the chicken page of the site. They will be getting a new metal roof soon as that is in, and in the correct Barn Red Color. Outside of that they are doing great.

The small chickens we received from the school are getting big. One is a Hen and the other a rooster. So that will make three of them rooster dudes. The kids in the back of the house are going to love that noise at 5am!

We had our first rooster / goose fight. Tim the white rooster jumped into the goose pen. That was a overall mistake on his part... We had a few feathers around.

June Junk and Funk

2007-07-15T14:12:00.000-04:00

OK, so the chickens are huge. Today June 15Th we are due to get two new roosters from our PCP's nurse. She has a couple of them who just are NOT mixing with the neighbors.

The chicken coop structure is done and up looking nice and ready for some inside construction. Remaining is the hardware cloth floor and braces. Roost area poles and nests. Once that is all in I will do the roof and put the ends on with the people doors and nest box door in the back. I need to cut in a pop hole for them to zip in and out of along with a nice little ladder for them as well.

The geese they are really big now and have taken to active flight practice all the time. They are too funny. Ripping as fast as they can back and forth in the pen hoping to clear the fence but just making it over the pool and stopping on the other side.

Farm Fathers Day

2007-06-16T20:40:00.000-04:00

OK, well the chickens hate the lawn mower. That is a relative understatement of the year. Dam things took off and we had free range game for the hour... They all decided it was not a good place to be on the "Other side of the fence" , similar to living on the other side of the tracks in life. They returned to the gate... Fast!

Kids well they are all gone for fathers day. My boys are in Mass... Grampa's house. Step son is with his father where he should be, he will always be a father never a Dad. Big difference there in case any of you question what the difference is...

Stacy, she is working tomorrow or out with friends. 18 and free! I remember those days.

I suspect I will get up and cook French Toast for breakfast for everyone. Maybe go play in my barn for a while, look at a used Lawn tractor down the road...

I have committed myself to this year working on my undergraduate degree in History and UNH. I need to spike my mind... I may have finally figured out what I want to do at 40... Ending some year in a PH.D. in Biblical History, then teach Theology at a University. I should get there all at about 50... They I can be that old crotchety professor everyone hates... Hahahahhaa

Chickens Are Out and Geese Have A Home

2007-06-09T08:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we built the chickens a new area in the pen and took them out of the Kitchen. Nice hu! Smells a little less and they appear happier and can eat the worms and bugs as well.

Best of all we don't need to listen to Stacy (City Girl) they smell.

We used the Geese's old house for the chickens and built the Geese a new shelter. They have a nice little place now; best of all I don't have to chase and put them in every night now. They can do what they want.

They are big enough to fend for themselves.

Next on the agenda, I need to build a nice chicken house. This one should be fun.. I have a couple of Ideas...

Last of May Update

2007-05-29T20:15:00.001-04:00

Ok, so we spent the weekend working on the yard.

The barn we did some repairs and I put in one of the double Anderson glass doors in that I found at the dump for free. They are in the upper part of the barn where my wood shop going. This coming Friday I'm going to try and put in the other window. The barn is coming along nice. The wood shop Should be coming soon so I can work there during the winter is my goal. Small projects right now, and save for tools purchases.

The pool has been open for the past month. Gracie has now figured out this is the best place in the world. You cannot go swimming without her in there at all. She has also figured out how to get out using the ladder.

Thats it for this week!