April 12, 2022
There is joy in my heart when the crocus bloom. These are the first because they are on the south side of the barn against the foundation. It will be a while before the bulbs in the grove will show their stuff. The snow is disappearing around the barn. Ugh, now the work begins. My lumber shed collapsed. So that will be a big project. It helps if I can keep my scavenged lumber bits and pieces under cover. The adventure grove needs clearing of nature’s pruning. Time for all the tub heaters to come out. Any ice can be easily broken now. In the past that was Jamaica’s job. Jamaica was a 16 hand Clyde Cross mare. She would break the ice with one plunge of her right hoof. She also would also drum on the stainless steel well cover, to tell us when the water was low. My tubs at the barn depend upon the rainwater from the roof. Jamaica was one of the many characters we had. Sadly taken by Cancer much too soon at 16.
It is shedding season, the herd is helping nature along by much rolling and rubbing. When they come to the barn we help the job along with the shedding blades. In my time, we would stuff pillows with the hair. Now it goes into the barn cleaner and out to the honey pile. The birds are collecting for their nests, so it does get recycled. It is always fun to give second life to anything. Recycle, reuse, is our motto around the Sanctuary.
Maxine is organizing and developing a plan for day camps this summer. They will be for 10 – 15 year olds. She is twigging the details. You will have to watch the Website and the Facebook page for all those twigged details. I can guarantee the kids will go home smelling “Oh de Horse” the loveliest of Barn smells. Remember when you are working around farm animals, no flip flops or crocs. You need a solid shoe or boot with heels. The Sanctuary supply helmets to keep the grey matter safe. We have been very fortunate to have a dozen donations of the new helmets. It kept me busy making bird houses with the old black velvet hats. Just another recycle project and the birds are nesting in them.
Money always helps the to do projects. We can share our poo, I have a lovely pile of composted manure. There is a catch, you have to fill your own bags, unless I can entice some Trailblazers to fill bags. Only a donation of $5 per bag , though and the good thing is we have bags. We also have fresh stuff if you want to develop a hot bed. At my mountain, home trenches were filled them with fresh manure, then we put the trench soil on top. The heat from the composting manure would help with early growth. In past years I opened the picnic place field for camping during the Music Festival. I called it one star camping $10 per person/night. There are dumping facilities but you have to carry your own water. The bunkhouse is 2 star camping with 8 bunks, it has a roof, but you still have to carry your own water. The good thing is: Drum roll!! There is lots of water to be had. The Sanctuary is only 10 minutes or so from Cavendish. The taxi’s know the place too.
The spring health clinic was a success, the herd has been dewormed and vaccinated. Due to AVC Covid protcols (no public) the Equine club did all the work. A critique was done for each animal which included a body score. The three toothless wonders definitely need Dr. Green. It appears that no matter how much extra soft food in the form of crushed oats, beet pulp, or alfalfa cubes you provide, it cannot compare to the green green grass on the hills. That makes me anxiously waiting for spring rains and heat to do their thing.
Trailblazers still meet on Saturdays 9am – 2pm. Soon our programs Ladies night and Comfort Around Horses. Our herd is Therapeutic for everyone. Be kind to one another love and hugs from Yogi and the herd.