Gaining Pals

It's been a while since I've posted because I've been learning a lot!! And I can hardly believe it is almost fall.

Recently, I have been spending more time with the horses and learning how to be safe around them and enjoy their company. There are also more people coming onto the property for horseback riding lessons and events, so I am learning to not only be calm around other animals, but also people I haven't met before. 

Here are some recent photos of Shine and I with our owner, Shari. I'm there in the back, learning to stay out of the stalls and away from the horses' hooves.

Snow Tracks

So, I have been settling in nicely with my new family here. Shari is teaching me lots of things, including heel, sit, stay, quiet, up (being careful because I'm not supposed to jump yet), down (so I know I'm not supposed to get up on everything), wait (so I don't get in the way when things are being moved), drop it (because I'm not supposed to put everything in my mouth), go (there are only certain places in the yard I'm supposed to do my business), come (so I know when I can stop waiting and actually go to her. We are having a fun time learning the same language. She also let's me play in the snow. 

I love the snow!!! To watch it, to play in it, to search out my ball in it, to roll in it, to eat it...It's fun all around. 

I have also met the three horses, Soot, Serita, and Shine. Soot and I are buds, Serita and I like to nose each other, and Shine and I are still getting used to sharing Shari between us. We met on neutral territory by the round pen yesterday and that was good for both of us.

Each morning, as the snow is covering the ground now, Shari and I go out in the early morning to look for animal tracks in the snow. The other day we found deer tracks that looked like the deer had come into the field from the church yard (they jumped the fence). It was fun to follow them across the field. Closer to the yard fence, we found squirrel tracks in the snow. Those crazy creatures jump around all day, even more than I do! I tried to catch one once, but umm, let's just say I was on my leash at the time. Oops!

 

The Hoot and the squawk of It

So, we saw Hoot again. This was my first time, but my humans have seen Hoot since they moved into the place. He came out while I was supervising morning chores. We heard him squawking first and I have to say I was too intent on a stick and didn't even hear him. I remember Mom did mention Hoot, but I didn't know what she was talking about, the stick was too interesting.

A few moments later, I was getting antsy so Mom and I went for a walk around the field on the property. Hoot, a resident horned owl, swooped down over us and startled me. I guess I should have been paying attention when Mom was talking, she could have explained to me who Hoot was though too. ;-) 

Hoot landed in a close tree and Mom shone her headlight up there. He just stared down at us. She tried to talk owl language, but he didn't talk back, hopefully she didn't say anything wrong. ;-) 

When we started walking again, he swooped above us again. He is a bit startling, but I am becoming more and more comfortable with things happening around me. I am excited to see what I will discover next!!

Scamper

This is Roger, and this is my first update to the blog. I hope you continue to follow and enjoy learning about the ranch and the workings here.

I have been learning about this new place and about where I should and shouldn't go. My humans say the trash bins are off limits, both inside and outside, but I have definitely gotten into mischief before I knew the "rules". 

Morning chores happen first thing every morning, and that's everyday of the year. Even now that it's getting colder, we still go out before the sun is up and get the chores done.

For the first update, I'd like to tell you about Scamper...

While feeding the equines a few mornings ago, my humans pulled back the tarp on the hay and found a tiny mouse. This mouse must have been a baby because it hung around and we were able to get a picture of it, see below. 

It's kind of a toss up if you find mice in hay bales. They are good because they keep the beetles down. They are a bad thing when they start to make nests in the hay because their droppings can be poisonous. So far, they just appear to show up when beetles are about and don't seem to be living in the bales. That's good news!

Welcome, Roger!

 Today is an excited day! It's the day I officially hand off the updating of this blog to the newest member of the ranch, our young puppy, Roger. He came to us from www.vombustoshause.com and he is a great addition to our ranch! WELCOME, BUDDY! He is learning to sit, stay, heel, and come when we ask and getting better each day.

 

Prowler

As you know, there is a barn cat that lives on our property. Pawz has been enjoying gophers now that the weather is nice. 

Well, we have seen another dark body out in the field a few times and have realized it is a black cat. He is quite skiddish so we haven't been able to get too close. Here is a picture we were able to get of Prowler scampering past Shine's stall. 

Emmett & Lily

We have two Mallard ducks that showed up at our property. We first saw them in the backyard, but have now seen them several places in the field, over head, in the backyard, and in the front yard. It's fun to see the animals all coming to our property and enjoying it like we do. We have named the drake Emmett and the Hen Lily. Have a look and let us know what you think. Cute aren't they?