Best Horse Ever!

 Life changed for Moonie this past December.  Losing his eye was an adjustment, but he came through that ordeal with flying colors... and our relationship has deepened.

Using his hearing to compensate for his left sided blindness, he pays close attention to what is happening around him.  The amazing thing is, however, he is totally relaxed.  The loss of his eye has not affected his temperament at all.  I make it a point to always talk to him when I am in the yard with him.  My voice lets him know where I am in relation to his body.

He is the most trustworthy horse I have ever encountered.  I have never witnessed anything but kindness from this gentle giant.  Nothing upsets him.  I have no worries when children are around him.  He is just an all around sweet natured fellow without a single bad habit.

I remember when I met him for the first time - the Amish family who had him had several children.  When I walked into their barn, there was Moonie getting brushed and cleaned with children climbing all over him... and a toddler in and out of his legs.  I knew at that instant that he would be the perfect horse for our farm.

He is, however, a shameless beggar... and loves his treats.  I try to keep the barn refrigerator stocked with carrots, and he often asks me for one.

He comes to the stall door.  I tap a finger on the bottom of the barred window and he sticks his nose through.

I say, "how about a nosey kiss?"  And I kiss him on his big, soft nose. 

After that, he pulls his nose back out and I hand him a carrot (or three).

And although the rest of the herd gets treats at other times, these little moments are just between Moonie and me.... a special treat for a special boy!

Maggie and Macy came for a farm visit yesterday.  Poppy (rooster) and Posie are the two chickens that they hatched earlier this summer.  Almost full grown, Posie is ready to soon move into the chicken yard with the other hens.  The girls are hoping to find someone who needs a very sweet rooster so that Poppy can be re-homed.  Our fear is that eventually he and Elwood might become territorial and end up fighting, as so often happens with more than one rooster.  For now, though, these two chickens are living in what used to be our turkey house and its large, attached yard.

Mama Bernadette loves her visits to the farm!

And all of the animals love the extra attention that they get when "the girls" visit.

After weeks of nest-sitting, dive bombing the cats, and hollering at us when we muck the dry lot, the barn swallows have successfully hatched out their brood.  Now when I walk into the barn, I am met by loud peeping and four tiny, open-mouthed beaks looking down on me from above.  So sweet.  By summer's end, all of the farm swallows will flock together... sitting on the over-head wires planning their trip south for the winter.  I so look forward to their return each spring, and love having them raise their families above the heads of the horses each summer.

Yesterday, in the midst of the late afternoon heat, we took our last hay delivery for this year and stowed it in the barn.  This particular delivery was soft, green grass hay of the best quality for our two picky sheep.  Our horses will eat just about any type of hay... but the sheep?  Well, let's just say that Hope and Faith have very discriminating palates.

I am loving all of the bounty that summer brings.  But I must say, I am so grateful for air conditioning - for, without it, summer would be unbearable.  Our high heat and humidity continue.  Thankfully nights are slightly cooler... giving all of the animals a break.  We've had gentle breezes blowing - so as long as one stays out of the direct sunlight, the heat is tolerable.  Loading the hay onto the hay elevator in yesterday afternoon's hot sun was brutal, however.  We are very thankful for our friend and neighbor, Anna - as she is always willing to help us with these chores.

So, here we are... heading right into another weekend.  Do you have any adventures planned?  Our weekend will be quiet.  I plan to attend Tyler's Saturday swim meet.  Other than that... no plans... which in itself is sometimes a luxury.