horse ball went to the dogs~Camera Critters 080809

I bought a horse ball for my horses' enjoyment. While they played with it for several days, it suddenly disappeared. Gone! Poof! I never saw it again. Then, the ranch owner casually mentioned, "I think the dogs next door ran off with your horse ball." WHAT? My $17.00 horse ball? Ohhhhhh....I was mad! So, I bought another one, but the horses wouldn't play with it, so I took it home for MY dogs. They played with it...sorry for the poor quality of the pics, but they were moving so darn fast! Anyway, here they are playing with the new horse ball! Ripley and friends! Camera Critters for 080809.

Rommel update!

Rommel is still with us. He kinda perked up a couple of days later and I took him in to our vet for some blood work. Actually, now he seems to be back to normal, which for him is thin (he's lost about 10 pounds), but he still plays with Ripley and chases the cats. Go figure. While he looks HORRIBLE, I took him up and visited the horses and he had an absolute blast! He loves them~ (big sigh...)

Not good news~Rommel

Our German Shepherd has canine lupus. He has deteriorated since last spring. His collar is now so loose is just dangles on him. His hair is almost completely gone underneath his body. He is drinking a LOT of water, but now he has lost his bladder control. It's time to make that final call to the vet.

Rommel has been a WONDERFUL dog and companion. He has NEVER growled at anyone. He barks and protects our property, but he has never been agressive. He, too, is a gentle soul, like my horse Beauty. Why do the good always die young? He is only 6 years old. I'm going to have to call the vet today. It just isn't fair to him when he is in this position. He knows he isn't supposed to pee on the carpets or in the house, but he can't help it. His kidneys are failing.

I wanted to post some pics of him when he was younger to remember him.

WE LOVE YOU, Rommel.

Ghost-like clouds~SkyWatch Friday 071709

These ghostly clouds were over the Waputki ruins in Arizona as we got there late one afternoon. SkyWatch Friday for July 17, 2009.

Aren't they unusual?

Taking a break from blogging

I am taking a blogging break while I mourn the loss of my chestnut mare, Beauty, who died suddenly and tragically on June 25, 2009. I found her dead in her corral the next morning. As far as we can tell, she got cast in her corral and wasn't able to get up. What a waste of a beautiful, caring, and loving creature. Beauty was only 5 years old and the ONLY horse of mine that I have ridden so far. My cousin helped with her training and Valerie is just as devastated as I am. It is never easy to lose a faithful pet and Beauty was my faithful and loyal companion. She picked ME as her human and always whinnied to greet me when I arrived at the ranch. There are no more whinnies from the other horses now. They just ignore me. I miss her sunny and warm personality, her goofy attitude, and the white patches of hair on her butt.

I LOVE YOU and MISS YOU, Beauty! She was a feedlot rescue and at least she was given a good, loving home and was spared the horror of slaughter. Please, if you can, give to the horse rescue of your choice so that more horses like Beauty will be spared from slaughter. Thank you.

We're home, finally!

Hubby and I took a short vacation to Northern California last week. We drove up Highway 395 through Ridgecrest, stopped at the BLM corrals there and fed the mustangs! What a bunch of goofballs! They must get fed carrots a LOT because they sure knew what carrots were! Then, up to Yosemite, over the Tioga Pass. Have you ever drive up that pass? Phew! WHAT a climb! We spent 2 nights in Merced, CA and spent the next 2 days in Yosemite, then drove BACK through Yosemite and DOWN the Tioga Pass. I know, I know...we MUST be nuts! We saw 2 bears there during our trip. Then, on to South Lake Tahoe. That driving day was another stormy day. Apparently they'd had snow just 2 weeks prior to our trip last week! It was cloudy the whole time, but we got some beautiful photos! From Lake Tahoe, we took some side trips, down to Genoa, Silver City, Virginia City, Reno, and Markleyville. Then, yesterday we drove back down 395 and stayed in Lone Pine. We took the road to the Mt. Whitney portal in the afternoon and the next morning, we arose at 5:00 a.m. to get some morning photos. Then, back home through Ridgecrest, stopping to feed the mustangs AGAIN, and home! Right now, I have Ripley asleep ON MY FEET so that I don't go anywhere EVER again!!! Here are some pics of our trip...enjoy!

Ripley has a new trick!

Ripley has a new trick. I was wondering why the cat food was disappearing so quickly. I mean, I have 3 cats that I feed outdoors, on top of a table. BUT...their cat food was disappearing much too quickly. So, one afternoon, I heard scratch, scratch, scratch, crunch, crunch, crunch and YUP! Caught in the act was Ripley! She was up on the table, eating the cat food! Yikes! I don't have any photos yet, but I'll lurk around and try to get some. Silly dog!