Searching for property

Hopefully it is coming to an end. I am sooooo tired of looking at real estate. If the fairy could just pick one for me and it would be done, that would be so grand. I know for sure that I want a basement. The weather last night help make that decision. The wind really rattled the roof. and of course the thunder had Beau (our male albino Great Dane) traumatized. So I spent several hours sleeping with him, on the floor of the closet in the master bedroom. Why he will not be content and feel safe on the bed, I do not know. Nor will he be happy in the closet without me. So to appease us both, I have a couple of sleeping bags spread out on the floor to make it a little softer for me of course. I drag my pillow and blanket in his little safe haven put my arm over him, and try to keep my face away from his. Why ? Because he drools terrible when he is scared. Enough said?


What would be ideal I guess. If we could find a walk out basement. Then I could turn part of it into an under ground barn, and bring the girls in when it is stormy. Might be just as easy to build them a barn in the side of a hill.

It's been a long time

Hadn't realized that it had been such a long time, since my last post. That is until I got an e-mail from my sister. Of which it took me to long to respond to. Seems like my time is getting away from me. As I think about what I have been doing, in truth NOTHING. Well maybe not exactly. I have just about worn myself out, looking for property. Harold and I are moving to Indiana. Well not just the two of us. The dogs, cats, horses,and yes I think his Mother also. Places are outrages, with any kind of land with them. I am not talking like hundreds of acres . Just trying to find a decent house with enough land for the girls to have good pasture and a barn. The pasture is much more important than the house. We don't want right on the road, and really would like to be off by ourselves. Some of our cats, would not relish having to be confined to the house. They have been country cats for to long. Most of the 7 really love to be outside, only coming in to eat,or cuddle on the bed if the weather is nasty. Since they have a pet door, they can come and go as they please. I really don't think a couple of them would survive, if the had to be confined indoors.

So you see all this has to be considered. Also what about jobs??? I am sure that we both can find a trucking job.However I would like to stay local even if Harold is talking about going back out on the road. Only for himself. Somebody needs to hang around the house. YEAH!!!! that's me.

Now that I think about it. That is why I haven't had time for my blog. In addition to working, I have had to do household chores that Mr. Mom fails to see that need doing. You know simple things like laundry, dishes, mail,trash, vacuuming,and what all else needs doing.

We are finally going to get out taxes filed this Friday. See I have been way behind my stuff. I haven't even taken time to go and see the girls in about 10 days. Plus it is time for everybody to get their shots for the year and heart worm test . Where the SAM hill does my time get to?
The weather took a turn for the cold here last week. I tried to cover all my flowers and tender stuff. I went out to uncover them today. Not sure my covering them up help or not, some looked a little worse for the wear. It is really sad to look at the tall oak trees, and see all the leaves frostbit. Not sure if they will come back out or not. Time will tell. I have decided, when we move I have several things that I am going to transplant to Indy. I planted some lily of the valley, in remembrance of my Grand Mother. She had a lovely little plot of them in her back yard. Mine haven't spread as much yet but, they will definitely be moving with me. Will also be taking my Lilac bushes.Probably some of the buttercups,and iris. There is also a really neat flowering thing that I don't have a clue what it is. It was here when we bought the land. But it will be going! Oh , I almost forgot, my hastos too. Guess it will look like a greenhouse is relocating.
OK it's late, and I still have a computer to look at for a friend, and some movies that another friend wants copies of. And I am sure it is time to put in another load of clothes and dishes.
Will try and organize my time better so it won't be so long between writings.

Good night all.

The Lizard Insurance

Everybody knows the lizard. But how many have had dealings with him?

This is a first hand report.
Harold had a wreck two weeks ago. The man he hit was insured by geico,yes the lizard with the little red sports car. Harold was not at fault. The man made an illegal u turn ,and Harold had no place to go. When the trooper got o the accident ,the man at fault started speaking out of turn. Making the trooper very Ill. So we all know what happens then. Yes folks he started writing tickets. By the time it was said and done. Harold said that he had written him 3, and was really fighting hard to not write another one. Harold, was wearing his seat belt. And insists that is why his shoulder and neck are so sore. I try to tell him it would have been his face in the windshield otherwise. The good news is that no bones were broken,however the little pick-up is a lot worse for the wear. Probably be a total loss. If the lizard ever gets out to look at it. Yes, that is correct 2 weeks and no lizard!! Harold has had to make numerous calls in order to get a vehicle to drive. Really needed a pick-up for ease in feeding the girls. But they claim nobody rents them. So he had to get a van. Since hay and feed don't fit well in either of our cars, the van is better than another car.
Have another doctor appointment this coming Thursday. His neck is still really stiff. I am sure if the lizard doesn't hurry up and get in touch, Rescue, our black Lab will be driving the lizards sports car.

first night off

This is my first night off in 6. Yes that's right I worked 6 nights straight. That is a total of 72 hours. Might not sound like a lot of hours. But in my job it sure fells like it. My partner quit when they were going to change him to the other night shift. So 2 new guys were hired. One for my shift, and 1 for the other. In the meantime another driver was fired. So we were still short drivers. I had my new partner(Gregg) for two nights on my shift. Think he is going to be okay. Then I had to work the other night shift and train that guy too. Not sure he will make it. Complained about the truck all night. Get used to it guy. Our equipment is far from up to snuff.

Any way, got 3 loads of laundry done, so I will have something to wear. With my job that only requires warm stuff and blue jeans. Not like planning an outfit for an office. Harold got to work 2 days last week so that was also good news.

Haven't had time or energy to go and see the girls. Harold has been feeding and spoiling them for me. Hopefully this week I wont have to work so much.

It has been so cold here,it takes it's toll on you working outside. I don't even like opening the door to let the dogs out. Now that is LAZY!!
Yet as I look up at my wall in the office, I see the map of Scotland. My sister lives there, And it looks a long ways off and to far north to be warm there either. However we did have a little warm spell, that managed to confuse the daffodils. They were a pretty sight for a short time. Hope they go back to sleep and come back to stay soon.

Needing to Vent

Okay, another night at work. It is cold, snowing and instead of having two trucks to shuttle with. We are down to one. The mule as it is called. It is used just for moving trailers on the property from the parking lot to the docks to get loaded, then removed and re parked when loaded. The only time this truck leaves the lot is to get fuel. Well the steering went out in it. So they had to use my partner's( I use that term loosely). My truck fondly called Baby Girl, as also down.

Earlier that day they had decided to change the fuel filter. Nice since myself and the other guys that also drive her had been complaining about no power. Here is where it starts to get stupid! They so called mechanic, and the transportation supervisor, go out and take the old filter off. But they don't have a new filter to put on. DUH!!! Like changing oil in your car, but you haven't got the oil? Anyway, when they get back and try to put the filter on. The rubber seal has been out in the air all this time. Well it has now gotten a bigger. Again DUH!!! when things are supposed to be in a liquid environment and tightly sealed they do have a tendency to change dimensions when out of that environment. So they try to get the seal and filter back in. No luck. The truck keeps sending the fuel back to the tank instead of the motor.

Now everybody knows,that we need two trucks running to keep DuPont happy. We do have to keeping loading their product. And the get very upset, when they don;t have enough empty trailers to load and have to set product on the floor waiting for trucks. But the brain child's don't care. SO when it is 5pm, they go home!!! OK so lets count. We have the mule that is down, Baby girl down. So that still leaves 2 trucks. The Volvo and the Peterbilt. The Volvo will have to be used as the mule. So now that leaves the Pete. The Pete is a full size, over the road truck. Meaning the wheel base is longer than the day cabs we use. It also has a sleeper on it. So this makes it more difficult to maneuver around in the tight areas that we have.

Since I come in at 6 and John ( my partner?) comes in at 7. I get in the Pete and start work. Hoping that maybe it will be a slow night. Meaning that maybe I will only have to pull 6 to 7 loads in my 12 hour shift. The night Supervisor decides that it would be helpful, if John did a little switching.(Means he will use the Volvo to put trailers in the docks to load and when he gets them done, he will start helping me.

When I go to clock in, there are already 3 trailers loaded, out of 5 empty doors. This means I am already behind before I even get started. So I out myself in high gear and off I go. To make matters worse. The Pete has a fifth wheel pin hat is really hard to pull. It sits halfway under the trailer. So you have to really reach for it. Then instead of being able to pull it straight out. This one you have to lift up on then pull. I am by no means a weak person. But I can not pull this pin with just my hands. I use what is called a fifth wheel puller. It is a metal extension that reaches under the trailer and adds length which also means strength to it. Even with this assistance I have to place one leg on the back tire of the truck and pull with everything I have. Yes, it is going to be quite a night.

As it gets colder, the wind blows, and the snow is coming down,my leg and back are getting tired and sore. My partner finally shows up. He makes two trips. While I am at the warehouse unloading, getting ready torop this trailer and hook to an empty. My Boss comes down and tells me. "You need to drop that trailer and go pull John out of the **** drive. His truck has quit,and he is blocking part of the road and the drive"

I Bob tail up there. (just the tractor no trailer) To find out that the company has no chain. So one of the guys goes in to find something we can use. He comes back out with some nylon straps. Not the greatest idea, but Hey it is all we had. I get hooked up to him and start pulling him very slowly. He panics and hits his brakes. In turn breaking the tow straps. Well at least he is out of the way so trucks can get past him. He tell the supervisor. "My fuel is jelling. "This happens when it gets REALLY REALLY COLD. The diesel level is low, etc, etc. But it is not that cold. The fuel gauge doesn't work in this truck and he has run out of fuel before, so the supervisor decided to check the tanks, yeah you guessed it they are bone dry.

OK now that I am farther behind. I got back to myrailer and go back to the plant. It is about 2 am. The fuel stop doesn't open until 5am. So I know now I am on my own. I take off and get to the hill,that I have dreaded all night. Hoping they get it salted soon. And I see a security guard and hr truck at the top. I stop and to find out what's up. She tell me there is a wreck in the other lane, but I can get past so go slow. Like I needed that warning. A guy was coming up the hill and almost made it to the top when he hit an icy spot and it caused his jeep to flip over and land in the ravine. He is okay and the town truck and cops are there. I don't; do a lot of looking, as I am more concerned with getting down it myself. Knowing I have to come back up it on my way out. Oh for joy.

I back into the dock drop that trailer, go in get paper work for my next load,get hooked up. Pull away from the dock, close my trailer doors. Leave my brakes set for the trailer and ease out of the clutch.( doing this ensures that the fifth wheel pin has locked and the trailer is firmly attached to the truck) I have a habit of doing this twice. I know our equipment to well. I start to make the turn to cross the rail road tracks, and Yes my night just got worse. The trailer comes loose and falls on the dolly legs.
It is no easy matter to try and crank a loaded trailer back up. The things are heavy, better than 48,000 pounds. Alot of slow cranking. I am lucky enough to have a DuPont Railroad guy that saw what happened and came to help. With a lot of effort we finally get it back up and I get hooked up again. Off I go.

Meantime back at the ranch. John has got fuel in his truck and he is now running. Of course now it is after 4am.
Okay I am on my last trip. My body is so looking forward to going home. I am supposed to only work 3 days on then 3 off. Yet another glitch. The night driver on the other shift has quit, and one has retired, so this is actually my third night.

My partner, was supposed to work but since he is the transportation supervisor's brother he doesn't play by the same rules. This is my second week of 4 days. As I am clocking out I learn that next week, John and I are also supposed to work as they still don't have any drivers for that shift. Well guess what John told them he wasn't going to work. So next Sunday I will be by my self again.
Then to add fuel to my already roaring fire. On my 4Th night, which wasn't a lot better than my third. As the weather had really gotten bad. The snow was mixing with sleet. John decides to leave at 4am. Nobody knows why. He just came in and told the guys at the plant he was going home. Thanks Partner.
When I got back to the plant and found this out it was around 5am. He had already been gone 1 hour. I told the guys that I was taken my 3o minute diner break of which I never do, and I would not be taking another load back.
When the supervisor finally showed up for work at 5:40. I explained it to him and told him you can give me points, fire me or whatever, But I have fought that hill for the last time tonight!

He agreed with me and said just take a break. I did. I left at my usual time 6am,tired,sore,cold, and disgusted.

Passing by the guard shack to say goodnight. Leroy offered me a ride to my vechile. I took him up on it. He not only gave me a ride, but sprayed deicer on my windows and scraped them for me.
So this story did have a good ending.

Good night, and sleep warm
Good night and sleep warm.

Trying to find things

After I wrote about Doodle's accident. It reminded me about Belle. She had been hurt ,shortly after we got her. I felt she also deserved space. So I went on the hunt for the pictures. I have torn this house apart, looked places most unlikely, to no avail. So I had to settle for some copies that I had. I was working for a Vet at the time,Harold had gone to feed for me, so when I got off I could just come home. He called me at work and said come to the pasture when you get off Belle needs you to look at her. Not thinking anything was serious, I did not clock out and run home. I finished my day which was only a matter of about 30 minuets. I arrived at the pasture. And again her was an emergency call to the vet. I do not know to this day what she got into. She has sever damage to her left front inside leg, and the inside back right leg.

Now I am sure that you are thinking what kind of a person am I. I have told you about both horses getting hurt. Anyone who has dealt with livestock will tell you. They are going to get into stuff, no matter how careful you are.

Belle was very young at the time . Young horses are like toddlers they are into everything. They run jump play and don't always pay attention where they are. The pasture is very clean. Meaning no piles of debris,etc. The fence is good,so is the barn. So like I said I have no idea what she got into. I tried looking all over to find what she might have gotten into, but have never figured it out.

Since I was working at the Vets, it was decided that it would be better to have her there to treat. So we loaded her up, and took her to work with me. Missy was still living at the time so Doodle had Company to stay with her.

As with any serious injury it took a lot of time and TLC of which Harold was a big Help. The wounds had to be washed,medicated, and wrapped twice a day.She enjoyed

the time spent. And was very good about the doctoring. Harold always

spent a little extra time with her. He felt badly that she had to be away from all of us. He said that she needed a little extra TLC while in the hospital.

She has recovered nicely, with just a little scarring on both legs, but sound as ever. She is still like a toddler and gets into everything. If you are putting hay in the feeder she will be at the back of the pick-up trying to help you get the hay out and of course has to be sure you get it in the feeder correctly.

Harold is very serious about showing her this year in some Halter Classes.

Which should prove interesting. I will have to train them both. Should be fun for the whole family. He has already bought her a beautiful halter with silver trim. Well let me rephrase that He bought 2 because he couldn't decided it the light or dark leather would look best. He tells me of all the new stuff on the market to paint their hooves with, and what color glitter he wants for her. How he will do her mane and tail, with pretty things too. I sit in my recliner drinking my coffee, and smile. Thankful I have found someone like him.

Meet the Girls

The one on the left is Belle Star. The black one is Black Irish Lass AKA Doodle.Because when she was first born that was what she made me think of. A doodle Bug. She is a registered quarter horse and in this picture is 19 years old. Recovering from an accident that I will talk about later the baby as we call her is just 3. She was a birthday gift for me about 2 and half years ago. As you can see the stay close to each other.

My Husband Harold, bought Belle for me, and I guess you might as well say for Doodle also. We had 3 horses. Doodle,Sassy,and Amrica's Pride. We lost Sassy Doodle's Mom to a rare disease that opossums carry. We buried her on the property. That also will have to be a later tale. Anyway, after losing her it was just the two mares. Neither on them had ever been without a pasture mate.As the Palomino(America's Pride) aka: Missy was getting up in years 32 at the time. Harold thought it a good idea to get another one. So when the time came Doodle would have company.
Just so happened he had his eye on this little filly that some friends owned. They had made the comment more than once that Harold should buy her. They made it one time to often, and he did.

I was not all that happy,with this purchase. Doodle is 19 and has never been broken. So the thought of having another horse wasn't a priority with me. I had told myself when I lost Missy I was done getting any more. My heart couldn't take the loss anymore. I have had to put down 4 horse over my lifetime. And it never gets any easier to say goodbye.I had pondered that maybe a goat or donkey to keep Doodle company would be just fine.But now Belle is part of the family and heart strings as well.

The 2 of them are almost inseparable. So when Doodle had her accident, Belle's life was about to change.

Early one morning they decided to escape and go to town, for what I do not know, maybe a Sunday paper.They must have figured that nothing in town was open yet. As they were returning,Doodle didn't look both ways,when crossing the road.She was hit by a car.Horses have 2 defenses ,fight or flight. She chose flight. She returned to her pasture. But being scared she couldn't find her way back in.We rent the pasture from Debbie. Her daughter was on her way to work when she saw the girls were out. She yelled to her mom. Debbie started out,just as a man pulled in the drive. He had gone home before returning to notify anybody hat he had hit a horse.While Debbie was opening the pasture gate, Doodle ran in, and was calling to Belle. Belle followed quickly after her. The man informed Debbie that he had hit the Black one meaning Doodle. She called me right away

It just so happened that I did not work that night as was still up when the phone rang. I yelled at Harold, telling him what had happened while I was grabbing clothes. We only live about 1 mile from the pasture so it didn't take long to get there. As we pulled in, it looked like Belle was standing oddly. I jumped from the car and started over the gate. Debbi said that Doodle had been hit. In midair I changed my direction and was at Doodles side. A quick look over and I saw her inside back leg,was badly cut.(Pictures are graphic so I have posted them at the end in case you don't wish to view them.) I yelled at Harold to call the Vet.He hadn't even had time to get out of the car. we keep an emergency Vet kit in the car. He brought this to me and went to call the Vet. I grabbed bottled water out of it and started washing off the leg.Figured it best to try and wrap it to slow the bleeding. Heavy cotton and vet wrap.Waiting for what seemed a lifetime. Harold returned to inform me that the Vet I had used for some 15 years would have to check his schedule and get back to me. I told Harold call Mineral Wells.(Where I use to work) More waiting. This time when Harold returned good news they were on the way.

I was so glad to finally see the red clinic truck pulling in. Jerry and Dr, Jackson emerged carrying emergency supplies with them. I unwrapped the leg,and the Vet examined it. He didn't think it was broken, however the Achilles tendon had just missed being completely severed. After several shots. For pain and tetanus,he started explaining what kind of treatment was going to be involved. I didn't care if it meant she would have to tucked in my bed,or me sleeping in the barn whatever it would take would be done.It would be a long healing process.

We did water treatment that consists of running cold water from a hose gently over the area. This sloughs off dead tissue and increases blood flow to generate new growth. Then the leg would be rubbed down with DMSO ( like a REALLY hot Ben gay.) Wrap the leg from ankle to above the knee with plastic wrap to generate more heat. Cover this with vet wrap and finish with duct tape to keep it nice and tidy.

She had to be confined for 12 hours then unwrapped and turn loose for 12. That worked out fine since ,my shift is 12 hours long. Before going to work I would do all the doctoring,then when I came home in the morning I would unwrap her and turn her loose. Belle kept a steady vigil outside her stall. Trying to figure out why her buddy couldn't come out and play. In the morning when I would turn her out. Belle would take off like a race horse. And Doodle would do her best, usually on three legs. I worried if the leg would ever be used again.

It has been four months now and she is doing great. The wound has healed all but a very small area. A little puffy around the knee area but doesn't seem to slow her down. She runs,bucks and plays with no visible signs of a limp.

A little insight into me

First, why am I doing this. I can only answer that my Sister,and my Niece both have blogs. After a recent visit from my sister,who now resides in Scotland. She had suggested i might try it. So here I am.
Not sure how this will go, as I was never one for even keeping a diary,or a ledger as some call them.
I live in a little town in west Tn. Close to the Land between the lakes. Married with no children. Well none that have 2 legs. All our kids have four. 2 horses,3 dogs,and at last count I think 7 Cats. The cats have a pet door so they can come and go as they please. Sometimes One will invite a stranger in to eat,and depending on who is on watch at the door, depends on entry or not. Cats are really fun to watch. Mine take turns guarding the pet door. After all it is the entrance to their domain. As we live in the country,people always ask about wild critters coming in. I just laugh shake my head and say " I have never had that problem". They don't know what I do.
The dogs 1 black Labrador retriever, and 2 white Great Danes. The male Lab ,and Dane fight so they must be separated at all times. The female Dane gets along with both, since one of them is her brother.
The horses both quarter. One is Black and 19 years old. The other Harold(my hubby) bought for me as a b-day present and also to keep the other company. My horses have never been alone. The Black one(Doodle) lost her Mother a few years back,but had my yellow mare to keep her company. The Yellow mare was getting old 32 at the time. Harold thought it wise to get another one. The baby(belle) is a sorrel, which is red in color. she is just 3. I finally started to break Doodle this past Thanksgiving. Getting on her back for the first time. She was just fantastic. No bucking, fussing. But she has been handled a lot over the years, just never had anybody on her before. Look forward to doing more with her this spring. And of course Belle will also have to be broke.

How I make a Living

This is the second of my 3 days off. I work a 12 hour shift from 6 at night till 6 in the morning. Three days on and then 3 days off. The first morning off, I sleep for seems like forever. Especially if the night has been cold and or raining. You see I drive what is called a shuttle truck. Yes it is an 18 wheeler.The difference is that it is called a day cab,since it has no sleeper on it. Making it shorter in wheelbase and easier to get around with. You see them on the road alot.Yellow freight, Roadway, Federal Express, etc. They are used for short trips to and from a plant to warehouse,or to move freight around in town.
Mine is used to move product for DuPont. When I go to work,I pull a loaded 48 foot trailer about 5 miles to UTI in New Johnsonville, Tn. This is the warehouse for DuPont, and where they will load outbound over the road trucks.I back the trailer into the dock and if it slow I will wait for them to unload it, then return for another. All night long. If it is busy I will drop my loaded trailer and pick up an empty to take back. It's a pretty physical job, alot of getting in and out of the truck. Plus dolling the trailer down,dropping it and hooking up to another. Plus it can sure enough get wet and cold. Really glad to see 4am come around, that means I only have time for about 1 more trip. Then home to out my blankee in the dryer get it nice and warm. Get my 2 Great Danes, and off the dream land. Nothing beats snuggling under a warm blanket after a cold wet night.