Surprise! We had a broody hen with a huge clutch under the Porta Potti by the barn. I have seen 10 chicks so far. And she is still on more eggs. I guess that explains why we haven’t been getting so many eggs.
Limited Time Offer – Free Farm Experience!
I know many people want to build fences, but just don’t know how. Or maybe you want to muck out horse stalls but don’t have any horses or stalls. Want to build goat shelters, but don’t have the lumber? Want to clean rabbit cages, but don’t have rabbits. do you have the urge to pull weeds out of the garden but your garden just doesn’t grow any weeds? You are in luck, because we can offer all those opportunities and more!
Now, you are probably thinking an opportunity like this would cost hundreds of dollars a weekend. Right now, the Sawyer Family Farm is offering FREE farm experience opportunities. There is currently NO waiting list to get the full farm experience. Give me a call and we can get you started right away!
Mack update
It has been quite a while since we updated about Mack. He had adjusted well to the new farm. We bought a remote training collar which has been effective at teaching him to stay with us outside. He no longer chases the chickens. And Alex has become quite fond of him. In fact, Alex wants to join the 4H group for dog training.
Why we need to control our own health care
As I have been dealing with my concussion, it has made me understand more about why I need to understand my own health issues and not rely on the doctors and medical establishment to teach me. Doctors are certainly important, in particular for dealing with emergency and trauma situations, but doctors are fallible (like the rest of us). Since I have at least 2 hours a day commuting, I listen to podcasts some of the time. I have long been a fan of the Horse Radio Network and listen to some of their shows. Today, I listened to a Stable Scoop episode about Lyme in People.
I would encourage everyone to take an hour and listen to the episode. You can play it directly from the website or download and play it later. While it is specifically about Lyme, it is also about taking control of your situation. As I listened to the episode, I realized that it is very possible some of the things I have been battling from my concussion may actually be related to Lyme. This is definitely possible since we already know Anna and Amanda have Lyme. It might even be possible that Amanda was born with it. I didn’t realize that only a small percentage of people with Lyme actually get the traditional bulls-eye.
My plan is to research some of the homeopathic/holistic/alternative treatment options for Lyme. In doing so, I am sure I will continue to learn about managing our health better.
Aromatherapy is working
If you have been following along, you know I have been experimenting with Aromatherapy to control and hopefully prevent, my migraines. You can review my “Concussion Blend #1” which has been updated with a minor change I made doubled the Frankincense oil content.
My time at work was slightly irregular, so I waited a while to validate the results. I am completely convinced that the blend is working to help with the healing. By using some of the oil in the morning and again after lunch, I have been avoiding the migraines completely. I have also been experiencing much less in the way of dull headaches towards the end of the work day. I am still feeling more fatigued, but I am pleased with the results so far.
I want to also give credit to the cranial sacral massage that I had. While I never had any “Ah-ha” moments, I do feel like it helped restore some balance. I have another massage tomorrow, so we will see how it continues.
Now if only aromatherapy could make it cooler outside…
Rabbit training
Anna and the kids are working on training agility rabbits. At the 4H fair there is a hopping contest and a jumping contest. The kids want to try and win.
This is what I like to see
We have 1 room in the house that has an AC unit. The kids discovered Anna had been sleeping in the guest bed in there and last night they took it over. This morning, we found them all hanging out in the AC roomc reading.
Alex and Vicki had found my Natural Horse magazine and were reading the articles to analyze issues they have with their ponies.
Vicki quote from the fair horse show “Dad, that horse had really bad hooves. Maybe you could help them. ”
Alec quote after reading this morning, “Mom, Precious has never went some info a natural relaxed position. Maybe she needs a massage to help her. “
North Stonington fair weekend
This weekend was the North Stonington fair. We had rabbits that spent Thursday-Sunday at the fair. Vicki showed Devil and WON the walk trot division on Saturday. I showed King; we had fun and won a class, but didn’t do great overall. Unfortunately, King was lame after the show from a coronary band injury, likely sustained while evading Huey in the pasture.
Sunday was the goat show. This was only the second time the kids showed goats; the first was the same faerie last year. After a difficult showmanship class for each of them, things improved. They both had fun and resolved to learn more to be better prepared for showmanship at the 4H fair in 2 weeks.
Here are some pictures from the weekend. 
Rob and Amanda on Devil for lead line
Rob and King 
Vicki and Devil 
Vicki getting awards 
Vicki and Amanda 
Rob and King
Vicki and Amanda with Devil
Alex and Onyx
Vicki and Pocohontas
Alex and Diamond
Alex and Vicki with Poco and Ruby in the Daughter and Dam class
Alex and Diamond
The first of many…
Nights in the barn, cleaning tack and loading the horse trailer.
Amanda refused to go to bed and insisted on helping clean tack
Tomorrow is the North Stonington fair horse show. Vicki and I will be riding Devil and King. Amanda will ride lead line.
King has been dethroned
A few weeks back, Huey joined the farm. After an adjustment period with Devil and Precious, we turned him out with King and Calli too. The result was surprising. Huey, the 11 hand Dartmoor, drove King away from the other ponies. Calli was allowed to stay with King initially, but once she came into heat, Huey claimed her too.
Now Huey keeps his band at close hold while King grazes alone. Huey was gelded late (around 5 or 6) and clearly knows how to be a stud. While King spent many years in charge, life in nature, sometimes a younger stud takes over.
