Training and Massage: a regular farm day

Business as usual started almost immediately.  This morning I had a quick drive thru Starbucks with a friend and then returned to work.  It was a Miss America debriefing day complete with good stories, laughs and an honest approval of the newly crowned Miss America.  With all of my students and peers knowing of my adventures, viewership was about 60 people higher than past years as they watched the show waiting to see if I streaked the stage.  I considered it.  Do SPANX count as naked?

Last night with an hour of sunlight left I checked the barnyard and all of my farm friends.  Everyone seemed fine and I realized one of my chickens who had not previously been laying an egg is doing so.  While I was gone we averaged 13 eggs a day, but today I only collected 10.  I'm not sure if that is due to my return and they want to go on strike or to the 20 degree weather.  I'm going to blame the weather.  The goats are growing in the belly and are really starting to look like mommy goats.  Charlie came out to greet me and seemed to be moving very slowly.  Worried by his slow moving back legs I called the vet this morning.  I learned he was born in 1986.  Yes, 1986.  That makes Charlie twenty-seven years old.  He is an old.

Today I got home from work and massaged his poor arthritic  body.  It was thirty degrees outside and I was bundled up.  The goats were not happy to share attention with the pony and preceded to eat my pants and climb the pony's back.  At one point Augusta Belle tried climbing my back too.  Naughty goats.  After about forty minutes of equine massage I rubbed the goats for about five minutes each and walked back to the house.  Walking back to the house I overheard Brett scream, "Mom!!  I'm training the rooster!"  I yell back, "To do what?"  He stops with his hands on his hips looking at me as if I'm dumb and says, "TO FIGHT!"  As if the training was actually working the rooster jumps up and attacks Brett.  He beams and says, "SEEEE?"  From somewhere in the barnyard Chloe chimes in, "Rooster fighting is illegal!!"  I laugh to myself and continue to the house.  I could not feel my hands or my toes and Thadd called as I was paying the propane guy who happened to arrive during the equine massage session.  I'm not sure if I helped the pony, but he and the goats seemed genuinely happy for the massage.  Thadd suggested we go out to dinner since he was hungry and on his way home and I had not started dinner.

After dinner I drove by to pick up Charlie's pony blanket as the weather is dropping in to the twenties here.  Tomorrow I will give him another massage and Wednesday he goes in to the vet.  I hope the vet tells me he is just old and cold.  I am also slightly scared for the people in the carpool lane when I arrive pulling a horse and trailer.  Very SCARY!

Today I'm thankful for ten fresh eggs. (Day 48).  Goodnight Friends.