Kennel Chaos - Part 2

The kennel saga continues. Finally got the chain link fence laid out flat. It was a tangled mess.

What was the manufacturer thinking folding it up upon itself with no burlap or something in between to prevent the links from hooking on each other?

But beyond the idiocy of that, the links are not even assembled correctly. There are a couple sections like this where the bottom has a big empty space.

And the top has a square sticking up above the rest because the whole line of links is off.

There is no way for me to fix this without super human effort. So I think I need to bring the fence back and see if they'll open a box and give me a whole new roll of fencing, hoping that the new one is okay.

I regret having put together the frame already because it now occurs to me that it's going to be a mess trying to disassemble this again and move it with the chain link all being in one piece.

This is such a bummer.

But there was a beautiful sunset...

Looking for My Tribe

How can one day be so wonderful and the next so awful?

I thought I'd try to put up the kennel myself. After all, who else was going to do it?

I opened the box and found a lot of pieces.

I looked at the instructions and saw a lot of steps.

I finished steps 1 to 5. That wasn't so difficult...

I started to get the pattern of assembly, and got the whole frame put together -- steps 6 to 11.

But then came the hard part, the chain link.

The roll was heavy. I tried to balance it while I put the first tension bar through the beginning of the fencing but I couldn't hold up the roll and it all fell over, ending up in a tangled mess.

I tried calling a couple people to help, including H. No one could help. I didn't have a very long list of people to call. I felt alone and helpless. I sat down and cried. The whole neighborhood probably heard me. I'm surprised the coyotes didn't join in.

Rather than keep trying to do something that appeared impossible. I decided to do as I mentioned yesterday and take Murphy to the Rum River park.

I managed to hitch the truck to the trailer. Score one success for Mary.

I went and got Murphy, brushed him clean, and loaded him on the trailer. He walked right on the trailer. Our work on loading paid off. Score two for Mary.

I started driving to the park. The truck seemed to not want to go very fast. I pulled over and looked again at the hitch to make sure the thing that pops the trailers emergency brakes wasn't doing something, but it looked okay. I put the truck into drive and just let it roll. I figured if the trailer was screwy, it wouldn't roll but it did. I figured I was just being paranoid that I'd hooked the trailer up wrong and continued on.

I got to the park and unloaded and tied Murphy. He started acting like a Tyrannosaurus was lurking in the woods. He was swinging around so much, I was having a hard time getting a saddle and blanket to sit straight long enough for me to tighten the girth. I finally got the saddle on. I'll count that as score three for Mary.

Because of the way Murphy was acting, I decided to leave on his halter and put the bridle on over it. I circled Murphy in the parking lot on the end of the lead line a few times, but he wasn't calming down. I decided to loop the lead line around the saddle horn in case I needed to get off and lead him at some point on the trail.

I decided there was nothing else to do but just get on him, ride, and hope for the best, so that's what I did. I have never seen Murphy be this frightened. Granted, I haven't ridden him for a month at home, much less on the trail, but he's usually so dead quiet, I didn't expect this. It didn't help that the mosquitos were terrible, although I doubt that was why Murphy was shaking his head so much.

So down the trail we went, with Murphy shaking his head, breathing heavily, and fluctuating between a very fast walk and his Missouri Foxtrot. The horse can cover ground, that's for sure! (Oh, Lord, I just sounded really Norwegian there.)

I did some rein squeezes when Murphy tried to break to a canter or the movement felt too frantic, but mostly I allowed him to move and actually encouraged him forward because that brought his head down and was a better feeling than having that much energy just sizzling underneath me.

As I rode along, I checked out the flowers, watched the river, looked at birds, and ignored Murphy's nervousness. I rode him as if he was just fine.

Murphy never actually shyed at anything or acted uncontrollable. And after an hour on the trails, he finally dropped his head, stretched out, slowed down, and relaxed. As soon as he did, I headed back towards the trailer to make sure he didn't have a chance to get himself worked up again. Score four for Mary.

The ride ended well. Murphy stood calmly while I packed up the trailer, and he only balked a little at the trailer door but then got on without me having to get forceful. Score five for Mary.

I actually felt really good about that ride. I've come a long way with my ability to ride out a problem and not become frightened myself. So I guess I shouldn't call the day awful.

I try to be self-sufficient, an Amazon woman of sorts. But even the Amazons had a tribe. I feel very tribeless right now. My advice to ladies -- don't ever let go of your relationships with friends and family to try and please and get closer to your significant other. Do not make him and his social network your whole life. Even if you don't get divorced, it will still probably be a sacrifice that you hugely regret and it won't help your relationship with your partner anyway.

I definitely need a tribe.

Definite Lift-my-spirits and Feel-good Ride

I did it! I'm so excited! Luke and I made it to Crow Hassan Park!

I was pretty nervous about this drive with the trailer -- narrow, windy roads and I wasn't sure how the trailer parking would be. There were a lot of trailers there, but the parking area is so large that I had no problem pulling in and parking between two other trailers.

I was a little concerned about Luke too. A chill was in the air and some strong winds. It definitely felt like fall.

When I went to get Luke, he ran for about five minutes before he gave up and let me put a halter on him. I just stood in the middle of the paddock while he ran around. Silly boy...he can't keep it up forever, but I do appreciate him running off some steam before I catch him.

Luke was more nervous than usual while he was tied to the trailer at the park too. Like I said, it was pretty windy.

When we headed down a trail into the woods, a big smile immediately covered my face. I hadn't been to this park for at least twelve years and I'd forgotten how amazingly beautiful it is.

Unlike the state forest I was in last weekend, which runs through a mainly sand-based area, Crow Hassan is mostly on rich black dirt and is glaringly green when you are in the woods.

Outside the woods, there are wetlands, surrounded by goldenrod and other wild flowers.

Some of the trails were muddy, while others looked like they were sprinkled with river rock.

The grassy paths were soft and springy and nice to trot on.

I forgot that the trails went along the Crow River at a couple points. One trail by the river led to a horse camping site. There were quite a few rigs there. That might be a good place to try my camping skills and figure out what works and what doesn't. Camping might be tough on my own, but I'm learning to like challenges.

A red tailed hawk flew over us at one point and I could see the gorgeous colors in its feathers. Lots of WOW! moments today.

When Luke and I went back to the trailer at the end of our three and a half hour ride, a pack of coyotes started howling. I thought it was weird that they were making such a racket in the middle of the afternoon. I was glad I was back at the trailer as I'm not sure how Luke would have reacted if we would have run into them. I've been hearing coyotes more frequently at night too. Maybe that's also a sign of the approaching fall season?

Luke was much more energetic on the trails than usual, probably from the chilliness and the wind rustling everything around him. I was taking photos of a pond when he became frightened and started backing off the trail into the brush. I was getting the jigging-explosive feeling so I just made him go forward and went back up the trail we'd just come down on. I was still holding my camera and couldn't do much else as far as steering. He worked out of his nervousness quickly and I was able to put my camera away.

I don't especially like having Luke react to things, but it does make the ride more interesting. Every time I manage to handle something out there on my own, it makes me feel a little better about myself. I can remain calm and handle these things.

It's not good to be overconfident, but what I feel is more like my strength and confidence returning. It's a feeling of belonging somewhere and being good at something. I can't really express it quite right. But there are times when I feel completely in sync with what I'm doing. It's a very peaceful and joyous feeling.

When I got home, I let Luke and Murphy out into the pasture, then unhitched the trailer -- first time doing that by myself too. I sure hope I can get the trailer back on the truck hitch again because I'd like to take Murphy to the Rum River if I have time tomorrow.

Java jumped into the back seat of the truck, and we went to Fleet Farm and got the 6 x 5 x 15 dog kennel. I was expecting a struggle fitting the kennel into the back of the truck and strapping it down, but there's the box below. Not at all the size I expected which makes me wonder how much assembly is involved.

I backed the truck to the spot I want to put the kennel. Struggled with sliding the box backwards (it weighs 185 pounds), got it back to the point of tilting and lowered the one end to the ground. Then I pulled the truck a bit forward to slide it almost out, but I didn't want it to clunk to the ground, and I wasn't sure if I could hold it when it dropped, so I put the stool underneath the box to help catch it. I'm sorry, but I think that was brilliant...

Java is already in her new kennel spot wondering what I'm waiting for. I'm wondering how I'm going to put the dang thing together. I also noticed that the slope behind the kennel is probably going to dump water into it. But it's the only place I can really put the kennel. I just won't put Java in it when it rains. It's also going to mean moving or not using my clothesline. Oh, well. It's all just temporary anyway.

After my amazing kennel unloading job, Java and I got out the tractor and cleaned out the paddock, then fed the horses.

By the time Java and I got in to eat, it was 6:30 PM, which isn't so bad except I'd had breakfast at 8 AM and there was no time for lunch. I ate the rest of my leftover ribs from Texas Roadhouse. Gosh I love that place!

Tomorrow, maybe I'll play it a little more low-key. Unless I try to put together that dang kennel. My title for that post will be $%&*@!!!

Sanity Steps

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions on crates and kennels. I went looking at Fleet Farm and the crates are about the same price as the kennels. I guess you are paying for having something inside and being able to fold it down and take it with you. However, the kennels are bigger, of course, and allow the dog to be outside.

The question is whether being outside is good or bad. I don't think Java will bark very much. I can put the kennel on the cement under the deck so even if I don't buy a cover, she'll be completely shaded and somewhat protected from rain. Most people seem to worry about the cold of winter being hard on a dog, but I worry more about heat and humidity. In either case, I did manage to gate her off in a hallway for five hours the other day so that may be an option in either extreme cold or heat.

I can put her current crate in the kennel for sleeping as she does like to cuddle up in there, at least until I can find a cheap dog house. Although I'd like to put something soft in the kennel for her to lie on, putting a blanket or her pillow in the kennel will probably lead to her chewing them up.

I've narrowed my choices down to two options:

A 7 x 5 x 10 kennel with cover for $260

Or a 6 x 5 x 15 kennel without a cover for $219 (additional $70 for cover which I could buy if and when I need it). I'm leaning toward this one but I need to measure the space I'm putting it in to make sure it's not too long.

Hey! Look! There's two dogs in there! Maybe... Oh, never mind.

I need to go back to Fleet Farm with the truck to actually buy and pick up the kennel. The thing weighs about 185 pounds so I'm hoping someone will load it for me. I figure I can drag it out of the truck when I get home.

I would have picked it up today but I'll have to unhitch the horse trailer and I wanted to wait until after I go trail riding tomorrow in case I have problems hitching the trailer back up again.

The temperature is changing drastically -- dropping down to 48 degrees tonight and only reaching the upper 60s tomorrow, plus it's supposed to rain in the afternoon. So I'm hoping to get ready tonight (might have to get out long johns) and go trail riding early in the morning.

I'm planning on taking Luke to Crow-Hassan, a park we've never been to before. The place to park your trailer is somewhat hidden and easy to drive by so I'm hoping I don't mess it up. I kind of have a circle of roads picked out that should bring me back around if I do pass it by.

I'm hoping that the cold won't prevent us from having a good ride because I sure need one! Maybe I'll get in a ride on Sunday too because Labor day weekend H is taking the truck for four days to go camping.

Most everyone I know is going out of town for Labor Day weekend so I need to come up with a very ornate schedule of activities to prevent myself from crashing and burning. The trails are my sanity steps and relaxation roads so I fear going too long without hitting those playful, powerful paths.

Calling All Dog People

I apologize that I have not been doing a very good job keeping up with everyone else's blog. I've been trying to take care of a lot of things around here, plus have some moments of fun and relaxation. Of course, I know you all struggle with the same dilemna. But here I go, I'm going to ask for your help.

I know a lot of you are dog owners and you are very creative, smart, caring dog owners. So I'm calling on your expertise.

My poor Java ends up locked up in her crate while I'm at work. That ends up being about 10 hours -- 8 hours work and two hours driving time. I try to work at home when I can or work at home for a couple hours and then go to work, but my boss can only be so understanding about my pet and my unplanned predicament of suddenly being on my own.

Locking Java up in a 33" x 20" x 26" crate all day was never part of the plan when I adopted her. It is basically inhumane and causing me endless amounts of guilt, so please don't tell me how awful it is. I feel bad enough already. What I need is a solution.

I've tried leaving Java out loose in the house but she chewed up the back of a leather couch and a few rugs and who knows what she'll start on next, so that hasn't been a good option. She does manage to control her bladder all day but I don't like that she has no choice in the crate and that she's in such a cramped space that she can't at least lay on her side and stretch her legs out.

I don't have a good place to corral Java off and I don't know if a gate would hold her anyway. So I've been looking at doggy play pens as an option. The large one in the style shown below is 46" x 46" x 28" -- not a great amount of space but much better than her current crate size. I also like that it is foldable so I could take it on the road with Java and me also.

But before I go ahead and order and waste perhaps more money on something that won't work, I thought I'd ask the experts. What do you think? Do you know of a better option that is doable for a person who's kind of in limbo as far as where she'll be living eventually?

Thanks in advance for any advice or ideas you can give me. I'm hoping you'll tell me the play pen will work okay because I sure haven't found anything else and I want to resolve this as soon as possible.

Nowthen Threshing Show

Sunday afternoon, I headed to the Nowthen Threshing Show, where I met up with my cousin A and her husband B. They arrived on B's Harley. It's so fun to see my cousin decked out in leather! I'm working on convincing her she needs a biker babe t-shirt.

I caught the tractor "Parade of Power" at 2:00. Here's the tractors lining up before the parade.

There were all sort of old tractors. John Deere's of course, with their distinguishing bright green and yellow colors.

Some of the other tractors looked every bit their age as they clanked and rattled along the parade route.

There were also classic Fords, with classic farmers.

Some large steam powered tractors.

I'm partial to the red tractors.

This one looked more like a tank than a tractor.

Some tractors were driven by children.

While others were overseen by dogs.

There were also old cars at the fair grounds. I wonder what these guys are looking at? Appears to be pretty darn fascinating.

This guy reminds me of John Belushi.

There was also music and square dancing.

And eating, of course.

There were ox plowing demonstrations. I'm wondering if oxen are in the habit of biting because they appear to be wearing muzzles. This one did look a tad miffed at the driver waving his hand in his face.

B was telling me that his Dad plowed with horses with a similar rig because that's all they had to plow with. Cousin A and I went into some of the buildings that showed what pioneer homes and stores were like. It was kind of funny because A and I were looking at the stuff and thinking we'd seen a lot of these things before as children and this was supposed to represent pioneers? Wait a minute!

Anyway, I learned that this contraption, that I got from my Mom's house, is a potato ricer. I'm still not sure how it works.

Now if someone could just tell me what these things are...

We also learned that when A's grandpa drank turpentine, he hadn't lost his mind but that turpentine was considered medicine in those days.

Yes maam, I got me some educatin' along with having fun spending some time with A and B. Hopefully, A and I are going to hit the state fair together in the next couple weeks, if we can coordinate our busy schedules...

For your final piece of entertainment, check out this video of freestyle dog dancing. I can totally see Java getting into this! She certainly has the enthusiasm down pat. I wonder if she could go dancing at the bar with me then...

Simply Maarvelous!

After last weekend's heat and humidity and then several days of rain, the weather today was absolutely stunning and I spent pretty much the whole day out enjoying it.

This morning I took Java for a walk at the Rum River. I bought new tennies, cross-trainers, last weekend to replace my worn out walking shoes but ended up wearing the old shoes today because it was still wet and muddy out. Java and I took the grass and dirt route so I could do some alternate walking and jogging. It makes things a little more challenging and interesting. I'll keep giving the jogging a try as long as my knees don't start bothering me too much.

The river level came up quite a bit with the rain. These areas had been dry and sandy last time I walked through here.

The air was loudly buzzing with bee activity as Java and I stood among the flowers. I couldn't get a good close up photo because my camera appears to be having some issues.

Java and I passed by people jogging and biking. We're working on her "I want to play" lunge factor with hot dogs as a distraction tool. She lunged at the first few people we passed but seemed to get the message after that. I just need to be more consistent working on this with her.

The oak trees were throwing acorns at us, which was very confusing to Java. She thought we were being attacked by mutant squirrels.

There was only one horse trailer at the Rum River park. I like their setup with the water carrier and hay rack on top of the trailer. I'm still hoping to fulfill that big horse camping trip dream I've always had, even if I have to go all by myself. I'm not letting lack of a partner in crime hold me back. Life is too short to wait for someone to want to join me in my adventures.

Here's my Mini, trying to hang out with the big boys.

When Java and I got home from our walk, I had lunch and then got ready to take Luke to the state forest nearby. By the time I got my camera, water, water for Luke, a couple apples all packed up, and then got Luke groomed, on the trailer, and drove to the park, it was about 1:30 and the trailer parking area was full of trailers. I couldn't pull in but had to back in instead. It took a couple tries, but I finally got the trailer into a spot.

But as soon as I got parked, unloaded Luke, and was almost done saddling him up, two more trailers arrived and parked on both sides of me. One was a HUGE trailer with a sign that said "Careful. Show horses on board." Well la dee dah. Those darn show horses were kicking and screaming as they pulled in. Luke did not like the sounds of that.

I hurried to finish getting Luke ready and get out of there before the show girls started unloading their monsters. Plus, the second trailer load (from the same stable), was waiting for me to move Luke so they could back in.

We vamoosed.

I wasn't on a time table today, so I didn't worry so much about getting lost or what time I got back to the trailer. As it turned out, all trails seemed to eventually lead back to the parking lot so no need to worry.

This trail looked a little ominous -- like we were going into a cave.

But it opened up on the other side of the trees.

Luke was hearing a lot of noises as we rode, mainly it was those darn acorns falling again.

I don't know what these pods are but they were sure pretty, pinkish with green. The photo doesn't do the colors justice.

But then there is this black stuff on some of the trees. Whatever it is, it's not good as the trees that have it are dead or in the process of dying.

I rode Luke for two hours and then went back to the trailer to hit the bathroom, stretch my legs, give Luke some water, and eat our apples (one of the apples was off our tree).

However, I discovered that the trailers on both sides of me were so close, there wasn't even room to tie Luke to the trailer. Plus the show horse group came back at the same time I did and was starting to get ready to go, so it was pretty chaotic again.

I grabbed the two apples, put them in my saddle bag, and headed out again without getting a bathroom break. Luke and I shared the two apples as we rode on the trail. Although, Luke doesn't quite get the concept of sharing and tended to slobber with his bite so I'd end up giving him the rest of the apple.

I've gotten pretty good at juggling things on my ride -- the camera, my water, food -- I even managed to hold onto my water container as Luke decided to run up a hill while I was trying to drink. Didn't spill a drop.

The flies seemed to get worse past 4:00 for some reason. Luke and I did a full-out gallop trying to escape them. I'm wondering if I can gallop and capture some cool effects shooting the ground as I go...

When we returned to the trailer a second time, I spent some time talking to three other women about trucks and trailers and the wild and wacky show ponies. One lady was really fun to talk to and probably to ride with. I should get some cards made up to hand out to people to give me a call if they need a riding partner.

When I got home, after I cleaned out the trailer, fed Luke and Murphy, Java, and Shy, I grilled burgers on the outdoor gas grill. It took me awhile to get the "automatic" starter to actually light, but eventually I got one side of it going. The hamburgers turned out excellent, seasoned to perfection, if I do say so myself.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and hook up with cousin A and her husband at the Nowthen Threshing Show. Hoping to catch the "Parade of Power" at 2:00 PM.