In the Arena # 85 - Now is the summer of our discontent... At the Farmette # 6 - You say tomato, I say ka-ching!

Update on the suddenly swollen ankle - - - it's back to normal!! Several commentors had suggested a bug bite or sting might be the cause, and I did inspect closely looking for signs of that, or some kind of injury, and didn't find either. But I did find this post from almost exactly a year ago... go figure. Next year I'll probably know better :)

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Still waiting for the weather to break... still having a cool shower + watermelon snack daily... still not much riding going on. We are doing groundwork, especially leading work to and from our grazing field. Val often wants to impatiently charge ahead of me on our way out to the green green grass. This provides plenty of opportunities to practice halts and backing up until we can get our mind on our work. On our way back to the paddock, when we're grass drunk, everything is nice and mellow. We can even walk in the super scary mini woods trail. Yesterday when  a death dealing stranger Pat, Cowboy's grandad, lurked around suspiciously walked past the manure pile pushing a wheelbarrow, the reaction was limited to a four footed stomp - aimed in the opposite direction of the handler. What a good boy :)

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Even without getting to ride, and being hot as hades, Saturday was super productive. While my Dad took charge of installing the tie downs that will keep the Shimmy Shack from shaking too much or even tipping over in the big winds we often get, I weeded and harvested the garden. I also harvested some bamboo to make stakes for my pepper plants on steroids. The bamboo was here - I would never willingly put that kind of invasive plant in. Hopefully I can keep it in check by using it for projects around the farm.

Anyway - I took my harvest over to a fantastic local restaurant whose chef is contracting me to grow specialty produce for them next year. We're going to work out the details this fall, but in the meantime he purchased a beautiful basket of four kinds of heirloom tomatoes, red and yellow cherries and an assortment of hot peppers. And he pays waaayyy better than the farmers market. Yay - and once again - thanks Dad!

At the barn #40 - Wherein Val and I share a cold one...

No new rides to report on, but we've still spent plenty of quality time together. There's been some amount of de-hairing going on daily. I don't know if it's a just thoroughbred thing, but Val doesn't shed out in clump or patches, and he's not visibly extra hairy. None the less, hair fills the air and covers me and the floor when we're done.

Yesterday my friend D and I did our several miles of speedy walking in the campground, then headed up to the barn for some fun and refreshment. TGIF. After barn chores were done, and Val's hay + warm mash bucket were set up, we took him out for a bit of grazing. I've been increasing his time on grass by five or ten minutes every outing - though he'd prefer to eat til his sides split. He's been hinting each evening by shunning his fresh hay and instead stretching his lips waaaaaay under the electric fence to pathetically grasp the few pitiful strands of green he can reach, punctuated by well timed looks, in case I didn't get the point. GRASS, GRASS, GRASS, GRASS, GREEN GREEN NOT DRY TASTY GRASS P-L-E-A-S-E!!!!!!!!!!!

When we came to the fork in the road - left to the Bermuda Triangle, right to the small arena grass patch - I asked Val which way he wanted to go, and let him choose. Bermuda Triangle it is! D and I sipped some delightfully cold adult beverages while he ate his fill. Cowboy threw his usual OH MY GOD I CAN'T SEE MY FRIEND fits - commonplace and therefore totally ignorable.

After making our rounds, we headed over to the small arena. Val got a tad pushy, so we did some in hand work... halt with me, walk with me, please focus on me and not the grass Mr. Man... He did beautifully. It was fun to show off his lovely movement to my friend. A few more mouthsful as a reward, then back to the barn.

Val got a thorough grooming and tucked into his dinner, while D and I pulled out some chairs and had another beverage. After demolishing his mash, Val walked over to our little ice bucket and helped himself to one of our beers. I was afraid he might try to open it, so I shared mine with him. My guy enjoys him a cold one! He sipped it out of my cupped hands. I'm kicking myself that I wasn't quick enough with the camera - well - my hands were kind of full... and wet lol. I did find some evidence that Val isn't alone in his beverage preferences however...

Pretty sure I could teach Val to do this...

Then we could ride to the nearest watering hole...

Zenyatta sips her Guiness from a tupperware bowl :)

Besides a new-found enjoyment of beer, Val really dug my friend. He followed her around like a puppy, and loved on her. Not in the potential treat source way, but real affection. So far, she'd the only person he's been that way with besides my Dad, whom he adores.

We hung out until dark, and plan to make it a monthly date. Val surely enjoyed our company - he was super calm and content. I must create more time to hang out with him - no demands, plans or schedule - just companionship and company. It's so good for both of us!