Gotta love Lancey... and Millsie... not to mention Matilda who looks like a Crocodile when she swims!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
It's Sunday..
after having a lovely sleep, in fact a sleep more fit for a dead person, I woke up this morning feeling very positive about life. You make your own opportunities in this world, and next week I will explore some more avenues for Massie Lodge and Gallopers. Although I wont be doing that on Tuesday, after Chris visits to "de-ball" the colts, it will be straight into Melbourne Cup mode!
With the spring carnival in mind, I have spoken with Lily (pictured here with Evan) and told her about her appointment at the Oaks in Melbourne in 2 years time and young Billy was told about his appointment in the Derby. I have also had a word with Jimmy about the Stradbroke and Jakey was told about the Clifton Cup in 2 years time! While I was out talking to the youngsters, I also had a serious word to Susie about possibly making a start in a race at some time in the near future (and I mean, actually getting to start in a race without any insect bites or leg problems).
See I have no illusions of grandeur - just reasonable expectations and dreams that all thoroughbred owners nurture!
I took all the canines for a walk this morning around the horses and to inspect all the dams. Naturally, this is the right occasion for them to test "swim" them. I was very happy to see that our No. 4 dam has actually fared very well from the last rains. In fact, it was full to the brim and as you will from the photos that I will post, the dogs enjoyed that dam the best!
Today we did a few changes to the horses paddocks. Trousers and Vera have gone into the paddock with the horse swimming pool as this now has some nice picking.
Southern and Queenie have come up to be the official Victor Lawnmowers for a few weeks and we will change them over in 3 weeks time.
Libby has gone down into the day yard next to Susie. It has been confirmed this morning that she will go back to Dust in the Wind on her foal heat.
The three girlies are enjoying life in their new paddock and the freedom to roam and pick. Let's see how long it takes for them to become totally uncontrollable! LOL
Jakes and Lenny will go down the back into their own yard, once they have recovered from their little operation.
Caramel is back in the paddock next to the house and is working the stable down. She no longer wears a halter all the time. This girl has come a long, long way and its all due to Evan's continued work with her.
There will be no rest for the wicked today as I will need to do some work on Gallopers.com.au and hopefully this will give Evan a chance to have some needed time off, all things being equal.
Um, but when are things ever considered equal? LMAO
Helen.
With the spring carnival in mind, I have spoken with Lily (pictured here with Evan) and told her about her appointment at the Oaks in Melbourne in 2 years time and young Billy was told about his appointment in the Derby. I have also had a word with Jimmy about the Stradbroke and Jakey was told about the Clifton Cup in 2 years time! While I was out talking to the youngsters, I also had a serious word to Susie about possibly making a start in a race at some time in the near future (and I mean, actually getting to start in a race without any insect bites or leg problems).
See I have no illusions of grandeur - just reasonable expectations and dreams that all thoroughbred owners nurture!
I took all the canines for a walk this morning around the horses and to inspect all the dams. Naturally, this is the right occasion for them to test "swim" them. I was very happy to see that our No. 4 dam has actually fared very well from the last rains. In fact, it was full to the brim and as you will from the photos that I will post, the dogs enjoyed that dam the best!
Today we did a few changes to the horses paddocks. Trousers and Vera have gone into the paddock with the horse swimming pool as this now has some nice picking.
Southern and Queenie have come up to be the official Victor Lawnmowers for a few weeks and we will change them over in 3 weeks time.
Libby has gone down into the day yard next to Susie. It has been confirmed this morning that she will go back to Dust in the Wind on her foal heat.
The three girlies are enjoying life in their new paddock and the freedom to roam and pick. Let's see how long it takes for them to become totally uncontrollable! LOL
Jakes and Lenny will go down the back into their own yard, once they have recovered from their little operation.
Caramel is back in the paddock next to the house and is working the stable down. She no longer wears a halter all the time. This girl has come a long, long way and its all due to Evan's continued work with her.
There will be no rest for the wicked today as I will need to do some work on Gallopers.com.au and hopefully this will give Evan a chance to have some needed time off, all things being equal.
Um, but when are things ever considered equal? LMAO
Helen.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
It Seems Like
a thousand hours has passed since I last wrote here. We have just had to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and keep moving. Its funny that life still goes on after every major catastrophe and you sort of just have to step back into the groove and move on.
Thank you to all of our friends who contacted us, it really was appreciated.
I guess you cant really dwell on these things; a had my sob on my way to work that day and Iam sure that Evan dealt with it too. The thing is I think that cut me up the most was Libby and her refusal to move away from the filly and her panic when the little one was taken away. Libby is a different girl today and has spent the day in the company of Trousers and Vera, up around the house, picking at all the lovely green pick that is now here.
We spent last night over at our Neighbours and had a very sumptuous meal of prawns and salad... washed down with a nice, crisp Sem. Sauv. Blanc... (or a Crownie if you are Evan or Leo!)
You wonder if the mares think about what happened? You wonder if they have a memory of the events. To see her yesterday, and to see Trousers when she lost her babe, I would of said definitely yes. However, Iam sure that horses and all animals in fact just move on.
Libby will go away to be served again in the next 8-10 days as Chris has said that there is nothing wrong with her.
In fact, the news that Chris brought us was good news, Chris gave Nanna the thumbs up to get served again as he thinks she is looking terrific! As this will be her last foal, it will be an important choice of father and looking at Billy, Canadian Silver is high on the list of choices.
All the boys had their shots when Chris visited, and he was particularly taken with Billy.
Sweetie has settled down into motherhood although Iam sure she still wonders where Jimmy came from!
We have moved all the mums and their boys into the "dry girls" paddock as it is now full of pick and the contours are full of water.
We have also moved the 3 yearling girlies into the centre paddock behind the house as it is full of greenstuff and its time that they had a bigger paddock to muck about in. We're not entirely happy about them being there as they are going through "that time" when they are getting big enough to be a little bit of a handful. Its amazing how they have grown up to become young horses, rather than babies as we have known them. I will get some photos of them over the weekend as the transformation has been incredible!
The boys, well, the boys are on a countdown to lose their balls! Tuesday, 8.00am Chris will be over to turn them into civilised geldings! Hah! What a good precurser to the Melbourne Cup? No? lol
The 3 young ladies (and I use that term loosly) - Sunny, Gracie and Joey are starting to put some meat on now that there is some yummy stuff on the ground. Joey has finally started to let down and relax ... its taken her about a month to start to relax. By the end of 3 months, she will be a different horse.
Susie is looking good and is eating up well and has a bit of a tum on her. She is due to be rescanned in another month or so.
So onward we go, back into the groove of life here at Massie Lodge. Life is pretty sensational you know, I know it is (as I dust the dirt off my shoulders and body and embrace another day).
Helen.
Thank you to all of our friends who contacted us, it really was appreciated.
I guess you cant really dwell on these things; a had my sob on my way to work that day and Iam sure that Evan dealt with it too. The thing is I think that cut me up the most was Libby and her refusal to move away from the filly and her panic when the little one was taken away. Libby is a different girl today and has spent the day in the company of Trousers and Vera, up around the house, picking at all the lovely green pick that is now here.
We spent last night over at our Neighbours and had a very sumptuous meal of prawns and salad... washed down with a nice, crisp Sem. Sauv. Blanc... (or a Crownie if you are Evan or Leo!)
You wonder if the mares think about what happened? You wonder if they have a memory of the events. To see her yesterday, and to see Trousers when she lost her babe, I would of said definitely yes. However, Iam sure that horses and all animals in fact just move on.
Libby will go away to be served again in the next 8-10 days as Chris has said that there is nothing wrong with her.
In fact, the news that Chris brought us was good news, Chris gave Nanna the thumbs up to get served again as he thinks she is looking terrific! As this will be her last foal, it will be an important choice of father and looking at Billy, Canadian Silver is high on the list of choices.
All the boys had their shots when Chris visited, and he was particularly taken with Billy.
Sweetie has settled down into motherhood although Iam sure she still wonders where Jimmy came from!
We have moved all the mums and their boys into the "dry girls" paddock as it is now full of pick and the contours are full of water.
We have also moved the 3 yearling girlies into the centre paddock behind the house as it is full of greenstuff and its time that they had a bigger paddock to muck about in. We're not entirely happy about them being there as they are going through "that time" when they are getting big enough to be a little bit of a handful. Its amazing how they have grown up to become young horses, rather than babies as we have known them. I will get some photos of them over the weekend as the transformation has been incredible!
The boys, well, the boys are on a countdown to lose their balls! Tuesday, 8.00am Chris will be over to turn them into civilised geldings! Hah! What a good precurser to the Melbourne Cup? No? lol
The 3 young ladies (and I use that term loosly) - Sunny, Gracie and Joey are starting to put some meat on now that there is some yummy stuff on the ground. Joey has finally started to let down and relax ... its taken her about a month to start to relax. By the end of 3 months, she will be a different horse.
Susie is looking good and is eating up well and has a bit of a tum on her. She is due to be rescanned in another month or so.
So onward we go, back into the groove of life here at Massie Lodge. Life is pretty sensational you know, I know it is (as I dust the dirt off my shoulders and body and embrace another day).
Helen.
Friday, October 28, 2005
I sit here and Iam lost for words.
Libby had her foal during the night, during the storms. She was only a few days over. Its with deep regret and sorrow that I have to say that the little filly didnt make it.
After Sweetie had her boy, Libby would look lovingly over at the little ones, waiting for the day for hers to arrive. For some reason, the little one was never meant to be.
Its a sad day at Massie Lodge today.
Why we do this, I have no idea.
Helen.
Libby had her foal during the night, during the storms. She was only a few days over. Its with deep regret and sorrow that I have to say that the little filly didnt make it.
After Sweetie had her boy, Libby would look lovingly over at the little ones, waiting for the day for hers to arrive. For some reason, the little one was never meant to be.
Its a sad day at Massie Lodge today.
Why we do this, I have no idea.
Helen.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
It's a ... It's a....
Colt... yes another one!
Sweetie (Sweet Air) decided that tonight she would have her baby.
At around 8.30pm tonight, Sweetie had a little colt by Private Agenda (yes another colt - we are thinking of changing the name of the property to "Colt Lodge" instead of "Massie Lodge") - both Mum and bubsie are doing well. It was a very clean delivery, she lay down, had the boy and then got up... I mean you would you expect nothing less from the President of Broodmare's Inc.
He is a real cutie and knew exactly what he had to do once he was delivered... get out of the sack, get up on his legs and find the feed!
We are both very pleased and will take some photos of our new little addition tomorrow.
(Buggar, her timing was impeccable as I missed my favourite tv programme... lol).
Okay Libby, its up to you to prop up the filly population around here!
Helen.
At around 8.30pm tonight, Sweetie had a little colt by Private Agenda (yes another colt - we are thinking of changing the name of the property to "Colt Lodge" instead of "Massie Lodge") - both Mum and bubsie are doing well. It was a very clean delivery, she lay down, had the boy and then got up... I mean you would you expect nothing less from the President of Broodmare's Inc.
He is a real cutie and knew exactly what he had to do once he was delivered... get out of the sack, get up on his legs and find the feed!
We are both very pleased and will take some photos of our new little addition tomorrow.
(Buggar, her timing was impeccable as I missed my favourite tv programme... lol).
Okay Libby, its up to you to prop up the filly population around here!
Helen.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
I Woke Up
this morning after having the worst nightmare. I had decided to put a colour through my hair, and as every woman knows who actually has done this at home, you need time to actually get it all right, make sure that all the hair is covered etc. etc. etc. In my dream I had been very meticulous to make sure that all was right... however, during the middle of this very important and time consuming process, Ergon Energy decided to have a planned maintenance outage, but didnt tell us (wouldnt be the first time!) and I was stuck with all this goo on my hair... AAAArgh! I was frantic... I was running around the house trying to find some water to wash this out with and ended up having to stick my head in one of the horses' water buckets to get rid of it.
It was at the point of sticking my head in the bucket in Susie's yard that I woke up. I touched my hair (it was dry). I reached for my cup of tea to see if it was there (it was there). My foot hung precariously out of the bed to find a dog (I found Bess). All was right with the world. Phew. What a nightmare.
I dont expect any man to understand this predicament, however, all women will understand me when I say that it could of been a disaster as big as Hurricane Katrina.
With this nightmare well and truly over with I continued on with my day.
We had 42mls of rain yesterday.... and it was a great follow up to the 30mls previously received. The paddocks are nice and green after being brown and dusty, with a phenominal rate of recovery. Now... a little more follow up would be nice... please, pretty please!!
Its been hot and sticky here today....maybe we might get some more rain? Hah!
The horse swimming pool is now half full (or half empty, depending on how you see it!). I guess we are playing catch up... the ground just seems to soak up all the water after being so hard, so there is little run off. Some of the contours are full.. which is a good sign, but I guess we need some more follow up sooner rather than later. The power went off for about 45 minutes (probably the catylst for my nightmare?) ... and came back on just before a rogue cow came running past the side door from god knows where and started to scare all the horses (Sweetie, Libby, the boys and Nanna).
We had locked Nanna and Maddie and their colts in their stables during the storm... funny when we looked out Nanna was busily trying to herd young Master Billy inside the stable, but he wouldnt have a bar of it and wanted to be out where all the action was!
He is such a sweetie and very good tempered. I havent yet told him that he has no reason not to be a champion with his parentage... It continues to make me giggle when I see their little tongues sticking out the side of their mouths while they try and negotiate a strand of lucerne hay.
In between all of this (trying to get the cow out of the yard etc) and all the lightning and thunder, we had to keep an eye on Sweetie in case she decided that that was the right time to have her foal. It wasnt, thank goodness! Your guess is as good as mine as to when this might happen. LOL
Back to the cow. After being herded out the front gate by Evan in the pouring rain, the cow proceeded into our next door neighbour's and about 20mins after we went back inside we heard Leo trying to get rid of the said rogue bovine. Evan went over in the rain to try to help him.... and he was not a happy camper.
While all this was happening and with all the rumbling of the thunder and lightning, Matilda felt that she was safest in our wardrobe and Milly decided that behind the toilet was a good place for her! Bess and Lance were with me and if I went outside, they had to come outside, or if I was sitting on the lounge, they had to be near me... talk about a bunch of scardy cats!
Well, Iam looking over my computer monitor in the study and I can see sunshine and green paddocks. I dont think we will be getting any more today.
Um, how about tomorrow? Cross your fingers.
Helen.
It was at the point of sticking my head in the bucket in Susie's yard that I woke up. I touched my hair (it was dry). I reached for my cup of tea to see if it was there (it was there). My foot hung precariously out of the bed to find a dog (I found Bess). All was right with the world. Phew. What a nightmare.
I dont expect any man to understand this predicament, however, all women will understand me when I say that it could of been a disaster as big as Hurricane Katrina.
With this nightmare well and truly over with I continued on with my day.
We had 42mls of rain yesterday.... and it was a great follow up to the 30mls previously received. The paddocks are nice and green after being brown and dusty, with a phenominal rate of recovery. Now... a little more follow up would be nice... please, pretty please!!
Its been hot and sticky here today....maybe we might get some more rain? Hah!
The horse swimming pool is now half full (or half empty, depending on how you see it!). I guess we are playing catch up... the ground just seems to soak up all the water after being so hard, so there is little run off. Some of the contours are full.. which is a good sign, but I guess we need some more follow up sooner rather than later. The power went off for about 45 minutes (probably the catylst for my nightmare?) ... and came back on just before a rogue cow came running past the side door from god knows where and started to scare all the horses (Sweetie, Libby, the boys and Nanna).
We had locked Nanna and Maddie and their colts in their stables during the storm... funny when we looked out Nanna was busily trying to herd young Master Billy inside the stable, but he wouldnt have a bar of it and wanted to be out where all the action was!
He is such a sweetie and very good tempered. I havent yet told him that he has no reason not to be a champion with his parentage... It continues to make me giggle when I see their little tongues sticking out the side of their mouths while they try and negotiate a strand of lucerne hay.
In between all of this (trying to get the cow out of the yard etc) and all the lightning and thunder, we had to keep an eye on Sweetie in case she decided that that was the right time to have her foal. It wasnt, thank goodness! Your guess is as good as mine as to when this might happen. LOL
Back to the cow. After being herded out the front gate by Evan in the pouring rain, the cow proceeded into our next door neighbour's and about 20mins after we went back inside we heard Leo trying to get rid of the said rogue bovine. Evan went over in the rain to try to help him.... and he was not a happy camper.
While all this was happening and with all the rumbling of the thunder and lightning, Matilda felt that she was safest in our wardrobe and Milly decided that behind the toilet was a good place for her! Bess and Lance were with me and if I went outside, they had to come outside, or if I was sitting on the lounge, they had to be near me... talk about a bunch of scardy cats!
Well, Iam looking over my computer monitor in the study and I can see sunshine and green paddocks. I dont think we will be getting any more today.
Um, how about tomorrow? Cross your fingers.
Helen.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Iam Feeling...
very mellow, I have had a few glasses of a very nice drop of white wine from the Margaret River (the same that Sue and I sampled yesterday) and Iam relaxed. I had a very nice win on the girl yesterday and also a very nice place bet on Fields of Omagh... so, my Tab Account has been reborn! Which, is probably just in time for the upcoming few meetings in Melbourne!
Here is the little man after finally settling down after bolting around the yard and giving Nanna a fit. Um, we think he is a cutie pie.
Didnt the Cox Plate give you goosebumps?? (Or are you one of those like Anthony Cummings who was a non-believer?). I guess he had to talk his horses up (Iam sure that his owners were watching!)... however, in every interview that I saw over the last few days prior to the Cox Plate, he had no hesitation in talking the Diva down.
Where has good sportsmanship gone? Even Bossy was a little bit (and I mean a little bit!) humble when speaking about the other horses in the Cox Plate before the race and did not let his ego over take him. However, in saying that, the Diva had put only put a third of her nostril over the line first before the showman took over... lol
Whether you love Bossy or not, he does know the girl well, and knows all her little nuances to give her every oppportunity and for that both me and my tab account are forever grateful!
Winners are grinners and the others can stay and drown their sorrows at the Hotel Grand.
LOL
We have had a very relaxing day today with Sue and girls leaving around 3pm. Evan worked Miss Caramel this morning and a joint effort was needed to give Joey a worming paste... Evan not very happy as some of it ended up all over him (yuk!). While she is easy to catch and comes up to us, she was not a happy camper getting this special treatment.
Susie has let down very well and is getting a tummy on her. It was good for Sue to be able to spend some time with her as she is a part owner of Susie gal.
Massie Lodge has turned green and its a nice sight to see the girls (and they are mostly girls here at the moment apart from Lenny and Jakey) all away, busy in their paddocks picking. It will be a good start on summer if we get some follow up rain this week. (All those who feel inclined, please do a rain dance and send it this way!).
We are still waiting for Sweetie and Libby and you will see from the attached photos that their respective tummies are quite humungous! Iam not looking forward to seeing how maternal Sweetie is. AAAArgh.
Life is good... gotta get me some more of it!
Helen.
Here is the little man after finally settling down after bolting around the yard and giving Nanna a fit. Um, we think he is a cutie pie.
Didnt the Cox Plate give you goosebumps?? (Or are you one of those like Anthony Cummings who was a non-believer?). I guess he had to talk his horses up (Iam sure that his owners were watching!)... however, in every interview that I saw over the last few days prior to the Cox Plate, he had no hesitation in talking the Diva down.
Where has good sportsmanship gone? Even Bossy was a little bit (and I mean a little bit!) humble when speaking about the other horses in the Cox Plate before the race and did not let his ego over take him. However, in saying that, the Diva had put only put a third of her nostril over the line first before the showman took over... lol
Whether you love Bossy or not, he does know the girl well, and knows all her little nuances to give her every oppportunity and for that both me and my tab account are forever grateful!
Winners are grinners and the others can stay and drown their sorrows at the Hotel Grand.
LOL
We have had a very relaxing day today with Sue and girls leaving around 3pm. Evan worked Miss Caramel this morning and a joint effort was needed to give Joey a worming paste... Evan not very happy as some of it ended up all over him (yuk!). While she is easy to catch and comes up to us, she was not a happy camper getting this special treatment.
Susie has let down very well and is getting a tummy on her. It was good for Sue to be able to spend some time with her as she is a part owner of Susie gal.
Massie Lodge has turned green and its a nice sight to see the girls (and they are mostly girls here at the moment apart from Lenny and Jakey) all away, busy in their paddocks picking. It will be a good start on summer if we get some follow up rain this week. (All those who feel inclined, please do a rain dance and send it this way!).
We are still waiting for Sweetie and Libby and you will see from the attached photos that their respective tummies are quite humungous! Iam not looking forward to seeing how maternal Sweetie is. AAAArgh.
Life is good... gotta get me some more of it!
Helen.
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