Today's Wednesday...

Has it really been just over a week since our life came to a halt with Lily's illness? Time surely flies.

The news continues to be optimistic with our baby. Today has been the first day when I have seen her attack her feed with some measure of enthusiasm. She even called out when Evan was doing the breakfast's this morning. I have continued on with the Weetbix and Molasses with Lily and it seems that Short's has quite a liking for this combination as well, so much so, that I have had to hide it from sight when Short's is around. I have also been giving Lily some Acidophillus powder in her Weetbix to help her gut after the massive doses of antibiotics that she has been through. She has finished with the Antibiotics now and its up to her. The scouring that was a huge concern seems to have minimised and whilst she is not "normal", she seems like she is on the right path.

I told Chris that I was giving her Weetbix and he had a fit. lol However, it seems to have made a huge difference with her.

She is a long way from being 100% however, we are certain that she has turned a very important corner in her recovery. We are both very tired and exhausted from nursing our filly, in fact, I think I have caught some sort of virus gastric bug - after all the stress and exhaustion - YUK!

I received a lovely email from my good friend Sue Black the other day and in it she spoke about miracles.

Perhaps there is a miracle happening right here at Massie Lodge, right now?

I'd like to think that this is so.

Do you believe in miracles?

Helen.

Miss Lily...

We have had quite a time over the past few days since my last post nursing our sick baby along. On Saturday we felt quite hopeless and it was left up to Miss Lily to determine her fate. Chris was most surprised to see her alive today. But yes, she is still with us but still quite sick. Her temperature is down to 38.5 today from 40.5 (Thursday), she has some appetite, some scouring and quite some way to go to get back to good health.

I have been spending alot of time with her in her stable with my fold up chair and book, reading to her and generally just being there. Iam sure that that has had nothing to do with her fighting whatever this bug is, but I didnt want her to do it alone. We have been trying to stimulate her appetite by syringing mush down her throat. Funny now when she sees me with a syringe she walks right away from me (I dont blame her!).

Today Chris drenched her with some Pepsil and some of Shortpant's fresh manure in an effort to put some good flora back into her gut. Let me just say, that that was pretty revolting. Especially when she sneezed it all all over us.

I can say now that we are cautiously optimistic. This filly has fought a huge battle so far to come back from being very, very ill. However, I guess time will tell. Lily has been very lucky to have the support of her friend, Shorts, who has been there for her and has been a good support system for our filly. Shorts thinks this is a good deal because her belly has grown bigger from all the extra hay that is around at the moment.

All the other residents here at Massie Lodge are very happy after consistent rain over the past month with the paddocks knee high in grass and the dams full to the brim.

We're not out of the woods yet, but there is some light on the horizon.

To all of our friends who have contacted us, thank you for your kind thoughts and support.

Helen & Evan.

Mad Max 

Joey with her mate, Gracie 

The Boys ... in their shelter out of the sun. Oscar, Throb and Charlie 

Miss Lily - photo taken yesterday (Sunday).  

Everything Has It's Season..

Maybe you are all wondering where I have been this past week?

We have a very sick filly here at Massie Lodge, and we have been nursing her and hoping that she might come through whatever this thing is that has struck her. Lily has been sick since Tuesday and Chris has no idea what has struck her. The prognosis is not good and we are fast approaching to that time when we have to look beyond what we want and decide what is the best thing for our beloved little filly.

Evan and I are wondering if we have walked over a Chinaman's grave or done something in our lives that requires some sort of celestial payback.

This year has certainly been our annis horribilis.

Helen.

Vale.

Silken Snooks

(My Beautiful Century Gal)










In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there

Sarah McLachlan


Evan and I woke up this morning to find that Snooks had passed away during the night. We have no idea how or why. It could of been a snake, it could of been anything. She is now in the arms of the angels, may she find some comfort there.

Rest in Peace my beautiful, beautiful girl.


Helen.

Hotel Massie...

um, not quite, but it certainly feels a bit like a hotel for horses and dogs with all the incoming and outgoing guests!

Outgoings....

Sweetie (Sweet Air) and her colt, Wee Jimmy, have left Massie Lodge for Oaklands to meet Pure Theatre (Pete). I have been told by very reliable sources that he likes to stay on for a cuddle.... hmmm, I cant imagine Sweetie having a bar of that! lol

Libby (Miss Indpendence) has gone to Noralla to meet up with Dust in the Wind.

Nanna (Splendid Feeling) will be on her way to Lyndhurst come Monday! We were asked by the owners of Honours List if we would send her to him, however, we declined as we wanted to get Billy's foot corrected now while the growth plate is still open. However, we were very flattered that they wanted her.

Red Dog. Yes, we found the owners of our ring-in after him being with us for nearly a week. His family came and picked him up this morning and were very happy to see him again. In fact, they live right down the other end of Willowvale Road (our road), so he was quite close to his home all the time.

Susie, Havachat and Missymoo will be on their way to the Goldcoast on Tuesday.

Incomings...

Lightning Angel (Throb) has come back to Massie Lodge for a short stay.

Kwila's Ambition (Kay) - will be coming back for a visit to Massie Lodge from Victoria and will go around to Lyndhurst to see Irish Royal.

Casualties....

Sunny - who has cut her foot (wretched child!).

Cindy - (Lightning Edge) - who came to us with a gaping wound on her leg... it has since healed over, however, she has an aversion to keep knocking it! She has now been put with Joey, Sunny and Gracie, and they are all a tight unit now.

Joey - (Joie de Victorie) - had a wee cut behind her foot, but it seems to have mended. We have certainly been keeping the makers of Cetrigen in business. lol.

Billy - (Colt by Canadian Silver our of Nanna) - front leg is starting to come nice and straight, thanks to Chris.

Humans...

Both tired after a hectic week and are not sure how they are going to manage next week with the MM sale. Oh well... we just take one day at a time and it all seems to work out.

Birds...

Busy nesting... great, just what we need more Peachface, AAAArgh!


This afternoon sees both of us just relaxing before the guests come in for dinner... crikeys, you would think that they would want to eat out wouldnt you? Mind you, in saying that, Iam sure that Nanna had visions of bringing Billy inside to dine when she stuck her head and foot in the doorway this morning.

LOL


Helen.

What's This??

a new resident for Massie Lodge?

Well, let me say in my defence that I had nothing to do with him being here. Nor, did I play a part in him staying (I will not let a dog starve to death on my own property!).... he just sort of was here, and hasnt gone anywhere yet. (does that sound reasonable to you?).

He sort of seems to have made himself at home already, dont you think?

Yesterday while sitting in the study on the computer, I noticed some reddish brownish hair underneath my computer monitor outside the window... moving at a pace. I quickly got up and went outside to investigate. Nothing there. Was I imagining this? Was I finally going crazy?

At feed time I went to do the top feeds and heard Evan shouting at something... I went to investigate and there he was. And here he has stayed.

Bess, Lance and Mills aren't sure about this ... Matilda is thrilled to have another playmate and continually opens the door for him to come inside. Mind you, Iam not quite ready for that step (and neither are the other dogs).

Iam not sure whether our visitor to Massie Lodge is long term or short term. I guess he will tell us.

Evan says Iam a soft touch and this dog knows it. What a load of crap! .... Maybe.

Helen.

The Gorgeousnesses (Lily and Shorts)..... in their paddock 

Throb, home from the trainer .... long story. 

Millie and the new boy... um, whatsisname... I tell you I havent encouraged him at all!! 

Shorts, Lily and Susie 

Nanna, looking none to shabby 

Demonstrating the latest in foal couture... is master Billy 

Hmm, I'll just sit here and supervise you guys... Matilda 

Sunday

is normally a day of rest (well it certainly is for young foals!). This is not entirely true. Sunday is usually a day that seems to go slower than every other day of the week. However, I woke up early this morning to hear cries from the lounge room... after becoming fully conscious I realised that Evan was watching the soccer (football?) and is not happy. Hmm. I guessed that the Aussies were not going very well and today was not going to be a rest day. lol

So, after watching the Aussie being beaten, we decided that we, the humans, would have breakfast first before the four paws and the four-hooved ones. Nanna was not happy about this state of affairs at all and was very vocal in telling us (in fact, neither was Bessie who had to wait an enormous amount of time for her morning biscuit). "Tough" I said.

It was a big day at Massie Lodge after all. Today we sold April to some lovely people in Toowoomba who I thought would really care for her. April was on her best behaviour and was a doll. Even getting on the 2-horse float.... what an angel... mind you, both Evan and the new owners were very patient with her, letting her get used to this strange new contraption. We got a call from them to say that she was a good girl on the way home and that she hooked straight into a feed... LOL, that's our girl.

*sigh* Yeah Iam feeling a little sad, but hey, thats what this is all about and I have reconciled myself to this. I have also reconciled with the fact that 3 of the girls will be going through the MM sale next week. Its a case of "having to move on..." and our business "continuing to evolve".

Sunny, Lily and Lenny are our next racing interests. Sunny will probably go up to Paul's at the end/at the start of the new year as we wanted to give her a good break before starting her career.

Chris will be back next week to do a little bit more work on Billy's front feet, and its better to get this work done before the growth plates lock. The Prognosis: Very Good.

It has been a very hectic year here at Massie Lodge... with lots of interesting characters with nice owners. I sat down and thought about whatelse would I want to be doing with my life and decided easily that there is no where else that Evan and I should be. Too easy.

Helen.

P.S.....

Could we have the theme from Jaws playing in the background to set the mood for this Postscript please? ....

We finish feeding up.... I come up from the back and do the normal stuff, like take the washing off the line that has to go on the vanishing couch in the kitchen.... Iam reefing 12 pairs of socks off the line and notice Bessie Merle sniffing around the old dryer on the back verandah.... hmm. this is mighty suspect.

I drop the washing inside and go and take a look behind the old dryer curious as to what Bessie was sniffing and our luck is in, there is something coiled up behind it!

"Oh No...." (Actually not the same words used, but use your imagination!)

"Um, Evan, I think we have company on the back verandah!"

Evan by now is sitting at his computer watching the latest fluctuations on IAS.

His face drops onto the floor.

"Um, Evan, I think there is a black snake behind the old dryer - Bessie is sniffing around there and is mighty interested!"

Evan stops what he is doing and looks at me. He gets up and puts on his long pants and boots and picks up the wire and an old steel post that we have lying around for such an emergency. He sits down and sips quietly the rest of his beer.... sheer terror is going through his mind at this point of time - and rightly so I would think!

I decide that I need some "Dutch Courage" from some alcohol and pour myself a Cognac... and quite a large one. Iam not frightened.... Iam not frightened..... well, on paper Iam not!

Ok, armed with his implements and Matilda standing by, Evan moves the old dryer - nothing happens. I am guarding the door to make sure that nothing gets inside.... from the inside, lol.

Another quick jerk of the dryer and something moves and drops to the ground...

"Oh Shit!" I exclaim from the doorway. (See, Iam not frightened...)

Ok, one more move and the dryer moves completely away from the wall.... quickly it comes out from behind the dryer and bolts on 4 legs away.....

Ok, so it wasnt a snake but an extremely large lizard.... not some Gecko.... but an extremely scary, large scaly, slimy lizard.

Meanwhile, Madam Matilda catches the lizard - Bessie and Lance by her side and throws her head from side to side.... its nearly dead. Lancey picks it up and finishes it off.

Yes that's right, Lancey.

We both came inside afterwards, both shaking ... the dogs pleased with their days work and are now comatosed on the floor.

See, this is Country living at it's finest! Who would want to miss out on this adventure?

???

Helen.

There is Something About...

waking up on a Saturday morning. The fact that you have to get up and feed the horses doesnt faze you. You dont mind the fact that you have to face Warwick town traffic and do the shopping. The fact is .... its Saturday!! So, after waking up and having my cup of tea left by Evan, I collect all the dogs and wander down the back - it's green, it's lush... its not stinking hot (yet?) and join in with the feeding up process.

One of the nicest things about Saturdays is the fact that its not a work day but a day to enjoy with Evan and the dogs and of course the horses!


Ergon Energy

A quick mention about Ergon Energy. I have written before (and whinged no end) about the outages that we have had and after the last one, I was sent the following email. Now you have to understand that the day the outage happened was a clear, sunny day... no storms, no rain...

I am sorry to say that I have to apologise again for the interruption to supply that occurred this afternoon.

You are quite correct in complaining that we have had more than our fair share of problems in recent times.

The problem today was with the East Warwick Sub Station, one of the 4 supplying the local area. A lightning arrestor blew - tripping the protection equipment at the substation causing the outage. This fault was not evident until testing of equipment was carried out after the supply failed to prove where the problem lay. It would appear that the arrestor would have been affected in the recent electrical storms, but did not fail until this afternoon. These arrestors as the name suggests, are designed to protect our equipment in the event of a lightning strike.

I certainly can understand your frustration and dissatisfaction.


As you are aware, most of the recent outages have been a result of problems with our high voltage feeder from Toowoomba. To give you an update on what we are doing, a helicopter patrol has been photographing each pole to help identify potential problems so they can be rectified before they occur. This is a proactive approach to make the system better. Once again, I am sorry for the inconvienance that you have experienced of late.

Hahaha..... one can only laugh at this.... "....system better..."

Comings and Goings...

No goings at the moment, mostly paddock changes!


Charlie (pictured above) has settled in back home nicely and is bossing Oscar around. Not even Lenny stands a chance with Uncle Charlie around and seeing those two together makes me laugh... Lenny doesnt stand a chance! Poor Oscar had his feet done last week and is a little sore, however, the ground is still nice and soft so its not so bad. Cindy keeps on knocking her leg, so we keep spraying it.

Gracie has moved in with Cindy as she was showing to be a bit lame, but seems to be better and will go back in with Joey and Sunny either tomorrow or Monday.

Libby leaves for Noralla this week to visit that hunk DITW.

It now seems that Sweetie (Sweet Air) will now be visiting Pure Theatre.

Nanna and Snooks will be visiting either Celestial Dancer or Irish Royal.

Its all happening!

As for Evan and I, Saturday and Sunday are our days off... a couple of drinks, some chippies and a few dvds.... what better way to relax? Oh and to turn the mobiles off .... I wish!!

I think its important that you have some human time.... as much as the horses play such a large role in our lives, you have to find the balance.

And that is the trick. Anyone have any ideas?

lol

Helen.

Wednesday....

and it was finally time to bring in the professionals, to get the job done properly.... time to bring in the very experienced Victor SF model and her son to get in and get rid of some of that grass in the house paddock. Mind you we are nearly at the point of bringing in the cavalry, and I mean the serious professionals to get the grass into some sort of order. You want some serious mowing done? Bring in Trousers and Vera. lol

Today has been a very hectic day. We have had Adam over to do some trimming of horses hooves (Oscar, Hava, Moofa, Joey, Sunny and Gracie) and it took most of the morning. Iam sure that it was the hotest day ever today. I have no idea what attracts Adam to the farriering profession, I mean it would have be a very hot and demanding job. You cant wear shorts, you need sturdy shoes... every time Adam has finished with our lot, the sweat is pouring off him and his face is red (not that it is a reflection on our horses, lol) ....still Iam glad that we have found him as he is a great farrier, very good with the horses and a nice bloke as well. (Not like some of the prima donna's that we have come across since being up here at Massie Lodge).

Charlie arrived home today after 6 weeks with Paul Moody... and he has arrived back a very cheeky boy indeed. Its good to see him again. 6-8 weeks in the paddock and then its off to Wadham Park for Charlie boy.

Chris is back to Massie Lodge on Friday to consult on young Billy's foot which is a little turned out.



Sod of The Week

Definitely goes to Queensland Racing and the customer service representative who I spoke to there about QTIS registrations AAAAAAArghh!!!! to say that after I hung up I felt very frustrated and angry would be an understatement.

Well, time for me to sign off as I fear that we are about to have a thunderstorm and yes, you guessed it another blackout. Lucky us!

Hoorooo until then.

Helen.

Joey after having her feet done, straight away went back to picking. She is a mudlark is our Joey :) 

Sunny getting her toes done. She has grown up alot since being in the paddock. 

See what I mean, what is glamorous about being a farrier? Although in saying that, without Adam we would be lost.

Adam, Evan with Havachat and Moofa... they will be going through the Magic Millions sale this month. 

IT'S OFFICIAL....

Massie Lodge is under water. (Can you believe it?)

We had a deluge last night, over 30mls and it has been continuing today... much to the delight of all the horses who are now officially coloured mud brown. I have to laugh as I type this, as I look over my monitor in the study, I see that Joey has found herself a very nice muddy spot and had a beautiful roll right in a pool of watery mud - not to be outdone, Sunny and Gracie have followed her lead and have also enjoyed the delights of a mud bath. Here is the lovely Havachat after a downpour!

Our hospital paddock that we continually try and build up is a wading pool and we have had to move Cindy out of there as she was up to her fetlock in water. So after some more shuffling around, Oscar has been moved next to the boys and Cindy is now in the day yard next to Libby & Susie.
We are still not sure of our final configuation as Charliefarley comes home next week from Paul Moody. His report card is excellent and Charlie will be sent to Wadham Park in January in the next stage of his career before being vetted for Hong Kong.

A question that has been on my mind this year and after the very dry season that we have just had. Do horses forget how to graze (and be horses) when they have been handfed for long periods of time? I guess the question can be expanded to; do horses forget how to be horses in a paddock after being in work in the stable for a long preparation?

My first reaction to the first question is, yes. However, after seeing the Massie Lodge residents after the first lot of rain is that it doesnt take them too long to forget about lining up for a feed and get on with the act of grazing.

I have pondered the second question for quite some time after seeing horses arrive here from training stables. They are all tucked up, lean and really quite wound up emotionally. Of course, not all horses are the same and the time for let down is different dependent on the state of their "head".

Take Susie after coming home from her second last preparation. She was over the top, very skinny and very, very agitated. It took her at least 3 months to start to wind down and relax. After 3 months we noticed that she started to put some paddock weight on. To me that was an indication that in herself and her mind, she had finally relaxed. I think Joey was a bit the same (although not as bad as Susie was). Joey has come along way in a month and Iam confident that she will be a different horse by the end of January. I find Joey now to be a very quiet girl, happy in her surroundings with her mates and always looking for a cuddle.

Susie was a different horse when she came home from Paul this time in with her injury. In fact, she was missing her stable life for a period of time there and became quite agitated because her work and routine had stopped. After a period of re-adjustment, Susie learned her new routine and is very happy with her life (now that she has found Libby). I am dreading to think how she will be when Libby goes off to Noralla. AAArgh! One very unhappy mare again.

On the other hand, the trick is to know when they have had enough of doing nothing! lol

Well, the rain has stopped and all fly veils need to be collected and washed (so that they can see through them again!!). See, I get all the best jobs!

Helen.

"HHHmmmm... greenstuff.... very interesting..." Joey with her mate, Gracie. 

"Iam muddy, oh so muddy..." Joey after her roll...  

The day yard next to the hospital paddock... just lovely :) 

The Trouble With April...

Where does one start with April? How high is the decked stacked against her to be a normal filly? lol

Well, to answer both of these questions is very easy. She is the daughter of Ophira (Vera). If you have ever had the pleasure of knowing Vera, you would know that she is not the easiest of mares to have around, yet, for some reason, Vera and I get on quite well.

April is nothing like her father, Canadian Silver (does he have a baldy face and three white socks? Um, no!), so the blame must rest entirely on her mother.

April is also nothing like her half sister, Oriana, who was quiet and obliging and easy going. Its terrible to think that April is the last of Vera's progeny... in fact it downright scary!


To get a better picture of yesterday, I think I had better rewind to the start.

It was a normal day, I overslept and was late getting off to work. Chris was coming to have a look at Caramel as she had developed a bit of a cough that we felt needed further investigating. Due to the fact that we werent quite sure what the hell we were going to do with April, she had not been microchipped, but because Chris was making his way out here, we thought, why not.

Why not indeed!

So, anyway off I went to work after the power was off for 45minutes.

Meanwhile, back at Massie Lodge bedlam had broken out.

April was NOT going to be caught and in the large paddock they were in, Evan had no chance. So, he opened the gate out into the laneway so that he could eliminate some space. Well, all 3 girls high tailed it out into the lane way. April had decided that she would bolt up to the gate and Evan decided to open up Susie's paddock so that he could use the gate as a type of blockade. This made 5 fillies and mares having the time of their life in the alleyway.

Meanwhile, April decided to use her head and climed through the fence at the top of the yard back into her yard. Yes, you read correctly. She climbed through the fence.

It was at this point in time that I had decided to call Evan and see how his day was going. Um, wrong move!

It was a very short call. His day had degenerated at a rate of knots. I picked up my bag and keys and hightailed it home. I couldnt let him be there with all this chaos happening. By the time I got home, all fillies and mares were in their appropriate yards and our dear April had been put in the stable next to Caramel. Not happy Jan.

Talk about a carry on because she was away from her friends.

I would like to add at this point that Lily and Shorts are not missing April. They are indeed much happier to be without her.

So, after a state near normality had returned to Massie Lodge, a car pulled in the drive with a float attached.

AAArgh! Here we go again I thought to myself.

I have to say that during all of this carry on, Missymoo and Hava had been out picking around the house, they had been quiet and quite well behaved. Hmmmm.

After dropping Oscar and Cindy off (they are staying for a few months), their lift drove out and left the gate open. Yes, open!

Hmmmmmmm. First rule of being on a farm.... Leave the gate how you found it!!! I was furious with these people.

So, with the gate down, Missymoo and Hava decided to take themselves off down Willowvale Road for a meet and greet with all the local horses. Luckily they turned left instead of right and ended up down with Rusty and Eric the Horse.

Evan and I bolted down to bring them back, luckily there was no traffic....

All horses restored to their respective paddocks, fed and watered, Evan and I came inside and collapsed. What a nightmare Friday was!

In fact Evan collapsed in a heap at 8pm and I found sollace on the lounge watching a Star Trek Voyager marathon...

Iam exhausted just thinking about yesterday. AAAAArgh!!!!.

Helen.

The little man, Billy with his mum. What a cutie, i think iam in love. 

Wee Jimmy... what a nice type he is. 

Mad Max growing up quickly.