Every year for the past 5 years we make our annual pilgrimage south to the glorious Outer Banks of North Carolina … Ocracoke Island.

As I have in past years …I fret. This year no different .

My trusty right hand gal taking care of my herd and now chicks was distraught yesterday as some pesky varmint took Ella from us…rat bastard!!! We are down to 2 count ’em 2 chickens !!

My trusty right hand gal is a blessing to us…she has no idea how much!!!

So Alicia this entry is for you!!

Thank you for being there …thank you for keeping Big Horse in line … Thank you for chicken advice and stories and advice.

Thank you!!!

Well – it’s time for our annual pilgrimage to the glorious Outer Banks for North Carolina.

We leave tomorrow morning – 0700 A.I.S (ass in seat).

Have to admit – this year – not feeling it.

We have more critters – the Canadian dollar sucks and I would be happy to stay home and putter. How sad is that??

Daughter and Bfriend are there already – little stinkers and our dear friends are there as well.

This year – it could be our last for a bit. We will see.

This week has been so busy with packing and prepping.

Found out the hard way that Big Horse, Girl Horse and B Horse do NOT a herd make!!!

We have been testing the waters with Big Horse and B Horse – we have to usual male posturing and crested necks but once they settle – they seem to get on OK.

Tuesday night was near disaster – yes yes – drama drama drama!!

We have to the two boys out together and it was time to switch them back. I specifically told Hubs to wait for me – after all – it is a two person job.

BUT he let go the mare – B Horse got wind of that and the shit show ensued.

Thankfully no human OR horse was harmed during that little escapade.

Anxious – all packed – soon we go.

I have my trusty right hand here to tend the herd and Bock Bocks (chickens) – the MIL (Mother in Law) will stay in the house to tend the kitten heads.

Guess I should just suck it up and enjoy – right???

Once we hit the road – once I smell the ocean – it will just melt away.

I’ll try and post once settled and ohhhhh – I’ll take pics!!!

Look out Ocracoke Island – we are on our way!!!

No doubt about it -this weekend – particularly Friday  – well it sucked.

BUT – with an ending comes a new beginning – always.

I got my hair did – going to take that grey hair and rock it – now we are in transition but I have this lovely stylist who just put light colours every where soooo – when that pesky grey starts rearing it’s fugly root – I’m good and don’t have to rush off the store for yet another box of hair colour.

The young man who lives across the street was so very kind to bring me flowers – hand picked flowers I might add – to put on Little Horse’s final resting place – what a gentleman. He then collected my eggs – all of them – for me and waved good bye and dashed across the street.

My sister and her “herd” of children came over and made this most amazing monument from an old wash tub and plants – it’s so pretty and so fitting.

AND the out pouring of love and support that I have gotten from everyone has just been super – I am so touched.

Life on the farm has to move on.

We introduced Big Horse and B Horse this weekend. A little posturing and then they settled in – interesting. Unfortunately B Horse and Girl Horse will not be buddies – he likes her just a little too much- nudge nudge – wink wink – know what I mean?

We are going to re-configure barn – AGAIN – to accommodate B Horse this coming cold season.

Hubs spent the majority of the day clearing scrub – we will blow a door through the barn and block off the big stall so he has shelter.

In a perfect world – my two geldings and mare would live in perfect harmony – like they did with Little Horse – but alas – times – they are a’changin’ so we will be rockin’ two paddocks until things settle.

The Bock Bock’s have a better containment system that allows them more “yard time” and not on super max lock down which is good.

It’s a little empty right now- missing Little Horse something fierce – but truly – it’s OK – it will be OK.

More New Beginnings will happen soon.

Hell – I have to start posting/worrying about our upcoming vacation and that is always a delicate balance!!!

A word of warning should you choose to read this entry – I would stop (collaborate and listen) – just kidding – I would stop and go grab a tissue now because I know I went through an entire box writing it.

My love affair with the equine species probably began when I was 4ish. I distinctly remember my father placing me on the back of a horse at a friends place – her name was Ann Hunt – Ann is my middle name.

Ya – I know – 4 years old – how could I possibly remember.

Funny thing about memories – the really really excellent ones stay with you forever – sometimes – so do the less than stellar ones but that is not what this post is about.

Later in my life- the age escapes me – I distinctly remember my first pony ride. It was a shiny bright copper coloured pony named Red Wing. My first ride was a near disaster with that little shit bird taking off on me like a rocket sled on wheels while I clung precariously to her back screaming the whole time. That is when it really clicked in – this is what I want to do.

I begged my parents to buy me a shiny pony but it was not in the cards. With 9 children to raise – oh wait was it 9 at that time?? I have no clue – moving on – with a herd of children to raise -financially it was just not feasible.

So I went back to watching Black Beauty and reading Broom Tail and playing with the moulded plastic ponies I would get for Christmas and Birthdays and just know that one day I would have a pony of my own.

School for me sucked. Outcast and bullied with nothing to do – my mother enrolled me in 4H.

What the heck was that? Well – that was a barn that I could go to to be with horses and ponies and learn all about them.

Heaven – ahhhhh – heaven was a barn in Russell Ontario owned by an amazing woman who taught me how to ride and groom and clean and feed.

So every morning – 0400 rain or shine or snow or sun – after I put the coffee on for Mom – I would trek to that barn and I would do chores and shovel shit and just live that dream.

My first love was a retired barrel horse- a beat up old paint named Blue. On Blue’s back – I was a Queen. Sadly Blue had to be put down due to blindness and I distinctly remember that day as I still have the pin from the flower that the owner’s husband gave me that night to console me.

I would jump on any horse that needed riding. No fear – no hesitation – just up and go!!! Children “bounce” at that age.

Then the  owner brought in a coach for lessons with the younger boarders. That is when I learned that horses could jump over fences and that this thing called dressage was like ballet on a horse. That coaches name was Liz. Liz taught me the finer points and grace and soon I was showing horses.

Then I turned 16 and I did something really really stupid.

I met a man – an older man. I was rebellious and disrespectful to my parents which I have come to terms with and I saw a way out of my stupid little town and I ran away and got married – way too young and totally an idiot – I abandoned my dreams of ponies and flying over fences and dancing that dance.

Years of marriage were not all bad – that union brought me two amazing children but circumstances had me leave that relationship and put me out on my own with two children to raise.

Still – I yearned for something I could not quite put my finger on and then chance brought someone into my life that would change the course of my future.

Hubs – my hero- we met – we fell in love – we bought a house that backed on a riding stable and my long lost love affair with ponies started all over again.

This where the dance started again.

I was soon schlepping shit again and jumping on what ever horses I could – well – the calm ones. Older people do NOT “bounce”.

A vacation down south and coming home I noted two horses in the field that were not there when we left.

Questioning about them -I fell in love with one but was told he was “not for me” but try this other one.

This beat up old grumpy man who liked to bite me – he was such an ahole BUT he was quiet and I could ride him whenever I wanted and soon- a bond was forged and I was dancing again.

Like a child atop that copper shiny pony or my precious Blue – I was a Queen again. Not flying over fences but dancing like an idiot and learning how to ride all over again. Hours upon hours we would just play in the arena or  I would stand for hours just brushing his flaxen mane.

A move to a new home with property and a barn and my beloved pony with me saw us adding one then two then three to our herd – we were in deep now – ponies here – ponies there – ponies dancing everywhere!!.

But then – Little Horse started to change. He started losing weight, and was more stiff and sore than normal. His breathing issues -which I used to be able to control demanded stronger meds and he went blind in one eye.

It was in April that we made the decision that this summer would be Little Horse’s last dance. Unfortunately the weather and circumstance pushed up that day I was dreading and I set a date.

Little Horse/Trigger and I had one last dance last night. Just him and me in the field – no saddle, no bridle and I felt like a Queen – walking around in circles just the two of us.

Today – I said good bye to the pony who brought me back to life and got me back into the saddle.

My soul mate horse – Trigger was put to rest.

I am happy to say that he spent his final years putting up with me and my unorthodox mounting methods, guiding me through the learning curve of essentially learning to ride all over again, biting my ass as often as he could and just making me laugh. My Goofy horse will not be a the gate tomorrow morning but he will always be in my heart.

I am sad – I have cried on and off most the day but surprisingly enough – I feel an almost peace.

I am very happy that he will no longer suffer bouts of breathing issues and no longer be stiff and sore.

I’d like to put in a small list of “thank yous” if I may.

I’d first like to thank Hubs, Son and good Friend who did the deed that I just could not. To guide Trigger to his final resting place – to be with him as he took his last breath and to give him the dignity that he so deserved. My hubs – my hero.

Thank you to my family for listening to my endless stories of hay and feedings and night check and ducking out on get togethers – for listening to me obsess over my herd.

Thank you to all my friends – every single one of you for reading the blog and supporting me and being there for me and answering stupid questions. For feeding my horses with the best quality feeds and hay – for introducing me to the community – for just being the best friends and Chicks I have ever met.

All of my friends who I have never met but feel I have know for years- all those who have been so supportive with kind words – thank you

Thank you to Dundas Vet Clinic for being there for us during the simple times and this awful time.

Last but certainly not least – Thank you Little Horse/Trigger – thank you for allowing me the supreme pleasure of owning you (who’s kidding who?  you owned me) – thank you for deeming me worthy of your company and trusting me to take care of  you for these past 5 years. Thank you for helping me find my passion again and for dancing with me – a million times thank you.

You are now free to run in fields of gold with your head held high with no pain in your body. A spring in your step and a twinkle in your eyes – I will miss you dearly.

This is where Trigger’s story ends. Trigger is gone in body but in mind and spirit he will always be that Little Horse who taught me how to dance again.

Am feeling the rainy evening blues tonight.

While I do love the sound of the the rain falling outside my window – I always find the rain makes me somewhat melancholy.

Trapped inside- sitting – am not a TV watcher – more time to think I guess.

What needs to be done around here – what has not been done – how much we actually have done – tomorrow- Monday – next Friday.

Next -or should I say this coming Friday – well – it will be a sad day here at Orange Acres.

Beloved Little Horse will cross the “Rainbow Bridge”.

I flip flop back and forth between the decision to send him on that journey.

The selfish me sees a fit and vibrant equine – always there at the gate waiting for me to feed the masses- with a nicker and a head butt.

The realistic me sees the sunken back and eyes – the laboured breathing during humid days and mixing the pain meds into the feed whilst dosing him with steroids to ease his air passages.

Flip – the canter across the paddock like a yearling with heels in the air and the twinkle in his eye.

Flop – The constant wheeze and coughing.

Flip – the nip on my backside while I clean his feet and I giggle that he still full of piss and vinegar.

Flop – the ache I feel as an injured and lame human – watching him turn and walk with pain.

Flip Flop – Flip Flop – uggghhh – enough to drive me mad!

Sadly and with regret – the Flip will win.

Sure I could up his dose of meds and turn a blind eye (oh yes he is also blind in one eye…hmmm – ironic) and limp him through yet another cold and damp winter and worry about him – or I could grow a pair and just do what I know is best for his quality of life or in this case – death.

Selfish – it’s what it boils down to – pure selfish reasons. Who will greet me at the gate and nip my backside while I pick his feet?

Flop – back to reality.

Little Horse deserves better. Little Horse deserves respect and Little Horse shall be free to run like wildfire through fields of gold come Friday July 31st.

I hate this part.

OK folks – ain’t no sense dancing around it – it’s HOT!! Hotter than the fires of hell.

FYI I am allowed to complain about the heat – It’s in my contract!! I don’t bitch about the freezing cold – it’s an unwritten rule in our house.

So – July – thanks for the hot temps – it is truly appreciated and a huge shout out to Mother Nature for finally taking a break on her crying.

Farmers are getting hay in – I am getting hay up and my starving, wasting away herd (NOT) can eat.

What’s new? what’s new? hmmmm – not much really.

Been real busy around Orange Acres.

Lost chickens and ducks to pesky varmints – replaced some chickens  – will cool it on ducks for now.

New Horse is settling in nicely – Little Horse is plugging along – the heat is hard on him. Unfortunately – time is ticking on him – but I don’t want to talk about that right now.

Rappelled down a 14 story building for a most excellent cause!!! That was just AWESOME!!! truly.

Ummmm – hay is up for the most part – Max’s clutch burned out on us (our tractor) – work trip under my belt for 3 days – another one coming up next week. New furnace coming in this week.

You know – same old same old – nothing really super exciting.

Just grooving along to the summer tunes of Mother Nature with her endless birds and frogs mixed with summer breezes – the occasional rain/thunder storm, crickets and the bat parade.

Positively boring.

So chill – so relaxing yet stressful – so happy.

When I am doing chores – I always come up with the greatest ideas for my next post.

Alas – the 3 minutes it takes me to walk from the barn/paddock usually erases those ideas as once I get in the house – it’s a constant barrage of “what’s for dinner/do I have clean clothes for tomorrow/does this dress make me look fat?” (the last one – I was kidding) but I often times lose my train of thought.

Tonight of course no different. Doing the evening night feed – all these great ideas/thoughts rolling around in my big old head – and POOF – as soon as I hit the back door – SMACK – laundry in dryer – blah blah blah.

BUT – what did occur to me while I was outside feeding the masses – is the smell.

The smell of wet horse.

I popped a halter and lead line on Little Horse to pull him out of the herd to take him to some green green grass.

My herd is NOT starving – they are quite well fed – mayhaps over fed – but one needs a treat now and then – yes?

I was hand grazing Little Horse wherever the weed whacker did not get this weekend and I leaned in and inhaled  – the scent of wet horse and well horse – over powering and pungent and heaven!!

I have mentioned before – Little Horse’s days are coming to an all too swift end. It’s time.

But the smell – takes me back to better days – the fresh grass and the whiff of flowers in the air – the down wind of the manure pile with the smell of wet horse.

You can keep your designer perfumes – Manure and Wet Horse – that is my scent of choice!!

Perhaps I can bottle it and make a kabillion dollars???

It shall be labelled Cheval Fumier and I shall sell it for $100/ounce – Oui??? Non??? LOL

Seriously – at night – everyone gets hug and a special scratchy. Everyone gets a good night hug.

Everyone gets my unconditional love and respect and they give me their unconditional love and respect and we are equals. I am not the master – they are not the master- we are partners.

I have to say – this past week – I have NOT enjoyed my life on the farm.

I have not questioned my lifestyle as much as I have this past week.

Death has visited us – with a vengeance.

My pretty little baby runner ducks were cruelly taken from this earth by a weasel or mink in the dead of the night leaving a mess of carnage for me to discover the next morning. This all after we made them their outdoor pen with pool. We locked them safely inside  or so we thought.

That was the first time this week I questioned my life style.

Number two was yesterday.

My son feeds our menagerie every afternoon between 130 and 2pm and every day he sends me a message – 4 horses – 7 chickens – 3 ducks.

Knowing full well that 3 ducks were gone – I asked him to check early and again that afternoon at the regular time.

4 Horses – 7 chickens.

My son got called into work – and I arrive home at my usual time of 530 pm – only 2 chickens – hmmmm – the others must be resting somewhere. I went to pick up my son at work and called Hubs to let him know my fears.

Sure enough – some rat bastard of a fox came and scooped up 5 count ’em – 5 of my flightless children.

Gone is my Bard and Scraggles – gone are the Andrew’s Sisters – all that remains is my Clyde – our glorious rooster and my Fave chicken. They look depressed.

Death has visited our farm – death so cruel that it would take my chickens and ducks.

I have heard this week – Ahhh – they are just chickens and ducks – just get more.

What people – some people – fail to understand that to me – they were more than just chickens and ducks.

It sounds silly but they were my pets and my friends and they trusted me to take care of them and in some odd way – I let them down.

So now – I have a depressed Rooster and a depressed Hen who I currently have sequestered in Fort Orange for fear of losing them too.

It’s like a Super Max prison – they are in a cage all day and can come out in the “yard” that is 8 feet high while I sit there and watch them for one hour a day until I can get Super Max Orange completed.

Yes – their brain function is less than that of a snow pea – but no more chickens will die on my watch!!!

I guess that I was not prepared for the “death” part of farm life.

It’s been all rainbows and kittens with prancing ponies and my flock of birds and sunshine.

Death has visited our farm. I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.

Death will visit again from time to time  but Death is NOT welcome.

Until I can insure that Death will have a really hard time visiting – I will stay away from having birds for a bit. I simply get too attached.

Death – watch out because I am gonna kick your ass next time you dare visit Orange Acres!!!

It’s been busy as of late.

Chickens – man – we started with five – went down to four and now we are back up to seven PLUS three baby ducks.

Our latest edition however is Boomer – he has been with us since last Friday – not this past Friday but the Friday prior..

Boomer is a glorious 13 year old registered quarter horse – Little horse’s younger twin brother I swear.

Boomer is his name but going forward will be refered to as – uh – B Horse – for now anyway.

My nephew messaged me one day and asked me if I wanted another horse – without skipping a beat – I said NO – but send me his details and I’ll ask around.

Well he did – and sent me a pic and we decided to go check him out. Has a few minor manner issues but other than that – good as gold- nice ride.

We brought B Horse home – and separated him from Big Horse, Little Horse and Girl Horse – as one does when introducing a new horse to a herd.

Everything was going swimmingly until he broke thru the fence the first night. They all met an mingled and seemed to be getting on OK until we left to go pick up our ducks.

Needless to say – I guess he and Big Horse got into a little scrap and Big Horse had a few minor cuts on him.

To me – they were the end of all ends- Call the vet – Call the vet!! get that horse out of here NOW!!!! (this was last Saturday – not yesterday fyi).

Hubs tells me to relax – it’s OK – OK??? my horse is on death’s doorstep injured!!! What exactly is ok about that?

Hubs then says – go have a nice glass of wine and relax – Wine?? OK – yes wine  that will calm my shattered nerves.

We ran super high test – ultra shocky electric fence and waited for the next morning – Sunday – not today – last Sunday. 🙂

What do ya know?? B Horse stayed put away from the Horse Herd and we were off!!!

I have two weeks to decide if I will purchase him – that was last week – now I have one week.

In one week – I have gotten to know him – ridden him – learnt of his bad  habits.

In case you are wondering – B Horse will stay – we have decided to add him to our ever growing menagerie of farm animals.

On a sad note however – Little Horse’s health is declining.

We were really hoping to get him through the summer however – his weight loss is evident and his breathing is getting more laboured the hotter it gets.

Our date is July 31st. I will call the vet tomorrow and make arrangements.

People I am not trying be matter of fact about it. This action and decision that I have made is breaking my heart.

Little Horse is my best friend BUT I know that while I could be selfish and keep him going on medication etc – quality of life is more important than my feelings.

Life on the farm is not always sunshine and roses.

I am not sure how real farmers do it day in and day out but I can tell you that they have my utmost respect!

Where to start…

We have all made a wish in our lives – fame – money – happiness.

What if that wish you made was the last wish that was ever granted in your life?

What if that wish you made was the last wish ever granted in your child’s life?

Meet Audrey Rooney.

Breadan Colemancame to see me and handed over $40.00 for Rope for Hope, Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario. Breadan gave me a hug and will be cheering me on June 6th. I love this man to the moon and back. My real life hero.


Audrey Rooney is a fixture to the farming community in Ottawa. Owner of Rooney Feeds on South Gower Drive Kemptville and in Iroquois – Audrey has been fundraising for Make a Wish for many many years.

To date – Audrey has raised in excess of $25,000 for this foundation!!

Meet Leigh Ann Hayward (that would be me).

Newbie to Kemptville – Newbie to farming.

I’d like to think that I am no longer a Newbie but I sure have a long way to go to be a farmer.

Meet Manon Sparling

I met Manon when I answered a post on a local farming board about a lost cat  – looked an awful lot like a cat that had been frequenting our place. I messaged Manon – she came over – we beat through the bush looking for that cat to no avail. I got to meet her beautiful son. A friend was born.

Meet Tasha Vaive

I actually have not met Tasha yet – funny  how you become friends with people you have not met and you feel like you have known them forever??

What is the connection??

I’ll get to it.

I opened my big fat mouth when I saw Rope for Hope in support of Make-a-Wish foundation (link below – give give give) and some how wound up on this team of all the above amazing ladies!!!

https://cause2give.unxvision.com/P2PWeb/PublicTeamPage.aspx?TeamIdView=2705&EventId=441&LanguageId=1#.VV0d8cpLL7M.facebook

I like to use the word “voluntold”!!!

We formed our team – we started asking/begging/pleading for donations – a buck here – a buck there – a buck buck everywhere!!

That is kinda how we came up with out team name – I wanted us to be there 4 Bad @SS chicks from Rooney Feeds – but one must keep it PG you know – so buck buck buck?? get it!? HA!!! Chicks??

I digress.

The connection is quite simple – I like to call it 4 degrees from Rooney Feeds.

When we moved to this area – my feed store of choice was Rooney Feeds – Rooney’s has helped keep my herd happy and fat.

During this time I got to know Audrey more as the amazing person that she is – and when she “voluntold” me that I was participating in this worthy cause – how could I say no?

Manon followed a now Tasha  -we are the Wish Chicks!!!

We are the Wish Chicks of Rooney Feeds and we have been fund raising our collective tail feathers off so we can attempt to fly off the Courtyard Marriot in Ottawa on June 6th.

The degrees?? – I know Audrey from buying feed – not sure how Manon knows Audrey – come to think of it – not sure how Tash knows Audrey BUT we have a common bond.

We all know and well love Audrey!!!

Audrey is a pillar in this little town – she provides a vital service to any and all forms of farming – she gives back – she is – she is – well Audrey.

I am proud-  nay -I am honoured to be part of this team. One- I get to fund a seriously worthy cause – Two – I have made a new sister friend in Tash  and three – I get to literally “hang out” with three amazing woman.

I am a little embarrassed to say that I hung up my “cause” clothes years ago. I petitioned for this – I fund raised for that and saw little return in the past.

This is different – most of you have children – grandchildren. What if one of those children was really really ill – would you not want to make a wish come true?

I have been incredibly fortunate in my life to have two very healthy children.

Some parents have not and if what we are doing can grant the wish of one child  – then we have done our job. Sorry – wrong – there is so much more to be done to grant wishes.

The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. (source http://www.makeawish.ca).

In closing – I’d like to dedicate this post to Manon Sparling – she is a firecracker – Tasha Vaive – who can still do back hand springs and ladies – NOT to take away from either of you – to Audrey Rooney.

Thank you Audrey – for doing what you do for the community – for being there for the farmers – for making us all laugh – for being the incredible amazing person that you are – for you tireless fund raising efforts for this incredible cause.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for inviting me to be a Wish Chick!