Woodpecker, looking for nice lady, enjoys flying.

Is there anything like Mat*ch.com for woodpeckers? I have got to find this poor guy a lady friend or he isn't going to have any beak left from all the pecking he is doing on our gutters trying to attract one! He starts in about 5 a.m. each morning going through his repertoire of rat-a-tat-tats either on the gutter, the barn roof or FIL's metal thing on his roof over his chimney! The poor guy must be a geek or something as this has been going on for a couple of weeks now. Any suggestions?

Buddy and Kipper are home. The rest are still at the stable as we are having some work done on our pasture to fill in low spots, remove some old roots and sticks, and getting the ground prepped for hydro seeding in some sparse spots. Buddy has his own new small pasture with most all of the green grass scraped out so that he doesn't get too much and get laminitis again. Kipper spends some time in there with him as the vet has put him on a diet and he can't get too much grass either. They get plenty of hay and Buddy has his lowcarb grain (bleck!) and Kip gets his half cup twice a day of his low fat grain. Why is it ponies have a tendency to gain lots of weight on minimal feed? He's what you call a real easy keeper.

I have been riding Buddy every day and taking Kipper along for the exercise. At first he thought that sounded like fun to get to go with the big boy, grabbing mouthfuls of grass along the way but when he found out he couldn't graze on these trail rides it wasn't as much fun. I wonder if I should try that Spa*nx thing on him???? At least I didn't send him to fat camp this year to be used as a lesson pony. That year he came back really buffed and fit from all the little girls riding him every day. T is just going to have to ride more this year and keep him fit.

Speaking of. The kids were just here and we went riding again. I didn't have my camera so now am mad that I didn't take the time to come back in the house and get it. I rode Buddy again and T rode Kipper and we went for a good ride up through the woods on the carriage road. Grampie went along beside Kipper just in case he was frisky but he was calm as could be. T did a good job riding and then D wanted to ride so we went again.

We got back to the barn and the kids groomed Kip putting brightly colored fuzzy elastics in braids in his mane. He loves the attention and is very patient. I groomed Buddy, it is so easy having just two here. Things will change next week....


Now both kids have had a shower and Grampie has taken everyone to Dairy Queen for ice cream but I am covered with bug spray and smell rather horsey so decided not to go. The shower sounds a lot better at this point.



Saturday

Funsize and I just got back from the stable. We did some grooming this morning but no riding as she has to go to work and I needed to get back home sooner today. Nick is still having a fit that he hasn't come home yet so I am thinking maybe I will go get him and Skipper on Monday. Will just have to fence off the new hydro seeding.

On our way to the stable there always is a lady out getting some exercise walking beside the road. She always has a long stick with her and a plastic trash bag that she fills with things that people have left littered beside the road. Some days she has a pretty full bag. Lots of people walk for exercise and how great it would be if they all did what she does and picked up litter. Our roads would be much cleaner looking and there would be a double purpose for the walk. I don't know her name but one of these days I am going to stop and just tell her what a good job she is doing and that I appreciate it!! :o)

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!