The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 06

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

One of my formative experiences growing up was watching a large-animal vet treating a horse with a twisted bowel. I could almost hear him thinking “16 years of education, and here I am with my arm buried shoulder-deep in a horse’s ass...”

Any thoughts of a veterinary or even a medical career were put firmly aside and I became an engineer instead.

I have to admit, watching the equine vet filing down my horses' teeth makes my blood run cold; it doesn't seem to affect them, but I can't stay and watch, it makes me feel faint...

Hubby grew up on an estate where farming was a large part of daily life, and he learned very young how to turn a lamb, aid in birthing a breeching goat by pulling the kid out, and help to forceps-deliver calves from crossbreed cattle with narrowed hips. When he was a boy, they had Blackface sheep and Angora goats, which fed a small local spinning and carding concern, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs. Now, the only livestock there are cattle, beef and dairy, Charolais (beef) and Fresian cross Jersey (dairy), with a couple of Highland steers Will's father bought my stepdaughter as pets when she was younger. Will tried to teach me how to milk a cow, but I think the machine did it better, and the cow seemed to agree...

 

[Javahead]

I have to admit, watching the equine vet filing down my horses' teeth makes my blood run cold; it doesn't seem to affect them, but I can't stay and watch, it makes me feel faint...

Hubby grew up on an estate where farming was a large part of daily life, and he learned very young how to turn a lamb, aid in birthing a breeching goat by pulling the kid out, and help to forceps-deliver calves from crossbreed cattle with narrowed hips. When he was a boy, they had Blackface sheep and Angora goats, which fed a small local spinning and carding concern, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs. Now, the only livestock there are cattle, beef and dairy, Charolais (beef) and Fresian cross Jersey (dairy), with a couple of Highland steers Will's father bought my stepdaughter as pets when she was younger. Will tried to teach me how to milk a cow, but I think the machine did it better, and the cow seemed to agree...

We had horses, but my grandparents switched from dairying to raising beef before I was born - a lot less work. I still learned to milk by hand, though. We usually could count on at least one first-time mother every year who wasn’t entirely clear on this “my calf needs to nurse” thing - until she figured it out, we’d strip her by hand and bottle feed (actually, a milk bucket with a cow-sized rubber teat on the bottom) the calf.

Fortunately, it usually only took a day or two before mom figured things out. Hand milking a nervous beef cow that’s not used to being handled can be a bit exciting. Turns out the reason you rest your head against her flank while you milk is so you can feel when she’s tensing up to kick you. Fun times.

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

We had horses, but my grandparents switched from dairying to raising beef before I was born - a lot less work. I still learned to milk by hand, though. We usually could count on at least one first-time mother every year who wasn’t entirely clear on this “my calf needs to nurse” thing - until she figured it out, we’d strip her by hand and bottle feed (actually, a milk bucket with a cow-sized rubber teat on the bottom) the calf.

Fortunately, it usually only took a day or two before mom figured things out. Hand milking a nervous beef cow that’s not used to being handled can be a bit exciting. Turns out the reason you rest your head against her flank while you milk is so you can feel when she’s tensing up to kick you. Fun times.

That's what Will told me, so I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and stayed clear. On their estate farms the new-born male calves born to the milk cows aren't sold off for veal, which is the usual practice, rather, they're raised as steers with the beef herd butslaughtered separately; Will's friends on the adjoining estates have adopted the practice, and they swear the meat from those steers fed on the unique Charolais feed mix of silage, pasture grass, Timothy hay, cereals, and vitamins is just as delicious as the Charolais beef.

It's easy to pick them out, the Fresian cross Jerseys are brown with white flashing and white forehead blazes, and the Charolais are gigantic and a lovely creamy cookie-dough color.

 

[yowser]

For us here in (most of) America, don't forget that we move our cocks ahead one hour this weekend.

The image generated by this statement is breathtaking.

 

[oggbashan]

Back in the early 1960s, I was asked to take the stable's two shire horses for re-shoeing because I was the largest and strongest helper.

I rode one bareback with the other on a leading rain. At the blacksmith's one was very placid and helpful. The other one just did not want to raise a hoof. We had to use a canvas strop and a chain hoist. It took four times as long as the first horse, and he was annoyed when we left. I rode a bucking bronco back to the stable.

 

[TxRad]

Fresh coffee to wash down the trail dust.

The ladies went shopping but they assured me that they would bring home pizza for lunch. I'll give it another hour.

 

[Handley_Page]

We're supposed to have typical spring weather today; dry winds gusting to 40 mph in the afternoon and areas of blowing dust. The morning should be nice, but it'll be a good afternoon to stay inside.

.

We had a very enthusiastic, not to say brisk, wind this morning, bringing with it some serious rain; It was not fun !

#Lori; have you thought of having a horse near your bed ? I mean, if 'newfie' has learned his lesson, you might get to enjoy a little extra time under the covers. . . . .

But t now time for a brew of Tea.

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Back in the early 1960s, I was asked to take the stable's two shire horses for re-shoeing because I was the largest and strongest helper.

I rode one bareback with the other on a leading rain. At the blacksmith's one was very placid and helpful. The other one just did not want to raise a hoof. We had to use a canvas strop and a chain hoist. It took four times as long as the first horse, and he was annoyed when we left. I rode a bucking bronco back to the stable.

When my boys were younger, the only way we could get them to stand still and not fight the farrier was to use a hackamore bridle and a Scotch hobble; the hobble kept one rear hoof off the ground, and the hackmore kept their heads well back; because it doesn't have a bit, the horse couldn't get it between its teeth and fight it. Horses are averse to moving on three legs, it throws their gait off and they may stumble and fall, so the Scotch Hobble keeps them in place and calms them so the farrier can start work. Until my two got used to being shod, whether wrought-iron fullered road-shoes, or competition aluminum or plastic shoes, I also had to use a foreleg hobble to keep one foreleg high off the ground to keep them still enough to shoe.

 

[ecorche]

Well, I went to the Eye Clinic today and had my right eye tested, measured, and Inspected. The result is as expected; I have a cataract (a fast-growing thing, apparently); I can expect an appointment to have it sorted in the not-too-distant future.

You'll be eligible for the RAF again in no time. My dad's cataract surgery restored his x-ray vision, and all the ladies in the neighborhood had to go back to wearing lead underwear. Too bad I inherited my eyesight from my mom. Thanks for nothing, Mom!

Over the next few days, expect me to bore y'all senseless with Colorado weather updates. Local forecasts predict 1'-2', or 0.5m for those of you anywhere else on the planet. My county appears to be in the snowfall bullseye. While snowed in, you might find me doing one or all of the following:

• Drinking Cabernet Sauvignon
• Consuming marijuana edibles
• Making the coffee when TxRad sleeps in
• Revising some old SF stories and sending 'em out
• Progressing forward with my now mythical erotica piece

 

[NotWise]

You'll be eligible for the RAF again in no time. My dad's cataract surgery restored his x-ray vision, and all the ladies in the neighborhood had to go back to wearing lead underwear. Too bad I inherited my eyesight from my mom. Thanks for nothing, Mom!

Over the next few days, expect me to bore y'all senseless with Colorado weather updates. Local forecasts predict 1'-2', or 0.5m for those of you anywhere else on the planet. My county appears to be in the snowfall bullseye. While snowed in, you might find me doing one or all of the following:

• Drinking Cabernet Sauvignon
• Consuming marijuana edibles
• Making the coffee when TxRad sleeps in
• Revising some old SF stories and sending 'em out
• Progressing forward with my now mythical erotica piece

Within the last few years I've twice driven across Colorado near the beginning of May to visit my mom, and twice I've driven back through Colorado in a snow storm. There's a N-S road (Co 71) from I-76 to US 350 near La Junta that is miles and miles of just miles and miles -- and wind turbines. It's beautiful country if you like the high plains. I was born on the high plains, but it isn't a great place to be in a snow storm.

This is what it looked like after I got south of Limon and out of the snow.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

For us here in (most of) America, don't forget that we move our cocks ahead one hour this weekend.

A new excuse for premature ejaculation.

 

[Handley_Page]

A new excuse for premature ejaculation.

It's not listed as an excuse for pregnancy, though.

NW, I've seen shorter Runways than that !

But it's time for coffee.

 

[sirhugs]

coffee? did someone say coffee?

 

[PoisonPen33]

coffee? did someone say coffee?

Coffee. *slides a cup across the counter*

 

[Handley_Page]

Coffee. *slides a cup across the counter*

Would you be kind enough to fix me one as well please ?

A cold wind with bright sunshine. +10C, but it doesn't feel like it !

 

[PoisonPen33]

Would you be kind enough to fix me one as well please ?

A cold wind with bright sunshine. +10C, but it doesn't feel like it !

Easily done. Gonna be in the 70's from 9 AM to 6 PM today AND it's time for my monthly massage (I have poor circulation in my legs and, well, you only get one pair of shoulders).

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

It's 66F (19C) here, and the horses got their first road-work since January; the rain made it too risky to take them out on some of the hilly roads around here, but it's cleared up nicely, and they were getting cabin-fever from being exercised in the manège only, hence all the re-shoeing yesterday. Seems all the other equestrians felt the same way, there was quite a mob of horses making their way through town. It's nice to see them out and around again, it's always a good sign of approaching Summer, and a good reminder to the equestrian community that both my boys are at stud now, so bookings are available. I'm looking forward to getting some nice orders before long, it's a nice little earner, as Will likes to say.

 

[NotWise]

NW, I've seen shorter Runways than that !

I hope they were just as straight.

 

[ecorche]

Within the last few years I've twice driven across Colorado near the beginning of May to visit my mom, and twice I've driven back through Colorado in a snow storm. There's a N-S road (Co 71) from I-76 to US 350 near La Junta that is miles and miles of just miles and miles -- and wind turbines. It's beautiful country if you like the high plains. I was born on the high plains, but it isn't a great place to be in a snow storm.

NW, I'm glad you're still with us. Those May snowstorms are a destructive and unpleasant surprise. Next time, treat yourself to a more scenic tour; I recommend highway 287 between Fort Collins and Laramie, Wyoming; so picturesque that Rand McNally adorns the route with a parallel line of dots.

Current weather: No snow yet, but the Wicked Witch of the West just wrote a message in the sky: "Surrender Dorothy," she said. and then: "P.S. Buy bread and milk."

 

[Handley_Page]

I hope they were just as straight.

They were when I last looked.

 

[TxRad]

I'll freshen up the coffee.

I slept in this morning. The ladies had biscuits and sausage ready to eat and a full pot of coffee ready. Now I'm waiting for the stick since I've already had the carrot.

 

[PoisonPen33]

I'll freshen up the coffee.

I slept in this morning. The ladies had biscuits and sausage ready to eat and a full pot of coffee ready. Now I'm waiting for the stick since I've already had the carrot.

Don't you mean they're waiting for the stick?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Yes to that offer of a coffee, please. It's supposed to be really nice today. Pity my calendar is filled with doctor, plumber and dentist.

 

[TxRad]

Don't you mean they're waiting for the stick?

There is talk about having some fun on the sundeck later.

Yes to that offer of a coffee, please. It's supposed to be really nice today. Pity my calendar is filled with doctor, plumber and dentist.

Plug those three characters into a story and let the fun begin.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Plug those three characters into a story and let the fun begin.

One plot bunny, over to you, Tex. No charge.