Saturday, February 8, 2014

Water Tanks

I left for Sams Club right at 7:00 am so I could get the groceries early before work started and made it home by 8:00 am. The first disappointment came as soon as I walked in the door. Emily reported another automatic waterer was frozen. That is 3 paddocks all with shelters now without water. I tentatively made arrangements to run to Canton to pick up a used water tank but Joan's renter needed the truck first to buy more split wood for Gary Unsicker so Mark and I started splitting wood with Emily stacking it in the tractor bucket in the snow and cold. Less than an inch was predicted to fall but most of the logs were covered by the last 10 inches and had to be dug out first with the tractor. By the time we were ready to quit the fingers and toes were pretty frozen. I came in to warm up to find a wonderful email from Cynthia, Olivia's owner. She writes: Hi Judy, if you haven't bought it already I have a 100 gallon water  tank in excellent shape you can have.  I only used it for a short time and then switched to a different system. 
I was thrilled to read that and quick to respond with, "YES, YES, YES!" My Canton appointment was cancelled and the renter called to see if he would be done with the truck by 2:30pm. Meanwhile Mark unloaded the pallets out of his van and offered to use that to pick up the water tank. We had to drive through Washington, IL to get to Cynthia's farm and were shocked at the devastation still very visible from the tornado. We just don't travel that direction much. We had just about arrived when Diane called to report Dan needed help, his van had slid off the dam. We suggested Spark as we weren't home. Rhonda was the next to call to see if Mark could help Dan as Spark wasn't home. Poor Dan had to wait at mom's until Spark made it home as he was a lot closer to Hanna City than we were.
Next Taunya sent through at text wondering where everyone was. They arrived to find both the farm house and the apartment empty.
Mike fixed the stock trailer and he and Emily went to Middle Grove to pick up Lily, Indy, Sally and Phoenix. Sally is getting thin from nursing her big colt and needs to be here to be grained. The other 2 mares are due in 5-6 weeks but... Indy doesn't look like she is carrying. This is her first foal and she is a big mare so I think we will have Dr. Hoerr check her when he comes out on Monday for coggins. I'm praying she is still pregnant. Lily there is no question, she is HUGE!
Emily and I got the short shelter paddock set up with water and a new bale, Sissy and Star were put out there with their 2 foals. That was entertaining and a little stressful to watch but they finally settled down each with their own filly.
Chicken Stir fry was on the menu tonight so the next hour was spent chopping vegetables and chicken. That is the most labor intensive meal but we were all craving vegetables so worth the effort. Phil and Ann joined us with their 2 girls. The grand children were entertained by the puppies.

 Jace got to try out the johnny jump up chair
David and Stephanie joined us in time for dessert and we had to show them what Israel does in that chair. He bounces and bounces.

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