It's a Good Thing that You are Sweet, Jackson

....because you are a lot of work to keep going.

Since moving Jackson over to the donkey pasture, his bite and scratch marks have pretty much disappeared.  But he's still too skinny despite being fed copious amounts of hay.  He's been wormed and I've started a course of GastroGuard because he has a history of ulcers.  Maybe they came back while he was being harassed by Mufasa.  I've also added Ulcer-Gard to his low starch supplement in the morning.  It's frustrating.

His appetite is good, he's moving well (the trail boots and time in the barn during the last rain worked well) and he seems very happy.  I just wish he was a bit thicker around the middle.

Speaking of thick around the middle, I think Kersey has lost some weight (yay!).  I had to shorten her collar yesterday so it looks like her diet of Fat Dog food and many walks is working.

Our guests left after lunch today so I moved the flowers from the guest room onto the pie safe on the landing.  I'm proud of this bouquet -- picked from the garden, including those red jalapenos.

It was chilly this morning, 41F when we did chores.  Mufasa was racing around his pasture while Flash watched.

I lit a fire in the wood stove and Brett's sister sat close to the warmth while sipping her coffee.  Her husband, Doug, braved the cold with us and helped with chores.  It sure was nice having them here.

A Family Post

We just returned from two days in San Diego.  While we were gone, Kersey stayed with our neighbors and was spoiled rotton.  She cuddled with them on the couch, was invited onto their bed at night, and went everywhere with Fran in the car -- riding shotgun on the front seat.  I'm surprised Kersey wanted to come back home this morning.

Meanwhile, we were busy meeting our newest grandbaby.  Brett's son, Scott, and his wife, Jen, let us hold and cuddle baby Merrick to our heart's content.

Yesterday, we spent the day at the beach under postcard perfect skies.  All three of Brett's kids were there, his daughters coming in from Colorado and Seattle, and all eight of the grandchildren.  The kids rode the waves on boogie boards or pulled on seaweed and chased seagulls -- depending on their age.  It was a wonderful time.

Scott, Kerri, Brett and Jennie

Brett & I with Scott, Jen and baby Merrick

Kerri's family: Kerri, husband Adam, me & Brett, Andrew, Rachel and Chris.  Yes, they are all very tall.

No picture of Jen's family.  Bummer.  Sorry.

This afternoon, Brett's sister and her husband arrive to spend a few days with us here.  I did manage to squeeze in a ride on Lucy this morning before their arrival.  We had rain while we were gone so the arena sand was wonderfully soft and damp.  We worked on forward and back at trot -- and then Lucy offered me a few strides of collected canter.  Wowzee!  I thanked her and ended on that note.

This staycation has been the BEST!