House Sitting - Day 5

There hadn't been anything to exciting to report...until today!

I went out and fed the horses and checked them over for any major scrapes. Everyone was aok!

About 2 pm I am sitting at my computer typing away on a story, when I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. I look up and there is a gray horse grazing in the yard. I lean forward and count an additional three more horses chowing down on the yard. I take that back three where eating the lawn while the fourth was busy dumping the bird seed out of the feeders and licking it up!

Don't panic!! So I tell myself as I walk out to see where they had made their escape. All gates are closed and locked except the one in the barn and I was the last one through it! But I know I closed it and locked it, I swear on a stack of bibles!!

Round up time! Let's see if I open the gate that is behind them then walk around and get in front of them they will turn and go straight into the field, right?

 WRONG!!

They headed for the open gate, then at the last moment the made a hard left, running in front of the house across the drive and into an open field. My saving grace is that the entire property is fenced and unless they jump the cattle guard they were not going any where.

Well, by now I knew that I needed help. Willa!! Nope she isn't helping she is on the porch rooting for the horses!!

I jumped into the Artic cat and rounded them up. I pushed them towards the still open gates, but they all split and went back to the little field.

Plan two: open the other set of gates to the field they seem to want to get into! Gates open, driving them forward, two went in two stayed out and went into the other field!!

Sigh, of course the weather isn't helping. The wind is blowing and all four horses are doing half rears, tossing heads and bucking!

I make a quick descion and lock the gate on two of my runaways. Buy the time I get to where the other two are they have come back out of the field and are now grazing peacefully next to the barn. I park the Artic cat and walk slowly to the gate. I just know Baily is going to turn tail and run but I step aside and in she goes with on last squeal and buck. Her partner, Traveler seeing that the gig is up kicks up his heels and gallops into the field. I shut the gate.

 No one was injured during the romp!

I then went back through to make sure that all gates were latched. Closed the gates that needed to be closed open the one that need to be open.

And where is Willa? Happily rolling in a fresh pile of manure!!

Willa Playing with one of the Big Dogs, Zip.

House Sitting - Day 1

This is day one of the House sitting adventure. I brought Willa with me and little Aya stayed home with grandma.

Our first duty was to see the happy travelers off and after a couple of stops in the drive they finally hit the road.

At 7 pm we headed out to the barn to feed the horses. While everyone was happily munching on their grain, I made my visual checks and doctored any wounds that needed any attention.

 I then took some hay out to the pasture and checked the water.
Rosie was the first one done(she's my girl!) and headed out to the hay.

 Birdy is the oldest and it takes her a bit longer than her stablemates. When all were done they headed out to the hay.

Lights and fans off I headed to the house to take care of LD, a Great Pyrenees, and Zip, a Husky mix. Willa got her dinner too!

It sure is beautiful out here!

Yard Sales and Swimming

Starting Friday the city held it's annual City Wide yard sale, of which we took part in both as a seller and a buyer. Friday was our best day and on Saturday we had a 10 cent Sale. Everything and i mean everything was 10 cents. I think we sold out in 2 hours!

After we packed up the "junk" which will be taken to the Salvation Army, we headed out to shop at other sales. I bought a book and a small carry on bag.

After all that I then loaded the pups into the truck and took them to the lake. This is Aya's second time swimming and she has taken to it like a duck to water!
After playing in the water for 20 minutes, they were then swarmd by dog lovers who had to pet them, which of course they drank up!

What a pair!!

Hillbilly Chili

Today is the annual Hillbilly Chili Cook off. I decided to go and take the pups with me. This will be Aya's first adventure outside of Vet visits.

My mom went with me, she wanted to handle Aya, so I let her. At first Aya was frightened of everything! But with Willa a veteran of such events at her side she soon learned that people liked to pet her and make over her. She has latched onto that! So now it's time to meet the other dogs that also come with their humans. Smaller dogs were just fine, but bigger dogs, Aya hung back and let Willa handle them.

There were lots of noises too! Bands playing, balloons popping,kids yelling and running and the smells! So inviting! Hot dogs, kettle corn,chili,hamburgers, snow cones too! Enough aromas that had dog and human alike drooling!

 I think Aya was very happy to leave! :)

The girls playing in the yard

Crazy Week Ahead

Monday I need to clean the yard and give two dirty Corgis a bath.

Tuesday the fairer comes out to put shoes on my horse.

Wednesday Aya goes to the vet for her check up and shots and we get to talk about spaying.

Thursday or Friday I am going up to Ava, MO to the Missouri Fox Trotter Show and see a friend!

Saturday is the Chili cook off

Sunday I will be riding my horse

Next weekend is the Bull Shoals City Wide Yard Sale, which we need to get ready for.

Four weeks until I head to St Louis!!

Vet and Trip Plans

On Friday I took Aya to the vet to set up her appointment to get all her shots, which happens on Wednesday!
We are also working on getting her leash trained and she rides in the bike cart already with no troubles.
Aya is starting to settle in an her personality is starting to shine! She has now been introduced to my cat, who has already put her claws across her nose for being to nosey. Poor girl didn't know what to do! But Buttons has both of the girls buffaloed! She walks in the room and both of them separate to let her through! I have to laugh it is just to funny!!


We are getting ready for our first trip. In October we are going to IL to visit a friend but before we get there we are spending a few days in St Louis, MO. They say they are the most pet friendly place! I plan on checking it out!

Our plan is to camp out at the KOA. Day one we will be stopping at the Route 66 State Park, then over to Ulysses S Grant"s home, which is a National Park. I would like to see Jefferson Barracks and hopefully check out a dog park or two!

Day two, we drive to the Chain of Rocks Bridge, get the bike and trailer out, load up the dogs and bike to the Arch and then to the Historic Courthouse.

Day three we will be heading to my friend's house. While we visit with her we will be going to Spoon River Days! I can't wait!

I hope to report that St Louis is the pet friendly place they claim!

Welcome Aya!

We spent most of yesterday driving over the mountains to go to Cass Canine Rescue in Mountainburg to pick up our new Corgi mix pup.

Ok it didn't really take us that long to get there! We did stop at several tack shops on the way over, met up with a friend for lunch then out to her place to see her horses. It was a great day for a road trip!

We picked the pup up around 3:30 pm, chatted with the Pat about her place, then headed out for the long ride home.

Aya(Bootsie as she was called) rode very well in her crate. We had to stop one time and clean it out after she messed in it, but we were expecting it so it wasn't a big deal.

We arrived home about 8:30 pm. Willa finally met her new sister! It was so sweet, there was no growling or barking from either of them and Willa was soon trying to get Aya to play with her.

It didn't last long! Nope, Willa staked her claim to the human bed and slept there all night! Poor pup had to sleep on the floor! I guess I could have given Aya the other end of my bed, but I don't fit in a doggie bed!

This morning, Willa and Aya went outside to do their morning chores. Aya was introduced to my cat Buttons, who took an instant interest in the new pup. Knowing Buttons the way I do I see much Buttons have much fun keeping the youngster on her toes like she does Willa!

There are still two Corgis needing forever homes at Cass Canine Rescue. Maggie is a sweet but shy adult female and also the mother of Aya.

The other is Aya's sister named Tootsie. she has dropped down ears and a shorter tail than Aya.

There are several other dogs there also. If you are interested in either of the above dogs please check out the Human Society of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, AR  on Petfinders.com

Getting Started

I got my first Corgi about 4 years ago. I knew nothing of the breed other than they were the smallest of the Herding Group. I have experience with Herding dogs, Border Collies, Heelers, Aussies and any of those mixed.

When I got her her name was Wags...really? No that had to change! So her name became Willa Dean Wags, keeping Wags in there until she got use to her new name.

She is a beautiful tri color. She loves to go for walks, ride in the car, chasing the stray cats and going to the farm where I board my horse and riding in her bike trailer. There hasn't been a person she didn't like or any other dog!

Well tomorrow her life will change. No longer will she be the only dog, who gets all the treats and toys. Nope, tomorrow Willa gets a little sister named Aya.