Donkey Feet

Here is a picture of Rufus's feet.  His hooves were getting too long, and were chipped.  It was time to make an appointment with the farrier, so we exchanged some texts and set up a visit for 9:30 on Friday morning.   

Here are my good donkeys, haltered up and tied to posts.  We haven't practiced much these days, so I was happy that we made it happen.  

The farrier arrived right on time.  He drives a gigantic truck that I could hear coming from a distance.  He's a strong man, as you would assume, and he wears leather chaps and steel toed boots.  In each hand he carries an object - one is a magnetic post with a wide base that his tools are stuck to, about the height of a stool,  and the other is a wide based post with a top on it that would allow a calm animal to rest it's foot, also about stool height.   

When the farrier followed me through the gate carrying these objects, both donkeys were frightened.  Hattie pulled fiercely against her post and squatted in a runners crouch.  Rufus put back his ears and danced in place.  The donkeys are not afraid of people, but they do not like objects.  Even dishcloths and hair brushes are scary, so two metal objects with tools stuck to them are terrifying.  I told the farrier that they are afraid of his tools, but he got straight to work on Hattie.  I held her head while he wrestled her feet, but every time he scooted that post of tools where he could reach it she jumped and squirmed.  

We managed to get both donkeys trimmed up in short order, but by the time we were done I had a knot on my forearm from being rammed into the fence and my toe was sore from being stepped on.  The donkeys probably had sore legs from having them tugged while they resisted, and I'm sure the farrier's shoulders got a workout.  The farrier said with bigger animals he would "get onto" the owners for not teaching them to hold still better, but I guess with my little donkeys he just grabs them and makes it happen.  It only took a few minutes, then he collected his eighty dollars and was off.  

For days afterwards I would rub my sore arm and think about how we can do this easier, less scary, and less expensive.  The answer is to learn to trim them myself.  If I could patiently get them used to the tools and teach them to hold still, it might save us trouble and probably money too.  Of course, it doesn't help the farrier much, as I'm sure he appreciates the eighty dollars.  

Greens House

I hope to transform our plastic hoop house into a greens house this fall - full of edible greens!  I've used the hoop house in the late winter and early spring to start seeds and to grow heaps of lettuce, but I have yet to try growing greens in the fall with the hope of keeping them alive through the winter, but that is my plan. 

By the first of June, the greenhouse was getting away from me.  The weeds were taking over the pathways, and the heat did not encourage upkeep.  By August, the weeds were neck high and I gave up any thought of salvaging the tomatoes and brussel sprouts.  I would open the door, face the thick wall of green plants that were swarming with insects in the hot and humid dome, and quietly close the door and walk away.  A few weeks ago, I asked Brandon to cut everything down with the weed eater.  A clean slate for the fall garden!

He cut everything down to the ground except this small clump of zinnias and green beans, in the back corner. 

We saved these plants so I can save the seeds. 

The green bean managed to find it's way through the side of the greenhouse and climbed all the way to the top!  It bloomed early, out-competed all those weeds, and is loaded with beans, so I've decided to save it's seeds for next year. 

I still have some work to do before I plant the fall garden.  I rolled out this black weed suppression fabric with the thought that I could make a permanent path into the greenhouse, but I've nearly changed my mind.  Instead of using it for a pathway, I think I will cover the ground close the side plastic, where it's very hard to weed and is cramped for plants anyway.  Between the black fabric and piles of old hay and compost, I hope to suppress the weeds.  Now I just have to find the time to work on this.  I spent about twenty minutes in the greenhouse during the daylight hours and thought I would pass out from the heat!  I may have to garden in the twilight only.