Watching T.V.

Willow watching Vampire Diaries with me. She's Team Stefan, whereas, I'm more Team Damon.
After farm chores on the cold morning I ate breakfast watching one of my DVRed TV shows, Vampire Diaries...Willow really seemed to enjoy it. She found the whole drama intriguing. I think we might have another V.D. fan here.
I'm glad we have this bonding time. :)

Have they come and gone yet?

Boy, those storms yesterday sure were doozeys! The office shook and rattled with the pelting of rain. We got reports that Louisville was flooded and we were supposed to get similar amounts of rain. Luckily, we the weathermen missed their mark. I was concerned about a few low spots near the river along my road home. This was where getting off late from work pays off, the water had receded and there was no oncoming traffic when I needed to get in the opposite lane to pass high water.




The pasture in front of my house was now a "pond". Too bad it didn't come stocked with fish, I could of had a really good fish dinner. Willow enjoyed our temporary "pond", she is half-lab and that water-lovin side comes out even if there is only a drop of water on the ground.




The poor darlin' didn't understand when I wouldn't let her come in the house after her swim. If it had only been water, she could have stayed in the mud room/breakfast room. But since the "pond" was really a pasture it was marshy and muddy, so in turn, Willow was muddy. She went from being a yellow pup to a brown pup. At least she was happy.

Surprisingly Kody didn't take a dip. He normally heads for the water just as fast as Willow. I think the impending storm had him heading for the house instead of the "pond".



At least towards the west the sky was looking better. But it looks like we will be getting some more rain as the days go on. I think I will get my floaties ready!

Little Ms Milkmaid, pt. 2: The Lick

I took the dogs to with me to go milking this past weekend. It wasn't their first time to see the cows. The introduction esd msfr a couple of weeks ago when I went wild blackberry picking. But everyone is still very much interested in each other. Kody likes to say "Hi" and after that he doesn't really mind them. He is used to large hoofed animals being that he has spent the last ten years running around with me and my horses. But Willow on the other hand is not too sure what to think.

From afar she thinks they are pretty cool but then they come right up to her face and she runs behind me and barks; mind you, she is a 100 lb dog. (Since I am not really a deterrent when the cows are really interested, I keep the fence between me and the interested bovine; at least for now. I still don't quite know how to read them).

This past weekend the milking had been done and the cows were all out in the front pasture. Kody, Willow and I went to check the water. The cows were on the other side of the pasture, so we stepped through the gate to adjust the water hose. All it took was one cow to see us. The next thing I knew I had four bovine headed our way. At first they were slow and ambling, but then one, Mickalyn, picked up her pace. She wasn't running because that would use too much energy and she is making milk, but she was no longer ambling!

Kody and Willow were excited about the approaching friends, so much so they wanted to greet Mickalyn. I had other plans.

Once we got on the other side of the fence the stragglers had picked up their pace and were coming. Mickalyn just barely got stopped before she put her nose down to greet Kody. Since her nose couldn't fit through the gate, Kody stuck his head through. They were cold wet nose to warm wet nose sniffing each other. It was very sweet, then the best thing happened. Mickalyn licked Kody with her long blue tongue!!! I don't know who was more surprised Kody, Willow or me! (Willow was watching her big bro with amazement and awe. She seemed to say, "What are you doing touching that...that...well, that?") Through all of this I was wishing that my camera was handy.

Kody must have understood what Mickalyn was saying because he began to "dance" and started "talking" to her in his "Let's be friends" howl. The whole time we were at the gate, Kody "talked" to the girls.

Juliann, Calf Tan and Begonia came to investigate after they saw that Mickalyn and Kody were hitting it off. They were interested in Willow. Willow wanted to be brave like her bro but she really didn't like when their big noses took up her whole vision. She would sniff then backpedaled to be behind me, then 2 seconds later go back to sniff them again. This went on until I was ready to head home, meaning the water tank was filled.

I can say that the cows, Kody and Willow have been introduced and for the most part are getting along. It will be nice when they don't pay attention to each other. And next time my camera will be at the ready, so tath I can catch any more signs of affection between Mickalyn and Kody. At least I have my memory of "The Lick".

Mickalyn and Kody's first introduction.

Blackberries and Milk

Kody, Willow and I went blackberry picking this weekend! Actually, I went blackberry picking, they just hung around and looked bored.



I found a wonderful thatch of wild blackberries where I have been milking. I picked the perfect afternoon to wrestle with these thorny bushes, it was hot and humid. I just stood still and started sweating. My logic was that the sweat would help the thorns glide effortlessly over my skin. Yeah, didn't quite go as I planned. But on the bright side, I wasn't accompanied by swarming bugs. I will take heat and humidity over bugs any day.



I was able to pick quite a few, at least enough for some homemade blackberry jam. Hopefully next week some more will ripen and I will get to make a cobbler.



We are heading off to the wild blackberry patch. Already their tongues are hanging out in anticipation of sweet blackberries! Or it might have been because it was a hot day.

Sweet, sweet blackberries. At this point, I had to wipe my chin...I was attracting flies. But doesn't this sight just make your mouth water?

I am picking away, minding my own business, talking to Kody and Willow about absolutely nuthin' when I get a call from my mother and my great-Aunt. "Courtney don't forget to get the blackberries in the back, they are the juiciest." Sure, Mom, no problem. We keep talking, and I am reaching towards the back of the bush, getting thorns stuck in me but it is all worth it for the juiciest and sweetest blackberries. Then mom says, "Oh, and watch out for snakes. They like to hang out inside of blackberry bushes." My hand has never moved so fast in it's life! "Snakes!" Forget the juiciest, sweetest blackberries, I am sticking to the ones I can see! Oh and Mom, thanks for sending me blindly into possibly danger. I can feel the love! :)

Can we go yet!?! I want my fan!

What is that coming up the lane?

It's milking time!!! Kody and Willow haven't seen me don my milkmaid hat yet. Kody just wanted to say "HI" to the cows; Willow on the other hand thought they were Monsters from the Abyss.

Mickalyn ready and waiting!

Look at the thick and creamy milk straight out of the cow! Doesn't it look good, minus the dirt specs? Kody sure thought so. I turned my back for one second and he didn't hesitate. I heard him lapping away.

Once I was done milking, it was time to collect the eggs. And since snakes were now on my brain. I lifted every hen that was laying on a nest, up and off. I wasn't sticking my hand under any of them and be surprised by a legless creature. No way! Logic told me that there wouldn't be any snakes because it was warm out, but this girl don't take no chances.

Look at the colorful bounty of eggs!

Meeting the Neighbors or (MoooBors)

Sometimes I just crack myself up, but this is probably one of those times that I should of kept my mouth shut. Seeing as the joke is not that funny once it came out of my mouth and into the world. Oh well, you live and learn.


This weekend I took Kody and Willow to meet the cows I have been milking. This was their first meeting, to say that it was comically would be an understatement. For such tough acting dogs, and I put emphasis on "acting", Kody and Willow were a little startled to see how big the gals turned out to be. When they were dots on the horizon, Willow was ready to take them on, but when they got closer she would have sworn that they were monsters come to eat her.

The cows, gals as I call them, were quite interested in Kody and Willow. Especially Jewelann and Mickalyn. The chickens on the other hand, could have done without the introduction. To much of a similarity between Kody and coyote!




"Who are these new animals? Do they have food?"



"You wanna mess with me?" This standoff seems a little lopsided to me. Yikes!






"Oh, your not so bad, but your buddy on the other hand...well...."







"Mooo...ve over, let me look!" (lol, couldn't help it)



"You're kind of cute, in a hairy kind of way."



"Mom, they are almost as big as me!!!!!"

"Cluck...Stand still everyone, maybe they won't notice us... cluck!"

What a Day

What a day the Fourth of July turned out to be. It was a day of relaxation and celebrating the country's birithday with friends and family. Since my family is in Oklahoma I celebrated with my friend Lisa and her family.


The day started out nice. It was cool enough to make being outside not only bareable but also enjoyable. I would happily have all of July stay in the mid 70's!



I took the dogs with me, so that they could run around in the country, jumping in the river and pond and chasing pesky varmits around without the worry of the dog catchers or cars. They enjoyed every minute of this frolic and fun.




Maybe they enjoyed the river a little too much. I was just glad that there was plenty of time for them to dry off before we got back into the car to go home (Side note - it rained for most of the evening, so they never really dried off. )

Lisa and her husband, Wayne, have a nice acreage out in Harrodsburg, KY. They have about 20 head of cattle, a calf/cow operation, and Wayne has a huge vegetable garden. He showed me around his 60+ tomato plants, 2 groupings of thornless Blackberries and his new Raspberry bush. Plus the countless corn, carrots, cabbage, squash, etc. I was going to take pictures but my arms quickly were too full from carrying the bounty we plucked on our tour. There is nothing like a fresh tomato. Yum!!! I can't wait to have my own Raspberry bush, they are even better right off the bush.

Wayne was the master griller for the evening and he grilled up some delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. The rest of the buffet was just as good. I love pot luck cookouts, everyone brings their best dish. The only problem I can see is that your stomach is only so big. But if you go slow enough you can get more in, or at least that is my theory.

Luckily Wayne and Lisa have a huge back porch, so we could eat and watch the rain fall. Around 4pm the rain started and didn't want to stop. We would get short periods when nothing was falling from the sky but those were just teasers. There was concern that we wouldn't get to see the fireworks display that Wayne had set up. He wasn't going to let that happen.

When the rain let up, Wayne lit the fuse. And it was well worth the wait!

Rains Storms + Dogs = No Sleep

I made it to the other side!!! We survived the morning storms. I think the storms were less of a danger then my dogs were to me. When the thunder hit overhead Willow was climbing all over me, thinking that I would be a good shield against the scary storms. But then she decided that being under the bed was safer. You see just me as a shield wasn’t working, but me and the bed would save her. (Her logic is amazing!)

If you were thinking that after she got off the bed she wouldn’t disturb me and I could return to some sort of normalcy aka sleep, you would be incorrect. Being that she is a 100 lb dog and “Grace” is not her middle name, and the space between the bed and the floor just barely fit her as a 30 lb puppy her entrance was not quiet nor easy. She is a strong dog and has found she can push through most anything. How does this translate to her crawling under the bed, you ask? She lifts the bed up!! If I wasn’t already aware of this action and its results it would freak me out in my half sleep state. You get the sensation that the bed is levitating and that the monsters or aliens are coming to get you! Only fool me once!

After she got situated, the storm passed. But she didn’t move because it was too much work and what if another storm came through?

Getting her out from under the bed this morning was interesting to say the least! She was wedged not only between the bed and the floor but also between the bed and the wall. Here I thought it was going to be a puzzle to solve *thinking first thing in the morning has never been my forte*, I figured that I would have to grease her up and yank her out. (This is what I came up with in my still half-sleep state, I am sure if I had been more awake I would have been more delicate. That is my story and I am sticking to it!) Willow had other plans, her way of thinking was: stand up, push the bed up, walk towards the wall; when I am out from under the bed do a half turn and then jump on the bed to exit from the spot between the bed and the wall. That worked great... except the bed was lifted off the frame about 7 inches and then let go to slam back down. WILLOW!!!!!!

And Kody, the one who is normally very unsettled during these storms just laid in front of his fan watching Willow. I think he feels proud that he has passed he neurosis on. Thanks Kody! At least he never climbed on the bed and tried to tunnel under me.

Doesn't she look so innocent?

The cats were fine. Jackson and Alec had stayed outside and were fine this morning. George, well George probably slept through everything because that is what George does.

Most of the plants came through without a hitch, only my corn and hollyhocks were really effected. Both were leaning over. Hopefully they will bounce back.

The Barnett Motley Crew

I took some photos last night of my motley crew. Each has a different opinion of me with the camera.

This is Kody begging, actually no he isn't begging he is telling me he wants to go inside and get out of the heat….

Willow playing in the grass with me… “Oh, I almost have that itch”



Jackson, ignoring me because...well, because he can. A brief moment of quiet, normally he is into something.



George posing for the camera, like a typical girl, (yes George is a girl).

And Alec, the identity confused cat (at times he thinks he is a dog and loves playing with Willow). Now, he is looking down at Willow and just begging for her head to come closer so he can swat it. (He is trying to pretend he is cool and doesn’t see the camera, yeah right!)

Kody and Willow

Here is Kody and Willow enjoying the nice June weather!

It's Friday and I just got Paid!!!!

It's Friday and payday!!! Could this day get any better, but of course it could! It is the middle of August and the temperature is in the low 80's, I can be outside without dripping sweat.

Well, Kody and Willow didn't end up at the horse show last night. As I was getting ready to leave we got what looked like a monsoon and since I didn't have an umbrella handy I opted to stay and work a little longer. I did go to the show and watch the ponies fly around the indoor arena. It makes me want to get on my show horse and jump. Only problem he is retired and in IL. But in mind he and I would have kicked butt if we had competed in Pony Jumpers as a youth. That is Pi to the right taking it slow with a young friend a couple of years ago.

After the show I was able to watch the Olympics - had to get my Michael Phelps fill. But actually I have decided I like Aaron Peirsol a bit more. There is something about his relaxed California attitude that I just love! And he was so gracious to his teammate that beat him out of the gold medal last night. So Mr. Peirsol you have just gained another fan.

I also got to see the Women's Individual Gymnastics meet. I am always amazed at how they can fling and fly on all of the apparatus' and still smile. I would definitely have a grimance on my face. Nastia Lukin made it look effortless. And Shawn Johnson made it look fun. Together they both out on a fabulous contest for the top spot. The U.S. women were so gracious and I love how all of the athletes, no matter what nation you were from, congratulated each other. I saw some great sportsmanship. That is the great thing about the Olympics, it brings people together.

Since the Olympics are on with very few commercial interruptions and there is no distinctive break betweens hours I have been watching and not realizing that it is after midnight. Take last night for instance, I was putting a load of laundry in and I heard Bob Costas say something to the point that it was almost 1 in the afternoon in Beijing. I stopped and looked at my watch, so much for going to bed early. Lexington is exactly 12 hours behind Beijing. It is a good thing I am a night person. And since I didn't feel too tired I kept going. I ended up doing laundry, dishes, putting clothes away and giving Willow a bath. Yes, at 3am I decided to give my dog a bath. She was constantly scratching but there were no signs of fleas (she had been treated recently), so I could only think that not all the soap came off the last time I bathed her and made her skin dry or she got into something. Either way, she couldn't stay like that all night. Mind you Willow is not a small dog, she weighs 90 lbs. So I had to take her outside and hang on to her as she tried to slip away. At one point she succeeded and it took all the coaxing I could muster to get her to come near me. After that I made a handle to hold on to her. I took the leash and made a loop around her hips, it helped me control her whole body and she couldn't slip away. I thought i was pretty clever. After the bath she had to dry off, so Willow, kody and I went on a walk.

I am getting better at these late nights and early mornings, but I really need to get to bed earlier. It is a good thing the Olympics only happen once every four years, but that just means i don't want to miss any of it.

Tonight is Pony Finals again. This time the dogs are coming. Then this weekend I am running errands to get prepared for my trip to Italy for the U.S. Reining Team.

Have a great weekend!!!