Eggcited Updates at Golden Curls Ranch

Hello All,

Well....it's hot in Texas! How hot is it? It's so hot that even the snakes wont come out and sun bathe, instead they stay where it's cool - like my chicken coop. Yep, I've had this ongoing battle with a big ugly rat chaser- chicken snake. I've named him Homer 'cause he kinda reminds me of the dad on The Simpson. He goes in and eats the eggs my sweet hens lay and makes my Rooster, Groggy Foggy (a descent relative to FogHorn Legg Horn) gest all in a tizzy.

I saw an ad on Craigslist a few weeks back where a fella was giving away roosters. Well, the magic word FREE struck me first and then I thought - what's a farm without chickens and fresh eggs. Wahoo! So my wonderful and always courageous son, Andrew, reluctantly agreed to go with me to pick up the rooster. Good thing 'cause the place was really in the East Texas backwoods and I would have never found it by myself.

The rooster is a handsome Red and Blue Laced Wyandottes. Most chicken breeds are given names where they are discovered like Rhode Island Reds etc. but Groggy Foggy's breed is named after the American Indians also known as Hurons.

(see http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=512-BLR_Wyandottes)

We chose Groggy Foggy because the other roosters picked on him. The owners were a great couple and the guy really knew a lot about chickens. Always begin of the mindset that critters like humans need partners in life I asked if we could buy him a few hens. The guy was so pleased that this rooster was going to actually be able to have his own little harem he just beamed at the thought. So Andrew and I came trucking home with a dog carrier holding a rooster, a Rhode Island Red, a Jersey Gaint and a Plymonth Bard Rock. The next day the rooster's previous owner emailed and asked if I wanted another Bard Rock .....apparently she was best friends with the Rhode Island Red and was depressed to lose her best friend. My sweet sister, Diane and her charming and handy, hubby WC was visiting so they drove over to get Miss Rockette. It was great too as they was working on a koi pond and the Rooster owner had built one so they exchanged ideas and tips.

So we initially housed the chickens and the rooster in the patio. Since Groggy Foggy thinks wake up call is 4;42 am it didn't take long to decide we needed a chicken coop - a distance away from the house. We decided the stall attached to the Llama Casa was prefect. WC put together the little coop giving each lady a nice cozy place to settle in and lay her eggs. We fill it with fresh hay. He even gave them a walkway to prance on with little steps so they don't trip going up and coming down. Diane painted them and beautiful bright sunny white and girls are quite pleased with their posh surroundings. Foggy is pleased too as he makes sure everyone knows with his loud crowing and flapping of those brilliant colored wings.

The first sign of snakes was when we were cleaning out the stall of T posts and my darlin' sister was reaching down to pick one up and I saw a copperhead all curled up in a circle. We both jumped around thinking &^#$@& and finally WC gets a hoe and puts an end to it. Sorry if it offends anyone but I have strict rules about snakes trespassing. Next, I see the longest black tail know to man sliding under pallets in the feed room, I know he is under there and that is my first glimpse of Homer. Then, a few days later I am walking up the chicken coop and there he is....all black and ugly. I stop and he continues to slide over the 2x12 board we install at the bottom of the fence to keep the dogs from digging under and getting into the coop. I am not a fisherman so my measurements are pretty exact and when I say his head was over 4 inches long I mean it! Seriously, he is big, black and determined. So shaking like a leaf on a willow tree I grab the hoe (which has become a permanent fixture at the chicken coop). Noting that he is large enough to eat my girls I start banging on the metal exterior of the barn. He looks at me with must have been great disgust and slides away. Where, I don't know....so I for reinforcements. HAAAANNNNNNKKKKKKKK....so what if he is 30 miles away in the concrete land of Cowboys in suits riding Hummers. "I just saw the biggest, ugliest snake in the whole world and he is in my chicken coop".....to which he casually responds; "get a hoe and kill it". Folks, I rode horses even horses that less than six months ago were wild on the range in Nevada but I dont do snakes......

So after much debating Hank decides he will call my neighbor Phil, a retired Fireman, to come see the humongous snake in my chicken coop. Phil arrives and immediately tells me snakes are not a problem and we should learn to live with them. Sure! Then we spot a copperhead and it's bigger than the last one....he kills it. (Well, maybe we don't have to live with all snakes) I explain I understand the circle of life and the need for all of God's creatures...but Homer is eating my eggs and I feel it is not right for him to benefit from our hard work so he must go.

Homer is a tricky one and we cannot find him. But, there is one less copperhead on Golden Curls Ranch and I rest easier that night with that thought.

To be Continued......

Lakota and Angie

Hello All,

We've been really busy and having a great time at Golden Curls Ranch. Our sweet Nevada Blossom is doing so well. She has taken to my big horned western saddle and loves to go on trail rides.

Mama Golden Red is doing better and looks much more like the Curly Red Dun Beauty we saw when she was captured in January. As they say, time is a a great healer.

Speaking of healing I've discovered if there is anything that feels wrong in my life I just climb up in my big horn saddle and ask Lakota to take me to my comfort zone. He is a true Curly Gentleman! I promise when you dismount you will have left your worries behind.

Hugs,

Angie and Lakota

Those Awful Preteen Days

Hello All,

When I was a preteen and things were not going right for me, such as, my friends needed a bra and I did not (for years) or my wonderful best friend received a call from the cool looking dude in school asking her to hang out after the the Friday night football game and I was left behind to go home and be with - ugh -adults; I would spend my all free time with a friend, Patches.

Patches was a wonderfully well trained and beautiful registered, American Paint. She was a gift from a family friend named Bill Burney. He trained her for shows as well as bred her for strikingly beautiful, colorful, foals. I was given Patches when she was older and had seen all the shows and gave life to many foals. She was gentle, yet spunky. She looked out for me; yet, understood my desire for adventure and freedom. But mostly, she knew I just needed a shoulder and her withers were mighty strong.

This past week has been equivalent to the those awful preteen days. OK, I do need a bra now and honestly I could care a less if my friend gets a call from the cool dude because I already have one who loves me very much; but, life has not changed all that much - it still can hurt.

This week, I really needed my gentle friend Patches to get me through - I've found that friend in Cinnamon River. He has a gentle yet very spunky spirit and he has the most wonderful withers for which to lean on. He understands my need for time away from the cruelties that living can bring and he is always willing to take me for a walk and let my mind relax.

We decided to try our hand at riding patterns to enter for the IPHDA - International Professional Horse Development Association. It was great....he is a wonderful partner - I could use some polishing - but the most important thing is it took my mind off the harsh realities of life and set me back on track for a new goal.

I hope you find your someone with strong withers to let you lean on when you are going through the awful "preteen" days, again.

Hugs,

Angie and Cinnamon River

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we write of Golden Red's Copper Tomahawk's passing. He died this morning at 5:15 am knowing he was a very loved member of Golden Curls Ranch's herd.

Copper Tomahawk's mother Copper's D Golden Red is a Curly Mustang who was captured in Palomino Valley in Nevada during the BLM roundup. She was rounded up with her two year old filly, Nevada's Blossom, by her side. They left Nevada in April and we picked them up in Paul's Valley, Oklahoma on April 17th and brought them to Golden Curls Ranch in Kaufman ,Texas.

Golden Red is a strong and smart horse with wonderful mustang and mothering instincts. Copper Tomahawk was so named because like a Tomahawk his life was bittersweet. He knew the hardship and sharp edges his mother's life encountered and yet he brought a reassuring peacefulness to our lives. He was ...as our good friend, Marion, said; a gift.

His mother's difficult previous months and poor health lead to his premature birth. He was unable to stand and nurse and after several trips to two vets and 24 hours of IV solutions he gave us the strength to let him leave us peacefully this morning.

We will always remember Copper Tomahawk who raised his head and gave a cheerful whinny when we called out his name. He will always be remembered as our brave little Warrior.

Grandmama Angie and Mama Golden Red

Golden Red's Copper Tomahawk

Hello All,

Our beautiful Red Dun BLM Curly Mustang Mare, Copper D's Golden Red has given us the most wonderful gift. A Copper Tomahawk. He was born early this morning, Friday, May 15th.

Mama Red is doing well and Auntie Blossom is very excited about the whole experience. Tomahawk is a very handsome fella and will continue the Curly Copper D lineage which started in Nevada.

We will post daily photos of our new little man, Tomahawk.


Grandmama Angie

Cinnamon River is my equine "son"shine.....

Hello All,


Having three sons has taught me a lot in life! First, kids will fight over the silliest things and watch what you say because it will be repeated at the most inappropriate time and place. Still, most importantly I have learned you can love all three sons equally yet differently and that they all have their different weakness and strengths. It is my job as a mother to help them discover how best to handle this and be the best person they can be.


Well, that applies to my wonderful horses too!


I love all my horses dearly and yes, they are all different. Lakota is my little Dennis the Menace.... well, at 15.2 he is not little but he will play Jolly ball in the pasture and picks up his feed bowl to give Mama a big hint - it's time to eat! Chester is a sweet soul. You can hear his soft thoughts and know that he has your best interest in mind when you are in the saddle with him.....But, remember he is a stallion and makes sure the Girls know he is there to be their man! Curly J is the youngest and is still finding his place in our herd. He loves Chester and they eat out of the same feed bowl together when they can....At three years old Curly J is a teenager and acts like one - goofy!

Then there is Cinnamon River ...he is my soul mate.....He knows what I'm thinking - I can tell. His soft sensitve eyes watch me as if to say; "are you OK Mama? ...Let's go for a ride and talk". Cinnamon River is a gentle horse with a lovely gait. He may be gaited but either way his ride is great for me. I feel a connection with River that I have not felt for a long time. He makes everything I do in life, all the mucking, shoveling, working and toiling - worth the few hours I can spend with him.

Cinnamon River is my equine "son"shine.....

Jubliee's Curly J is a real Celebration at Golden Curls Ranch

Hello All,

We have a new Curly friend at our place named; Jubliee's Curly J. He is a real sweetheart. A dear friend of ours, Kelli in San Antonio, who was our jennies former foster mom, emailed a week ago and said..."Angie, I know you've got a thing for Curly horses and we have one who just came into our rescue. I don't have room but wondered if you do?" Less than four days later, my very close friend and fellow horse lover, Marion, and I were driving my two stall horse trailer through the monsoon like weather down I-35 through Austin to a beautiful area in the Texas hill country near Luckenbach, Texas. And by the way, there really isn't all that much in Luckenbach but, boy, is it pretty!

We met the most wonderful folks and four legged critters at Four Winds Equine Rescue and the handsome fella Curly J. Both his mom and his human mom must have been true sweethearts 'cause he loves people. He is so friendly and is a true joy to be around. He already has excellent ground manners and is a very fast study. Marion and I are working with him and our goal is to share him with the riders at Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship program in Wylie, Texas where we met volunteering years ago. He will be a perfect addition for our new vaulting program there and will make everyday a celebration.

Best wishes, Angie and Jubliee's Curly J

Golden Curls' Lucky Charms

We have been very busy at Golden Curls Ranch but are learning to take time to smell the roses - or as sweet Salsa and Sarita prefer; clover. This year we have had lots of rain and that has helped the clover grow in leaps and bounds. Being an Irish girl, I always notice the beautiful green Shamrocks and tiny flowers it produces. Clover is from the pea family and is considered by some to be the best "lawn carpet" around. Clover attracts honeybees and literally snatches nitrogen out of the air around us. It is one of the few plants that can aerate the soil so compacted that even clay is not a problem. It grows deep roots which to me is a wonderful quality in both plants and humans.

Best wishes from Angie and her Lucky Charms (Salsa and Sarita)

Hello All,

This week has been fun and ...educational at Golden Curls Ranch. The fun part is being with all the horses. The educational part is learning how to make a round pen. I took Dr. Mitch up on his suggestion that we make a chute and round pen for the girls. My good friend Filliberto (Filly) Blanco who is from Idaho and I are making a round pen. We just finished the stalls in the barn and while our drill was still charged we decided to take on the new task.

I never knew why I had to take Math in school. Sitting in math class after lunch was worst than visiting the dentist (my apologies to Dr. Mitch who is a dentist). Still, I couldn't understand the need for all the shapes and numbers. (Maybe it's a Blonde thing) Now I wish I had paid attention especially during the geometry section. Good thing Filly is great in math..... especially with circumferences...... We are getting close to put up the panels and will send photos soon.

Once the round pen is in place we can separate the girls and give them one on one attention. We have begun to connect with them and hope to continue to build upon our bond or respect.

Speaking of bond...our sweet Blossom eats hay and grass out of my hand. I spend a lot of time sitting in their pen just resting...good for both of us!

Our boys, Chester and Lakota are quite interested in all the going- ons with the girls and they speak to them often. Cinnamon River has his sweet donkey girls, Salsa and Sarita, to take care of but occasionally he passes by to say, hi.

The attached photo shows little Blossom's tattoo under her mane. It was given to the girls by BLM. It tells where and when they were captured.

We are having fun and learning new things everyday.

Hugs from the girls,

Angie, Golden Red and Nevada's Blossom