Remy's And Blue's Excellent Adventures

Remy always was the extrovert of the two, strutting his stuff wherever he went:

Blue is shy and likes to hang out with the placid Red Poll girls:

But the two little horses play together, often vigorously. In fact they are seldom separated:

One rainy day I could find neither cows nor horses. Worried, I walked out into the wet pasture to find them. I found the cattle, hiding beneath some trees. But there were no horses. I began to worry:

But a few more steps revealed Blue and Remy, both soaking wet, standing behind the cows:

I tried to coax Remy back into the barn, knowing that Blue would follow, but he wanted no part of it:

And one day the vet arrived to geld (neuter) both boys and give them their vaccinations. Remy was first, requiring extra sedative and flying backwards, landing on his back when the anesthetic took effect. He required more sedative to keep him unconscious, but the vet got the job done:

Then it was Blue's turn. He required very little anesthetic and it took him longer to come out of it:

Afterwards, they were a sorry looking pair:

I kept them indoors for the first night. Since I didn't have any hay left, I hauled in armloads of green grass:

Both horses refused to eat any grain with antibiotic powder on it. Even with maple syrup on top, they still refused. Eventually, though, all was fine. Now I own two geldings instead of two stallions:

Around The Farm

The pigeons got a double tub bath. It's fun to watch them splash and play:

They continued to be shy about going outdoors, but sometimes just can't resist:

The chickens continued to roam the property. Under the giant Mock Orange bush was always a favorite place:

And occasional forays into the cows' pasture for bugs and dropped grain:

Sunning themselves in the Iris bed:

They have always enjoyed being in the middle of whatever is going on:

Alas, I began losing chickens. First one hen disappeared and then, eight days later, another hen plus the rooster disappeared. I found no telltale pile of feathers but some predator must have eaten them. I began locking the pigeons and the remaining chickens indoors all day. They don't like it, but I hope whatever predator has been after them will give up after a week or so and go elsewhere. It worked last year with the fox:

The big excitement in these parts was the painting of new stripes on the county road. Most places, that would not be worth a photo, but here it was an occasion:

Tiger Swallowtails hatched all at once and began to brighten the property:

They are beautiful butterflies. The Giant Swallowtails, if I have any this year, hatch later:

The Mock Orange began blooming in mid-June: