Fences

Jim's Grampa took his girlfriend camping up in North New Portland this past weekend, so we had the place to ourselves. We worked as if it was our place from Friday to Sunday. The days were the best – with Jim working in “his” garden (his and Cliff's) and me working on the upper pasture fence, moving rocks, hauling tree limbs to specific spots that will hopefully dissuade the horses from heading out of the pasture or into the woods. There is so much green grass up there and so much space to roam, I cannot imagine them wanting to leave. So far so good. I worked all morning and into the early afternoon on the rock wall. Luna hung out with me for some of it, but she also placed herself way down in the middle pasture, in the tall grass, where she could see all. I found the ultimate tree climbing tree, but was in work mode, so I did not tempt myself with a climb just yet. Soon. Jim's dad was a big help, fielding my questions and helping me to make the right moves at the big openings of the fence. In the afternoon, Jim and I went for a ride. The weather was beautiful – breezy and bug free – it was awesome.



The rock wall I was working on. That is Luna, that little black speck in the field of grass and dandelions gone to seed.

A few shots from our ride. Love the woods when they are wet – so green.





Sunday I got up early – out the door by 6:30, without Jim even knowing what I was up to. I went down to the barn, fed the horses and then worked on the fence so that the girls can get up from the barn, through the middle pasture and up to the upper pasture. I have to keep them off the middle pasture until after the first cut – so I fenced a long, narrowish corridor for them to use. I worked until about 9 and when I was ready, I walked down and lead Taco up. Halfway up she started getting all snorty and nervous and Dessie whinnied and turned around and headed back to the barn. I kept walking Taco, right up to the threshhold of the upper pasture. I let her go and she turned and headed back down the hill to the barn. No way. Clearly they did not understand. So I puttered around the fence some more, tying some blue cloth to the new barbed wire gate so humans and animals alike could see it and then grabbed Taco again. This time I led her well into the pasture; Dessie whinnied and turned back again. I kept walking and hollered, “Come on, Dessie!” She decided to follow and came trotting back. In the middle of the pasture, still holding Taco, I encouraged her to eat. She did. I let her go and headed to the big rock where I sat for about ten minutes and watched them graze. I could see them thinking, see the reality sinking in. All this grass and space for us? No way. They are now happily up there all day. I wondered if they would know the way back to the barn for water and was reassured when a big thunderstorm blew in and as I searched for them in the pre-rain I eventually found them in the barn. Smart girls. They are loving it. And I love that work, love useful work outside. It was a good weekend.

Seasonal shots from the upper pasture where the girls now spend their time. Pretty sweet digs.




That's the upper pasture behind Luna. The farthest rock wall marks the boundary, and there is the climbing tree, the Rock Maple, without her leaves.