re-entry and a couple of tangents

Update in the afternoon: Keil Bay's box arrived from Patsy in today's mail so he will be starting his regime tonight! I am SO excited.

I also decided to do a round of pro-biotics for everyone in the barn, so no one will feel left out when Keil Bay gets his. :)


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It's always interesting getting back home after a writing retreat, where I had no responsibilities except to write and feed myself. Yesterday morning I got up and went to the barn, where breakfast for the herd evolved into a 4-hour marathon of catching up on barn chores. I came in for less than an hour and then it was time for Salina's mid-day feed, so I went back out. By the time that was underway a fairly scary-looking thunderstorm rolled in, and we actually had yet another one later last night.

The regular turn-out routine has been off due to so much rain, so I'm not sure what to call what the horses are doing - they go out when it's not raining and they come in when we have wind/rain/lightning going on. Yesterday morning I expected them to want to be out after breakfast, since it was not too hot, the sun was out, and there was a ton of green grass to graze. But Keil Bay insisted on staying in the barn with me while I did the chores. It was nice to visit. I let him in the barn aisle and barnyard and he kept a close check on what I was doing.

He knows I'm awaiting his herbs and he is ready for the six weeks of treatment. He doesn't know it yet, but he will be getting two feeds/day again while this is going on, and I can assure you he is going to be THRILLED about that part.

I still feel like I'm outside my regular footprints but am getting closer to "tracking up" today.


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On another note, I read Marianne Wiggins' newest novel The Shadow Catcher and highly recommend it, particularly if you like the intermingling of history with a contemporary narrative, and even more particularly if you're a photography nut.

I started Lonesome Dove before leaving, and kept reading while I was there, but I haven't gotten very far into the story. I am very much enjoying it, but haven't quite hit that point where I'm compelled to keep picking up the book to see what happens next. It's nice to have that big fat book and not be racing through it.


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And finally, I'm very curious as to what the horseowners who visit here are doing with reference to an equine deworming protocol. I've been reading recently that several of the standard dewormers are losing effectiveness to the point of being not worth using in a rotation.

I've also read that with a few of the drugs, it's becoming more important to overdose a bit to make sure of a good "kill" - so the parasites don't become resistant to those drugs as well.

We do an every other month rotation that is designed to both target specific parasites and time with the first frost, etc. to ensure best results. And my horses have always had clean fecals. But it's seeming that the tide is shifting with regards to what is best, and I'm curious if anyone is making changes.

An alternative I'm considering is switching for a year to a non-chemical deworming program that uses diatomaceous earth along with probiotics. The parasites are killed by the action of the DE on their "bodies" - so they can't become resistant.

I've also been advised to use probiotics 2 weeks after every deworming if I continue the chemical protocol.

What are you doing with your horses? And has anyone reading this done your own horses' fecals? We have a microscope and I'm interested in learning to do those checks myself.

Rafer Johnson Turns ONE

On Saturday, July 19th, Rafer Johnson had his first birthday!

I was out of town, so his party was delayed until I could get home, and now that I am, we'll be celebrating.

He has been nothing but a joy since he arrived, and I'm not quite sure how we managed before he got here. Was there a time when Salina did not have a constant and loyal companion? Or when we did not get endless donkey hugs? Or I did not have a barn manager to help me perform every chore and task? It's so hard to remember a time without him.

Thank you, Rafer Johnson. You're the very best.

Keil Bay's test results

I spoke with Patsy from Healthy Bodies this morning and she had Keil Bay's kinesiology test results ready. I was so excited to hear from her, and should be able to get him started on his treatment program in a couple of days, when the herbs and supplements arrive and I'm back home.

Here's the breakdown:

low on EFAs
probiotic level is low
he's dealing with systemic yeast and fungus
has a mold allergy
digestive enzymes are low
white cell count is low (probably due to the yeast/fungus/mold)
seratonin is low
he has several beans which need removing

Six-week treatment plan for the Big Bay:

flax - 5 tbsps 2x/day for 4 weeks
probios paste - 1/2 tube 2x/week for 2 weeks (and 1 tube hereafter, two weeks after each deworming)
olive leaf - 2 tsp. 2x/day for 4 weeks
echinacea - 1 tbsp 2x/day for 6 weeks
digestive enzymes - 3 capsules 2x/day for 3 weeks
rhodiola - 1 tsp. 2x/day for 2 weeks (I think - she will send written instructions with herbs)

Total cost for this testing/treatment:

hair and saliva test plus telephone consult - $25.
herbs and supplements: $109.50
re-test in 6 weeks - $25.

Based on everything I've read about Patsy's work with horses (and people) and the kinds of results her clients get from her recommendations, I CANNOT WAIT to see how Keil Bay does. My prediction is that he and I will be in a great place by Labor Day.

Now I have to figure out who's going next - my goal is to work my way through the herd, but I'd love for all of them to head into the fall/winter with their treatments behind them.

I'll report more as I get Keil Bay going on his plan. Once I can report actual results I'm experiencing, I'll add contact info for Patsy. I've heard nothing but good things thus far, but I like to have my own first-hand experience before recommending things.

we are all abuzz here

I wish I had photos but will have to describe - basically, there is a hive of bees living in the wall in the magic mansion, and they've had a beekeeper working for 8 weeks to get the hive moved into a portable hive they can move elsewhere.

This morning I was in the library and saw a bee in the window, inside. A little while later, after I'd left the room, bees began to come in through the closed windows, the vents, and the light fixtures in the ceiling. The grounds manager had to seal off that entire area and call the beekeeper out to see what could be done.

I got a mini-seminar on relocating bees, and instructions on what to do if they come after me, which is not likely but a possibility.

From my bedroom window I can see the bees buzzing around wildly - they are very excited, not angry, because the original hive has now been reopened so they can get their honey out and move it to the new hive.

My husband kindly emailed me some passages from Ted Andrews about bees:

Bees have been mythical symbols throughout the world. . . . Probably
the most consistent symbolism has been that of sexuality and
fertility. . . Bees are also long-time symbols of accomplishing
quests that seem impossible. . .

If a bee has shown up in your life, examine your own productivity.
Are you doing all you can to make your own life more fertile? Are you
busy enough? Are you attempting to do too much? The bee reminds us
that activities are sweeter when we take the time to enjoy them.

The bee is a reminder to us to extract the honey of life and make our
lives fertile while the sun shines.

I am loving the intense, rich activity of these bees.

on location

Okay - I'm officially on retreat and getting my arrival routine underway at the coffee shop that has internet access so I can check email and blogs before going back to the magic mansion - where dial-up is only for the very very patient.

It's a total pleasure to be back here. Where folks in a few places recognize me and I know my way to all the best spots. And the moment I settle in to write, the flow is there.

Send good vibes for effective editing and a book that takes off like a rocket when it queries.

:)