Room remodel

The last couple of days we have been working on upgrading Buggsy's stall. He was our only horse still eating off a dirt floor, and, over the five years he has been with us, dug big holes where he stood to eat. In the monsoon season these holes would fill with water, totally unacceptable to an Arabian, born in the Arizona desert. Your hooves could melt, you know.

We built a big platform, bordered by railroad ties, that we filled with gravel, then sand, and 6 stall mats were put on top. With all the cycling, we had not done much upper body work over the last months, but we made up for that in a hurry. So, some sore muscles, but the stall looks great and will be very functional.

Would Buggs love it too? He is a cautious horse, who loves his room, so I wondered if he would mind stepping up into the dining room. No worries, it turned out. He sniffed a bit (the mats still have that rubber smell), but he was up in a jiffy. Happy horse!

Proud pepper mama

All from one plant, and more on the way.

Whacking back the desert

I never thought it would come to this. At least not in the next 50 years. When we moved into our dream house, the house site was razed. I was dismayed to say the least as I had envisioned living in a natural desert environment.

There was nothing for it but to reintroduce it, and I spent a couple of years planting mostly native Chihuahuan desert vegetation. Now, eight years later, some plants survived, some died, some thrived and tried to take over the place. Most of the time I did not interfere as they would reseed in a more suitable place, but today it was time to tackle the mariola. It is in bloom right now, smells great, but it is invasive and overruns desirables.

This was just one of many carts taken to the brush pile. We now have some of our view back and plants can breathe again. I decided it is not so much creating a well-maintained yard as it is keeping it in controlled mayhem. After all, we do live out in the desert.