Friday, September 19, 2008

Stories of September's Past



It is now the middle of September, which is the time we look forward to each year to receive some relief from the hot dry weather. Around our place September means a number of things. My mom's birthday is in September. Several of my best friend's have birthdays in September and our wedding anniversary is in September. In recent years, September has brought us some unexpected llama problems. In September 2004, our "mama" llama Calamity Jane became ill and we took an unexpected trip to OSU (Oklahoma State University). First of all I must tell you that My Honey had always wanted a llama, so I got him one for his birthday. We found that Wild Bill Hickok was lonely and needed a companion. We got Calamity and a few months later we noticed that she spent a lot of time laying down. We were able to load her into the trailer and take her to the local vet. They drew her blood and said that she was extremely anemic. As a matter of a fact they said that her blood count was so low that it was amazing that she was still alive. They told us that if we "wanted" to try to save her that we should take her to OSU Vet Hospital in Stillwater, Oklahoma. We didn't even know where Stillwater was located. We found out that it was somewhere in the middle of the state, not so very far from Oklahoma City. They told us to take Wild Bill with us as well to keep Calamity calm. We loaded up and took off in a truck that had an electrical problem which meant that we did not have headlights. We arrived at OSU and were met in the parking lot by a medical team ready unload and care for Calamity. It was determined that she needed a blood transfusion. Their resident llama Samson provided the blood that was needed to save Calamity's life. We checked into a nearby hotel and received phone calls every four hours to update us on Calamity's condition. She spent a week at OSU and made a full recovery. I told everyone that if I become extremely ill take me to OSU Vet Hospital. I was so impressed with OSU. I'd worked for years in human hospitals, so I did have something to compare it with.

She & Wild Bill had their first born in February of 2006. Curly Earred Kate was named for Doc Holliday's girlfriend Big Nosed Kate. Their second born arrived in February 2007 and was named Josie for Wyatt Earp's wife. Kate was born on the coldest day of the February and nearly died of hypothermia. We took extension cords out to the barn and used a hair dryer to warm her up and get her on her feet to nurse. It was Calamity's first baby and she seemed at a loss of what to do, as were we. Once Kate warmed up and started to nurse, Calamity took over and raised a beautiful healthy baby girl. Josie was born on the warmest day of February and did not need any human assistance to get on her feet and start nursing. Kate was tiny and Josie was much larger at birth than Kate had been.
In September of 2007, Kate seemed to be lame. My Honey was bush-hogging and Katie didn't want to get up and move when he approached with the tractor. I was out of town, but by that evening My Honey said that she seemed to have problems in both back legs, not just in one, as he'd previously thought. In the back of my mind, I remembered something that I'd read about llamas being susceptible to a parasite which is carried by deer. Where we live we see deer grazing in the pasture almost daily. I spoke to the local vet and was told again, "IF" you want to try to save her, take her to OSU. Again, it meant another trip to Stillwater. This time we knew where to go. This time I traveled alone. This time I had a trailer tire blow out on the freeway and didn't have time to stop. There were still 3 good tires on the trailer, so I kept driving. Getting Katie to OSU as quickly as possible was my mission. At OSU, they determined that Kate's spinal fluid contained the menegial worm. This parasite carried by deer had invaded her system and caused the paralysis in both her rear legs. According to the books, often the end result of this parasite is the death of the llama. Kate's tongue was partially paralyzed by the parasite as well. She received donor spinal fluid and spent a week at OSU. During the process of handling the rest of the llamas to administer medications, My Honey ended up with four broken ribs which required a trip to a human hospital. The care he received was adequate but paled in comparison to OSU. A year later, Kate still has some issue with her tongue which doesn't function as well as it should but she is otherwise happy and healthy. From time to time we have to clean out her mouth because her cheeks get packed up with grass or hay. It makes her look like a hamster after a big meal. I still tell people that if I become very ill, please take me to OSU Vet Hospital. They provide medical care of such a high standard, that I know that I'd be in good hands if they'd only agree to treat me.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Zaiah


This is something I wrote in October 2003 about our Border Collie. I submitted it for a contest. I won first place for our region and received coupons for several bags of free dog food. Zaiah's 8th birthday was on July 9, 2008. He is so incredible that I say all the time, that if we humans had to live up to the same high standards that he has attained that none of us would be able to measure up to him.




This photo of Zaiah and Baby Zora was taken just minutes after she was born. Read my post "Bye Bye Billy" on June 3, 2008 for the details.






Oct.22, 2003
Zaiah should be the "Dog of the Year" because he is so unique. Zaiah's a "good-will ambassador", traveling extensively, no leash required. People are drawn to him. Strangers ask to meet him. At age three, he already knows more than 20 commands, in two languages. Whether he's leading a horseback trip, guarding baby ducks or playing Frisbee, Zaiah's incredibly focused. He's a bodyguard, a babysitter and referee, to be trusted with babies (human or animal). He rarely barks except to give warning of trouble. Zaiah hasn't saved lives, but only because the opportunity hasn't arisen yet. We are lucky to have him in our family.

Friday, September 12, 2008

My Maw








IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER
B. 1935
D. 2007

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 73rd BIRTHDAY


"MY MAW"

MY MAW WAS THE BIGGEST LITTLE WOMAN YOU EVER SAW
AT FIVE FOOT THREE, TALL IS ONE THING
THAT SHE WOULD NEVER BE...

SHE HAD A GOOD HEARTED DADDY, A WISE OLDER BROTHER
AND HER STRICT BUT VERY LOVING MOTHER...

BACK THEN WHEN SHE WAS SO VERY SMALL
SWEET AND BEAUTIFUL, SHE WAS FOR SURE
BOLD AND BRASH, NEVER EVEN SLIGHTLY DEMURE,
EVEN WHEN SHE WAS JUST LEARNING TO CRAWL...

BY HER BIG BROTHER A STORY WAS TOLD
OF A GIRL ABOUT THREE, RUNNING WILD AND FREE
OF ONCE, AFTER A FINGER HE LOST,
OF HER MISCHIEVOUS ATTACK
ONCE HE TURNED HIS BACK
HIT, LAUGH AND RUN FOR COVER AT ANY COST,
SNEAKING AND HIDING LIKE SHE THOUGHT
THAT SHE WAS A GHOST...

TREMENDOUS TODDLER TO AN "AMERICAN GRAFFITI" TEEN
ONLY A VERY FEW SHORT YEARS
OLD FOLKS SAID, SHE'LL BREAK A LOT OF HEARTS,
AND CAUSE THE SHREDDING OF MANY TEARS...

YEARBOOK OF '53 RECORDS LAKE HAMILTON SCHOOL FACTS
"DYNAMITE COMES IN SMALL PACKAGES",
BETTY JEAN W. IS THE LIVING PROOF OF THAT...

WHEN FINISHED WERE HER HIGH SCHOOL DAYS,
SHE MARCHED TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER IN MANY WAYS
SHE WORKED HARD AND KNEW HOW TO PULL HER OWN WEIGHT,
ALL THE WHILE SHE PONDERED REALITY AND THE EXISTENCE OF FATE...

A WOMAN BEFORE HER TIME,
ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY BOOKS
SUCH WOMEN HAVE DRAWN ATTENTION
AND INEVITABLY A FEW STRANGE LOOKS
MANY WERE MOTHERS, BUT NONE QUITE LIKE MINE,
WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU IN THIS RHYME...

SHE WAS AN ORIGINAL, ONE OF A KIND
IF YOU THOUGHT SHE WAS SIMPLE,
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAD NO CLUE,
TO THE WORKING OF HER MIND...

LUCKY IN LOVE, SHE WAS NOT,
EVERYTHING SHE THOUGHT SHE NEVER WANTED
IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE GOT...

SHE DID THE BEST THAT SHE COULD,
WITH WHAT SHE HAD AND WHAT SHE KNEW
SHE CHOSE A PATH THAT WAS NOT EASY,
AND IF SHE HAD NOT,
THEN NOW,
I WOULD NOT BE ME...

PRACTICAL ALWAYS, COME WHAT MAY COME,
SHE WAS SURE TO REMEMBER THE TRUE MEANING OF FUN,
QUICK WITTED AND QUITE SASSY TOO,
ARGUE WITH HER AND SHE'D TELL YOU
EXACTLY WHAT TO DO...

STANDING UP FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES TO BE RIGHT
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WOULD GET HER INTO A FIGHT
IT WASN'T IN HER NATURE, TO TURN TAIL AND RUN,
SHE STOOD HER GROUND,
AND WHEN SHE DEEMED IT NECESSARY,
WITH A SHOTGUN...

SHE WAS TOLD BY MANY OVER THE YEARS,
THAT EVENTUALLY,
HER MOUTH WOULD OVERLOAD HER ASS
AS FAR AS I KNOW, DESPITE THEIR FEARS,
THAT IT NEVER DID COME TO PASS...

IF YOU WERE FRIEND OR FOE
SHE WOULD BE QUICK TO LET YOU KNOW
IF SHE WAS AGAINST YOU,
NOT A SECRET WAS IT KEPT
SHE'D STATE IT LOUD AND CLEAR,
FOR ALL THE WORLD TO HEAR
NOT CARING IF THEY LAUGHED OR IF THEY WEPT
IF SHE WAS ON YOUR SIDE
YOU HAD A LOYAL SUPPORTER,
IN WHICH TO CONFIDE
AND YOU COULD COUNT ON HER
STAYING PUT TIL THE END OF THE RIDE...

ALL MY LIFE, I WAS TOLD,
FROM GOOD PIONEER STOCK I COME,
TO HONOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE,
BY DOING WHATEVER HAS TO BE DONE
IN THIS WAY, ME, IN THEIR HEARTS
THE ANCESTORS WILL FOREVER HOLD...

NOW...SHE LEFT TO BE WITH THEM
NO-ONE MORE SURPRISED THAN I
THOUGHT SHE'D GIVE US MORE TIME,
SOME WARNING, SOME HINT,
MAYBE SHE DID, IN HER OWN WAY
WISH SHE COULD HAVE FOUND A WAY TO STAY...

LIKE HER, NEVER, NEVER WILL THERE BE ANOTHER,
LIKE MY MOTHER
WHETHER SHE WAS YOUR SISTER, AUNT, COUSIN OR FRIEND
IF YOU MET HER ONCE, YOU WILL NOT FORGET BETTY JEAN
THAT IS HER PROMISE, AND SHE KEPT IT UNTIL THE END...
SEVENTY YEARS OF ORIGINALITY
DON'T BELIEVE ME,
JUST ASK HER BIG BROTHER !!!!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

From Here to the Pavement


From our place, it is a half mile to the pavement. That is where our closest neighbor resides and where our mail box is located. Our place is surrounded by something like 17,000 acres of government land. Local ranchers have grazing leases on the government land and their cattle call that land home. The easement road which is our driveway is a favorite hangout for the cows. Often we have to "ease" our way through the cattle just to go check the mail. Most of the time they are reluctant to move out of the way. That gives a new defination to the phrase "traffic jam".

Sunday, September 7, 2008

CowGirls Rule


I knew how to ride a horse before I learned to walk. Coming from a long line of pioneers, cowboys and country people I was born and raised as a cowgirl. When you are young you think that your lifestyle will remain the same. As you grow up and move around the country you find that where ever you go you take "the real you" with you but fortunately are able to adapt the the circumstances. For the years I lived the city lifestyle without horses I found out that I was never able to get them out of my system. One of these days I plan on visiting the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas. As I've said before "Cowgirls Rule" !!!!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Morning Glory


What a difference a week makes. Our weather has drastically changed. The blistering heat has finally subsided. After a number of thunder storms, high wind, several inches of rain and a tad bit of hail, this morning I awoke to a foggy 67 degree morning with bright sunshine. What a glorious morning in the countryside.