Moved

I had Bella shipped to California from Mexico recently since it looks like we will be staying awhile. The trip up was slow only due to papers being produced and stamped and an 8 day quarantine at the border. It was nice that the 700 miles didn't have to be traveled all in one day.

I cannot adequately write the words to describe how hard this decision was to move the little horse from her native habitat. However, I finally decided this California desert isn't so different from her birthplace and that she could probably survive relocation especially at this tender age of 4. And with me to spoil the living daylights out of her for the rest of her life maybe she would some day forgive me.

Step One was to stress over her pick up. That was accomplished 3 days after the appointed date. I had found the very best horse shipper in Mexico who had a lovely 12-horse trailer and knew how to go about all the paperwork. My girlfriends met the trailer and stuffed Bella in without much more than some strong pushing. It took maybe 5 minutes. Step Two was to get her to the border and into quarantine. Blood tests drawn and sent off. Worry and wait, wait and worry. And worry some more. Finally the test results were in and she was free to go, so the next step was to haul her up to a farm in Tucson and prepare to be included in a group of 5 horses coming over to California. Another 7 hours in a trailer and she arrived safe and sound, coming off the trailer like the queen had arrived.

For a little Mexican horse who never left her birthplace this was a big trip with a lot of new stuff to see and encounter. I have found her a barn that appears to be so very perfect for her and me. Some very nice horses attached to some very nice women who would rather spend the day with their horses than just about anything else in the world.

Bella and I picked right up where I left off about 6 months ago when we left Mexico. She is already nickering at me when I arrive at the barn for my daily visit. Music to my ears.

A new phase for us has started.

I can't resist a pile of kitties.


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Seahorse
Monterey Bay Aquarium July

Seahorse
My Friend in Mexico yesterday

Good Buddies

Sunni and Cali are sharing their ration of psyllium and beet pulp just as my buddy, Cheryl, shares her experience of horse ownership with me.

I'm very fortunate to have met her.

More Hurricanes

Our cat, Floyd, turned 10 this weekend. The little feral Plain Jane has lived his extra lives to the fullest and can now live as a senior citizen with his senior citizen hosts.

10 years ago this week Hurricane Floyd wrecked havoc along the eastern seaboard, causing millions of dollars in damage with unrelenting rain and then flooding in Eastern North Carolina, our cat's birthplace. The island where he was born was evacuated when it looked like the approaching hurricane could be a problem.

When residents returned to the island after the worst of the storm passed, our good friend found this little rat in the middle of the road, abandoned by his mother before his eyes were even opened. Ray fed him from an eye-dropper, taught him to use a litter box properly, and turned him over to the other house cats for proper attitude adjustments.

Late in October of that year, my husband and I were back there having a little vacation in our beach house on the same street as Ray. We had lost one of our two rescue cats a few months before to a birth defect, and the surviving cat was still lost without his brother.

Ray was completely smitten with this little Floyd who would ride in the car right on his shoulder. Ray's wife was beside herself with an overabundance of cats they were already living with and gave Ray the ultimatum of culling the herd, or she would.

Lucky for us! We weren't really in the market but it seemed like Floyd might just be the perfect companion for our lonely Chester back in California. Floyd had whatever shots a 6 week old cat can have, and I purchased a soft-sided carrier so I could take him on the plane like a piece of carry-on luggage. The rule was something like the pet had to be 9 weeks old to fly so we lied and took him anyway.

Chester welcomed Floyd with open paws and started right in showing him the territory he would be responsible for in our housing development. Before we knew it, we had two roving bird and rodent and goldfish (or koi) murderers.

There is more to Floyd's story.

Hurrican Hits Home

It was late last week. Nobody up here knew anything about it. It didn't impact Cabo so it wasn't a story anymore. My friends down in my town are still suffering without water but they have electricity, phone, and good attitudes.

Another lovely day in Paradise with so many horses so little time. Cheryl Ann invited me up to visit her herd again right before school started. I felt very honored to be with her on her last day of summer vacation and share in her wonderful horseflesh. Everyone had their time out of the pens and got a little special attention.
Thank you, Cheryl. I hope your school year is wonderful. Those kids are lucky to have you for a teacher. I'm sure you change many little lives.