I spent the morning in Ft. Collins running errands and working with my graphic designer on The Mutt & the Mustang children's picture book - Pat's illustrations are beautiful - I'm so excited because the book is coming together so great!
Weather is in the forties but my driveway is still drifted closed so had to carry groceries, cartons of posters and raffle tickets for the governor's art show farther than I like - opened the kitchen door to discover water leaking from the ceiling probably all afternoon.
I called my neighbor, Dan, who came over to help access the damage - ceiling doesn't look so good but the roof is fine - the leak coming in around an air vent in the roof which Dan will be caulked tomorrow after it warms up. When Dan was on the roof cleaning the rest of the snow off, a dozen deer friends ran off like they were being chased by a cougar.
Took Cheyenne and Kody up to the arena so Kody could get in his daily ride on Raven and was pleasantly surprised to see two bull elk with enormous antlers sleeping just above the arena. Kody rode Raven but I couldn't let Cheyenne run around the arena excercising Kody because of the elk.
A few minutes later, I looked out the window to see one elk about to enter the barn - the other elk was already inside the barn scarfing up left over hay from the horses. I ran up to the barn and hit it with my walking stick - both elk came out but would not leave. I knew they were just waiting for me to leave so they could get back inside - both horses were galloping around the arena spooked.
I closed the barn up except there is a door missing which I knew they would immediately enter - so I nailed a quilt across it but realized that wasn't going to stop a 1000 pound animal from breaking into my barn.
Called my neighbor, Dan again --Blowing a whistle and shaking plastic bags at the elk, Dan chased them off my property --then he carried the heavy door that used to be on the barn from the garage up to the barn and set in place (to be hinged tomorrow) - so the barn should be safe overnight.
A couple of years ago when snow was 3 feet deep and the elk were starving, a bull elk attacked a horse in a corral trying to steal its hay. I don't want that to happen to Rio or Raven -- So fed them in the loafing shed right after Dan chased the bulls away.
An hour after Dan chased the elk away, they are back!!! - laying down above the arena with their eyes glued to the barn. The horses are finished eating so they should be safe overnight -
In the morning I may have to fight off elk with my bull whip so my horses can eat. Had to do that a few years ago in deep snow - NOT FUN!
Because of high winds the snow has drifted I am no longer feeling pleasant about having bull elk visitors.
I hope I don't have to start baby sitting my horses while they eat morning, noon and night - I have enough to do without adding another chore.
Time to forget about elk and relax.
