Saturday 10 January 2009

Just a short post today, I have had "one of those days" Iknow a lot of you can empathise, hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. I was looking at old photos for a bit and this is one that I took of my little filly born in 2004 at about 6 months old. I hand reared her as her mother didnt come into milk. I call her Wiggle but her registered name is DBD Indian Dreamaker. Her mother was the mare we lost last year while she was foaling. As a result she is a bit of an attitude child and is not sure if I am a horse or she is a human or the other way around and can get a bit boistrous (sp!) around people and has absolutely no patience. She used to throw temper tantrums when I got mad at her when she was growing up if she did somethinglike chase me down the length of the barn to get a mouthful of each horses' feed out of the buckets before I gave it to them LOL. She was spoiled and I have only myself to blame LOL. She would literally throw herself on the ground and roll over and over jump up snort and shake her head and then throw herself down again LOL.

I could kick myself at the end of every day when I havent spent time with her and my other horses doing something constructive but it is just so hard to get motivated.

We had freezing rain and snow today so everything is like an icerink again today.

Talk to you all tomorrow and thanks for your visits, CG do you like Blue?

((((Hugs)))))
Lori
xxx

Friday 2 January 2009

Today's pic is the ice formations on our bathroom window a few weeks ago when it was so cold here in the northeast. Click on the pic to see a bigger version. Nature is wonderful, there is never one the same as the other. I haven't had any elaborate ice patterns this year but winter still has a ways to go. We are hovering around the freezing mark, up and down but there is no ice anymore thank heavens and so far it has stayed dry which allows me to put the horses out so they can at least let off some steam.

A few of my blogging buddies have expressed interest in us banding together for support and a swift kick up the butt to get us moving forward when it seems that all that you want to do is cawl under the covers and stay there, as they are going through a similar situation, emotionally and mentally. I think that is a great idea, I am always here if anyone needs to chat, moral support or a shoulder to cry on, it definitely helps to talk to someone, I can thank MiKael for my moves in a positive direction, it has taken a while but I am finally getting there!!!! Don't think it comes easily because it doesnt, but when it starts to come together it is worth it.

I have made some great friends here on bloggosphere and even though we have never physically met we have so much in common and the ones that have stuck have been wonderful, there is nothing really to say why we are drawn to someone without meeting but I am glad that this has happened to me and hopefully one day we will all be able to meet.

It is late and of course I haven't edited any more photos LOL, reliability has not been one of my strong points of late but that is another thing I am working on. ((((((Hugs))))))) to all that need them.

Lori
xx

More Ice

It was not as cold today as yesterday thank heavens. These were some photos I took a few days ago of the windows again. I am really building my arsenal of ice pics!!! I am having horse picture withdrawals!!!

These were just as the sun was rising and the color of the sunrise being picked up by the ice crystals.
This one was on the narrow window, ribbons.
This was just before the sun cleared the horizon, you can just see the color coming into the ice.
What amazes me is that they are never the same. I just can't resist photographing them when I see them. This time I actually cleaned the inside window!!!!! I am as domestic as a brick so that is a BIG deal. I will be adding some of these to my Store. Hoping to get back to that project tomorrow.

Nothing else exciting to report. It should be on a warmup trend although still around freezing and I am hoping to be able to get the horses out soon, they are bouncing off the walls.

Hope you are all having a great weekend ((((Hugs))))

Lori
xx

My Tail Between My legs Again!!!

I know after the big flourish with my new store I went to rock bottom. Had a few bad days.


Thank you all for your wonderful feedback, I am taking into account some of your suggestions and will be making adjustments and additions soon so thanks for your loyal support I really appreciate it and thank you to all my new visitors I really look forward to seeing you all again.


This morning on our little paint horse farm we woke up after the coldest night since last February. I think our low was finally -1F (probably about -17C) and when I went out to feed when it got light at 8am it was 1F (-15c). I nearly died.


It took forever to get the water done for all the horses because any water they hadnt drunk had frozen solid and I had to keep topping up and letting them drink until they had enough by which time I was frozen solid and exhausted. The cold really drains my energy.
The first two pictures are of what I emptied out of the buckets outside each of the barns when I finally warmed up a bit and went out at lunch time again to give them some more hay and put their buckets out in the sunshine upside down so I could remove the ice and fill them at their evening feed with fresh water. These little piles grow by the day if it stays cold for more than a few days at a time so if it does grow I will keep tabs on its progress LOL.
This third one is the tank in the field for which I dont have a heater. Yes that is solid and is about 1 foot deep!!! I just keep adding and letting them drink their fill. When it is totally full and solid I normally resort to smaller containers which I can get the ice out of easily each day.
Mike you are right when you talk about the stat counter and the weird search words that pull your site up. I would put a few of mine in but I would have to blush!!!! Taxes (brat baby) has duly been petted and told to behave in your honor!

Cyndie my Dad and step brother still live in Cape Town, it is a beautiful country but after my experiences there I have no desire to go back!!! Although Cape Town is about an 11 hour drive south of Johannesburg where I lived. I will be checking out your blog soon it sounds like it will bring back memories for me too!! Thanks for coming in.

Julie Blair, good to see you again, I have been thinking of writing a book but when the heck I would find the time I dont know, Abraham gave me a great link to a self publishing site called Lulu.com so maybe if I can find someone to tell me if it sounds sane and to check for grammar, typos and general content I may consider it LOL.

MiKael again thanks for all the moral support and direction, you have no idea how much I appreciate your time and I know how busy you are.

Please check out all the links that I have posted everyone, these are special people and each one has their own unique story and photographs.

See y'all soon.

Lori
xx

3 January 2008

It was absolutely freezing again today. Woke up to 1F and it didnt get above 24F when I last checked. What with 17 frozen water buckets which needed to have hot water poured over them to get the solid ice out of them which meant taking them all outside the barn, my freezing fingers and toes despite two pairs of gloves, insulated socks, two beanies (wool hats) and insulated overalls I couldnt spend more than half an hour at a time out there.

It was beautiful and sunny with very little wind so of course I decided to put the horses out for a few hours, which then led me to freezing my buns off more following them around the field with about 6 inches of snow in it. I didnt get any really great shots because the mares headed to the far end of the field to have their fun. They were running bucking and rearing and having a ball. I had to crop a few down because they were so far away and todays pictures are of Cayenne doing the Hi Ho Silver thing (with Lori in the background) and the three boys being brats as usual.
This third shot was taken of the ice on the window this morning as we did have clear skies and a pretty sunrise. Not as spectacular as some of my others but one for the record. Promise this will be the last one for a while LOL, I am thinking of doing a triptych of some of these shots (sheesh still trying to get the calendars finished!!!!) I will have to do 18 month ones to make up for my lateness.

Stan is doing a fabulous job of finishing off our bedroom and has helped a lot with little stuff that I just cant get done around the property. I am hoping to make arrangements to go riding with him and his wife sometime soon. They spend the weekends at a camping ground about an hour's drive from here, with their horses every weekend and trail ride but I dont have a trailer and my horses have very little riding hours under their girths and I am hoping I can convince them to bring their horses over here when we have a bit warmer weather and ride in the areas around our property. That will give me and my three horses I want to ride a chance to gain confidence and exposure to other horses and still be close to home.

Well other than being a frozen popsicle today everything is going well. The stables still depress me every time I look at them but I am doing my best and the horses are fat and happy. (((((Hugs)))) everyone and keep warm.

Lori
xx

2nd January 2008 (2nd post)

The first two were shot as the sun was rising and this is the effect it made on the ice, no color additions on either of them, the first was the sun just clearing the horizon and the second was as it got a bit higher a few minutes later. The other was a border on one of the other windows.

Thanks everyone for your visits and messages, I will get around to everyone again soon I promise, I check in quickly but just never have time to always leave messages. (((Hugs))) and thanks.

Lori
xx

2nd January 2008

Well DP Challenge had a challenge starting with the theme Ice this week, of course it started the day after the day the ice had melted in the field (this pics I shot of the horses walking on the ice and licking it in the pasture) and of course the challenge finished last night at midnight and we had no more ice until early this morning!!!! Man that is frustrating. Here are a few shots that I got of the ice formations on the sitting room window (double glazed so this is what happens withe the moisture that is trapped in between when it is really cold. We woke to 4F (approx -14C) and maxed out at about 14F (aprox -8C) today and tomorrow is going to be colder.

(Click on pics to enlarge)

It was overcast at sunrise this morning so I didnt get the colors that I got last time I shot this type of shot a few years ago. I will put them in a seperate post. I find these absolutely amazing, isn't nature wonderful!!

No horse pics today, it was just too cold. I had to do the feeding in two or three stages this morning and again this evening because despite the gloves and insulated overalls my fingers were freezing. The horses in the old barn with the new doors are definitely happy with their new doors, it sure has made a difference to the temps inside that barn. It has been snowing steadily (very light but steady) and has been windy all day again today. It is difficult to say how many inches we have had because of the wind making it drift. If the high is a bit higher tomorrow and the wind has dropped I will put the horses out again and they should have fun, they love the snow.

Well that's about it, nothing else exciting to report for the day. Hope you are all well (((((Hugs))))

Lori

xx

25 December 2007

We had a glorious day, bright sunshine and temps around freezing but the first real sun in about a week so I put the herd out and they had a great day too. The "lake" at the bottom of the field has frozen and the ice is an inch or more thick. The horses did a bit of ice skating but I think generally enjoyed the fresh air and mud. The ground stayed pretty frozen so it wasnt too bad.

Cayenne trying her hand at ice skating. Ice was not quite thick enough and her hooves were breaking through LOL.

Dee decided that licking the ice and bit of snow on top of it was quite good, she pawed at it a bit to try to break it but it was shallow there so was solid.
Piglette, Daen and Dudette were hunting for tasty morsels.
Here are the 4 mares and Dosie doing a hunting exercise too and testing the ice. This is really the first time that Dosie has been out in this type of weather so it is a learning curve for him. I am really glad that I got Larry to have him gelded, he is such a happier horse now and gets on well with all the mares.

Just a quickie today. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day and enjoyed your meals and relaxed and had fun with family and friends.

((((Hugs)))))

Lori
xx

9 December 2007

It has been a miserable day today, hovering around freezing again all day and this morning until early afternoon we had freezing rain. I dont think we got as much as further south but it is bad enough, to walk around the property is like ice skating especially on the driveway where the snow had been packed down already by the cars, it is just like glass now. Started breaking up a bit this evening. Here are some pics of the ice covering the plants. Unfortunately the light was dull dull dull all day so I couldnt get any better shots, these are closeups and the focus isnt that great.
(Click on pics to enlarge)

So it was a pretty dull day. I tried to get a bit of stable cleaning done but the horses had to stay in today and probably will for the next few days and that makes the job just that much harder. Poor Taxes is looking depressed again this evening. The last time they all had to be in and he didnt get to let off steam for two days he just moped around, I was quite worried about him but I am sure he was depressed.

I have one request from you all with regards to the flooding in Washington state recently. If you read my fellow blogger's blog today she maps out the story of what is happening with the rescue of the animals in the area, they are in dire need and if any of you can help in any small way please contact them or her. Her blog is http://risingrainbow.blogspot.com/ . She was fortunate that they just missed the boundary of the flooding but not by much.

I hope everyone had a good weekend and at least managed to stay warm. (((Hugs)))).