Sunday

Turn right and go.5 miles and you are at my front door. Not a whole lot of snow left but when it freezes we have an ice arena. We tried to go the back way into church this morning but could not get up the other side of the hill. Solid ice, so we could not get up the hill we had just came down (didn't try) so we went out Deep Creek Rd. to Hiway 2. That made us late for church and you who know me know how much i love being late. It makes me sick to my stomach. Only one of my kids inherited that trait. Steve would rather not go than be late and that is my feeling exactly. Hate it.

Bob finished cleaning the stalls nice and clean today so the horses have nice clean stalls this evening. We didn't do much else. We were going over to our friend Cathy's to help her with her mustang but ice is not something we wanted to deal with. We will go when the weather is better. He is a big horse, over 16 hands and a bit intimidating just by size. He is going to make a great horse though, just have to get to him this one last thing.

Tomorrow is supposed to be nice. I am counting on it. One of my New Years Goals, I don't call them resolutions is to get out at least once a week when the weather is nasty and every day when its nice to work with the horses. Maybe Rusty, maybe another. It will be good for whoever and for me too. I do the chores every evening during the week but that is not what I mean. I want to work up a sweat on me.

Don't forget Hope Rising, my book giveaway. Just thru Thursday. Am getting a nice list to draw from. The more often you comment the more often you get entered. Go look at The Serenity Gate blog. She has a wonderful give away going until Valentines day.

Saturday

Not much today. Bob went and got 8 big bales of hay. He found a good deal on some nice hay in Greenbluff. Much closer than where we got most of our hay this past summer in Fruitland and that was way more. I think we have enough now to make it thru the rest of the winter. We still have bales of good alfalfa hay that I feed to the old girl and some to the others in the barn.

We may have a horse visiting for a while. He did not call today. Some friends of ours that have been separated for some time are going to try to resurrect their relationship and need a temporary place for the horse. Please pray for them, there are 2 children involved who have had a really hard time.

I need to go to Walmart and get the batting for Jade's quilt. Have it nearly ready to put together. Its turning out nice. Different than the one I made for her brother Sky for his birthday. I wish she could remember by mother but she died before Jade was born. I have had the flannel I backed it with since I "inherited" a barrel of fabric from mama. I think that is about the last of it. I would have used it on one of the older kids when I get to them but its a pink print and she is the only one who would like pink. She is 11.

Don't forget the book drawing after next Thursday. You will enjoy it and it is an easy read.

Skating Rinks and Poopsicles

Nikki said in her blog "Life With Boys" to be careful what you wish for. I love the open roads but the ice is difficult and the poop is awful Bob says he is going to clean stalls and the cow shed this weekend. I hope so. I don't know if my back will take the shoveling in the stalls.

The horses were glad to get out this morning. Pepper was his normal "can I irritate you" frame of mind but the other two went out docile and polite. I will have to watch Dixies eye. It was mattery this morning. She let me wipe it out before she went outside. She is so patient.

I had some kind of a bug this afternoon that kept me close to the house but got the chores done in spite of it. Didn't feel bad except at moments. The stalls are gross and if the inside horses did not need their supplements, I would not have put them in. They will survive though. We need to get a load of shavings from somewhere. Saw some on Craigslist. Need to go there again and look. We used to get them from Dumor Recycling but they can't get them anymore. I think we have enough for one more beding. Hate to buy it by the bale. We may get down to that.

Don't forget my book give away. Just comment up to next Thursday and then I will draw on Friday morning. I will have Bob do the drawing or someone besides myself. Linda at Beautiful Mustang is giving a book away too.

At Barbara's blog "Serenity Gate" did a blog about things that people might not know about her. So we could get to know her/each other better. How about giving me 2 things that I and others might not know. mine are #1 - I am crazy about shoes, high heels, #2 I drink too much diet coke (but don't try to stop me). She gave 10 but I won't try that.

See you later.

Mud boots, snow boots and now back to Mud boots

Well we aren't quite down to mud in most places but it is water over ice which makes it tricky walking. I am not really afraid of much but I am afraid of falling on the ice and hurting myself. #1 I don't like to get hurt and #2 at my age bones seem to break easier.

We are in a mess here with water. Both ends of the barn have water running in. Peppers stall is half way filled with water. The snow was higher than the barn. Every year we talk about raising the stalls especially on the west end of the barn but then forget it but this is the worst it has been. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it now. The water has to go someplace and this seems to be it. I expect Dixies stall to be starting to flood by morning. Dittos is higher.
But at this point, it may too. With 10-12 foot piles along side the barn, its a mess. Rusty's pen is getting bad too. We will have to somehow get the other round pen put up and move her to it. We had intended to do that anyway but did not plan to do it in the midst of all this glop.

Bob just has worked since Monday of this week and he got a job promotion today. As soon as the roads are better he will start delivering stuff to the outlying areas. Packets from the Censes Bureau. If its OK, maybe I will get to go with him some of the time. That would be nice.

Not much else going on. Started another denim quilt today for our grandaughter Jadeyn. She will love it, I am sure. I love to sew but when I get inturrupted it is hard to get back to it.

Slip some, slide some and falling off the roof

This morning I woke up to it snowing again but I did not whine and moan. I told myself, I did not have to like it but if I believed God was in control then shut up about it. So I am. Then it started to rain. Snow began sliding off the roof, it is scarey when it happens but its a good thing. I am glad all is shoveled that would be in danger.

I shoveled out my car this morning. I thought to myself how ridiculous it was. I have driven all over the place every winter. I have not this winter and now that Bob is working for a while, I am stuck here. So out came the car. I had a little trouble driving out of our place onto Christensen Rd. There is just a little rise in the road and the snow is so deep its hard to see and just as I hit the road I had to stop. Then I was stuck but with rocking the car and working at it, I got unstuck and went to buy groceries. Old Mother Hubbards Cupboard was getting low. I needed to have some fresh veggies and salad. Bob would live on hot dogs or eggs but I needed more. Don't do hotdogs anyway. I was quite proud of myself actually.

THEN, I got home and was carrying in the first 2 bags and wham, a big piece came off of the roof, hit me in the side of my head and my shoulder. It hurt. Then I could not get the storm door clear open nor closed. So I stayed inside until it was time to do the chores and sqeezed out. Bob shoveled it the rest of the way for me. The walkway between the garage and the deck is hip deep with slide off the garage. I do have a knot on my head but no permanent damage. Just scared me for a few.

When I went to put the horses out this morning Pepper decided it was his turn to get loved on. I hugged and kissed him and brushed him before he went outside. Dixie didn't care today, she wanted out and Ditto always just wants out. During the snow/rain all the horses stayed out in their pasture except Yuma the donkey. He was in the shed. He looked at me like, they are stupid, its dry in here.

Bob carried the rest of the groceries in and put them up for me as I was getting dinner. Good fellow. He likes his little job. He is working for the census bureau.

I went meaning on the BLM site where they have the horses posted that are going to be on the internet adoption starting next week. My favorite is #1653. A gorgeous grey 2 year old. He is sure nice. I think he is at the Ridgecrest facility. From Pauls valley I especially like #1041. She is from the same place as Sierra was and looks enough like her to be her sister. She was such an easy baby to work with. If we had the time, money ect. I would not hesitate to put in a bid on her. Pauls Valley is in OK> though and that is a little far to go get her. I can daydream though can't I.

Go Away

I refuse to post another snow picture for a week. You all know I am sick of it. SICK of it. And we have anotheer 8 inches last night.

Bob started a job today that will last about 3 months for the census bureau. So I will be putting the horses out to the pasture and the evening chores. I am glad because that forces me to get outside and to make a connection with the horses. When I went to put them out this morning the first thing I noticed was a grey kitten eating in Yangs dish. Yang is a very large barn kitty. Bob has been telling me she is there, I would guess shes a she and also a black one that is a little larger. I didn't see the black one though.

I put Pepper out first. He was glad to get out. When I went to let Dixie out she did not want to go. She wanted me to love on her and pet her and talk to her so I did for a while. She gets a really strange looking face in the winter. She gets alot of black around her eyes and on down to her muzzle. Since having her teeth done this fall she is getting her nice figure back. In fact, she is kind of chubby which I am thrilled to see because she got so thin over the summer. It worried me. Finally she wanted to go out with me. She walked with her head against me. I was so irritated with myself that I had let the snow keep me away from her. Ditto was her usual self, just take me out please so I can roll in the snow. She does that every day.

Liberty was looking for some attention too. I know she misses Tyler. He usually found time to pet her and talk to her most days. She is a sweet girl too. When she came a year and a half ago and had never been touched at 9 years old she was a spooky lucy. Did not want us around her. Tyler won her confidence. He never had the nerve to get completely on her but he could have. He was soft and calm with her.

Abby misses Katie but her dad and mom won't let her drive in this nasty weather. I don't blame them but she misses Abby and Abby misses her. Abby would get in your lap if she could.

Don't forget to sign on and comment to win a chance at the book Hope Rising. So far there are seven entries. The more often you comment, the more chances you have. Good luck.

It started out sunny -

Our grandaughter wanted to cut her grandpa's hair today when he said he needed to have it done. He said he didn't care. Actually all she had to do was shave it all off with the clippers. She did a good job and was quite pleased with herself. She just turned 15 on Dec. 30th. She was born and named Nicolette Elizabeth, has always been Nikki (Little Nikki to the family) but she has decided she doesn't like her name and goes by Neddie. Oh Well, what goes on in the mind of an adolesent? I don't know for sure. She was named for her aunt Nikki.

We had a calm rest of the day. Our daughter Christyn came out with her partner Wendy and Chrissy's 3 kids. We had burgers and chips and had a wonderful day with them. They got a puppy from their father for Christmas. And live in an apartment. She asked him not too but he did anyway. He is a cute little bugger but is going to be huge. Skeeter didn't like him so much. He tried to play with him but the pup would grab his ear and swing on it. Skeeter didn't like that so much.

The snow was so beautiful this morning. Acres of diamonds shining. The sky was so blue. It was wonderful. I did not sleep well last night. I woke up feeling lethargic but after looking out at the feelings how could I not have my spirits lifted.

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance at the book Hope Rising. If you like short essays that will inspire you and if you are not a real horse person you will perhaps understand why we love them so.