God's Snowballs

The wind left these snowballs across the flat fields across the road, and as in this picture, our front yard and pasture. I told Bob God was throwing snowballs at us. Interesting. I had never seen that before.

The barn horses got out today. As usual Dixie and Ditto just walked beside me with a hay string around their necks but then Pepper. You would think he was a yearling just learning to lead. He had to have a halter and lead on. He did not want to walk thru the deep snow but he wanted me too. He kept shoving me out of the path and I kept shoving back. When we got to the gate he kicked up his heels and snorted and bucked off and rolled in the snow. The old fat boy surely does give us a lot of chuckles. The others are doing well with all the snow. They have their shed but seem to more enjoy being outside. Liberty is showing her usual winter weight loss though and when Tyler gets back they will fix the last stall so she can come in too. She only lets him catch her without a hassle.

The Christmas tree came down today. I have been un-decorating it for a few days but the last of it came off and it came down and is packed away in its box. Now to get one of the guys to put it back in the back closet for me. Bob is so tired after shoveling and plowing all day I am not worrying him about doing it but Tyler should be home tomorrow. He was supposed to come today but he didn't. He should have with a break in the weather and the passes being good. Oh well, at 20 he knows it all you know. I have left his room as is, the last time he went to his parents for a few days I cleaned it up and changed his bed but not this time. He can do it. We love him and are grateful for his being here but sometimes he forgets he is 20 and I am not his maid.

Nothing much else. I put Maggie out for her potty break and watched her and she went right back out toward the road. You would think getting hit less than a week ago she would have learned. Guess not. she will go back on her cable when she is not in the house.

Bob did not ride Rusty, too busy plowing while we had a break. Maybe tomorrow.

The snow capital of Washington

Bob was coming out of the barn towards the house. I zoomed him in. On the news tonight (from our itty bitty TV in the kitchen) we have officially at the airport had 63" of snow in the past 12 days or so. And today the wind blew 40 or more miles an hour. We had snowballs blowing across our pasture. I will try to get pictures tomorrow but I just could not take the wind blowing that hard. Bob went down into Deep Creek Canyon to help a friend. He had surgery and when his wife was bringing him home she slid into the ditch trying to get in to their house. Bob plowed clear down Christensen Rd and then then down Deep Creek Rd. to their house, got Heidi unstuck and plowed out their drive and plowed all the way home.

Before that however, it was snowing and Bob and I together got this big idea to drive into Medical Lake to the used book store. Bad idea but we didn't know how bad it was until we crossed highway 2. There were people slid off Brooks Rd. all over the place. We got around some of them but , a big but we came around a big sweeping curve and I don't know how many people were off the road. It was like a big party going on in the middle of the road. Bob was going slow but when he tried to go around the people and trucks etc, he got too close to the edge and slipped right off and we were in the ditch too. We called Justin, our neighbor, and he came to pull us out. It was not too hard but his truck is just like ours - a Dodge Ram and it was embarrassing for Bob. He got us out and then made some money pulling others out, we came home. He came over when we got here and brought his 2 year old little girl Haily for me to watch while he went plowing. We had fun. My but she was busy.

Bob left our barn horses in today. He plans to ride Rusty tomorrow in the deep snow. We will see. I am not convinced it is the thing to do. He read an article in Western Horsemen about a ranch in Wyoming or Colorado, cant remember which, that started all their colts in the deep snow and it was very successful. Just so he wears his helmet. I got him one for Christmas. We had been sharing mine. He has to use one when he rides for the Mounted Search and Rescue. So he has one of his own now.

Our dog Maggie is recovering. She has some sore places and moves slowly but each day is better. She even went to the barn with Bob this evening. The big cut on her leg is almost healed. I have been making her special food and she thinks she is the Queen of the house. Poor little Skeeter says how come. She does lay around most of the time though. I had to watch Haily like a hawk because she usually plays with her when Justin brings her over and I did not want a catastrophe because Haily hurt her. Not that she would mean to but it still could have been bad.

We are surviving without a TV so far. I am still disgusted that it takes them over a week to come repair something that was not our fault. Oh well like goes on...........

A year ago today...................

A year ago today I was in Deaconess Hospital having had a mild stroke. I was scared and hated all the tests they were doing. Bob never left my side except to go get something to eat. He discovered about l8 hrs. into the hospital visit, when he went to the truck that he had left the keys in it. God took care of it. My purse was in it also. Just had taken my wallet in. He went to get me a book to read and he did and I did. I did not feel sick, just some weird sensations in my right hand and I saw double for a while. I thank God for the brevity of it and the mildness of it. I take more pills because of it to keep another from happening. And I am faithful to take them. I have lost the 20 pounds the doctor told me I should and until the holidays had been pretty faithful with my diet. Now I will get back to it and not keep the cookies and candy around.

I went out and wandered around today. It wasn't so cold. Katie came and rode Abby. They had a good time. She had to have her father drive her out because they won't let her drive on these slippery roads. They were pretty clear but her dad likes to come out too. That is where we went for Christmas.

The horses all looked fine. Dixie gets a black face in the winter. Or mostly black anyway. I asked her how that happened but she didn't answer me. She has big black circles around her eyes. The rest of them just look like furry mammoths.

No picture today. Just my rambling. Bob will pick up Nikki's princess and her parents at the airport tomorrow. It didn't snow today but it is again tomorrow. Oh yeah :(

My sisters birthday

My sweet sister Sharon. The picture was taken last Easter Sunday when we were in Key West and took a sunset dinner cruise. Today is her birthday. She lives in central Tennessee but is in Mississippi right now visiting her daughter Suzanne and family for the holidays. Have never had any more fun than the week we spent in Key West.

Today I am wondering what else bad is going to happen. Our big dog Maggie went out on the road for a reason known only to her I guess and a speeding car - yes speeding on an ice covered road- hit her. She is very stiff and sore but that seems to be her largest problem. It makes me sick though. Bob is sitting with her in the living room. She is laying on a rug. The guy that was driving didn't even slow down. That is hit and run.

Snow is sliding off of our roof this evening and it sounds like we are being attacked by Godzilla. It is really loud but then it means that Bob does not have to shovel it. I have worried all day about him out shoveling and plowing. His 4x4 truck is stuck, at least it was. I think he got it out. It is nasty out.

Remember The Serenity Room's give away. That is such a peaceful blog. I have not met Barbara but have her daughter Linda and she is a sweet person so her mother must be too. Love all the Horse people blogs and I also love Life In a Cordwood Cabin.

December 26

Snow pictures from around here. I was practicing with my new camera. Bob is shoveling off the roof of the barn. Scares me that at 70 he is out there most of the day. He did the garage and horse shed on Wednesday. The horse is Dixie seeing if the outside horses forgot a piece of hay somewhere. They hadn't. I really should have ridden her today in a break in the snow. The other picture is our hitch rail. Maybe we will get to it by spring anyway.

I was so lazy today. Just could not seem to get moving at all. Feel OK, just had Sit-itis. I did finally get the Christmas Eve mess all cleaned up. The kids had sacked up all the wrapping paper etc but more kept appearing from under the couch, from under the recliner or any place ever it could appear from.

Nothing much else going on here. Have a good evening.................

Christmas Day

When I opened my gifts I had a nice little camera that I can carry in my pocket. I love my big camera but wanted one I could carry easily. My brother in law LE (Brownie) Brown had done all the adjusting and set it up for me. When I practiced off and on today and then put the card in my printer/copier etc. This is the first picture looking out at me. He is a dear person, sweet and caring. He has looked after my sister so faithfully since her health has declined and I am so grateful. Thank you Brownie for fixing up my camera for me.

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with everyone here. We ate until we were stuffed, laughed, the kids played in the snow. Opened gifts. I made the grand kids either empty books or big snuggly pillows. They all seemed to like them. One of Bob's gifts to me was a massage. Can't wait to go have it. It sounds just about perfect. Everything that everyone received was received with enthusiasm and knew that it was given with love. I am so grateful for family.

Today we went into Spokane to some good friends for dinner and games. We spent more time just talking and laughing but the dinner was wonderful and worth waiting for. Katie - their daughter- and owner of her horse Abby which lives at our house- was glad to have us at her house. We have her here so much. It was a different Christmas than we have experienced but a fun day and it was kind of fun to sleep in until I felt like getting up. Don't get to do that too often.

The horses are fine despite nearly 4' of snow. I think 46" at the airport. I wished I had gotten up and gone riding this morning but didn't. I love riding in the snow. I wish we had more stalls. Liberty is looking like she might need some TLC. Bob said when Tyler gets home he will have him help him finish the last stall so she can come in and maybe get some beet pulp. It wouldn't hurt Ditto. With all the babying she gets, she is looking a little down. I don't think her Senior food and special hay is enough. And Pepper is still fat as a toad. I think he could suck air and get fat. LOL

Hope you all had a very blessed Christmas Day. What did you do today?

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas to all................And to all a goodnight.