Send the Ark...

Someone send an Ark!!!  My alarm hadn't gone off yet, when my phone rang.  It was my neighbor Danette.  She wanted to know how my barn looked as hers was flooded.  Popped right up and ran to the window.  The back pasture was a lake, paddock dry thank heavens. 

Got the dogs fed, & headed down to the barn.  A few large puddles in the aisle, Camryn's stall was dry.  Thankfully, I'd built the floor up over the summer. I'd also trenched around the barn and low spots of paddock during last thaw.  Must have had a premonition perhaps?

View from back barn door...

"It's not that bad Mom"

"It's all good Mom"...

I called Danette back to report my barns status.  Then headed over to help move the three in her home barn to her indoor arena at her boarding barn. 

"What a view from outside"...

"From front door, thru to back into pasture at Danette's home barn"



"Muck bucket is afloat"...



The horses were standing in water above their fetlocks!!!  Anything on the floor was floating about.  First we made sure we'd be able to move the horses safely.  Luckily the water didn't go over the bridges. We were unsure of one horses reaction so I brought up the rear as Danette lead him.  We had about a football field of flooding before making it to the bridge.  Under the water were icy patches & Rudy wears front shoes.  Left my camera in the barn for the voyage.  Did take one cell phone pix of Rudy & Danette walking towards bridge...



"Rudy needs a little convincing that the end is nearing"...

Danette's boarding barn is accessed via trails thru the woods.  Once again we had to be cautious of ice.  As we neared the barn we encounter another flooded area that resembled a river to the horses.  Once we had Rudy moved, we headed back for Dakota and Eclipse.  Both were quite happy to see us LOL.  In places the water went over our boots, so we were all quite wet.  All three were very good thru it all.  We already had hay down in the arena so once unclasped from their halters they all forgot about the flood!!!  More rain predicted, more snow to melt.  We really do need that Ark!!!



"This is not a pond, it is another neighbors yard!!!  Take note of the ducks"

Camryn vs the snow pix...

More pix of Camryn in yesterday's snow storm. 

"No peeples, dis not be dandruff stuff"...

The below pix don't really depict just how much snow Camryn was wearing.  She'd been napping and as she moved to greet me at the gate it began falling heavily off her back & sides.

"K, Mom a blanket might be gettin appropriate now"...

"Mom keeps tellin me if I stood in da barn, stead of outside dis wouldn't happen"...

"I say, dat OK, jus gotta do a little shake dee bootie"...

"See Mom, da shakin work reel good"

Take note of Onyx standing behind Camryn in one photo.  Someone has brains enough to hang out in the barn!!!  Not Camryn obviously. 
Oh, Onyx is having a very happy week.  He's been honeymooning with his latest wife.  The happy couple meet at our Vet's clinic every other day, he's one boy that doesn't mind going to the Vet office let me tell you.  This morning as I opened the barn door to feed, he ran for the gate, to cute waits there looking back wanting to know if it's time to go yet!!!  He doesn't realize this week is the last of his marriages, he'll be getting the jewels lopped off soon after.  Shhhhhhh.....

Camryn offers her opinion...

Camryn is nearly as sick of this snow as I am.  She wanted to show everyone exactly what she thinks of it...

"Ya'll wanna know what this Hafy Gurl think of all da snow?"

"I'll show ya"...

"Ha, take that snow"...

"Guess, I showed them flakes Mom"...

"An that be my opinion of da snow"
"SEE YA!"



We got over 8 inches yesterday.  I took tons of pix, will post more over the next few days.  Wish I'd taken the camera down at bedtime.  Ms. Camryn was napping in it, she must have had 3 inches of the darn white stuff on her back!!!

There's a trailer in the drive...

Just had to take pix of the new toy.  This is the view from my side kitchen window.  Really makes me feel spring is nearing & just can't wait.  You can see all the frozen slush & what not from our hairy drive home.  So worth it though!!! 

"Taa Daa"

This pix depicts Camryn's excitement of her new ride! Take note of the cocked hind leg, she just can't contain herself!  I just love the views from the kitchen.

"Yeah Mom, so what I've seen trailers before"..."But Camryn, this is your very own ride."

Soon to be mobile...

YeeHaw, Camryn has her own wheels.  I have the best hubby in the entire world, already knew that of course.  He does continue to confirm it, I am sooooo blessed.
Anyway, borrowed my sons truck as our Ranger is to small to safely pull it.  Chris will give me access to  his truck whenever I need.  Must mention how awesome Chris is as well.  He got a chuckle when I told him "it pays to be good to your children LOL.
The trailer is older, a 1994 Miley, two horse, straight load, with mangers.  Has tack area under mangers, is in pretty good shape for it's age.  New tires all around, lights all recently rewired, electric brakes, it's solid. Does have some rust but, no where important, all things hubby can take care off in short order.  Former owner was so sweet (of course being a horse person she'd have to be), we got the trailer at a very fair price.  Got to meet her horse "Vern" I love that name!  While Vern isn't a Haflinger, he's gorgeous and a very pleasant boy.  As the former owner mentioned to us the trailer towed awesome. We know this as the weather turned big time on the way home, making a two hour drive a four hour drive.  The interstate slowed down to 40 mph, we passed a multitude of accidents.  Prayers for all those involved.  Again my super hubby who was driving didn't blink an eye, and we got home without a hint of trouble.
I'm like a little kid, I keep looking out the window and telling hubby there is a trailer in the driveway LOL.  Poor guy, I'm like a ToysRUs kid!!!
I'm going to have to do some practicing pulling and backing the trailer empty, and of course making trailer loading fun for Camryn.  I can't wait for spring so Camryn and I can hit the road, and head for the trails together & with friends. Our big goal this year is to do "Ride For The Cure" down in Southern Ohio this coming Oct.

night pix, demise of stall ballz...

     This stall ballz survived approx. 72 hours, was gone, gone, gone this morning!!!  Proving Ms. Camryn isn't just a gate Houdini, she's also the hanging treat Houdini.  The rope is still hanging and intact however, quite the disappearing act!!!  What a brat, it was big enough if left hanging should have lasted at least a week.  When examining it yesterday, it appeared she was chewing away primarily just beside the rope, I imagine she worked all night managing to literally chew it down.
    Supposed to be in the high 50's/low 60's today.  Awesome and not so awesome, as the paddock is a thick lumpy sheet of ice.  I hung Camryn's hay net in the barn aisle to encourage her to stay in at least a few hours this morning.  She has huge feet and so far the ice hasn't hindered her one iota, still I worry.
     I've also taken note of the fact that she's all alone, externally it doesn't seem to worry her, only seeming anxious on windy days.  I have noticed though that she's turned into quite the beaver along the fence line.  I'll have to get pix of it once I don't need to worry over falling on ice quite so much.  Also even with the addition of alfalfa pellets w/nearly an entire hay bail, "I think" she's gotten to thin.  Could be just I'm used to chub & my imagination as my neighbor suggests.  Anyway, I've ordered her "Smartgut" from smartpaks equine. 
     Will sign off with some pix I took the other night, sorry not horsey.  Just showing floral beauty thru winter:

I don't chop these hydrangea flowers till spring.  Kind of like them hanging out thruout winter, give my a visual treat when all is white and barren.

stall ballz lived another day...

Camryn's 3rd stall ballz lived the night LOL.  This time I used a small angel food cake pan instead of just stringing twine thru before it hardened.  The latter didn't work so well as Camryn would get the entire ball off the twine.  I also used a dog leash (of which I have plenty) rather than the twine.  I hung it where she can get to it day or night, & in a place where she can't trap it, eating it all at once.

After 24 hours...

Though Camryn headed for her meal rather than her treat, figured I'd take a few bedtime pix since I had my camera with me...

Mmmmmm, Mom you be da bestest cook eber...

                      Notice the drool all along her stall wall, someone (won't say names) is a slob I think!

K, youse can quit wif da camera when my mouf be full...





Nighters eberbody...

This is the sad face I see every night as I leave the barn.  Think she'd like me to set up a cot & stay?

Rather windy today, gives her forelock that special "Kramer" look doesn't it!

Camryn gets a Valentine...

Making a new stall ballz happened to coincide with Valentines Day.  Hung it earlier today, but Ms. Outdoorsy didn't realize it till bedtime.  She's a very, very happy girl, she didn't know if she should eat her hay, or lick her new treat.  Guess she decided the treat pre-empts a normal meal, just like a kid LOL 

"Nom, nom, Hapy Valtine Day eberbody, nom..."

Took a pic with my cell as I didn't think to take the camera down with me.  Quality isn't very good, can still almost hear her delight, and no she's not spoiled at all.  Gotta love that whiskery face
If she hasn't killed it by morning I'll try to get a better pic.

Rode today...

     Very first ride of the year!!!  Very windy, but 39 degrees, I just had too. Didn't do anything more than putt about the paddock, work on disengaging the rear, whoa and back.  The whoa and back were like we'd been riding daily.  Disengaging we need a few refreshers on. I was armed with clicker and treats, that helped enormously.  I'd sewed three rows of beads onto my reins over the winter, one row at the center, and a row on either side to tell my hands they're in the right place should I ever need to one rein stop.  I'd just as soon not need to think, hopefully the beads will help me "just do it". 
     I moved all my riding gear back down to the barn.  Camryn just watched from her hay net.  As I saddled up, she simply sighed.  Not sure if it was a sigh of "yes, we're gonna play", or "oh jeez, there goes my vacation".  Most likely the latter I suspect, especially as I did take her from her hay net!!!  Stood to mount, reaching back for her expected treat for doing so.  Again as if we hadn't taken such a long break.  Hadn't ridden since just prior to Thanksgiving.  Felt sooooooooo, good being back up & with my gurl.  Hubby got us stirrup rotators for Christmas, first time using them.  While I did have to reach down to slip my feet in once mounted, Camryn stands till I ask her to move out that's no prob.  The near side drops thee inches to mount I didn't try that part out and used the mounting block.  That part is rather bulky under my leg, so the jury is still out on that.
     The neighbors all headed out into the woods to ride, Camryn watched, wanting to go along.  But, when I turned her away she was good with it.  I'd just as soon, tweak on my own a bit & not head out on a windy day with others after such a long hiatus.
I'm so looking forward to our 2nd year together.  Almost forgot to mention, Camryn is actually beginning to enjoy affectionate scritches.  Especially under her chin.

Trailer shopping...

Hubs has given me the green light on a horse trailer YIPPEE...Camryn & I will be mobile.  Well, that is once I find one, and of course do a ton of practice with hitching, towing, backing...
Not worried about loading Camryn, though before I get the hang of all of the above, we'll practice that just because.
Looking for a well loved older trailer as my price range is limited.  I've got my eye on three on craigslist.  Kind of leaning towards a stock trailer, it's a slant/ramp load, is newer, looks to be in super condition, has a tack/small dressing room.  The other two are both older with mangers, and tack storage under manger, one a slant, the other a straight load, both with ramps.  Again both look to be in very good condition.  While for some reason, I lean more towards a straight load, the open feeling of a stock I think would be better for Camryn, and the tack/dressing area would be great for storage.  Also I'm not all the keen on mangers, having heard to many horror stories regarding these.
Any thoughts, or guidance on my quest much appreciated.
I know this seems odd, I'll be borrowing my sons truck the first year to tow as ours is a Ranger and much to small.  Thanks Chris, I know you love your Momma ;)

It's sooooo cold...

How cold is it you ask? 
     Well, when cleaning Camryn's stall this afternoon, her urine soaked bedding was so easy to get up.  Seriously, it was totally frozen and came up in tile like chunks.  Her "apples" sounded like real apples as they thunked into the muck bucket.  It was like -9 degrees this a.m., right now at 1:30 p.m. it's a sultry 12 degrees.  While I did wear my long johns, I should've included my carhart bibs, as my legs burned with the cold once I was finished.  Picked up a lovely big knuckle bone for Onyx to chomp in his bedroom.  He's keeping to the barn for the most part today.
    Luckily, despite the cold it's a sunny day,  Camryn has been soaking up the rays all day.  While she has quite an ample coat, and never seems cold, preferring to hang out in her yard rather than in the barn.  I did feel she'd lost more weight than necessary.  Not being sure if it were my imagination, I made a point of asking Camryn's trimmer during her Pedicure/manicuree session on Mon.  Sherry felt she's probably at a perfect weight, but with bad weather still in our future she felt adding alfalfa pellets to her ration wouldn't hurt.  Just 1/2 pound a day.  She's quite happy with this new addition to her day of course.  Oddly she doesn't eat em right up, she eats of bit of hay, some pellets, hay, then pellets...
   Oh, and as usual trimmer says she's got great feet :)
PS Normally, I'm not a whiner (prefer to B#^*%), unless it's Feb. & cold.  Expect lots of whining posts in the near future.

Spring is in the air...

Spring is in the air, or at least in the branches!!!  I'm thinking these robins are having 2nd thoughts, perhaps wondering what planet they've come to anyway!!!

It's 19 degrees today.  Poor guys!!!

#*!@ flu...

Got over my flu bug, then BLAT...Hit again!  Not sure which I'm more sick of, being sick or cold weather???  Blessed Hubs has been earning his Valentine Kudos big time.  I may be sick, it may be cold, but it's all minimized when I've got such a great Hubby :)  Back to bed now...

Piss n Vinegar

Getting my strength back and feeling much better.  Today down at the barn, I noticed that Camryn was "blowing me off"!  Nothing major but, caused me to realize perhaps having seen me in my weakened state for several days, Cam felt she should see if I'm still strong enough to be her trusted leader.  Yup, I am!!!  I started by walking and having her stop beside me a few times just to check.  Sure enough she just kept walking like I didn't exist.  So, she wanted to keep moving, I decided she should...All I had was her hay net, so I gave it some energy.  Lil gurl didn't like it one lil bit either.  As I sent her away, her lovely bottom basically flipped me off with hooves airborne. Momma gave that hay net more energy, Camryn is like "What the!!!!!!".  Kept her moving at a brisk trot?  Ok, trot some more.  If she flipped me off, she got to canter.  If she wanted to stop, "nope, you wanted to move, so move it gurl.  When she showed signs of cooperation and I allowed her to stop/think.  Tried to walk and whoa, she blew me off again so we kept working, next walk/whoa attempt had her most eager to do so. 
After filling and hanging her haynet, she asked politely if perhaps it was time to eat lunch. 
No I wasn't mean, just nipping something growing in the bud before it took root.  I actually think she enjoyed herself after the first few minutes of surprise...

Febuary begins with...

Febuary begins, with it's pros & cons.  First off, Hubs had the flu a pretty wicked case.  As I'm cleaning vomit I'm thinking this doesn't bode well for me.  Yuppers, Hubs shares well with others and BAM, I came down with it as well.  Fortunately, doesn't only share he helps.  He took over the vast majority of barn chores, mucking, feeding...He also cared for me and the dogs.  Took three days for me to even have the energy to "sit" at the computer!!!  Thought for a while that the toilet and I would remain bonded for life!!! I did drop nearly 10 pounds LOL
Besides being under the weather, we were surrounded by it.  Have no clue how much snow, but it's so frozen rather than trudging thru, I can walk on it!!!  Bad part is barn door froze shut, managed that with my trusty pick axe and got Camryn out & fed.  Wish I had pix of her after she of course didn't want to hang out in the barn, preferring to be outside.  She had nearly 2 inches of snow herself.
Dogs of course aren't bothered by it at all, actually they like being able to simply walk on the snow.  Our terror mix, has his barkday today and turned 14!!!  My how the time flies, he's still perky enough to hump Promise who is in season.  Don't worry he's neutered, for some reason he just doesn't realize this!!!
Groundhog didn't see his shadow yesterday.  Supposed to mean spring is near.  Could be he's right (hope so) as I saw a robin this morning!!!  Poor, poor, "stupid" thing he should have stayed down south for sure!
Energy spent, back to the couch now....