Dogs, more snow, & THANKS

Thanks everyone for your comments, I doubt you go back to check comments you've left.
"I know I don't anyway!"  Not sure why but, comments feel like a surprise gift.  Don't expect them, so it's always a very nice surprise to see :)
Adding some more pix of snow from the last few days.  Funny, I like snow much more in pictures than in real life LOL. The Cardigans despite being so short love the snow big time.  I recall when my eldest son Chris came home for a Christmas visit after having been stationed in Texas for a few years.  He felt snow was vastly over rated!!!

K Mom, I'm ready to go back in...

Uh Oh, no path outa here...

Hope the condo is keeping someone warm...

People aren't the only ones who wear hats I guess...

Camryn has already knocked most of the snow off the fence here.

Will it ever stop?

Just a "little" snow!!!

We've been on snow watch the past 48 hours.  Went out to take some pix to share...

Have a seat, enjoy...

Maybe we could go for a walk?  Bring your own snow shoes...

Please Mom, I'm eating lunch now...

Ok, Ok, I'll come look...

 

You wanted me to see what???

Whatever Mom, I'm gonna go finish lunch now.

Free snow, already loaded and ready to go...

Someone, anyone, come take this snow.  PLEASE, I'm trapped!!

PS, Wish Onyx a  11th Happy Birthday.  Along with the snow he's gotten a lovely new bone

Doing dishes or room with a view...

How can I complain about doing dishes with a view like the one below?  Answer is:  I can't!



Mo-oooom, I NEED more food!!!

Isn't she just adorable, laying her cute little muzzle on the fence, silently nagging me LOL  Camryn's favorite view (when she's finished her hay) is standing at the gate, watching for me.  When I appear she either yells in her very deepest voice, or begins grunting.  Oddly, she only does this with me, not hubby.  Maybe she doesn't realize that while I serve the food, Hubby provides it?

HEY YOU!!!  Mr. Neighbor give Mom a call would ya!

Camryn's second favorite view is spying on the neighbors.  Maybe she thinks they'll give me a call to tell me she's starving to death???  She really enjoys summertime pool parties and bonfires, we're rural but, she has several yards to keep tabs on and she does it well.
From the right side, she has her horse friends to watch, from the back her pasture and woods.  Unfortunately her pasture floods most of the winter, meaning it's a good thing she has the neighbors to watch.

reminiscing still

The weather and an out of town hubby have me reminiscing regarding finding Camryn along with her early days here...So, I continue from yesterdays post...
I have no trailer (hopefully to be remedied come spring!), so we found someone to help go pick Camryn up.  Poor guy, had to listen to Lori & I ramble on in excitement the entire drive there and back.  Camryn loaded quite easily, unloaded the same.  A bit looky, looky as I lead her down the drive to her barn, seemed more out of the curiosity regarding being on a new planet than nerves.  Had lunch waiting in her stall, which she settled right down too.  I was worried as she was now to be an only horse that she might have some difficulties being in a strange barn, in a strange stall, with a new person all alone.  Perhaps having been kept in a tie down stall for several years, she felt like she'd hit the big time in her 12 x12!!!  I hung out most of the day with her.  Danette next door who is horsey as well, came and hung out as well.  Between Danette, Hubby, and myself, Camryn had plenty of company and attention :).  Danette & Hubby couldn't get over how drafty Camryn was, rather like a Belgian who'd been tossed in the dryer and shrunk in height!  The word "tank" was used quite a lot.
Next day, I walked her along the paddock fence before unhaltering and turning her out.  She soon discovered she had horse neighbors, they all began a conversation for a bit.  That didn't take long once she discovered hay laying about in several small piles.  I was rather surprised at how quickly she settled.  Don't get me wrong, she did have several quirks, had to adapt and improvise a bit.  One being that she'd worn her halter most of the time, she was unused to be haltered and unhaltered, after a few days, she was fine with this.  Camryn was a bit pushy on the ground having not been worked with over much.  That and being Amish trained, she had little knowledge when it came to some ground manners. Still she was friendly, willing, not a nervous girl by any means, just plane easy to get along with.  Plus, being January I wasn't planning to just hop and, so we could bond thru groundwork till spring for the most part.  Being this also happened to be Camryn's 8th Birthday, it was an event.  Sorry no cake LOL

Myself on Camryn

Chris on Camryn

Day three my eldest son Chris stopped by to check out his new "sister!"  After hanging out with us a bit, Chris decided to just hop on as I held her lead, so with just a halter and lead rope Camryn had her first ride at her new home.  She took this as she took everything else in stride, Chris asked her to walk and they just strolled about her paddock together.  After, Chris gave me a boost so I could do the same.  While I didn't have my helmet handy (I know, I know), I did have my camera with me, you can see from these pics how Camryn came about being nicknamed a "Drafty Hafy Gurl"...
To be continued...

Our first meeting...

This time last year, I made the decision to sell my TWH gelding.  We'd been together three years, he taught me a lot but, we just never clicked in the saddle.  I learned that a former endurance horse wasn't the same as a been there done that horse LOL.  I like moseying along enjoying my surroundings , he was always in a hurry!  Even more so if we were headed home!!!  A bit barn sour, fortunatly his 360 to come back home was easy to sit!!!  Also, as I have neck problems, lifting his saddle onto his back was becoming more and more difficult.  Thus, we did more groundwork than riding. 
My priorities when looking for a new horse were: level headed, not in a hurry, trail experience easy to get along with, and shorter!!!   I took along my riding buddies in my search.  You know how your horse friend are always up for horse shopping :).  We looked at a few but, none felt right, one in particular I didn't even bother to ride.  I didn't have a specific breed or color in mind, though I'd been around a few Haflinger and they'd left me with a positive impression.  I found an ad for an 8 yr old mare on Craigslist (gotta love Craigslist), sounded like this girl might just work for me.  Made my phone call, the seller sounded honest and didn't mind my questions at all, answered many without my asking.  Decided to set up an appointment to take a look, called my friends and we set out the next day. 
While Camryn was as rusty as he'd told me, having only been ridden a few times the past three years, this showed but, she behaved quite nicely under saddle.  As we rode away from the barn, Camryn's 1/2 sister was inside the barn and began yelling for her.  I felt the slightest of hesitation  from Camryn when she heard this.  Then felt Camryn decide she was working and sis would have to wait.  Her decision was the selling moment for me, I knew how easy it would've been for Camryn to just high tail it back into that barn with me on her back.


Jan. 2010
Camryn all tacked up after "trying her out".

  I brought her back to the barn grinning from ear to ear, then had one of my friends take her out.  She came back with the same grin on her face.  My friends had my question list so they continued chatting with Camryn's owner as I lead her about getting a feel for her.  Everything I needed, sane, calm, short and I just plain liked her.  I had no bad vibes from her what so ever. Rather than feeling on edge on a strange horse, I was having a blast, I felt totally calm and confident on her.   My friends and I exchanged the "well, what do you think" look, we all nodded to go for it.  A little bargaining and Camryn as to be picked up in two days.  I had brought my camera along, so took a few pics so Hubby could see my new girl. Heading back home we all discussed our thoughts.  Camryn had thumbs up from us all.
"to be continued"