My helpful boy

Oh what a beautiful day today! This afternoon I was outside doing chores, and was reluctant to come indoors- now that's rare for me in the winter!

Kate at A Year With Horses recently did a post talking about quirks with horses; her horse Pie sucks his tongue. Beamer is a yawner; I'm sure you have seen the many photos I've had of him yawning, but there is one other thing he does that I find amusing: when he is standing relaxed, he lays his hoof right over on the ground; my other horses just tip their foot, but himself lays it right over.

My first few farriers would see the smooth patches on the front of his hooves and think he really dragged his toes when he walks, but he doesn't.

When I was working on setting up a new gate on his shelter, he was VERY helpful; he had his face right next to mine, inspecting every little thing I did, quite sure that I needed his help.

C'mon, let me help!

I wanted to get a photo of him goofing around, but every time I turned around, this is what I saw.....

*** Sigh*** Yes Beamer, you are a very helpful boy. How would I have managed without you?

I finally managed to get the job done- basically I was setting up the shelter that utilizes the cattle crowding tub so that it has openings at both ends so that Url doesn't go in and get trapped when Beamer goes in too.

Hope tomorrow is just as nice!

Cashin' in!

I got the good news today that I had won 3rd place in the Sunday Stills contest- thanks Ed! The prize is a Joby Gorillapod; now I must confess that I had no idea what that was so I googled it, and it is a fantastic little flexible tripod that I will get a lot of use out of.

Also, quite a while ago I had won a $40 CSN Store gift certificate from Lisa at Home on the Range blog and I finally picked something out; I took advantage of the Black Friday sale and got a really pretty cat tower for the new kittens/terrorists:

I'm sure they will make good use of it, and thank you you, Lisa!

Sunday Stills

Sooooo, this week we are required to show the person behind the blog. Not my favorite thing to do, be on the receiving end of a lens- I'd much rather be behind it! However, I'll be a good sport and play along- and play I did, so here is me doing what I love- hugging my horse! Thanks to Ted for snapping these shots.

Well it had to happen...

The snow, that is! It's finally snowing here, which is nice because now I don't have to look at frozen mud. We only have a couple of inches, and it's fairly warm out, so it's not too bad. Better than a week ago! So it was warm enough to take Beamer out for a little ride, boy was he happy to get out. There were some children here with their dad who was loading some firewood, so I led them around on Beamer. Happy little girls! I threw a saddle blanket on his back to keep him warm and went out on the hayfields.

Not much of a view today! Can you spot Sammi in this photo?

I'll probably take him out again tomorrow, just to relieve his boredom and give the dogs some exercise.

Next weekend is the Back Country Horsemen's annual Christmas party. It was fun last year, so we are going again. Janice will be there too. Now I just have to come up with something for the silent auction fundraiser.

Thanksgiving Day for some

To all my US blogger friends, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving day, with family, fun, and food in abundance. I take this opportunity to thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, which allows us to enjoy the life we live; our trials are small compared to other countries. So thanks to all the soldiers, in your country and mine.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Stills- Low tech, high tech

Ed gave us a neat challenge this tine; to photograph something low tech with it's high tech counterpart. Not too hard around here because we have lots of antiques! But first, here is an obvious one:

The lowly pen and paper, replaced by a keyboard and mouse.

Then there is the annoying LED light clock, and the old mantle clock, which is wound up with a key and has the most beautiful chimes.

This is Ted's grandma's sad iron, and my electric iron.

There are three upgrades on light in this one- from a candle, to a kerosene lamp, to an electric lamp. Back in the days of just candles, electricity would be really high tech!

Gumboots and sacrifices

So you wanna see my gumboots? These aren't your average gumboots, and they are rather expensive. I've had them for 5 years, and have 2 pairs. They are made by Dunlop. The heavier ones I use in the winter, they have a thinsulate layer, and I used them all winter, even in -30 weather when I worked at the Rimbey auction market.

They are well worth the money, as my feet don't get cold in them. My husband has a pair too, he wears his all year round. We found out about them when he was working for an electrical contractor doing work in the Dairy barns, all the dairymen were wearing them.

I've had to make a couple of tough decisions; we are struggling financially and have to downscale our expenses and find more income, so I have decided to sell Velvet, and Sammi. I'm pretty particular about where Sammi goes; it has to be a working home. And Velvet- I'd love to see her go to a show home, as she in such a nice moving, eye catching horse the judges will be sure to look at her. It's pretty tough to part with her.

Wet

Rain or snow, either way wet weather is hitting most of western Canada right now. My prairie friends have posted snow photos, but here, the snow is not quite in my back yard.

It's creeping ever closer; we had a flurry here which melted off when the sun poked through. The mare's pen drainage system is full up and since the ground here is fairly flat it has nowhere to go. You can see Beamer in his paddock in the back of this photo:

The girls have a nice big dry run-in shelter off the side of the big shop, so they can stay dry. They get paddock turnout during the day, and in at night, as do Beamer and Url. Me, I have to slog through the mud to open gates and lead everyone out, so I'm glad I have my big green gumboots! They are a staple of attire around here!

Close, but not here!

While everyone else around was getting blasted with snow, we had rain, wind and sleet today, nothing white on the ground here. Instead, it looks like this:

Taken this evening

The corrals are a bit of a mess; but there is a high side to each pen with the drainage through the middle, and shelter for all the critters.

We had the leaf blower out the other day, trying to get the yard cleaned up before the snow does come to stay. I still have a few flowers bravely hanging on,

but I think their days are numbered. Tomorrow, I take the kittens down to Bonners Ferry to the vet for their first shots and a checkup. Saturday, team sorting starts again, but I probably won't be taking Beamer this year until his saddle is built. I may go to watch and help out though.

I did manage to get all my tomatoes used up, this is the last batch of salsa which I made the other day.

This yucky weather is supposed to be here for the next few days, so I guess I'll have to do some indoor projects. I want to pick the last of the lavender and make lavender sachets to include in the Christmas gifts for my family, and cat toys stuffed with cat mint for a couple of little hooligan kittens.

Who, us? We hooligans?

Yes Foose, big cats can have some too!

Sunday Stills

Well Good morning everyone! Can I pour you a cup of coffee?

Hope you like your coffee strong!

Mind if I join you?

Here's to all my blogging friends! Hope you have a great day!

Another pupdate

Remember this pup? We went and visited him today, he lives only a couple of miles from here. I called him Ace, but his name is now Hank. I almost kept this pup, but he picked his owner. This is what he looks like now:

We took Tess and Sammi over to visit, and went out to work Tess on the sheep, while Ted kept Sammi on a leash to watch. Sammi was just vibrating! There wasn't a small pen to work in, so I won't let Sammi work unless I can put her in a small pen- otherwise it'll be a battle calling her off. So she will have to wait till we go to Penny's. Tess did well, I sure wish I had my own sheep to work so that I could do this every day. Maybe next year.

Hank and Tess are very similar. They have the same style of fur and that leggy look.

Sammi was jealous of him and growled at him.

I caught a funny moment here.

I hope I get to go back and work Tess again. They sell fencing and carry a line of electric fence for sheep, so I might be able to get some next year and get a few sheep. I had so much fun today, I was grinnin' all the way home!

A little horse therapy

No, not therapy for my horse; therapy for me! I had kind of a tough day today; it is the day that, one year ago, my mother died, plus I had a tough day at work, and I'm physically worn out from helping get in a load of firewood yesterday. So I do what works best for me; go get Beamer and climb aboard his sleek back and go for a putt around the hayfield.

The sun was setting- it was a beautiful sunny day- and the mountain tops are frosted with snow like icing on a cake, the remnants of clouds laying across the peaks, and a gaggle of geese circling low to land on the stubble fields to the north of us.

Spending just 20 minutes riding sets things in order; a quick reminder that my troubles are trivial amidst the beauty and wonder of creation.

And, speaking of beauty and wonder, I wonder how it is that I am so lucky to have as my partner such a beautiful horse.

He really is a lot of fun to be around, and delights me with his antics.

Nov.11 Remembering our soldiers

Written on the battlefield, by Canadian John McCrae:

There is an excellent post at Home on the Range about Remembrance day, please visit her.

I give thanks to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending not only our country, but other countries as well.

"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13

(Internet image of the Canadian War Cemetery in France)

Named!

Hello, my name is Pearl

Recipes

Some folks commented on pickled carrots; they are very easy to make.

To make 6 quarts of them, here is the recipe:

Sterilize 6 quart jars. Have ready enough carrots to fill them- if the carrots are big, slice them into sticks. Immerse them in hot water while you bring the brine to a boil:

1 qt. vinegar

3 qts. water

1 cup pickling salt

Put fresh dill into the sterile jars, and add garlic- I use 3-5 cloves per jar. Stuff the jars with carrots, pour the hot brine in to within half an inch of the top, and seal. Make sure no carrots are poking up enough to hit the lid

Easy enough! Wait about a month before you eat them.

Crystal asked if mincemeat was easy to make- it is, but you have to chop the green tomatoes. You could probably use a chopper gadget for that if you like. Here is the recipe:

Green Tomato Mincemeat

In a very large pot, mix together:

2 quarts chopped green tomatoes

5 cups chopped apples

3/4 lb. suet

2 lbs dark brown sugar

2 lbs. dark raisins

1 lb. dried currants

1 lb. mixed fruit (as in the kind you use for fruit cake)

2 tablespoons each of cinnamon, cloves and allspice

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 to 1 cup juice (grape, apple, cranberry, whatever you have on hand)

Cook slowly for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, it should simmer without sticking to the bottom of the pan. Stir frequently. If you use too much juice you'll have to simmer longer to render it down.

Ladle into hot sterilized jars and seal. Wait 2 weeks before using.

Sunday Stills

Food - that is the challenge Ed gave us today; and to have at least three items in the photo. My meals were uninspiring, so I went with the condiments I use at mealtime: pickles, jam, and salsa! Since I was making pickled carrots, here are the carrots, garlic, and dill that I put in the jars.

I love canning, here is the mincemeat, grape jelly and salsa that I made recently.

I'm waiting for the last of my tomatoes to ripen so that I can make another batch of salsa; hopefully this bowlful of garlic, jalapeño, and lime will last till then; they are looking a little sad!

Well, I hope I can keep my internet connected long enough to visit all your blogs today, it's been really dismal lately.

Small time, but published!

Do you all remember this photo? Our local bank had a photo contest going, for submissions for their calendar for next year. I submitted 5 photos, and included this one because so many of you really liked it. It made the cover of the calendar!

Another photo I submitted made it too; do you remember this one of Foose? I guess we can call him Mr. September now!

I got the corrals cleaned yesterday.Today is skirt work-make pickled carrots, and maybe do some baking- perfect photo op for Sunday Stills challenge, which is food. But I'd rather be riding!

Frost, fog, and felines- and a little black'n'white

I never realized just how many spider webs there are in trees until I went out to take a photo of the foggy valley this morning. I've heard it said that at any given moment, anywhere in the world, you're within 6 feet of a spider. It's darn sure true here!

November continues to be mild, and I hope it stays that way for the next couple of weeks while we get some outside projects done. I want to get on the tractor tomorrow and clean the horse pens, and get Ted to build a feed manger for Beamer and Url; darn steer is making a mess in Beamer's shelter where I feed, pees and poops in the hay whereas Beamer always kept it clean. Poor Beamer! When I bring them in if Url lollygags Beamer pins his ears and chomps him on the back! I've started Url on a supplement to put some weight on him, he has that bony dairy calf thing goin' on.

I visited Tess's pups at the hay farm the other day, they are lovely boys, but hard to get photos of because they were glued to my legs! One of them, Theo, lays on top of the freezer in the garage that is their personal room, so I got a photo of him. He's a nice boy! They are getting "brain surgery" in a week or so.

The cats are all getting along, and will even all 4 of them eat out of the same bowl. Can you imagine 4 dogs doing that?

My little girl cat has become more sociable, not so inclined to run and hide, she now lets me pick her up and cuddle; she's even purring out loud now! and she is still in need of a name- something cute and pretty please- just like her.

Took Beamer out for a putt around the hay field, and it was nice to see my dogs in formation at my side. They are really good about sticking right with me- sometimes Reba will range out front, but one "heel!" and she comes right back. I love my dogs.

Sammi will be 8 months old at the end of this month; she is a little taller than Tess right now- she's going to be a big dog!

Beamer looked askance at this sign, so we had to ride up and inspect it.

I am now a published photographer- but that story is for another post!

Fun in the Sun

After a few days of steady rain, it was nice to see the sun shine today. The mares even got to frolicking when the warmth of the sun hit their backs- and of course, that's a photo op!

Ripping around, hitting full stride,

and then exploring the roots of the grass torn up by their hooves. Nice warts on Velvet still, eh? They aren't showing any sign of going away yet. We still have nice pasture, can't believe we're into November already.

Mama Belle is looking pregnant to me!

I'm having huge problems with my internet; the signal is really weak and I can't get onto your blogs; only one or two will open for me, and some will open but the comment page won't. So I haven't been ignoring you - I really want to read Mrs. Mom, Gun Diva and BECG about the hoof lessons on Estes, and read about Kate's rides on Pie, and the arrival of Brenna on White Horse Pilgrim, and Sherry, Crystal, Linda, Lisa, Judy, Susan, Sarah, and all the rest of you, I hope the sunny weather the next couple of days will improve my internet connection so I can catch up!