We. are. not. amused.

If you think we are going to set hoof in that slop you're crazy!

Let me back in my foaling pen before I bite someone's head off!

Spring Fever

I am so done with this wet weather- but I know it is all a part of spring. My grass is growing like crazy, my perennials are growing, and I've started to clean the debris in my flower gardens. But every time I look at the horse pens I get all antsy- I want to get some gravel hauled in to grade the pens for drainage, and to provide better footing so the horses don't have to wade through mud- but I can't get a truck in here until the ground dries up- catch 22! Oh well, at least they have pasture turn out that gets them out of their muddy pens.

I had to hose the mud off his legs before turnout- poor Beamer!

The mares and Rio were hamming it up for the camera this morning. 

I swear Rio checks to see if I have the camera, because as soon as he sees it, this is what he does- goes and gets Chickory and commences to play! Think he inherited that from daddy.

If you want a good laugh, check out this photo of Gussie- she is not to be outdone in the goofy department!

Belle did a little frolicking too, but was careful to stay out of the way when Gussie and Chickory were bustin' a move....

So still no foal, and she hasn't changed much in the last couple of days, so maybe she will stay true to form and hang in there for a few more days. But you never know! She hasn't waxed yet, and baby was moving a little yesterday afternoon. Stay tuned!

I've always wanted to go......

to Texas.......

But it isn't me that's going. It's Chickory!

Yep. That's right-  she is spoken for and should be leaving in May. (Gives her time to get rid of her winter woolies to prepare for that Texas heat.)

To the home of Texasnascarcowgirl.

After she is safe in foal to Beamer.

Which is why I have the kissy-face Wordless Wednesday.

She'll probably never grow winter hair again in Texas! See her smile?

Now, if any of you bloggers know Texasnascarcowgirl- keep this under your hat- it's a surprise for her husband! I think he gets Chickory, and if I'm not mistaken, she gets the foal.

We have had a long journey together, from a stand-offish baby to a pocket pony.

She was a cute baby!

Smart and easy to train

Willing

A bit of a character

Her favorite method of cooling down on a hot summer day

Gorgeous

Did I mention a bit of a character?

And she's ready to start a new chapter in life.

Once I have her international health papers, and have her safe in foal, she'll start her long journey south- and I hope we get to see her on the NASCAR and Horses blog.

Wordless Wednesday

Some of Ted's talent

This is a photo I was hoping to get for last week's Sunday Stills challenge- gorgeous sunshine.

But I'll take it any time I can! Last night Belle was laying flat out and moaning and groaning something pitiful, I was sure she was going to foal, but no, baby wasn't ready. Momma sure is though! I have to work today so I'm having Ted check her while I'm gone. I'm glad my shift is only 3 hours.
I've mentioned that my husband has started his own fix-it shop, and here are some photos of a restoration project he's been working on.

This is a 1971 JD mower, minus the mower deck, which he had already painted, got a new seat and engine, and started a frame up restoration on. Here is what it looked like the day it's owner came and picked it up:

I did a little art work on the wheels:

He used dice, painted JD green for the valve stem covers. Here's a closer look at the mower- turned-toy:

He did a little art work on the yard trailer too, in keeping with the John Deere theme.

I think he did a great job. I can't wait to show you the other project he's been working on which should be done this year, and which I mentioned last year, but.... I'll wait because I want to show it finished. Time and money.... that's all that is holding it up; it's something he's doing for himself, and paying projects for other folks get in the way of finishing.

Still waiting....

If that baby drops any lower Belle will be draggin' her belly on the ground.
Rained all day today, I opened up a section of fence for the mares so they wouldn't have to go through their muddy pen to get to their pasture. Belle wanted in her foaling pen by noon, and there's lots of tail swishing going on, and she was looking at her sides this afternoon. I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight, I'll be listening closely!

Sunday Stills

Weather - our challenge this week is to photograph the weather in this first few days of spring. I did one for every day, just to show the fickle nature of March weather in the Kootenays.

Monday:

A snowstorm rolling along the mountains of West Creston

Tuesday:

A fullblown snowstorm at morning chore time; it turned to rain a couple hours later.


Wednesday:

Snow's all gone and the sun is trying to shine


Thursday:

Back in the snow again.....


Friday:

Snow? What snow! Let's play ball!

Saturday:

The recent snows have left the water table pretty high down here on the flats; the geese have claimed this pond for themselves.

Well, that's the weather week for the Creston Valley; we call it March Madness- the only thing we didn't get was thunderstorms.

Saturday at the races

The mares were feeling pretty god today, they were out in the field searching out the fresh green tidbits that are coming up. That is, until I encouraged them to play a bit- all it took was slapping my leg and a cluck and Gussie had them rounded up.

Check out those Gussie lips- she makes me laugh!

And the race is on! Chickory takes the early lead.....

Big belly Belle matches her for a few strides....

But Big Red is coming from behind...

She makes her move, 

Blowing past the laboring Belle, 

Neck and neck, challenging Chickory for the lead,

as Belle fades, Gussie comes on strong.....

and the winner by a length is Big Red! The crowd goes wild!

Well, the crowd was wild- the only spectators other than me were a few Canada geese who were in a hurry to leave the racetrack to avoid the traffic jam. Really.

Snow and sun

We started off pretty yucky this morning, with a snowfall warning and already about 6 inches of snow by chore time.

The wind was driving from the north right into Beamer's shelter, but he was snug and warm in his blanket. It wasn't real cold, just 1 degree below freezing. By afternoon turnout time, it was nice and sunny and the horses were content to soak up the rays.

Here is today's view of the Belle Belly: (baby was pretty mobile in there today)

She is exactly 11 months from the first day she was bred last year, so it's officially camp-out time for me. I have a nice snug little camperette that I sleep in that is only a few feet from the foaling pen so I can hear every sound she makes. There is still time to enter the foaling contest, click on the link to the right!

Wordless Wednesday #2

Wordless Wednesday

Horse goals

After a quick trip to the States to buy groceries I had time to ride Beamer today- my go to horse when the weather is a little iffy; it was a little blustery but overall a pretty nice day. The mud is drying up, and I hope that the storms rolling along the mountains stay there and don't come down into the valley- I'm saving the pictures for next week's Sunday Stills challenge, which is weather.
A couple of weeks ago I did his tail up in mud knots (a post by Stacy Westfall with a video that shows how) and I'm happy that they have stayed in this long.

It probably helps that his tail wasn't very clean, so it wasn't slippery. It sure keeps it out of the mud, and keeps the ends from breaking off.
Coyote Belle is getting larger every day, and she has huge milk veins. I'm going to start camping out next to her stall on Friday, which will be 11 months from her breeding. She is shedding like crazy, way more than the other horses.
Rio is loading like a pro now, I can just send him in and he steps right up. I plan to take him on some short hauls, maybe with Chickory for company. I think he's going to be a lot of fun to work with this year, he learns so fast. I see plenty of  in hand trail exercises and sacking out in the near future for him. Once I get Gussie going and settled down in to work mode, I'll start ponying him too. It helps me to have goals, as I tend to procrastinate. Ground work for Rio, and plenty of miles on Gussie are my two main horse goals this year, along with riding Beamer as much as possible. Sounds simple, but when you have 3 horses to work with, as well as a foal to halter and teach to lead, and a day job too, it all comes down to time management. And that's a big reason that Chickory is for sale.
Anyone else set their horse goals yet this year?

Sunday Stills

Spring is a great time to have the challenge of photographing transitions. But what to do when it's either raining, snowing or windy out? Well, bake cookies of course! These ingredients were transitioning-

into these:

(Sorry about the dirty oven! Guess I'd better clean it!)

 We did get a break in the weather, and I went exploring in my garden. Lots of plants are awakening from their winter sleep, and are in transition to their summer beauty, like my Bleeding Heart:

and some tulips:

My Christmas Cactus has decided it's an Easter Cactus, and is blooming for the first time in years.

The transition I am most excited about though is when the little one inside this belly:

draws it's first breath and looks around at the world.