We had a snowfall warning- it wasn't too bad, probably around 8 inches of fresh snow altogether.
I raked some of the snow off the roof of the mare shelter, and that set them off :
The wind had drifted some light snow into their shelter, but they were also using the other shelter in the foaling pen (I keep both gates to it open so they can come and go as they please), so they are not too affected by the weather, but they do love their breakfast!
*Ahem! What's taking so long!*
I may end up closing it in on the east side because that is where the prevailing winter winds come from.
Chowing down
Rosalee's baby belly is getting more noticeable.
When I had the colts in the barn last time, Beamer had to peek through the window at them.
Nice view from my hideout! I may have to put a screen on the outside of it to protect it, and him. Normally he doesn't get that high on the window but he is standing on the pile of snow that slid off the roof.
So- the storm is over, the sun is coming out, the icicles are dripping, and it looks like the last day of the year tomorrow is going to be sunny and beautiful.
We have been getting a lot of snow- however, nothing like they are getting in the east- I saw pics of 50 inches of snow back there! That's crazy! Can you imaging coming out to start your car and having to move over 4 ft of snow off it first? Wowza! We are somewhere over a foot altogether. It's warming up too, but this photo was from 2 days ago when it was pretty cold- Pistol has pretty good insulation in his thick fur, because the snow wasn't melting on him.
I make sure to feed extra hay when it's cold and their water heaters keep the water drinkable so there really aren't any problems for them when the weather gets nasty.
They often get to zipping around when they see me coming. This morning, they were at it again, and got Beamer going, so here is your "Good Morning!" video from Beamer:
Hope you all enjoy your last weekend of the year! It's supposed to be sunny on Sunday, and we have plans to burn that big pile of scrap lumber you often see in the background of my pics and videos, our New Year's Eve bonfire. The new neighbours made a little skating rink on the pond, so the kids will have fun and once the fire burns down a bit I think hot dogs and marshmallows will be on the menu.
And- I have a surprise in store for you on January 3rd! Stay tuned!
Merry Christmas to all of my loyal blog readers and friends from Diamond Lazy H Quarter Horses!
Today was sunny and bright, and after Mass and a visit to a sick friend, it was play time at the barn. Shayla came over and we took turns with the camera getting Christmas photos of Beamer and the 2 babies. It was fun!
You have no idea how happy I am that Beamer is rideable again! We took turns riding him and getting photos.
My happy place.
Then it was time to play with the kidz. Mesa wasn't too happy about the bow around her neck, she tried to grab it but couldn't and then got quite upset that it wouldn't go away!
It was a little better when I put it off to the side, but still she was not overly pleased about it,
so we put it on Pistol instead who couldn't have cared less! He's such a good boy.
Shayla enjoyed playing with him and I think he will be a super good horse for her.
All in all a great afternoon!
I hope you all enjoyed your day, and as we wind down the year I hope that you all stay safe, warm and happy. May you enjoy God's blessings!
We got nearly a foot of snow- uggh, shoveling..... but then the sun came out and it looked spectacular.
This is the first deep snow for the foals, and I got a giggle out of watching Mesa explore it.
They were having a play fight too.
Mesa started it.... and she usually gets the upper hand.
I took this next photo just to show our set up here. The barn has Beamer'e pen attached to it on the left, then the middle shelter is the foaling pen, it is across a 20 ft. aisle from Beamer's pen.
On the right is the back view of the shelter that the guys just put the tin on- wasn't that good timing!
I think I am almost set up the way I want. I still need to crossfence the mare's pen; the posts are in place and I just need to do the wire, but that is a next spring project; Ted has to build me 2 gates out of the pipe we have. And next year's big project will be to build a completely separate pasture/pen so that at weaning time I can separate mare and foal without having to put tarps over the fence like I have to do if I use the foaling pen.
You can see the line of posts behind Belle, that is the unfinished cross fence. I used hotwire this year to close it off. I think that considering we have only been here a year we have it set up fairly well.
The main thing is, we have happy horses, and doing chores is set up to be as easy as possible, so happy me too!
On Sunday we lost one of our Blogger friends, Linda Peterson from One Old Cowgirl blog. She passed away from cancer. If you are so inclined, please say a prayer for her soul to rest in eternal peace. I always wanted to meet her but never had the chance.
Finally, no more ratty blue tarp on the mare shelter.
The guys got at it yesterday.
Strapped with 1x4s to start with, which involved self-tapping screws, a power plant and boy toys (power tools).
I locked the horses in the foaling pen at morning feeding time so they didn't decide to be helpful.
Once the strapping was done, sheeting with used tin began .....
I always worry when Ted uses a zip cut when he cuts metal as he had a blade blow up on him a few years ago and got major damage to a finger. But all went well this time.
See that extra tin on this end? It was wrapped around the frame and tucked in behind the plywood kick board. All exposed tin edges were wrapped inwards on itself to make a safety edge.
All sheeted in and then the building inspectors had to check it out .
Now they can't flip their feed out onto the dirt on the other side. I have two rubber mats that I put the hay on - it's old conveyor belting.
This project was done just in time, because last night we got snow, with more in the forecast.
This was an inexpensive project, the original car shelter frame was here when we moved in, the tin and plywood are used and salvaged from other projects- I think we paid $1 per sheet for the tin and nothing for the plywood- and the only other purchases were the 1x4s and the screws. Total cost around $70.
Hope you all aren't too bored with my videos- not a lot going on around here so if I can catch some action it brightens up my day! This morning it started snowing just before daylight, and sure enough, it set off the herd. Mama Belle was in fine form, leaping and dancing!
This evening she alerted to something in the bush and they all went floating over to the fence with tails up and big snorts.
After they went back to eating, Rosalee kept checking in the direction they alerted to- I couldn't see anything so I figured it was just some deer.
The youngsters are doing really well. Every day I catch them and lead them into the barn, and they stand tied while they eat and I go do other stuff like getting the hay ready or scooping poop in the shelters.
It won't be long now until Pistol heads out to his new home. I'll miss him, but it will give me more time to work one on one with Mesa as I kinda put her on the back burner to make sure Pistol is the best he can be before he leaves.
Finally got my barn aisle cleaned out too! This weekend we are supposed to finally close in the south side of the mare shelter so I can get rid of that ratty blue tarp. It does make a nice backdrop for photos though!
My tree is up, some Christmas decor happening, but not much else Christmassy going on. We aren't doing much shopping - tight budget this year- which is fine by me because then I don't have to deal with crowded stores. Mostly home made stuff going out this year 😊 .
Hope you all enjoy this last week before Christmas, I hope to get some good photos for my annual Christmas photo card- I don't mail cards out anymore.
They were all feeling pretty good and I gotta say, mama Belle started it! She sure is feeling good!
I have been assessing Beamer's arthritis and for the last couple of weeks, he is walking really well. I assume his arthritic joint has fused now... so..... this happened.
He was sooooo happy to get out! I kept the ride very short, and if all goes well I will keep exercising him. You have no idea how happy this makes me! I've got my boy back!
Yesterday was a good day in more ways than one. First, my nephew and his wife became first time parents of a healthy baby boy- their first child, which makes me a great aunt again.
Then, I went Christmas tree hunting again (with help from Tess ) and had a really enjoyable walk through the woods, drinking in the beauty of nature.
The sun glittered like diamonds on the ice in the pond.....
and lit up the weeds along the river bank.
I found places where the buck deer have been rubbing the velvet off their antlers.
Tess enjoyed the walk as much as I did.
And then, there it was. The perfect tree, in all her glory. So much for my idea of having a small tree this year! I haven't had a regular fir tree for years, I usually get spruce or balsam, but this one, although not overly bushy is so even that it had to be the one. There is just something so sublime about getting out and hiking in the woods with your dog, and finding the right tree. It's one of my favourite parts of Christmas preparation.
We can turn and face the New Year
