Buck moon

 The full moon was rather spectacular this morning. 

I managed one photo with my Nikon camera, then the battery died, I was hoping for one with more trees  but this will do!

Things are pretty quiet at the moment, but next week will be very busy, family over for the weekend and a big Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, then on Tuesday and Wednesday we finally get the new windows in. We will finally have windows that we can open! 

We are in what I have always called Indian Summer- cool nights, frosty mornings and sunny days. The farmers are nearly done with harvest, just a few canola fields left to go, and cattle to move off the depleted pastures and into the winter feedlots. 

The mares are getting pretty good winter hair coming in, and I think Gussie is starting to show her pregnancy. 

She is also starting to show her age especially around her face. I also think she is starting to get arthritis in her right knee, just a little bump at present.  I probably won't ride her much any more, but I would like to get a couple of short rides in this fall before she gets too pregnant. Then once the foal is big enough, to use her for teaching it to pony. Other than that, she is pretty much retired. I'm sure she will be ok with that! I have a lot of great memories from all the trails we rode and the fun we had over the last 22 years. I owe her a good retirement. 

The two old girls will have each other until that foal comes along!  I may or may not pick up another foal to keep it company, we shall see. 

Let there be light and love.

 In all the sadness of the recent weeks, I choose to look for the things that make me happy, to deflect my thoughts from the creeping darkness of this world. 

Hello little ladybug, how simple your existence is. 

Being injured and in pain definitely slows  down one's ambitions, plans and goals. 

But it's nice to get extra Thumper cuddle time.

Having plenty of pasture left for the winter makes me happy, as do shiny, healthy horses.

Patsy aka Pattycakes will be headed back to Shayla later this week. She has grown a bunch and is still the sweetest filly. 

Flowers and bees and butterflies? Happy making for sure!

The moose hung around the riverbanks until the next morning. And now the deer are starting to come back, like these 3 does who didn't have fawns this year, showing up at daybreak. 

View from my dining room window. Can you spot the third one?

All the good news

 Today was ultrasound day for Gussie. And she is confirmed in foal to the palomino stallion! Due date is around the 1st week of May next year. 

I sure am happy that she is in foal, and no twins either. Also, she has come sound on that right hind, so she is rideable again. 

I have been making good progress with Rally; the last couple of days she has stood quietly while I run my hand down her front legs; yesterday I could pick her feet up for a few seconds and today I was able to use the hoof pick on them. Yay! I reckon tomorrow I will be able to start with the nippers to work on getting rid of all that excess hoof wall.  

I finally managed to figure out how to capture the Northern Lights with my cell phone, next time I should be able to do a better job. 

3:30 am, I almost missed them as dawn starts around 4 am. I had checked at midnight, but there was nothing. 

Almost done

 The cold weather is almost over- one more day to warm up, yay! We can kick La Nina to the curb!

You know your windows are not airtight when they do this....

Odd formation! Almost looks like jet trails on my window pane!

Deer tracks and pawing craters in the back yard

Darn coyotes are traipsing through the yard in the early morning hours. The coyote choir has been in full voice close by ever since the full moon. I reckon this cold weather is making them rather hungry. Not much for them to eat unless they can take down a deer. Good thing they leave my horses alone, their tracks go right in front of the horse shelter and within feet of the barn. The barn cats don't venture out much, they are all snugged up in the loft of the barn, so I think they are safe. 

Velvet keeps me guessing. Is she in foal or not? 

These photos say no..

And these say, well maybe!  She is definitely carrying differently than when she was carrying Theo if so. 

Love this photo of the old girl!

I have been in touch with Ruby's owner, I am definitely first in line if she decides to sell Ruby's Beamer baby. I would be absolutely thrilled to have two Beamer babies here!

4 more weeks to spring!

Theo 'n' other stuff

 A few things to catch up on in this post. Theo continues to be a delight, and I got a few of his antics to show you. 

When Gussie was in heat, he got a bit excited when Beamer started roaring and the mares were a bit ramped up. 

They weren't too impressed with him

Velvet was rolling and he got all excited- good thing he didn't pounce on her! 

I managed to get an airborne photo- cell phone pic so not very good stop action.  He is all shed out now and looking fantastic. 

Mr. Handsome Jr. 

I'm sure gonna miss him. His person will be here on August 31 to pick him up for the long ride to Vancouver Island. 

Derpy little dude!

I guess it's time to start teaching him to trailer load. He already is easy to catch, leads well, and is pretty good with his feet. I need to start slowly separating him from his mama, so far he doesn't seem too worried when she is a long way away, like when he stays at the barn and she goes out to graze. It's more about Velvet not getting upset than him when I start the process. 

There have been a few photo worthy things too like this little bee sleeping in a cosmo early one cool morning. 

The rain left pearl drops on this spider web.

 

I never notice how very many spider webs there are until they get all covered in dew!

The fire situation seems to be under control. Not nearly as much smoke now that we have had a few days of rain. The rain also softened up horse feet enough so that I could trim Gussie, today is Velvet's turn. I hope she cooperates with me, as she doesn't like my farrier, so I get to do her myself. Silly old mare. 

Just chillin'

 Some days it's all about just remembering to breathe and enjoy the blessings God has given me. We have had some good rainfall for the last couple of days, so that will help the fire situation, locally at least. 

No better way to relax than to head out to the gazebo and stop, look and listen. Oh, and take photos 😁

The squirrel was scolding me. So I shot him (with my camera!!!)

I wasn't about to leave, so he did. 

Next up was the Mallards. They came a cruisin' upriver, ducking for food. Is that why they are called ducks?

They look just like the rock!

It was awesome to just sit there and listen to the birdcalls, and watch the thunderheads building in the sky. 

About then the thunderheads started rumbling so it was time to head in. Right, Thumper? 

Umm, Thumper, you coming? 

I ground worked Ruby in the round pen, now that we have finished the set up on it. I will do a separate post on that. The horse dentist is coming today to work on her, so after that I will be riding her. 

Thumper sez: Yeah get to work Ruby and keep your nose out of my barn!

Are we there yet?

 As we approach the tail end of winter and look out at the 2 ft. of snow and the sub zero temperatures, it's hard to find things to make your heart sing. 

My truck has been delayed, waiting for a part to come in to finish doing the exhaust. 

The cold and biting wind makes being outdoors unpleasant, even dressed warmly. 

Even as this season drags on, however, there is still beauty to be found. 

Mr. Handsome, peering over the fence at me between bites of fresh hay.

Snow has drifted over the tire tracks of the tractor from the last time we plowed

A contrast in pattern and texture on the roof of Beamer's Barn

The curl of the ice sliding off the roof of the mare's shelter

The peeling paint on Beamer's Barn; sad that these barns aren't going to be maintained now. 

Then there is this little lady, searching for spilled birdseed

That's our entertainment around here!

Fortunately, the weather forecast is looking up, warmer weather is on it's way but it will take a while for that snow to melt. 

Spring will come, spring will come....