Dressed For Success...

I figured I had to share pictures of the blanket....because it really is hideous!


I had actually ventured out to get some ice pictures, before the snow started. It was cold, and unpleasant, and being pelted with frozen rain was less than fun....but check some of these out!




Since I took these the snow has set in, and the winds have picked up. The current forecast is calling for 9 to 12 inches of snow for my area..... It could be a long couple of days.

I Caved...

With the weather forecast calling for freezing rain and many inches of snow, I caved and put Violet's winter blanket on.


I typically do not blanket my horses until I am ready to shed them out for the upcoming show season. If my first show is in April, I will put blankets on in February, to jump start shedding. Outside of getting ready for the show season, I really don't pamper my horses in the winter. They get super fuzzy and spend their days outside of the barn, pretty much regardless of the weather. That is, unless I know it is going to be wet, followed by very low temperatures and wind.

We're lucky enough to have one of those forecasts right now!!! With the possibility of more freezing rain, plus snow fall accumulations over 20 inches, followed by highs in the teens.....yep, I caved!

I suppose I could have just left Violet in her warm, comfy, stall but she is such s crank when she is left in for over 24 hours. With the bad weather expected for today, tomorrow, AND Friday, she would have been fit to be tied inside the barn. There really isn't much worse than a cranky mare. LOL

* The picture is from March 2009...I've yet to get a picture of Violet wearing her BRIGHT PINK winter blanket this year, since today is the first time she has worn it.

** To give you an idea how much she has grown in the last 9 months, I believe the purple blanket was a size 68 or 70. This year's pink blanket is a size 84 and it barely has room to grow. (She turns 2 at the end of January)

*** I just stepped outside my office for a few minutes, and it is raining. 30 degrees (f) and a downpour at the end of December. Who would have guessed?

4 Letter Words...

S.N.O.W.
W.I.N.D

B.R.R.R

Ok, that last one isn't a word, but I sure am saying it quite a bit.

Today is day 3 stuck at home. The sun is shining and the wind is blowing like mad. I think we got over 12 inches of snow over the last two days, but I can't really tell. Some snow drifts are 6 foot tall, yet other ares of the yard are bare. As in, you can actually see the grass. Yeah, don't ask me!

Yesterday was much worse. With the wind we were still getting snow. I had put Violet out for the day, not wanting her to stand in her stall for over 24 hours. Judging by the below cell phone picture, she was wishing I had chosen otherwise.


The poor thing was a walking snow cone by the time I put her in at 4pm.

I debated long a hard about blanketing her before putting her out today, but in the end I chose against the blanket. I typically only blanket after February, when I am trying to shed her out for the show season. Up until February, I like to leave her without a blanket, since blankets really can be a hassle. Of course it helps that she has a toasty barn stall to stay in every night!

Well, time to go out and do some more shoveling. My poor back....

Surprise...

I woke up to a very unpleasant surprise....the heated water tank and heated dog bucket had both frozen over.

Sure, the temperature was a whopping 6 degrees Fahrenheit, but both water sources had heaters in them!!

As it turns out, the safety on the wall plug had been tripped, preventing any electricity from getting to my heaters.

Can you guess what I'll be checking diligently from now on? One morning of ice chopping was enough for me!!!

The weather forecast is calling for up to 12 inches of snow for my area, so I better make sure everything is in working order tonight. My husband is gone hunting for the week, so I'm on my own with all chores!

Cardinal Sin...

I can't believe I did it! For the first time ever, I actually forgot that I had a farrier appointment today!

This would only be a minor oops had I not gone into the office today. I typically work from home on Fridays, or take the day off, due to the crazy hours I work. Well, this week had been slow, so I came into the office.


At 12:35, five minutes after my appointment time, my farrier called me. As soon as I saw his name come up on my cell phone I knew what I had done.

I apologized a zillion times! He asked when I would like to reschedule for, and I told him that I would be completely at his mercy, since I know I am quite a ways from most of his clients. Lucky for me he will be back in the area next Thursday.

I think, when I see him on Thursday, I will go ahead and pay him extra to make up for the gas he wasted coming to my place. It is the very least I can do. Luckily the guy has a great heart and sense of humor. He had a good chuckle about it, and said that forgetting once in 10 years isn't all that bad. (Yep! I've been using the same farrier for over 10 years now!)

I know I won't make this mistake again! I feel horrible!!

I'm Starting To Think....

....She Doesn't Like My Dog!




She might be serious, but he thinks it is all a game....

Notice the stick in his mouth, and the wagging tail that he never did tuck!

FINALLY...

Look who I FINALLY went out and took new pictures of!!!


Aside from one BIG poop spot on her left butt cheek, she was amazingly clean! She almost looks as though she has been blanketed already!


I've got many more to edit....but here is one taste of what she was doing while I was in the pasture with her.....



Oh yeah, in the background you can see my new trailer. I'll get pictures of the inside soon. I swear!!