Two weeks vacation, a duck, etc.

It was a wonderful, very busy two weeks. a cousin and her husband stopped by on Memorial Day on their way out to the Hills. My folks were here, which would have been fantastic regardless, but we also managed to accomplish an amazing amount. Kitchen cupboards cleaned and reorganized, flowers planted, trim painted, a large section of gutter replaced along with three living room windows.... The list goes on and on.

My sister was here for a long weekend with my new niece - my first chance to meet her, and she's as precious as her pictures. She's already 8 months old!

We also did farm chores for two sets of friends which included the excitement of escaped cows/calves on two separate occasions - both my mom and dad got in on the fun of herding the escapees back where they belonged. No pictures of that, but it was exciting.

Unfortunately, the one thing the two weeks didn't include was much horse time. Grooming and fussing, but I didn't actually get my butt on a horse until this morning. It was only five minutes bareback in the pasture with a halter, but Sunny seemed as pleased with it as I was. Too bad it's back to work for me in the morning and it will be Saturday before I can get back out there.

Let's see... we also looked at a couple of acreages, ended up with an orphan mallard ducking, test pulled a horse trailer that I think just might be THE one, and spent the last two days dog-sitting (and slipping in some much-needed napping!).

Short duck video...

Happy Ponies!

Is that a blissful expression, or what?

They got to go out for the evening. A bit of hay first so they weren't going to fill up completely on green grass.

We had to make sure the new section of fence was marked, since G adjusted one side in a bit this spring, and to make sure any stray bits of round bale twine were picked up from where we stripped it off the bales all winter, but once that was done we separated the bale feeder halves blocking the gate. The two mares currently eating at it were first through, but moments later the rest noticed and there was a mass exodus.

The first couple made it about three steps past the gate before they were nose down. The others just pushed them out of the way.

These two woolies wound up in with them, but they'll pop back out through the sucker rod at the top later on. Otherwise we'll chase them out in the morning. They were enjoying the grass just as much as the horses.

6-pound foal born in NH may be world's tiniest

Stumbled across this Washington Post story this afternoon. (There's a slideshow with the article.)

So, what's your take on the tiny horse phenomena? I know minis are popular, but this seems a tad excessive to me....

And let's just hope the chubby kid
doesn't decide to "ride" him!!

Thank you!

Pike Road Girl was kind enough to honor me with this lovely award a few days back, and I've been behind in my posting, so I'm just now getting around to saying thank you!

Stop over at her blog and read about her lovely family and all the critters. She and her husband are working on a completely drool worthy barn so she can finally bring her horses home. As a boarding owner myself, it's a goal I applaud and hope to emulate someday soon!

So, as a condition of the award I'm supposed to provide a few previously unrevealed items of interest. I'm not sure how scintillating my seven points of interest are, but here goes:

1. I love flowers and flowering plants, but I'm completely unable to grow the ones that bloom. Other than spider plants - which live and multiply and are apparently immune to the black thumb that kills everything from pansies to African violets. I do, however, have a pathos and an ivy plant that I've kept alive since my college days. Not a bad run.
   
2. My new favorite kitchen tool is the breadmaker I got for Christmas. Never thought I'd say that - I'd resisted getting one for several years. Thank you to the someones who knew better!
3. Until I went to college I had always lived in the same house. After my sister was born we shared a bedroom - which was a lot more fun in hindsight than it was at the time. But I did learn how to pick a lock....
4. I've gone swimming in almost all of the five Great Lakes - I think I'm missing Eerie.
   
5. I dislike meatballs, Swedish and otherwise. I make them, I just don't eat them.
   
6. I once almost walked into Donald Trump. Right in front of the Trump Tower in NYC - I was looking up and my friend grabbed me so I wouldn't run into him.
7. My favorite form of long distance travel - other than the four-footed kind - would have to be by train. You meet the neatest people, and the rocking and clickety-clacking is incredibly soothing.
   

Now, the second condition was to pass the award along to 15 of my favorite bloggers. Hmmm... Well, I think this award has already hit most of my list! But here are a few - in no particular order - you should check out if you've not encountered them yet:

1. Just Another Day on the Prairie for a hearty dose of cow sense, gorgeous Canadian scenery, and the occasional yummy recipe.
2. BrownEyed Cowgirls - I started reading when they were still located in western SD, but even though they're now in Colorado there's plenty of horsey action. This year it's been a new house, new rig, and plenty of barrel racing on the horizon.
3. How did this happen? Following Jennifer's progress from hesitant to confidant has been great, and I hope I someday manage the riding time she gets in on an almost daily basis. Inspiring!
4. Horsetrailriders.com - We share a bit of the same weather often enough, and here's another lady who really gets out and rides - and shares her stories with humor and great pictures.
5. Down on the Farm - okay, not horses here. Cows. But the adventures of dairy farming are apparently many, and they make educational and often entertaining reading.
6. Braymere Custom Saddlery - Model horses... it wasn't an area I had any familiarity with. Most of mine didn't survive my childhood in very good shape. I loved them a bit too well, perhaps. But when I stumbled across this site I had to start following. From fantastic pictures come incredibly detailed miniatures decked out in custom tack. Amazing.
7. Less is More - I wish she'd post more - now that there's more riding on the horizon maybe that will happen (hint, hint)! And there's the amazing Limo. 'Nuf said!

For more... well, I could go on, but really you can just check out the blog list down the right side over there. Or you could just visit one of the sites above and see what they're reading :)

Thanks again, Pike Road Girl!

The grass is green

Hooves are done - finally. Shots and worming are on the dance card. This weekend we have rain.

The horses were settled in with their backs to the wind and not at all willing to turn to face it up at the long feeder. I of course managed to pick the wettest time of day to feed them, so I ended up soaked and dripping.
Wind out of the south east is the one direction that there isn't a lot of shelter for them at the lower end of the lot. The sillies wouldn't go up to the top where they'd be behind the cedar trees and the house. At least it was a warm rain.

Nu-nu cat is settling in well. She's claimed the back of one couch for her afternoon naps and seems quite content here.