Lordy me, no update since September? Where have I been? I distinctly remember being buried in produce in September and October, so most likely I was somewhere between the garden and the kitchen during that time. I finally gave up the garden when the freezer stopped closing and every canning jar was full – I opened the gate for the chickens and decided I’ enjoy the rest of the bounty through eggs. At the end of October, I took a quick trip over to Central Oregon for a friend’s wedding – perfect time for a sunbreak! I don’t actually remember much about November, so I think I spent it recovering from summer and fall… and now today I’ve had my first snow of the season, so the herd is all tucked up comfy in the barn, and I can update the blog finally. In farm updates, the horses are doing well – the yearlings are both over 1,000 pounds now. I was able to ride Annie once (Maggie got ahold of my camera while it was on the fence post recording my first ride, so there will be a picture-free period of several weeks, but I got a new camera for Christmas so I’m back in business). Annie blew an abscess in her front foot shortly after her first ride, so she’s been resting since then. Chance is a little tender right now, too, and I just haven’t bothered to ride Natty since it’s dark the whole time I’m home. This time of year is rough – it’s muddy, the horses get gravel stuck in the mud in their feet, then they walk into the barn with concrete floors, and pretty soon they have stone bruises, poor babies. The other critters are fine, too. B-dog had a rough time this fall because he got a foxtail grass seed embedded in his leg and had 2 abscess surgeries before the vet found the seed lodged in his knee, but he’s on the mend now. The goats are thriving, and I’m hoping for some kids near the end of February. The young goats got their first taste of snow today and didn’t want to walk in it – too cute. And now, on to the new pictures!
The garden went above and beyond – wow!
I had a special request for hoof prints for Christmas – here’s the first attempt. I need to try again pronto or I’ll be late!
One day (or maybe 3 days), I shoveled all the horses’ bedding into the barn. The truck is a little too tall to back under the barn roof, so they dump right outside and I shovel it in. Talk about sore core muscles!
This next group of pictures is from the beginning of November when the winter woolies were really starting to grow.
My perfect angel, always so clean. Contrast with pigpen above.
I missed getting a picture of Maggie – must have been tired after grooming all these muddy mountains!
Here are the goats enjoying the windfall from a windstorm.
Here is the only picture from Annie’s first ride. She did great – calm and responsive!
Here’s a picture showing Lightning Bug (near side) and Niki so you can see how big he is getting!
And another with Bonny, Lightning Bug, and Niki, left to right…
Here’s a quick picture from a rest stop in Eastern Oregon – gorgeous place.
And here are some “goats make me laugh” pictures – first one, Woody is sprawling down from 3 bales up to eat the bottom one, second one he’s standing in the wheelbarrow with his head stuck in the hay bag – for the second morning in a row…
Here’s Maggie – she looks better outside the barn 🙂
Doesn’t Lightning Bug have a pretty head for a drafty fellow?
Here’s post-op B-dog using his cone of shame to store his tennis ball.
We all know I like to put my mom to work every chance I get 🙂
These two know who loves them
And here’s a perfect example of why I almost never post pictures with me in them – somebody’s always clowning around!
Here’s the whole muddy herd.
And finally, a few stunning landscapes