The Thaw and the Mess Thereafter

It has been crazy in Northern Indiana. It was about 60 degrees this weekend, and all our beautiful snow and the beautiful, but dangerous, ice is gone. What was left behind was a huge mess! It is amazing how much that winter blanket covered! So this weekend was cleanup time in the pasture. Some of it was still immovable frozen objects, but there was plenty that had thawed. I believe our two horses can "deposit" about a wheelbarrow full each day onto the pasture. We will absolutely get hit with more snow and ice this winter, so the pasture is cleared for Round 2!!

Ice Capades

We have been hit with just about everything in Northwest Indiana this Christmas week -- snow, rain, sleet, and ice. The temperatures have ranged from around zero to in the 30's. As a result, the outdoors is like one huge ice skating rink! You could train for the Winter Olympics or the Chicago Blackhawks out there! We were hoping to get some riding in during this long holiday weekend, but it is too dangerous. We don't want to chance one of "the girls" falling and injuring herself. And, Zora has a history of not being the most sure-footed animal around! In fact, all of our animals were having a problem this morning. When I let the chickens out, they slipped and slid their way down the coop ramp. Sonya (the female cat), ever the Princess, stayed on the deck, watching everyone else trying to negotiate the ice, waiting for someone to open the door so she could come back inside and lay on a pillow. Simo (our male cat) looked so funny running around and having his legs slip out from under him! Even the goats had a problem, and they are the climbers who generally can walk on anything. We live down a long gravel road that we call "the lane." On the weekends and days off, we take the almost 1/4 mile walk down the lane and out to the main paved road near our house to get the newspapers and mail. The goats love to take that walk with us, so we bring them along. Today they were stepping very carefully on the small hills of the lane, and had their moments of slipping around. It was quite the adventure, but we got the newspapers and mail without any of the four of us falling. If you could see our situation, you could appreciate what an accomplishment that was! We are hoping for warmer temperatures and a thaw so we can ride this weekend.......

A Coat for Marco

It is really cold here in LaPorte County Indiana right now. Our winter has come on early and strong. Our poor little LaMancha goat, Marco, is really not suited for this weather. Misho, the African Boar goat, is really furry and fat, so he is OK. But Marco has thinner hair, and not as much body fat, so he has more trouble when the temps drop. We have felt sorry for him, as he literally shivers in the cold, so we bought a dog coat for him the first winter he was with us. The dog coat doesn't really work for him anymore -- he has outgrown it, plus it keeps coming off. The velcro closures are not "goat proof" and using pins did not work either. So last week we bought him a sheep blanket, and it is just what he needed. I think he looks rather handsome in it!

When the temperatures fall below 15F, we put everyone in for the night. Marco stays in the stall with Divna, and Misho bunks with Zora. They sort of partnered themselves up like this -- at mealtimes when we feed them in the stalls, this is how they pair up, so we do the same for the sleeping arrangements. Marco and Divna seem to be buddies -- they hang out together in the pasture, and seem to like being around each other.

I am posting a photo of Marco in his coat......The things we do for our animals! But they are worth it, aren't they?

At a Snail's Pace

Thanksgiving was over....we had everything back to normal and decided to go for a ride. On Saturday it was a ride "as usual." We went to the Dunes and had a great ride -- partly walking, mostly going a bit faster (running sometimes), and it was great. The Dunes looked different since our last ride there in the fall; more leaves down, a farther view, but beautiful in a different way. The trails there will be closed to horseback riding and open to cross-country skiers soon, so we wanted to have "one last fling" so to speak.

Sunday we decided to take the trails near our house. Zora could use some discipline, so we had Divna in the lead, with Zora following. It was amazing! We actually walked through the trails of Otis -- something that doesn't happen very often. With Divna in the lead, Zora kept pace and stayed behind, walking the entire time. It was not easy for her, but she did it. Quite a different experience, seeing everything at a slower pace. You can really see everything....but it is a bit colder! There is something to be said for the warmth of exciting riding in winter.....it helps keep the body temp up!

It really boils down to the fact that no matter when you ride, the temperature in which you ride, the people you ride with, how you ride, or where you ride, the most important thing is that you RIDE! It is one of God's greatest pleasures on this Earth.

Zora the Supermodel

We are excited about the new signs for our real estate business. John took a great photo of Zora, and we decided to use it for our advertising. She is very photogenic.

Thanksgiving

Well, yesterday was Thanksgiving. We had a great day. John's bother Alex was here, his wife Cindy, and Cindy's parents and her sister, Janet. We cooked and laughed and spoiled the animals--they got lots of treats and people to pet them. We have a couple of days off now. The machine shop I work for is closed until Monday, and John is taking a break from our real estate business, and promoting equestrian properties. We hope to ride this weekend.....tomorrow and Sunday. Thursday was spent with the family, today was spent recovering and cleaning up, so tomorrow is riding time!! Can't wait.......

Something Different

We waited too long to order our hay for the winter. Our regular supplier did not have any left by the time we called. That poses a real problem, because it seems it is tough to find people with hay anymore -- especially someone with affordable hay. So we started calling all the other contacts we had, and were not having much luck. It was beginning to feel like a crisis. A friend at work suggested I call the office for the County Fair. A great idea! I called the fair office and the county extension office and got some additional names for our list. From those names, we found someone who was not too far away, and had hay left. Perfect. We orderd 150 bales -- picked up 75 on Saturday, and will pick up the remaining 75 next Saturday, weather permitting.

A really exciting way to spend a Saturday night is hoisting 75 bales of hay up into a barn and stacking them!!!

So on Sunday, we decided to do something different. It was a bit chilly outside, and a light snow was falling -- the first snow we have seen this season. We were going to go check out the paths thru the woods to see if we needed to do any clearing before our next ride. As we walked off, Zora came to the fence and called out -- a high pitched whinny. We could tell she wanted to go with us. She must have been tired of being in the pasture. So we went back and haltered her and Divna for a walk. Then feeling guilty about leaving the goats alone we decided, "What the heck" and took them as well. I really wish I had taken the time to go and get my camera. We must have been a sight, the six of us walking through the woods with a gentle snow falling!

As always, anytime we are with the animals it is interesting. Nothing is ever routine. Even if you ride the same trails time after time, something unique always happens. This walk was no different. The goats were excited, and a little afraid, which makes them walk very close to you for protection. That is code for "constantly underfoot." The horses were jazzed up -- the cool weather, the snow, they love that stuff. Had we been riding it would have been a wild time. So leading them was a challenge. But I think they all enjoyed it, and John and I got some exercise, and the neighbors must have had a laugh at the sight of us!