Happy Leap Day!

Happy Leap Day! I once had a student who was born on Leap Day and he used to joke that he was really only two and a half. He would be eight and a half now (and he has four cute kids!) I think of him every February 29, so happy birthday, Adam B!

Not gonna lie, I am glad we have reached the end of winter. I have always preferred the meteorological seasons, so that means that tomorrow is the first day of Spring. A new month also means a new give away, so look for that to happen soon. (Most likely I will announce it Monday.)

Overall it's been a mild winter and the horses have weathered it well. (No pun was intended when I wrote that!) After having had recent temps in the 70s, we are now back below freezing. I think I mind that shift back to cold temps more than the horses do!

Some of you have wondered about the fifth member of the herd, Dolly, and why she has not been appearing on the blog for some time. Sadly she passed away. She went peacefully while she was sleeping - a good way to go. Out of respect for her owner's wishes, I have not posted any more details. 

With Spring on the way, Tim is gearing up for more projects. I suspect this pile of dirt will be used to level the northeast pasture - there is a depression on the ground there that tends to turn into a pond when we get heavy rains. 

Speaking of water, I was filling the trough and the sound of that water flowing took me right back to my teens when I had my horses at home. I stood there and listened, then pulled out my phone to record it.

I thought you might enjoy listening, too. 

The preparation for The Kalamazoo Living History event continues. I made a third cloak, this one a hip length rather than knee length like the other two.

It's made of a very heavy grey wool with black silk ribbon ties.

The hood is lined with silk and I am really happy with how it turned out.

Teacher Daughter Lisa came over after school yesterday so I could take her measurements for a new 18th century dress, a robe a l'Anglais. (An English gown.) It will be even more difficult to make than the riding habits I made us both, so wish me luck. More on that tomorrow.

Stay 'tooned!

Ready for Winter

The snowstorm was beginning to roll in yesterday morning when I did the barn check. There was a heavy mist coming down and a chilly wind blowing.

The temperature just above freezing so there were no snowflakes flying.

The round bales are stored by the hayfield and the hay mow has about 100 bales stored there, all ready to go.

The south side of the old barn has two huge box stalls, each with their own entrance. That makes it so that, no matter where you are in the herd pecking order, you can still get inside when the weather is bad.

The horses did not seem to mind the weather; all of them were relaxing outside.

I finally found the barn heater and got it set up in the bathroom, topped off the water trough, and then headed into town to run some errands before the storm hit. 

By 4:30 in the afternoon, we'd had three inches of snow. The temperature was dropping fast and the winds had picked up so that the snow was drifting. Roads were ice covered and treacherous, and there were spotty power outages in town. Local schools announced a two hour delay for today.

This morning dawned cold and clear, with the wind chills at -6.

I'll be chopping ice again today and throwing down hay earlier than we'd planned (we were going to start this weekend.) But the barns and horses are ready for winter. Even if I am not!

Eleven Horses in One Day!

A new record (or at least one that hasn't happened in YEARS) - I visited with eleven horses in one afternoon!

Leslie is out of town and asked Lisa and me to go to her farm and check on her horses. We filled up the water trough, watered the garden, and gave Skippy, Beau, and Coco sugar lumps. (Lisa went to three stores to find them. And the horses LOVED them!)

 Skippy frisks Lisa, knowing she has treats on her.

 He is such a patient, gentle boy and enjoys being social.

"Please?? Can't I have another lump of sugar, Lisa??"

We spent about an hour at Leslie's and then we hopped in the car and drove back to West Lafayette to see Abby and her buddies.

I was hot and tired when we got there, and moving rather slowly, so I didn't call Abby's name and whistle like I usually do. Nevertheless, Abby saw me coming, lifted her head with her ears cocked forward, and nickered at me as I approached. (Talk about melting my heart!!)

The water level in the trough was down, so I turned on the spigot and added fresh water. Dolly and Trouble took long, cool draughts.

 Diablo also was thirsty. I didn't get it on camera, but she put her front leg into the trough and splashed around, then pulled it out and drank! I have seen horses paw water in creeks and rivers, but never have I seen one do it in the water trough!!

Abby takes her turn. Horses often dribble after drinking, and you can see the water beads trickling out her mouth.

And then Abby did something that surprised me, something similar to what she did in Frankfort that "sealed the deal" and wrapped her forever around my heart. 

She stayed, just to socialize.

Abby half closed her eyes and put her head over the gate for petting. She wasn't frisking me for carrots or sugar, she simply wanted to be with me. I spoke quietly to her and rubbed her ears, her face, and neck. Still she stayed, relaxed and content, happy to just have my companionship.

Is it any wonder I love this horse?