I used to spot a stray sunbeam and prostrate myself to get maximum absorption level. Weather forecasts were scanned for an outside chance of a sun symbol, days off from the office were wishfully booked hoping perchance to have at least an hour or two of rain free (if not sunny) emancipation !! Holidays ( vacations) were arranged to places where the body would be nicely browned…if not cremated and the more cremated the better !!
Maybe its encroaching old age, maybe I’ve got smarter ( doubt it !!!) but this latest scorching weather has found me ducking and diving from shady place to shadows….and I have even been found with a tall glass of water with icebergs floating in it !! ( I think the sun got to me, smile). The chickens appear to have struggled the most. I guess it’s tough to sit in even the most sought after and highly prized nest box, tough to cluck contentedly and expel a big brown egg when the temperature outside has reached 102 degrees. The chickens abandoned the roosts were they habitually line up in groups chuntering and chattering in a chicken convention, birds struggling to keep cool spread their wings flattened their feathers and panted. As the sun went down over the cedar trees I’m sure there was a huge collective sigh emanating from the birds broiling in the chicken coops.
For our equine friends these past few days have ended with a nice cold shower. One by one the horses returned from the pasture and for all the world like an assembly line, manes tails and hooves were washed and picked as each horse stood for the lovely cool treat. Get on the wrong side of the hosepipe and squeals and yelps notified the operator that Edward Sophie or Quatra had got an unscheduled shower. Zinny the little chestnut pony has been in our care while mom took a vacation and joined the assembly line with all the big boys and girls. Coyly the little lady that flirts shamefully with big Starbuck the black gelding crossed her back legs and crumpled up when the cool water was sprayed under her tail. Lady the big Shire mare struggles under the heat of the sun and when it’s hosepipe time that big girl just loves to play with the water. She mouths the nozzle and carefully and playfully stamps on the hosepipe to ensure the attention of the operator doesn’t stray from her. Starbuck the big black Appaloosa takes everything in his stride, tolerantly he waits for us to finish our ministerings, mouth quietly searching for the apple treat he knows wont be far away whilst Charm the golden palomino, ( aka beauty with attitude) too hot for full on attitude, half heartedly tosses his pretty head and stamps his foot in a display of equine petulance. Roman, typically our problem child with anything new became our shower time saint. The black Morgan gelding has been known to shy at his own shadow (and snuff and snort at anyone else’s) but, grateful for the cool down he just absorbs the water and the attention.
Got to go, cuckoo has just cuckood, Greg has moved, dog is in position….must be time to head for the barn !!
Take care, keep safe, M
Maybe its encroaching old age, maybe I’ve got smarter ( doubt it !!!) but this latest scorching weather has found me ducking and diving from shady place to shadows….and I have even been found with a tall glass of water with icebergs floating in it !! ( I think the sun got to me, smile). The chickens appear to have struggled the most. I guess it’s tough to sit in even the most sought after and highly prized nest box, tough to cluck contentedly and expel a big brown egg when the temperature outside has reached 102 degrees. The chickens abandoned the roosts were they habitually line up in groups chuntering and chattering in a chicken convention, birds struggling to keep cool spread their wings flattened their feathers and panted. As the sun went down over the cedar trees I’m sure there was a huge collective sigh emanating from the birds broiling in the chicken coops.
For our equine friends these past few days have ended with a nice cold shower. One by one the horses returned from the pasture and for all the world like an assembly line, manes tails and hooves were washed and picked as each horse stood for the lovely cool treat. Get on the wrong side of the hosepipe and squeals and yelps notified the operator that Edward Sophie or Quatra had got an unscheduled shower. Zinny the little chestnut pony has been in our care while mom took a vacation and joined the assembly line with all the big boys and girls. Coyly the little lady that flirts shamefully with big Starbuck the black gelding crossed her back legs and crumpled up when the cool water was sprayed under her tail. Lady the big Shire mare struggles under the heat of the sun and when it’s hosepipe time that big girl just loves to play with the water. She mouths the nozzle and carefully and playfully stamps on the hosepipe to ensure the attention of the operator doesn’t stray from her. Starbuck the big black Appaloosa takes everything in his stride, tolerantly he waits for us to finish our ministerings, mouth quietly searching for the apple treat he knows wont be far away whilst Charm the golden palomino, ( aka beauty with attitude) too hot for full on attitude, half heartedly tosses his pretty head and stamps his foot in a display of equine petulance. Roman, typically our problem child with anything new became our shower time saint. The black Morgan gelding has been known to shy at his own shadow (and snuff and snort at anyone else’s) but, grateful for the cool down he just absorbs the water and the attention.
Got to go, cuckoo has just cuckood, Greg has moved, dog is in position….must be time to head for the barn !!
Take care, keep safe, M
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