I guess Heaven must have had issues with the Pacific North West yesterday. The rain clouds swept over the horizon shrouding the taller cedar trees, the winds blew in from the ocean and the twinkling Christmas icicles dangling from the deck waved...shimmered ....and promptly went out !!! The drains overflowed, the pastures were under water, the wind chimes were playing the Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture in fast time and Mr. Mrs. (and the "just in case", two's company, three is a crowd drake) Mallard decided that it almost certainly WASN'T weather for the ducks. ! The horses turned their butts into the wind and hung their heads close to the ground, the cows and sheep lined up miserably in cow lane and the chickens, feathers pitiably sodden and limp abjectly slumped on overcrowded perches. Us ? we just got wet, very very wet !
This morning, the broken clouds were highlighted by a watery sun, murky puddles, overflowing creeks and muddy trails were a reminder of yesterdays torrential downpours and all was good with the world. The sky was blue, the grass looked greener, the boughs of the cedar trees hung heavy with moisture and the ponds lazy ripples reflected the dawn of a brand new day. The shortest day of the year, the first day of Winter and only four days until Christmas.
Our new equine residents have, thankfully made themselves quite at home in their new pasture. Ky the bay gelding and feisty Fiona the little chestnut filly managed to test and breach the Gentle Giant fences within the first week here and it has to be said....my heart skips a beat when I catch sight of the two absconders lurking on the fence line. Apparently, thankfully, Ky the Houdini of the equine world has developed a healthy aversion to the little white wire with a hearty kick.... which has eased my apprehension enough for me to stop my every five minute "are they still in situ" checks...but not quite enough to trust them completely. Clearly it is going to take a little while before a sense of security is regained ....and fortified fences, Alcatraz or Jurassic Park comes to mind !
Old T Bone, our most senior senior had a "readjustment" recently. Unfortunately for our distinguished old bay gelding, he had become accustomed to falling over his own creaking groaning knobby hind legs giving him an ungainly rocking/rolling action.....his readjustment if anything may well have put things back where they belonged but poor old T Bone no longer knows what should go where....and his back legs have become inclined to tie themselves in a virtual overhand knot. Yesterday as dusk fell over the pastures, Daisy Mae, Misty and Bella were all safely back in the cow barn and I headed down a very muddy cow lane to bring T Bone and Cooper in for the night. T Bone quietly whickered a greeting to me, Mr. Cooper threateningly cast a menacing glance at his veteran companion ears pinned back in warning as I opened the gate, clearly he was unwilling to share the apple morsel I was offering. Unconcerned by Coopers less than friendly conduct I applied his head collar and proceeded to work with old T Bone who impatiently allowed me time to prepare him before he promptly and resolutely headed for the gate...without me. One bump with his big old Roman nose and the gate chain became dislodged....a second more hearty bump, the pasture gate swung open and the old bay gelding took himself home leaving an irritated Mr. Cooper to follow in his rickety old friends wake. Evidently our 31 year old veteran believes in the adage...age before beauty.
Time for bed, it has been a long day. The cuckoo has spoken and Bran and Luke are stirring for their evening potty break. Take care, Keep safe. M
This morning, the broken clouds were highlighted by a watery sun, murky puddles, overflowing creeks and muddy trails were a reminder of yesterdays torrential downpours and all was good with the world. The sky was blue, the grass looked greener, the boughs of the cedar trees hung heavy with moisture and the ponds lazy ripples reflected the dawn of a brand new day. The shortest day of the year, the first day of Winter and only four days until Christmas.
Our new equine residents have, thankfully made themselves quite at home in their new pasture. Ky the bay gelding and feisty Fiona the little chestnut filly managed to test and breach the Gentle Giant fences within the first week here and it has to be said....my heart skips a beat when I catch sight of the two absconders lurking on the fence line. Apparently, thankfully, Ky the Houdini of the equine world has developed a healthy aversion to the little white wire with a hearty kick.... which has eased my apprehension enough for me to stop my every five minute "are they still in situ" checks...but not quite enough to trust them completely. Clearly it is going to take a little while before a sense of security is regained ....and fortified fences, Alcatraz or Jurassic Park comes to mind !
Old T Bone, our most senior senior had a "readjustment" recently. Unfortunately for our distinguished old bay gelding, he had become accustomed to falling over his own creaking groaning knobby hind legs giving him an ungainly rocking/rolling action.....his readjustment if anything may well have put things back where they belonged but poor old T Bone no longer knows what should go where....and his back legs have become inclined to tie themselves in a virtual overhand knot. Yesterday as dusk fell over the pastures, Daisy Mae, Misty and Bella were all safely back in the cow barn and I headed down a very muddy cow lane to bring T Bone and Cooper in for the night. T Bone quietly whickered a greeting to me, Mr. Cooper threateningly cast a menacing glance at his veteran companion ears pinned back in warning as I opened the gate, clearly he was unwilling to share the apple morsel I was offering. Unconcerned by Coopers less than friendly conduct I applied his head collar and proceeded to work with old T Bone who impatiently allowed me time to prepare him before he promptly and resolutely headed for the gate...without me. One bump with his big old Roman nose and the gate chain became dislodged....a second more hearty bump, the pasture gate swung open and the old bay gelding took himself home leaving an irritated Mr. Cooper to follow in his rickety old friends wake. Evidently our 31 year old veteran believes in the adage...age before beauty.
Time for bed, it has been a long day. The cuckoo has spoken and Bran and Luke are stirring for their evening potty break. Take care, Keep safe. M
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