Headed Off To Summer Camp

T-Bone and Hickory have enjoyed having cousin Talk here for the school semester.  Talk's mom, who was also Hickory's mom, is finishing up her degree at the University of Kentucky.  She and Talk left this morning, headed back to New York for the summer.  

Paige will be directing and teaching at the Houghton College Equestrian Summer Camp.  I learned so much from riding with her this winter (until she really screwed up the weather ;-) that I wish I was going to riding camp!  Lamb camp is just as good :-).

We met them three or so years ago through one of our favorite blogging friends, Lori, of The Skoog Farm Journal.  Isn't it fun how we all get connected through a little box that sits on our desks :-).

Have a great summer, Paige!  

Snow Melt

Hickory, T-Bone and Talk

Coolin' off :-).

The Three Musketeers

Burrnie and Blossom

I was sitting on the other side of the short barn lot fence (I know better than to try to knit with the boys around ;-).  I was so enjoying watching Maisie picking at hay and the chickens picking at whatever it is that chickens pick around at that I decided to take a short video.  The sound of the snow melting off the roof and the creek down the hill and the birds, so happy...mostly drowned out by wind noise.  Argh. Always something, eh?  You might want to turn your volume down.  

Weekend Wrap Up...On A Monday

This is going to be a quickie. I may come back and add some more "details" later, but I'm worried about the old guys and want to head back out for a barn check.  The weather here is not good. Still, I'm trying to keep the week's end wrap up running...even if it's not technically the weekend any longer. I'd have done it last night, but I got sucked into the SNL 40th Anniversary ;-).

This was taken several days ago (when the weather was lovely) and I've actually added quite a few rows since.  I'm really enjoying knitting the Peerie Flooers hat and I'm hoping my technique is getting better as I go.  This is a "warm up" for the Iknitarod.  We are following the Yukon Quest race.  They aren't having great weather either.

More painting this year.  Wanted a small, fun project.  We'll see what develops.

16 new spindles underway.  I like to make drop spindles :-).

A HUGE box of wool arrived from Nistock Farms.  I'm trying to save opening the box for the Winter Wool Workshop...but the anticipation is killing me ;-).

And while we had cold, but sunny and no wind weather yesterday, we worked to prep the barn for the upcoming nasty week.  I wanted to run a heavy extension cord out to a heated water bucket for Del Boca Vista.  I ran the cord through some PVC jump poles.  You can see why I would want to do that ;-).

Of course Graham had to help.  He was disappointed in the lack of power tools.

As was Baaxter.  Baaxter helps with everything we do around the barn.  He is so curious and interested and not just in a nosy sheep sort of way.  I really think he's watching how we do things and wants to help. He'd totally be an engineer if he was a "real boy".

Jester and Ford enjoyed the warm afternoon.  And it really was warm.  The temps were in the low 20s but with no wind and full sun, it was actually very pleasant.  

Tim and Comby waiting for a parts delivery.

Paige (Talk's mom) and I tore up the manure spreader.  She and Tim had it back running in no time :-).

And this cold looking sunset last night definitely delivered and is still going strong.  The wind and snow is blowing down from Stella's house (the east), which very rarely happens.  The little shed in Del Boca Vista is cold with the snow blowing in.  The boys are cold :-(.  

I added a big piece of plywood to the front this morning and that seemed to help quite a bit.  I just hope it's going to help enough.  I sat in there for a bit and I think it's warmer in there than in the big barn under a lamp like we used last year.  But that's why I'm headed back up to check on them.  The plan can always change.

How did your weekend wrap up?  And for all the folks facing the cold, stay wrapped up!  ;-)

Snow Ponies

Wasn't it just a perfect snow?

Poor Gromit

For anyone who's a big Wallace and Gromit fan, you aren't going to need a close up to visualize the look on Hank's face.   And if you aren't a huge Wallace and Gromit fan, go watch some online videos (look for Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) and come back later.  It will be much later because you'll get so hooked on them that you won't be able to stop :-).

There is a new horse on his farm - a boarder, so only a temporary member of the farm family. Hank, having years of experience in hating horses (remember sheep bowling?), isn't even going to give Talk a chance to make friends.  Not that Talk cares.  He has zero interest in Hank's sheep.

But Hank's not taking any chances!