Babe

Dreaming of Spring - Already

Winter has only just begun and I'm already dreaming about Spring. There are so many things I have planned.

The property I live on has a huge manicured front and back yard. Lots of places around the front porch to grow flowers. The barn and paddock are to the left of the driveway, and pasture 1 is behind the paddock and back yard. Pasture 2 is located to the right of the front yard and has a small pond. The rest of the property is woodsy, with big old trees perfect for tree houses, and wild blackberry bushes that produce a ton of berries. A few months ago I discovered a couple of apple trees at the very back end of the woods. There is a riding lawn mower in the garage that needs a new belt and we'll need that to keep the trails in woods trimmed and accessible.

The garden area sits between the backyard and pasture 1, with the clothes line around the perimeter. Not only does the clothes line save on electricity, it's a great barrier between the garden and the deer. They don't like the hanging clothes and stay away. I planted garlic in the fall and will plant everything possible that will grow this far north. This past summer I canned some tomatoes and spaghetti sauce. That was awesome! I love being self-sufficient and living off of the land.

I plan to get a few more animals. I'd like to have another cat to help with the mice population - I've found them in the house, in the garage, and in the barn. Definitely need a barn cat! I want another horse, a young one that I can train. I also plan to get a couple of chickens this Spring because farm fresh eggs are so good! It's amazing how different they taste compared to store-bought eggs. I haven't decided whether or not I want to just buy a chicken coop or try to build one. I'm sure my oldest son will help if I decide to build one. How hard could it be?

As I write this, it is snowing, cold and gloomy. The horses were pissed because their hay roll was almost gone, so I had to ask Henry down the street to bring me another one. The big rolls last about two weeks. I know the horses are missing their pasture grass.

Time to go muck stalls. And dream of Spring!

Thoroughbred Head

Do you now how hard it is to take a Thoroughbred's portrait? I need a wide angle lens to capture the full length of Zazu's head. What happened to her ears?

Loving Vermont

Vermont is like no other state I've ever been in - figuratively and literally. I continue to be amazed by the beauty of the landscape, the ever-changing weather and the people.

My commute to work is about an hour. The kids and I hit the door about 7am, Kaiya's bus picks her up at the end of the driveway about 7:05, I drop off the boys at the corner market by 7:15. I usually pull into the parking garage in Winooski about 8am. It's a long drive, but the beauty of the sun rising over Lake Champlain, or the snow drifting down from the sky, or watching the lake freeze little by little everyday, makes it all worth it.

The people. I have never in my life experienced such considerate people.

This is Laney! I had her halter on for a few days so she has "halter face". Her leg is healing fine.


Jake heard coyotes howling last night. He wants to shoot them. I can't argue...I think they are the cause of the horses breaking the fence at night.

Snowy Pasture

I see snowflakes drift across the road like sand blows from the dunes and over the highway in the California desert. Remember that short warm-up...short and sweet. The snow was back today, flurries at first as I drove to Winooski, light snow by mid-day. Headed home around 6pm after the boys' activity was canceled. Forty-five minute ride turned into two hours. A combination of slick roads, blinding snowflakes, a white road and a Vermont newbie with no "winters"...I really really want an all-wheel drive SUV.


It was nice to see the green grass the past few days, but we're back to the beautiful white pastures. I love the snow. I love weather. I must tell you about the ice fishers on frozen Lake Champlain! Crazy...

Muddy!

I worked my butt off today trying to get rid of the water in front of the barn. My arms hurt. Took a few pictures while the sun was out :)

Mud Season Introduction

January 1st brings us above normal temperatures, rain and...mud! I haven't experienced Spring or Mud Season here in New England yet, but I think I just got my first glimpse into the future.

The definition of Mud Season, as described by Wikipedia:

A term used to denote a time period in late Winter and early Spring. The name comes from dirt paths such as roads and hiking trails which become muddy from melting snow and rain. When the muddy paths and roads are traveled over by wheels, they develop. It is regarded in some northeastern states within the as both a curse and a blessing because, although it is generally a messy time of year, it is an interlude between the standard tourist seasons of summer, fall, and winter.

Mud season occurs only in places where the ground freezes deeply in winter, is covered by snow, and thaws in spring. Dirt roads and paths become muddy because the deeply frozen ground thaws from the surface down as the air temperature warms above freezing. The snow melts but the frozen lower layers of ground prevent water from percolating into the soil so the surface layers of soil become saturated with water and turn to mud.

The warmer temps brought us rain last night that melted a foot of snow. The pasture and paddock are muddy swamps. I can only imagine what it'll be like in the Spring. I was reading on this horse blog what might be a possible solution to the mud issue in the paddock. I guess I have a few months to figure it out. I'm sure our current warm-up won't last. I just hope the standing water in front of the paddock has a chance to dry up before the temp drops below freezing again or I'll have to get ice skates for the horses!