Weather around here is pretty gloppy too. Kind of warm for the season, upper 30F's, dark clouds. We left the hose out, didn't freeze all last week. The frost is all out of the ground, dirt is turned to mud. I left the chains on the tractor, need the extra traction. Does really tear up the ground emptying the spreader though.

Horses are all fluffy, bouncy in this weather. I am hearing about some colics with winter weather. Horses don't like to drink very cold water in winter, get dehydrated. Lots of hay feeding seems to need more water to digest, which they won't drink. Leads to impaction colic if you don't keep a close eye on them.
My horses are drinking well, however I keep on adding salt to the beetpulp they get daily. I do see a real improvement in water consumption with using the salt. Will continue salting horses all winter.
We got a little riding done between rain storms last week, got some schooling done on our sale horse. We had a person come try him out, not what she expected. I think she thought he was going to be a large fuzzy pony. I had told her he was a dressage horse who could also jump. Certainly no one ever believes you when you say how tall a horse is. They figure seller always overestimates horse size. So seeing he is ACTUALLY, REALLY 17H shocked her as well. He gave her a good ride, did show well for me too while doing the demo. I think the height got to her! Not used to big horses. Oh well, there will be other buyers.

We will be getting our other horse home from the trainer pretty soon. He has been out learning his basics, doing very well. It is really a posh place, he will think he came home to the sticks! Trainer is very happy with him, liked the experience of working with him. She is an Arab horse professional, not used to our kind of horse. Thinkers, willing but need things clear before proceeding. Very quick to learn along with large movement for being a hunter or dressage style horse. She thought he was really flying as he went around arena! Husband works for her as a farrier, was there about weekly. He gave her tips, explained how to proceed with the horse. Got her to better "feel the movement" instead of counting posts going by in arena wall. Horse wasn't really going fast, just has a huge stride.
She is doing a great job, horse is very balanced, good cadence in his gaits. Stands well for mounting, waits for signals, ignores most other action in arena. She has usually got 3-4 other people working other horses on long lines, round pen, riding, all at the same time. She is polishing his leg signals, rein response. Has been letting her hired help ride him too. Makes him more accepting of other riders, their different ways of riding. She has been kind, consistant, willing to adjust program to fit him, his needs.

DD is back in school. Sure is big change after 2 weeks home for holidays. Makes days seem much shorter now, even starting earlier in the AM. Working on 4-H things 2 nights a week.

Husband is pretty much back to full time work. Damp days are harder to breathe. Ribs still ache a bit but arm is going very well. He has almost finished the new shop roof. He got sheet metal in dark green. Goes up pretty fast, when he gets daylight time to work on it! The styrofoam insulation between 2 x 4's is the time consuming part. Fitting in pieces, lots of cutting. I really like how the metal looks, very easy on the eyes. Couple neighbors have complimented him on nice appearance too. Making THEM think about metal roofs.

Days are pretty dark though the sun surprised us with a visit yesterday. We all went outside and pointed at it! Hasn't been visible for a couple weeks. Guess that is about all for us this week.

Haven't been here for a while, we were working on the barn, getting the stalls ready for christmas. Found a source of rough cut lumber, and made several trips. Used some huge looking slabs of wood 2"x8"x12' for the stalls. They are gorgous, even prettier with the horses heads sticking over the rails!

Best Christmas present was going out to the barn and hearing the nickers for breakfast, and seeing them all snug in the stable.

So now they are bedded in sawdust, clean up is a snap and every morning is just like christmas! It was just in time for my old gelding, he was losing weight like crazy because the girls wouldn't let him eat!

Now they are on diets and he's gaining weight again. And I can grain without them fighting!

The chickens are still laying an egg a day. I didn't think they would do that all winter. We think it must be the fact they are free range, they get all kinds of light.

We haven't lost a single duck to preditors! When we were close to Ft. Knox we lost half the flock to coyotes. Ft. Knox is wooded and the coyotes were thick but silent. Here they sing a lot, but don't come close to the farm.

The last big construction project is backfilling the barn so we are at grade, and I can get the doors pinned. The wind just beats on them, and there is a foot between the door and the ground.

I've buckled down to serious job hunting, my time as a farmwife has to end so we can get back on our feet.

It's good to be back!
Kitty

Finally saw the sun today after over two weeks of cloudy days. Weather has been way above normal temperature wise too. Sure helps save on the woodpile. Keep a few old hens and started getting an egg now and then so look forward to spring. Put a seed order in today so that helps turn the attention from the snow banks.