Wordless Wednesday

A good Monday

Monday is my day off, so I spent it on "me time"  which, of course, means horse time. First I got on the tractor and cleaned the mare pen, turned the manure/compost heap as much as I could. In the afternoon, I took Beamer out for a ride, just a nice walk and trot around the hayfield. We worked on shoulder and hip control, which with him really isn't necessary as he's so light I just have to think what I want and he does it.
What we were doing looks like this(sort of!)

Working in a straight line, I moved his shoulders over (not just his head and neck, the front feet had to track off the line of fall) for a few strides, then went straight, then asked him to move his hip out of the line of fall, all the while riding a perfectly straight line. We did both directions for shoulders and hips, and then did a more difficult maneuver- ask all four feet to go straight while bending in the ribs. You can't ask for much bend before the feet move out of the track, but it's a good exercise to work on keeping your aids light and your horse responsive. This whole exercise will also tell you if your horse is sore or stiff in any part of his body.
Beamer was so good, we just relaxed for the rest of the ride. We checked out the neighbor's cows, and used the opportunity to see where individual cow's flight zone was. Some didn't move at all as we approached, and some were turning away at 50 ft.
As we rode along the edge of the hayfield where there is a drainage canal, we spotted this hawk at the top of a tree.

The tree was tall and my camera was maxed out on zoom. Beamer kindly stood still for me, and I was real happy to get the next photo.

Also, I wore my new helmet; it was quite comfortable and fits really well, I hardly noticed it. It was a really good day, topped off by a prayer service at our church in the evening. Life is good- at least, as good as it gets- I can't wait until Ted is back  home from working out of town.

Shopping list

If you check my sidebar to the left, you will see a list - consider it a shopping mall! I would love to add more links to it, and if you see your link there, and don't want it on there, or want it edited, please let me know.
C'mon bloggers, I know there are more of you that sell stuff online- leave me a comment with your link. Also, any of you may feel free to copy my list for your own blogs.

Making a halter for Rio

Rio has outgrown his baby halter- at 7 months old he is as big as some yearlings. I bought 50 feet of rope a while ago, enough to make a couple of halters- cost, $10.
Here's a step by step on how it looked to make it. I start with about 21 feet of rope. The first two knots are the noseband knots, with the left one 82" from the end, and the next one about 10 inches away.

(Sorry about  the fuzzy photo!) I'm using a simple overhand half-knot. The tape marks where the next knot, the Fiador, will end up.

Making the Fiador- start with the right hand length (the long side)

The Fiador before tightening it:

And tightened, it becomes the knot below the chin that the lead line gets attached to:

Remove the tape, and using the long  (right side) end make a knot 6 " away (5 " for a yearling) - the jaw knot. The next knot is 9 inches away (7 for a yearling) and becomes the knot and loop for fastening the halter when it's all done.

When you tighten this knot, leave about a two inch loop for doing up the halter.  Take the rope and run it 9 inches (7 for a yearling) to the noseband knots, making another half knot inside the existing half knot, which now becomes a double overhand knot. Here's how you make a double overhand knot:

The first overhand half knot

Making the second overhand half knot inside the first one so that it becomes a double overhand knot and looks like this when tightened:

Then do the next noseband knot, making sure there are no twists in the rope. The next knot is for the offside and is the last knot using this part of the rope- it should be 9" away (7 for a yearling).

 The remainder of that piece should be plenty long enough for tying the halter. Next, take the original short end that comes out of the Fiador knot, and make a knot inside the jaw knot. Then run it up to the last knot you made in the other rope -9' for a horse, 7' for a yearling:

Tie your last double overhand knot there, and even up the remaining lengths. Before you really tighten down all the knots, it's a good idea to try it on the horse first in case you want to adjust the length in between knots, as every horse is different. 

You can finish the ends in a number of ways- copper tube, shrink tube, splicing. or what I used is some industrial grade reflective safety tape. 

The best part is trying it on Rio and it fits!

I made one for Chickory too, and have enough left over to make puppy chew toys for Merle.

She really needs a new lead rope.

Sunday Stills

This was an educational challenge for me. I've heard the term bokeh, but never really knew exactly what it was referring to.

Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas.  However, bokeh is not limited to highlights; blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image.”  

So thanks to the posted explanation of how to achieve this, I think I got it. There was only one really sunny day this last week so I took my camera and did my best to get some good images.

None of my photos got the really sparkley bokeh, but I think I kinda got the hang of it.

Christmas shopping idea

I meant to post this a while ago, but forgot- sorry! Gttyup was kind enough to award me a gift certificate to Heart of a Cowgirl who makes wonderful things to sell in her Etsy shop. I picked out these lovely earrings:

There are quite a number of talented bloggers who make things to sell, and I would like to encourage you to do some of your Christmas shopping by supporting them. There is jewelry, photo products, calenders, soaps, artwork, so many things. I'd be pleased if commenters would mention some of their favorite bloggers who have online shopping. You may include links. Let's support each other.
Edited to add: Links to your own site are welcome!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all the folks in the US who read my blog, hope your day is happy indeed.
I  was thankful this morning to wake up to such beauty:

Especially thankful that the snow stayed on the mountain tops, and that the rain quit, and that the ground thawed out and Lake Beamer mostly disappeared.
Thankful, to see that my hardy little pansy is still valiantly blooming through all the nasty weather, including being buried by snow.

In fact, I am amazed that I still have viola flowers,

and that my Bee Balm looks like it has new growth.

(Even though it did get knocked over by the snowfall.)

Rio is improving, and when I run out of penicillin tomorrow, I'll get some Uniprim (thanks for the reminder Sherry- I have used it before, but forgot about it ) so I don't have to keep poking holes in his poor little self. Also, it's pretty certain that he will be a big brother next spring- what do you think?

White to wet to green

A few days ago, it looked like winter had set in. I spent a couple hours plowing snow and watched it pile up til we had 8 inches of the white stuff. Then we got a coastal rain system moving in, and within 48 hours, it looked like this:

Yep- Lake Beamer is back. (Yes, he does have high ground, this is the middle of the pen )

All that's left of the snow is the pile from plowing the yard- and it's still raining. One good thing- the frost has gone out of the ground, so all this rain should soak in, once it stops raining. Assuming it doesn't freeze hard immediately!
Some bad news, Rio's cut isn't looking good, it was slow to heal, and yesterday I managed to scrape off the dead skin and get it draining again, but it looks infected so he is on penicillin now. I'll spare you the graphic images. I've got him penned up again, and I'll be keeping a close eye on things. At least he is -so far- easy to give shots to, he'll be getting the penicillin every 12 hours, so I'd bet he gets fed up with needles after a day or two, poor boy.

Wordless Wednesday

Playing in the snow

We got another blast of snow today, and I'm happy to report that my little birds did indeed tell their buddies about the free groceries over at Diamond Lazy H - there were a bunch of them all squabbling over the best position at the feeder:

This poor little fellow not only got kicked out, he had some snow landing on his head:

It was fun watching them; I made sure to keep the cats inside while they were feeding.

I did put up another feeder today, now that I have enough birds to warrant it. Third winter here, and this is the first time I've had birds to feed. About time they found me!

The snow finally quit around 3 PM, so I fired up the old Kabota tractor and plowed for almost 2 hours. We have a fairly large yard, so it's time consuming. I got to thinking :
You might be a redneck if:
Your wish list for when you win the lottery is topped by one of these:

source

Having been a snowplow operator for over 16 years, I love plowing snow- but the tractor I use is so worn out that every time I tilt the bucket, I have to use both hands to hold the linkage together. Sigh.

Sunday Stills

Portraits around here are usually about the critters; not too many people around here, unless I set up the bathroom mirror so that it makes multiple images! Ted has been working out of town, so critters it is.

Merle

Foose

Thumper

and, of course,

Mr. Handsome.

Simple Saturday

After the storm

B.C.- or Alberta???

One of the things I don't miss about Alberta is the winter wind and blowing snow. Well, today, it felt just like Alberta- howling wind, drifting snow, but the good thing- it wasn't anywhere near as cold; only -2C  (28*F) But it sure looked like Alberta- no offence to my Alberta buddies!

Now you see 'em (just barely; 1 PM)

Now you don't (3 PM)

The wind is out of the NE, and all the horses are huddled behind the windbreak of Beamer's new shelter.

This is the area of Rio's former pen that I opened up to put the water tank in for the winter; it had to be in reach of a hose, and an electrical outlet to plug in the tank heater.

This photo shows how creative I had to be; the plastic pipe tied to the panel contains the electrical cord for the heater, effective in keeping inquisitive horse teeth from chewing it in half, thereby electrocuting themselves (even though it is covered with metal conduit!) The extension cord goes to a snap on top of the divider wall, so Beamer can't reach it, also I angled the panel so Beamer and the mares can't reach each other. It's far from an ideal set-up, but when you don't own the place, you have to make do with what you have to work with, and try to keep things as safe as possible. I'll take safety over pretty any day.

Speaking of pretty, at long last I have birds at my feeder! This pair ( I think they are Audubon Warblers) have been happily munching away for over a week now; I hope they stay, and tell all their feathered buddies about the free dinner.

First snow!

Beamer wanted to give you all a big kiss today.

And poor Merle was quite surprised when he went out for his morning pee; I had to shovel pee paths for him.

I'm happy with Beamer's new shelter, and he is too.

When I checked Rio's leg this morning, it looked more swollen, so I turned him out, reasoning that some exercise will help keep the wound draining and reduce the swelling. Don't have to worry about dirt getting in it with all the snow!  The water heaters went out today too- I did Beamer's this morning and will do the girls' this afternoon as I have to move their tank. So I guess it's officially winter! 

The Wonder Year Begins

Tuesday afternoon, I brought Beamer in with the plan of saddling him up, and ponying Rio, since the two boys get along so well. However, the best laid plans- you guessed it- Murphy stepped in. There oughta be a law against Murphy. Rio didn't come up to me in the pasture like he usually does, and when I got to him I could see why. He had a nasty gash right below his hock, and it had obviously just happened:

The only culprit I could find when I walked the pasture was a large nailhead that I had overlooked; the kind where when you can't get the nail in all the way you bend the nail up. Either that, or he managed to get his leg in the barbwire somehow (have I ever mentioned how much I hate barbwire?) The wound has a deep puncture type centre and ripped skin above the puncture. I washed it out, and put Schreiners on it and wrapped it, but had to take the wrap off about three hours later as there was some swelling. However, by then the bleeding had stopped. Rio proved that he is very much his father's son; he was really wussy about putting weight on that leg, even when I put his feed out he wasn't sure he could walk the three steps to the pail! I also went and got him a tetanus shot, and my friend Terri came and held him for me, as this was his very first shot- but he was a very good boy and didn't even flinch. He is much better today, but I'm giving him stall rest for a few days until the swelling goes away. If you check out the link to Schreiners, be sure to read the testimonials.

After all that drama, I did manage to get in a ride on Beamer- it was fun, and we galloped straight at the setting sun, as it disappeared behind the mountain.

The weather has turned colder and there is 4 inches of snow in the forecast, but I bet it doesn't hit that hard here. I leave you with the last pansy, still bravely blooming as of yesterday.