3*31*13 Easter Sunday

Last Week of March - Full Moon!

Full Worm Moon – March Temperature fluctuations have been crazy wild the last couple weeks, the hard ground gave Skip an abscess, which I turned to the internet to treat, peepers are singing in the creek at the bottom of the pasture (sounds like Hollywood's alien spaceship!) and the birds are chirping and staking out their nesting territories. Flocking Bluebirds and Robins are all over the place. The boys have stayed in more nights in a row than during the entire winter, combined.

Northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. I know we could call it this for this week, the little bit of snow that didn't melt outright has a hard crust on it today.

The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter. Hard to believe that Easter is Sunday - it just doesn't feel like Spring. The clouds departed late last night, enough to expose the big Moon overhead.

Snow!! It's a Four Letter Word!

This is not my idea of spring weather, the daffodils are just starting to bloom and now covered in snow! I could have dealt with this easier in January, or February, but late March? Give us a break!

KC's 10th Birthday!

Today is KC's 10th birthday. He started out as a mighty-mite! He's turned into a wonderful little man, really the love of my life. Glad my sweet husband is not jealous of our love affair!

Sunny Saturday - Time to Ride!

Saturday dawned clear and cold, windy. We have so much to do in the house, projects, etc., that I didn't expect to ride this weekend. But we did!

We trailered over to Marriottsville, bright sunshine, gusting breeze, but it was fantastic. Hadn't ridden since early January, I wondered if I would remember how, and recovering from my back injury. I packed a long rope (25 foot) and two handi-sticks. Parking at the trail head in Marriottsville would have made it kind of awkward for any ground work or longeing.

While tacking up a car full of folks came over for a visit. The boys were good, friendly, excellent ambassadors for equines.

I walked him over the roadway, stopping traffic, and walked a good long ways down the railroad access path before getting on. I admit to being leery about his behavior, being feral and wild-acting lately. He was a gentleman.

We decided to go the upside of the tracks because more trees are down in the river, crossing at our favorite spots is not like it once was. He stood like a statue while I got on, got settled. Skip spooked at a couple ducks taking flight from the pond, KC had to do that, too, in solidarity.

We stopped a couple times along the way to address some fallen trees. One was particularly hard; the rings said it was 75 years old, but the tree itself was not very big. It was one tough customer, took us almost a half hour, trading back and forth, to get it cut in half. It is still awkward, but not treacherous.

We ran into several hikers, with dogs, but not one single rider or biker on the trail. No trains, either.

When we finally got to Woodstock we realized why we never saw a train. Massive amounts of CSX machinery, personnel, and supplies in the parking lot at the trail head. Also, four horses were tied up at the hitching post.

We had a delightful lunch, the menu has changed!, and enjoyed the eclectic mix of people (bikers, hikers, and horsemen) out for a good meal and a beer.

On the way back we saw a fox on the trail; we did surprise him with the breeze going in the wrong direction for him. He did a neat roll-back and trotted away from us over the rise. We saw a couple hawks, chased a deer out of the tall grass, flocking Robins in the bare trees.

KC really behaved himself, never got strong or pulled his head down, not once. I'm proud of my little man.

Once home I had to get right back out again to pick up feed for the little guys and do some grocery shopping. I picked up things I'll need for Easter, too.

Snow? Spring? Really?

First full day of Spring, and it snows overnight. Does not feel like Spring!

Spring Has Sprung!

The Equinox is at 7:02 am!

Weekend Wrap-Up - Ides of March, St. Pat's Day

Been cold lately, the boys spent only a couple nights outside, the rest they wanted in. The early spring we've been promised, by a large rodent, has failed to materialize.

After any appreciable persipitation I use the big magnet to scour the dry paddock for nails and screws. Five minutes later I have quite a bounty of metals.

Most of the weekend was spent doing my wifely duties and working in the basement. It was cold both days, Saturday was supposed to rain, but never got a drop. Sunday was even colder, overcast. The Daffodils are trying to come out, but will wait for better weather.

3*14 Pi Pie Day!

Day Light Saving Begins

... With a Cherry on Top!

Right when you think it is safe to come outside:

On Monday night, about 6:46 p.m., KC slammed me into the parked tractor in the aisle, at high speed. I am sore, stiff and a hurting pup.

Yesterday it snowed, sleeted and rained, off and on, all day. Everything is a soft, sopping wet messy mess.

Tonight, at last call, I walk out into the pasture with an armload of hay. The boys are behind me, squabbling over who will pluck it out of my hands.

The pasture is 'soft' and my Muck boots are sinking in, as they are pushing and shoving each other. 'Someone' bumped me from behind and being weak and sore, I fell, face first, onto the wet ground, my toes imbedded in the mud.

I had mud on my knees, and hay in my mouth, hair, eyes, coat. I am FURIOUS!

I'm already in serious pain from Monday night's mishap. This is truly the definition of adding insult to injury. These guys are FERAL!

NEW RULES**** I don't go out into the pasture, or handle either of them without my fiberglass 'handistick.' Don't care who doesn't like it, someone is getting whacked first, questioned later. I need my 24 inches of space, and they both had better respect that, or get WHACKed!

Game On!

Did Someone Say SNOW?

Crash and Burn

I did a really dumb thing last night. Fast forward: I hurt myself with KC's assistance.

I was only going to feed them quickly, get back in the house to make dinner. That wasn’t what happened.

While they were eating their grain, I busied myself with cleaning the aisle, Skip’s stall, moved on to KC’s stall. I had the muck bucket in the doorway of KC's, he finished eating, munched some hay off the floor and then walked out into the aisle. This is rare for him.

I paid no mind to him, going quickly about my chores. He walked over to Skip’s stall to help clean up any fallen grain. I finished up and let Skip out into the pasture, left the gate open.

KC had moved on, too, at the other end of the barn, licking the feed bowls. While walking down the aisle towards him, ‘something’ spooked him. I don’t know if it was traffic/headlights, deer on the other side, or what. Won’t ever know.

He spooked at ‘something’ and ran into the barn, down the aisle (this took less than a second in real life) and hit me squarely with his shoulder at high speed. I was literally lifted off my feet, flying through the air before I abruptly hit the tractor’s rear tire and fender. And he was gone, through the barn.

Skip, hearing the commotion came back into the dry paddock, and worked his way around to the barn aisle to steal the mini’s hay out of the net. I tried to get on my feet as quickly as I could, but this was difficult. I did not have my phone with me.

I tried to climb into the tractor’s seat, but couldn’t get that done. KC was now in Skip’s stall, cleaning up fallen grain; Skip was still eating hay in the aisle. I could not muster the strength to get them into the pasture.

By the time I got to the middle of the parking lot, he managed to notice me, came out to help me into the house. I could stand, but barely walk. I was afraid to try to sit. Obviously my spine was not broken, but I wondered if I might have Kidney damage. He wanted to take me to the emergency room, but I declined.

This was like getting hit by an NFL lineman, if he could run 25 mph, hitting me full-force. I believe I escaped more serious injury because I had on two shirts: a long-sleeved t-shirt and a polartek shirt from Lands' End, plus a Carhhardt shearling-lined jacket and a down-filled parka. Could have been worse, could have been better.

Blunt-force trauma to the left lower back. I imagined a big tire imprint on my back, put an Ice pack on it and took two Advils with a large bottle of water. The rest of the evening I could not get up. I also could not eat, I’m sure that was the ‘shock’ talking.

He reluctantly did my barn chores, letting me know I’ve been doing this and that all wrong. At 10:00 I went out for last call, and throwing hay was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life.

This morning I was able to get out of bed, but unable to walk the dogs. I really cannot handle them right now, together or separately. I’m feeling better every single minute.

I’m feeling much better now, but don’t know if I can lift a water bucket tonight.

First Weekend in March - Wrap-Up

We spent most of our 'spare' time working on the basement rehabilitation project. It is really coming along.

The weather outside is brutal. What was supposed to be 40s turned into 30s with a serious wind chill, along with snow flurries, off and all throughout both Saturday and Sunday. We opted not to ride.

We got some painting done, housekeeping chores, manure spread and like that.

Sunday evening they wanted IN! Getting down to the mid-20s, with 14 mph breeze equals too cold for my liking. They stayed in.

3*1*13

March showed up bright and sunny, blustery and cold. Typical.

Starting Meteorological Spring, ten days until Daylight Savings Time, twenty days until Astronomical Spring.