Time for another update. Not much has changed in the past few weeks other than we have lots of snow (still). On Thursday morning the boys are going to have their "winter tires" installed. Stretch's hind end keeps slipping out from under him (a little bit) and I'm concerned that he may injure himself. Clearly he's not used to having to use 4 wheel drive! I'm also going to have Skipper shod and studded so we can do some sleighing soon.
So and Cute continue to keep us entertained. I keep trying to convince them to ONLY pee and poop in their cage but it seems that they aren't taking me seriously. Actually, I think they hold it in until they get turned loose in the craft room and then they have a competition to see who can leave a "present" in the hardest to reach place!
I've been really ill since Wed with some sort of a throat infection.
Fronie and Gord both stepped up to the plate so I was able to rest (or pass out, whichever way you want to phrase it). I finally bit the bullet on Sunday and went to a walk-in clinic. I was in so much pain that I couldn't even sleep and couldn't drink either diet coke or beer. If you can imagine! The doc gave me a perscription and off I went. I started the pills on Sunday afternoon and already I'm feeling much better. Not my usual perfect self, but now it just feels like I have a normal sore throat.
Today I puttered around the barn for the first time in a while. It was quite cold today (-10) but at least there wasn't any wind. :lingua3.gif: I decided it would be a great day to ride Skipper up the track to a fellow's place and borrowed a pair of hames. Here are a few pictures that Fronie took for me.
Putting on my helmet - dressed to kill!
Doing up the strap. Even though you have enough padding in your snowsuit from Bleeding heart, you still have to protect your brain bucket!
Next was putting on Skipper's bridle. I had his halter underneath because I wasn't sure if I was going to have to tie him at Syl's or not (one never knows what to expect when heading out on an adventure!).
I still haven't figured out what to do with all the hair so it's always interesting whenever I have to put on his "headgear". Be it bridle or halter, there's always ALOT more hair than I'm used to (as Stretch is EXTREMELY folically challenged).
Now don't panic - I don't usually ride a horse out of the barn. This is the FIRST time ever, so give me a break!
Two side shots before we head out. It looks like I've filled my drawers with something!
It was pretty fun. I met two old fellows who were walking on the track for exercise. So of course they loved seeing a NL pony and told me lots of stories about the ponies they had while growing up. As I rode into the distance (doesn't that sound romantic) I could still hear them reminiscing. It was pretty cool! Next stop was Syl's place. He's an older man - never married. Whenever I'm out riding I always stop and have a gabb with him. Quite the character. He still keeps one horse and uses her to haul wood and pull the sleigh. A definite wealth of knowledge about the "old ways". I gave him a call before I headed over so he was ready for us. He came out with what is probably an antique pair of hames and fitted them to Skipper (I had rode him up with the collar on). One strap was missing so the top had to be tied together with baler twine. Now, most of us keep our baling twine in the barn but not Syl - he went to the house to get a piece!
Skipper and Syl
OMG ... the show Dirty Jobs just started so I have to scoot. I'll finish posting the pictures tomorrow!
15 Dec
It's tomorrow now so I can continue. Dirty Jobs was so funny last night. If any of you missed it, Mike was at a camel farm. Hmmm ... now where was I? ... Ah yes. Skipper and the hames. So we were all set and of course Syl had to give me a leg up onto Skipper so I could ride home. Apparently they aren't familiar with a "leg up" around here. Graceful I was not! Picture this ... Skipper standing there oh so patiently, me bundled up so tight I could barely move, Syl had rubber boots on that were slipping on the driveway. Not only did I have to figure out what Syl's interpretation of a "leg up" was, but I also was trying desperately to NOT impale myself on the hames knobs. In order to do that I had to sort of arch my neck backwards, which is a little counter productive when attempting to swing your puffy body over a pony's back! I finally got on and Syl says, "Lord woman - you're sum stiff! Didn't tink I'd ever get ye on da pony!" I almost died laughing. So off we mosied back home.
Here's a few snaps of the finished product. Notice the lovely job with the baling twine!
Check out the knobs on this guy!
Here is Syl's knitting job!
Once we got back I put Skipper away and then went out into the other paddock for some Stretch snuggles. He gets a wee bit jealous if I spend time with the others and not him! I decided to try and get one of those lovely eye shots that everyone seems able to do. WELL ... THAT DIDN'T GO WELL! I think Stretch is what they call a "pocket pony". He won't leave your side when you're with him and insists on having his head on your shoulder or against your chest so that you can rub his ears. But I tried, and here are the results!
Stretch moving in for the snuggle attack.
I'm trying to get near his eye but he wanted his chin scratched instead. Some hair on the guy, eh?
Coming to sniff the camera. Notice how excited and stressed he seems by these events.
And finally ... THE EYE! OK, it doesn't really look like the really nice ones that everyone else is able to take but it's my first attempt. Stretch is NOT an easy subject to photograph. Do you see the little white hairs on the side of his face? He has started to get a few.
Then he decided he'd had enough of standing by me and not being petted. I mean, REALLY, what was I thinking? ...
It was apparently all too exciting so he decided to fall asleep. He cracks me up!
And so here endeth the story. Hope you all enjoyed it and had a wee bit of a giggle. And CJ - what the heck is a blog?
Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:03 pm
