Today, I walked my mare, Luna the Tuna, to the training barn. She has been out to pasture for a month weaning from her colt. She will be evaluated by my trainer. Luna has not been evaluated by any experts since we bought her last May. She has been a broodmare until today. Now she will become a rideable fox trotter. And she will be put on a diet and get fit through training. I can hardly wait to see her in action. Going to be a busy winter for her.
My husband got a shot of our chickens listening to me and the entire ark following me. You can see the guineas, chickens, weanlings and Osa following me to the barn. Osa has her coat on and is running fast to my right. The guineas want the oats and corn in my bucket for the horses. Chickens and horse all eat the same thing on our farm. Almost all the animals get along on our ark in the Ozarks.
Here is my trainer working with a neighbors green mare. Sandy is a very large young mare for a quarter horse. She never bucks but needs to submit to the bit. So she is being taught the basics. My trainer is working with her daily to get Sandy to a level safe to ride. Sandy wants to please and is a model student. Her owner plans to use her for cattle work instead of a broodmare.
Our Guineas are now 3 months old and had their first taste of snow. They run about chasing each other and squawking. They follow me around the farm talking to me and eating everything as for the first time. They are routine birds that can't function if there are changes to their life. Nerdy birds. All things must be studied, talked about then posted on Facebook before they go to roost at night
Our "farm cat" has finally found his worth, mouser. Poppy is now 1 year old and loves to mouse hunt. He loves to hunt down the mice and voles and brings them home for me. He has tried to run into the house with his latest kill. I toss the vermin to the chickens or our German shepherd. I am amazed chickens will eat anything. I have lost count as to how many Poppy has eliminated. On the farm mice, voles and moles are destructive to feed, plants and livestock. And a cat is safer than using poisons. Poppy is a great Ozark born cat.
This time last year our house's exterior was green painted rotting OSB. Then in May/April we had the house remade with real wood log siding that was stained pecan. We will have to re-stain again this spring. But the change was worth it.
We had some snow this weekend but it melted. It was replaced by ice and frost all around the farm. A nice sparkly way to start the week.
After mass last Sunday we stayed behind to help decorate our church for Christmas. I made 68 fabric adoorables to hang on the ends as pew markers. One of our church members is a retired florist and she stuffed all the hangers with holiday picks. We then set up the trees with white lights and gold tulle under the bases. The nativity is on the other side of the altar. The effect was simple and elegant. It went up fast with all the extra helpers. All the decorations were made by/from donations made by our parishioners.
Here is a wall hanging donated to our local Senior Center. A local resident made this fabric art piece to hang in the main dining hall. It is very colorful and full of sparkly embellishments. A nice feast for the eyes.
Here is my husband trying to feed our two mares Luna and Dolly. Luna likes to walk around you in circles until you reach her bucket. Even though she is the last fed she makes the biggest production about it.
When you have fog and very cold temperature drops, you get ice fog. It coats everything in moisture then freezes. Roads, sidewalks, plants, cars everything fog gets into or on gets coated in ice that stays if the temps don't rise. Makes the mornings tough when you have to use the car. We got this ice off with a scraper.
Last year was our first White Christmas in the Ozarks. This year has flown by while having so many hats to wear. Farmer, vet, teacher, volunteer, wife, gardener, quilter and trainer. I find I am looking forward to some snow just to take a break and relax in the silence of the season. My husband and I are not giving each other any presents this year. We have all that we really want or need. It takes the pressure off of us. And it frees up our time so we can give to others. I think that is what Christmas is about.
