The Weather

From 50 to this in one day. 

 

Life is Happening

Yes, life is happening and not always how you plan it. I'm not saying that in a bad way, but just making a statement to  say it: life happens, let it. So much has been happening between the weather, work, travel, and life that I haven't had time to manage the things that I need to keep an eye on. It's time to get organized and figure out the direction I need to move because my next graduate course is creeping up on me for March. Yikes!

What's been going on and what do I need to be doing?

I've been changing my name slowly since getting married, and I just want to get it over with! Keep on moving, you're almost there.

I need to get on the parts I need to get the trailer in tip-top shape: a bulb, shocks for the ramp, water carrier, etc. The sooner I do this, the sooner I can practice my trailering skills because...

We have a truck! Life is so good!! A truck came along that is perfect for the job of pony adventures!

I have a ton of books in the line up to get through before my course starts and I have to read boring material. eBook rentals from the library have been too much fun for me.

I've been making a activity list of horse events going on so I can keep control of that situation.

The process has started for my interview as a 4-H volunteer/leader for the chapter at the barn. I hope to get some new and creative ideas moving for the club. I did so much service in college that I have really missed it!

St. Jude and TriDelta are amazing me time and time again! Yes, I'm a sorority girl and I loved every minute of all of the community service it came with. The partnership with St. Jude was for $15 million to be raised in 15 years, which was surpassed like crazy to make it $15 million in 5 years, which was SURPASSED AGAIN... with $15 million raised in just  3.5 years. Go TriDelta and <3 St. Jude.

Photo from TriDelta

The weather is still crap so I went skiing instead of riding this past weekend, and the soggy ground has yet to let up (which was snow ground until this past weekend). Now, it's all back to rain again. VT this past weekend was great, and they are getting DUMPED with powder today (8-12") while we're getting more mud... I mean rain!

Yes, I have "junior" skis

Missed the doggie like crazy when we were gone for this weekend and last, and I'm glad to have him back in action this week! :) He got a laser pointer and a few new toys because I spoil him, and it's been fun tiring him out.

No Riding, Just Skiing

I didn't get to ride this past weekend because I was away skiing in PA, but it was SO cold I wouldn't have wanted to (and we got more snow Saturday). I did take off next Monday after the superbowl for our VT trip. VT skiing is 100% better than the Poconos, but both help pass the winter months. I do feel guilty not being able to ride for 2 weeks, but the lows are just brutal. I keep telling myself that for every week that passes, we get more and more daylight. Now, if only we could get warmer nights so I could ride after work!

This weekend was fun and enjoyable getting on the slopes both days, and we even got some hot tub and quad riding time in the snow with plenty of needed relaxing. I need more weekends like this to switch up my poor mood.

Here are some pics from this weekend...

Quadding by the lake.

We look like marshmellows

Elk Mountain lift

Yes, I have junior skis.

Riding in the Snow - 99th!

Happy almost 100th post to me!

I went to the barn on Sunday because it was close to 50 degrees. From the 8-10" of snow, we were down to about 6 since I went later in the day. I was slipping and sliding down the driveway at the barn because people had driven over the snow so it was slushy and wet with some ice. I didn't care that it was disgusting and not the best riding conditions (with just 4" left at the farm), I just needed to get out of the house! I worked from home on Friday for the storm since travel conditions were tough, and this was the first opportunity with the "warmth" to venture out without ice on the roads. Last night, it rained a poured and went back to 50 degrees, and I woke up to no snow. I'd prefer rain over snow, hands down and today at lunch, it was starting to become a wintry mix again. So we have -5 degrees, then 8" snow, then 50 degrees, then rain and thunder, then wintry mix, and tomorrow, back to 17 degrees. Tonight, 7! AHH! Whacky, right? This coming weekend looks like 50 so I might be able to get in another ride. If only it would dry out! How does 12 hours change the temperature 30 degrees +? These poor horses must be so confused.

I tacked up in the slush and ventured onto the track. I figured that'd be the best terrain being it's the flattest. I warmed up with a walk to make sure that there was no ice under the snow. We did hit a few spots that were lower where we broke through ice, but nothing bothered Spyder. Once I got bored of the track, I went out to the ring to find deer that were trying to get by on the little grass that we could see. Once we got bored there, I went back to the track to trot a bit on the areas where I walked. Spyder was bored so we decided to brave it out and go around the track. I headed towards the house thinking that if anything happened, maybe they would see me. I forgot my phone at home so I didn't want to fall off, but I thought this was a good idea? It was a ton of fun, and Spyder kept his cool. The snow was beautiful, and the only tracks were those of rabbits and deer... lots of deer. I wish I had pictures, but my phone was on the counter when I got home. I don't want to say I hope it snows again, but it wouldn't hurt to get some nice shots around the barn in the snow. I just need a sleigh. No one else was out at the barn, yet again!

I'm excited for spring because I want to get off the farm and have people to ride with. I'm excited that I've gotten braver, and I trust Spyder to try new things (even in the snow). He's come a long ways, and I couldn't be happier with what 2013 has brought us. Bring on 2014!

Enough Said

And wind chills of less...

...Hope I can ride tomorrow!

I Love the 60's!

This weekend FINALLY warmed up from the 30's and was in the 60's! It's crazy for this time of year, and I swear the weather keeps getting more and more strange. They are calling for a lot of snow this winter, and I'll take that over rain any day. It was drying up in the field this weekend, and then, the rain came for Sunday night into Monday! I don't even want to go out this week because 1) it'll be cold 2) it'll be disgusting. The weekend should warm up to 40's - 50's, and I hope the forecast stays that way.

I did get to ride Saturday and Sunday before the rain! Saturday I got to the farm to find Spyder like this...

Oh hey, come get me.

Poop face

He LOVES to come for treats, but there was no getting him up in the sun. He looked at me and knew what I wanted, but he didn't want to get up (and he decided he should roll when I got to him). Between him and the puppy, I have pets with the most personality I have ever had before (and I've had my fair share). I got him out of the pen to find poop all over his halter and ears, too! Thanks, Spyder. Our ride was so great that working through his disgusting hair was worth it. We did a lot of w/t since he was breathing heavy from the strange weather and being out of shape, and I did a lot of two-point and sitting trot before cooling down around the barn. I could see the white on his feet again, and then I put him back in his paddock to get it covered in mud. :(

Sunday, I rode w/t/c and worked on jumps, but I felt bad working him too hard because it was so hot. I left the house around 11:30 - 12 and the barn is about a half hour away (and I was having people for Christmas dinner at 2). I know, I know, it's irresponsible and crazy to try to squeeze it in, but I did! I didn't get to shower prior to everyone getting there, but hey, it's just family! When I grabbed him to tack up, he called to me which was adorable. I tried him by the gate with the treats, but he had hay so he didn't want to come. I walked near him to bribe him to the gate which worked nicely because I did not want to repeat what I did the day before! He was rushing the jumps a bit so we worked on rhythm and working through a good pace over them, and we added the canter after jumps to make it a little more interesting. I'm hoping the spring will bring more "straight line" cantering as we're still just moving in circles. I gave him a super loose rein and let him go. It was amazing!

I gave the stable hand a card with cash in it since he works hard, and I feel like he deserved something extra this Christmas. He was SO happy to have gotten a gift, and I felt like he really appreciated it which was nice! I was so happy to find a card from April in the mail yesterday, too! Thank you! SOOOO very excited for Christmas!

 

Cutest card!

Muddy Paddock

The girl that feeds sent me this of Spyder this morning. It's so warm compared to where we've been, and I can't wait to ride this weekend! Poor baby in the mud! :(

Why I Haven't Been Riding

I feel like it's just been cold and soggy forever. I haven't ridden since the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. :(

The lack of posts is a reflection of this terrible weather pattern.