Plans

For Christmas John got me a backpacking hammock and a big bunch of rope for my highline.  I think he might be more excited about our pack trip this summer than I am.  Or was.  Now I'm all fired up.  I also had a gift card and I bought Joseph a flat halter to wear on our trip.

My picture sucks, but it even says "Mustang" on the buckle.

At least I thought it was for him.  It didn't fit.

It does fit Bella fairly well though.

She wasn't too keen on having her breakfast interrupted for a photo shoot.

We've been talking a lot and we've finally settled on where we're going.  We're going to follow the Nez Perce trail from an area near Weippe, Idaho to Lolo Hot Springs in Montana.  I haven't done a lot of trail research yet, so plans may change, but so far that is the plan.  We have to find someone willing to pick us up in Lolo and get one of us back to our trailer, but I think my mom will probably be happy to do that.  She loves Lolo Hot Springs.  And I will love ending our long ride in the big hot springs pool.

I have always had a great respect for Chief Joseph and a great sadness for the plight of his people.  I think this will be a very introspective trip, and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Merry Christmas!

We have had a very lazy day.  At one point we did venture outside though.  The donkeys were happy to see us.

Scout and Pedro had a little altercation.  Pedro finally won by claiming higher ground, but then they had a long and silent long-distance standoff.

Winston was enjoying walking on the pond.  Scout really wanted to figure out a way to get to him without slipping and sliding.

 (Huckleberry was there too, sitting behind me & being camera shy.)

Joseph thinks dogs are really interesting.  Winston is kind of oblivious.

He is so sweet!

They heard a distant whinny.

Bob was happy to have a friend.

Bella was her normal wonderful self.

I got lazy and they turned cannibal.

Here comes trouble.  I better get up.

And Pedro was still very well hidden behind his little bush.

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday.  We sure did.

We got a lot of snow yesterday.  It was very pretty when I finally ventured outside this morning.

Bob says, "What took you so long?"


Scout thought he might eat my dog.

Poor Blue may have torn a cruciate ligament, so he has to be walked on a leash.  This is where he sits while I feed, to keep him safe from curious equines.

 

He looks like a big caterpillar on a leash.

He caught a vole without even trying.
Let it go, caught it again, let it go again.
They're slow when it's cold.

Winter fireworks!

The old barn foundation

Glorious old walnut tree.

The woodshed.  Doesn't keep anything dry anymore.

Little shed on the prairie.

Today is the shortest day of the year.  Already almost dark.  It will only get better from here on out!

Just hanging out

Bob was kind of cranky today.  He thought I was a human treat dispenser and made rude faces at me.

Pedro wasn't much better.  It's funny, they look so naughty but they're not.  They don't push and shove and bite and stuff.  They just want attention, and they can smell treats from a mile away.

 

I don't know what Joseph was thinking here.  I think he was just soaking in the sun.

Bella and Scout, looking so cute together:

Winston.  He's no rocket scientist.  He crawled under the fence to get into the round pen and eat hoof trimmings.  Then he thought he was stuck in there.  He was so forlorn!

Jackass' ass, and figurative jackass.  :)

(He does look sweet though)

Handsome Joseph again.

Goofy Winston, finally figured out how to get out of the round pen.

The whole crew, hoping for more entertainment.

I just checked hooves and loved on them all. They don't mind if I don't train them, ride them, or even halter them.  Winter isn't my best season for keeping up with horse work.  Not that it's even really winter yet.

I am so excited the days are going to start getting longer soon!  I know that's usually when winter gets more severe, but still, more light is more light.  Bring on the sun!

Being Remiss

I have really been missing the equines lately.  I spent 3 days away from home taking care of my Grampa, which was wonderful and weird.  Then with working and having only short periods of daylight, I've only petted everyone once in the last week.  Throw hay and run has been the routine.  Pedro and Bob will sometimes insist that I stop and scratch behind their ears though.  I really need that quick moment of sweetness sometimes.  My donkeys are a goodness.  :)

Tomorrow I hope to spend a lot of quality time with all of them.  So just maybe I'll have something to blog about!  See you then!

I was about 3 degrees when I went out to find the horses this morning.  They were warm and toasty in the sun.

 Bob had a crazy eye, standing his ground for some lovin'

Joseph was surprised to see my after so many days when I only appeared in the darkness.

But he was still handsome.

Joseph and Bella.

Scout was there too, standing behind the camera with his nose on my head.

Then I teased Winston with a stick and he was very cute!

Family obligations and work are keeping me from my beasties this week, but in this weather I wouldn't be out with them much anyway.  I'm just happy they're all feeling good, despite the cold.

Joseph and I took a nice long walk today.  He's so handsome and fuzzy.

 He was really weird when I went to catch him.  I don't know if he was jazzed up about the 4-wheeler or the yappy chihuahuas that were in a pickup in our front yard (people come to buy the 4-wheeler), or if I was electric, or what, but he just about fell down running away from me at least three times.  He'd stand and let me approach, then just explode into motion and slip in the mud.  Eventually he was brave enough to let me stand next to him and lean on his shoulder, keeping my hands to myself for a few minutes before I haltered him.  Then we had a lovely walk.

We saw some strange goats - Joseph thought they might be friends of his.

We had to squeeze between these barrels.  Joseph went right up and stuck his nose on one of them, then walked through.

 

My sweet boy:

We trotted along for a ways.  I haven't tried that away from home yet, and haven't done it at home much either.  I thought he'd think we were running from something, but he just watched me closely to try to set his pace to mine.  What a guy.

Thankful for Life, The Universe, and Everything

Happy, Happy Day!

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a Good night.