Riding Sunshine and loving it.

We had an early ride to beat some of the heat.

Kristi lives on a ridge top so there is usually a breeze occurring at her place. We met up for a cup of coffee in her husband's shop before we saddled up. Off we went!

I had no idea that Kristi was taking shots while we were riding. I use my little pocket camera to take any photos while riding, I'd fumble my cell phone and drop it for sure.

A video of me from behind. I'm sure I was chatting up a storm while we rode. I do that sometimes. Don't turn on the sound, you may hear me trying to blab and a lot of saddle leather creaking.

We rode some of the forest trails that she has. Her husband mows these trails so that we can use them and guests can take walks through the forests and valleys.

Years ago Kristi's mom and dad would have trail rides for the campers from the Bible Camp they had.

Saddle view....Sunshine.👇

Kristi and her gelding before 'Cash' decided he wanted to be in the lead for the rest of the ride. 

He is a super sweet horse. That fly mask certainly helped with 
the flies which are pretty nasty right now.

End of the ride...Kristi's hubby took a shot of us together.

We finished up the ride and put our equine back out in the pasture. I enjoyed the photo above as I don't think anyone has ever taken a shot of me on Sunshine. She may look little next to a 15.1 hand horse, but she is a little powerhouse. She is also easy on and easy off.

We were chatting after our ride about how relaxing it was to have two rather calm equine to ride and how July is hot, humid, and buggy. We talked about the trail to the valley, we talked about kids [mine are grown up], family, life, and everything else. 

This week has been quite busy and really sweet. My youngest on Monday, a full day of mini horses and kids with my girlfriend Pat on Tuesday, riding on Wednesday...Thursday?

I need to clean house, play with pups, mow if it dries out, laundry, groceries, gardening, weeding, and perhaps exploring to look for fungi, slime molds, and mushrooms.

I'm also working on a mini get away to the upper peninsula of Michigan. If nothing else, I want to commit to one more promise I made to myself this past winter. I'm ticking away at my wish list. I want to take a trip back to the UP and enjoy some one on one time with my camera.

So far, I think I am doing well. I'm back to riding my mules almost every day or every other day. [Siera seems to be doing just fine -- I am riding her on grass and keeping her exercised.] I'm working out at the gym and spending time with girlfriends.

This weekend, the dogs and I are going camping to our place in the Hickory Grove. I'm going to call it that from now on. 

 

Siera update.

I put Siera in the pasture in front of the house so I could keep an eye on her.

Siera did 'self - exercising' along the fence line. 

Her reaction was to walk up and down and complain. Below is the view from the porch.

She was a bit better ----> and then this Monday morning with the cold temps a bit worse. 

The issue seems to also be in her leg and shoulder. I guess time will tell. 

Yes, I have someone coming to see her. 

Update on that. 

Best guess is that she is stiff and sore either from some tearing around the pasture, age, or a strained muscle. It isn't like she will tell us anything. Everything is normal with her stats and she is eating and pooping just fine. 

The vet recommended to leave her in the pasture with her buddies. She can lay down when she wants, move when she wants. She is definitely off, but the vet wants her to move and not be confined. He feels that she will self regulate until she feels better. So it is a watch and wait deal.

I will probably then take Sunshine at the end of May to my friend's farm to ride instead of Siera. 

In 2010 Sunshine had a pretty radical injury which involved tendons and her shoulder and knee. We did put her in confinement as she was a 3 legged mule. X-rays didn't show anything, but the vet thought she'd injured her collateral ligament.

The vet didn't think she'd come out of it but we gave her the chance. After she was able to hobble around we put her out with the foals and she started moving and improving, slow but sure. She self regulated and did her own PT with her little 6 month old half sister.

In 6 months after that, she was riding [gently] once more. 

She is sound as ever right now 16 years later.

The mule pictured below is Sunshine who is 29 years old. 

I will be giving them all mule haircuts and riding Sunshine. She is not frail or even achy. When she and her sister decide to chase and buck in the pasture, it is a wonder to see. She is still the quickest and most athletic mule I have.

 

She still has it. This shot is from last year when they all got crazy going to the summer meadow. Sunshine is on the left.

I guess I should say that I'm pretty close to her as I pulled the birth sack off her face when she was born as her mom was exhausted.

Photos of Sunshine:

The little mule that could and always has done a good job.

She is tolerant of almost everything. One of the reasons I love her. Even kids who have no idea of what they are doing.

So the Siera Saga continues and I need to give her time to heal and recover. The progress is slow, just think of how we feel when we pull a muscle and how we recover. Siera is good with kids also, she is gentle and quiet.

Yet one more reason to make sure she gets back to good health with lots of tenderness and care.

Evening Rides with Sunshine

Sunshine, after we came out of the woods. Riding the woods is so much nicer than riding the fields and back roads. 

No traffic. No surprise coyotes running in front of you. No gaggles of turkeys or deer leaping out of fields of corn.

It seems these girls are happier in rough terrain with deep woods surrounding them. Of course, the footing can be difficult, there are logs, rocks, and dry washes to navigate so it requires most of their brain cells.

Yes, she wears a trammel. I could probably get by with a snaffle these days however this is what she has worn since her first run-away with me 21 years ago.

She wore a snaffle at 4 yrs old. Did you know that because a mule has a wide set of eyes, that you can pull their head to your knee and they can still canter in a line of their choosing? 

The second time I tried a 'one rein stop', her head was pulled to my knee and she galloped through trees and jumped a creek. I survived the run off by steering her with all my strength into a brier patch. We got scratched up but survived.

We put this bit on her and it can be very gentle with gentle hands. I set her up for another run away. We rode up the gravel road and when one of the neighbor's came by with her tractor, Sunshine tensed and then bolted. I let her bolt 3 steps and then lifted the reins so the bar would touch her nose.

She screeched to a stop. Mules love their noses and don't like pressure on that spot.

In the following 21 years of riding, she has never offered to bolt. She will spin at crazy spooky Zombie Deer that spring out of the corn field, or aggressive dogs. But she no longer takes me on a wild and crazy ride.

With that said, our wood rides are so relaxing. We drop down steep hills and negotiate old trails and deer trails. She knows the way since she helps me maintain the trail. Here is a choppy, crappy video of our last ride. I'm not good at holding a cell phone to try and capture video. Usually I don't even try.

I have a pocket camera which I normally take.

This is our last deep ravine to cross to go back home. I make a huge circle [about a mile loop] through the neighbor's woods. 

The mules wear breast collars and either cruppers or britchens which keep the saddles from sliding around in this steep stuff.

There is a 3 mile loop, but I haven't done it lately because I don't like going that far off by myself. I will see if my neighbor would like to do it with me one of these days if he has the time. [He was raised on a Quarter horse farm]

Sorry for all the creaking and whatnot. But I like that noise! She also wears a bell if you can hear it.

The first part is a long descent on a very steep hillside, so she tippy toes down the trail. Again, forgive my crappy video, but there it is.

1:34 seconds....

 

I love my Red Headed Mule

I didn't really think about it much, but Sunshine and I have had a pretty long history  together. She was born in my lap literally and I have posted about this before.

I was disappointed that she was never going to be more than 14 hands or that she was just red. After she was weaned we put her up for sale. There were never any takers for this smart not quite 14 hand mule. I started her under saddle when she was two and then let her be a mule for 2 years before we really started any work.

I did the ground work and the round pen work, hubby did the in saddle work. Together we worked with her trying to make her into a Grand Kid Mule. She was too quick however for a novice rider and so we scrapped that idea. We decided to keep her and then the offers rolled in from places we used to ride her.

Like Badger, she ended up showing us an unusually smart mind. She learned to give to the snaffle we started her in. 

Ever heard of a one rein stop? It is supposed to work.

Not with this gal. I did a couple of wild rides when she was young when something odd happened and she took off in a beeline. Did you know a mule can canter with her nose at your knee?

I swapped over to a Mule Trammel bit and set her up for a run off. She bolted 3 steps and I lifted the reins for the trammel to bump her nose. I've stuck with that set up from then on. We've never ever had another run away.

Surprisingly. This mule had NEVER bucked me off. My soul mate mule, Badger, had bucked me off several times. 

So that bit of info registered this week as Sunshine and I were getting ready to head out to do an old gnarly trail in the woods.

At first there was some Spa Work. [Now you know why I am anxious to have the pasture clipped! Burdock!]

Then I put on her saddle which was a handmade saddle for mules. The seat is contoured for my butt!
[Pardon the dirty trailer, I had hired Molly to wash it for me. Yeah. That didn't happen, but I DO need to get around to washing the lichen and moldy stuff off the shaded side.]

The Bell around her neck keeps us from walking up on any bedded deer in the forest.

The shot below was taken when I got off to check her cinch before heading down a tippy toe hill. Steep is an understatement. She never bats an eye at this but just takes her time and deals with it.

We live in a land of dry runs and ravines. The photo below is from about 10 years ago, just before we crossed this dry run. I generally let her pick her own way as she is so calm and calculating about things like this.

Annnny wayyy....

This mule recalled the old cattle trails we used to ride. When I couldn't find the trail that Charlie and I hike the day before, she just helped me out. I knew if I let her have her 'head', she would locate the way we should go.

I've ridden this mule in this forest for 20 years [well, not much in the last year or so because of one thing or another...and because I'd been diagnosed with severe osteoporosis, I figured I'd have to quit riding. -> Nah..., I love it too much and I have two excellent mounts]

I picked this section of the forest because the undergrowth is a bit less than the other areas that are covered in multiflora rose and other nasties.

Sunshine took some time looking around and we watched a buck in velvet bounce away. 

Don't mind her messy mane. I may clip it again or not, I don't like the mane to be too short when cold weather comes our way.

I was surprised by a Gaggle or Herd of Turkeys that ran through the trees beyond this photo. She sighed as if to let me know...

SHE knew they were already there. DUH.

So, I didn't take a lot of photos while we were riding because I was concentrating on just enjoying the moments with my little red head that no one wanted until we kept her.

She is in her 24th year with me. When I did the mental math, I realized that she has been with me longer than her half brother Badger. And that she is one of the main reasons I feel comfortable riding again.

When we got back out to the ridge road, I dismounted and walked with her back home. I didn't want our time to end.

In fact, I sat in the yard later with her and had a long conversation with her.

She may be a bit small in stature, but she is huge in personality and temperament. She is without a doubt, smarter than I am in so many ways. She has a great homing beacon built in. 

She knows how to keep calm and navigate difficult terrain without any missteps. 

And?

We adore each other.

She has never been to a show, but she has done KVR, Prairie du Chein, Duck Egg, and Wildcat Mountain trails. However since hubby doesn't drive anymore and the truck is dead. We enjoy what we can in the neighbor's wild woods and hay fields.

I rarely have any folks to ride with. But she and Siera seem to be good at taking care of me.

And we seem connected in some way. 

Sunshine takes care of me. 

And how could you not love that?

Fat Bottomed Girls

 ...you make the rocking world go round...

I have no idea why that came to mind. Do you ever get a song stuck in your head?

This tune did and I hummed it while getting Sunshine ready for a forest adventure.

That butt! It makes me laugh! Sunshine inherited some of her mom's body shape and most of her Dad's common sense. 

I pulled the britchen over her butt and started humming about Fat Bottomed Girls. I kept it up throughout our adventure into PeeWee's Woods. 

At one time it was a breeze to ride through my neighbor's land. There were great cow trails and the underbrush was grazed by his wild and crazy beefers. His cattle were experts and jumping barbed wire fences or ducking in between the wires.

For about 5 years after my neighbor died and they removed the cattle..., I was still able to ride the old trails. 

Then the 4 wheelers came and made some nice trails but they were not supposed to be ripping up the property. I gave up a lot of riding because their load machines were out there so often. However, I road at dawn when I knew they wouldn't be out.

Now those guys were kicked out and Mother Nature has been wicked at taking over.

I thought Sunshine and I'd take the driveway out to the snowmobile trail and head into the valley.

In the shot below there is a young doe eating in the soy bean field. She is on the curve so the photo probably won't show her. We nearly walked right up to her before she bolted.

Sunshine saw her before I did. Love those large ear signals.

I didn't take any shots going through the cropland because it was tricky enough to avoid the plants. The 'snowmobile trail' was somewhere under Parsnip plants that were as tall as we were. 

We made it to the woods 'entrance' where the cattle gate used to be. 

Sunshine is not a mule to hurry along and frankly I wasn't in a hurry. She knows this trail by heart. We've been travelling it for nearly 20 years together. 

She is watching a buck that was watching us.

We headed down the long hill.

I'll stop for a moment and take a trip back in time to 2008. My husband is riding Sunshine with 2 yr old Dennis in front and I am on Badger with Ariel behind me.

We are in PeeWee's valley.

Here is what it looks like today.

However, Sunshine knew where the trail should be so she didn't hesitate except to shoulder her way through the tall weeds. I totally had a minor freak out because I was slapping Parsnip with my shoulders.

The creek appeared to us when we stepped down into it. Well, I should say, SHE knew it was there before I did. We had an awkward moment where her front end was in the creek and the hind legs were on the bank.

She had a notion that the grass that was in her face was worthy of her attention.

Tilt! So glad for the britchen.

Once we got back into the forest, the trail was a bit clearer except for the downed trees.

This was the best part of our ride. We were in the dips and doodles section. We had two dry runs to cross and a steep climb. True to her mule-ness, she just did her thing. 

I was so tickled with her performance after her butt-headed-ness the other day.

We got into the oak/maple forest section and went hunting for mushrooms or other cool stuff. I took her to the Hugging Tree for this  cell phone shot:

We then headed back out to the gravel road to get the mail and go home.

Sorry if this sounds like I am bragging on my old gal, but she lifted my heart and made me sing.

I'd figured I'd have to give up riding, but it seems that maybe I can eek out some nice little rides to warm my soul. 

I know for sure that the valley trail along the creek is out of the question at least until there has been a killing frost.

My other Fat Bottomed Girl will be taking me out later this evening for a stroll. 

The Little Red Mule

Sunshine is 22. For a mule, that is no big deal. Her mom was the first horse I ever trained. Sort of. Cheyanne was 'sort' of green broke when I got her. 

Anyway, that is long ago and another time. Sunshine is my sturdy, mindful mule. Not much bothers her. When she was young I worked hard with her. She was going to be a Grandkid mule. So I'd ride and holler and grab branches as we rode along on a trail. I'd clap my hands, cry, throw temper tantrums, and slide off without notice. I did many of the same things with her half brother, Badger. Oh...he was my heart and soul mule.

Except...dogs. Dogs who run up underneath her and growl and snap do get under her skin. 

She is like her half sister Sundance and will give chase to any unwanted creature in her pasture. 

Enough of that.

It had been a while since I went out for a ride and I really miss riding. I used to ride nearly every day when I had Badger. I have to grab time when I can. 

I settled things in the house and walked out with a halter and lead rope.

Sunshine walked up to me. After all, I hadn't made her work since July. She had just been nothing more than a pasture pet and hay burner for a long time. 

I tossed a saddle on her and we headed up the driveway towards the ridgetop and the fog.

Pardon her mane. It stands up like crazy in the winter but I don't trim it after late summer. I don't mind anyway. She is my fluffy mule. I don't show any more, I quit in 2005 due to shoulder surgeries. I don't miss it at all and am quite content to ride the neighbor's crazy woods and the ridge.

Sunshine and I do what we do best. Go on adventures.

We climbed some hills and did some trails. She walked along and concentrated on her footing while following a deer trail.

She pulled up twice, spotting deer off in the forest. We simply sat and watched. 

For me it was just enough, just perfect.

I'm pretty sure I chatted with her while we rode. Her ears flicked back to my voice and forward to what was going on around us.

What a perfect time we had.

There.

My first ride of 2021.

With the Little Red Mule.

You are my Sunshine

I was throwing hay over the fence when I noticed Sunshine hadn't come forward. She was hanging back. I continued feeding hay and kept an eye on her.
She was one of those mules that just barged in making sure that everyone around got out of her way when it was feeding time.
She isn't aggressive, she just pushes her sister or others with her neck and shoulder to move her or any other mule.
Sometimes Sunshine tries to push little ol' Fred around and Fred won't have it. He lays his ears back and squeals at her. She backs off.

She avoids 15 as she tends to bite and kick.

Sunshine turned her back on the hay and laid down.
Uh oh...
In a moment she got up and walked into the group. She put her muzzle down into the hay but didn't take a bite. She was damp on her sides from laying in the melting snow. I walked around and did a quick check up on her. She didn't seem to be in distress.

I went in the house to set up a computer for Rich so he could do his Speech/Memory Therapy with the VA therapist. We sat down and had coffee and watched Sunshine out the window.
I waited until I connected Rich to his therapist and then explained that I was headed out because we had a 'sick' mule. Sunshine had gotten down and wasn't getting up. I decided to catch her and walk her.
I grabbed my stethoscope and headed out the door.

I got Sunshine out of the pasture and she seemed slightly interested in the grass for a nanosecond. Then she just lifted her head and looked off into the distance.
She wasn't bright eyed and her ears were slightly cool to the touch.
We began to walk.

Down she went.

Have you ever tried to move a mule that simply has decided NOT to move?  Her ears were cold, that worried me.

I finally got her up and took her inside the shed to the large round pen. At least she'd dry off and I could hopefully get her to keep moving.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and asked Google to find Veterinarians in my area. I wanted to call Apple Valley as they knew my mules and had treated Sunshine's mother years ago as well as Siera and Mica.

What came next was what was to become my worst nightmare. They would call me back.
When they did, I was told that the doctors were unavailable, one was on vacation and the other was out with a herd of cattle. They were very sorry could I call around?

I asked Rich to start making phone calls.
And he did.
One Vet said he could come out on Monday.
Another said they were not able to come out until after 5 pm. Rich kept calling...

Sunshine walked a bit and then as if she had turned to rubber, dropped to the floor of the shed.

You can see how she covered herself in dirt and just stayed there. I checked her gut sounds...and

at one point I heard nothing...
and then I heard some faint gurgling.

I kept trying to get her up when she laid flat out. Her heart beat was elevated slightly but she didn't seem to be breathing exceptionally hard. I felt her ears and they were warm again.

I took my fingers and tried a trick I'd done with puppies to make them go poop. I massaged around her rectum. I had no idea if it would work. Either by chance or design, she struggled and stretched and a huge gaseous fart erupted.

Okay. I stood up and cheered.
Sunshine groaned and stretched out again on her side. She shook her legs and I finally got her up.

Rich came out to tell me that a vet was coming from Muscoda and would be here in an hour or so.
Sunshine flopped down again and moaned. I asked Rich to get me some warm soapy water. He prepared that while I prepped a makeshift enema. Epsom salts and warm water. I dabbed a plastic syringe into petroleum jelly and headed back out the door. I soaped up her bum then inserted the plastic syringe and pushed the warm Epsom salt solution into her rectum.
Sunshine didn't even pay attention to me. There was no glow in her eyes. And for a while I thought it was a futile effort.
I couldn't get her up, so I soaped up my hand and reached in. I found dry poop her rectum and carefully pulled it out. Behind that was a nicely formed stool. When I pulled out my messy hand more poop came out. I cleaned my hand and then her bum.
She turned and looked at me.

I got her up again and she walked a bit longer. Then down she went.
A bunch of curse words went through my mind as I knelt by her head.

She closed her eyes and slowly seemed to fall into a deep slumber. I decided to let her rest and not disturb her. After all she may have been up struggling with a belly ache all night and perhaps, just perhaps she was exhausted.

Smart phone. Huh. I typed out a search *How long can a horse sleep on its side safely?* I read through the posts and decided to just let her sleep, if that is what she was doing. Sunshine was not struggling, nor was she breathing hard. She was dry and her ears were warm. I sat next to her head and watched as her eyes closed and her breathing got slower and slower.

I held my breath.
Oh please let this not be her last moments. And then: If it is her last moments, I will be with her.

After about 15 minutes which felt like eternity, Sunshine snorted and rolled up
onto her sternum. Her ears twitched and with her eyes wide open she lunged to her feet and shook.
I was on my feet next to her.
I listened to her sides and heard gut noises.

Sunshine laid down again. I left the round pen discouraged. I needed a quick drink of water and I wanted to see if Rich heard from the vet.

When I came back out to the shed not 5 minutes later, Sunshine was up, ears perked forward and she nickered at me. Be still my little boney heart!

She pawed at the gate. Wow, I thought, what a sudden turn around.

I heard a vehicle coming down the driveway. I figured it was the veterinarian. I greeted her with a huge smile saying, "I think our patient just had a break through! She is standing and alert!"

Doc examined Sunshine and pronounced her out of danger. She got a shot of banamine for the stomach pains and Doc suggested I get some from her to keep on hand. Swift weather changes like we'd been having or food changes were generally suspicious for causing colic in equine.

While we were talking, Sunshine walked over to the bucket I'd brought in to sit on and knocked it over. She was behaving like her normal mule self.

Sunshine...Sunshine...my little red molly mule.

You are more special to me than you know!
[The photo is of me about 19 years ago holding Sunshine in my arms moments after she was born. Cheyanne was my mare.]

I paid the vet and she instructed me on how to use the banamine I'd purchased. Doc gave me some helpful tips on colic which included the very things I'd done.

Doc said she'd rather come to a farm and see her patient recovering than to see something more hopeless. She was all smiles as was I.

I am happy to report that Sunshine is feeling just fine. She became Miss Cranky Pants when she realized that she'd been separated from her friends and suddenly she was starving..and Cranky.

All kidding aside.
I feel very lucky to have Sunshine in my life.

Thank you Dr. Mary from Riverdale Vet Clinic.

Meanwhile Sundance Started School

Here is Sundance with my old mare Cheyanne. This is Sundance at a few days old.

Mom was 26 years old and we used her to tease a Jack Donkey to see if he'd breed a mare.
My husband assured me that no foal would result.

Ahhhh, yup! Cheyanne was a good mom and a year later she drifted over the Rainbow Bridge.

However we had another mule from her that nearly matched Sunshine.
She has grown into a very beautiful and correct looking mule. She is in the middle of the pack and her sister is the other sorrel with her head down.

Let's say that one thing or another has prevented us from really getting her started. She is great with her ground manners and handling. We just never got to the next step.

So I decided last night to take the dive into our first 'session' of school. Working with an animal can be as boring as watching paint dry. And that is exactly how you want to be.
No explosions or kicking.

This ratty old blanket was a monster, or she would like me to think it was a monster. I tossed it in the round pen and she made a wide berth. Then she came back and poked it with her nose.
She has pulled this blanket off the rail other times she has been in the pen waiting for a trim.
So I knew she wasn't really afraid.

She was more concerned with her pals out in the pasture. Oddly enough her sister never brayed or paid any attention to Sundance leaving the pasture. Fred however, brayed and paced and cried out a mournful song.

The blanket became no big deal. However her attention did wander towards the gate.
She didn't get worked up at all. Just stood and looked until I asked her to move along.

Then she trotted [no line on her then] around as I asked her too. She even stopped and walked into me when I stopped asking her to move.

She wore the blanket in various ways while doing this. Sometimes the blanket slipped off and she didn't seem to be bothered by it.

Our session was very short. About 15 minutes long. I just wanted to get a feel for how she'd react when asked to work.

She is mature enough to figure things out. And believe me, she is a thinker.

When I work with one of my mules, it is a long and slow process. I do have a friend in Missouri who has made quite a name for himself as a trainer. He is good. However I like to work with the ones I've raised as I think I understand their character better.

Does that make sense?
Anyway, I feel that Sundance may just well be the last mule I train anyway so I may as well take my time with her and enjoy it.

I feel it takes months and perhaps a few years to develop a good working relationship between mule and trainer...or rider.

I hope to have some more on this as we go along.

Chilly

Hey Lady! Where is my Treat??

Little Richard was frosty yesterday morning as were most of the critters. The cows lay in their thick layers of fodder bedding and chewed their cuds awaiting the sun to make its appearance through the trees and into the valley.

I always am amazed by the wonderful winter coats these animals have.

You can see where I shoved my bare hand up through his coat to feel the downy hair underneath. No, he was not shivering. He was not cold at all. He has shelter from the weather and he chooses to be out.

People however have a harder time with the cold. It was actually better this particular morning as their was no wind.
I dug out Rich's subzero coveralls for him. After all, it was about -4 when we did chores.

He was going to hook up the hose to the hydrant so we could water the large heated stock tank.
I have taken to wearing over the glasses snowmobile goggles. It may look stupid, but the comfort is incredible. And my eyes don't feel windburned at all. I find that with this 'get up', I can take the cold and the chilling winds.

I wish I could put on Little Richard's coat!

Morris came out with me for a while when I was filling the big stock tank. He ran back and forth sniffing and looking, I think, for mice until he started to shiver. When he got cold he ran to the porch door and stared at me intently.
I let him in and he stopped as if to say, "Why are you not coming in?"
But the sun was shining so brightly  ~ and I was toasty warm.
Besides, I had to drain the hoses after the tank fill so they wouldn't freeze up.

And the sky was simply amazing.

Today it is supposed to snow some light fluffy stuff and then we may go back to some rather arctic temperatures for the weekend.
I have my Kenosha Gang arriving some time on Friday and they want to hike. They all recently got goggles to protect their eyes from the cold also.
We have some ice formations to seek out at the KVR. I've scouted out the trails and we will be out of the winds.
The temperatures should make for some incredible ice formations also.

Just after I finished with the watering, Sunshine came up. I grabbed her bridle and we took another spin around the pastures and yard. It is an easy way to check fences!

You can just barely see the house in this shot.

Have a great day.