This 'n That

[SandyG]

I've decided to stay out of the pee'ing conversation . . . . I'll wait and see what the conclusion is....

Tonight, it looks like an airstrip again. I have the exterior lights on and the kids tucked in with the doors closed. I hear nothing out there tonight but I've got to admit that I'm a little spooked. So I just need a bit of time before I can walk back to the house in the dark . . . . even with my hoe in my hand!

The kids are fine. Still wonderful to be around. Still magnificent in their ability to tolerate this cold. And still magical in their smells and understanding. It feels so safe in the barn with them in there munching on hay. It will be 10 degrees warmer in the barn tomorrow morning than outside, betcha!

[SandyG]

A quiet night . . . kids anxious to get outside and stretch their legs . . . and a Mama who is just shaking her head at the condition of the barns!!! But all are safe, so much to be grateful for.

Have you seen the forecast? A bugger of a weekend but starting to warm on Sunday. I think I even saw a 20 degree ABOVE temperature out there! Travel will be difficult tomorrow and the winds will make it dangerous out there. Please plan and be ready!

Deb M. - Happy Birthday! So glad to have you with us - when I think of you I picture your smiling face! Enjoy your day today! And take care of that arm!!

[osrose]

Tracy, as a dog trainer I have had to learn about dog behaviors which have evolved from wolf behaviors and marking their territory is just as important as establishing an alpha male and female. Do a Goodsearch on the name: L. David Mech. He is/was the premier wolf behaviorist for many years and now there are lots more. Fascinating reading, actually and the marking business is really only communicating that "This territory is mine!" Works! I swear it does! Anybody who has ever walked a male dog where there are telephone poles or fire hydrants knows how they zoom in on those intriguing smells and sometimes even when you try to drag them away, that nose is still glued on the spot, reading the bulletin board!

[tracy1]

OK, kiddo, you're on! I know Dave Mech, he founded the International Wolf Center in Ely 25 years and I serve on two committees for them, edit and write for their quarterly membership magazine, sit in or more likely call in on meetings they have in the Twin Cities quarterly, etc. I agree about dogs/wolves marking territory, but wolves respecting humans doing that is a new one. . . so I'll email him and let y'all know what he says . .

[SandyG]

Every station I listen to talks about snow and then wind with cold temps and very, very cold wind chills hitting us in the middle of the night. Seems hard to believe since it is beautiful outside. But I can feel the dampness in the air (or should I say I can feel my knees and my Spirit hip!) so maybe the reports are correct.

So, to be sure, I set everyone up again for the night. Appaloosa Mare is back in the box stall with fresh shavings in case the pressure drops when this front goes through. PONY! and Gracie are in the stall next to her. The Twins are in the corral where they can get out of the wind and then the Big Five (Lanna, Laddee, Miss Bette, April, Blaise) are in the Gelding's Side with hay and the door closed.

I left the Really Big Ones (Beauty, Dude, Babee Joy, Jeri-Ann) outside. They can come in the old barn if they want but they are all so healthy and fat that I doubt they would feed wind chill!!! ;D

I left Spirit, Unit, Handsome, and Josephina to come and go as they please, too. Can't coop Spirit up or she gets aggressive, so I have to trust they will come in if the winds do pick up.

Stock tanks are all topped off, small square bales are piled in the barn, feed tanks are filled, there is fuel in the skid loader . . . I'm about as ready as I can be.

Oh, and I walked back to the house in the dark tonight. I sound like such a child! But after being outside for 4 hours and not hearing anything, I decided to be brave and shut the yard lights off. Ta-Dah!!!

[SandyG]

Another day of contradictions! I am bundled to stay warm and dry against the wind, but when I'm in the barns, I'm overheating. Funny season we are having, to say the least!

Just an inch of dry snow makes for 2 foot drifts in front of the barn. Easy to move and kind of fun to watch it go back in place, just like it had magnets in it or something!

The kids were all fine. The 3 from the corral were calm and dry in their box stalls. Fun to lead them back. I take Appaloosa Mare and she is frantic until she hears me coming with PONY! And sure enough, Gracie comes not 10 steps behind PONY!. So moving 3 horses in 2 trips.

Then almost the same routine to move the twins. I halter and lead Judy and Sandy is right on her tail. So moving 2 big ones in one trip. I'm getting spoiled!

All are brushed and in barns so they can dry off. Eating and sleeping at their places. I'll leave them for a while, blanket a few of them, and then open the doors for the day. Then, it is just a matter of reversing the routine for tonight. Seems like we have a system that works for this collection of horses. I'm glad.

Errands to get accomplished this week and I'm thinking if I don't do them today I probably will regret it tomorrow, since the mercury is diving tonight. Please be careful out there and bring your cell phones with. Take care!

[SandyG]

Two words:



BBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and

YYYYYYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKEEEEESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SandyG]

Long ago when I was in the consultant business and lived in business suits and worked in City Center and had long, fire engine red acrylic fingernails and wore make-up . . . . . long, long ago . . . . .

Today would have been the day when I would have met a friend of mine for lunch. At Mick's or someplace in the skyway system of downtown Minneapolis. Gary would have made a reservation for three (3) for lunch and we two (2) would have been seated and then asked the server to wait for our third party for a while.

Some time would pass and then we would tell the server that, reluctantly, we would go ahead and order since our third party didn't appear to be making it today. Then we would explain that this was our birthday lunch. All three of us have birthdays today - Gary, me, and Elvis. And it seemed that Elvis couldn't make it this year.

Happy Birthday, Gary. Happy Birthday, Elvis. Here's a poem to all of us:

Another year has passed and we're a little older.
Last summer felt hotter and this winter seems colder.

We used to travel often to places near and far
Now we get sore bottoms from riding in the car.

We used to go to nightclubs and drink a lttle booze
Now we stay at home and watch the evening news.

We used to go to weddings, football games, and lunches
Now we go to funeral homes and after funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers from parties that were gay
Now we suffer body aches and while the night away.

We used to go out shopping for new clothing at the Mall
But, now we never bother . . . all the sizes are too small.

That, my friends, is how life is and now our tale is told
So, enjoy each and every day and live it up . . . before we're too darned old!

[dianesimonich]

Sandy, have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Stay warm,take care of yourself and check your e-mail .........

[jetmech]

Happy Birthday to you Sandy, Gary, and Elvis!!! You make quite a trio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SandyG]

It isn't even noon yet and it has been quite a day!

* I have talked with the owner of 40+ horses that have no hay and no access to water except a creek that freezes over and when I asked to view the horses with him and offer him hay and tanks for water, etc., I was told that if I came near he would have to kill me. Huh. Time to call the sheriff, I guess......

* St. Croix County Sheriff pulled in the yard to check that I was okay at about 9:30. In the process of reaching the sheriff to request a deputy visit these horses I dialed 911 and hung up before it rang knowing I should call dispatch and not the 911 number. Well, it seems I registered and even though they called and I said I was okay, they still visited just to be sure there was nothing amiss. I thanked both the dispatch and the officer profusely. Good to know I don't have to talk to anyone, just get 911 pressed.

* Dunn County Sheriff and I are working to gain access to the above property. Refuge Farms has volunteered resources (that's you guys!), hay, tanks for water, heaters for the tanks, whatever the county needs IF the situation warrants it. Phone is ringing about every 15 minutes.

So, need to get back to end-of-year letters and reporting but right now I need to maybe go get some fresh air in my lungs. Whew! What a morning!

Oh, and kind of cute . . . When I spoke with St. Croix County dispatch to tell him I was okay he wished me Happy Birthday. So, Big Brother is alive and well. He knew just from my phone number my name, age, birthdate, etc.............

[tracy1]

Hey, Elvis won't be making it today, either . . . .

Sandy's driveway is plugged shut with snow, so those who thought they might be able to come over to celebrate with her later on today . . . won't be able to get in. I sent an email hours ago to that effect that I'm hearing didn't get through . . . just as others didn't . . . and just as those some of you have sent didn't get through to me . . .

Tech support says if others didn't get a bounce-back notice from not being able to send to me, there's nothing they can do . . . and there's nothing they can do about others not getting my emails . . . they say others need to check their spam filters (that's it! Take responsibility for your life! You pay for a spam filter to weed out the 100 offensive and disgusting spams you probably get each day, which you then are 'empowered' to go through anyway to see if something's there that you actually were looking for) . . .

They're probably looking up some of the places I told 'em they could put their technology . . .

[Shar]

Happy Birthday Sandy!! Sounds like it's been an exciting one! I wish you all the best for the next year, and know you will make the most of this wonderful New Year! Let us know if you need help with anything coming up. I'm not starting our big project until end of March, beginning of April so have lots of time (and energy!!) now. =) Anything you need. Happy Birthday!!

[SandyG]

Everyone is bundled up, fed, watered and as set for the night as I can make them. I've left the doors open and all of them free to roam. They need to move to stay warm and without any wind tonight it will be better for them to go in and out as they need to.

My concern is for Miss Bette. She is so stiff in this cold. There was a time this afternoon when she rested in the hay and I watched her like a hawk to make sure she could get herself up. And she did. But I gave her a special hug and a challenge this evening to move and stay warm and be there - upright - when I come to feed her in the morning.

It has been a busy day with state statutes being read over the telephone. One of the more unusual days. But I believe we've made forward progress in the local political levels on this day.

I'm hanging it up for the day. I'm growing roots in this office chair! I need to find an Elvis concert on television somewhere. I want to sit and marvel at how beautiful the man was. How easy and wonderful was his voice. And how tragic his journey became.

Good night, everyone! I'm gonna go see if I can find The King for a while!

[SandyG]

I am grateful! I am ecstatic! I am thrilled!

Everyone is up and eating their breakfast with energy!

Some are stiffer than the others. Some are frostier than the others. Some were lying down. Some were sleeping. But every single one is accounted for. And we now, as I told them, are through the worst of it!

May those who fell asleep last night find peace on the other side.