Oh, Yes!

The temperatures have gone from 0C (32F) to 27C (80F) in just 2 days! A little heat and the horses and Boots are content to hang out around the water cooler. The horses are going through 1 1/2 tanks of water every 2 days. All are still suffering with winter coats, although it is shedding off fast.

 Brooklyn is just starting the shed, and a good roll takes care of some of the itch. She can be found hanging out in the shade.

 Or going for a walk with me. I checked some of the fence line today and found some damage done by the moose this winter. So far it's been mostly popped staples.

 I don't know what this weed is, but it came up and flowered in 2 days.

 The trio definitely want out of the sacrifice area and into the lower field. The grass is still too short and the field is too wet. Note the ribs on Tucker! That is a vast improvement over the winter, but I am afraid it will be her last summer. Old age, 27, is tough to handle on a horse.

 Some of the smaller twigs are flowering out already.

I had to go and buy some more hay yesterday. I didn't have enough to last. 30 bales later and a very sore back, I got it put away in the garage until things dry up and I can get it to the shelter without leaving big ruts. Murphy says that your quad is going to break down just when you need it most! I lost 2 forward gears and reverse. Did you know that Murphy was actually an optimist?

Tomorrow, I will try to get it into shelter and see what is wrong.

Keep smiling though, things could get worse. I smiled, and sure enough, they did. :-{

It's Up!

I got into the garden for the first time today. The rhubarb is up! It's not very big yet, but shows a lot of promise.

 It's growing fast. You can tell by the colour. Another 2 weeks and we will be having fresh rhubarb pie and cobler. Yeah!

 The pussy willows are coming out.

 The oriental poppies are emerging.

It's easy to tell who was pruning the apple trees this winter. Moose!

 The horses are frisky!

 Grass and leaves are being piled, ready for pick up.

Yep, Spring is here! You can't fool rhubarb, poppies and green grass!

Lest I Forget!

Ha! The last of the snow! By Saturday, it will be gone. 

 There is a little left beyond the fence line, but it doesn't count as that's not our property! Splitting hairs maybe, but I'm allowed.

 The horses are really enjoying the +16C temperatures! They are so relaxed I have to check for a pulse now and again.  You may notice a few piles of leaves over the next while. I am planning to follow the dry line and do a little bit per day. There is only an acre to rake. Not bad!

This little fellow was a birthday present. He'll be hanging around most of the summer.

It's Still a'comin

I haven't been posting for the last few days for several reasons. 1. I got hit with the Man Flu. 2.It's been miserable outside, with temps going down to -8C and highs of +2C. However, there are some improvements outside. A couple of really good days into the double digits, removed a lot of snow!

The paddock is getting close to being usable. 

The lower pasture is getting clear.

 The horses although being confined at the moment are reaching over and nibbling at a little bit of green along the fence line. Their motto appears to be "If it looks like it might be greenish, eat it!"

 The garden and orchard, on the other hand, likely will be a while longer before it clears up.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the temps go back up to double digits, and hopefully, the snow will be totally gone by the weekend. It will still be 6 weeks before anything can be planted ( if we are lucky).

We here in Alberta have to consider ourselves lucky in that the big dump (15 cm) of snow that hit parts of eastern Alberta and Saskatchewan, missed us!

Hints of Spring

I had 16 of these butterflies in the garage today trying to get out the window. I caught them all and released them to fly off. They must have hibernated in the garage over the winter.

 The snow pack is down to 6 to 8 inches.

 All the crud from over the winter is poking through. One more day like today, and the snow should be gone.

 Little creeks are flowing off the fields like crazy.

 Some cow parsley is even poking through. It's a good thing that the horses are banished from the field until it dries up or it would not get to grow much.

 Our normally dry creek bed was really going.

The bad part is that the weatherman is forecasting snow for Monday. If he doesn't get the weather right pretty soon, I am going for impeachment!

It's a positive event ( I think) when the snow is starting to be replaced by mud.

The Athabasca River is now free flowing.

 The geese are starting to stake out their territory. They like to nest on the little islands and sandbars.

 All of the trees and debris were not there last summer, but were washed in as the banks eroded upstream. There is no shortage of firewood along the river!

 The geese are feeding along the small tributaries.

Spring is getting closer!

It Looks Like Winter is Over!

Today, April 21, the snow pack is starting to go down! The driveway is a sea of mud and almost impassible, even with a 4 wheel drive. However, it is starting to dry up.

The horses are looking like a sorry mess, with lots of dead hair waiting to be brushed out. In a way, it's good for them to become accustomed to being handled again. It has been a long winter!

 It doesn't help when critters like Tucker decide to lay down and roll in the mud. I got most of it out, but I am sure she will roll again, soon.

 Alpine looks a little spotty. It seems that every year she sheds in a mottled pattern.

 The goils dress up not too badly, but how long they will stay that way is anybody's guess!

A Hint of Spring

This is what I had prepared to post prior to the 25 cm dump of snow we got. (See previous post)

A trip to the Athabasca River today showed that , yes, ducks have returned, why I don't know!

 The river was flowing pretty good for this early, but no where near flood stage. That normally happens in August when the mountain glaciers really start melting.

 Lots of little ducks floating around.

 Houston, we have lift off!

 There was a hint that a heron had also returned.

 There were lots of geese on the sandbar out front, but they were in the brush squawking and choosing mates. The ones that were flying were going down the back channel, out of camera range.

Two Gold Eyes  were indifferent to my presence, up to a point. This goes to show that maybe we will get spring ( we may call it summer) this year.

The dogs are shedding, the horses are shedding and some of the birds are back!
Bring it on!

Here is what we have scheduled for this weekend!

Alerts in effect for Whitecourt, AB

Snowfall Warning

Issued at 10:33 AM MDT Friday 12 April 2013

SUMMARY

Heavy snow beginning tonight.

DETAILS

A low pressure system will develop over Alberta tonight bringing with it a band of heavy snow. Current guidance suggests the band will set up from the Grande Cache region through the Capital region and into areas east of Red Deer. Total snowfall amounts up to 20 cm are possible by Sunday.

They were wrong! We got 25 cm (10 inches) of very wet snow!

Ho Hum!

Yesterday!

 Today!

At Least the dogs are happy!