A Horse Designed by an Engineer!

 I believe that the word Moose means "Eater of twigs" in Ojibwa. At least that's what I was told back in my younger days.

This gal showed up this morning along with last year's calf. The calf was in the bush and I couldn't get a picture, so you are stuck with the cow.

 The cow was doing some willow trimming for morning breakfast.

 As you can see, the moose and the dogs have things worked out. Brooklyn barked a couple of times, got too close and the moose did a couple of half hearted kicks then resumed eating.

 Moose are funny critters, but extremely fast when they get moving. This one was not in the mood. I think she was mooning Brooklyn!

Brooklyn is about 100 pounds to give you some perspective of the size of the moose.

We just ambled down the driveway to get the photos. She knew I was there, but saw me as no threat.

Hopefully, I have not offended any engineers out in blogland. It's been a kind of running joke over the years.

What's in your front yard today?

First Sign Spring is Coming.

 Friday, sunny and +11C! Life is good on the Acreage!

Unless, of course, you are still wearing a heavy winter coat!

A trip through the bush and who decides he is going to track us? Why Boots, of course.

Look, dad, I can out roll a horse! It feels so goooood!

Yep, really goooood!

It's Amazing What One Day Brings!

 Blue skies, sunshine , but cold! I am starting to understand why so many ancient cultures worshiped the sun. Six hours later, all the drive ways and paths were plowed out with the quad, or where the quad wouldn't push it, the snow blower did.

The wind kept the snow away from the fence pretty well. So far (knock on wood) I haven't had to plow it away from the fence. The horses have thawed out and dried off in the sun.

 I pushed a riding trail down to the end of the field. I think this will be the last time doing that, because I was hard pressed to get back up the hill even with the blade up and chains on. If it doesn't snow for a while, I have a riding trail ready to go!

 To top the day off, I also had to fill the horse trough.That task normally goes well, but today I had a frozen hose. I guess that I rushed the draining to fast and left a little water in it. It's always fun taking a hose apart, rolling it up, and hauling it into the hallway to unthaw. The fun part is working bare handed with hose couplings and water.

 Normally, if I walk the hose over my shoulder, the grade gets it all out. Not today!

Boots kind of laid back and watched me and the horses.

Spring is only a couple of weeks away, which means the snow should be gone by the end of April or mid May.

Bring it on! I'm more than ready!

Once Again We Get the Dump!

Last night it appeared on the weather forecast that we would be on the edge of another storm. It started snowing yesterday and is supposed to continue until late Tuesday.

The wizards on TV are saying another 10 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) is due. I can't quite figure this as all around us is expecting 20 to 30cm (8 to 12 inches). I guess weather forecasting is still an art, trying to be a science.

 The horses take it in stride and aren't as miserable as they look

Biz is probably the exception. Fortunately, I had one horse treat in my pocket. That seemed to revive her a bit.

 Alpine was totally ignoring me, until she saw Biz get a treat.

Boots had the right idea. Take a nap in the hay shelter.

The area roads are a mess, but , I don't have to go anywhere until Wednesday. It may take that long to shovel out!

Stay warm.

Bugs Was Here

Been Walk-about

I plowed out the trail to the lower pasture yesterday so decided to go for a walk. We were just starting out and Brooklyn was starting to lag behind, even on a plowed trail.

Tucker on the other hand was keen to come along. Unfortunately, the lower gates were open so she had to stay home.

The trail has been used by 6 to 8 deer and one moose overnight. I did not get any moose pictures, but Elaine watched him/her eat a bunch of twigs on the next property over.

Tucker was watching for our return, or most likely sleeping where we left her.

The day was not all play because the driveway was getting very narrow and the snow had to be moved to make room for the next snowfall. Yes, we will get more! This year's snow fall is less than half what we had last year. The quad could not push it over the edge, and the snow blower was out of gas, so the snow was pushed with the snow scoop. Next year I am going to have to figure out a way to extend the blade on the quad.

When we returned, I had a very tired dog. The snow in the bush was half way up her sides. She is a little too wide to make a good snowplow.

From the Deck

 At first, I thought there were only 3, but it  turns out there were 6. They were spread out and not bunched up for a family photo.

 One thing about the acreage, you never know what is coming down the fenceline!

 Ms High Stepper

Aw get the camera off me, or feed me apple flavoured treats.

Life is Great on the Acreage!

Winter "Flowers"

 Some people get excited when the first spring flowers come out. We get to look at these flowers all winter long, generally they bloom every couple of weeks. Like most, they do not last long. The sun is an enemy, not a friend.

 It does make for some pretty scenery though. The temperature this morning was -20C (-4F) and the wind has changed to the north east. The moisture in the air was knocked out and we can expect a cold front and maybe some snow to wander through. Yeah, more time to play with the equipment.

 The neighbour's horses way over yonder do what horses do, eat and eat no matter what the weather is like.

Note the nicely ploughed driveway! The chains on the quad really work well and I can plough uphill and down with ease.

Life is really good on the Acreage!

Wordless Wednesday.. 1976

Supplimental Feeding

At -27C, the horses are doing well. They used the shelter a bit, but greatly enjoyed the extra rations. They got an extra half bale of hay and a quart of sweet feed each ( rolled oats and molasses) for the extra energy required.

When they see the feed pails on the way, they try to see who can get there first. So far, they have respected my space and I haven't been bowled over. Tucker generally wins the race, but is moved off by Alpine, and Biz gets fed last. Then they reshuffle, thinking that the other's pile is better. It does get exciting in the pasture at times.

Boots takes it all in stride and stays clear. Brooklynn, however, likes sweet feed and received her first major run off by Alpine. That's why there is no picture of her.

It's supposed to be warmer by Saturday.  Yaaaahoooo!

Digging Out and Freezing

Winter hit with a bang on Saturday with a 6 inch snowfall (15 cm) and a dive in temperature. Our unseasonable period seems to be over. For the next two weeks highs are expected to be -26C and lows  in the -31C range. With the winds that we can expect we will likely see wind chill factors in the -40 to -45C range(-40 to -48F).

The offer made last year to trade Acreages in February with someone in the deep south is still open. Any takers?

I include a couple of shots of the place. The pictures are nice, but don't show the cold. One good thing is the horses aren't slipping on the ice anymore, and are a lot happier, and mobile. They are also eating an extra 10 pounds of hay each, just to keep warm.

Tomorrow, I will likely give them a pint of rolled oats each for added calories.


I took the pictures at -26C. That's all the shots I got before the camera froze up

Have fun and think warm!

Enough, Already!

December was the third warmest on record and so far this January, we have had double digits on three days of the 5. Yesterday we set an all time record of +12C ( 52F). The upside it was nice to be out even though it was very windy. The downside is instead of about 2 feet of nice fluffy snow, we have hard, can't dent  -it -with- a- shovel- ice, everywhere. Don't let the first two photos fool you. It is ice out there. I had to sand the driveway to get up to the house. The plowed walking paths are treacherous. The horses are walking on tip toe, and horse back riding is out of the question.

Although Boots is an outside dog, now and again he will come in to eat and then crash. He is a dog and not an ostrich, and yes we can see him!

Borderline cute? Or what?

All is Calm

After the hectic pace of Christmas, it is good to revert to a  peaceful state once again.

 I hope everybody had a great Christmas.

Getting Better from Now On

December 21, High Noon in the old corral!

The sun in these parts doesn't get any higher in the sky than this. It seems that we are almost in perpetual twilight or darkness. 

The brief 8 hours of so called daylight is way too short! However, thankfully, each day will now be minutes longer. I can hardly wait for the sun to be behind me again (from this viewpoint). 

Happy first day of winter everybody!

Winter Hit!

This is what we woke up to today! No, it's not snow , but a very heavy frost. The temperature went from        -5C (+22F) in the daytime to -23C (-5F) overnight, knocking all the moisture out of the air. It was very pretty and lasted most of the day.

The picture of this poplar tree shows the hoar frost. When the sun finally came out and loosened it, it was like a mini snow fall under the trees. The downside of the beauty was, it made me 10 minutes late for the Old Boys Coffee Club at Timmies. It's tough stuff to scrape off the windshield.

I took advantage of the cold  to light up pile number 12 for the year. There is more than one way to stay warm!