Winter Doldrums

Well, Ground Hog Day has come and gone-- I guess we're in for another 6 weeks of winter. We all are suffering from the winter doldrums here on the farm-- even the horses seem itchy for a change. For me, February has traditionally been the longest month of the year .. maybe because we feel spring around the corner but have to wait it out through cold and snow.

I study the wood pile and what's left of my hay... keeping in mind that old adage ~ Half your wood and half your hay You should have on Candlemas Day (which is Ground hog day). I am pretty sure I am all set for hay, but my wood pile is dwindling- discouragingly so. All the other wood burners I have talked with say they have also burned more wood this year than past years. Despite what I thought were excellent efforts to have a goodly amount stacked and at the ready... there is not so much left. I did get a nice log load the other day-- and have already started to burn from that ! So I spend a lot of these February days with thoughts of how to better prepare for next year's February.

Number 1 daughter (and only daughter), Zoe celebrates her birthday on the 3rd of this month. We managed a nice ride out on the day before- a gloomy Ground Hog Day. We rode Keri and Teasel- the fantastic duo-- but both horses were incredibly lazy and pokey. The snowbanks have blocked all access to our usual trails. We thought perhaps we could dig out small pathways, but the fairly regular snowfall would have made it impossible to maintain openings, so we are sticking to the highways and by-ways- trying to come up with new loops and treks.

We ride by the farm up on the hill past their leaning silo, which I
always expect one year will topple. Past the little round home we call the "Gnome house". We took a road I am not sure I have ever traveled on in all the years I have lived here. That woke the horses up a bit-- new sights ! Here's a view of Okemo off in the distance, one of Vermont's ski areas. Ski resorts are the bread and butter of Vermont's economy I guess-- so they must be pleased with our weather.

Training continues and it has been staying rather "warm" inside the indoor. OYY Dante had another ride out on the road. OYY Nimue had a few sessions with head set and has greatly improved as she gets back into her driving training. OYY The Doctor of Dreams also got in a couple of short trots down the road after his schooling in the indoor. Zoe's Day Dream, aka Reverie, had fun trotting down the road. I took Camille out for a very brisk 3 mile trot which she thoroughly enjoyed.

"Old news" -- which is new news -- January 31st my dog India, a standard poodle, delivered 4 healthy fat pups. Two females, 2 males. A perfect size litter for a first time Mom.

Dad of the pups is my yellow Lab, Nicodemus-- aka pork Chop. Here's a photo of India with her brother Dickens (the reclining black poodle) and Nicodemus as a pup. He resembles a fat toad in this photo !

Nicodemus more grownup, after a swim. He's a fine dog, as is India, so the puppies have a good start genetically.

Labrador plus Poodle = Labradoodle.... this year, the President's first choice of pets !

One nice thing about this time of year-- the days are noticeable longer- the afternoon sun a lot stronger and deeper. So if I can get through this month- short on days, but seemingly long on passing, I am sure the winter doldrums will be forgotten--- as Shelley is quoted saying-- O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind? We'll see... according to the pesky ground hog.. it's still 6 weeks away.

Enjoy the day ~