Keeping an eye out for spring

The signs of spring... I think we all look for those tokens of warmer weather to come more than any other seasonal markers. I watch for them eagerly... where I never enthusiastically yearn for winter or summer signs :)

On the way down the driveway for a quick trot on Saturday, I spotted the silly killdeer. All year I wait for his spring heralding... only to later tire of it during the hot long evenings in July... when he just never quits !

Graders are out in full force on the dirt roads in spring.

Trucks lined up to dump fill to make the dirt roads more passable.

Hair shedding....

Number one rules during shedding season -- while brushing - never wear chapstick and do not try to chew gum !

Daffodil shoots springing up ! These are a bit earlier - I think because of the heat reflected off those rocks.

The phoebe showed himself on Wednesday for the first time this year ! Perching high and flicking his tail... trilling out his name over and over to let us know to pick up our buckets .. sugaring is over.

And of course the true harbinger of spring -- the Robin. There are flocks of them back from their winter vacation pecking for worms... when I spotted this fellow -- I immediately stopped chores and ran for my camera. Pretty neat -- a piebald Robin !!

And---- what are NOT indications of springtime !!!


Having to continue to wear long underwear !!

and ponds still covered in ice --

Keri and Reverie went out for a quick trot on Monday.. and we ran into a few more spring signs.... neighbors out walking. This day was cold but a strong sun -- too nice to stay inside.

Two young men out on a quest with their mom.

Keri loves a quest.... but is wondering -- does the entire neighborhood own a black lab ?

Tom turkey roadside -- puffing his broom and fanning his tail as we approach. Toms are quite impressive so we had to stop and snap more photo's. At this point, Zoe is holding the camera... she's learning !! :) and Reverie stood very still for the close ups... good girl, Rev.

the bristles on his chest are actually called a beard -- but I have always called it a broom... it's so much like a whisk broom - makes more sense to me.

These are an heirloom variety of turkeys - belonging to a neighbor.. but they wander the vicinity wherever... very handsome - and a handy de-sensitising obstacle as you never know where on the road or in the woods they will be.

view of my new jacket... embroidered by Denise Conroy -- it is springtime but still March.. cold today - I feel like I resemble a neon green Michelin man from the rear.... a bit bulky.

Reverie has an awesome sitting trot which she can maintain easily forever. I also tried to get a video of her BIG forward trot.. but so far... my horse has to travel quite fast to keep up and the camera wiggles too much. Reverie (Zoe's Day Dream) is quite a horse !! Always fit -- always cheerful.

With warmer weather, we have been able to advance the saddle training of a few horses recently... and work outside instead of being stuck in the indoor.

Here is OYY Little "Z" ... who has been waiting to prove herself forever. Here is her second time under saddle - walking around in the outer small arena. She's coming along very well -- an eager student who is also quite pretty.

She has had some solid training and exposure on the ground -- now to do it from the saddle.

Here she is being ridden from the indoor into the outer area.

OYY Niobe also has had a chance to get back under saddle -- we saddle trained her a year ago.. she took maternity leave - and now is back in training. A lovely large curly pony mare - she will make a nice English ride but also has an adorable western jog - so we are keeping her in western tack.

Niobe is maternal sister to my outstanding driving pony OYY Nimue.

She is going to make a great little trail horse too. Wonderful, sweet attitude -- willing and forward.

OYY HummingBird is SO pleased to be chosen on a regular basis now for work. She is always standing by the fence and gate --- waiting to be the one. She is smart and quick to teach. I am very fond of this little pony mare - who is full sister to another favorite - OYY Arcus. she sports our senior herd sire's stamp... two hind socks.

Her Mom is an awesome riding pony and also drives (and don't forget her Dad too - Chip - rides and drives beautifully) --

HummingBird is just as talented.

Here she is from last month -- I love this mare !! BUT - she is for sale... I'll be sad to see her go though.

Here's a little view of HummingBird being ridden for the first time.

She will make someone very happy !!

HummingBird is 12.2 hands.. sturdy and sporty.

It's been a fruitful spring week.... with more to come hopefully.

Enjoy ~

Changes, equal nights, spring sights

This spring I am having a difficult time with the current time change. I remain outdoors too long in the afternoons.. the sun is still out and it's so warm by then... I lay in bed too long in the mornings - it's dark and a bit chilly -- encouraging a longer, deeper snuggle. It's been almost a week now and I still have not acclimated to spring hours.

The March winds have arrived - but the sun is strong, even when we don't feel it so much. Every day more snow melts and I am surrounded by the sound of roaring brooks and streams full to the brim with the vanishing snow. Two days ago, we were in the height of mud season - but the strong winds help to dry the earth. I put the large York rake on the big tractor, so every time I feed, I also rake. Turning the roadways and lanes twice a day to dry more. In some spots it is working well... while others - well, the mud is still pretty deep. I have always been quite fascinated by water and spring is all about water (and mud) here in Vermont, as the snows melt.

You know spring has arrived when the pigs leave their cozy nest to start grubbing up the lawn. They hibernate all winter ... lose lots of weight - they don't like the snow much. Once they get out and nosing up the dirt- they gain fat back rapidly. Their strong noses turn my entire lawn over - I kind of hate it.. but I like the pigs .. when summer arrives, they don't stay on the lawn so much. I rake it out but it still remains rather bumpy when I mow the grass.

The once ice-bound brook is now pushing its shoreline boundaries.

Only a month ago, even in areas hit by sun -- all our moving water froze as it flowed..

I love the suspended waterflow.. but then the temperatures warm up and it amazes me the intensity of spring waterflow.

This is an area of constant water flowing - so to pass we built a sort of stone culvert/bridge to cross without making so much mud. Sometimes after a heavy snow - the bridge is obscured and I get a little nervous crossing it with the hay -- it's just wide enough for the tractor and I can't go much either way on the sides without falling off :)

Along with water flowing and falling, there is also sap - a true water of life - dripping into the buckets. As the sun hits the trees, the sap energizes up from the roots detoured into the buckets by the spouts.

The spring water that flows into my goldfish pond- suspended in frozen time. Every now and again. we'd catch a glimpse of orange and red under the ice ...

Now that the days are here of sun and thaw... I see the fish just basking in sunlight and their little pond is liquid water again. They survived the deep freeze once again.

The duck pair is back from where ever they go in winter.

Their favorite little pond is completely thawed - but my larger upper pond is still covered in ice. Maybe that has something to do with the depth of the ponds - deeper ponds stay frozen longer ?




I have not heard the killdeer or phoebe yet.. perhaps it's a bit early. Once we hear the phoebe trill... the sap run is over. Last Wednesday I was out in the cart on a lovely drive and spotted my first Mourning Cloak of the season.. out of hibernation with mating on his mind.

One of my favorite sights from horseback - winter and fall.... I'll have to ride over and get a photo in spring :)

A few months ago - the last chore of the day was loading the stove... done in half dark at 4:00 in the afternoon. This was a season for hunkering in early and seeking artificial warmth and light. One evening I snapped this photo of my little 8N - and it seemed to me even she was nested in for the night

The old girl is probably thinking - turn off the lights and let me sleep !

Those short days are over now ... The weather and the workload are in for big changes now :) We made it through another winter ....

Enjoy ~

Destination - Hawk's Mountain again !

This hump is our intended destination of the day - another trip up Hawk's Mountain. It's the perfect day for it -- warm weather, fairly dry and we have (hopefully) enough time to complete the objective. :) You might notice what struck me right away - the white line along the ridge that makes the mountain appear like it has a spine.

I did not bother to take any photo's of the first 8 or 10 miles of the journey.. but right about here, we begin all new trail -- we cross many snowmobile bridges along the way-- here we have to cross Route 10 just ahead - to get on the new snowmobile route to the mountain top.

From this point on for quite awhile it's all new virgin territory for us !

Lots of bridges to cross along the way.

In and out of bare melted ground - deep snow in spots -- and lots of ice.

Nice big open spot for a big canter :)

Hawk's mountain is still in our sights - but a distance away.

Take a right into the woods -








where we find more mud and lots more ice.







Right past this spot, Zoe and I had to do what we NEVER do on a trail ride out -- the ice was so slick and we arrived at a section of the trail where there was no way to stay on the side -- with very steep down hill --- we had to dismount and lead our horses carefully for about 200 feet.

Back in the saddle and more bridge crossings.

Back to a nice open space for some fast traveling.

Finally after a long trek -- we are on the trail that leads up the mountain.

I repeated this photo because it's so pretty and a perfect illustration of the day, the trip and the FUN we are having !!

About half way up- a break in the trees affords us a nice view.

You can see the trail ahead -

Further up, we find narrow icy trails and steep sides.

I am rubbernecking like crazy -- the last time we were up here, we still had foliage so the view out was so completely different than today.

Yikes - Zoe gets a phone call and she's just chatting away while on the edge... but I guess I am just as bad with my camera snapping :)

I love the mini glaciers dripping in frozen motion down the ledge.

We reach the top and of course as usual I take too many photo's -- the sun is so bright up here, it is blinding my camera I think. These windtowers (look carefully) are VERY far away in (I think ) Unity New Hampshire.

At the bottom of the page I actually uploaded a short video scan of the view because it's so pretty. The sun and brilliant snow is bright up here - and even my horse is blinking her eyes and squinting.

Time to head back down the mountain - I look back to see where we were.

Reaching the bottom - we trot home on Baltimore Road.. this sugar house is hard at work.. with fragant smoke and steam rising.






We pass the Baltimore Town Hall - which I love -so snapped more than one photo.

Hay field in winter

Long road out to a far away corn field.

Muddy roads in Chester.

We are now about 8 miles from home still- we've been in the saddle a long time today -- but what a superb ride. Here's that hump again from this perspective -- Hawk's Mountain.

Quick little video of Keri and Teasel traveling together.

Live view -- my camera needs a big cleaning !!


Enjoy ~