Random Friday

We're having a heat wave today! It's about 25* out compared to the -40* wind chill factor that we had yesterday! I think I might even venture out to spend some of the gifts cards that I got for Christmas. They are kind of burning a hole in my pocketbook. Not that I need a thing mind you but you know how it is.......Jo Ann Fabric is calling my name.......

It sounds like you all had a nice New Year's Eve. We were in bed by 9:30 so didn't get to see the ball drop in Times Square. The kids came over early for steak and lobster. We couldn't cook the steak on the grill as the cover on it was frozen and it would have torn it all apart to try to get it off. I usually can grill outside most of the winter but with the cold temps we have been having that was out of the question this time.

The turkeys have arrived back on the scene, about 30 of them so far. During the summer they go off in the woods where there is plenty to eat so we don't see much of them but once there is a lot of snow they are back hungry as can be. I enjoy watching them although they do fertilize the back lawn quite a bit......ahem.....if you know what I mean.

This morning Noodles wanted to go outside so I let him out. A few minutes later he came back with a sparrow in his mouth. :o( He had the whole head in his mouth so that the poor thing was bottoms up! I didn't want him to bring it into the house so I opened the door a crack and told him to put it down, which he did, and the poor thing flew off! Yea! One for the sparrow! I hope it is all right, it didn't even seem to be dazed or anything so there is hope. I know he was just being a cat but I hate it when they catch the birds!

Went up to see the boys at the stable. They are sure fuzzy!!!! Kipper looks like he was put in the dryer on air fluff as his hair sticks right out straight! Lil' Bud has so much hair around his feet it makes them look so small. They had gotten into some burrs so we spent a good amount of time getting all of those out. Nick is snug and warm in his blanket. Okay horse people tell me this, will he ever get enough hair for these Maine winters???? He is the first horse that I have owned that just doesn't get enough to stay warm and has to be blanketed from late November on. I have tried letting him go without one to see if his hair would thicken up but he gets cold and then colics so I can't have that. What do you think????? He's half Thoroughbred and half Welsh pony and he sure didn't get the Welsh pony hair.

D spent the night last night. He beat me at Sorry numerous times and thought that was just the best thing ever. He's such a good little guy and so easy to have. He loves drawing so we did a lot of that last night. When his Mom came to pick him up a while ago he was trying to talk her into going to Walmart for a toy. She reminded him that he had Christmas toys that he hadn't even tried out yet. He said lets take one back and I can pick out something else! The kid is always thinking......

Just found a pair of winter Ariat boots in one of my horse catalogs. I think I am going to order them as they are tall. I wear my short ones and my legs get cold. We don't ride much in the winter, even in the indoor arena, but we groom and do other stuff and I hate being cold. I don't like to ride them and get them sweaty with all the long hair as it takes forever to cool them out. Have got to call the vet today and talk with him about Lil' Bud as he just seems to be getting so fat especially in the neck and that scares me. He's only on a handful of grain twice a day plus his hay. I'm wondering if he needs to go on Thyro like Buddy was on. That sure helped keep his weight in check. Last summer with three of us riding him it didn't even get his weight down much. He's in his early 20's now and old Morgans can tend to get cresty.

Guess that's about it for today. Must go down to the barn and feed little stray barn kitty. Wouldn't you think I would come up with a name for her? Next week is the week to trap her again and take her to the vet for the works. I hate trapping her but it has to be done and the Have A Heart Trap doesn't hurt her at all. This time I will put a blanket over it as my friend Nancy at Nancy's Nonsense says that calms them right down. Wish me luck!