Short But Worth It

Briar and I took the horses out for about an hour and a half this evening. We bundled up including hats and gloves. It wasn't too bad until we dropped down to the river. Then it got chilly.

The beavers have been working on their dam. The water in the pond is very high, higher than before. The river is only about 10" deep. I actually saw one of the stinkers tonight. He dove as soon as we rode up so Briar didn't get to see him. I like taking her on rides because nothing ever happens when she is with us. She hasn't seen the bears, moose or porcupines. No one gets bucked off and the horses all behave. She says it's boring but I kinda like it.

Termination Dust

It's not the best picture but I wanted to share with you that Termination Dust is finally here. Usually we get a dusting of snow on the mountain tops that comes and goes several times between Fair and the time it snows and stays. This year it snowed down to the 2000' level on September 21 and I don't think it's going to leave.

Termination Dust used to mean the end of the summer construction season. Now with the ability to tent and heat, building construction continues throughout the year. Landscaping and road construction are coming to a screeching halt with contractors frantically preparing for the snow that is coming. My company has almost all of it's jobs completed. I have one yard to winterize and two yards to mow for the last time this year.

Then all the equipment comes home and my pens get re-gravelled, the leftover landscaping stuff gets junked, the sheep barn gets walled in and the goat house gets moved to it's new location. YAY! All the fences at the house need to be pulled before it freezes and reset for winter.

My 10 acres is set up for winter and summer livestock use. In the winter, all the animals are at the house. The horses are 27 feet from my front door. It's easier to have everything consolidated when it's 40 below in February and I have to haul water from town for the house and critters. Not to mention feeding at those temps with 4 feet of snow on the ground.

We're still riding. I took a clinic with Hugh McPeck last Sunday. Hugh is a local trainer who has a great way of communicating to his students. My friends have been training with him all summer and this new clinic had a couple of openings. We are working on suppling, collection, and communication. There's another post in that.

This time of year is kinda crazy getting ready for winter. I really want to ride but there's less than 12 hours of daylight. The critters are all confused. They expect to be fed when it gets dark which is at least two hours before they are supposed to be fed. Oh well. Wait until there's only 4 hours of daylight every day!

Wordless Wednesday - Soon we will

be riding in the snow! No termination dust yet but it's coming soon.

Wordless Wednesday

Lambs at the Fair

I had the deck stacked in my favor in the market lamb class yesterday. Of the six lambs entered, four were of my breeding. I had Grand Champion, Reserve Champion and 5th and 6th place. Not too bad for my first lamb crop! I had two more 4-H kids ask to be on my list for next year.

Showmanship was today. While I did not agree with all of the judge's placings, it was a good year for our 4-H showmanship classes.

I have no pictures since I was the ring steward for all the classes. I'm hoping that some of the other parents took pictures and I can get copies. I love being ring steward and working with the judge. I learn so much and can share it with the kids.

The auction is Saturday. I think I'm gonna take Friday off from doing anything at the fair except to feed tomorrow evening. It's Friday and what employees I still have need to be paid.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

What do you think this is? It's the biggest one I have ever seen and the vet put it on his Boone and Crockett list.

A Quick Update

The lambs were weighed today and 4 of the 5 made weight for the auction on Saturday. Briar's lamb is 110 pounds. Wednesday the market classes start at 3 pm. Can't wait to see how my lambs do.