Chasing Saturday

 Isn't this picture hilarious? Looks like Bill is giving me the chat down. Maybe he is saying YOU BETTER GET BLOGGING!

 So today was really cold, but the sun was out and it wasn't so cold you'd rather be dead. Here I am getting ready to head out on the trail. I was somewhat cheered upon hearing that Phil the groundhog did not see his shadow and so Spring will arrive earlier than later. However, I also know that that does not apply to us out here.

The new riding boots (made by MUCK) I got at the Equine Affaire in November have been working out great. I wear them with toe warmers and smart-wool socks. I've got two pairs of long underwear on (expedition weight, as if I am in Nepal), and my puffy pants. Plus, I've got a million layers on top. Aaaand my balaclava. Not to be mistaken for baklava. And my puffy mittens.

The first event on our ride, before we even got to the trail, was that Bill's neighbor had his trash cans in a new spot. Guess who noticed?  Lilly jumped straight up into the air. Just like that! And then we moved on. Right after that a strange dog appeared. Lilly was not too sure about him either. He was wearing tags so I did not worry about him. We moved on again.

Earlier in the week, we had a lot of rain. It got strangely warm, a rainstorm moved in and then it got cold again. Thank you, Mother Nature, for making things cold and ugly. And icy.

Did I say icy? Yegads.

Careful, Lilly! Do not step on the ice!

As usual, Lilly had her own ideas about what she wanted to happen on the ride. We didn't venture onto the trail because it ended up being too icy. Since the road was clear (thanks to Bill for keeping it plowed), we mosied along to the Blueberry Pasture, Lilly stopping at every patch of ferns she spied. Now I know I needn't worry about her vision. She can see those ferns a mile away.

Just think, one day there will be peepers in that swamp peeping away. The days are getting longer.

 When we passed the Big Pasture I left Lilly on the side of the road and trampled through some brambles to get this picture. At first these guys did not know what to think of me. Perhaps they thought I was the Great Pumpkin coming to life. After I called to them they seemed to think, Oh, just her.

Looks like the old barn at the BP is getting a face lift.

I wonder what this cement circle was for. I will have to ask Bill.

Coming back through the brambles, I was spying on my brumby. She appeared not to notice (or care) I was down in the dirt snapping photos of her. Another case of, Oh, just her.


Meanwhile, back at my house......

You know there is nothing worse than a fussy septic tank...except perhaps a fussy septic tank IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. That is our friend Chris Rawlings and his backhoe. A backhoe that is almost exactly like Bill's! Chris is one of our favorite people. He builds swimming pools that look like Mother Nature put them there. He will tell you a septic tank is swimming pool too--just not for people.

Bah!

Stay warm!