Aldrich Farm

It is flippen' cold and cloudy  making outside time down right miserable. These poor old joints and muscles just reject the cold big time..the gloom makes me gloomy and I want to crawl in bed and wake up when the weather improves. But that is not happening...fighting off depression can be a challenge. Making attempts to use the computer and art time to distract me.

No motivation to exercise, though it might brighten my mood.

yes I have started exercising again ..making use of the eliptical machine, it will take some serious time to work myself up to staying on for very long. It is not as easy as those found in most public gyms. It is referred to as the toture device in our home. I have been pumping the weights again as well. I really need to build up my strength for the riding season ahead.

The animals are fine, though Super tested me the other day with bolting and threatening to jump panels rather then do work with me, it is to be expected with to much time off he objects to having to behave well in the begining. He soon has a change of heart when he learns good behavoir comes with handfull of pellet feed as a treat. then falls right back into what he knows and gives me the opportunity to work on that he does not. Looking forward to more consistant warm weather so we don't have these big lapses between work days.

 feeling bored today but spent the majority of the day...you got it playing on FB. Though I should getting more familiar with my Wii and exercising a bit more

I have started painting a series of Kiger Mustang inspired paintings. I have completed 2 and am working on a 3rd. So for I am very pleased with the work.

With no takers or interest in my Pintaloosa mare Princess as of late I have made plans for her further training and she will be heading to a lady that will work on her trail riding and putting miles on Princess under saddle this spring. I look forward to getting Princess back in July and riding her myself.

That is what I have been doing with this blog...just plain neglecting it. I drop so many updates on horse forums and social networks is a blog really neccessary ? or just a repeat and waste of time. To be honest I am not even really sure how many people stop by this website, I just paid for another year for. Just hanging on to the domain name  I posted a forum for people to ask questions it never gets any use. Maybe it is my fault for being so neglectful with updates here. As the horse breeding part of the farm has disbanded and my new interest in putting my artwork ahead as a priority, there is a possibilty my website to can change and go with the flow.

Once a place were I advertised horses and can become a home for showing off my artwork. If only I can tear myself away from Facebook games...LOL  

It is snowing pretty darn good today, a reminder it is still winter in central Oregon but spring will soon arrive with new adventures on the horizon with Ichigo my new dog. The continued training and conditioning of Fantasy (once she is well) for endurance racing. Then of course the many tales of Super the mule.

Several weeks have passed sense my last post I survived the Holidays. Christmas Eve was spent at my Mom's home. Then Christmas morning Kenny made breakfast while we opened presents from each other. We then shared the rest of Christmas day with Kenny's family. It was a lovely Christmas, much better then I had expected, full of holiday cheer.

Photo album generated with Smilebox

Next came our annual New Years Party, A huge bon-fire and several friends a family, not to mention perfect weather conditions made this a great success.

A slideshow design by Smilebox

Super shelter has been finished and the weather has even warmed up enough for me to get a chance to go riding this week. I have started work on my new years plan to loose weight and get in shape, so far 3 lbs down. I have ordered my Sketchers shape ups and look forward to getting out there walking.

It is time to make that appt. to get Ichigo fixed, she will be 6 mths old this month. She has really grown into a nice family dog. I just hope she will make me a nice companion dog as well. The training will help her bond more to me, I can't wait to get started.

I do look forward to this new year ...so far keeping my head up, with the glass is half full attitude.

I am a couple days behind, the last few days have been busy and there is just not enough hours in the day to do EVERYTHING, I would like to.   Even keeping up here every evening.

The holidays have me busy, just making sure everything will be prepared on time. I will be candy making this weekend as I watch the snow fall, the weatherman informs me.

Sense Super was seperated out and will be spending time in the arena now a shelter needed to built. There is no sufficiant tree cover in there. My hubby got busy and Super attempted to help but was soon kicked off the job for moving poles once they were already level. I am sure he was just trying to help.

We have a frame up and wil have to wait for metal delivery to get the roof up, because snow is on the way. Super is spending the night in the barn with Mystie. I moved panels to provide them a larger paddock and ability to inside for shelter.

During the buildng all the horses were out in the big pasture running about and I managed to get a snapshot of the whole herd together.

Funny thing is I thought I had 9 horses while it appears I only have 8 ....oopsie  

My painting has been put off while I hand made Christmas cards and invites to the annual New Years Eve party, which still need to be sent off. Hopefully this weekend will also be productive as I pick up the brushes.

That is my station here on the farm I do believe more often the not, it is the removal of and movement of poo'. As you saw from yesterday I was manage horse manure. Today was my daughter's day off and we cleaned the goat pen. Then I gathered up my dog poo' scooping device and a wheel barrel and made rounds around the property. One sure thing is when the snow all melts your left with alot fo wet nasty poo' that was hidding under al that snow to clean up,  the price we pay with hug a beast

I have good news about the Christmas cards I did get several completed. I got crafty with a few and others not so much. Just a few more cards and off to the post office I go.

I spent most my day on the tractor trying to manage some mud  The stalls were quite messy as well as that big dirt pasture. Once on a roll I got busy cleaning up the hay barn area as well. I put together this smilebox of all my efforts.

Make a free digital slideshow

Ichigo was a great dog and followed me as I worked or watched from a distance at the gate or the nearest pile. I was proud of her, though at the end of the she smelt much like the goo' I was working on cleanign up. She got a much needed bath when the work was completed.

Super however spent his last day with his Fantasy and most of the herd. His bad habit of tail chewing has returned, complaints have been filed, my daughter's geldings both have shortened tails. I am a big softy, I hate seeing him seperated. On the other hand it is also good for him to be his own mule, spend some quality time away. He can still see everyone so that keeps him from climbing fences and he does have Mystie the ol' mare in the evening to keep him company.

Free picture collage created with Smilebox

My day ended with Kenny, the hubby making me dinner, my daughter making cookies and I myself made a new batch of fudge. Then I got started on a new painting for my brothers office. He had requested paintings of horses running with a black horse as the main subject. A black horse is the symbol for his auto detail shop, I want to surprise him this Christmas with some finished projects.

Right now I can hear the wind a whipping ....we are in for a change in the weather.

Dog days and Holiday cards, the past few days have been focusing on the dogs and making time to get some cards made. Yesterday I walked out back to see just where Wiley has been getting thru' the fence. Then proceeded to begin to block his escape routes, but soon got sidetracked by taking pictures and video of the dogs enjoying playtime in the mud.

 Here is the link to the resulting video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmA5Po2edbw

Then today I started work on Ichigo's training, walking with a leash, which ended with fetch time in the grass pasture.

My time spent with the horses was bringing Fantasy in from the pasture to braid and cover her tail with a sock. It seems Super has taken' up eating tails again, much to my disappointment. As I have plans to do some events with Fantasy next year, I would like to do so with a horse who has a complete tail. It is not very attractive mind you but I do hope the sock does the trick and protects her tail during the winter months to give it time to grow out, not get chewed off.

I did get a start on those holiday cards came up with 2 differant personal designs and one for the husbands business and just as I was moving along ...I got the red light flashing!! out of color ink! That will not do. I wil have to get to office max tomorrow and try again to get them finished.

I baked some bread today with whatever fruit happened to be around, that was apples and bananas..it turned out very yummy

Still getting used to how this blog works   I got busy updating my website for the season. Next will be more updated photos of the horses. As well as some of my art projects that are now available for sale.

As of today, we are no longer living in a snow filled winter wonderland, warm weather and rain has turned the farm into mud ranch instead.

though the mud puddles do have a lovely reflective side to them  My rubber boots really came in handy today. I spent part of my afternoon brushing mud off of horses. I thought I might get a chance to ride but the slippery mud changed my mind.

Instead I made a trip to town and treated Ichigo to the dog park. She shows little interest in the other dogs but is getting braver. Ichigo does however love to chase a ball, I can't really say play fetch she does not always bring it back....LOL.

Creatively I had every intention on making some Christmas cards today and did one sample but got side tracked, with laundry of all things.