What a scare, today!

I went out, this morning, through the crusty dusting of snow to discover horse hoof prints all over my lawn ... and driveway, and garden. Oh my! So, Jazz is usually in the barn every morning, so I wondered if she would be there ... no nickering, as I walked toward the door. Frightful! But, when I opened the door, there she was, just waiting for me. So, my mind is racing to figure out if some other animal could have left such a track.

After I delivered her grain, I headed out to see what more I could see, as far as fence breaches and where this animal travelled. Since she was in the barn, I thought ... another horse, visiting in the night? I saw a few manure piles and some muddy skid marks, where the ground was soft. But, the rail fence looked fine. And, the electric fence was all strung in the easily visible places. So, I started tracing the tracks ... this horse went all over the place. I finally found where the fence had an opening ... way at the southern corner. So, it was Jazz that had the midnight romp of the property. But, to get to the driveway, garden and yard, she had to go through the fence breach, and then through an opening in the southern end of the rail fence ... along the road, heading north, to the driveway. Tracks were there, into and out of the driveway. Imagine it, though ... she went all over the property ... out to the garden, all over the northern lawn, around and in between the camper and shed. On that bright, moonlit night, last night, she was probably having a ball! But, amazingly enough, she found her way back into the pasture and back to the barn, by morning.

I can't see any evidence of anyone helping her, near the yard or barn. I fixed the fence and visited her at her hay pile, and she had no temper about me hugging her and petting her, today ... lately, she has been a little aggravated with such handling, while she is trying to eat. Must be that her boredom was well relieved and her mood was much improved. I can only think of a dark horse, in the night, along Route 3 and sigh with relief that she is all right. I can't figure out how the fence went down, down there. I had two poles in that corner, supporting the sharp turn, but I could only find one of them, this morning. I am wondering if someone was meddling. I will have to ask Todd if he touched that corner for anything, but I doubt it was him. And, I wonder if someone wanted to catch Jazz, but couldn't. I don't keep a halter on her, so unless you are patient and she is willing and you have a rope to fashion into an instant halter, there is no catching her. I am probably making too much of it. And, just so glad that she is happy in her barn home so that she came back. Tomorrow marks the day of her arrival to our home and lives. She's been good to stay put in that pasture all this time. I sure hope this isn't the beginning of a streak of mischief, though.

Busy Saturday!

It's past 9:30 p.m., and I am just winding down from the day.

This morning, even before breakfast, I fed Jazz and then went to work on expanding her pasture to the southern part of the property, where the grass is starting to sprout and green up. She hesitated a little about crossing the ditch, but she knew what was on the other side and got over her anxiety quickly. You should have seen her running for pleasure, all around that new space. I think she was just trying to avoid getting a halter and lead rope put on her, but she also looked like she was having a good time.

After some breakfast, I put a pot of water with a ham bone in it on the stove to simmer, in preparation for some soup. Ashley had a play-a-thon to be at, all day in Colebrook and Todd had to have one more ride, so Hannah and I had the day to ourselves ... until she took off for lunch with Uncle. Before her lunch date, she was industriously creating mud-food ... pies, cakes, steak, hamburgers, meatballs. All lovely and delicious!

Anyway, I went back outside after breakfast, and went to work on tidying up the barn, as the water problem was significantly subsiding, so both people and horse could enjoy the portions of the barn/stall that I had blocked off, due to water and ice (inside ... what a pain!). Jazz has been used to half a stall for so long now, that the whole thing available again probably had her wondering.

Bill, one of Todd's coworkers, stopped in on his way home from fishing to take a look at this horse he'd been hearing about (and sharing tack, tips and supplies ... a public Thank you to Bill!), so we visited for a little bit.

When my barn was tidy, I went back inside and tended the soup pot (removed the bone and added the peas & barley stuff). While that was cooking, I believe I went back out and snapped pictures of Jazz lying in the sun, enjoying the lovely spring day.

She was so content during one of her rests that she let me walk up to her, and sit right down beside her. I scratched her ears and forehead gently, and she just relished the sunshine and attention.

The soup was done, so I had to go in taste-test it for lunch. It was all right. Not as good as I've done, but sustenance. Then, I did some online research about horse care and vets in the area. Wrote a detailed email to a prospect who is in Danville VT and hoping he'll reply soon.

So after a once-over with the rake, the front yard looks a lot better. The side yard still needs lots of attention, but that has to be another day. Hannah was there to help with this area of yard work, and her trusty red wagon came in handy. There were branches (and roots) to clean up from that pitiful bunch of bamboo-like junk and she hauled that away. We dug up the roots as best we could and should see a major difference. There are still piles to pick up, but things are looking nice.

Break-time meant that we needed to sample some of that fantastic mud food, magnificently presented and served ... to me in my muddy Bean boots and dirty clothes. Well, sitting on the back deck with the sun setting, I looked out over my sprouting little sea of daffodils and felt revived enough to tackle the quick raking of that area, while Hannah pulled out the larger sticks and stuff that a rake wouldn't get. We'll enjoy those flowers more, now.

Once we'd picked up for the day and fed Jazz again, we waited for a vehicle to return home so I could get down to Lancaster to do the weekend plant check. It was very nice to have company (Hannah) and we enjoyed the time to chat and savour the memories of the day. We never did get to play wiffle ball, but the wind would have made it hard, anyway. Another day.

Now, I am nodding off. Better get this posted and start working on finding a pillow!

Ashley's in the news, again!

Recently, Ashley participated in Colebrook's NHS induction ceremony. She got her picture in the paper (pgs. 1 & 8) and video on YouTube, singing with her school chorus (1:53 - 2:23 & 4:17 - 4:56).

Ashley's POPS concert

She sings and plays the flute.

See her @ 4:15 and 5:40 on youtube: click here

Photos on pg. 10 of the Colebrook Chronicle: click here

Spelling Bee Runner-Up

I'm disappointed that I didn't get a copy of the paper, but this is better ...

http://www.colebrookchronicle.com/Feb13.PDF

News and photos of Hannah are on pages 1, 2 and 8 ... and, at 3:17 to 4:50, she's been recorded in action on "YouTube" ...

Ambition returning?

Well, can you believe it? The Potters are just too busy to write in the online diary. I have to admit, I have been busy. But, the lack of blogging can be explained by my avoidance of computers at home because computers at work have been ALL I can take. Things are settling down, now, and it's February vacation ... and our girls are visiting friends and relatives all over New England, so I seem to have a little time for myself, tonight.

I'd rather be outside, with Jazz, right now, but I've managed to run up quite a sleep deficit, these last few weeks, so it is better if I just put my feet up, wind down, and think about getting some shut-eye. Truthfully, I didn't want to come in, tonight. The snow is falling slowly and gently, in rather big flakes, and Jazz is just hanging out, by the fence, so I was just standing there, under the cedar tree nearby, watching the snow and her. I like to just be out there ... watching, listening, smelling, relaxing. That's my therapy!

So, my girls have separated and travelled to Maine and southern VT. I can't wait to hear all about their adventures. It has been incredibly quiet and slightly dull, at home. Todd helps me with the dishes every night, so I'm enjoying a fresh, clean kitchen every day. Sammi, the dog, watches faithfully at the window while I sit here in my chair, telling you the story of my recent days. I'm trying to figure out what I'm so busy doing, when the girls are home, that I don't have the time to relax like I've had, this week. I'd really like for this to continue. Have to work on that!

I think it's PJ time ... till next time.