THIS, I SWEAR....

If you get through this entire post, you are a real trooper.

Considerably cooler this morning.  The weatherman said we had a high of 56 yesterday, and at 7:30am it was in the 20s.  On with the heavy Rambos.

This was Barb's last day of vacation and like all the other days, she spent part of it helping me.  Am I lucky or what?

L'orange surfaced, even tho Gucci was in the vicinity.  I had to keep telling her to leave him alone...and she did!

This is not the best shot of King Mustafa, but I have to share another very special thing with you that concerns him.  This morning I got an email from a person I never met, who used to ride and show him.
She found my Journal through the HMS newsletter where there were several pictures of KM.  Once she got to my blog, she started reading and here is part of a quote she made:

"I want to tell you that I hope when I'm all grown up I can live a life like you seem to have created for yourself.  I have been career-minded my whole (young) life, but when I read your blog I get excited about what life after a 9-5 might look like. Tending a small herd of horses, cats and dogs, having an historic facility with modern amenities, singing in a community chorus, making a variety of delicious meals and spending lots of time with friends and family seems like a wonderful existence."



Let me say...that made my day.  I hope I have the opportunity to meet her.

Does this shot of the Studio look like it was taken January 2nd?

Before noon it started to snow, and did not look like this anymore

 Meanwhile, Seymour and Sid were happy to get back in a warm house.

 Does this kitten want to be a model or what?

Ditto for Phoebe....

At 11:30 we had to leave for Rochester to help Jenny.  Packed up 3 Christmas plants and we were on our way.

It was snowing a lot harder in Rochester.

We arrived at the County Office Building by 12:15.

It is an exceptional piece of architecture....

and houses the chambers for the County Legislature.

Our daughter has worked there for the past several years as the Chief of Staff for the Democratic Caucus. 

Tomorrow she starts a new job, and will really miss being in this beautiful space.

Elvira!  Could this not be in Italia?

Why were we here?  For the swearing in ceremony for Harry Bronson....who was newly elected to the State Assembly.  Jenny will become his Chief of Staff tomorrow.

 We helped set up the refreshments...

and listened to the music performed by a jazz trio.

 

Good sounds....

The Chamber was packed.  A very supportive audience.

May I introduce Harry Bronson....

and his COS....Jen.

I had to get a picture of her with Viola (a clerk at the leg) as they are going to be missing each other.

We left by 2:20.

Relaxed for awhile when we got home, and then went out to do chores.  Guess who was back helping me?

Earlier, I had thawed out some turkey and gravy left over from Thanksgiving.  What a smart move.

Tonights salad was greens, onion, craisins, walnuts and an orange.

I heated the turkey up in the gravy....made us each two pieces of toast and put together hot turkey sandwiches.  Comfort food for sure.

After a long day, it is now tea time with butt to the fire.
Night all.

AFTER THE ROSE PARADE VIA TERRI....

A good friend moved to California a few years ago, and she just sent me some fun photographs that I would like to share.  After the Rose Parade is over, the floats are put on display and you can get up close and photograph them.  Here are a few.  Such works of art!

SUNDAY STILLS CHALLENGE - YOUR BEST SHOT FOR 2010

I have way too many "best" shots, but I will pick this one.

I like the composition and contrast.  This was Pony (Babe's Opal) at age 30...she had to be put down 12 days ago and she still looked this good (colic).

To view more best shots from 2010, click on my sidebar.

Happy New Year everyone!

IS THAT GREEN GRASS I SEE?

A mild morning.  No blankets for the ponies.

Ya know that saying "red sky in morning, sailors take warning"......

Barb and I did chores together....really made sure everything was picked in the paddock before it freezes again.

A very long time ago, this was a dairy farm and the front paddock was cement.  When we bought it, there were no stalls or fencing.  Just 2 barns full of cow stanchions and car parts.  They had a backboard up for basketball...which our horses continue to use.  Anyway, that cement keeps us from having deep mud.  There is a dirt cover on it and I drag it in the summertime.  Right now it has hay everywhere so that when it freezes there is good texture for the horses and they don't slip on the ice.

I'm keeping the horses off three of the pastures but allow them to go out back as it is the highest and drains the best.  Every spring it recovers beautifully.

Obviously, those colorful skies disappeared....and by 10:30 it was raining.  ALL four horses rolled in the mud!  They were hanging out in the indoor and were a MESS.  It was a little over 50, so I cleaned them up the best I could (Abbe was the worst) and put their rainsheets on so they could stay out for the rest of the afternoon.

Sidney was on the prowl.

When I got in the house I took a nice hot shower and got ready to go down to the college for drumming.

Missed the last two sessions and it took me awhile to get back in some kind of groove.  There were 14 of us today and the more I played the better I got....  This group is loaded with good drummers and it is pretty intimidating.  Suppose I have a lot of nerve for even going. 

I absolutely have to start taking notes on some of this stuff.  Fortunately, Khalid is very patient.
Below is a short video of what we were doing before I left.  It was not too difficult as there were several rhythms going and I was able to play one of the simpler ones. 

Got home around 4 and Jenny was here to help me work on Masterpiece.  Last week 3 out of 4 feet had crusty heels.  I had worked on them a few days ago.  Ironically, the mud and water must have improved them, as they were much better tonight.  Cleaned and soaked him and put him in his nice fluffy stall for the night.  Did chores and came in for dinner.  Took no pictures and it was the debut for using our new Gridler (Christmas gift from our daughters and families) to make Paninis.  I'm not as motivated to drag my good camera out to the barn in the evening.  So hard to keep everything clean in the middle of doing chores.  And I totally forgot about it when we were eating.  Oh well.

Hope you are off to a good start for 2011.
Night all.