Greetings from the frozen Tundra

Well today we reached a toasty 16 degrees. This is miserable, but the scenery is at least breath taking.  Interview was a bust, company was a bit sketch.  I pretty much said peace out, not really, but almost.  No worries though, I now have my first interview out of the way.  Onwards and upwards.

What to do in the snow?  Bake pie. Take pictures. Drink coffee. Plan for the future.

I'm writing this on mobile blogger (practically useless) so I can't caption the pictures, I'm sure all a y'all can figure it out.

My other life

Good luck kisses from my main 4 footed man

In a break from my lamenting about snow...I have a job interview tomorrow!  So totally psyched!  Life has been stressful and I look forward to the day I can put my bills on autopay!  I know it is just an interview, but it is a step in the right direction.

Prisoner has mad balancing skills

Ok, well back to the snow.

Thanks to sprinklerbandit for snapping some fun pictures!

 So this was our first day of snow, by day two we ended up with almost a foot.  Now our lows are below 0 and highs are barely reaching 23.

Big Papa (Courage) chaperons 

 This weather is unheard for November in this area, much more typical of January.  That said I don't think I have ever seen this much snow from a single storm here.

P-diddy rocks the kisses

 Our ski hill is had the earliest opening in 45 years and this now ties the record for snowiest November with the year 1892, no joke.

Blanket icicles 

 Trying not to whine, but seriously... wtf weather!

Only the cutest face ever

I can't believe cross country on green grass was only a week ago!

Winter be gone!

Winter may bring us cute photos like this:

What is cuter than a tiny pony in a blanket?

Another tiny pony in a blanket!

And pretty photos like this:

Pat the cat is the best!

But, I am done.  My car got stuck while feeding my horses, it took a half hour to get it out, in the dark, with the help of two other people.  Yes, it is two wheel front drive, but it is seriously the worst snow car!  In the car's defense the snow was 8 inches deep and very very wet and heavy.

Road to the barn

I wanted to park on the road (you know, 'cause it looks so great), but there is no shoulder and it is very curvy by the barn.  So, I drove in parked, fed, went inside and ate amazing food, and then I was stuck.

Maybe I ate too much.

Again with the snow!?

First off, and most importantly check out Hillary's new soap giveaway!
Yep you've got it, it snowed again!

Diva wants to know when she will be cool enough to head to Ocala?

At least it is pretty!

We are under a winter storm warning until Saturday night, more snow, yay.

I hope this comes true soon

The weather has reduced my posts to Grumpy Cat memes.  Le sigh.  I just want to ride my horse!

Charlie loves the snow

Zelda just wants to snuggle

I'm going to work on some posts with a purpose, make some lists (yes I'm becoming the list queen, yay me!), make more videos, try to continue being interesting while the winter drones ever on and on.

Cows

So yesterday was super fun.  Mojito and I went for a jaunt down the driveway and I couldn't have dreamed up a more sensible brave boy.  He took it all in stride and didn't even mind the baby cows following him while mooing, or Bridger and Suzie (his pasture mates) running around on the other side of us.

Why hello

Ready to hit the trails

Gotta love shadows 

I got diva out today after a freaky snow storm this morning (which I held 7 more saddlebreds for the farrier in).

Twenty minutes after this the ground was completely white

A literal winter coat

                         
















Diva had decided she did not really remember baby cows and we had a bit of a snort fest, but it was short lived and soon they were again friends.

Diva: "what strange creatures are these"

I taught pony club again tonight, it went swimmingly.

Still in the snow

Wow, it doesn't stop, the snow.

Snow hanging onto the chicken coop

 I am blown away, we don't normally have such an intense winter here in the  Treasure Valley.

The door to the garage/feed room was blown open today and the snow blew right in

 It is making for some great pictures and fun times.

sunsets are nice

My fence seems to be getting shorter with all this snow

Charlie conquers the snow mountain!

Diva and Sadie say ride us, we won't be silly, wink wink

I am itching to ride, it has been too long.  Riding is something that flows through my blood, it completes me, but sometimes I get tired or lose a little inspiration.  I believe this happens due to the fact that I ride horses as my job and am spread super thin. So a little forced break puts that spring back in my step, I do a little YouTube therapy and by the time I step my foot back in the stirrup  I am again ready for my dreams of the Olympics and the day to day grind.  I'm not whining, I know I am so incredibly lucky to have my 'job' also be my passion, I'm just human and I get tired.  But enough of that.  This snow brings back memories, memories of the north Idaho palouse.  I learned to ride up there on an incredible endurance Arabian stallion named Pepper.  He taught me more than just how to post a trot, he taught me how to dream, he taught me how to feel.  As a little kid life threw a lot my way and I was pretty shut down, Pepper tore the shutters off, he let me laugh again.  Up on Moscow Mountain we rode through snow deeper than his belly, we wore face masks against the cold, toe warmers and layers upon layers of winter clothing to stay luke warm.  It was like riding through Narnia up there, majestic pines flocked with white powdery snow.  Cabins with smoke curling up from their chimneys, deer, elk, moose, owls, and tiny mice, views of miles upon miles of rolling snow covered fields. Those trails were places for healing, for cathartic release, for growth, those trails were where I learned that life was something to be amazed by and to find a reason to smile no matter how weighed down one feels.

Staying in the snow

The snow came down fast and furious yesterday. I love the way it looks falling out of the sky, snow makes the landscape and the characters in it serene. I grew up with feet of snow not inches as we get here, I miss it. I know I know snow is not conducive to making a living riding horses without an indoor, but I'm choosing to look at the joy it brings my eyes and soul not the sorrowful tatters of my pocketbook. I have been loving watching Charlie the dog play in this mysterious white fluffy stuff. He seems joyful and confused in alternating moments, getting absolutely covered in ice. Lucky for him he has enough hair for 3 dogs and doesn't get cold. Upon seeing a picture of Charles with a nose covered in snow Eugene commented that he (the dog) needed to go to rehab ;) The horses have been fun to watch also. Little Sadie is spending her first winter out of California and is not sure she enjoys the snow tickling her ears and nose. Diva and Suzie both seem set on playing as much as possible to the annoyance of their pasture mates. I should get a video, I swear they kick up as much snow as possible with each step.  Mojito, Paul, and Ricky have trails cut cross cross about their field, it is interesting to see what areas they find intriguing enough to explore.  I know this is going to turn into a muddy disgusting mess at some point so right now I'm going to just enjoy the view and maybe toss a few snowballs!

Suzie and Bridger waiting for breakfast

Charlie says rwar!

Mojito the snow pony

Diva the vacuuming horse

Bridger eating hay, Charlie eating ice (ice baby)