Silly Cat

It's cold here.  Very cold.  Yesterday with the wind chill factored in it was around -43 F (or -42).  In other words, blooming cold.  Last night I fed the horses an entire, very rich square bale.  That was their evening feed.  This morning, I fed more.  It did warm up to a balmy - 32C (-26F) today though.

Moxie Cat lives in my little barn.  She keeps my hay free of mice.  This morning she was in the rafters (on styrofoam type insulation).  Giving her the stink eye, I figured she made her way up there (not sure how) so she can make her way down.  Tonight, ten hours after I did my morning chores, I found her still in the rafters, calling me with all the desperation only a cat can muster.  Sighing I called her.  She trotted towards me above my head.  Looking around for something tall enough I braced my ladder against the wall and called her over.  Would the cat use the ladder to descend?  Of course not.

Trying to get it stable enough I began to climb my way up.  She excitedly danced around my head.  Grabbing her with one leather clad mitten I tried to drag her off the roof onto my shoulder.  Like all contrary cats she dug in her claws and refused to leave her refuge of the roof.  Taking more steps up the ladder, I reached a hand up and behind, all the while calling her over.  Tentatively testing me with a paw she began to walk onto my arm.  Encouraging her, I shifted a shoulder up.  Once I felt her claws dig into my thick Carhart coat I began to carefully make my way back down to the safety of the floor.

Dumping her off, I glared at her.  She happily wove around my legs purring and meowing.

Nutty cat.  Tonight I hope she decides to sleep in the insulated house I provide her.  (The barn is insulated but still...)

Can We Do It?

Can I have my dogs ready to compete at the Canadian Border Collie Association Championship?  They're behind in their training.  Particularly Diva.  But here's the kicker.  For the first time ever, this trial is happening when I'd be able to attend it (normally it falls when I'm back at work and can't take time off) and it's a mere 10 ish hours away.  These two factors are making me wonder if the dogs and I shouldn't make a run at it.  It would mean being really focussed with their training on stock.  It would mean putting a lot of miles on the truck driving and getting in the practice time.  It would mean committing to attending and competing at trials.  It would mean I'd need to be able to get my dogs through a course.

Can I do it?

My New Saddle

This is a Bob's Custom Duane Latimer Reiner.  Today I traded my English saddle for it.  And I might just add that I'm super pumped!  Number one - this saddle is worth more money.  Number two - I might actually use it.  

*doing a little dance*

When I think of this saddle this is the soundtrack in my head:

Less the make love part - thank you Sarge!  (Seeing as how the thought is still making my skin crawl...)

Time, I know.  Time.

Still doing happy dance...

Squeeee!

Oooooh!  Do I have stories to write about tomorrow!  Do you know what this is?  This is a saddle.  To be specific it's a Duane Latimer PBS Bob's Custom Reining Saddle.  *insert cheshire cat grin*

Sense of Direction

Sometimes I forget how smart animals are.  How well honed their senses are.  Today after watching the snow fall I decided we should go to the grazing reserve for a walk.  The route to the park goes past the farm.  As I neared the farm Ryder began staring intently out the window.  When I drove past he bounced around and cried.  It was like he was trying to say "Hey stupid - you drove past!"  The dogs had a great off leash run down the lease road, and I got a nice work out walking over the uneven snow covered ground.

Sweet Sunshine

I was trying to get a picture of Ryder sunning himself.  It looked super neat in real life.  Couldn't quite figure out my angles to show what I saw.  Either way - he's super cute!

Play Date??

I thought I'd work on Ryder's separation anxiety.  I left Diva at home and took Ryder to visit the dog we'd babysat earlier in the year.  The most interesting thing happened.  After debating between leaving Diva in the house or in the garage run I chickened out and left her in the run.  I don't often separate them and I wasn't sure how she'd respond.  I quite like my leather furniture... Diva kinda bounced around when I loaded Ryder in the truck.  As I backed the truck out of the garage, Diva looked on intently.  Ryder began to jump around (not normal) and cry.  He spun circles and put his front feet on the console looking out the front of the window.  As the garage door lowered he cried before lying down on the one back seat that's left up.  He curled up into a little ball.  (Also not normal.  He's a pretty happy traveller.)

Once we were at the friend's house he was tense and a bit clingy.  He settled down but the two dogs never did have the good play they'd had while I babysat.  It was quite interesting and a learning experience.  Clearly I need to do more of this type of thing.  I hadn't realized how dependent he was on his sister.

The Latest

Here's the link to the 365 days of pictures that I'm attempting.

http://365andrea.blogspot.ca/

Fat Camp

This is Bugsy when I first got her.  Take a look at her neck, and um, waistline.

Bugsy, in November - different view.

Bugsy 6 weeks later.

I think this view shows how much she's trimmed up!  Ready now to see what she does under saddle.

Wind Swept Walk

We had to shorten our walk in the park today.  The wind was brisk...  Ryder loves lying in wait to attach his sister.  Loved the contrast with the windswept snow.