I know there is one more day to go, but I will be glad to see the end of this month. It has been difficult here, and fraught with bad weather and bad news for some good friends. I keep counting on better days ahead. Perhaps February will provide that. It usually brings the first crocuses up from sleep.
There hasn’t been much excitement here, but we surely had some cold weather. The birds have been hungry, and the varmints have been coming around in hopes of us forgetting to bring the bird feeders in at night. I went out with Eddy to do night check and encountered a varmint face to face. Luckily, Eddy was restrained. If he had gotten away, I expect the raccoon would have done the dog some serious damage. Eddy wants to engage, but he is not a fighter, and varmints can be fierce. This raccoon backed away and vanished, leaving Eddy crazed for an hour.
The cold snap was so brutal that Eddy and I made a stop at Chesterfield Mall to see if the pipes had frozen. The heat barely functions. Luckily, all was well.
Then, the client decided they wanted the bear to have a wide open mouth. I didn’t think that would be hard to do – just pry the mouth open!. Well, I am not an artist. The change required major surgery, and when the cold weather broke, the roof at the mall leaked badly. Luckily, the sculpture was not underneath any of the major leaks. Harry is feeling better day by day and is almost fully recovered, right on schedule.
We were fortunate to be home during the wet and miserable ice event that arrived and ruined two days here. Ice is perhaps the worst weather condition of all . Tornadoes are bad, but random. Ice covers everything and can be lethal. This ice wasn’t even pretty. There was no sunshine.
I rarely keep the horses in, but they spent most of one day in stalls because of the ice. I wear YakTrax traction devices on my shoes, but the horses slip and slide. They are safe once they get on the grass, but coming out of the barn can be very slick.
The cats managed better than any of us. But it was an unpleasant time.
As the weather improved, we were happy to have a visit from brother, Michael, as he drove westward back to Seattle, stopping for one night here. He arrived with a beard and departed clean shaven!
Before the bad weather, we did have a visit from my glamorous friend, Brooke, who was working in the area. We have known each other since we were 6, with just a few decades going in different directions. It was fun to reconnect.
The stream was turned off during the bitter cold, but it is back on. We had a glimpse of sun and blue sky, and soon it will be February, a shorter month and longer days.
Be safe, be well. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
ha! I should send you a picture of a real “messy tack room” Not for publication though 🙂
Your blue sky picture from Monday was beautiful. I think it was the only day in January we made any electricity.
Sadly, due to Leap Year, February is nearly as long as the others. However, the first few days at least promise very mild weather. Ice is no fun.
You have some very endearing pictures here! And I love the titmouse/bluebird shot. Ice is deadly. All very well when the sun shines, If not, it has no redeeming feature! Brother has your smile!
As cold and miserable January was, you must have captured every bit of its warmth and beauty in those photographs.
They’re wonderful!
I just love all of your pictures ! I am so glad Eddy was on a line when you encountered the raccoon ! Harry’s bear is absolutely amazing ! Looking forward to better days .
What a work load changing the mouth of the Bear! Ice is deadly. Old Friends in KY lost one horse to it, a favorite of mine, 24 year old stallion, Spensive. He was a large warmblood looking thoroughbred, with a warm heart, so sweet even the wild critters liked him. A bluebird! Lucky you, I thought they headed South in the winter. February won’t have to work hard to be better than January. I agree, “Good Riddance!”
Loving the happy little bird pictures! They are so lucky to have you guys helping them out through a harsh winter! Also, the Bear’s mouth modification was hysterical!
Quite a full report! Those Barry genes are strong-twinkling eyes and fabulous smiles. Such fun to see glamorous Brooke, very wild life and Harry who seems to be on the mend. Always a pleasure to see your photos and hear your “histoires”. xox Jill
Oh my, I liked the bear the way he was!!!! Oh well, I’m not paying for him, so I guess I don’t have a say in the matter. My favorite photos this time are the goldfinches and the three cats in their beds in the “not so messy” tack room! Does each cat have his/her own bed or is it first come first served? I want you to know the minute I see the email of your blog on my phone, I stop everything and open it, but I don’t comment on it on my phone because when I do it on the computer it automatically types in my info. Guess I’m lazy! Sorry for the delayed posts!