As Mondays go, this was not a bad one. It was cold, though. The outdoor animals are well outfitted for the changing weather, and I wore my long underwear, so it was tolerable.
Ice along the stream 
Marmalade runs to breakfast 
Twizzler and Rosie cuddle for warmth
Scott delivered a load of bedding just as I was about to get on Stone. He was quite cheerful about it, and assured me that he rarely has help, so I somewhat guiltily hopped on a horse and left him to unload 100 bales by himself.
Scott gets a workout today
Stone was a blast, despite the gray November day. We happened upon the last colorful leaves in the Between Woods, a small oak tree decked in red.
Harry and Weedy returned from a lunch meeting in St. Louis County bearing delicious Straub’s chicken salad for me. While I ate at the kitchen table, the birds ate on the back porch.
A chilly dove 
Goldfinches in their drab winter feathers 
Junco – a winter bird 
Mr. Cardinal 
Mrs. Cardinal
Jane came to ride, and we worked the Pearl Brothers hard, getting warm doing so, even as the temperatures dropped. By the time we untacked, light was fading and we settled the horses into the barn for the evening. At night check just now, I turned the heat on in the tack room for the first night this season.
It was a good day for cat pictures, as I worked in the barn with the camera handy.
Tom Morris takes a nap 
Rosie got covered in dust today, trying to disguise herself as her brother, Roscoe 
Skittle is hoping for warmer weather 
Cora has found a soft bed
Harry spent the remainder of the afternoon in his studio, which is much warmer than the barn
Happy in his work and warm in his workplace
In closing…
“Red sky at night, sailors’ delight” promises a nicer day for riding tomorrow (as does the weather forecaster).
Stay safe, stay well, stay warm. Peace.
Good job Rosie! You look just like Roscoe! Cora has the right idea, a cozy ,warm, soft bed, perfect for winter. Stay warm!
I don’t know how you have the time to do all you do…. Thanks Anne.
I don’t have time, Woody! I leave a great deal undone.
Anne, I love the photos of Mr. Cardinal and Mrs. Cardinal! How you got them to pose in exactly the same positions! Those photos would be great for MIssouri Conservation magazine, or some other nature publication; they’re such a perfect example of male and female coloring.
And you are a great photographer!
Thanks, Patti, but I am a long way from the talent in Missouri Conservationist! I positively idolize Noppadol Paothong for his photography in that magazine. I don’t have the patience, or time, to get the incredible shots he takes, but I love to look at them. There is a great article about Paothong (and David Stonner, who is also brilliant) in the November issue of Missouri Conservationist. Keeps me striving, anyway.