A widespread frost last night. Even the horses’ water trough had ice this morning. It quickly warmed into a glorious day, but, alas, the wisteria was too exuberant this year, and it was nipped in the bud, literally…
Harry and Weedy were warm in bed while the fields were white with frost…
Harry did his job of exercising today, starting on the bike. Again, I forgot to get a picture, but his form was good. After the trip to the basement for biking, my participation was no longer needed and the next hour and a half of hard work was his alone. I did get a couple of pictures upstairs. Harry has so many exercises that he has to keep a cheat sheet to remember them all!
It may not look hard in this picture… 
But the exercises are tough! Note Weedy’s enthusiasm for personal training.
Nathan and his wife, Allison, came together to work on the fence. Board fence has an expected lifespan of 20 -25 years, and ours is getting elderly. Many posts are rotted. It will be an ongoing project, but they made a great start on it today. And they brought youthful energy and good humor with them.
Nathan and Allison noticed a bird pop out of a fence post! They investigated, with the help of Nathan’s flashlight, and found a bird’s nest! Nathan got a picture. I went to see the nest with my camera, but I failed to get a good shot. And when I looked into the hole in the post, the bird was on the nest! After research, I am pretty sure it is a black capped chickadee.
Post 
Bird on nest 
Bird’s nest with eggs! (Nathan’s picture)
Jane and Derry came over and Bart and I enjoyed their company for a nice long wandering chat as human eurocisers, and some actual riding. Oisin and Stone got another reprieve despite the perfect weather.
Harry was at work in the studio with the dogs for company. I had my camera, so…
Cedar 
Mistletoe 
Weedy 
Nettie
Where are my glasses?
The swallows returned to the barn yesterday, so today it was time for my least favorite job of the year – opening the bale doors. We had real bale doors put into the barn when it was built, not for loading hay bales into the loft, but for bird access. So once a year, I have to climb up the ginormous stepladder and open them. They stay open as long as the swallows are here. I am not a fan of heights, but I do love the swallows. And I hope you appreciate my dedication to sharing life around here – I took a picture from the top of the ladder, in spite of my shaking terror!
The dreaded stepladder 
View from the ladder 
Open bale door
I took another shot at the pileated woodpecker today, to no avail. I am obsessed.
Speaking of obsessed, Harry was not a “cat person” until Roscoe came into our life…
And finally, glorious Prairie Fire Crabapple blossoms against the cloudless blue sky today…
Stay well, everyone.
Oh silly Wisteria, didn’t read the notice on climate change, she’ll be back. Love the tour, love the glasses, love that the swallows have their own door, the Crabapple is breathtaking, and as always, Harry and Weedy and Roscoe steal the show! Have a good ride!
What beautiful fencing! Mine is the Bootheel special of replaced boards when available and twisted wire and T-posts where not. Still testing whether I have really contained the filly as I caught her walking purposefully up the driveway yesterday when I did not close the gate. Brad refused to chase her. He screamed for me to go get her.