There wasn’t much melt last night, but it finally warmed up today, and only in the shade is there ice and snow now. I wish I didn’t have a weather app on my phone, telling me what is coming this week. At present, we will stay in the moment, and enjoy it.
For the horses, alas, the melt means that they are locked in the paddocks until the fields start to grow grass. The ground needs a rest from their destructive hooves. They were resigned to their fates. It happens every year.
Much of the day was devoted to my most dreaded of tasks, housecleaning. I took a break mid morning to walk down and check on the ring. To my dismay, our most treasured Taylor Spine jumps had blown down and were covered in ice. I managed to right them so that the sun could do its work.
I took the camera with me as I walked to the ring and hoped for some amazing pictures, but I did not have a great picture day. I did see a bird on the fence, and took a picture. Only when I loaded it, did I discover I had taken a picture of a bird I have never seen before – A Myrtle Warbler, also called a Yellow Rumped Warbler! On a more somber note, a friend found a dead bird in her barnyard today – a cedar waxwing. What a beautiful creature! I saw a flock of them 25 years ago in Pike County on a mulberry tree in the Spring. I never noticed the yellow on the tail then. I hope to see some living waxwings again. I will continue to plant chokeberries and other plants that they like, in honor of this unfortunate one that lost the flock.
One of the best cures for the blues, which this winter has given me by not allowing riding… is working outdoors. On this gloriously warm afternoon, despite strong winds, I went out to do some chainsawing. We are still clearing trees that fell in July! This one is at the west end of the ring, and I am hoping the horses will be less spooky now that it has been cleared away. I enjoyed sweating, and I am now too tired to be sad and frustrated. I also feel so lucky to have a battery powered Stihl chainsaw!
Harry came to find me while I was chainsawing. He walked over to Jane’s house looking for me, and she knew where I was. Later, I went to find him in his artist’s garret and got a picture of him at work.
The grasses in the back hayfield were tossed in the wind, which is most welcome, as it will dry things out after way too much rain and snow.
Be safe, be well. Peace.
Winter is becoming more and more unwelcome as we age. The beauty of the snowfall is diminished by the thought of dealing with the aftermath.
Indeed, Janis!
So sad about the wax wing. I have never seen one but they are beautiful.
Oh my this winter has been hard on us! Frigid and wet, yuck! Little Mistletoe’s expression speaks for us all. Your blog sure helps, it’s comforting and pleasant, thank you.
On a positive note- You mentioned in a blog remark some time ago about your love for the Stihl battery chainsaw. So I bought one a few months ago. It is frickin’ awesome. Now you are also a farm maintenance blogger. I’ve observed a few other useful things over time in your photos too.
I think that hole in the tree is made by your pileated woodpecker.
Several years ago, a flock of cedar waxwings showed up and feasted on the berries of the giant red cedar outside our bedroom window one Sunday morning when we were having coffee in bed. Amazingly beautiful and shy birds, that is the only time I’ve seen any in the wild. I keep looking for them to come back though! I think they are out there, just hard to notice and ID until you see them up close.