altivo

Our farrier friend's wife called and said he was under the weather and they were out of bedding straw for their horses. She couldn't find a source within reachable distance, did we know of one? Well, not offhand, but Gary offered to hit the cheapest local source of shaved wood bedding and bring them a dozen bales. So we dropped everything, ran to Union Feed, loaded up Gary's station wagon with wood shavings (not loose, they come in plastic bags) and stopped by the local grocery to get some lunch fixings, then made the 21 mile drive to John and Linda's.

Unpacked the shavings, after which I got to pet and smooch several horses including my old favorite, Accelerator, who I know recognizes me and always comes for a hug. In fact, he kept making a fuss when I tried to walk away from him, banging on the gate with a hoof to get my attention until I finally told him to stop it. John has a new quarter horse paint stud who is really handsome though a bit over-spirited for my taste. After I'd petted and snugged him a bit and he'd nibbled on my coat pocket flaps and ears as many horses seem to like doing, Linda called to me to be careful as he is "nippy" and might take a chunk out of me. Well, no. We got along fine and he is very sexy and handsome even if not quite as personally affectionate as Accelerator is. Talked to and petted John's gray dapple mare also, who is really pretty and sweet but seems not to have many brains. She tangles herself in everything hurtful she can find, most recently a wire fence that cut her face badly though it has mostly healed without serious scarring. They have one yearling Haflinger colt and he's a sweetie too. I can't have any more horses than I have now, but I'd have loved to bring him home with me. Didn't visit their sheep or nutty llama as the snow is too deep.

We had a reasonably healthy lunch of sliced turkey sandwiches, low fat chicken noodle soup, and some blueberry pie (well, it has anti-oxidants, right?) and a nice chat before hurrying back home to take care of our own critters.

Contrary to the weather forecast, the sun never came out today and it snowed very lightly most of the time. I don't think the groundhog saw any shadow though.