I don't believe this...

[altivo]

Tess is spoiled. (Well, I do believe that.) John says she needs to get her feet wet more often, and with six inches of wet snow on the ground, what easier way than to turn her out in it? She doesn't dig under the snow for grass, the way some horses will. She just stands there and looks pitiful, or gets agitated and runs around whinnying. So I put some hay out on the snow to keep her occupied for an hour or so, while I cleaned the barn up and made up her stall for the night. As long as the hay lasted, she was fine. Single-minded even: "Food, food!" But as soon as it was gone, she began to run back and forth along the fence, hollering for me. That was at the 45 minute mark and everything was ready, so I went and got her. I don't need neighbors complaining about the noise, even though their kids and parties are often much worse. She's perfectly happy to be in that pasture when there is grass to eat. In fact, sometimes she doesn't want to come in when I go to fetch her. But when everything is all spooky and black and white, and she's alone out there with no bird noises or anything, she gets spooked I guess. I used to feel that way if I was out in the snow alone too, so I give in to her.

The utterly bizarre weather continues. Today we were up to the freezing point, with many icicles forming and the snow starting to settle. Now we have a "winter weather warning" and the forecast is for "wintry mix," which apparently it will be. Except for the thunder snow that is. They called for snow to begin at 9 pm, heavy at times with up to an inch per hour accumulation and possible thunder and lightning. Then it will warm a bit and turn to freezing drizzle on top of the snow, and tomorrow the temperature is going way above freezing, to 50°F/10°C, with more rain, possibly heavy and even more thunder. Smells like another tornado warning to me. Then as it cools off, tomorrow night, we will go back through sleet and freezing rain to more snow. These are the kind of conditions that resulted in a pea soup fog a couple of years ago with emergency shut downs of everything because traffic couldn't move safely at all. Warm wet air passing over the snowcover on the ground does a marvelous job of making fog.

It's already snowing hard, well ahead of the prediction. I wonder when the earthquake will be...

Comments

[kamo2paws.livejournal.com]

Some people forget that animals have a wide range of emotions just like us..

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've even heard some insist that animals feel no emotions at all, or even sometimes that they feel no pain. That's patently absurd, but it's a rationalization to justify doing whatever they find convenient without any concern for the animals.

Of course I know better. I've been around animals all my life, and it's not just anthropomorphizing to say that the higher ones at least, the birds and mammals, have emotions and feelings. What they lack are words to express what they feel. They think in images, which doesn't mean they can't anticipate the future or remember the past either, as some claim.

[kamo2paws.livejournal.com]

They lack English perhaps but their language is very defined.. We think in pictures too.. they just look like recognizable characters. I too am often blown away by how ignorant humans are by comparison ; )

[corelog.livejournal.com]

Thundersnow? :D Nice word! Ranks right up there with Thunderpuss.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'd like to take credit for the word but I can't. The local weather forecasters have been using it for quite a while. We do get snow accompanied by thunder and lightning once in a while. Not necessarily every year, but often enough to need a word for it.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

Of course we are near enough the weather is often similar, other than lake effect probably. I am just happy it is warming up. January was nasty. Even having lived in Alaska for over thirty years, warm good, cold bad. Of course hot bad too but that can wait until Summer.

I agree about people thinking animals having no feelings to justify the use and abuse of them. The God thing. Domination. Goes on and on. Of course we who love them often over-exaggerate too.

And no, I did not mean you were dumb or nothin'. Make joke attempt fail.

Love ya,
Imperator

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Aw, I got the joke, I was just teasing you back.

We got quite a hit of snow last night, looks like another four inches or so, and I don't think the rain they threatened us with has happened yet from the look of things right now. Of course it's still dark so I'm just guessing by turning on a light and looking out the window.

Love,
Rider

[murakozi.livejournal.com]

Does Tess always get turned out alone? Since the boys are gelded, I thought she'd be turned out with them much of the time. I just wonder if the company wouldn't keep her more quiet. She might also learn to check under the snow for grass from the fellas, too.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Tess doesn't tolerate the boys well unless there's a fence between them. I gave up on trying to put them together after she kicked poor Asher nearly to the moon. (He's too dumb to back off and kept trying to be friendly.)

Since Gary swears he isn't going to drive the boys ever again, I've tried a couple of times to trade them for a mare who might suit Tess as a companion, but so far no luck.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

I recognize that "out alone in the snow" feeling.

Though I like it actually. Go figure.

I think your attempt with the hay was on the
spot, keep at it, but she's a good girlie
all the same.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

She's usually a good girl, yes. But she is capable of quite a temper tantrum if she gets seriously riled. I don't like to give in to the tantrums, but I don't like to risk letting her hurt herself either, so I try to avoid the occasions that might bring one on. Mares. Just like women sometimes.

[marzolan.livejournal.com]

It's been like... 65-70 here all day... it's rediculous...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

See tonight's post for continuation. There are severe thunderstorm watches and warnings in the southern part of Illinois tonight, while we have pea soup fog, but tomorrow we expect heavy snow again.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't find cats that spoilt *paws at the pantry door* Hungry!!!

That was a very cute mental picture with Tess :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

If I fed you every time you think you're hungry, soon you wouldn't be able to walk. ;p