NATURE

After two days of blustery wind and unseasonably cool temps, it feels like spring again. The farrier was due here today, so I hurried through my barn chores, and spiffed Abby up a  bit...

Abby mostly loves a good grooming, and will frequently doze off during her favorite parts.

One "not so favorite" part is whisker trimming. She was starting to resemble a billy goat, so I persevered and got the job done.

Smooth as a baby's bottom. Really. You non-horse people may not know this, but a horse's muzzle is every bit as soft as a baby's butt. Maybe softer.
That done, I had a little mosey around the woods and pasture with my camera. Sadly, Monday's high winds toppled two nests. 

There did not appear to be any survivors.

This time of year, there is something to new to see everyday. I thought "we" had taken care of this....

And this, the biggest dandelion I have ever seen. I dropped my phone in front of it, so that you could get an idea of its size. That's what a steady diet of horse manure can do.

Of course, I wasn't alone. Fitz came along to make sure I was safe, and just as I was complimenting him on his tree climbing skills, he stepped on a rotten branch, which broke and dumped him on the ground. I always think cats look so embarrassed when they fall. He'd probably rather I hadn't told you.

Does anyone know what these little white flowers are? There are hundreds of them.

Back in the pasture, it is buttercup city. My farrier gave me some tips for getting rid of them. They like acidic soil apparently, so spreading lime is one thing we can do. Also, Tractor Supply has a spray that will kill them without harming the animals or the grass. I try to limit my use of weed killers, but I might have to try it. 
Of course, I have to leave you with at least one garden pic, so I'll show you my dianthus border.

Hope spring is giving you roses as well as buttercups. XO.

ABBY, SCOUT, AND NIGEL

Today was farrier day. Here is Abby's worried face. Don't know what her problem is...most girls like new shoes.

Here's what I'm working on...

Scout

Nigel

Experimenting with adding fabrics to the paper collage backgrounds. Will probably print these boards onto fabric and add stitching.
Hope you had a chance to make something fun today. Or at least, got a new pair of shoes. XO.

WHY IS MY BROOM STANDING ALONE?

Today was hoof-trimming day, so I finished the barn chores early and hung up my broom. When  the farriers came, I popped back into the house to get my camera, and when I returned, I saw this...

My broom stands alone.

Yikes! My broom is standing alone. Is it bewitched? It was very breezy. Did it blow off the rack and stand itself up in the wash-stall? Or could it be this pair of prankster farriers? Well, of course they did it! Buzzards! 

That explains how it got off the rack, and who stood it there, but what gives? I have been sweeping the barn everyday for nearly 6 years and that broom has never shown the slightest bit of independence. Something to do with "planets" they said. Planets? So I looked it up and apparently brooms everywhere are rising up and standing on their own bristles. Something to do with axial alignment as a result of the spring equinox. Really? I prefer the "bewitched" theory. I like to think that if I could only learn to twitch my nose just so, the broom would not just stand there, but would go ahead and finish the sweeping up.

More horsey business...when I was not being pranked by farriers today, I made this.

Think I may turn it into a pillow top. 

Hope you had a bewitching day and PLEASE let me hear about any strange behavior by the brooms at your place!

Wednesday

Went outside to wait for the farrier this afternoon. Took my camera hoping to get a few shots of the last remaining blooms, and the animals. Surprised by the number of bees and blossoms this late in the season.

We did have our first heavy frost this week...

Had way too much help from the dogs, who only seem to want to be in the shot, when you're trying to photograph something else...

Thought I'd have a try with the horses, but you can only get a decent shot when you catch them unaware...

otherwise you get something like this...

because they are really monkeys in horse suits! 

Indoors, continued to work my way through the "Flying  Lessons" blog hop (see Tuesday's post), and made apple squares for my therapeutic riding group...

Now I'm off to Timber Grove Farm for therapeutic riding. Hope you have something warm and appley to eat at your house!