DRIVEN TO ABSTRACTION

We've had another week of frigid temps with alternating snow and ice storms, in this winter that will never end. Hopefully, having more daylight at the end of the day will make it seem more like spring. I hear we should reach the 50's every day next week. Hurray!
On the upside, rotten weather means more time indoors and a jump start for my creative mojo. Earlier in the week, I was seized by the urge to fling some paint around, followed quickly by a desire to play with fabric. Here's how that turned out.

Collaged paper and acrylic, with charcoal on canvas board.

Printed this on white cotton, and then gave it the fabric treatment. You might say, I was driven to "abstraction." 

Mostly fabric and a bit of paper on linen. Nearly all the fabric is from a very old quilt I bought at auction. I'll be really sad when this one is used up. It had the most interesting bits of fabric and almost no repeats. I don't mind that it's in really rough shape. I love every little faded, stained scrap of it.

Haven't decided whether to add text. I am open to suggestion.
Also made some time for dog pics. My little Scout is growing up and was very cooperative with the props. 

After last night's snowfall, Abby was convinced that horse-eating snow goblins were waiting for her outside the barn. 

She made very sure it was safe before going out and making snow angels.

Mother Nature apologized for yesterday's excess and offered this. The Full Worm or Sap Moon.

Have a wonderful weekend, blog friends. Don't forget to spring forward. XO.

HORSE SHENANIGANS

We woke to snow and a fierce gusty wind yesterday. Only about an inch of snow fell but the wind continued throughout the day. The dogs were happy about it.

Abby, however, lost her mind. I took my camera along when I went out for barn chores, thinking I might walk through the woods after and take a few pics, protected from the wind. The real show though, was this crazy-pants mare. With apologies for the quality of the photos. You can't hold steady in a gale force wind. Or when you're laughing. Really hard.
See that little bit of white around her eye? Dead giveaway that shenanigans will ensue.

Hold on to your hay, Ab.

Oh yeah, you're bad!

Crazy right? She did pause occasionally to grab a mouthful of hay, which the wind would snatch, setting her off again. She doesn't always behave this way in the snow, but freshly groomed, blanketed, and fed, she felt like kicking up her heels. It does this horse mama good to see such shenanigans. But only when I'm safely on the ground.
Hope you have a few shenanigans in your weekend. But wait, of course you will. It's that football thing this weekend isn't it? Dirty Little Secret: I don't watch/care about football. Now you know. I hope we can still be friends. I will be watching the Budweiser commercials on YouTube at some point because, hello, horses! Whatever. GO RAVENS!

ICE AND SNOW AND C-C-C-COLD

Real winter is here with a vengeance. We don't normally have too many winter days when the daytime temperature stays below freezing. We are having them now. My coveralls are on, the heated buckets and trough heater are working in the barn and this morning we awoke to a dusting of snow.
Barn chores keep me busier when it's in the teens. Manure freezes and is harder to pick up. The horses need to stay blanketed and given hay more often. They don't like to drink extremely cold water, so I need to keep the heated buckets filled. Colic is always a worry when they don't drink enough. Zoey entertains herself by pooping in her bucket. It's hanging on the wall, so it requires some extra effort. I know she does it to annoy me. Yesterday morning, I opened her stall door and noticed that her tail was frozen solid. It actually had icicles hanging from it. I couldn't understand it until I saw her bucket. Rude pony!
Today's snow was just a dusting, but it is little Scout's first and she went crazypants when she saw it. More snow is predicted for the weekend. She'll lose her mind!
Let's look at some pictures of this icy winter business...

Black-eyed Susan

Marsh ice.

Incredible how a bit of snow makes everything look fresh and clean. I know the mud will return next week, daytime highs in the 50's are predicted. For now, I'm crossing my fingers for the weekend snow.

Stay warm. XO.

MUD

"But in the mud and scum of things, There always, something sings." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Brave little hydrangea bud in the garden this morning.

We were supposed to have snow last night. Three to five inches, they said. They lied. After a week of gloom and fog and rain, I expected to wake to pristine white. I intended to dazzle you with my snow photos. Bah!! What we got, was a big dip in temperature and bone-chilling wind. But there is sunshine. I'll take it, and try to find some beauty and color in the mud.

Abby and Zoey. Happy to be out and having a gossip over the fence.

Ice on the ditch.

Nandina

Hope you're finding some winter color where you are, and if you got my snow, I'm jealous. And I want it back. XO.

While We Were Sleeping

Winter crept in while we were sleeping last night. A changeable sky brought howling winds and snow showers. No more grabbing a jacket for a quick dash out to the barn. It's full winter gear...insulated coveralls, warm boots, fat jacket. Heated buckets are working their magic (and saving my poor chapped hands) in the barn. One day of bitter cold weather and I'm already thinking this might be the year I stop being a "winter person."

Much better to stay inside and fold laundry with a friend...

while keeping warm and cozy by the fire.