unusual weekend, with visitors

We had visitors on Pi day. A whole herd of Holsteins! One of the two year old Holsteins got into the lower horse pasture. Our horses were not amused. Brad said Nemo turned into a dragon. I missed the earlier excitement, but knew there was trouble in paradise when I saw Harmony running frantically. 

Our son noticed heifers coming through our woods. They crossed the lower hay field and eventually rambled onto a nearby neighbor's pasture with Hylanders. You may recall when they visited us. The Hylanders, not the neighbors lol.

3.14.26

There is only one Dairy Farm near-ish. We played telephone tag with a farmer friend that knows them.

Hylander imposters
waiting for their owner to arrive

We did not let the herd out of our sight. It would be a nightmare if they backtracked and broke our fences. Loose cows AND horses, no thanks! Do you think the Hylander owner/s came out to help? Nope. Not even when the herd was in their pasture, very close to their house.

The Holsteins belong across a large farm behind our property, and down a dead end road. A fair distance from us. 

The farmer and Brad mostly redirected and drove them with four wheelers. Our son however was on foot most of the time. He did the hard running/redirecting work. I was transportation and (not much) herd reinforcement.

back home where the escapees belong

That evening we celebrated Pi (aka Pie) Day!! Brad grilled Jerk Chicken. We served it with salads and seasoned tots. I made my son's fav dessert. After all that running, he deserved it.

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

Like many of us, we woke up to the start of a Winter Storm on Sunday. I tried to attend my grandsons State gymnastics tournament. Shortly after leaving home, I turned around and headed back. Thanks to technology, I was able to watch his events via video and Face-timed during awards. 

thunder, sleet and roads were pure ice

Our horses did not get turned out on Sunday, but enjoyed stall service. No less than three times. Koda was happy to have company.

Heading to the barn for round two of chores
3.15.26

6 seconds

As you can see, our barn is well lived in!

Koda, Purr and Tank

Leo & Hope

If you are in need of a smile after unwanted cold-n-snowy Winter weather, watch this: 

a work in progress

(11 secs of Hope)

More cold, wind and snow graced us on the following days. Dog walks ceased. It was not safe in the woods and deep snow freezes their legs.

We had snow and drifts in unusual places.

inside looking out
3.16.26

Brad spotted another unusual visitor. A Mink!! Odd. We are a distance from water. The black weasel looking thing ran out of an unattached PVC pipe. It was laying next to the barn. Not far from the human barn door. Yikes! Minks are nasty. Needless to say the PVC pipe got relocated. Hopefully the mink did also.

Horses went outside later that morning for snow much fun. They were full of it. I was busy and had to settle for phone photos taken through windows. 

nemo & harmony

cierra wearing snow war paint (after a good roll)

serious conversation about who Hope belongs with

hope is a tease

don't mess with mama bear



what hope thinks about Winter

the painted trees were absolutely stunning

Good news, we are already heading back to Spring like weather! 

happy be lucky day

Everyone is Irish today! I saved 11 four (and a couple five) leaf clovers that I found in 2025 to share on St. Patricks Day. You would think I would have 11X the luck. Nope. Still looking for that pot of gold.

The clover are grouped by find, and showcased with rough rocks I tumbled. I finally found something to do with my polished rocks! 

same two clover as above

2025 four/five leaf clovers




Happy St. Patricks Day! May the Luck of the Irish be with You.


p.s. sorry about the unintentional funky phone colors and edges

horse hugs

What is it about horse hugs that makes them so special? 

An animal as stoic and large as a horse, choosing to softly wrap their head around you. And stay.

Even when hay is fed mid-hug a couple feet away

Even when you unwrap your arms and take a step back. Thinking they must prefer to eat.

Even then, they choose not to move. So, you re-hug and they gently re-wrap their head. Around you. With the right amount of contact around your neck, and upper back.

Over and over.

I was living in the moment and not counting, but my guess would be we held hugs 4 or 5 times.

Not a step was taken. Until I let go one last time. Departing with a kiss, and "go eat your hay sweetie".

the exact moment I knew she was joining our family
(2010)

choosing to be with our son, at what used to be the family farm
(2010)

She chose to take good care of me when I was broken back in 2017.

Brad with his sweet girl Cierra
(2023)

She is still choosing to take good care of me, with apparently what I needed.

Heartfelt hugs.

just a 'stash

Shirley from Ride a Good Horse recently asked if anyone (also) has a horse with a swirl on it's nose. I thought our Nemo did, along with a mustache. I did not see a swirl. Just a 'stash.

I took some video of Nemo, while heading out to walk the dogs yesterday morning. 

Silly horse. It is just us.
(16 secs)

If you watch to the end of the clip below, you will see Sir Nemo's moosttaash.

Nemo
(13 secs)

Now I am curious if any of our other horses have nose swirls, and what they symbolize.