Sunday Snapshot: Czarina in Autumn

Czarina in Autumn

 

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First Snow Blanket 2012

I woke up on Monday morning to a blanket of snow glistening in the sun. It took me by surprise, probably because I dozed through the evening weather report the night before. It was also a bit surprising because, up until the weekend, we had been enjoying a stretch of beautiful mild days, Indian Summer.

The corgis were quite delighted with the change in the landscape, and set about galloping to and fro. Remy and Pookie (whose name has been officially upgraded to the less sissified Macy) are the grandogs, visiting for the week. They’re sturdy little dogs, really more big dogs on short legs, and their thick coats keep them warm regardless of how cold the weather is.

We went down to the barn together to feed the horses. Well, me and Remy went down to the barn. Pookie takes a dim view of these large creatures and prefers to wait at the house. Teddy was glad to see us. Like any strapping young fellow, he loves his food and if patient waiting fails to bring me, he calls to me in his mournful donkey voice, “I’m hungry! Come feed me!”

Older and more rotund, Louis isn’t as concerned about breakfast but once it arrives, he joins the others.

Here’s Czarina, with the morning sun lighting up the red highlights in her chestnut coat.

Once the horses were fed, the dogs and I took a little stroll down the laneway. Just on Sunday, the snowplowing contractor stopped by to mount orange marker posts along the roadway. I don’t know if he is paid by the job or by the season. If the former, I imagine he is hoping for a snowy winter. I’m hoping for enough snow to protect my garden from temperature shifts.

Here’s the cornfield nest door, looking like a choppy sea of white waves. The sun felt warm and the air was still and quiet, but the thermometer read -5 C and the snow didn’t melt away.

And here’s the car. Winter means snowbrushes and ice scrapers for northern drivers but this little dusting of snow was easily brushed away. Hopefully, it will be a few weeks before we have anything more bothersome to contend with.

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Birthday Girls

This weekend, we celebrated two birthdays. Czarina was foaled on April 5, 1990 and turned twenty years young on Monday. Above, she accepts a birthday carrot. At twenty, she is as beautiful as ever, healthy and fit and losing her winter coat!

Ponygirl’s birthday was on Saturday. Sunday was a beautiful day, and Ponygirl and Czarina and Mousie and I enjoyed a ride together as we celebrated the spring of the year and another year of sharing our lives together.

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