Out of My Rear Window 12/12/10

Ahhhhhh, snow!  So beautiful to look at, so incredibly difficult to deal with.  It's raining lightly today, and the feeders are quiet.  Only this one little squirrel has braved the elements to get his breakfast.  Poor thing, his fur is all spiky from the rain.

The downside of a beautiful, white and fluffy snowfall is the aftermath.  The plows go through on the road, and my plow guy digs up chunks of my lawn.  Things get to looking pretty scruffy and you just wish it would all melt.  But, no fear, we're due for another big storm Monday and Tuesday.

This past week has been extremely busy.  The quarantine at the track is winding down, and people aren't so worried any more.  So, buying has, thankfully, picked up.  Last Monday, I didn't get to eat anything except a banana until about 6 PM because the phone was glued to my ear and I was on the computer constantly.  And, those who know me know that missing a meal is something I very seldom do.  The rest of the week has been almost as busy.  But, I'm very glad because it means that many horses are going to good new homes.  Last year, the FLTAP Trainer's Listings placed 92 horses.  I did a very rough count last night and, I think that, so far, we have placed somewhere in the neighborhood of 103 horses this year.  And, we're not done yet! 

This is the last week the backside will be open, so, by the end of the week, things should be back to some semblance of order.  I've missed everyone, and can't wait to find the time to catch up on what you all are doing.  One of the posts that I want to make when I have more time is to show you some of the wonderful horses that we have placed this year.  But, just as a teaser, here is one lovely creature who recently went to a new home in Canada.  Meet Divorced Decision.  His new young lady came down to meet him last week.  She had him picked out from the listings, and found that, in person, he was even nicer.  By next year, she hopes that he will be showing Canada just what a Finger Lakes horse is capable of.

 

No, It's Not Sunday

I just thought that you would like to see what our snow looks like now.  We have been getting Lake Effected since Sunday afternoon.  Luckily, it's not a heavy snow, and the road crews are managing to stay ahead of it quite easily.  But, it just keeps coming.  I'm going out in a bit to shovel, again. 

I don't feed the deer any more.  But, I do put cracked corn down, along with sunflower seeds, for the birds.  You can see the tracks where the deer came to the feeder last night, searching for food.

The Mourning Doves are waiting patiently for me to get outside and put some food down.  They're all fluffed up against the cold.

But, as I said, the roads are passable, and it hasn't stopped people from getting out and about.

I'm glad I didn't have to go out and face the morning rush, however!

Out of My Rear Window 12/5/10

I got home from the track around 1:30 this afternoon.  Hustled and got some outside chores done, and then came inside and took these pictures.  As you can see, we got snow.  In fact, it has been snowing quite steadily for quite a while now.  Outside, the cars are moving very slowly, and the headlights catch white sheets of snow.   The yard has taken on it's Winter persona.

Before I took this picture, I crept as close to the window as I could, without moving the cat's viewing chair.  I wanted to catch these pictures.  I had just come inside, after shoveling snow, and throwing cracked corn and sunflower seeds on the ground.  I also gave all of the feeders a good shake.
It didn't take the morning doves long to find it.

A house finch and the usual gang of goldfinches weren't far behind.

And, one lonely squirrel joined the party.

They say that, by tomorrow morning, we'll have another three to six inches.  I can't wait to see what it looks like!

Back at the Track

Went back to the track today, for the first time since the quarantine was imposed.  It's still in effect, but almost over, and we were very careful not to go into barns or touch horses.  It was cold and miserable, but we got quite a few horses listed.  Here is one beauty.

You can see the blowing snow in the picture.  Anyway, I'm pooped, and am going to relax a bit and turn in early.  I'm sorry, but I'm just too tired to read any of your blogs today.  I have to be back at the track tomorrow at 7:30 AM to take a bunch of people who are shopping for horses around.  So, Out of My Rear Window will be very late.

Have a Happy Sunday!

Clean Freak

Nope, not me.  But, when my last cheapo vacuum cleaner broke down a couple of weeks ago, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get a good one.  I got sick of the bagless vacuums.  Sure, there are no bags to replace, but they all neglect to tell you that you have to clean, and periodically replace, the filters.  So, I shopped around and ended up buying a Hoover Platinum.

Today was put it together and try it out day.  Actually, putting it together wasn't a problem.  Just stick the handle on and screw it into place and you're good to go.  It was getting it out of the box that was the problem.  I had been thinking about saving the box, covering it with styrofoam under a plastic garbage bag and filling it with loose straw, as a warm place for the feral cat that has been around here all year.  No such luck.  After sweating and swearing for quite some time, trying to get the inserts and the cleaner out of the box without ripping it, I gave up and tore it to pieces.  Sorry little kitty.  Back to plan one, a styrofoam cooler inside a plastic storage container with a door hole cut into it.

Anyway, I got it together and tried it out.  Niiiiiiiice!  It's light and it's maneuverable.  Plus, it does a good job on cat hair.

So, here it is!

And, here's the little canister vacuum that came with it.  This is the one that has all of the attachments, and I really liked the idea, because it means that they're not all stuck on the big vacuum as you're maneuvering it around.

Leon had to make sure that it wouldn't eat him.

The others?  Meh, like Gina here, they could have cared less.

Now, I'm pooped, and thinking that's enough for one day.

After the Snow Stopped Falling

It only snowed about an inch.  Nothing like what they got to the West, near Buffalo.  They're snowed in there, and, the last I heard, it's still coming down.  We just got enough to make everything pretty. 

My poor Asters.  They were dead, of course, but, now they're dead and smooshed.

You know, I suppose I really should have gotten myself out there and cut them down, before the snows came.  Oh well, they'll be there in the Spring,.

It's Snowing!

FINALLY!

It's late in coming, and much anticipated.  First snow of the season, and, now, I'm beginning to feel Christmassy!

I think the goldfinches are feeling more hungry than Christmassy.  They're making sure their little bellies are full, just in case.