Dec. 2, 2002

Hello farmers. West coast time is just before 10am. The sun has been up about 2 1/2 hours and is shining brightly and I am waiting for the temp to warm up so I can get some digging done and continue with a couple of other projects. Compost pile #3 is in the making, this one mostly manure and old hay. I can't rake together and pick up any more until it thaws out. Same story with hauling manure to the vegie garden rows, so all those things are afternoon jobs. Our overnight temp was 18*, about like it has been for several nights. I can still dig because the ground is too dry to freeze except near the surface.
Wingnut, I saw in a post that the hereford calf is following you around visiting in somebody's house. Cute, I hope you took a picture. It sounds like she must be doing very well. Do you have any more expectant cows?
Yesterday afternoon I rode Patch, the green broke gelding. He is gaining confidence and picking up some speed, now he seems quite happy going along alone out there in the hills. The first half mile or so was slow and pretty zigzaggy, but he straightened out when we got out of sight of our place. His flat feet don't seem to be bothering him at all, so now I am having second thoughts about selling him. Every time I ride him I like him better. I try to ride in a big circle so he sees a lot of new things and will learn that he always does get back home eventually.
My riding pal might be comming over to ride with me on Wednesday, bringing one of her young horses. We both eventually run out of new places near our homes to take the horses, and it is good for them to travel with a strange horse in a new place. These experiences help them depend on the rider to take care of them in new situations, so they are less likely to spook when a deer or something jumps out of the brush when they are in a strange place. Instinct says run, then look, but we try to teach them that they are ok as long as they stay calm.
Have a great day everyone, count your blessings.