Autumn 2011 An INCH in time!

Although I posted to the blog last week after we received rain, I decided to just add to that post today, November 22, because the subject is the same! We got MORE rain! Over an inch more this morning! It was pouring when we woke up! I now have some after the storm pics to share!
I knew rain was possible, so, I had moved a couple of days of loose hay off the round bale we've been using for 3 weeks. This round bale is the one that I won at the Fire Station Annual fundraiser Auction in October. It is a magnificent bale and ...
This is all that is left of it. For those that understand these things, you can see the next bale that will be opened behind it is not of the same quality at all.
You'll see that the horses in these pics are all wet. That is their choice. They have shelters to get under. What probably happened is they came out from under their shelters when Kevin left expecting him to feed them. I actually left later today so that I could feed them after the rain stopped; that's how I got these pics in daylight.
Here is the pond/reservoir that accumulates at the gate of Rely's pen. He has dug out a trench in that area when he impatiently paws awaiting his food to be placed in the bucket on the gate. When the puddle is present (it stayed there three days last week), I feed him in another area so that he doesn't have to stand with his feet in the water. Note that the rest of the pen behind does not have standing water; it slopes and drains well.
Behind Buck is the area of his pen that Hub dug out to keep that pen from staying mucky. All the rainwater runs into that low spot creating a temporary pond. The area they stand on to eat is almost dry even after it has just rained.
There is something wonderful in the background of this pic. More than a month ago, Kevin planted some winter grass seed in the 'trap' (a strip we keep reserved for grazing the horses). Although it is not obvious in this picture, there is an electric fence wire keeping the horses from raiding this newly sprouting grass! The rain last week and now today, is bring this grass in thick and in another week or two, the horses will have a fall feast!
Usually I toss their hay on the ground, but when it is wet, I hang it on the fence in haynets for them. Two each today!
On November 15th, we got over 1 1/2 inches of rain. The LORD actually showered us as we left for work, to let us know that He was blessing us along with others, and when we got home and looked in our rain gauge; we found out how incredibly generous He had been! Buck and Ellie had a pond in their pen. I'm glad that hub dug that out so water runs into that area and leaves the rest of their pen sort of high and dry(er). Used to be (back when we got rain at more usual intervals) that their pen got swampy. Now it is more like a beach with a damp shore and then a wading pool in the middle if they want to rinse their feet. Rely and Grace have a similar pond next to their gate. Most of their pen drains well and they don't have to wade in mud unless they elect to. Rely obviously elected to do more than wade in it yesterday; he was mud caked! The others were clean and dry; they'd made use of their run-under shelters. These images were actually taken months ago when it last rained significantly. But, this time, it was dark when we left and dark when we got home, so, we have no photos of the event! These serve the purpose.



And we also don't have photos of the reactions of our ecstatic equines either, but these are probably some we missed!


Up until these showers of blessing things were getting grim. We just all sought shade and the comfort of those going through the trial with us. These are not our horses, but some broodmares commiserating in deep shade during the heat at peak of the day.Some found the tiny oasis here and there created by runoff from hydrants and our outside shower.
The horses didn't exactly do a rain dance, but they raised dust clouds and wished they contained rain!
And in spite of the lack of aesthetics, life went on. These two got engaged! On our property. This is becoming a tradition. For reservations to use our pond for proposing, call soon! Other engagement photos can be made on site.
A superfluous equine is available for atmosphere. He works for hay.
Of course, the horse is totally optional (but he will be disappointed if not hired).
Although our summer went on overlong; the extended daylight hours allowed for some of those summer vacation activities that provide memories we cherish in our later years. Like lying back on a horse's rump and staring up at the clouds through tree limbs. You remember doing this, yes? I do. When I was this age, I lay back on a rump and read a book while the horse grazed! I remember the horse, but not the book!
And grazing privileges, quite strictly enforced, made for some resentment among the natives.
The reason we can't let them out together is they spend more time ripping the sod up with their hooves than they do locating the few surviving grass blades.
Another memorable trip was taken since I last posted to the blog. We went on a 3 day vacation to Carlsbad and Ruidoso. We actually didn't include Buck. But, he would have loved the caverns! Cool, damp and dim!
Again, we thank the LORD for sending us rain! May He be praised everywhere for His mercy!