Greetings and Salutations from the chilly Northeast Coast!

Takes me long enough to get a blog post posted doesn't it? Yes, well.... I've been collecting my thoughts, that's it... we'll go with that.

So your wondering why I've put up a picture of a poorly dressed homeless woman feeding a duck, huh?

Hmmm, bite your tongue! That's me!

That's right, rubber boots, sweatpants, fleece robe, shabby plaid coat.... I've got style huh?

Alllll the credit for this charming snapshot of my life goes to the Hubby, who thinks himself highly amusing... taking pictures of me in my finery from the warmth of the indoors.

Don't worry, I only dress like this before 7 a.m.  ~ any later than that and I usually take the robe off.

Right then.  Where was I?  Let's catch up on January.

It's been a bit cold the last few weeks... single digits over night at times.  I love winter, and I don't mind the cold too much.... but that's too much.  I must say, after a few days of "highs in the teens" with a wind chill factor, suddenly 20 degrees and sunny sounds like tropical conditions!

I mostly dislike it THAT cold, for the animals sake.  We humans scurry in and out of warm buildings and cars, but the critters don't get that luxury. They DO get extra hay and warm water... and lots of kisses.

It's good to have a friend to snuggle with the mercury plummets.

Zeke and Pete seem to have formed a nice friendship.

Pete says to remember to hug your friends...

Who knows?  The Shadow knows..... Que eerie laughter....

I don't know, sometimes simple things like shadows amuse me, no good reason, just thought I'd share my scattered thoughts with you, well; cuz I can I guess!

So far, JoJo is a little camera shy...He sort of strolls off and looks back wondering why I"m pointing things at him?  I've tried to explain, but he just sighs at me.

He's got some pretty cute little lips though huh? As horse lips go..... if you like that sort of thing.

Here we have some decorative Marsh Fuzzies in the wintry sun.

I'm sure they have a lengthy botanical name, but that's what I call them.

I'm always fascinated by twinkles on the water...

This is part of our new living room! Formerly occupied by our sailboat as a garage space, with a dirt floor ~ I think we can all agree that THIS is much more usable space now! AND for the first time in about 10 years we have SUN in our living room!

Another little peek into the inner sanctum. SOME people have rubber duckies in their tubs...

We have a colorful bucket brigade!

Note the giant ice cubes you can make with them! 

Jumping around a bit ~ like my mind does.... This is a dolls house that Hubby's Aunt made for her daughter, long many years ago.... then eventually gave to me ~ I gave it to our niece ~ and now it's come back to us!

We finally have space to enjoy its charm and good looks!

This is an adorable little charm I got for Christmas...

Which reminds me of JoJo the Jumper Pony!

(in case you thought you'd never see me draw again...)

This little raccoon seems to like little horse charm I dug up just before JoJo arrived....

These are some of Cricket's "baby teeth" ~ he's lost a few front teeth; but these are some of the back teeth, and quite impressive!  I'd  never seen a horse tooth close up.

I'm thinking he could hit the LOTTERY with the tooth fairy for those!

Yup,, this is our motto these days... well ~ we try anyway.

The hubby asked why I was sitting on the floor in the laundry area...

Well, because I thought that you good people would like to see my winter footwear collection.

We have woozy boots for snow, rain boots for rain/mud/mooky slush, your basic comfy steel toed boot, and yes cowgirl boots.  Come on,  you had to see that coming.

Please note the nice round toe.... Ahhhhhhh 

My first boots, back in... well it was a while ago;  had pointy painful little toes.  I had a pair with fringe.... a black pair and purple pair.... Maybe I look for the pictures to really amuse you some cold winters day....

Helper Cat, Mummy showed up just in time to style my photo shoot for me.

Uh, huh ~ pink with flames embroidered on...  that's right.

These were recently found at the thrift store!  I'm not sure they are real, but I like them none the less! Every picture of an old English house's hearth/mantle has beautiful Horse Brasses hanging on it...

Even the one at Beatrix Potter's house!! Now I just need a set for the other side of the mantle.

I guess such things are more common or collectable in England than here?

This is a miniature one ~ cuz I LOVE all things tiny and one day, when my little mini cottage is done, it shall be hung by the mantle with care!!

When we moved into the new living room, we moved the couch.  Leaving the old living room looking a little bit lost... Father in Law to the rescue! He gave us these chairs, formerly used at the family's coffee business! So now, we have our own "Internet cafe" in front of the fireplace.

I try to imagine what his great grandfather would think of that??

Kippy and I shall ponder that until the next episode.....

The Tail end of 2012...

The last few months have been a whirlwind...

Getting JoJo the pony.

Remodeling our boat house/garage into a living room.

Having a house guest. (luckily a very easy going one, and a hard worker too...)

Christmas and all it entails... including but not limited to a parade.

 A peaked pony (Cricket) getting better still...

A peaked Pup (Kippy) better now...

*phhheewwww.

We can all use a nap. 

So let's take a little wonder thru the holiday season and catch up a bit.

Marley has perfected the art of the nap. 

Kippy and Marley "sharing" a toy....

See how fast he can move his paw? He's like a blur!

A rare moment of pups lined up by the Christmas tree...

Odd Christmas decoration you're thinking? When we were in Ireland long ago, I crept into an abandoned old stone house... and inside it was dark.  When my eyes adjusted to the light, there inside the big fire place was a BIG sheep, standing there staring back at me!!  He looked about as happy as the one above!  I excused myself and left him to business, before I got an angry sheep dents on my person!!

Mice love Christmas too!

A new Christmas friend!

What?  What is so funny? Did you take the picture? What are you looking at?



Awwwwww.... JoJo.



A flake.

My treat to myself... a Christmas bear! 

The Christmas scenes are all over the place in here!

and now, just before the end of December, it has gotten cold.

Looking up the river at dusk...

chilly winterberries.

Cricket...

Cricket foraging for grass with his Dad.

Me, being lazy by the fire.

Me, being not so lazy, running with JoJo on the front lawn.

I wish you all a healthy and happy NewYear, filled with good things and happy moments and most excellent memories!

Where did I go?

Hmmmm, it's been suspicously quiet in here hasn't it?  It's like when small children are being far too quiet.  A responsible adult should go and find them.... the chances are there is mischief afoot.  Problem is, what to do when you ARE the responsible adult?
  Who crosses their arms and taps their toe and gives you the "what are you THINKING?" look? 
Or worse, people DO ask you what you're thinking and you (being that grownup you never thought you'd be) just shrug like a teenage girl, and ignore the question and carry on with your crazed plan.
The best bit is when they try to be nice and make that little "I'm zipping my lip" motion.... or remark with things like "UGH???" ~ but yet listen to your feeble explanation of what makes you think this might even remotely be a good idea.... while secretly doing the sympathetic head shake thing... You know like when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar and there's no getting out of it...
Oh course those people (and you know who you are) are NOTHING compared to the other ones who embrace the idea and encourage someone such as myself to continue on with the plan! (you also know who you are....) But seriously ~ I love you all in BOTH camps! :)))))

Ah then....let the confession begin.



Back yard as it looked a few springs ago.....

 For those of you who have enjoyed the view from my back porch ~ looking out over the lush garden turned jungle... prepare thy selves for a little change of scenery.
  I have recently mastered the art of "un-gardening" part II (with the much needed help of family and friends to help dig and rehome my poor plants, shrubs and perenniels.....)

That's my Father in Law and Mum in the background; special mention should also go to Wanda for her excellent digging skills... though she didn't make the photo this day.

I must say it's been some of the most emotionally trying days/weeks I've had in a while....a LONG while.  Why you ask? What the heck is she talking about?
We got another little pony!!  Well,  ~ "little" is a relative thing... ~ compared to Cricket he's hardly little.  Compared to a Clydesdale he's a wee 600 poundish pipsqueak! 
Meet JoJo.



We are both a little dazed in this one....

 That was already his name, and while I wouldn't have chosen it ~ at twelve years old, I guess he should continue to be JoJo...  He arrived at our crazy little "farm" on Sunday, October 21 in the afternoon, after a ride down from northern Vermont.  We went up to meet him.. twice actually...

It was a long ride into northern New England.....



Yes, she's got me on a leash and is laughing at me..... or with me?
Please note, she made me wear the helmet ~ despite the fact that there were SPIDERS living in it!!!
She assured me she picked them all out.... but how can you be sure???



We are both calmer and more relaxed in this one.



He was still happy and laid back at this point....

Hence all the silence, I've not yet gotten the hang of blogging from the road.  (plus, we drove up in the car (two door hatch back) with the 2 St. Bernards and little Kippy.) So had I brought the lap top I'd have had to ride with my entire right arm out the window ~ to make room!  

Things we've learned so far in this new adventure?  Well, #1 is JoJo can do a fairly impressive, from a stand still leap and clear a too short fence in a single bound much like Super Man and his tall buildings!  My father in law remarked he wished he'd a camera to capture the expression on my face.... I can only imagine.  My Mother on the other hand is just thankful she missed it, she prefers horses and herself to be separted by fences (preferably tall sturdy ones....). 

#2, Horses can reach impressively far away corners from behind a fence (of sorts)...to drag a bale of hay closer to themselves for better nibbling when you aren't looking.  Goes right back to, if it is far to quiet... the responisble adult should go and see why; and me without a single one in sight.  *sigh.

and #3 ?  Be careful what you wish for, when you live my husband ~ wishing can make it so.... even if you only whisper it! (like 7 or 8 years ago, when I said, "goats looks like fun ~ maybe one day we should get one".... and not to long after he brought two of them home in the back of the hatchback! ~ and oh, don't worry, he put some hay in the trunk first to cushion them, and soak up the goat pee...)... and then one day I mumbled under my breath, huh ~ St. Bernards are pretty cute.... *poof* ~ two of them appeared... are you seeing a pattern?  Actually, it starts to sound like we are running some sort an ark when I read it back......

This is the extent of my "riding" so far.... yes, I'm sitting on a folded up blanket.

So any how.... that's where I have been, and what I've been up to.  I have a lot to learn, both about horses and myself.... I also have a lot to figure out ~ but then again so does JoJo, and I'm not even the one at the mercy of an unskilled stranger in a strange land. 
It's been a bit stressful... I've become a bit emotionally unstable at times, well quite often I suppose if you were to ask the hubby; though best you don't  ~ he's probably trying to forget. 
 We hadn't really planned on getting a horse right now... we went to look at him, like we've looked at other horses; and I have famously low expectations so I went expecting little more than a pretty ride in the country and to meet a little pony.  Who could have guessed?
With any little bit of luck, we will all find our balance soon, and I can relax back to my more normal self....  and one day pick up a pencil and draw again?  Fingers crossed. 
P.S. Look what I dug up while I was transplanting the last tree from my former garden.
 The universe works in mysterious ways.....  I don't even play chess?