tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post2594335696592938148..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Pulling IceMugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-53358002493874763232011-12-14T17:14:17.475-07:002011-12-14T17:14:17.475-07:00i think you need water heaters for those buckets!i think you need water heaters for those buckets!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-31709456928162804102011-02-15T17:14:38.712-07:002011-02-15T17:14:38.712-07:00Wow! I live in Oregon, where winter brings boot-s...Wow! I live in Oregon, where winter brings boot-sucking, knee deep mud. I always love it when the weather clears up and it gets cold enough to freeze the mud so that you can actually walk on top of it, rather than sink in it. But, I don't want THIS kind of cold!!!! :)<br /><br />Coveralls are awesome! I bought a pair two years ago and haven't been cold to the bone since then.Half Dozen Farmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-25222266133594260412011-02-07T21:14:37.049-07:002011-02-07T21:14:37.049-07:00Excellent writing Janet!! You had so much will pow...Excellent writing Janet!! You had so much will power to continue on in the hardest conditions...I don't think I could have done it.gtyyuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02402170522183324256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-13851477094241809812011-02-06T07:11:22.373-07:002011-02-06T07:11:22.373-07:00Hey Janet: My first job after being a stay at home...Hey Janet: My first job after being a stay at home for 14 years was working weekends as the morning chore person at a stable. I was lucky in that there was only 10 horses inside and 8 more outside. But I will never forget trying to break ice in the water troughs and hauling that *&^%^*()&&^&*% hose around in the snow and waiting FOREVER for the water troughs to fill. But in truth, I loved it! The horses were all happy to see me cause I was bringing breakfast and then turnout for a run in the snow. The dog and very fat cats (including the blind one) couldn't wait for you to stand still long enough to have a quick pat and a snuggle. Checking blankets to make sure all the buckles were done up and giving my favorites a special rub and pat. Even the chickens can be entertaining in the morning. It really was a peaceful time for me. Animals are balm for the soul. They truly are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1929608257373568642011-02-04T20:10:48.947-07:002011-02-04T20:10:48.947-07:00Great writing.
I do NOT miss the snow. Just tod...Great writing. <br /><br />I do NOT miss the snow. Just today I said to nobody in particular, "I love California".<br /><br />Again, great writing.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00977898784588176802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-45330877315126987312011-02-04T10:35:39.897-07:002011-02-04T10:35:39.897-07:00You're an amazing and talanted writer! I reall...You're an amazing and talanted writer! I really enjoyed reading this. :)JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876732061083507317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-91817045816849290492011-02-04T10:16:27.191-07:002011-02-04T10:16:27.191-07:00Strangely, I felt very at home here??? LOL!
You f...Strangely, I felt very at home here??? LOL! <br />You forgot about using an ax to get some shavings loose....<br /><br />Wonderful story (as usual).HorseOfCoursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907659164579327290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-75468938847484981802011-02-03T12:39:01.138-07:002011-02-03T12:39:01.138-07:00Oh Mugwump, am I the only one who felt envious??? ...Oh Mugwump, am I the only one who felt envious??? There is something so centered and grounding in feeding/watering (surprisingly difficult when water naturally would be ice) under adverse circumstances. Not to mention, it really helps you be grateful for things others take for granted, like oh, 60 degrees. Or even a decent windbreak. And I do feel smug, contemplating humans who only encounter Nature in the dash from the car to work. Your gift for writing is amazing.nagonmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-34100521507590635972011-02-03T12:20:49.604-07:002011-02-03T12:20:49.604-07:00Brrrr....Brrrr....Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15597630887713954960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-2351369013348759582011-02-03T09:10:13.874-07:002011-02-03T09:10:13.874-07:00Love this story. I will miss working full time wi...Love this story. I will miss working full time with the horses for a long time... but there are days I thank god for my office job!Justaplainsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399124494395034612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-34197700075349247952011-02-03T09:04:42.596-07:002011-02-03T09:04:42.596-07:00Living in Colorado is just amazing sometimes....li...Living in Colorado is just amazing sometimes....like when it's 60 degrees in January. And then it sucks sometimes...like when it's 5 below about 4 days later. <br /><br />I feel your pain.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512797177839945890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87094525029835945882011-02-03T07:14:46.760-07:002011-02-03T07:14:46.760-07:00Oh winter. I think I have a love-hate relationship...Oh winter. I think I have a love-hate relationship with the experiences you write so beautifully about here. I think there's something like a sense of power that comes with conquering sub-zero temps (and even breaking a sweat doing it!).<br /><br />On a practical note, I side with the husband for once - go for the coveralls! When I boarded I only ever went to the barn in jeans and long underwear and rarely lasted more than 20 minutes. Now I can do chores in my covies and sweatpants (or jeans, but sweatpants don't require you to use your frozen fingers if they need to come down periodically) keep me plenty warm, even in -20* temps. <br /><br />Drink up on the tea; stay warm!Katie L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03312437697889100904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-75447524518507475922011-02-03T07:12:25.957-07:002011-02-03T07:12:25.957-07:00Even morning chores are intriguing when you write ...Even morning chores are intriguing when you write about them.Fantastyk Voyagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15065772565014490544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-76127276350928273342011-02-02T21:33:50.340-07:002011-02-02T21:33:50.340-07:00No wait- the worst is frozen water tap.
No- the...No wait- the worst is frozen water tap. <br /><br />No- the worst is not riding because the corral is too nasty and I'm worn out from moving snow.<br /><br />Gah. winter.Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-9205115225396873972011-02-02T21:32:07.200-07:002011-02-02T21:32:07.200-07:00Oh yeah. I know that.
I think the worst is gett...Oh yeah. I know that. <br /><br />I think the worst is getting all sweaty from working, then feeling the cold sinking into the first (wet) layer of clothes. When I clean stalls I wear overalls with a hoodie underneath, then put on my coat to get to the manure pile. <br /><br />What saves my butt... Only three horses. And a trough heater. I still have to whack the buckets with a rubber mallet to get the ice out, but at least during the day they have water from the trough. <br /><br />My life is so much easier when it's just cold, as opposed to windy/wet/ super cold, and I can let them stay outside overnight. Actually my life is so much easier in June. <br /><br />So yeah, I REALLY FELT that story! Good job!!!<br /><br />(also- orange barn cats, yay!)Heidi the Hickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00639479864903922047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-40930710304502872052011-02-02T20:09:59.266-07:002011-02-02T20:09:59.266-07:00Brrrrrrrrrr.
I hate being cold. This in itself sh...Brrrrrrrrrr.<br /><br />I hate being cold. This in itself should be enough to convince me never to keep horses at home, unless I live in California or something.manymisadventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269126419483167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-76792151820554210992011-02-02T19:39:23.160-07:002011-02-02T19:39:23.160-07:00Oh that makes me smile! Yay!Oh that makes me smile! Yay!Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-16966374421774295452011-02-02T19:23:14.760-07:002011-02-02T19:23:14.760-07:00Brrrr......you've certainly had some experienc...Brrrr......you've certainly had some experiences. Glad to live in Florida and only have to break 1/4inch sheets of ice on our very coldest mornings. It doesn't take a pipe or axe. :-)KDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062208340163864225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-89313409990722172102011-02-02T19:02:33.272-07:002011-02-02T19:02:33.272-07:00Funder- Don't worry about us, we're alive ...Funder- Don't worry about us, we're alive and well and a very happy couple.<br /><br />DarC- I'm very retired. Down to 4 horses, full care thank you. But the weather and not being at the worlds (sob)kind of drove me back to memory lane.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-84644814785458550352011-02-02T18:50:43.699-07:002011-02-02T18:50:43.699-07:00Great story, vividly rendered. The feeling of no ...Great story, vividly rendered. The feeling of no feeling in fingers and toes is a familiar one! I have two words for you - trough heater. I literally could no longer do without mine. My four girls get turned out together and have a 70 gallon trough. Having the heater means I can fill it up once a day and not worry about them having water while I'm off at work. <br /><br />Is this from the present, while the Big K is at the NRCHA show?DarcChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18230643206461906913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-37333952995542811462011-02-02T18:48:03.337-07:002011-02-02T18:48:03.337-07:00Lovely writing! You gotta do what you gotta do ;)Lovely writing! You gotta do what you gotta do ;)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-24973285307202493172011-02-02T18:20:22.194-07:002011-02-02T18:20:22.194-07:00Just got in from taking care of the five I've ...Just got in from taking care of the five I've got here...the two minis, my two full-sized, and my full-sized boarder. We just had a blizzard pass through, and I have the flu. Felt well enough tonight after sleeping all day to clean the stalls and bring the horses in. But I was frozen and sweaty at the same time...seems my path to dump the manure (I use a toboggan) is now 4-foot deep in drifts! Even though I have heated water buckets (love them!!) I can relate to all of what you wrote! Brrr!<br /><br />Now I'm going to bed to throw of the rest of this flu and get warmed up again! <br /><br />JackieHorsesAndTurboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607758320356759231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-76036150049604044722011-02-02T18:06:13.415-07:002011-02-02T18:06:13.415-07:00Fantastic writing. You make owning just one horse...Fantastic writing. You make owning just one horse seem downright <i>reasonable.</i> ;)<br /><br />The most moving part was you and the (ex?) husband. Been there, done that. That slow decline of relations is awful. I want to reach back in time and give you a hug.Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1460563286871686842011-02-02T17:57:59.746-07:002011-02-02T17:57:59.746-07:00Love it! I so enjoy reading every word you write. ...Love it! I so enjoy reading every word you write. You always bring me right there. I am sitting in a warm office right now waiting for the clock to make it to 5pm. After reading your post I am freezing cold! You inspire me to improve my writing skills.Melissa https://www.blogger.com/profile/10666248960580183536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-69541747636955454712011-02-02T17:49:16.628-07:002011-02-02T17:49:16.628-07:00ummm...I think I need to snuggle up in a nice warm...ummm...I think I need to snuggle up in a nice warm blanket with a hot cup of tea just to read this without starting to shiver!wilsonchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18085470527006328839noreply@blogger.com