Archive for February, 2010

First Blizzard of 2010

Well it happened, the weather people were right, we got a MASSIVE amount of snow here in Eastern Pa over the weekend. 24 plus inches to be exact. And its not over yet, before this snow melts we’ll be getting another blizzard tomorrow!

I spent the weekend digging myself out on Saturday so that I could go to a wedding. Yes, a wedding. Surprisingly my husband and I weren’t the only people to make it as it continued to snow outside. Thanks to my trusty sometimes capable SUV we got there and back in one piece. We partied it up enjoyed the wedding as my husband and I both fought a nasty cold – and he got over two recent root canals. Yes ouch – physically and financially.

I thought of my parents all day who spent hours digging out the farm, which sits ontop of a very steep – rarely traveled (or plowed) hill. The horses were trapped inside the barn until 12pm when they were finally able to arrive. I was sad to miss the snowday antics.

But on Sunday we still had mass amounts of the white stuff, and I was able to get Ammo the Dachshund outside for a much needed romp in the snow. He’s actually a very huge fan of snow despite his breeds affinity to the warmth and not the cold. I finally had to MAKE him come inside because I was afraid I’d end up with a puppy popsicle.

I eventually made it out to the farm to play with the ponies in the snow. Boomerang suffered a small snow injury on his nose, my guess is from taking a nap in the snow on something sharp. He’ll live. I wished I hadn’t been fighting a cold or I might have felt up to using the snow to my benefit. Perhaps teaching them to sit or even lay down. But since we seem to be headed into another big storm, perhaps I will still be able to use the snow to my advantage.

Most people complain about how much they hate the snow, but I really enjoy it. I like being able to close up my shop. I like putting on balky snow pants and trudging out to the farm. I like playing in the snow with the dog, eating snow cream, and making snowmen. I even kinda like shoveling snow – maybe its just the fact that coming inside after a day of shoveling usually ensures a cup of hot chocolate and some soup. I really like going sledding.

So yes, I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s snow. Don’t get me wrong I long for summer just like everyone else, but if its going to be cold, it might as well snow so that I can enjoy it!

So if you didn’t have your own snow day this weekend, here are some photos from mine, so you can pretend you were there!

-KD
www.ponypaintings.com

Boomerang's BooBoo

Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Wild Stallion

Here are some photos taken on January 31, 2010 of Minnow and I. Minnow is showing off his wild stallion rear. With each day he’s getting higher and higher – as he’s building more muscle and getting stronger. Enjoy!

www.ponypaintings.com

Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alex of Jandelo

Meet Alex of Jandelo, Misty of Chincoteague’s trusty Dachshund side-kick. It seems as if all the great Chincoteague ponies have Dachshund side-kicks! Alex’s likeness was even featured on the cover of “Wagging Tales” – an album of dogs by author Marguerite Henry.

A friend sent me a link to photos of Misty of Chincoteague that appeared in LIFE magazine, June 10, 1957. The photos were taken as Misty was loading up and leaving her Illinois home as Author and owner, Marguerite Henry, said good bye. Misty was headed to Chincoteague in order to have her colt.

Of course I was immediately drawn to the photos of Misty and her pal Alex, as it reminds me so much of the special friendship that my own Chincoteague Minnow and Ammo the Dachshund share. (and just to be clear I did not become a Dachshund owner because of Misty – purely a coincidence).

As I leafed through all of the LIFE magazine photos I fantasized how neat it would be to recreate many of Misty’s old photographs with Minnow (and Ammo too) for a book. Although when I showed my husband the photos of Misty inside of Marguerite Henry’s house (she apparently was only allowed in on Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas) – he didn’t seem to like my idea of recreating the photos so much!

Anyway, enjoy these photos of Misty and Alex (with a few of Ammo and Minnow thrown in there too).

-KD
www.ponypaintings.com

For more Misty of Chincoteague fun check out my post on the similarities that Misty and Minnow share!

Photos from LIFE Magazine

Chincoteague Minnow and Ammo the Dachshund

Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , ,