Sunrise

It is so cold outside that the sun doesn't even want to come up. This morning as I'm pulling into the farm our car thermometer is reading 8 below zero. The sun is trying hard to break the surface, it isn't even round, more of a red oblong shaped ball struggling over the horizon around 7:25am. Clara and her new colt are doing well, Clara was grained and the baby checked over before graining Raven. Just as I'm driving to mom's for the walk, Diane and her puppy & mom and her dog Heidi round the corner so in the car I stay for another few minutes of warmth before going out to face the frozen snow covered roads.
Diane's puppy, Ebby was enjoying the walk for a short time, then wanted back inside Diane's coat. Smart puppy. Heidi doesn't care how cold it gets, she just wants to run. We stopped in at Rachel's to see her new puppies born last night. Six beautiful fat puppies, 3 boys and 3 girls were born to her registered Siberian Husky. They will be for sale in 6-8 weeks, they have great bloodlines, Rachel looked long and hard for the perfect match for her dog. She was taking pictures of them when we walked in.
Her dog Sasha is being a great mother, huddling them all under her thick fur. Rachel has them in her sun room in a straw filled box. According to Rachel's blog, which I stole both pictures from, they kind of look like black and white rats but give them a week and they'll be really cute... SHE PROMISES that and knows what she is talking about.
After the walk we worked on moving bales in paddocks before the predicted snow hits. The skid steer tracks are still frozen so the old John Deere tractor was fired up. So thankful we have equipment. We moved a new one in the breeding shed and moved Clara and her colt into that just in case we can't get in to take care of her. The colt is doing so well, he is very strong and already has a thick winter coat. He was enjoying the sunshine when it was ready to leave.
Mike also moved the left overs out of Raven's shelter and gave him a new alfalfa bale. We make sure Raven gets the best! The middle paddock was given another bale and the other 2 paddocks checked. The snow has broken a support in the shelter where Lily and Sangria are and the roof is hanging pretty low. I'll see if Mark will come out and give me some ideas on fixing it. The horses don't want to go in the shelter with the roof hanging so low. The round bale feeder was rolled off so the mares in the first paddock can reach the hay better. They will need a new bale by tomorrow but Mike was running out of time today, and a more important job waited. We needed to get insulation around the skid steer with a couple of heaters so it will be ready for the snow clearing tomorrow.
Mom had breakfast all prepared by the time work was done. Wow does she know how to cook. This breakfast besides the eggs, sausage, and whole wheat toast also featured black raspberry preserves, such a good treat. We enjoyed the visiting as much as the food. We talked about how God is so amazing that when a foal is born in below zero weather He prepares it to be born with a winter coat. God is SO GOOD!