Dropping Like a Stone

Well we tried to walk this morning. Everyone showed up but when we got to the hill going towards Spark's house we just couldn't do it. The drives are covered with a thick layer of very hard ice. The ice is so hard our ice tracks couldn't dig in and we were sliding.  We turned around and just walked to Diane's and then back to mom's. At least the dogs had fun.  This morning Diane had me come in to her office to finish up the year end books for Horsemeister. It is when I am faced with book work that I wonder if I should really be in this business. I love the horse business but without Diane we wouldn't have a business.
As soon as I got home it was time to keep working on the preparations for this coming cold. Actually the temperature was dropping like a stone and by tonight will be below zero. A bale was moved into Valiant's paddock but placed at the back of the shelter. That way Galena and Valiant can stand between the two bales inside the shelter and stay out of the wind with plenty to eat. That went so well I did the same with Evan's paddock only the bale that was in the shelter was pushed forward far enough to leave enough room for Evan to lay down between the bales with no problem. The last bale moved was for the 3 weanlings in the paddock next to Evan's. I used the same technique for their shelter but left more room as there are 3 of them. By the time I finished the wind had kicked up and the cold was getting dangerous.  Karin cancelled again today. With the arrival of this polar vortex we may not be working horses for a couple weeks.  I just heard that Peoria schools district 150 has already cancelled for tomorrow.
Mike went to Middle Grove to put out a bunch more bales and check on the automatic waterer. He and Diane are leaving for Springfield tomorrow after work for the Honegger birthdays and leaving Springfield on Sunday for Gulf Shores, AL so they can escape this bitter cold. Mike sent the picture below of the snow coming off the cabin roof.

I moved in 5 armloads of wood for the wood burners and have both of them burning brightly. Emily and Mitchel sent the message they were coming tonight to work with Valiant. Emily sent the picture below of Sunday's session with Mitchel and Valiant.

So far no pictures have come in from tonight but probably the phones aren't working as it is only 8 degrees outside right now and is suppose to drop to below zero tonight. That isn't so bad but the wind is blowing so hard it is making the wind chills dangerous to be outside. Thankful for wood burners and plenty of wood and really thankful for the warmth these wood burners put out. It is comfortable in here.