Cooler temperatures

All this cool weather, combined with no structured exercise, has made the mares feisty! I caught the tail end of one episode- Dakota and Wynter were already tired out from galloping the fences- but Journey still had a bit of the Ol' Nick in her.  I just LOVE watching them when they are like this!  (and yes... they are very GRUBBY! it's been raining all morning, and they've all rolled- I usually keep them a bit cleaner than they are in these videos).

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snow!

We've known it was coming. The weather people have been telling us we were going to get snow. 

But, we knew snow was imminent before the forecasts.  Every morning, we've had heavy frost.  Golden Eagles are arriving from up North. Flocks of geese are honking their way South.

The leaves are completely off the maples,

and Bruce has been frantically trying to get all the outside chores done before the first flakes start to fly.  We started up the wood furnace, and put all the outside furniture away.

and then, it happened. That first, magical snow that actually sticks!

Ok, ok... it wasn't much.  :(

but it's the beginning...

and a promise of beautiful days to come.

Long time coming

I've never written the story about Koosa. Last year, it was too fresh and painful- and then, it seemed as if the time had passed. But, for some reason, our feisty, grey POA has been on my mind, lately... and I feel I owe it to her, to tell you all about this special girl.

Koosa was the pony we bought for our daughter for her 7th birthday. We kept Chelsey busy downstairs, while the former owners delivered the little POA. She had a MASSIVE, multi-colored bow around her neck! We hid her in the stall, and went to get Chelsey. I'd rigged up a treasure hunt for the birthday girl... the last clue leading her to the barn where her pony awaited! I thought poor Koosa would be brushed raw that first week... all three of our kids spent every waking minute in the barn brushing her. Koosa taught all three of them to ride... and she was one of those special horses who adjusted herself to the level of her rider. With Chelsey and me, she was fiery and fun- the best, smoothest gaits in the world... but if one of Chelsey's friends got on her, she would walk slowly, while keeping an ear and eye on me for direction. Kids could thump on her all they wanted... if I didn't tell her it was ok to increase her speed, she wouldn't do it. Many, many of my preschoolers rode her at the end of the year party.

Chelsey grew up and left home. Koosa earned her retirement. She got thin, and despite all the special diets, tons of Vet visits, and vitamins, etc. she couldn't keep up her weight. People told us we needed to put her down- someone even turned us into the Sheriff's office saying we were starving our horses (but since Dakota was overweight, and they knew us so well, nothing came of it). Bruce and I talked and talked about it... wondering if we were doing the right thing keeping her alive- but everyday she would trot or CANTER over to me... whinnying for her grain. And as I told her... she had given us SO much... we were prepared to let her live as long as she wanted to be here.

Christmas day 2009 started out so well... and when I went out to feed Dakota and Koosa, Koosa trotted up to greet me- whinnying, happy. But when Bruce went out to get the paper around 1 pm, he came tearing into the house- shouting. "MERE! Koosa is DOWN!" All the kids were home- Chelsey ran to the barn without even a jacket... Koosa had slipped on the ice- onto her bad hip, and she couldn't get up.

We called everyone. The Vet in Thompson Falls, the Vet in Hot Springs, and the Vet in Plains.... but of course, no one was answering their phone. It was Christmas. We called all the horsey people we knew, our Farrier, but no one was home. Finally, a friend of mine (the woman who sold me Wynter) called back and gave us a suggestion to try... a way to roll Koosa onto her good side to see if that would help her get up. It took all of us... Bruce, Cass, Cade, Chelsey and me, to roll her over, and poor Koosa was exhausted by that time. She wouldn't even try to stand... so, we let her rest awhile. One or the other of us would slip out the door periodically, and visit her. I found out later, that our oldest son, even went out to her at 4 in the morning. He found the same situation we all did. Koosa lying there, or struggling in vain to get up, and Dakota, standing guard.

Bruce put her down early Dec. 26th. He came up to the house crying- We'd had her, and loved her for 17 years. She was 3 mos. shy of her 40th birthday. The ground was frozen- we had no help. We had to drag her body off into the woods. Dakota went literally insane- and refused any comfort. She ran the fences in both pastures, screaming for her friend for hours... hours. It was worse, though, when she stopped. Then, she just stood, watching, searching... she refused to eat, she lost weight- I was desperate to find her a friend- Hence, the decision, right or wrong, to buy Wynter.

I know I kept Koosa alive much longer than 99% of people would have. I know she didn't have much longer to live anyway- She had a hip that bothered her from a fall the Winter before, and she was so thin. The Vet would marvel at her every time he came out. But oh! that spirit! She was so special. I just can't shake the thought that she shouldn't have died quite yet... she was still trotting! whinnying! She loved us, and being with us... and she struggled so hard to stay alive. But, as you say, she's free now. And there ARE times when I'm positive the mares sense her. Times when Dakota suddenly puts her head up, looks toward the corner closest to her sister's final resting place, and then, runs... a mare on a mission, to that far corner. I've written about it in my blog- she stands in that corner, looking off into the woods... she seems to be watching something, although, when I've checked, there's never been anything there. Sometimes she "talks" to.... thin air. And I tell her- Please- tell Koosa that she is still loved, and missed, by a funny old woman, and a lovely, grown up girl.

For Koosa

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Morning Commute

It takes me about a half hour to drive from our house to the preschool, assuming the roads are plowed, and not icy. :) During that time, I normally do not see more than 2 cars at most on the road with me. This could be bad news if I ever run into an emergency, but since I never have, I just count myself lucky to be able to relax on my morning commute. I do not envy you your traffic. :)

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Happy Halloween!

Thank you, dear Cade! for finding this for me! :)

Carving pumpkins

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Neon Fall

 

The colors at Wind's Echo get better every day.... brilliant- almost NEON! The leaves look as if they would glow in the dark, like a children's toy.

 

 Try as I might, I just can not capture the beauty with my camera (but it DOES help if you click on each photo for a larger view).

 

  

The Tamaracks are turning yellow to burnt orange, and blazing up the mountainsides. The maples are a brilliant reddish burgundy, and the oak is turning from yellow to intense orange, to fiery red.

Out every window, vibrant color attracts your eyes. This is the true meaning of awesome. :)

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Just dawned on me that, perhaps, MANY other people are like me, and don't have pumpkin pie spice in their cupboards! If so, they might be reluctant to try the pumpkin bar recipe- SO! I'm here to rescue you! YAY!  Here's a quick and easy recipe for pumpkin pie spice:

4 Tbsp. cinnamon

4 tsp. ground ginger

4 tsp. ground allspice

4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Now... just mix it all together, and store it in a plastic baggie, or a small container. It should last you awhile. :)

Maple Frosted Pumpkin Bars

These are SO light, and SO moist, and SO wonderful! You can see how fast they are disappearing!  I can't really take credit for the recipe, because I found it on All Recipes.com, and only made the minor-ish of changes (switching out the raisins for chocolate chips, etc).

1 cup flour

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. oil

1 c sugar

2 eggs

1 c solid pack pumpkin puree

3/4 c choc.chips

(OR raisins- OR SOME people have been known to add MORE than 3/4 c. choc chips! AND I always use the milk choc. ones instead of the semi-sweet *hangs head in shame*)

1/2 c confectioners sugar

1 Tblsp real maple syrup 

(I added a tiny bit more maple syrup, and still had to add a bit of milk to make the glaze the right consistency)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 baking pan.

Stir together, pumpkin pie spice, flour, baking powder and baking soda. 

In another bowl, beat the eggs, oil and sugar together until smooth.  

Add pumpkin puree. Mix until smooth

Add dry ingredients. Mix until smooth

Add chocolate chips (or raisins) Stir.

Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan, and spread evenly. 

Bake for 30 min.

Allow bars to cool before frosting with the glaze.

To make the glaze- just stir together the confectioners' sugar, and maple syrup until smooth. (As I said before, I had to add a bit of milk- but not too much!)

Drizzle the glaze over the cooled pumpkin bars before cutting. 

ENJOY!

 

Autumn at Wind's Echo

Meanwhile, midst guests, and birthday celebrations, Autumn crept silently into Wind's Echo.

Just sit back and enjoy some Fall photography- some you've seen (because I've sent it to you :)  and some debuting here. Enjoy!

My favorite time of year!

Cade turns 21!!!

How does that happen?  How could my YOUNGEST child turn 21???  Doesn't he realize I'm sticking at 29?

Cade was able to tear home on Thurs. afternoon.  He had to be back at school by Sat. afternoon, so we didn't have much time.

Friday morning, I made cinnamon twists for breakfast.  We devoured almost two huge trays of the things! (this is all that were left!) So, Bruce and Cade decided they needed to get some exercise, and work off some of the calories.  They headed off to the golf course, while I wrapped presents, and started making Cade's birthday dinner.  (I think I convinced them that wrapping and cooking burns off calories, too! It does, right? RIGHT???  of course, it does! thank you.)

Since this was Cade's BIG ADULT birthday, I went with a 21 theme... on newspaper! We didn't have any wrapping paper that wasn't Christmas!

 

Without a doubt, Cade is the BEST apple pie baker ever! And since he seldom gets to do any cooking at college, he decided to make his own dessert! Bruce told me not to dissuade him. Bruce LOVES Cade's apple pie! :)

It really was fun, being with Cade in the kitchen- I was making lasagna, and he was making the pie. We joked, laughed, and talked about everything and nothing.

Cade even cuts the little pictures in the top dough- just like his Gramma.

While the pie baked, we started dinner.

We've never allowed our children even a sip of wine or champagne, or beer while they are under-age. I guess my main reasoning was, that I wanted them to look forward to something- I wanted the milestones to be important, and not pass by un-noticed, SO, Cade got wine with his birthday meal.

I am not naive. I know this was probably NOT the first time Cade ever tasted alcohol, but we pretended it was... and it was certainly the first time Cade ever tasted alcohol in his parent's presence! :)

Then, he got down to the important business of opening his "under plate" gifts!

Apparently, "under the plate" gifts started with my Father's family. They are small, inexpensive gifts i.e. candy, gum, magazines, pens, etc. that fit under the birthday honoree's plate!  Gifts to open and examine BEFORE the meal! An appetizer of presents, so to speak! 

I have been known to get carried away with my "under the plate" gifts. 

After an incredible meal, Cade got to open his real gifts. He got the symbolic 6-pack of beer... to honor his 21st birthday status!

But, he also, got a super nice tea pot, to honor his healthy lifestyle :)

Both Chelsey and Cass got him amazing gifts- keeping his age in mind.

Chelsey got him a set of Big Sky Brewery beer glasses.

Each one different. Very classy.

Cass made him check his email to discover his gift. A one yr. subscription to Playboy! *sighs* What are big brothers for, right?  *his mother sighs again*  Cade was thrilled. *and his mother sighs YET again* (Cass insists it's for the articles... although he admitted he'd never read any of the articles- but he'd heard they were amazing). Do I have to tell you I sighed?

Bruce and I gave Cade an ultra-compact digital camera. It's a FUN little thing! so many features!

No time for dessert yet! Bruce and Cade grabbed their coats and hats, and flew out the door to the Thompson Falls Homecoming football game. (told you we had to pack a lot of fun into just a few days).

When they got back, the pie was done, and still warm.  We sang Happy Birthday to Cade, and cut large slices, to top with vanilla ice cream.

Cade really DOES make the best apple pie!

Cade and I talked for a little while, but we were pretty exhausted, and headed off to bed soon after.

The next day, Cade stayed long enough to indulge his old mother, by trekking around the yard, taking photos- me with my camera, and Cade with his new one! He takes amazing photos, btw. Then, he was off- back to school. I know he's an adult now... and a responsible one, too, with one heck of a good head on his shoulders- but to me?  He's, also, my sweet, little boy- and I miss him, very much.