Saving the gazebo

I DO feel sorry for my husband- 

You see, I’m a worrier (his words) and a thinker (my words) and I can’t seem to ever turn my brain off. And I come up with all sorts of things that WE need to do, which often involve my poor partner, of almost 40 years, doing a TON of work. 

Take last night- I woke up at 2 am, checked the temperature to know whether or not to start worrying about the horses, and suddenly thought: We’re supposed to be getting MORE snow, and I really think we need to get the snow off the roof of the gazebo. 

We kinda use the snow on the roof of the gazebo as an inaccurate gauge

of how much snow we’ve gotten. It’s, also, that it’s just so pretty.... a sort of Winter cupcake- and we all know how much I love taking photos... but NOW, the forecast is for the temperature to soar into the upper 20’s!!! With MORE snow, before plummeting again into single digits and sub zero weather.

And worse, after that bout? 

It’s supposed to start RAINING! And that would definitely be the kiss of death for our beloved gazebo.  (This is how my mind works 😳) So, when poor Bruce got up at 6 am, I had a plan. 

Yep! 

Out in the snowing morning, we used rakes, a ladder, and a shovel to clear the roof of the gazebo as much as we could.

Trust me.... although these photos don’t show it, I was VERY much an active participant in this endeavor. I had the rake, and was balanced on the tiny retaining wall, reaching up as far as I could. I was COVERED in snow from small avalanches coming off the roof! 

It was actually quite fun. 

I was, also, the one holding Bruce’s ladder when he had to set it on ice to get the last side... even though he kept saying I was making him more nervous standing there because there’s no way I could hold the ladder if it started slipping- I don’t think he was right. 

I think we did a pretty good job despite the fact we couldn’t reach the very middle. It’ll definitely be fine to hold the new snow.

When we came in the house, I looked at the clock. I had fed all the horses, and chickens, hauled water, and helped clear the roof of the gazebo, and Bruce had fed the dogs and cats, hauled up wood from the barn and helped clear the roof of the gazebo, and it wasn’t even 9:30 am. 

Not bad for a couple of lazy, Libtard, snowflakes, huh? 

🤣

Now- to actually start our day.

In a world where you can be anything you want- be kind.

A good friend of mine recently lost his best buddy, companion, ally of many, many years. When feeding the mares yesterday morning, I noticed our neighbor's gelding standing in his usual corner, but unlike always before, this time he was alone. I immediately started to worry.

Timber, the bay, and Red were put into the adjoining pasture to our mares sometime in early Spring of 2018. My ladies were huge fans of the elderly gentlemen, and more often than not, they would maneuver as close as possible to hang with their new friends.

 Wynter, that dirty horse who's supposed to be white! ;), especially loved Red. Wyn is stalled at night, but as soon as I'd release her into the pasture in the morning, she would call to the geldings, and gallop out to greet them. 

I, actually, knew the boys from two previous owners! They were the beloved horses of our county Sheriff! When he and his wife moved, they gave the boys to one of my past preschoolers- a kind, smart, little girl who was just learning to ride. When she grew up and left for college, Red and Timber were given to our neighbors for their grand-daughter's first horses. 

I was thrilled to have them so close- and so were my ladies. The five horses had to feel like they had their own little herd under the best, possible conditions- plenty of food and water and care. It's a good life, for sure. 

But yesterday... Timber was alone.

He was just standing in the corner, staring up the path to his barn... waiting. Alarmed, I ran to the house, and messaged our neighbors. The news I dreaded was confirmed. Red had died suddenly, from an apparent heart attack while climbing the small hill to the barn just days before. I was so sad but I, also, knew from experience how drastically horses can grieve, and I knew that Timber was 28, already on borrowed time. 

I knew because the whole reason we even had Wynter, was because we'd lost our daughter's pony, Koosa, who had been with my mare, Dakota, for 19 yrs. When Koosa died just short of her 40th birthday, Dakota went beserk... running the fence lines, and screaming, until she finally just stood in the middle of her pasture and refused to eat. She was inconsolable. Our little Sheltie, Piper, would go stand with her but I knew she needed a horse companion, and fast! So, Wynter joined our family, and I'll forever be grateful for her. She saved Dakota's life.

Now, I worried about Timber.

We've gotten so much snow this Winter, I've been keeping Journey and Magick in the pasture closer to the house. While they CAN reach Timber and Red's favorite corner, they haven't been. The snow is deep, and they rarely ventured out that far. They have each other, so friends could wait until Spring. I needed to facilitate a meeting.

First, I decided to trek out in the snow and discovered that it was over-my-knee deep. I forged ahead anyway, bringing a tiny treat to keep Timber occupied. 

Frankly, since he's well fed, he was more interested in just hanging out with me, but I hoped that Journey would see him eating, and be enticed to check in with her buddy. Journey loves her food.

Then, I did some juggling. I managed to get Journey in the pasture with Wynter, leaving Maggie in the far field alone. 

My reasoning was that Journey could break a path to Timber that Wynter could follow, and once Maggie saw the other two mares hanging with their buddy, she would break a path out to be with them! 

And it worked. 

For two days now, my mares have kept Timber company.

I know.

I know that no one asked me to love this horse. I know that he has a family that cares for him. I know many people are shaking their heads, and getting a superior chuckle at my expense. I know plenty of people who think animals are lesser beings unworthy and unaware of my efforts.

I don't care. I know they are wrong.

Grief is the final act of love. Where there is deep grief, there was great love. 

And I loved him.... this horse that was never mine.

And I love Timber, and a whole host of animals that cross my path. 

I just kinda roll like that. 

Rest well, Red. We will always love you.

Going Potty

It can be rough around here when you’re an active, inquisitive dog who needs to go potty. I would imagine that MOST dogs go to the door, scratch to be let out, their owners open the door, they run out, go potty and come back in.... right? OR the dog signals they need to go out, the owner clips on a lease, grabs a coat, opens the door, and they go out. Simple right?

Not here. 

Here, I have to check the windows.... Is anything out there? Then, I open the door, making noise, sometimes saying ‘Ooogly Boogly!!! We’re coming out!’ This must happen before I can even think about opening the door and letting the dogs out. With Skye, I like to have her training collar on, just in case I miss something outside, and she takes off. I like to be sure I have a way to get her to stop chasing and come back.

You see, here, there is, more often than not, SOMETHING outside.... a grouse! turkeys! Deer or elk! Sometimes it’s a coyote. Twice in the past 12 years it was a bear.... SOMETHING. Sometimes there are more than one!  Something I don’t want the dogs to chase away, or run after. I always have to check.

If the animal is taking it’s time moseying off into the distance, I’ll try the FRONT door.... and sometimes that works... but, sometimes there’s something ELSE out front! It’s often VERY difficult to wait... but wait we must. 

 

(Look closely at this photo- see the deer outside?)

Eventually, we get it sorted out, and the dogs get their time outside. It takes a bit of effort to live in harmony in rural Montana- but for me, it’s so worth it. 

Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breasts

This isn't a recipe blog, per se, but it IS a compilation about living life in rural Montana, and we eat.... so.... there's that. 

and with that said-

A couple of years ago, I bought Bruce an Air Fryer for Christmas! The amazing claims touted on the reviews just cinched it for me. I HAD to have low cal, better-for-you french fries, RIGHT???

The reality for us was a bit disappointing. I, actually, think the french fries I bake in the oven are as good, if not better. *sighs* It didn't seem to cut down on time- We aren't in the habit of using a lot of oil to cook with, so it didn't really cut down on fat consumption... It DID keep the kitchen cooler in the Summer, but it only cooked such small amounts at a time. 

Meh.

AND YET... we have a very dear friend who just SWEARS by his- enough so that I went looking for air fryer recipes, determined to give it another try. 

And I found.....

Air Fried Butterflied Stuffed Chicken Breasts

YUM!!!!

Basically, you take 2 chicken breasts, and slice them lengthwise through the middle but not all the way through. Then, you stuff them with broccoli and cheddar cheese, close them up, and secure with toothpicks.  You are supposed to coat the outside of the chicken with flour, but apparently, I didn't spritz it with enough oil (isn't that the POINT?) so, the flour was just .... well- flour on the outside even when the chicken breast was cooked. Next time, I'll just season the outside of the chicken breast. You really don't need it breaded. I served it with rice and additional broccoli. OH my! it was delicious... very simple, and we'll definitely be making it again! 
Here's the link to the recipe:
https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/chicken/air-fried-butterflied-stuffed-chicken-breast.html?r=1

So- maybe we'll keep the air fryer. I just won't bother making french fries in it.