January

Another snow shoe trek out back.  This time with the youngest boy.  He got new snowshoes last year and we didn't have much snow to try them out on.  His keen eyes noticed this little wintergreen plant (or Checkerberry as I knew it from growing up).  He loved how it was still looking mighty alive amid all the snow and nestled in it's old stump home.

We went quite a long way into the woods so that I could show him where the deer travel during the winter.  We saw their tracks and moose too, before heading back.  Most of the animals closer to home are rabbits, fox, otter, beaver, porcupine and lots of coyote and turkey.

This was a photo I snapped of the parking lot at Wells Beach with my truck and trailer and Monica's rig too.  Not sure why I took this but as it turned out...it was the last trip in my trailer.  I found a new one and said goodbye to that trusty CM Circuit Champ.  It served me well in the 12+ years that I've owned it.  I bought it used and it goes on to another owner from my town who will enjoy it for some time to come I imagine.  

Here is a not so great shot of the new trailer on the night we brought it home.  Right after getting it home we went into a stretch of bitter cold weather.  Wind chills well into the negative numbers day after day.  So I didn't get to play with my new toy at all for the first 2 weeks anyhow.  

Here is a snap of Monica and Ember out on the beach.  The riding that day was fast.  Her morgan is a runner for sure!  

Another friend of ours, Kathy, came down to say hi and snapped a couple of photos with her iPad.  Thanks for the photo Kathy!  I love the reflection she got in this photo.  It was a wonderful "January thaw" beach day.

Lyre

Here are a series of photos of our high school senior working on a self designed study to make and learn to play a historical instrument.  It's a trossingen lyre.  Very, very cool project.  The instrument is hollow on the inside but without a hole like guitars have.  It also has no frets so the strings are all played open and chords are arranged by dampening the ones you don't want to resonate.  It's pretty to listen to.  Good work!

Family Time

Happy New Year to everyone!  We had a very nice visit with Cory & Justin and their 2 dogs recently.  We admired their tree and enjoyed their food.  So nice to visit when we all have the time off and can line up our schedules.  (A real challenge during this stage of life.)

Happy New Year!

Playing in the first good snow

This year we thought it would be fun to build a big snowpile in the front yard with the plow.  Why not?  The boys dug tunnels into it and generally had a great time playing on the pile.  Here is a quick video of snowplowing.  Usually the little guy is my co-pilot on most snowplowing trips.  He loves to use the plow controls while I drive.  We've done so much plowing together over the years that I hardly have to say a word to him.  He knows what we're doing next and aims the plow blade accordingly.  He is looking forward to a time when he has his license and can drive.  He has totally outgrown the little ATV and is using our Honda Foreman now.  He's discovered the joys of spinning circles in the snow with it too.  Now he really understands the benefit of 4 wheel drive as an option.  2 wheel, rear wheel drive is a joy...if you like to play in the snow that is!

I like this spot from up in the horse's paddock.  The house looks so pretty from here in the morning sun.

Time to try out John's brand new snowshoes.  We went out looking for tracks in the snow and made quite a few of our own.

This track is of a flying squirrel's landing.  It plopped into the snow and then scampered into a hollow log.  We loved the "squareness" of the track where it sunk into the soft snow.  

The snow was sticking to everything and making a  winter wonderland.  This guy, however, loved to shake it off the branches...especially when someone else could be the recipient of the snow shower.  Silly.

Here is our boy with his new camera taking in the view and capturing it. 

On the way back I caught sight of him lifting his snowshoes up high and playing in the snow.  I always love the "Christopher Robin" moments that my boys have.  These are not oversized wellies that he's wearing, but still...it reminds me of the little boys playing in puddles.  18 for this little boy.  My how time flies.

December

Decorating this tree gets a little trickier each year. But if you wear funny hats it makes it all an adventure.  

Most of December was snow free and I enjoyed many trail rides.  This one was just as I am coming home from a short trip to try out the new Renegade hoof boots.  I've been riding in front boots since the summer but this was our first trip out with back boots too.  

I think they worked out quite well.We couldn't find a suitable tree out in the back woods this year so off to the christmas tree farm to buy one.  

Back at home the cats are enjoying their chairs and we are enjoying the fire.  The Christmas Tree is all up and decorated and can be seen in the reflection in the window.  Time to settle in for the winter.

We had some very pretty first snow.  Here is the tree with nature's decorations

So very pretty.

The first sledding trip did prove a little icy.  Boys out in the puckerbrush.  John nearly went into the Miller Brook on his next run.  I don't think any of them will ever grow up!

Horsing around

Fall is the BEST time to ride.  With all of the scouting activities I was able to sneak away and ride as often as possible!  Which was more often than I thought I'd get to.  What a gift!!  The crisp air and the end of the biting flies.  The foliage and great friends made it a fall to remember.  I love it when the wind blows his mane around.  I can still feel the wind on my face just looking at this photo.

One day we explored trails for a few hours.  None of us had been on these trails before so this is where the snowmobile trail headed out across a swamp....hmm.  Maybe not an issue when there is ice but we were not up for a wallow that day.  Here is the group, "regrouping" for a moment before we headed back on this dead end trail.  :)

Friends.  Hey, do you have trouble keeping your white coat clean?  Me too...

The foliage was stunning for the moment in time it happened.

The horse is thinking, "Can I have some grass now.  C'mon, the red headed girl is eating grass...how about me?"

Nice views from the top of the ridge.  This ride was a joy to see a new sign for "Joy's State Forest".  This place is a blueberry field and it's now protected from development and part of the state forest system.  I hope to enjoy this view from horseback for many years to come.

Someone was thinking, "Hey mom, can I have a cookie too?"  Good thing Nancy is flexible!  This ride was in the rain mostly but it was a warm rain.  :)

Where to ride when turkey hunters are everywhere?  Sue knows, the sweet little camp roads around Lake Ivanhoe.  The summer folk have all gone away leaving a quiet road--hunter free--and beautiful views of the lake along the way.  Ahhh.

These are out of order but...send out the hounds! The fox is done.  We had a blast being the fox for Piscataqua Hounds one sunny Wednesday.  I have not figured out how to cell phone and ride yet.  I can do one or the other...

This is us out on the trail spreading the scent that the hounds follow.

They found us!

We waited in one of the remote fields to watch the hunt go by.  This is as they entered the field.  So cool to watch.  Such beautiful coats on the riders and the hounds were so happy.

This horse was not so happy at first.  I pulled the scent container out of my pack and got the hairy eyeball from King.  He didn't like the smell, the sound of glug-glug in the bottle or the sight of me dripping fox pee onto the ground either.  Nope...not his idea of a good time.

But he got the hang of it pretty quickly and was even game to have fox thoughts--we left the trail behind and spread scent right through the woods in a number of places.  This little gelding is great for just blazing trails through the woods.  :)

I also went on a Poker Ride.  Never did that before.  I didn't win any prizes but I did win something in the raffle and a very nice gift bag too.  

I also went on a Mystery Ride and that was a blast.  Didn't figure out "who done it" either but just a really fun time out there checking the clues off the list.  

What a great time it's been to ride this fall.  My camera is now acting up and for the last 6 or so rides it chooses to not work more than it works.  I get fuzzy photos or I get "battery exhausted" screens although the batteries are new.  Sigh.  I haven't had the greatest of luck with cameras over the years.  Might be time to replace this one.  I suppose the bit of tape that I use to keep the batteries from falling out (I broke the door for that part of the camera...) is more of an issue than I want to think it is!!  LOL.

Scouting and Soccer and School, oh my

The new "brace face".

Somebody is making his own Lyre.  Guitars are fun but making a new instrument is part of his Independent Study during his senior year.  He wants to learn to play a lyre.

Soccer season was a blast.  I ended up assisting the coach for the season.  Lots of rainy days to change the schedule so it felt like "surprise soccer" each week!  

The scouts camped out in the wilderness one weekend but they got there by canoe!  It rained most of the way there and "misted" all day then the night was a little rain followed by a morning canoe in the rain.  Soggy boys!

And on another weekend they camped for a scout version of highland games.  The temperatures that night went well into the low 30's and even upper 20's.  C-c-cold boys that weekend!  

We did have a nice family gathering squished in the month too.  My house my niece and nephew are growing!  This one was a time to eat pie and celebrate that 20 year old in the beard in the upper right hand corner.  20!