The Heat Wave, Thunder Storm, Dunbar Reunion and Time Flies

The farm took on a slowness 2 week ago with the major heat wave that rolled through.   Six straight days of temps in the high 30's with humidex values reaching into the 40's.   It was just uncomfortably hot for man and beast all week.

I am very much a fair weather rider…too hot or too cold and you will find me hiding in the comforts of the house to keep my temperature moderated.   So needless to say the horses got a week off with just a bit of play thrown in to keep us both happy.   The late afternoon hosing off seemed to be the girls happiest time of day.  The sun was hot and the air so heavy that they hardly moved from the shelter.  Using it to take cover from both the flies and the sun.   After the 3rd consecutive day I felt badly for them and gave them a bit of hay to keep them busy at the loafing shed.

I tried to make the best of the weather and had some fun at the lake with Molly.   She is learning to swim pretty good with her life jacket on!  Rather frantic at the start but she settled into the water rather well.  Will have to get her back there again before the end of the summer.

On Friday night we had quite the storm here.   We lost one of the big hickory trees that the back of the pasture line and it appears one of the fence posts at the top of the hill in pasture 5 was hit by lightening.   The brand new fencing that hasn't even had a horse in it yet is burned and fried for about 6 feet!

Several bigger limbs and small branches were scattered all over the yard and and in the front pasture.   We also had a thorn tree on the north fence line, which was also heavy with grape vines fall across the fence.   A bunch of clean up on Saturday morning and Sunday and we still have the big hickory to cut up.   Always a shame to lose a big tree like that.   Even tho hickory nuts are a pain, they are slow growing trees that can get very old and generally have a lovely shade canopy.

The hickory at the north east corner of Pasture #5

The fence post that was destroyed!

The thorn tree that fell across the fence in Pasture #2

As promised here are the pictures of the garden after mulching.   I still have the south side of the house to finish.

Before

During...I had to hand pick all those rocks from the garden!  Ugh!

After

On Saturday we hosted the Dunbar Family Reunion.  It was a lovely afternoon of socializing with the Dunbar clan!

Unfortunately, Chris' folks were not able to make it because the storm on Friday night killed the power to the elevator in their building and they are on the 3rd floor.   It was actually very sad, as this would have been Chris' Dad's first visit to the farm and we were both really looking forward to showing him around so he could see all the things we talk about when we see him.   We will plan again for 2014…lets hope that the weather and elevator cooperate!

A few missing here but a good shot of the clan!

Now getting a bit closer to current events since I have been completely delinquent on posting updates!   This week was FABULOUS!   Weather was the perfect summer temps and dipping into the mid teens at night.   I know that's more like the end of Aug weather but I was happily doing chores in long pants and a light jacket at 5:30AM!   Even the horses enjoyed the cool break.   They could be found every morning standing on the hill in the pasture and out grazing in mid morning and early evening.   Such a wonderful sight to my eyes to see those beautiful creatures adorning the hills at HP Haven.   I am truly blessed to have these creatures in my life and for a second I don't let that be taken for granted.

Lastly, I was also lucky to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of my dear friends, Lisa, whom I have known the longest in my life.   These friendships are so cherished...To have life long friends like this group of women means more to me than I can express in words.   Love you, girls!