Sloshing in Sleet

Today, we're experiencing a mild preview of what's to come.

It's sloppy and wet out there. 

I guess we are receiving sleet cuz there's rain and there's snow. 

Actually, though, it's not as bad as I first thought when I  looked out the sliding glass door and saw white ground in the darkness. 

Fairly warm temperatures made all that continuing wetness tolerable when I went out to do the chores. 

I don't know how tolerable it's going to be for Tim, the farrier, when he shows up about 9 a.m. to remove shoes and trim horses' feet.

Fortunately, we have two or three areas out of the elements where Tim can do his work. 

He always comes in the late fall after my usual farrier John has headed off to Mexico. 

Tim is very efficient, easy going and fun, like all farriers tend to be.  Seems they all have learned the gift of gab, maybe as a defense mechanism.

Gabbing with horse owners probably provides a good distraction from all the aches and pains that come with being bent over and connected to the lower end of thousand-pound critters who sometimes, without much warning, like to create some distractions of their own.

Anyway, today, one more step toward winter will be completed.  I'll probably give each horse its fall worm medicine too. 

The next step for me is deciding just when to dig out the area where the three side doors to the barn slide shut for the winter. 

Right now at night, Lily, Lefty and CB can go in and out of the box stalls, as they please, but once snow comes, the doors need to be shut cuz the snow slides off the roof directly above the doors.

I'm thinking I might have up to two weeks before the horses have to stand in their stalls all night and every morning for several months, I'll clean up their messes and spread bedding.  

In other news, I know that pretty much everyone who's ever heard of a ZAG probably knows they were officially named No. 1 in the nation yesterday.

And, the game they played last night against North Dakota State showed that they certainly are living up to the title.  

Twas a 102-60 win AND some beautiful basketball.  

I included the photo not only for historical purposes but also cuz I think the photo of Rui is pretty darned cute.  He's an  amazing player, and they're all amazing players. 

This could be a truly storybook season, which we'll enjoy all along the way.  

On this sleety, sloppy day, that's about all, cuz I need to finish a few projects before Tim shows up.  

Happy Tuesday.