Driving Rabi

After all of our hard work fixing up the cart and training Rabi, I was finally able to ride in the cart last weekend! It has only been 10 years since I started this project, haha. Rabi was pretty nervous but he did very well. We just went around the arena a few times before calling it a success. Next time I drive him he should be even better and we can go farther. I hope to eventually be able to drive him around some of the trails and roads near the farm. I might even be able to take passengers with me at some point!

Here we are on our maiden voyage! I know that Rabi looks half asleep at this point, but we were standing by the gate and he knew we were done.

My New Trailer

I recently decided that I wanted to purchase a new horse trailer. My current one is very small and uncomfortable for my horse to ride in and is about to need new tires. I searched and searched for a small 2 horse aluminum slant load (the horses are at an angle in the trailer, much more comfortable for them than being in-line with the vehicle) that my Envoy would be able to pull. I finally found some in Florida near where my grandfather lives, so my mom and I went trailer shopping when we went to visit my grandpa. We ended up buying a Shadow trailer that only weighs 200lbs more than my old trailer, but has way more storage space and allows my horse to travel at a slant and put his head down to rest. I was really impressed that at how well it hauls even though, as you can see, it is quite a bit larger than my first trailer.

My first horse trailer, bought when I graduated college.
















Me at the Shadow dealer with my brand new, 2011 trailer!
















There is plenty of room in the front for all of my tack.





















When the partitions are opened up, the trailer is one large room that my newly refurbished cart can fit in so that is stays out of the weather. (there is no barn at this farm, my trailer is my only storage space)





















A side-view of my trailer in its new home. Matthew is checking out the features of the camper door. You can also vaguely see my little blue trailer next to the new one.















The other side. Now all I need to do is sell my old trailer!

Lindsay's Mom's Visit

My mom came to visit for almost 2 weeks at the end of February. As always, we were very busy and the time flew by. She came with me to work each day and worked on her water coloring painting skills out on the beach. We also went wedding dress shopping and made the final decisions on my dress, the bridesmaid dresses, and my mom's dress (no photos for obvious reasons!). We found time to go bird watching with the Audubon club as well as riding on the beach. The last part of her stay we drove down to Tampa, Florida where my Grandfather spends the winter. We did a lot of bird watching there too and saw many new species that we can add to our life lists. Here are a few of the many photographs we took during our adventures.

My mom with all her painting gear. She loved being a bum on the beach all week.

Me hard at work while Mom was being a bum and painting. I am completely re-doing our 500 gallon tank including installing all new plumbing and buffing the scratches from the acrylic viewing panels. Here is a photo of me working on the acrylic.

The Valentine's Ball was the first weekend of my mom's visit. She stayed home while we went out dancing.

We were fortunate enough to borrow a horse from the place where my horse is at so that my mom and I could both ride out on the beach together. This was my mom's first time riding on the beach and she rode my horse. It was a nice day but a little chilly.

Here we are in Florida with my Grandpa and Grandma. My Aunt Sandy was also there, she took the photo.

One of the parks we went bird watching at.

Some roseate spoonbills in Florida. A new species for my mom.

A glossy ibis, new species for me.

A mottled duck, new for both of us.

A not-so-common common ground dove, a new species for me.

And, lastly, a pretty flower near the beach in FL.

Hockey Man

Since I started playing hockey again, I needed a new place to store my pads now that the van is gone.  I made a scarecrow to hang my stuff on while it dries.  Lindsay thought it was cute so here's a picture.

Bigger Bunnies

The baby bunnies are now seperated from their mom, Belle, and are still growing quickly. Here are a few of the latest photos and a video that I finally got to upload.

The 2 babies on their own.
















Matthew loves to feed all the rabbits leaves from the yard. They love it too!
















Here is Belle enjoying her break from motherhood. We have since added a box for her to hide in. I plan on breeding her again at the end of this month so that we will have another batch of babies at the end of April.
















A short video from when Belle was still in with the babies.