Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Wednesday 29 February 2012

If it ain't broke ...

So it seems Blogger is making some changes again. Sigh

I have kind of  been of the opinion,"if its not broke , don't fix it"
A while back  several folk were having trouble commenting on blogs that did not have a pop up window 
and others (myself included ) found the only option was to update to Chrome in order to read and or comment . Now the word verification has changes and is a royal pain in the arse!

 Several bloggers have declined to comment on blogs that have that  as a requirement . I get that it helps prevent spam, but I think it did before the changes so not sure what the difference is .I have chosen not to use  it, and I find that the spam , get forwarded to the spam folder  quite quickly after it is reported once. That said occasionally regular comments are wrongly sent there so I check it  now and then to make sure to keep  the good stuff

Now the comment form has changed. I usually "subscribe by email" to the blogs I comment on , often I am not at my desk , and I get email on my phone so when I have a few minutes down time I can quickly check in to see whats going on,if I have asked a question or been asked I know to follow it up. the new comment form  has no option for this so now I would have to go back to each and see . Also those blogs that moderate comments , are fine, but a dear friend of mine is ill and one of the ways I kind of "check in " is to see if she has  posted new comments . again, with the new form can't do it .
Oh well, I am sure it is a part of an improvement plan, but I really would love it if they stopped "fixing " it 

Anyway I will leave you with a picture of my "golden boys" Soaking up a little sun

Stay safe and warm 

Monday 27 February 2012

S*** is just easier to deal with when you don't have to shovel it.

SNOW of course! What were you thinking? G rated blog here people! though, the title  would work for the other ...
Anyhow after the snow stopped , the sun came out and we had a lovely afternoon yesterday, and a nice day today 

the boys heading for "their house " for evening ration

 They are very good about it , they had started crowding me with the pail a while back so we instituted the "bad boys  don't get groceries" program, and now they go nicely to their pen and wait for  the nosh.

Yay for Brother in law Marc, who not only cleared the roads but plowed a path in all the areas I walk for chores so I don't have to wade though knee deep snow (uphill both ways!)


 I really do appreciate this , as I know from experience  being in the loader that long is tough on your back 
he even went out yesterday to do this alley , which although isn't that long is a tough go with deep snow ,and the climb back up it awful. Even Winston had had enough on Saturday , he followed behind and let me break trail ! 
The horses tolerated the weather fine, but even they seem relieved to have the sun out 

 Peps says" I thought I was gonna disappear! A snowflake gal like me gets pretty hard to see in a blizzard! "

Much nicer moving the cows up the alley  now it is cleared 
Thanks again Marc! 


Gratuitous Johnny shot for  his fans 

Yup life is good ! 


Stay warm and safe everyone , spring is just around the corner , and over the hill, down the road and ...
well you know , soon! 

Saturday 25 February 2012

It ain't pretty, it just looks that way

 We have been kind of wondering where Winter was this year. Not complaining , but knowing Alberta winters are often not kind , around here we have been waiting for the other shoe to drop.

And it did , not particularly cold all things considered -11C  for the day and -17C expected overnight  then by Monday back to single digits and above 0 by the end of the week, but we sure got some snow today! 
 Woke to about 8 inches on the ground and it has not let up yet, pretty windy by times as well so there are some areas where it has drifted quite a bit 
 The horses are handling it fine 

 even playing a bit
  Quick test! In the following 3 pics,

 Who is who here , we have 3 pics , 2 are of one horse  1of the other 
 Which is FV Dreamboat Annie, and which is FV Catch a dream? (hint , socks and tails are the giveaway on these two ) I can tell them apart easy when I am with them  but in photos I often have to take a second look 
 Skeeter, less than impressed with the snow 
 These boys are always happy I think! 
And Winston, well I KNOW he is always happy! heading off to find more snow to roll in
Stay warm and safe! 

Friday 24 February 2012

Where I have been


Sorry folks I have been busy since I got home and struggling to get the pictures loaded, finally gave up , and some are out of order , but they are here! 
Those who know me well, know that the only place I am as comfortable and free as I am on or with a horse , is in the water.
So it only stands to reason , I would vacation  near the water.The warm sun and the palm trees , sure don't hurt either ! 
So Martin , I , His sister Connie, and hubby Mike , all went off to Playa Del Carmen . This year though we took a couple special guests! 

Niece Deanna , and her friend Karly 
(Me  touring  Escaret)
We went to a park, (Escaret ) where we swam a river cavern,about and hour of floating/swimming through tunnels in a salt water river , just amazing !
Took me some time but I got this shot of the dolphins 
Karly , investigating a shell on the beach
The girls ! They had a blast 
Mike , and Dee, looking off to sea 
 Miss Dee
 While there , we celebrated Dee's Birthday at a lobster dinner 
as you can see the staff prepared a special dessert for her(must have known she is my niece , with the "Appy  Birthday ")
 Of course she had to try the resort special a "Pie Eye"
 back to Escaret

Big  cats in the park 
(secured beyond a 6 ft rock wall and a 20 ft gorge , gotta say when the Panther started grumbling  that didn't look like a wide enough gap. He had to be 9 feet long !)



 off to a quieter area , the butterfly garden
 a slightly wilted butterfly here, it was HOT and after a hour swim and 2 hours of walking I was a bit pooped
 Brighter butterflies here 


 more beautiful creatures 
 Sea turtles sanctuary
 And yes even in Mexico I can find a horse show! 

I took so many photos it was hard to pick which to load , but this and the post above gives you a nice sampling I think. We had a wonderful time, but it is always nice to come home . We will hopefully begin  the march for spring together! Stay safe and warm my friends! I missed you


And BTW , yes I did dance  with my darlin'