Thanksgiving 2011

 November harvest?  What?  Dave brought this out of the garden in mid November and I couldn't believe it!  We've had frosts and freezes and some plants still survive. Amazing!

It really snowed, there is snow on the ground and I'm hoping this will be the last of the snow to melt in April or May. Everything is soft and quiet.  A few days later it was cold and crunchy.  I love winter!

I'm going out to work with the horses and I thought I'd get a shot of the winter fashion.  I absolutely love my winter riding pants.  Zippers, padding and suede where you need it.
Also winter riding boots make an amazing difference but I have never found riding boots good for + or - 10 above or below 0 degrees.  We'll see what this winter brings.  The jacket is one of Rose's old ski jackets and very warm.

 I have dreamed of driving Phantom for years and years.  Finally, here he is pulling a travois in the front yard.  The snow actually made it easier since the shafts slid on the ground so easily.  In the past I've been rather resistant to riding or driving horses in the winter because of poor circulation.  In other words, my finger turn white and hurt!  This year I am determined to KEEP riding or driving no matter what!  So I bought hand and foot warmers to have on hand if I need them. I also have my mothers fur coat to wear if need be.

Carving the Thanksgiving turkey.  I insisted that it be carved at the table while we were all seated just like when I was a kid.  The plates are passed around the table with the additions of dressing, potatoes, wild rice salad, fresh greens salad and cranberries as it passes from Cedric to Sophie to Karl to Grandpa to Patsy and finally Dominique.  None at the table had ever done it this way before.  It was fun!

 The Thanksgiving gathering for 2011. Shortly  Karl will head back to the U of M, Sophie to Perpich, Cedric is off the California in January and Dominique will join her husband Stephen in Kazakstan in late December. Grandpa thinks he may be mowing his lawn when he gets back to Fridley next week.  Minneapolis got up to 59 degrees on Thanksgiving.  The last time it got that warm was in 1939. 

Here we are the day after Thanksgiving, notice the snow is completely gone.  Phantom really enjoyed the walking and trotting with the soft footing of the front yard.  His hooves were trimmed yesterday so the grass feels much better than the driveway.  For the first time I drove him through the pasture with the travois and he handled it like a pro!
I just need to figure out how to build a sleigh for him to pull!

Phantom is just an amazing Welsh pony.  I just can't wait to be behind him in a sleigh this winter and then a cart next summer.  I have been dreaming about this for 7 years. Will I do it?  Can I do it?