Cute Overload

Due to some small world connections, I am in possession of one very cute picture...

IT'S A BABY TANNER!

A high school friend of mine works at a horse barn near our home town. The barn owner Julie would mention a palomino named Tanner from time to time that she bred and sold. The friend remembered me posting on Facebook about a palomino named Tanner and told Julie who I was. My parents bought Tanner directly from Julie in 2000 or 2001. Julie just so happens to see my dad occasionally lately, and gave him this picture to pass on to me!

THAT'S MY PUNKIN AT 1 MONTH OLD

I WUV HIS WIDDLE FACE SO MUCH

Home for the Holidays

I'm currently sitting in the airport in Portland (Maine), waiting for my flight to board. I was originally going to have a much more leisurely morning: Wake up at a decent time, show Julie how to do morning chores, pack, deliver a blanket, and meander down to Portland. However, as some of you may know, a big ice storm is predicted / happening today. So when I woke up at midnight, less than an hour after I fell asleep, I decided to check my flight's status to see if it was delayed (meaning I could sleep in even later).

Alas, the flight was canceled. Two of my siblings and I had worked it out perfectly that I would land in Chicago just as Tyler and Mary were driving through and Megan and Graeme were done visiting friends in Chicago.

Instead, my options were to arrive at 8 pm tonight in Chicago, which is 3.5 hours from our familial home, or a flight that leaves Portland at 7 am. Deciding earlier was better than later, I showered, packed, hastily scribbled instructions for Julie, and hit the (icy) road.

I made it here to the airport by going 35 - 45 mph the whole way. On roughly 45 minutes of sleep. Not the most fun drive.

The F-bomb's antenna after my drive

But I am here! And I have a flight to Appleton, which is closer anyway. Soon (fingers crossed) I can take a loooooooooong nap in my old bed.

Anyway, I will probably be MIA from blogging while I'm home. Merry Christmas from all of us at Blonde Bomber Acres!

I gave Hattie a peppermint. Apparently it was not to her taste.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

It was -21 degrees when I went out to feed this morning and has climbed to a balmy -7. That's not including windchill.  As I love to say (and my mom cringes to hear), it's real booger-freezin' weather out there!

The holiday party got snowed out...we ended up with about 10-12" of snow. Julie and I stayed tucked in the house with the wood stove going and my family's hot cider recipe brewing in the crockpot.

Bundled up

You'd think they would prefer to stay in the nice warm barn. Nope.

Stay tuned for a rescheduled party in January!

One of my get-rich schemes (or rather, my sloooooowly-get-SOME-money scheme) came to fruition this weekend. My farriers were kind enough to bring me a big bucketful of used horseshoes. I scrubbed them clean (sometimes having to use a hammer to get the really entrenched bits of dirt/poo out) and painted them fun colors.

If you'd like to help support the farm (and my impending oil bill because holy crap it's cold out), please check out my Etsy page and see if anything strikes your fancy! I can sign them on the back from Blonde Bomber Acres if desired. I have a lot more in each color available (yellow, pink, teal, green, and black) and can also paint them to order in your favorite color. Just hang with a nail through a hole on each side.


Last but not least, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our very own Casey!

EDITED TO ADD: After I posted this entry, I got a notification on my phone from "Google + Auto Awesome", and saw this. I really hated computers yesterday when I was trying to do something for work, and I think they sensed my frustration and sent me this to keep me complacent and compliant. They magically added snow to the picture!!

Holiday Cheer

I hope those of you within driving distance are planning on coming to our holiday open farm!

I watched a bunch of Alaska: The Last Frontier on Netflix. It's a reality show following a family living "off the grid" in Alaska.

Inspired by their way of using the resources around them, Casey and I tromped out in the woods behind the pasture and cut down a Christmas tree with a Sawzall. I even cut a wedge in the tiny trunk so that it would fall forward and not on my head! I'll keep my running water though, thanks.

Our Charlie Brown Barn Tree!

Then with the extras, Casey made a beautiful wreath that she is very proud of.

Hope to see many of you on Sunday! The animals will be festively decked out...here's a sneak peek of Finch's Christmas jammies.

PS - Julie moved in on Sunday and is an official Blonde Bomber! Her cats Willow and Fawkes are not so sure they want to be Bombers, but Skitters is all about welcoming them to the family.

Anniversary

Okay okay, so I didn't actually move in til December 14 last year, BUT...it's Blonde Bomber Acres' Anniversary Month!

One year ago this month, I put all of my chips in the pot and bought a 5 acre farm in the middle of nowhere.

One year ago this month, I got to bring my pony HOME.

One year ago this month, I planted the seeds for an invaluable friendship with Casey.

One year ago this month, I began a blog.

One year ago this month, you started this journey with me.

Your support, through comments, likes, and real life discussion, has meant a lot to me. It's helpful knowing folks out there are following along, laughing at/with me, shedding a tear or two on my and my animals' behalf, and just in general rootin' for me.  I am grateful that I can share my life with my family and friends that are scattered across the country, from sea to shining sea. I've moved around a bit and have made and left so many incredible friends that it breaks my heart. There are so many people who have been influential in my life that aren't geographically local.  Through this blog, I feel like I can still connect with all of you beautiful people and share with you the ups and downs of my crazy little farm.

That's a long-winded way of saying: Thank you.

What has been your favorite Blonde Bomber story? 

Our first Christmas at home

Comment here or on Facebook and you'll get put in a drawing for a special BBA gift. You know you want one!

With so much love,

Kelsey, Tanner, Finch, Hobbes, Nellie, Hattie, Mother Ducker, Duckin' A, Skitters, Harlan Pepper, and PoOf