Friday Evening Adventure

With all the excitement of the last few days I'll start at the beginning and add new posts for each new "adventure" although without pics since I still need to get batteries in the camera.

The weatherman forcasted rain turning into snow Friday. I'd bought some lumber to finish the wood fence between the chicken coop and the barn along with some lumber for another open front. I finally found the missing receipt. Of course it was right where I put it, in the OTHER car! Silly me to forget which car I was driving.

So we decided at 5pm Friday to run to Sioux Falls and pick up grain and lumber. Mike hooked up the flatbed and off we went. I hate not having a lot of time to get all my errands done. We rushed to Campbell Supply and bought senior grain and fence clips for the new mare pasture. My hope was to pick up the wood and some other fencing supplies and finish the fence during the weekend. Remember, that was my hope!

Once we checked out of Campbell Supply we rushed over to Tractor Supply (always with the flatbed in tow). I'm glad Mike is comfortable driving along pulling the flatbed with the Explorer. I'm not used to the flatbed (just the horse trailer).

I had to pick up beet pulp and more t-post covers. I love seeing those white caps on all the fence posts. Makes me feel like Babe will be more secure in this new pasture.

Once we checked out of TSC we grabbed something quick to eat and then headed to Menards. We had to buy a few things inside (like batteries) before heading out back to pick up my wood. We weren't in any of the stores for very long. I'd checked the weather before we left and it said that it would start to snow about 9pm.

The weatherman wasn't too far off. We loaded up the flatbed in the freezing cold. I hate hauling stuff on the flatbed without the sides because we have to secure everything! It took longer to secure my small pile of wood than it did to find it and load it all up. We finally pulled out of the Menards parking lot about 8:30 and the snowflakes were really starting to fall. We didn't get more than a mile away and one of the straps popped off and went sailing so we had to resecure everything in the cold and snow.

By the time we finally got back on the road and hit I90 for home it was snowing like crazy! I was glad Mike was driving. As it was I could barely see. We slowed down knowing the bridges and overpasses would be slick.

When we pulled out of Menards it was 40 degrees. By the time we got onto interstate it was 30 something. By the time we hit our gravel it was in the upper twenties. Crazy how the temps would drop that many degrees in just a half hour. It was a little scary!

Unfortunately with all the snow we missed our gravel turn off and had to go an extra mile. We finally made it home about 10pm. We rushed to get the wood under cover (although not sure why since it was all treated!)

I had to start chores at 10pm because I didn't realize we were headed to town after work. So there I was pulling Babe, Queen, Bob, and Rain into the barn. I don't want the mares to get wet. I don't think Queen can handle it.

I had to take a break to get warm water for those that need their mash and switch into dry shoes! I hate wet shoes! Rain was a bit put out in being stuck in the barn but I figure he'll get over it. I felt bad that I had to leave Zeke out but he wasn't shivering. I desperately need to get those stalls finished!

I finally got all my chores done by about 10:45pm. Luckily I didn't need to get morning chores ready so that cut some of my time down. Mike helped haul water so that cut down on my chore time too.

I do hate winter. I can't figure out how to squeeze in a trip to Sioux Falls AND get my chores done without having to fight everyone in the dark. The stores all close before I can get there if I do chores first. If I go in first to buy supplies then I'm doing chores in the dark with ticked off horses. That leaves the weekend for shopping with all those crazy people who will end up getting me sick! I'm not seeing a win, win situation here! For now I guess I'll do half my chores in the light and do the other half in the dark, rushing the entire time.

So that was my Friday evening adventure! More to come soon!