Up at the cabin...

[Katie]

I much prefer the backfire of a snow mobile to that of a horse starting to really pull

LOL, it took a second before I caught what you were really saying You are baaad! What is even more fun is getting hit by the snowballs that come flying back from the horse's feet! (I'll take some pictures the first time out with the great 'view', just for you...sorry, no video and sound effects....)

My mare has special winter shoes with convex pads that go between the shoe and the foot. There is a bulge in the middle of the pad/foot that repels the build up of snow. If not for that, if she wore shoes without it, the snow and ice would stick to the metal and she would soon be walking around on high heels...it can build up to four or five inches inside the metal shoe.

Then the shoes have metal studs screwed into the heels and toes to provide traction on the ice. I only have this on the mare that I'm hoping will soon be pulling a new sleigh...the others stay 'barefoot'. I put in the order for the new sleigh last week and hoping it will be ready in a week or two. I've waited ten years to get a sleigh...and be able to use it! I am SOOOOOOOOO excited! I got a utilitarian model that is very low to the ground, as I'm still not in great shape and don't move well enough to climb into a fancy higher cutter. Maybe next year!

This is the equivalent to you saving up for an ATV, Cindylou And yes, it does make getting it so much sweeter.

CL, when you said that was a short video, you weren't kidding! LOL! I had to play it several times to make sure I had the right thing loaded

I am starting to love the winter here much more than the summer...no bugs, no heat and humidity! And the snowmobiles go whizzing down past our driveway and into the village for coffee, gas, check their mail, what have you ;-) They are just not allowed on the main street, but all the side streets are fair game. Sounds like we live in similar communities, but this isn't cottage country for me...it's my thriving metropolis, full time home.

Darwin's law often comes into play with the guys that take their precious trucks on the ice too soon here too. It has to be 35 centimeters thick just for the city to open the canal for skating, let alone equipment on it. When there are currents under the ice, be it on a lake or river, it is hard to tell where the ice is thick or thin. I have to wonder if the insurance companies cough up for 'water damage' to these $50 K trucks that take a swim! How come they get paid for and our surgeries don't???? But I digress.....again

Cindylou, I love this thread

[Cindylou]

I don't know about the horse drawn sleighs. Last time I road behind a pair was in Germany. I much prefer the backfire of a snow mobile to that of a horse starting to really pull. Maybe I could find a sleigh where the horse was pointed the other way and backed up all the time.

Good one! haha........yeah, I think I have to agree with you on that one! We do have the horse drawn sleighs around here during the holidays, downtown. Kind of a romantic thing to do, if you are so inclined. But, it's been years since I have ridden on one. I think the last time was when we were actually over in Brugge Belgium. Now, that was a quaint city in Belgium. CL (I think we have to go visit Katie to do the horse sleigh thing, right Katie?! haha)

[Cindylou]

Oh, too funny, Katie! We were posting about the same time, and I hadn't even read your post yet, that you just ordered a new sleigh! How exciting for you!!! I am so happy for you. Take a pic when it arrives, will you love? I do want to see it, most certainly. It is fun waiting up for these big purchases, yeah, Katie? Here's to your new sleigh! CL

[KBear]

Supposedly we are getting 3 inches of ice and some snow tonight..... but I'll believe it when I see it. I sure hope not, as the idiots around here can't drive in rain, much less ice. Plus I really would like to have my kids go to school tomorrow, Ava only goes twice a week and I'd sure love the break! Had my baby shower yesterday and it completely exhausted me. Worked on putting stuff away today and product assembly (forgot what a pain in the rear that was- lots of expletives leaving my mouth during assembly). I'm so tired all the time again, just wanna sleep.

Katie- Is the sleigh like a real sleigh? No wheels? My best friend's dad has a horse and carriage business he runs downtown. He made a sleigh, but it has wheels, is horse drawn though. Here is a picture:

[Katie]

Wow, Kathy, that sleigh is long (and very cool!)! I've heard about these ones with wheels, but no, mine will have a double bob with runners on the bottom, for real snow The front runners will turn like the wheels on a car to make it easier for going around corners or turning to come back home. (Important at some point...) Most fancy cutters that you see have solid steel runners like skate blades. When you want to make a sharper turn, they are plowing the snow sideways....harder on the horse.

Mine will not have a fancy paint job or design like on a Christmas card. It is new and utilitarian, made by the Mennonites about four hours from here and will have two seats able to carry four people and whatever kids want to sit on the deck at the back. About four feet wide and seven feet long, just right for my small mare. I've been trying to get pictures of her with a Santa hat on...maybe this will be the occasion ;-) We are supposed to be getting two storms over the next two days, about twenty inches worth. While we've avoided most of the big ones so far this winter, this will make up for it.

It's about -18 C right now, about 0 F. A little cool for me...I like it about ten degrees warmer...perfect weather!

With the tourist sleigh rides, you just can't get moving fast enough for me. I can't wait to get out on the snowmobile trails and kick into a nice strong trot...yeeehaw! I've got to remember to take it easy on the ol' mare for awhile though. She's been out of work for as long as I have...and I'd die doing anything that would take real effort right now

Hubby & I have to take a road trip to get the sleigh. It's about four or more hours away on good roads, and I'm hoping we don't have to stay overnight....over eight hours round trip. With these storms coming, it could delay getting it in time for my birthday later this week. Bummer! Oh well, makes the present even sweeter when it does finally get here.

And yes, you do have to come up for a ride! I've been trying to get your sorry butt up here for over a year...and anyone else who wants to join her! We can sit around over hot cider (mulled with rum sounds even better....) after a ride on the sleigh or snowshoeing....or skating on the outdoor village rink, or....so much to do, so little time ;-)

[KBear]

Well we are getting to 'enjoy' some of your cold weather now. It's 20 F right now, wind is 25 mph, wind chill is 2 F. Needless to say, I'm freezing my arse off. It did actually sleet and snow, quite a bit and everything is closed today. Think I'm going to have hubby start a fire and I'm going to read a book today.

[Katie]

Back in '98 there was a week long ice storm that covered three provinces and paralyzed everyone for over a month. The main power lines collapsed and millions were without power for weeks. When we were buying this property, the seller told us that half the village rotated through the house, as it was pretty self sufficient. There is a second well with a hand pump, the old fashioned kind, plus a wood stove and propane fireplace for heat. They could melt snow for water and keep the food out in the outbuilding to keep it from going bad. While a bit difficult, it can be a real adventure and a test of our strength. I kind of like it if it doesn't last toooo long ;-)

Anybody out there having that kind of fun with this monster storm??? ;-)

Hooch, that cyclone is in a world of its own. Class 5 is very scary. I went through a hurricane (the North American equivalent of a cyclone) back in '03, that was the edge of being a class 3, and the destruction was incredible.