damp, Dark and bear infested

That's my 'zero stars - would not recommend' review of this autumn. It's normally my favorite time of the year, but the weather just didn't cooperate and we had what felt like endless rain and wind storms. Endless rain isn't breaking news around here, but this year it just feels like more than normal. I don't have any data to back that up beyond the fact that our property is so, so wet and muddy and there doesn't seem to be time for it all to drain before the next storm comes. I've been spending time mitigating the mud and improving drainage where I can, but when the entire stormwater systems are backing up into the road there's just not a lot you can do.

A rare sunny day reprieve. The horses live in the little residential/farm area in the centre of this picture, it's a beautiful spot. Except during heavy rain when all the water run off from this hill and the ones behind it flows through our neighbourhood on it's way to the ocean:)

Is part seal, and doesn't care about weather

The clocks have gone back as well this past weekend and now sunset is early and creeping towards 4:15pm towards the end of the month. How's that for a doom and gloom post intro? :)

In good news, I think the bears have mostly vacated the area and gone off to hibernate. Despite all my attempts at fencing them out and beefing up the electric perimeter, they figured out the front gate and an alternate route in/out via climbing on a neighbour's shed roof and then dropping in to my yard via overhanging trees. They are ninjas, but despite my worries they didn't break any horse relevant fencing or seem to bother them too much.

Stall mats also came on sale in a timely fashion. I expanded my grooming area. Load of sand/gravel to tackle the rest of the mud is incoming later today.

These two also got an expanded area. We were having issues with the ditch on the other side of the barn backing up and flooding the gate area. The city came and dug out the relevant things on their end, so I think that's all resolved, but adding some mats as extra mud protection and a bigger lounging area for the boys seemed like a useful thing.

Halloween came and went without issue. The weather was awful so I think that toned down the fireworks and general shenanigans. I wrote about them a couple of years ago, surprised it was such a thing here. You all made me aware fireworks and halloween aren't normal anywhere else, but here we are. I did a little research and it seems our little melting pot of cultures has created a Guy Fawkes/Diwali/Halloween holiday tradition. Fun for everyone, just maybe not the horses.   I was worried, but didn't need to be. The horses were a little on edge, but the current dynamic is a good one, with the boys normally being much more sensible than Sophie, and her happy to take a lead from them. Surprisingly, I think they were happier last year when the louder fireworks were closer and they could see them, this year the fireworks displays were just far away for it to be out of sight, but still loud.

I swear he gets more handsome by the day

Not impressed with the Tradey photobomb

get yourself a good camera lens, it makes it look like there's proper sunshine

fall colors and a Sophie butt

part of the reason for the mud situation - they play, sleep and eat. And that's it.

Yard pony

Other than that, I'm busy as always. I have a week off to install our new kitchen (yay!). Sand is getting delivered today to top off/finish the ring (also yay!) so I'll be spreading sand for the foreseeable.