New Icelandic Additions

It’s been a while since anything has been posted up on the blog. As with everyone, it has been a very different year for us. We are just now getting back into the swing of things, so expect many more updates on the horizon. For now, I’ll leave you with some cute photos of the baby Icelandic horses that joined the herd this summer.

Felagi: Means “Buddy”

Lutjia and Svanur’s colt, born May 25, 2020

Felagi is the first foal born at the homestead. We glassed a new figure from the deck of the homestead with the horses up in the high grazing meadows. Ketra (a farm volunteer) and I (Margaret), headed up to see if there was a new addition! Low and behold, this mighty mountain colt was teetering around the mountains with the rest of the herd. Here are a few shots of him– expect many more!

Icelandic Colt

Felagi and Morgan in the yard

Felagi and Lutjia in the yard

Felagi at Three Months

Helga: Meaning “Strong”

Frilla and Vinur’s Filly, Born July 25, 2020

Helga ran down from the high grazing meadows to the homestead the day after she was born. That day, she went straight for the salt block just like her mother. She also kicked Morgan and the dogs when they came close. After realizing folks aren’t so scary, she gets her fill of ear scratches while around the homestead.

Helga and Frilla at the salt block, Day 1

Helga with the rest of the herd

Helga in the mountains at 3 weeks.

The horses are growing quickly and summer rapidly fading away. We saw our first stars in months this week– a sure sign that the summer is coming to a close.

 

 

Apricity: The feeling of the warmth of the sun in winter

Horses soaking in the late fall sun.

It was April. Break-up season. The snow so rotten you couldn’t take a step without falling in up to your waist. We were home-bound, travel too difficult to make any progress on our projects. The lumber was milled and ready for construction and the homesite selected. The gear was moved off the lake and summer loomed brightly around the corner. Now, after months of go-go-go, we gratefully accepted a time of rest. Now, we waited for the flip of the seasonal switch.

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Seasons at the homestead contrast sharply from one another. This is not due solely to the weather swings of -55 to 90 degrees from winter to summer, but because of the nature of work and activity that each season brings. Most different are the times spent alone in the winter contrasted with the flurry of guests, volunteers, and friends that summer brings. In the summer, it is not unusual to have up to 5 people at a time visiting the homestead. Winter, it is common to spend a few weeks apart running errands, visiting family, and visiting friends in town.

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