Friday, April 10, 2009

I Want This Hair!

After I worked My Boy the other day, I got up to the house and Paint Girl's OH (other half) asked me if I wanted to ride along while he went to a farm to purchase 28 bales of hay for their horses. Paint Girl was working so she missed the adventure, but had been to the farm previously.

I love old barns and of course I couldn't resist snapping some pictures. This barn, built in the 1930's and standing strong, was so weathered with a variety of colors, from red-peeling paint to green moss to driftwood gray. Many, many stories I'm sure the walls of that barn could tell.

I loved this old window. Those are dusty cobwebs hanging behind the glass, not twigs. Many old orange-red panels were laying around the property. They too, showed signs of days long ago. Or more likely, a lot of Northwest rain.

The hay was loaded onto a handy hay escalator (no idea what these are really called.) Paint Girl's other half told me that with the last load of hay they'd purchased from this farm, he noticed that they salt their hay. I had never heard of this. I guess it's an old farming trick. The bales are rock salted as they are stacked. It helps absorb moisture and prevent "hot bales." And a little salt mineral is good for the livestock, besides!

Here comes the hay! Slowly but surely, the loader cranks out bale after bale.

I got a little distracted by the farm's dog. He gave me a few warning woofs. I wasn't sure if he was saying hello or saying....don't go look at my two handsome draft horses over there. Huh?

There they were. Two beauties watching me from behind the panels. Of course I had to sneak over and take their pictures.

I immediately noticed the lovely mane and forelock on one of them. It was to die for. Gorgeous length, thickness, and color.

I had mane envy, big time. I don't mean for my own spotted boy, who's fuzzball forelock and half-grown out easy-to-maintain mane is fine with me, thank you very much. I mean for me! I want that exact shade of blonde for my own locks!

I snapped more pictures. I brainstormed how I could bring one of these photos into my stylist. Would she think I was a bit off my rocker? Probably not, she used to ride horses and wears vintage cowboy boots. I'm sure she'd get it!

While I was off snapping pictures, the hay stacking was finished and we were ready to head back home where Paint Girl's other half could unload it. Lucky for her, Paint Girl was still at work when that happened, too!

I love little unexpected road trips like this. I see everything flying by the car window in my camera's eye. Guess who my next victim will be?

Yep, my driver. Remember him? He's back. And if I'm nice enough, maybe I can convince him to take me on a driving photo-snapping adventure!

38 comments:

  1. Well I am a natural red head...I have Jesse's hair died to match mine!!! You would look good with Marilyn Monroe hair!

    ReplyDelete
  2. We were just back at that farm yesterday for another 30 bales!
    I love that horses mane! It is beautiful! Your hair is almost that color!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great barn pix. Are those Belgians?

    ReplyDelete
  4. What beautiful pictures - gotta love those manes! I have hair almost that color myself (well, it's actually turning gray/silver now) but certainly not that thick and beautiful! I've always loved draft horses - most of them seem so sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that hair!! But if I went for that shade myself, I would look like Pamela without the melons. Skin tone is too brown for the moment! But your hair is lovely, Pony Girl!

    ReplyDelete
  6. PG, great pictures! Love the horses with the beautiful manes! Wish Gilly mane and tail would grow but there is a problem called Pokey! He chews on Gilly all the time, maybe he needs a muzzle on, little stinker!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That first picture of your barn there, the little window thing in the top. My barn has the same thing. At one point (maybe even still) a good section of that end of the barn would flip down. That little window is a pulley. It would have been used to haul HUUUUUGE loads of hay up there far before balers were around. Something like this.

    Oh thats what I'll do I still need my Sunday stills pics. The barn is calling!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've had this link posted over at my place for a few days, but since it's all about great horse hair-do's, I figured I'd share it here, too. Wouldn't want anyone to miss seeing the latest equine styles.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1168459/Pictured-The-hilarious-utterly-pointless-horses-hair-extensions.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well, that barn looks all too familiar! LOL! Ours are dated that era inside on the floor! The manes are gorgeous! I like the information about the salt, interesting and makes good sense. This is the process we used on our farm growing up as far as getting those bales out! Only I was the one loading them on the trailer! Now I have a bad back! Nice post and glad you had a good time snapping photos. I would have liked to have seen that dog woofing at you!LOL! Lu

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Belgians are beautiful but I can tell you from working at a farm that used them those manes can get snarled really easy! Hay elevators make moving hay so much easier. We salt our hay with livestock salt when we stack it. It helps to dry it and adds a bit of salt to the horses' diet.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those horses are beautiful. "IF "I ever had a horse and "IF" I could ever choose the color, this would be my first pick, I think it's about my favorite. I like black too, and mahogany, oh so many colors to choose from "IF" I ever were to get a horse!

    ReplyDelete
  12. {Blue-Eyed Tango}~ You reminded me, I did take a picture of the dog! I will add it in for you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey Pony Girl I just got caught up on all your posts. My boy is so cute, reminds me of my loopa. Sadly I have decided to sell him because he is a little small for me and DH. We are planning to replace him with another app.

    Down here on the southern Oregon Coast we call those "elevators" conveyors. Some people salt all the hay that they put up. Some have testers to find out what the moisture content is in the bales to see if it is safe. Of course some just put it up without testing it or salting.

    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi PG!

    Thanks for checking in on me. Unfortunately, no progress has been made on the barn and I am contemplating selling my little Filly pony. My husband is never going to finish the barn or fence and my folks are pressing me to find homes for my horses, so it's not looking good. I'm trying to hang on to the three of them though, somehow...Anyway, I enjoy stopping in to visit your blog. It is such a nice escape. Your photos are great and the stories are always so much fun.

    I wish you all the best - have a Happy and Blessed Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Those drafts reminded me of a Haflinger stallion we used to drive a cart with. He had the most gorgeous thick honey blonde hair...to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I want that hair, too!! Georgous!! And yes, Paint Girl is lucky she missed the part where the hay has to be stacked in the barn....though it is easier this time of year than the last load before winter (too damn hot outside then). And I think it is called a "bale elevator"....

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very pretty pictures of the barn and beautiful Belgians. Thanks for sharing your hay gettin' trip. I really liked the different colors in the wood grain of that barn; artistic.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Pony Girl, the picture of that draft horses mane and forelock is just gorgeous. My poor Buddy had just a little fuzzy forelock like he'd had a bad perm or something! lol! The color is just yummy, a real natural blonde!

    Have a wonderful Easter PG! xoxox

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful & yes, a perfect color! My draft mare has never had that clean or shiney of mane! I'd better start trying harder.

    My son't red dun mare has the prettiest multi-colored mane in the spring. It is reds & blondes & auburns... I've been tempted to take a piece of that to my hair girl, too! I've never been a redhead, but if I could be a red dun, I just might try it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I hadn't heard of salting the bales either...what a cool thing tho!
    Those drafts are just beautiful and look well taken care of! Yes that mane is too die for! How beautiful! Glad you take your camera everywhere! LOL I too LOVE old barns!

    ReplyDelete
  21. When we used to buy square bales, the Amish that worked for me salted every layer--draws the moisture out, should there be any

    I love the pics--I love old barns like that too

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you so much for the information about salt. I'm going to have to look into that at baling time.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love the manes too. My horses have decided to go for dread locks, especially in their tales. I am wondering, however, how you manage to take photos while the hay is being stacked... That's genius!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love, love, love old barns! And what beautiful draft horses ... they are really something! Thanks for those great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  25. {Mary Olson}~ I'm a clever cookie sometimes, LOL! Actually, I always help Paint Girl's OH when he unloads my horse's hay. I push the bales to the end of the truckbed, where he loads them (105 lb bales) into a wheelbarrow and carts them to the hay shed. However, thanks to a minor injury, I was off heavy lifting duty for a few weeks. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a fun day! Great photographs!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great pictures! Would love to have an old barn like that! I want that hair too!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love those old barns too. You got some great pics.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm a sucker for old barns...

    They tell me blonds have more fun, but I'm not so sure. I've know a few red heads who could put them to shame!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I was just noticing how much gray is creeping out of my skull lately and told hubby I need to fix this!!!! Methinks I may try to be a Belgian tooooooo!

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a great idea with the salt!! It really makes perfect seance. And those drafts sure do have wonderful hair. So thick and sometimes they get this great wave to it. Nice body lift!! Mine is flat, think and stuck to my head! LOL!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ahhhh yes....mane envy!!! If we could only be so lucky, right??? LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. That barn is a photo taking mecca! Good for you going along on the adventure. Are those haflingers? Yeah, all that beautiful hair wasted on creatures that don't know how good they have it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. {The Wades}~ Hi! I am fairly certain they are Belgian draft horses. Very similar coloring to Haflingers. I took a picture of these guys' hooves, they were HUGE! I didn't post it because it was actually hard to see how big they were in a photo without anything next to them for comparison.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oooh! What beauties. They remind me of Haflingers...one of my dream horses. They often get long gorgeous flowing blonde manes, forelocks and tails, too.
    What does the farm owner use them for? Are they working draft horses?

    Old barns are just so cool. Your pictures turned out great. Thanks for sharing your road trip with us.

    ~Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  36. Loved those horses and their manes too. Great old barn. Have a great Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I too want that hair. The color anyway. Without any damage please and thank you.

    Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Fabulous pictures all around. I have often wanted to have my Palomino's mane, it grows nice and long and a beautiful color to boot.

    Take care and I love your own comments within your blogs!

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from my readers!! I truly enjoy all of your feedback, advice, helpful tips, and stories. You all make me laugh and I learn so much from you, too. I will try to post replies to your comments as often as I can.

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin