A ride to the top of a mountain (well sort of)

Here we are beginning up the trail. I believe there were nine of us. Just a nice size group. Bob did not get to go because Raven was really sick and he needed to care for her. I will tell that saga after the trail ride pictures. It was hot today but the higher we climbed in the trees, the nicer it was.

I am always in the rear so pictures are usually of people riding off. I tried on up over my head but got a part of Melissa's body that she would not want on here. So did not try that again and any way, I was usually last.

We had lunch in this little flat area. That is Charles leaning against the tree. Someone had been there before having a party and I was so angry at whoever it was. In the middle of such a beautiful place, given to us to ride on by Spokane Country and there were beer cans strewn all over, cigarette packages either empty or stuck on a bush. None of had pack bags to pick it up. We all just had horn bags or the like. Makes me want to ride back up there and clean it up.

Angelique and Melissa sharing a Kodak moment. The big black mare is a mustang. The other 2 are Arabians. We were so glad to have them along with us and hope that this isn't the last time to see them.

Andrea and her horse Tonka. He is a mustang from Coyote Lakes HMA in Oregon. She is a sweet friend who likes to go slow too and rode with me in the rear along with Bea and her mustang Cody. I did not get a picture of the front of her. Just her back. All of these folks plus Cathy and her daughter Samantha are good friends and it was so fun to ride with them.

Now to Raven. Bob sat with her most of the day. He talked to the vet and they decided to wait it out before he came out. She got a tub of electrolytes earlier in the day. She was not colicing yet but would have. Her temp was below normal, no color in her gums and massive diarreah. After the electrolytes and most of a gallon of Kaopectate for horses, I think Koelin is the name. Something like that, she now has a normal temp and the color is coming back to her gums. She is in a stall and liking the attention. If she still is OK in the morning, she can go back out with the others but she was one sick puppy this morning. Hate it when they are sick and they can't tell you what is the matter. The vet thought she was dehydrated.

THEN after I got home, I had told our neighbor Shannon that I would help her this evening with her goats. Having never milked a goat, it was interesting even with a milking machine. We got it done though and it did not take long with two of us working at it. Its not all that different from milking a cow but had not done that for many many years. It was a long, good, happy, fun day.

Friday, September 11

Yesterday was thinking day but who could not think about 8 years ago today. I remember laying on my bed watching things flying out of the Twin Towers and the horror I felt when it dawned on me that it was people. There are some things that just never can leave your memory. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Today I went and got a perm. Its not the best one I have ever had but not the worst either. At least its not string straight hanging in my eyes.

I went to get some things in Walmart and ran into my friend Crista. Had not seen her for a couple of years. She trains, rides, shows Arabians, Half Arabians and some saddlebreds I think. They are leaving Tuesday for Kentucky to the Sport Horse Nationals. I put my foot in my mouth and asked her about Toddy - her old arabian. He and Ditto were the same age. I knew it was the wrong thing by the look on her face and she lost him last winter to colic. I felt awful. He was a great horse. About the same time she lost her Jack Russell dog that she had had for a long time. Not a good winter.

It is hot today. Love it. Tomorrow we will be going on a ride out near Liberty Lake. It should be a great day - we will take our lunch and eat it along the trail somewhere. It is with the Mustang Horse Club. I will have pictures for sure.

Thoughtful Thursday

These are my thoughts today. These are questions I am wondering about.

Why do yellow jackets have it in for me. Got stung this afternoon again. The third time in a month. All I was doing was showing Katie something about braiding her horses tail.

Why the horses have to fight with one another over where they can standstand in the shade.

Why Skylor has to give his mother such a hard time?

Why so many of my dreams seem like pipe dreams?

Why our family is so spread out.

Why part of my body is getting older faster than the rest of it.

Why so many of our young people think its cool and clever to use such vile language.

Why so many young women seem to think wearing jeans with big holes in them is beautiful.

Why so many are out of work? I understand the economy but some have found jobs. Why is it so hard?

Why some liberals seem to be so critical of those of us who are conservative and make accusations because they disagree.

Why it was OK to criticize President Bush and be ugly but no one can critisize President Obama without being accused of being a screamer or a terrorist.

Why people forget to be respectful of others.

Why some groups send out such awful information about the round up in the Pryor Mountains. Most of it not true.

I wonder about:

How long I will be able to ride.

Will Bob ever slow down.

Will Jackie get to come home.

Will we get to go to the Mustang roundup.

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for God's beautiful creation. After a weekend spent out in the midst of it, I am more aware than ever of the beauty of it. The water, the beautiful Enchanted Forest that we rode thru, the huge cedar trees we rode by, the animals and birds. All of it. Thank you God for sharing it with us.

Labor Day Monday

We had a wonderful camping trip. Lots of fun despite the rain. It only barely sprinkled on us when we were riding and poured at night. Fun. This is me on Pepper. At the end of a 12 mile ride. My jeans were hiked up, my saddle pad has slipped and Pepper did not want to pose for pictures. He kept saying get off already. I rode in my new saddle and what a wonderful difference it made. It fit me way way better and it fit Pepper way better.

We stopped at this lovely lookout and Bob was watching a Mountain Goat across the valley. He forgot his binoculars in the truck so we just could watch a little dot of white way across the valley. This is in the Lola National Forest. It was so beautiful.

Bob and Katie ahead of me crossing Fish Creek one of many times in our two days of riding. Pepper was not too happy but did not refuse. The rocks are round and about football size so it was not such easy footing.

Not a real good picture but it is a cow moose and a calf. It was so cool to see them. She did not stick around for us to get many pictures. She told her baby- we are outa here.

This was such a quiet and peaceful area. We called it the enchanted forest. Not a sound anywhere. We could not even hear the creek at this point. Kept thinking we would see a deer but we didn't. It seemed almost like a sacred place.

Bob sitting by the fire at the end of the day. I think he got more sore than I did. He was tuckered out.

This is a ranch house that you pass on your way out. It is St. Claire Ranch. I believe I could live out my days there and never leave. The scenery, the wild life, Oh my. A dream huh?

This guy was right along side the road on our way out. It had been eating berries and we interrupted his brunch. It was a surprise. Had never seen a bear in the wild that close. We told him not to worry but he came down from the tree and left.

We had a really marvelous time. When we were almost home though a pickup, on the freeway darted out right in front of us and slammed on his brakes. We were traveling about 60 mph. Bob had to brake fast and the truck was all over. I thought it was going to roll with the trailer and three horses. God was with us, we did not hit any one and no one hit us. We got to the shoulder of the road and Bob checked on the horses. They were fine. I wanted to have hysterics but held on to it and cried quietly. Of course the pickup that caused it all went merrily down the highway oblivious probably of the chaos that they had caused. My stomach is still upset.

Other than that, we are safely home, trailer and truck unloaded, we have had baths and I washed my hair. Our long awaited weekend is over but the memories..........

Thursday

This won't be overly long. Tomorrow morning as early as we can we are bound for Clearwater Crossing for the Labor Day holiday and riding. We should get in a little ride tomorrow afternoon and then will do the fun stuff over the weekend. It is one of my favorite places to ride. Not hard but not roads either. Its the only big ride for us this summer.

My bee sting is still a mess, partly I suppose for its place on my body. Thank you Andrea for the pictures. Yes Yellow Jackets are nasty beasties.

And Sharon about the white watermelon. It did NOT tastle like watermelon. It tasted most like a cucumber. It was not very good.

So - see you all Monday evening. Hope your weekend is great.

I hate bees

The yellow jackets are vicious this time of the year. When I got stung on the neck a couple of weeks ago it was awful. WELL, this evening I was standing out by the horse pends talking to Bonnie - Cody's mom- one got in my blouse and then into my bra and stung me. I yelled at Bonnie to help me and started stripping. I didn't care. It really hurt and still hurts. I have taken Benedryl and have been laying down. Bob put a slice on onion on it and that seems to have helped but I smell like a hamburger. An old guy told Bob to do that when he got stung out getting hay and it helped. But Bob does not have a reaction like I do. Dang bees.

We were just talking to Bonnie for a minute and then we were going to go play with Blondie and Target but that did not happen. I had Targets evening planned too. Oh well. It may be next week when we get back to them.

Bob's work had a bbq today for their employees and families. It was fun and the food good. I had something though I had never seen or tasted before - white watermelon. I did not like it too much. I love watermelon but that did not taste like watermelon to me.

I went to Huppins to see about then long lense that was given to me and if it would work on my camera. It should but the guy told me something was wrong with it. The one that will work on my camera like it cost 200.00. I am wondering how I could earn that much so I could get it. Maybe Bob will relent and let me get it. It is a good thing I did not have my credit card with me or I would have gotten it. Maybe that is a good thing. LOL

Remember: You gain strength, experience and donfidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face. You must to the thing you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt