A really cool day

The top picture is a real wahoo. Bob picked up, rather he said "foot" and she gave it to him. He has been working on picking up her feet with a rope. In another few days he will be able to trim those front feet. They are pretty bad. Her hinds are just fine but not the front. She is coming along so well for him. I did walk up to her after she went to her safe corner. I rubbed her all over on both sides just holding the halter. Kind of a feat really because I had the camera too. the second picture is just her head. Isn't that forelock something. She hides behind it. I have pushed it out of her eyes and she does not like it. I love it.

The bottom picture is of Dixie. She is gaining weight and looking good since having her teeth done. Still am feeding her special though. We are supposed to get a skiff of snow tonight - that is right - SNOW. If we do Ditto will get her blanket on and she will go in at night too. She is old and gets pampered a lot.

If there is no snow in the morning we are going to Riverside SP to ride with Katie for a while. I wish I could drive the truck. I just never have. I know how to drive a stick but just hate it. If Bob doesn't want to go, Maybe I will give it a try if Katie promises not to laugh. I have wanted to ride all week but its been one thing or the other and haven't. Maybe if I tell Bob I am going to do it on my own he will be so scared he will go. Suppose?

Wind wind go away

This was an awful day. Forty mile an hour sustained winds. Bob and Tyler tried to work on the new shed but the roofing was like a giant kite and one of them was going to get hurt so they left that job for another day.

Bob worked with Rusty for a long time this morning just loving on her and petting and rubbing her all over. She let him without a fuss and even after he took the lead rope off her. She is really going to be his horse.

I hardly went out today, I did my one and half mile walk first thing this morning. I should get extra points for one way because the wind was in my face. I got a big blister on my toe though and that hurts.

Monday

Katie and Tyler had a good time this afternoon on the ponies. I don't think Rosie has been ridden in a year. I looked out and they were tearing across the field across the road. They are both tall and riding ponies is hysterical. I think Katie is 5'10 and Tyler is over 6'. I need to hitch Rosie to a cart and go for a drive. She loves to do that.

It was a grey, overcast, ugly day. Don't think it rained however. Monday is my house day so did nothing outside. If I don't designate a day to do stuff, Iput it off. Housekeeping is not my strongest asset. I would rather muck stalls.

Sunday

Let me introduce you to Miss Sheya Christyne Williams who just happens to be our horse loving, horse riding granddaughter. She is riding Sequoia. He is a do it all for anyone pony. Sheya has been riding him by herself since she was 4. She is now 6. Today she and Katie rode bareback and had a really fun day. Sheya told me she was teaching Katie to ride. What a fun day to watch the girls playing and laughing and riding. Katie was so good with her, it was great. There is not an ounce of fear in Sheya with the horses. Wish they could come out more often so she could ride often. Her parents only live in Spokane but with gas, Christy's job working graveyard, and four wheelers they don't come out so often.

Nikki worked with Rusty today. She had not met her before. Rusty did not appreciate Nikki any more than she does me. Maybe less. Nikki is our oldest daughter and the mother of Tyler who lives with us. He and 5 other boys. She does well with horses and I wish she lived in eastern Washington so she could help with them. She is a very good rider. She and her friend Rita both live in Marysville and came here to visit after out time at the Mennonite Auction yesterday.

Jim and Kathy Spring stopped by today too. They brought a couple of bales of hay for Bob to look at. And to visit. Jim is going to Austin, Texas for a job interview the end of the month. I know he needs a job BUT I don't like the idea of them leaving here. Very good people and committed to the mustangs.

Lots of other family here today but won't bore you with all of them. It was a good day. It is very cold this evening. It feels like fall is here with a vengeance and winter is knocking at the door.

A rainy grey Saturday

Today was a non horse day for me. I met our oldest daughter and her friend Rita in Ritzville and we went to the Mennonite Country Auction. It was interesting. Lots of good food for sale. I missed the bread, it was gone by the time I got there. I did get a very good piece of blackberry pie though. The soup for lunch was good and New Years Cookies are out of this world. I want to know how to make them. The quilts were beautiful that they auctioned off but really out of my price range. Some of them went for over $2,000. The wind was awful but it only rained once to amount to anything. I was so glad I came back in and got my heavy winter jacket.

Bob and Tyler went on a Back Country Horsemen trail ride over in Kingston, Idaho today. My back would not have managed a 3 hrs. trail ride today but they had a good time and then had a steak dinner. Tyler ate so much he brought his cake home and ate it after they got here. Rusty had the day off. She will get a good workout tomorrow.

It was hard to believe today that on Wednesday it was 85. Maybe that is why it felt so cold today. If the wind is not blowing so tomorrow I am going to try my back out and ride a little. Sometimes it helps.

Friday

Do you think I have a thing about photographing the horses eyes? This is Rusty's and she did not much the camera that close and it flashed besides. I took a long string of pictures until she quit jumping.

I worked with her today. I got one front foot picked up and touched the sole of it. The other front foot was hers and I didn't get it. I would have done better but Bob was there telling me how to do it. It made me prickly. I know how.

She did let me walk up to her and pet her shoulder and neck and take a hold of her halter. That was a first time for that. She does wonderful in the round pen on a 30' line changing directions. She does that for me as well as Bob. She is such a nice little horse.

The other horses are fine. Riding Lena hurt my back. Makes me mad. She was so rough. I thought Dixie was but she is smooth as can be compared to that big mare. I wanted to ride today but didn't get there. Maybe Monday. If the weather is decent maybe the three of us can go to Riverside SP for a while.

October 1

This is the view out my kitchen sink window. Its pretty isn't it. Looks like October. I would like to visiting my sister in Tennessee when the leaves change. It is as pretty as the NE. I guess anyway. Have never been to the NE at leaf changing time. But I have been in Tennessee and it is beautiful.

Lena was really naughty when the people came to look at her. I wouldn't have bought her either. I need to spend some real quality training time with her if they want to sell her. Katie thinks if she had been here it would have been different but it would not have been. Lena did not like the gal for some reason AND she was a timid rider. That was enough to make her grab the bit stick her nose up and was naughty. I will have to ride her every day and I did not want to do that. Its Katie's project but she has to go to school and she doesn't have the know how to get that head down and nose in.

Bob had a very successful day working with Rusty. He was able to pick up and hold both her front feet for a few seconds. He leaned on her and hugged her over her neck and withers. AND she did come up to me when I reached out to pet her thru the fence. That was big progress in my eyes.