Our 51st. Anniversary

When I think how young I was and now naive I was really about like 51 years ago when Bob and I were married in a large wedding. Many of those folks who are still with us were at our large 50Th. anniversary party a year ago. Now we are still going strong.

Today after church we went up to Greenbluff which is the apple center of this part of the state. It is Harvest Festival month. We went and looked at some very large pumpkin patches, laughed at the kids, saw some of the most beautiful produce. Picked up some large wooden crates under a free sign. Don't know what we will do with them but I will think of something. Then we went and looked at the new church building that our church is building. And went to dinner at the casino that is close to us. It was disconcerting that they are raising their prices tomorrow 2.00 a person. It was good.

Came home and lay down for a while and went out and cleaned a couple of stalls. They have not been used much of the summer but wanted them fresh cleaned and bedded. Next week Dixie and Ditto will come in for the night and get special feed. Dixie needs some additional weight and Ditto is old. When it starts to get really cold day and night, she has a winter blanket she wears.

Bob worked with Rusty for a while. Mostly on her off side. She thinks that is untouchable. He can touch her pretty well and she will lift her foot at the command "foot" but wont let him touch it. She will stand with it lifted for several seconds. Its kind of funny. Just time and patience.

This evening earlier we went to visit our friends Terri and Kurt Carstens who live in Reardan. We had a nice visit and we will be getting Target back in the spring to tune her up and maybe Blondie to start. Bob is a little leery but maybe by spring he will be over it. It was good to see them. Their children were have a wiener roast outside. Brrrrrrrrr. We declined and came home.

A good day, very pretty but cold.

A busy Saturday

This morning I drove to Ellensburg to the WSH Board meeting. I had been talking about mustangs for a long time but it took someone with a larger mouth and who everyone knows to get it going. As of January 1, 2009, there is a Mustang division in Washington State Horsemen.
All the details need to be worked out but the initial OK has been given. Now we need to find sponsors for year end awards. It will be a good thing for those who have mustangs and want to show their horses. The opportunities to show are pretty endless - Dressage, Western/English which includes reining, western riding, ranch horse classes - Gaming = Competitive Trail and Trails and Pleasure. All with year end awards that range from trophies to saddles. How fun is that. If you want more information, please get in touch with me. I would love to tell you all about the organization. As far as I am concerned, its vital, not just for the awards but we do have a legislative person who represents the horse industry with all the ups and downs that seem to plague us.

So now I have preached my little "sermon" today. I just feel passionately about the organization.

Windy Friday

No snow. NO SNOW. Am so glad the weathermen/ladies were all wrong.

I did not have to beg, we loaded up about 10 and went to Riverside State Park to ride. We went to the Trail Town trail head. Had not ridden out of there for a long time. We started out and followed Trail #E25. At the 4 mile marker I asked Bob if perhaps that was the 25 mile ride. AND he said nah, this is just trail #25. Well when we came to Trail #10 we decided to head back over toward the river. We jumped a group of mule deer. They were not terrible afraid of us, just wary.

We ambled over the flat part and came to one of the restrooms. Had a break and started off again. The sign said Bowl and Pitcher 1/2 mile so we started down that trail. Then we came across a trial sign that said Trail #25 and mile marker 20. It was the 25 mile trail. My body would not have made a 25 mile ride. Bob's either I don't think. So we followed it down, encountered some bicycles. They come so quietly that it is hard for the horses especially when they come up behind you on a one track trail. We got over to the side and turned them to face him and he shot on by. Pepper of all horses shied and jumped around, Dixie just watched him go by.

The closer we got to the Bowl and Pitcher, the more people we encountered on foot and on bikes. It was OK though. We went down a trail that might have been scary for someone not used to skinny shale filled trails but we made it OK. Dixie takes good care of me. We figured we rode about 10 miles all together. It was a good day. Not much wind down in the canyon under the trees. Riding along the river there were a lot of geese floating along. They looked so pretty. I did not take my camera on the trail though.

Bob rode Pepper because when he caught Raven and tied her to the hitch rail and was brushing her, she has a huge hemotoma on her shoulder. Probably the result of a bite or kick. Will look at it again in the morning. He loves to ride Pepper though. We put splint boots on him nice and snug to give that tendon a little extra support.

The rest of the day was kind of lazy. The wind was soooo cold. Dixie got to spend the rest of the day in her stall with a can of grain and alfalfa hay for supper. She loves the special attention. We came upon an apple tree. Nice big tart apples on it. We all took one to eat and when I was done I stopped her and bent her head around gave her the apple core. The rest of the day she kept stopping and bending her head around looking for another. She was sweet about it but I couldn't let her keep doing it. She knew I had treats in my pocket too. She takes such good care of me.

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.