Wednesday, September 30, 2009

"Snow" is a four letter word!!!

I watered the yard on Monday and Tuesday, it's been so dry and warm. We are just starting to get "color" on the trees around town, my cottonwoods have a few yellow leaves, the elms will last for quite a while still. And today, rainy, nice rain.....tonight it's already down to 36 degrees and I heard the "four letter" "S" word today.....I even plugged in the electric blanket!!

Just last week I gave into rearranging the den, that's where our wood burning stove is. In the summer I like to put plants in there, my pretty water fountain and just "dress it up". That all comes out for winter prep....and firewood is stacked along the rock wall, the chopping block is set out for chopping up the kindling and winter will be underway.... it will no doubt warm up in few days and we'll enjoy those last fall days, but this is the warning that time is short and get to those final jobs of putting away the summer stuff and set the snow shovels out, let's see, I think I put those away in the hay shed.

We enjoyed a nice relaxing in the hot tub in the early evening yesterday. My first time since in about 3 months, due to the surgery, etc. It was so nice, we had deer wandering on the hill behind the house and caught a glimpse of the fox. I like to kick the water temp. up to about 102 and just soak up the heat. We really do have a "red neck" set up, but what the heck, we have a hot tub!!!

Oh yes!!! How 'bout those Broncos "kickin butt" in the Raiders own house!!! I don't get too excited about football, since we lost Elway it just hasn't been the same, but I do enjoy a good Raider thump!

Ya'll take care, I'll get a photo if it snows.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Wild Horses at Sandwash

This is a beautiful site. Part of our American History. We can drive just 90 miles west of us and see this treasure, today..... in a few years even this herd could be gone. The BLM is slowly removing more and more herds, reducing not managing our wild horse herds. It's all so political and I'm really not wanting to get into all of that. Too bad they are not as valued at the "spotted owl", the "humpback" fish or whatever creature some special interest group has deemed "valuable" to our society, just don't get in the way of the cattle rancher and sheep men, afterall , they all have a stake in Washington.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Wild Horse Adventures

This is Scooter. He was a little "wild horse" rescue. I got the call from the BLM that they needed a home for this little guy, so sight unseen I said I would take him. Hooked up the horse trailer and headed out, 90 miles away, to pick up a colt I had never seen. It turned out to be a wonderful adventure. Scooter now lives with permanent family in Steamboat Springs Colorado.
I haven't seen him for a few years now, I do get a Christmas card and he has grown quite a bit.

I bring this up to tell you that my "wild horses" have given me a lot of adventures, and now even after a few years of being out of the wild horse program, I'm still having adventures. The week after my surgery I received a call from Margo in California. I had never met her, but thru our involvement with wild horses she had obtained my name and number and called to get some information on the adoption program and the plight of the wild horses. 99 minutes, we had such a visit and both hoped to do it again. Well, she and her husband are in Steamboat Springs for the week and we will meet with them for dinner tomorrow and more "horse" stories.

Pat and I were very involved with the wild horse program for about 5 years. We were instrumental in creating a Tri-State Wild Horse Event, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming included.
In order to win the larger prizes, contestants had to participate in each state to accumulate points. It was a great adventure and we met wonderful people.

Just last week I received a call from Grand Junction Colorado, a lady who now owns a horse I had given to her 84 year old father about five years ago. I met him at a wild horse roundup, he wanted a horse and I had just recently had "Rambo" returned to me. It was a wonderful match, he had Rambo about three years and decided he was just to old to ride so he gave Rambo to his daughter. We spent 2 hours on the phone, told her the story of when we adopted Rambo, how he came to have his name, how I met her father (Leonard) and gave him the horse. It brought back some great "wild horse" memories. I hope to get down there and see him again now that he's all grown up.

One of my funnest memories was making NBC News with Lester Holt!!!Yep, they sent a full camera crew ( 5 NBC vehicles) to our house and taped an interview with me and my mustang mare Trinket. It was a blast! We made national television, my and my little mustang. We were part of a larger story they were doing on the wild horses, our actual "air time" was limited, but we made it. I had a good laugh with a friend when I asked her where her quarterhorse had taken her lately, my mustang took me all the way to New York!

It will be fun to tell the stories and relive the memories. We have owned 29 horses in the last 9 years and helped place at least 8 more that were rescues and just needed new homes. Our herd is reduced to just 4 now, two of which are "mustangs" and we love them!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

German Pancake

This in one of the prettiest German Pancakes I ever baked.

I took the picture and use it with my recipe album that sets on my counter. I took an acrylic photo stand, added my most used recipes and it sits on my counter. The pages flip over and stand upright for me to read them as I'm preparing them. It's so handy, keeps the recipes clean and with a few photos included it's decorative.

About the German Pancake. The Village Inn Restaurants use to serve it with hot apple filling. It was delivered to your table looking like this, a bowl of hot apple filling was poured in, the pancake folded over in four quick moves, flipped and set in front of you. It was one of my favorites ever. A friend gave me the recipe and now and again I have to bake one, it takes a while. It was a favorite of Michael's and Stayton really likes it too. It was just one of those things I thought about as I was wiping the plastic pages, looking out the window, watching the deer and a few birds who came to enjoy the fresh water in the birdbath.

Recipe: 3 Eggs * 1/2 Cup Milk * 1/2 Cup Flour * 1/4 tsp Salt
Preheat oven @425. Melt 2 T. butter in large cast iron skillet
Mix other ingredients well, pour into skillet on top of stove, let mixture heat for just a minute on top of stove before placing into oven. Bake 15 minutes or til golden brown. Pancake should rise around edges, forming a "bowl"
Serve with hot fruit, yogurt, cream cheese, fruit sauce, powdered sugar, etc. ENJOY!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Season of Change


It's not only a change of seasons, but a "season of change" in my life.


This has been a good week. I had opportunities to renew friendships, reconcile and forgive old wounds and begin some new friendships. Today I received a card from a very special friend, who I've had a falling out with for over a year, now it all seems so trivial, but maybe we needed a break from each other. I hope to call her this evening and visit til the cell phone goes dead!


My horses are home!!! Pat brought them back from pasture on Sunday. KAnn didn't really want to "talk" to me when I finally made it down to the corrals to check them out. She was much more receptive the next morning when I returned with carrots. Amore' is up to her usual "tricks". We had to store extra hay in her shelter shed to get it all out of the weather. She had managed to pull the fence panels down and her and Ginger spent the night feasting away. I re-rigged the panels this morning and she was looking at me like "aren't you going to feed me?" Fat chance!!! I gave them fresh water and they had to wait for supper. Penny, the old mare, shares corral with KAnn. She's 26 this year and showing her age.


I realized as I was gazing out the window that the bird bath was empty. The birds have been scarce lately, however we did have a group of Spotted Towhees come thru. Their pumpkin orange bodies with the black and white spotted wings are easy to spot. The Pine Siskins are back and I think a few yellow finches with them. We emptied the pond and delivered the goldfish to a friend who will keep them in her large horse tank thru the winter. I need to get someone to help me pull out all the old flower stalks and ready the yard for winter. I have even surrendered to letting the dogs venture into "my yard". Turbo finds it a great adventure and for some reason always makes quick use to leave a deposit there.


I love the fall of the year! We have not had our first frost yet, so the grasshoppers are still a menace, but soon....... I'm thinking I'll have to bring in a couple of geraniums and the only petunia that was worth a dang, so I can get my $$ worth out of them for at least a few more months. I want to take a drive and enjoy the fall colors this year.


It was a good week, back to work. I was really tired on Monday & Tuesday. Wednesday I came home, put my relaxing clothes on and took a rest before returning to take care of my last client in the afternoon. Thursday I had "late start" and only 2 clients and today was my a day off.


It was a good week. And yes, I'm looking forward to the change of seasons and a "season of change".

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hi Ho, Hi Ho..............


Well, it didn't happen! I've been off work for actually 7 weeks, all those "projects" that I thought I'd get done, the photo albums, recipe books, cleaning out paperwork......just didn't get to them.

Most of my time was spent horizontally, reading, watching TV, reading, did make it back and forth to the refrigerator (ugh). Due to my surgery I was limited to sitting for long periods, standing or walking.

Except for the excess weight (ugh), my quiet time was great. For the first time in my life, God was able to keep me still long enough to "speak" to me. I'll be returning to work tomorrow, rested, refreshed and renewed in my spirit. I do homemaking services for clients with the Visiting Nurses Association, sometimes I'm the only one they see for days. Just being there and visiting with them can be more healing than cleaning their floors, dusting or shopping for them.

In this time off, I've had 2 visitors ( not complaining) but gives me a good understanding of how important my position can be. I have really been "out of the loop" socially and spiritually and am ready to circulate again.

I have rediscovered the pleasure of reading, meditating and prayer. Hey, I learned to "Blog" and joined Facebook!!! That was a crack-up for some of my family..."Granny got her Face On!"

I have lots to share, and when I'm standing at the kitchen window I compose awesome tales and stories. I'm brilliant!!! But somehow once I make it to the computer......where did that "brilliance" go. So, I will just go day by day, somedays I'm great, somedays, it's a wash......but I'm enjoying the trip.

Hope you all have a great week! If you get a chance, check out Old Lady Lincoln's blog. She has some awesome stuff.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Barefoot, Bareback and Footloose


It's a quiet fall evening, no wind, peaceful. I've been reading, got to the place where one of my favorite characters had died, so decided to put the book aside.

Started thinking of days gone by, seems like decades ago now. It was an evening much like this, before we had adopted the boys. I had purchased a beautiful palomino mare for 4-H horse for Stayton, he never really got to know her. She was a well trained and trusted mare. I had gone out and saddled her and rode off across the road onto a neighbor's wheat field. I've had few horses who could be ridden off by themselves without a fuss. I really enjoyed my time riding alone, feeling the movement of the horse, her smell, bobbing of her head with each stride. It was a part of my childhood, a good memory that came back to me. It took about an hour to make the loop, around the edge of the field, down the backside where there was a gully and some water. Usually seen deer and maybe a fox or rabbit. Shannon (the mare) was pretty good about keeping her cool. She didn't care much for antelope, really brought a snort out of her. Most of her riding days had been in arenas and fairgrounds.

As I was thinking about her, my early teen years and my beloved horse, Lady Kay, came to mind. My dad bought her for me for Christmas, paid $68 at a sale barn. She was worth a million to me....all my life I had wanted a horse of my own. To me she was the most beautiful horse ever. I spent every spare moment I could with her, fortunately the winters where we lived at that time were not so severe, so I could get some riding in. I rode mostly bareback, probably didn't have a saddle for awhile. I could swing myself up by just holding on to her mane.

As the weather warmed up, the days getting longer, me and Lady Kay had lots of time together.

Eventually another girl in our rural area became friends (Betty) and we rode like heathens all summer. There was a gravel pit close by, lots of beat out trails from the heavy trucks and equipment and great "seep" holes to swim in with and without our horses. The seep holes were deep pits where the gravel had been extracted and water had seeped in, it was crystal clear and on a hot summer day it was just the ticket for cooling off.

One hot summer day, me and Betty had rode off, down to the gravel pits, and that particular day, we weren't wearing our usual attire, swimsuits under our cutoffs, but boy did that water look great.....no one else around but us, why not? We dropped the reins of our horses, peeled our clothes off, and dove off into the water. We were laughing and whooping it up, felt pretty brazen in our freedom.

I just barely heard the car drive up, grabbed my clothes and was climbing up the embankment to see my stepmom standing there with my horse, demanding what I thought I was doing, leaving my horse wandering around......I don't think she noticed that I had buttoned my shirt inside out. She told me to "get to the house" and drove off.

Betty and I climbed on our horses and headed home, "Barefoot, Bareback and Footloose"

Boy did we ever laugh about that!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Ready for a change


It's been a quiet Labor Day for me. Pat headed off early this morning to meet Stayton in the mountains for some fishing. I finished reading the YadaYada Prayer Group for the second time. That's a record for me, I usually don't watch movies twice unless it's been a long while. ( I did watch The Sound of Music again this weekend! At least parts of it. )This book is fiction, but so real to life. I enjoyed it more the second time around. I'll be waiting the sequel from daughter Lisha, until then I'm on my third sequel of At Home in Mitford.


This weeks marks six weeks of rest and recovery from my surgery. I see my Dr. in Denver, tomorrow, I guess. Had thought it was scheduled for Wednesday, so if that can't be changed I'm off across the mountains by myself tomorrow. Depending on what she tells me, I may be back to work next week, light duty. This is the longest period of time, in my life, that I have been "shut down".

Fall is definitely around the corner. The cottonwood trees are dropping yellow leaves, which the deer are eating up just outside the fence, however, one of the does did come over the fence this morning and had managed to prune my flowering plum bush before I chased her back across. We have a short section that is a little lower, on a hillside, and she finally got up the nerve to come across. There's not much in the yard now, but don't want her to chew the branches back.
The birdwatching is pretty mundane, the last of the orioles have left. The Redwing Blackbirds are gone, pretty much down to sparrows and doves for now. There's a lot of natural feed with the sunflowers all seeded out. I'm in no hurry to see the snow, so I'll just enjoy what we have.
The Sharp Shinned Hawk made a visit a few days ago, as luck would have it, my camera batteries were low. Would have been a great photo too! I was just watching him as he was rotating his head almost 360, when I got a chill........Bubby was out there rolling in the grass. Now I don't know if that would have been a little too big for the hawk, but I quietly called Bubby inside. Can't imagine seeing him soaring over the fence in the grips of that hawk!
Got a few more minutes til Pat gets home, so guess I'll settle down and read some more.




Saturday, September 5, 2009

Resident Deer Herd

I took lots of pictures, wish I knew how to do the slide show thing, but here's a preview. There's about a dozen of these deer that "hang" around here.
This might be "Bambi" from earlier this summer. They almost all look alike. However their spots are fading, interesting to see some with all their spots, some with spots on the hips and some are already turned gray.

This photo shows some great comparions to the "spot "change.


Doe and her two fawns. If a fawn who doesn't belong to her approaches, she will strike out with front leg to push them away.



This doe is sheding her summer coat, turning gray for the winter. I think she is a "dry doe", one who has no fawns.





This is "Bucky" The does are starting to tolerate him more these days and with cooler weather just around the corner, the mating season will be on.










Friday, September 4, 2009

Footprints

Truly today, I know that God has carried me when I could not walk.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Written Instructions


There's a wonderful dog story on Old Lady Lincoln's Blog. She's on my follower list, just click on her photo and check it out.....it's worth the time!!!
It reminded me of something similar with our son Michael and his dog, Huck. Michael was going somewhere that he couldn't take the young dog, so we were fortunate to be his caregivers. He came with complete instructions:
Huck: AKC name: Huck's Fishin On

Instructions for Huck

Pet and love regularly. Only puppy food in 5 gal bucket. All that he wants water, fresh and clean. He sometimes wants 5 ice cubes, but 3 usually work.
Sleeping Arrangements:
Wherever he wants!!! At night next to the bed on his bed (use puppy gate)
Treats come regularly, only unbreakable bones, no bread items such as chips, crackers, bread,pretzels, ect.
Waking up:Slow and easy, quiet - dim lights - soft voices.
Commands: Sit, come, stay, down, settle down, be nice! bedtime, agghhtt!!, Huck, Good boy.
Dislikes: Running vehicles, sanders, air nozzles, horse hooves, mean cats.
Have Fun!


Huck was officially our first "grand dog" and we loved him like our own.
I also have complete instructions on taking care of 1st grandson Kody, from his mom Mischel.
That's a whole nuther post!!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

"Snow" is a four letter word!!!

I watered the yard on Monday and Tuesday, it's been so dry and warm. We are just starting to get "color" on the trees around town, my cottonwoods have a few yellow leaves, the elms will last for quite a while still. And today, rainy, nice rain.....tonight it's already down to 36 degrees and I heard the "four letter" "S" word today.....I even plugged in the electric blanket!!

Just last week I gave into rearranging the den, that's where our wood burning stove is. In the summer I like to put plants in there, my pretty water fountain and just "dress it up". That all comes out for winter prep....and firewood is stacked along the rock wall, the chopping block is set out for chopping up the kindling and winter will be underway.... it will no doubt warm up in few days and we'll enjoy those last fall days, but this is the warning that time is short and get to those final jobs of putting away the summer stuff and set the snow shovels out, let's see, I think I put those away in the hay shed.

We enjoyed a nice relaxing in the hot tub in the early evening yesterday. My first time since in about 3 months, due to the surgery, etc. It was so nice, we had deer wandering on the hill behind the house and caught a glimpse of the fox. I like to kick the water temp. up to about 102 and just soak up the heat. We really do have a "red neck" set up, but what the heck, we have a hot tub!!!

Oh yes!!! How 'bout those Broncos "kickin butt" in the Raiders own house!!! I don't get too excited about football, since we lost Elway it just hasn't been the same, but I do enjoy a good Raider thump!

Ya'll take care, I'll get a photo if it snows.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Wild Horses at Sandwash

This is a beautiful site. Part of our American History. We can drive just 90 miles west of us and see this treasure, today..... in a few years even this herd could be gone. The BLM is slowly removing more and more herds, reducing not managing our wild horse herds. It's all so political and I'm really not wanting to get into all of that. Too bad they are not as valued at the "spotted owl", the "humpback" fish or whatever creature some special interest group has deemed "valuable" to our society, just don't get in the way of the cattle rancher and sheep men, afterall , they all have a stake in Washington.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Wild Horse Adventures

This is Scooter. He was a little "wild horse" rescue. I got the call from the BLM that they needed a home for this little guy, so sight unseen I said I would take him. Hooked up the horse trailer and headed out, 90 miles away, to pick up a colt I had never seen. It turned out to be a wonderful adventure. Scooter now lives with permanent family in Steamboat Springs Colorado.
I haven't seen him for a few years now, I do get a Christmas card and he has grown quite a bit.

I bring this up to tell you that my "wild horses" have given me a lot of adventures, and now even after a few years of being out of the wild horse program, I'm still having adventures. The week after my surgery I received a call from Margo in California. I had never met her, but thru our involvement with wild horses she had obtained my name and number and called to get some information on the adoption program and the plight of the wild horses. 99 minutes, we had such a visit and both hoped to do it again. Well, she and her husband are in Steamboat Springs for the week and we will meet with them for dinner tomorrow and more "horse" stories.

Pat and I were very involved with the wild horse program for about 5 years. We were instrumental in creating a Tri-State Wild Horse Event, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming included.
In order to win the larger prizes, contestants had to participate in each state to accumulate points. It was a great adventure and we met wonderful people.

Just last week I received a call from Grand Junction Colorado, a lady who now owns a horse I had given to her 84 year old father about five years ago. I met him at a wild horse roundup, he wanted a horse and I had just recently had "Rambo" returned to me. It was a wonderful match, he had Rambo about three years and decided he was just to old to ride so he gave Rambo to his daughter. We spent 2 hours on the phone, told her the story of when we adopted Rambo, how he came to have his name, how I met her father (Leonard) and gave him the horse. It brought back some great "wild horse" memories. I hope to get down there and see him again now that he's all grown up.

One of my funnest memories was making NBC News with Lester Holt!!!Yep, they sent a full camera crew ( 5 NBC vehicles) to our house and taped an interview with me and my mustang mare Trinket. It was a blast! We made national television, my and my little mustang. We were part of a larger story they were doing on the wild horses, our actual "air time" was limited, but we made it. I had a good laugh with a friend when I asked her where her quarterhorse had taken her lately, my mustang took me all the way to New York!

It will be fun to tell the stories and relive the memories. We have owned 29 horses in the last 9 years and helped place at least 8 more that were rescues and just needed new homes. Our herd is reduced to just 4 now, two of which are "mustangs" and we love them!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

German Pancake

This in one of the prettiest German Pancakes I ever baked.

I took the picture and use it with my recipe album that sets on my counter. I took an acrylic photo stand, added my most used recipes and it sits on my counter. The pages flip over and stand upright for me to read them as I'm preparing them. It's so handy, keeps the recipes clean and with a few photos included it's decorative.

About the German Pancake. The Village Inn Restaurants use to serve it with hot apple filling. It was delivered to your table looking like this, a bowl of hot apple filling was poured in, the pancake folded over in four quick moves, flipped and set in front of you. It was one of my favorites ever. A friend gave me the recipe and now and again I have to bake one, it takes a while. It was a favorite of Michael's and Stayton really likes it too. It was just one of those things I thought about as I was wiping the plastic pages, looking out the window, watching the deer and a few birds who came to enjoy the fresh water in the birdbath.

Recipe: 3 Eggs * 1/2 Cup Milk * 1/2 Cup Flour * 1/4 tsp Salt
Preheat oven @425. Melt 2 T. butter in large cast iron skillet
Mix other ingredients well, pour into skillet on top of stove, let mixture heat for just a minute on top of stove before placing into oven. Bake 15 minutes or til golden brown. Pancake should rise around edges, forming a "bowl"
Serve with hot fruit, yogurt, cream cheese, fruit sauce, powdered sugar, etc. ENJOY!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Season of Change


It's not only a change of seasons, but a "season of change" in my life.


This has been a good week. I had opportunities to renew friendships, reconcile and forgive old wounds and begin some new friendships. Today I received a card from a very special friend, who I've had a falling out with for over a year, now it all seems so trivial, but maybe we needed a break from each other. I hope to call her this evening and visit til the cell phone goes dead!


My horses are home!!! Pat brought them back from pasture on Sunday. KAnn didn't really want to "talk" to me when I finally made it down to the corrals to check them out. She was much more receptive the next morning when I returned with carrots. Amore' is up to her usual "tricks". We had to store extra hay in her shelter shed to get it all out of the weather. She had managed to pull the fence panels down and her and Ginger spent the night feasting away. I re-rigged the panels this morning and she was looking at me like "aren't you going to feed me?" Fat chance!!! I gave them fresh water and they had to wait for supper. Penny, the old mare, shares corral with KAnn. She's 26 this year and showing her age.


I realized as I was gazing out the window that the bird bath was empty. The birds have been scarce lately, however we did have a group of Spotted Towhees come thru. Their pumpkin orange bodies with the black and white spotted wings are easy to spot. The Pine Siskins are back and I think a few yellow finches with them. We emptied the pond and delivered the goldfish to a friend who will keep them in her large horse tank thru the winter. I need to get someone to help me pull out all the old flower stalks and ready the yard for winter. I have even surrendered to letting the dogs venture into "my yard". Turbo finds it a great adventure and for some reason always makes quick use to leave a deposit there.


I love the fall of the year! We have not had our first frost yet, so the grasshoppers are still a menace, but soon....... I'm thinking I'll have to bring in a couple of geraniums and the only petunia that was worth a dang, so I can get my $$ worth out of them for at least a few more months. I want to take a drive and enjoy the fall colors this year.


It was a good week, back to work. I was really tired on Monday & Tuesday. Wednesday I came home, put my relaxing clothes on and took a rest before returning to take care of my last client in the afternoon. Thursday I had "late start" and only 2 clients and today was my a day off.


It was a good week. And yes, I'm looking forward to the change of seasons and a "season of change".

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hi Ho, Hi Ho..............


Well, it didn't happen! I've been off work for actually 7 weeks, all those "projects" that I thought I'd get done, the photo albums, recipe books, cleaning out paperwork......just didn't get to them.

Most of my time was spent horizontally, reading, watching TV, reading, did make it back and forth to the refrigerator (ugh). Due to my surgery I was limited to sitting for long periods, standing or walking.

Except for the excess weight (ugh), my quiet time was great. For the first time in my life, God was able to keep me still long enough to "speak" to me. I'll be returning to work tomorrow, rested, refreshed and renewed in my spirit. I do homemaking services for clients with the Visiting Nurses Association, sometimes I'm the only one they see for days. Just being there and visiting with them can be more healing than cleaning their floors, dusting or shopping for them.

In this time off, I've had 2 visitors ( not complaining) but gives me a good understanding of how important my position can be. I have really been "out of the loop" socially and spiritually and am ready to circulate again.

I have rediscovered the pleasure of reading, meditating and prayer. Hey, I learned to "Blog" and joined Facebook!!! That was a crack-up for some of my family..."Granny got her Face On!"

I have lots to share, and when I'm standing at the kitchen window I compose awesome tales and stories. I'm brilliant!!! But somehow once I make it to the computer......where did that "brilliance" go. So, I will just go day by day, somedays I'm great, somedays, it's a wash......but I'm enjoying the trip.

Hope you all have a great week! If you get a chance, check out Old Lady Lincoln's blog. She has some awesome stuff.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Barefoot, Bareback and Footloose


It's a quiet fall evening, no wind, peaceful. I've been reading, got to the place where one of my favorite characters had died, so decided to put the book aside.

Started thinking of days gone by, seems like decades ago now. It was an evening much like this, before we had adopted the boys. I had purchased a beautiful palomino mare for 4-H horse for Stayton, he never really got to know her. She was a well trained and trusted mare. I had gone out and saddled her and rode off across the road onto a neighbor's wheat field. I've had few horses who could be ridden off by themselves without a fuss. I really enjoyed my time riding alone, feeling the movement of the horse, her smell, bobbing of her head with each stride. It was a part of my childhood, a good memory that came back to me. It took about an hour to make the loop, around the edge of the field, down the backside where there was a gully and some water. Usually seen deer and maybe a fox or rabbit. Shannon (the mare) was pretty good about keeping her cool. She didn't care much for antelope, really brought a snort out of her. Most of her riding days had been in arenas and fairgrounds.

As I was thinking about her, my early teen years and my beloved horse, Lady Kay, came to mind. My dad bought her for me for Christmas, paid $68 at a sale barn. She was worth a million to me....all my life I had wanted a horse of my own. To me she was the most beautiful horse ever. I spent every spare moment I could with her, fortunately the winters where we lived at that time were not so severe, so I could get some riding in. I rode mostly bareback, probably didn't have a saddle for awhile. I could swing myself up by just holding on to her mane.

As the weather warmed up, the days getting longer, me and Lady Kay had lots of time together.

Eventually another girl in our rural area became friends (Betty) and we rode like heathens all summer. There was a gravel pit close by, lots of beat out trails from the heavy trucks and equipment and great "seep" holes to swim in with and without our horses. The seep holes were deep pits where the gravel had been extracted and water had seeped in, it was crystal clear and on a hot summer day it was just the ticket for cooling off.

One hot summer day, me and Betty had rode off, down to the gravel pits, and that particular day, we weren't wearing our usual attire, swimsuits under our cutoffs, but boy did that water look great.....no one else around but us, why not? We dropped the reins of our horses, peeled our clothes off, and dove off into the water. We were laughing and whooping it up, felt pretty brazen in our freedom.

I just barely heard the car drive up, grabbed my clothes and was climbing up the embankment to see my stepmom standing there with my horse, demanding what I thought I was doing, leaving my horse wandering around......I don't think she noticed that I had buttoned my shirt inside out. She told me to "get to the house" and drove off.

Betty and I climbed on our horses and headed home, "Barefoot, Bareback and Footloose"

Boy did we ever laugh about that!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Ready for a change


It's been a quiet Labor Day for me. Pat headed off early this morning to meet Stayton in the mountains for some fishing. I finished reading the YadaYada Prayer Group for the second time. That's a record for me, I usually don't watch movies twice unless it's been a long while. ( I did watch The Sound of Music again this weekend! At least parts of it. )This book is fiction, but so real to life. I enjoyed it more the second time around. I'll be waiting the sequel from daughter Lisha, until then I'm on my third sequel of At Home in Mitford.


This weeks marks six weeks of rest and recovery from my surgery. I see my Dr. in Denver, tomorrow, I guess. Had thought it was scheduled for Wednesday, so if that can't be changed I'm off across the mountains by myself tomorrow. Depending on what she tells me, I may be back to work next week, light duty. This is the longest period of time, in my life, that I have been "shut down".

Fall is definitely around the corner. The cottonwood trees are dropping yellow leaves, which the deer are eating up just outside the fence, however, one of the does did come over the fence this morning and had managed to prune my flowering plum bush before I chased her back across. We have a short section that is a little lower, on a hillside, and she finally got up the nerve to come across. There's not much in the yard now, but don't want her to chew the branches back.
The birdwatching is pretty mundane, the last of the orioles have left. The Redwing Blackbirds are gone, pretty much down to sparrows and doves for now. There's a lot of natural feed with the sunflowers all seeded out. I'm in no hurry to see the snow, so I'll just enjoy what we have.
The Sharp Shinned Hawk made a visit a few days ago, as luck would have it, my camera batteries were low. Would have been a great photo too! I was just watching him as he was rotating his head almost 360, when I got a chill........Bubby was out there rolling in the grass. Now I don't know if that would have been a little too big for the hawk, but I quietly called Bubby inside. Can't imagine seeing him soaring over the fence in the grips of that hawk!
Got a few more minutes til Pat gets home, so guess I'll settle down and read some more.




Saturday, September 5, 2009

Resident Deer Herd

I took lots of pictures, wish I knew how to do the slide show thing, but here's a preview. There's about a dozen of these deer that "hang" around here.
This might be "Bambi" from earlier this summer. They almost all look alike. However their spots are fading, interesting to see some with all their spots, some with spots on the hips and some are already turned gray.

This photo shows some great comparions to the "spot "change.


Doe and her two fawns. If a fawn who doesn't belong to her approaches, she will strike out with front leg to push them away.



This doe is sheding her summer coat, turning gray for the winter. I think she is a "dry doe", one who has no fawns.





This is "Bucky" The does are starting to tolerate him more these days and with cooler weather just around the corner, the mating season will be on.










Friday, September 4, 2009

Footprints

Truly today, I know that God has carried me when I could not walk.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Written Instructions


There's a wonderful dog story on Old Lady Lincoln's Blog. She's on my follower list, just click on her photo and check it out.....it's worth the time!!!
It reminded me of something similar with our son Michael and his dog, Huck. Michael was going somewhere that he couldn't take the young dog, so we were fortunate to be his caregivers. He came with complete instructions:
Huck: AKC name: Huck's Fishin On

Instructions for Huck

Pet and love regularly. Only puppy food in 5 gal bucket. All that he wants water, fresh and clean. He sometimes wants 5 ice cubes, but 3 usually work.
Sleeping Arrangements:
Wherever he wants!!! At night next to the bed on his bed (use puppy gate)
Treats come regularly, only unbreakable bones, no bread items such as chips, crackers, bread,pretzels, ect.
Waking up:Slow and easy, quiet - dim lights - soft voices.
Commands: Sit, come, stay, down, settle down, be nice! bedtime, agghhtt!!, Huck, Good boy.
Dislikes: Running vehicles, sanders, air nozzles, horse hooves, mean cats.
Have Fun!


Huck was officially our first "grand dog" and we loved him like our own.
I also have complete instructions on taking care of 1st grandson Kody, from his mom Mischel.
That's a whole nuther post!!