Wow. I hope no one gave up on me--I know it's been awhile since I sat and wrote our adventures down. I have had too much sadness and then too many school-related activities going on in my life to be light-hearted and free enough to write on the blog. Even though I am still really busy at school and heavy-hearted without my best friend laying in floor next to me, I think I am ready to sit here and write. . .

Lynn and Alisa had a great week in Quincy riding to Buck's Lake one day and from the pictures, I am guessing, riding across from Alisa's place. The boys behaved and a good time was had by all. Zigs came home with a few scrapes from dinging around in the pasture and Odie added a new white stripe somehow (I didn't hear the story) and became a "paint" horse. (:

Although there has been a dearth of posts by me, we too have been riding pretty regularly. Last weekend we had a small adventure: gun shots! Although it was not our first time hearing gun shots, it was our most exciting. Some men were target practicing at the dump area as we were making our way down the Hennessey. Obviously, they were not going to hear us, so Lynn and Ziggy rushed down the trail from our cutoff above the dump.

Jupiter, who was raised near a cannon shooting range, shouldn't have been spooked; however, he has lived with me for a few years now and I am spooky, so. . . anyway, he stopped dead in his tracks to listen when it was loud and near. Star didn't seemed bothered, but Shirley said they were doing dai-dos behind us. When Zigs and Lynn took off, Jupes thought we should too. At the top of the little tiny chute, I stopped him to get back in some semblance of control. Shirley was yelling at me to "Go! We all need to be together!" I liked the together idea, but I wanted to be ON Jupiter and together, versus limping down the road without him while he was together with them. (:

Once I felt he was listening to me again, we started down the road toward where Lynn and Zigs were conversing with the shooters. Shirley and Star zoomed past me, but as we came into view, I am sure we were high-stepping and looking good. Jupiter had his head high and I could feel his fancy foot work and twinkle butt underneath me. The men were nice and even waited until we were at the trailer to resume shooting.

I have heard good reports from Quincy that there is lots of riding going on midweek; including lots of happy dogs and crazy bridges that echo. I am happy that Keota and Sammi (and Alisa) have found fun new friends to have adventures with.

I have four regular season volleyball games left and we are hoping for a chance to be in the playoffs; however, it will depend on how well my team holds it together without fighting amongst themselves (this is part of coaching I didn't miss). My students in my classes ask me every Monday, "Did you get to go riding this weekend?" hoping desperately the answer is "Yes," because then they know I won't be as cranky. (:

My little black ball of attitude is curled up on my lap, my grades are in, it's Thursday and I don't have an away game for another week, so all is relatively well in my little world. I hope it is in yours, too.