Two kinds

There are two kinds of conversations that I often have with Lynn. One begins with, "Your horse!" and one begins with "STUPID HORSE!"

The first one of course is about some goof ball things Jupiter does. There are so many. This week it was being a big scaredy-cat. He scooted through the gate to eat some apples, rather than go with the four-wheeler down to get his breakfast in the bottom field. It was early morning, so it was dark. Lynn wasn't sure which one it was, but she knew one had headed for the apple tree.

Well all at once I guess he realized that he was alone in the dark and thus susceptible to the horse-eating monsters that lurk in the field. Lynn said she had never seen him run so fast. There was no bucking, farting, or squealing. It was all out, head straight-lined, sprinting. He was going so fast he had to make wide turns around the gates to make it. Once he was down in the lower field, the brakes "ur-ur-ur" stuttered to a stop, but there was no arrogant, "I'm all that" afterward.

We all know he's spooky anyway--we have that in common!

Then there's the second kind; they look like this:
"Had bear this morning at 4.  Haley went nuts!  I could see it just past the propane tank gone by the time I got the spot light and dang stinking glasses.  To heck with clothes.   Could see Deer, Horses going nuts, I could hear the bear going through the woods.  

When feeding this morning horses looking calm, but Haley barked and they were stirred up again.  So heading down the hill horses on my left they are flying all of the sudden a horse (Ziggy the big idiot) was between me and the fence, he cut in front of me hitting the 4 wheeler and knocking me side ways a little.  So it's DARK thirty and I don't use lights because I can see better without them.  So could not see if the IDIOT got hurt or not... Did I say IDIOT?   Went out when a little lighter.  The big dummy is fine.   Whew what a morning."

Too funny! Well as both Shirley and Lynn say, "That's life with horses!" Or something like that. (:

Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!

 Bummer morning--too much smoke to ride and now I have ashes falling on my car. Lynn is afraid we may not get to ride anymore this summer if the fire isn't controlled soon. Pray it isn't so.

Lee says our fence is "snakey." I think it's great!

 smokey mountains & Willy in background

Banner Day

Have I said how much I am enjoying my summer? Well, I am having a great one! Today was a perfect example. Shirley is off to Montana, so Lynn and I loaded up the boys and went up the Hennessey all by ourselves. What a ride. It was really fun. We went on new twist that will probably become part of our regular ride. Zigs was nervous and pooped all the way down, but he seems so much more like himself--he stopped to pee at least twice and he drank out of the puddle.

Jupes about got high-centered on a log. He's so responsive sometimes--I said, "Hey!" or "Whoa!" or something and he stopped in his tracks: two legs on each side of it. He wasn't worried about it, but reacted to my concern, I guess.Then we easily went over it. Zigs and his ol' long legs gracefully jumped over it. It wasn't as picture perfect as Alisa and Keota, but then I was watching from behind and didn't see if his front legs were curled up when he went over. (:

We were trucking right along like we do: laughing, talking, crashing the brush and then we came out on our regular trail. I was in front. Again, I was like, "Whoa!" (who knows what actually comes out of my mouth! But he does stop when I say it.) I thought I was going to see a bear. Then it stood up. It was a man in camo, hunkered down looking at us under the branches. I said, "There's a man!" (I am so eloquent when I am surprised.) He said, "I tried to warn you that I was here." Today is opening day for bow season!

He was really nice and we told him, "There are no deer, here." But he said he was enjoying his walk anyway. The really funny part is both Lynn and I heard him whistle--we just both thought it was the other person. We laughed.

Later on, Lynn set us up for a lope. We did it!! It was fun and comfortable to sit. I just need to trust him (and myself), I guess. I am sure he says to me, "Just sit there and relax--I got this!"

Then it got smoky and we headed for home. Hailey wore her duct tape bonnet the whole time. She never acted like it bothered her at all. I came home and made cement. Then I watched it dry. (: I know, but at least I am hanging out with my mom (and Gene).

It was a banner day all the way around.

That's way we like it

After a long four days of sitting in a cold room working on school stuff, Sunday finally came! We drove up Underwood to ride our big loops. What a day! It was not as smoky and it was a pleasant temperature. Ziggy is seeming more like himself and Buster, although nervous, was a happy camper. Jupiter was a joy to ride and we worked in harmony the whole morning.

We have now gotten our ride to be mostly on trails and much less on the road. There is only one spot we travel twice and it is just to get us to the road. Lynn was looking up toward the mountain and thinks there is probably a way to miss the high road altogether. Nothing could have been better! I heard Shirley say, "It doesn't get any better than this!" Amen to that.

As we were putting away stuff back at home, I said to Lynn how much I had enjoyed the day and how "everybody behaved." She looked at me and laughed and said what had sort of flashed through my mind at the same time, "Everybody else usually behaves--you mean Jupiter behaved!" Well, yeah, I guess that's what I meant. (: 

Coming home, I heard one of our theme songs: "Sunshine, summertime, and good friends--that's the way we like it." Definitely.