Is it really only September?

Thank goodness we went for a great, long ride yesterday. It has rained approximately 1 1/2 inches since 1:30 am this morning. We were able to ride to the right from the top and not have any bees bother us because of the cooler weather recently. We rode down and around to our new steep hill (going up this time) and the boys sure did sweat (and Jupes, the fat boy, was breathing hard). Then we came down our new trail on the east side that connects to our other trail. We all jumped logs and ditches and a good time was had by all.

Although the boys have been in high spirits at feeding time--they all behaved on the ride (you know who I have to worry about!). The night before, Jupiter and Ziggy were pouring it on across the trailer park and Jupes slipped in the mud and sawdust and down onto his rump he went. He jumped straight up and trotted around like "nobody saw that--that never happened!" Silly thing.

Ziva has been going with me to feed and after the horses settle into eating she gets to get down and go for a hike with the big dogs. She has so much fun. She is determined to do whatever they do. On Saturday, she got left home with Lee as babysitter. She had her first experience on the tie line while he was on the ladder. Lee said she cried once we left and he was out of sight. After he finished his chores, he played nonstop with her.

I came home and mowed the lawn and she stayed out of the way, watching and running from the front to the back porches. When I started spraying gopher stuff, I put her in the house. This is how I found her:

 

I don't think she moved for two hours! She is definitely teething and wants to chew everything. She keeps me busy watching to make sure we get outside to potty as well as keeping my shoes, table legs, rugs, dog beds,  magazines, homework, . . . all safe. But it's worth it.

Ziva & the mirror (9/20/13)

Ziva Grace

Yay! She's here! So everyone knows the last year has been hard for me--I have missed Izzy everyday. I wasn't totally sure I was ready or really if I knew what I wanted in a new puppy. I was conflicted mostly with having a dog that can run with the horses and be safe or one that is safe at home. I knew for sure I loved Haley and Sammi. My bringing home Ziva has been sheer providence.

First of all, I sort of decided it wasn't happening until at least spring. Then I got the surprise email. In the email I rarely check--yet it jumped out at me. Then the cost was somewhat astounding, but everything fell in to place--checks from summer school and my travel to work in Sonoma came AND a surprise freebie from Paypal. Shawn, the breeder, said the puppies would be ready on Wednesday and I had Thursday and Friday off! Finally, when I got there, Ziva was the only female left and when Shawn handed her to me, she instantly nuzzled my neck and licked me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and didn't want down. The most astounding thing of all was the name her family had been calling her: Grace. Grace comes from God. I knew right then, with all the other signs in conjunction, I am supposed to have this puppy.

She has been perfect in the car; she went potty every time I stopped for her on the trip, every time I took out last night, and every time I her put out on lawn--she's got it down. (We had one accident this morning because I wasn't watching her as close I should have been.) We had to run to town for a mammogram this morning, so the poor thing probably thinks she got adopted by a homeless person and she has to live in a car!

Anyway--I am so happy I have her. My life is ready to be changed and I know I will have help from on high--because that's why I have her.

Pictures of where Ziva comes from

**I knew I liked the name Ziva from the moment I heard it. I knew the character on the show was Israeli and I liked her. When I looked up what it means, I found that it is Hebrew (I guessed as much) and it means "brilliance and bright." I like that it has a Z and a V and doesn't sound like Haley, Sammi, Happy. So Ziva's got her own sound. :)

Group therapy

Where to start? I have had three great weekends in a row with my friends and favorite boy. We have ridden with Alisa and Keota each weekend and the only thing that could have possibly made it better was if Shirley had been well enough to join us.

The horses all got along beautifully on the trail and performed to the best of their abilities. Keota didn't do a lot of his beautiful jumping, but it's probably because we kept turning around to watch him. He is a "floper" though! (He floats when he lopes.) The only little blur on my personal riding was yesterday when Jupiter was losing ground and wanted to catch up with long-legged Ziggy. He went straight from fast, hard trotting to galloping. He freaks me out when this happens. He feels bunchy in the middle, like I am going off. I did lose one stirrup, but I had my knees clamped around him hard. Lynn stopped and that stopped us. Someday I will be able to ride faster.

The dogs have had great weekends too. So has Graycee (Gracie?). She really likes Sammi who plays more gently than Haley. But it doesn't really matter because Gracie gives as good as she gets.

Fall is definitely in the air and we are thinking about meeting Alisa over in Redding for some rides now that it is cooling off a bit. We also want to go to Weaverville for the fall colors and check out Lack's Creek, too.

Hennessey trails 001

Happy Birthday Weekend!

What a great three days we have had! Hennessey, Underwood, & the ranch. Only Ziggy got in trouble and it was for his usual passive/aggressive behavior of "I'll go where I want to go" unless Lynn is paying attention. He got his hiney spanked over and over on Sunday, until she really laced him and then he paid attention. It's nice that he is feeling better and back to his old tricks.

Alisa had so much fun--it was written all over her face. We heard lots of laughing and giggling coming from the back, since she and Keota mostly rode in back. But then we'd hear his hooves and would be loping up the trail. He loped all over the place!  And sometimes, if I turned back quick enough to watch, I got to see Keota's pretty jumping technique. He looked totally relaxed and like he was having fun every day.

Jupiter was good all three days and although we never got into a lope, we did some hard trotting. He behaved around Keota and that was important to me. He did everything I asked and we had fun, too.

I am looking forward to the next two weekends to do some more! It will be fun to have Alisa with us again.