Birthday weekend!

 It's been a great three days of riding. Friday we drove to Weaverville and rode East Weaver trails: we rode up the JackAss Spur, around Howe Ditch, and took a wrong turn to Musser, crossing bridges over the creek twice. After we crossed the road and check out the map, we backtracked across the bridges and turned right which took us past the Day Ranch trail and down to the East Weaver trail.


Last year it was freezing! This year it was humid! Although I was very thankful for my chinks, I could have ridden in my tee shirt! There were hot pockets and cold pockets. The trail was a little slick and narrow in a couple spots and there was a tree down that we had to bushwack around, but otherwise, what a great day! The sky was very November-ish and pretty. We ate at Marino's  for breakfast and then had greasy hamburgers at the Nugget later. The Nugget is a no, never again. :(

When we got home, the boys put on a show. First of all, Jupes had gotten his halter off in the trailer and came bolting out. Shirley headed out with Star and Jupes would not stand still for me to rehalter and take his blanket off. When we finally all got up to the green gate, Shirley was yelling at Star to settle down and Jupes kept dancing on his toes, trying to see what Star was up to. Lynn and Big Zig were dancing around, too.

Shirley finally got Star loose and let him go. He started jumping around. I had let Jupes go and he ran off to his rolling spot. Suddenly, Ziggy went down by the gate and was rolling right next to it. Lynn had not even gotten his halter off or the gate latched. He jumped up and starting crow hopping and bucking and kicking his legs out. Both he and Star were twirling around and throwing legs out. Jupes jumped up from rolling and was bucking and humping, too. Ziva was jumping around trying to decided who to play with, but I was yelling at her to get away from them. Shirley was yelling at me to get away from them, too, but I was sort of trapped between them. Anyway, all was well, but we decided that maybe they had not eaten breakfast before we left that morning and were pitching a fit that Buster ate it all. :)

Saturday we all slept in. Then we rode on the back side of Hennessey. It was a fun loop. We started late and ended late. It wasn't too slick and everybody did fine.

Sunday, we drove to Underwood. We weren't very far when Shirley said that Star didn't feel well. So we turned around and came home. Even though it was short, it felt good to be ahorseback. We got to be together and with our animals for three days. I didn't get as much done as I need to at home (my house is a disaster!! and my grades are behind!!), but it was worth it.

We sure missed Alisa, Odie, and Keota. I am hearing that we may meet up in Redding, soon. We need to make decisions on pulling shoes or not. Last year, we pulled them and didn't ride after Shirley's birthday. We need to check the almanac--I think it's La Nina (colder). I hope it is wet and helps with our water situation. I am hoping for a white Christmas. :)

Your basic fall weekend

After much anticipation, Saturday dawned and Lynn and I headed to the Fig Twig Flea Market in Ferndale. All week the weather channel said it was forecast for 100% chance of rain. Going to a dressed-up flea market would be the perfect thing to do. What a disappointment. With fewer vendors, it was much smaller than last year and the offerings weren't all that great either. On top of that, it didn't rain and we could've ridden and then gone over. We got our groceries, some more yarn neither of us needed, and one more (unnecessary) project for me do before the holidays. At least the company was good.

Sunday started out comically. Poor Lynn. She has to put up with her mother and me. I was sitting enjoying that the time change, having a cup of coffee and reading FB. I was about to close my iPad when I saw that I had a new emails. I opened it up and wah-la: one said, "I'll see you at 7 unless it's raining." I looked at the clock and it was seven-o-something. Yikes! I jumped up and called Lynn, "Am I supposed to be there?" "Yep," came the answer. So I threw myself together and headed for Lynn's.

We got the horses the ready and after watching for the pickup to roll up, we heard the 4-wheeler coming slowly across the field. There was Shirley, "Are we riding? I couldn't tell what was going on down here." After an affirmative from Lynn, off she went to put on her riding bra and bring the pickup down. After planning to head out closer to 7:30 (thanks to the time change and earlier daylight), we didn't pull out until almost 8:30.

Sundays mean church and getting Lee's stuff ready for the week, so we tootled around the Hennessey Ranch again for a quick and enjoyable ride. I enjoy going backwards and riding down the ranch and then up counterclockwise through the woods. Lynn took lots of pictures of the fall foliage and I spent time looking at everything and trying to imprint it on my mind--there's a good chance we won't see it again in its fall splendor, as the new owners plan on putting in a lot of green houses. :(

Coming out, Jupiter's foot slipped and I think Ziva may have run into his back leg, which freaked him out. I told Lynn and Shirley that he's like riding a squeeze box or an accordion--all squeezed together and then springing out. He's silly.

Friday is Veteran's Day--otherwise known as Shirley's birthday! Alisa plans to join us for the weekend as we celebrate Shirley's 85th birthday ahorseback. The weatherman predicts we will be in the mid 70s all week, so hopefully it will dry out our trails enough to be safe. Although, it also is predicted to rain on Friday and then Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be better. Who knows--oftentimes the rain they predict stays more north of us. We haven't planned our rides yet, but I am already looking forward to hanging with my besties and my silly horse.