and the livin' is easy. Fish are jumpin' and cotton is so high. . . "
I absolutely love that song. Although there are slower versions, this is the one I have on a 45! It's an oldie, but a goodie and every summer it runs through my head. I am officially on summer break! No more summer school. Yahooooo!
Saturday was treat: Toni and Buckwheat, Mitch and Stranger joined us for a quick ride on the hoop-de-do trail. Stranger is pretty cute; he's a talker. He whinnied in the trailer; he whinnied when he couldn't see his buddy or the other horses around the trailer. He did that "hunnh, hunnh," sound as he walked along. It was Mitch's first time riding him on the trail and they had no problems (not that Mitch would have had a problem anyway, but Stranger seemed happy to be with everyone). In fact, all the horses behaved--Star had mother hen issues of course and Shirley said he "sunfished" all the way because he was trying to keep one eye on the two horses in front and one on the two horses in back, but everyone else was good. That means everyone had a good time!
On the way back down the trail Lynn and I landed in some bees. Ziggy stopped on the trail and spread his back legs like he was going to pee and then I heard Lynn say, "Bees!" and she spurred Ziggs to move. About that time, Jupiter started humping and quivering and kicking and we too rode away quickly down the trail. I never saw the bees and I think we got away unscathed. Both of them stayed real calm and listened to us and did what we asked them to! Ziggy's tail swished for the rest of the ride, so he may have had some stings and/or stingers still stuck, but Jupiter seemed to have escaped sting-free.
Then we rode up the steep, trashy hill and back down the new trail and came home. Lynn had errands in town and I had a feast day with the Bishop at church so it was a quick ride. I hope we all get to do it again.
Sunday, we went out and this time Lynn brought the shears; she dropped them off in one of the openings on the new trail and left them for later. We went up and around the Hennessey and came back down. The boys seemed a little tired and it was getting hot. On the way through the trees, Lynn walked and cut some of the bigger pokey branches and the ones that have threatened to clothesline us off. Shirley and I broke off the smaller ones. So maybe next time our ride will be a little less bruising.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Like mother, like daughter
Too funny! Shirley noticed the similarities when she was scrolling through my camera. (Sorry for the blurriness--Jupiter is a twinkle butt and he makes me jiggle.)
PS It's my first time ever being suspended and I didn't like it!
PS It's my first time ever being suspended and I didn't like it!
Experimenting with links
AAAAGGGGHHHHH! I don't understand why you guys cannot link to the album. All of them are open to the public and shouldn't be a problem. I don't know what I am doing wrong. These are two more attempts. I hope they work.
https://picasaweb.google.com/missvkurtz/MemorialWeekend2012#
https://picasaweb.google.com/missvkurtz/MemorialWeekend2012#
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| Memorial Weekend 2012 |
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| Lander's Lake |
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Truly we are blessed
The trail was alternately rocky, silty, and peaty. The dust was at a minimum because it is so early in the season, so it was a pleasure to ride in any position: front, middle, or back. Much of the trail going in to the lake is an incline since the elevation at the lake is approximately 7200 feet. There were some rocky step-ups and some really steep places, but the boys never faltered going either way. Although Buster is incredibly boring and walks too slow according to Shirley, he powered uphill and took the steps back down like an old pro. Both Ziggy and Jupiter did really well also and although Lynn feels like Ziggy corners too wide and she is stretched out over the abyss--picture it kind of like Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons--they looked good all day from where I sat.
I teased Lynn about always underestimating how close we were and about her memory from 30 years ago, we made it and there really was a beautiful meadow and pristine lake. The boys loved the high mountain grass and we had a little picnic that the dogs ate more of than we did; however, they probably needed it more than we did. Those two dogs ran at least 2x the 16 miles we traversed. Although they slowed down a little on the way back and stayed closer to the trail, anything that caught their eye had them chasing off through the trees. Haylee was super tired, but she made it! Both dogs slept most of the way home.
The trail was very diverse and once we got to the first meadow we had to look for rocks piled on top of each other like cairns. Lynn remembers having to pick her way through the bog in one spot, but the CCC has since added a causeway which made the trail easy for the horses and less stressful for the riders. There many water crossings and both dogs and horses had lots of opportunities to drink. Haylee doesn't like to get her feet too wet and she's a little cautious of water since her surprise dunking at the pond, so she created her own trail hopping onto rocks and logs or completely over it.
We ended the day with a preventive squirt of Absorbine JR on the boys' knees and ankles and Jupiter got a little "minty fresh" on his nose when he reached down for scratch. He made some great faces that I did not catch on film! Then we ravenously ate hamburgers at Marinos in Weaverville and got home about 8pm. It was a glorious day!
Sunday we did a short ride around the meadow on the Hennessey to make sure they were loosened up and not standing around getting stiff. When we got back home and let them loose in the field with the other boys, they had a group hug! (: It was cute and I wish I could have taken a picture. Great weekend!!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Herd Bound
Yea! Fourth of July became a midweek holiday and we were off to ride! It was a glorious morning: blue skies and sunshine--just like the song says. The boys were a bit off their routine, though, and Jupes tripped /stumbled into the trailer, Star tripped/stumbled out, and Ziggy--well, how can you tell? I guess they thought it was a holiday for them too and they had had to work hard on the weekend and deserved some more time off.
We started off on our newest leg of the trail and it is becoming easier and easier to manuever and find. I really enjoy that section. We are going uphill through more trails and less road all the time. Today, we rode all the backside trails backwards--the opposite way. It was fun. You know a trail looks different from the opposite direction. Jupes was sure he had never seen that gray rock, gray stump, gray monster before.
One scary thing happened: Star slipped and went down on his side. From where I was sitting, I think it looked like he stepped on a slick root with his front foot and then onto another one with his back foot and they slid out from under him. He went down slowly and gracefully without seeming to try to catch his balance or footing. Maybe he knew it would be better to go with it. Anyway, Shirley kicked her foot free from the top (right) stirrup and then as he went to get up, kicked free from the left one.
The dirt and compost nature of the spot was churned up and pretty soft, but there were roots and decaying branches under her. She sat for a minute and took inventory and decided she was fine. We walked the rest of the distance to the pond because it was pretty level and easy from there. (Alisa, picture going up the trail from the pond where we usually give the horses the granola bars. We were just up from the big log. We were coming down the hill there instead going up.)
I haven't called to check on her, yet, but I'll bet she's black and blue. Hopefully she's not too stiff or hurt in anyway.
On the lighter side, I was discussing that my friend Sandi thinks I should take Jupiter out on my own so he will not be herd bound. She also thinks it will help me to be a better and more confident rider. We ran into an old high school friend who has a new horse and said to me she would like to go riding with me. She's an experienced rider and just needs someone to ride with.
Here's the deal: I don't think Jupiter is herd bound. He has gotten nervous when we have been alone (once on the hill) or separated (once on the ride down Hennessey), but he did what I asked and he only bellowed a couple of times for his friends. I think he likes to go and couldn't really care less about having company--he likes to be in the front and would walk off/trot off and leave everyone if I let him.
No, it's me. I am comfortable with Lynn and Shirley. Shirley has forgotten more about riding and horses than I'll ever know. Lynn is calm and capable and can handle anything. I don't really want to ride with other people and their horses without my partners. I know what they ride like and what to expect from both them and their horses. I think I would be more comfortable alone with Jupiter, the just two of us off riding anywhere, than with someone I am not used to being with.
Shirley said, "Jupiter's not herd bound--YOU are!" Now that's the truth. (:
We started off on our newest leg of the trail and it is becoming easier and easier to manuever and find. I really enjoy that section. We are going uphill through more trails and less road all the time. Today, we rode all the backside trails backwards--the opposite way. It was fun. You know a trail looks different from the opposite direction. Jupes was sure he had never seen that gray rock, gray stump, gray monster before.
One scary thing happened: Star slipped and went down on his side. From where I was sitting, I think it looked like he stepped on a slick root with his front foot and then onto another one with his back foot and they slid out from under him. He went down slowly and gracefully without seeming to try to catch his balance or footing. Maybe he knew it would be better to go with it. Anyway, Shirley kicked her foot free from the top (right) stirrup and then as he went to get up, kicked free from the left one.
The dirt and compost nature of the spot was churned up and pretty soft, but there were roots and decaying branches under her. She sat for a minute and took inventory and decided she was fine. We walked the rest of the distance to the pond because it was pretty level and easy from there. (Alisa, picture going up the trail from the pond where we usually give the horses the granola bars. We were just up from the big log. We were coming down the hill there instead going up.)
I haven't called to check on her, yet, but I'll bet she's black and blue. Hopefully she's not too stiff or hurt in anyway.
On the lighter side, I was discussing that my friend Sandi thinks I should take Jupiter out on my own so he will not be herd bound. She also thinks it will help me to be a better and more confident rider. We ran into an old high school friend who has a new horse and said to me she would like to go riding with me. She's an experienced rider and just needs someone to ride with.
Here's the deal: I don't think Jupiter is herd bound. He has gotten nervous when we have been alone (once on the hill) or separated (once on the ride down Hennessey), but he did what I asked and he only bellowed a couple of times for his friends. I think he likes to go and couldn't really care less about having company--he likes to be in the front and would walk off/trot off and leave everyone if I let him.
No, it's me. I am comfortable with Lynn and Shirley. Shirley has forgotten more about riding and horses than I'll ever know. Lynn is calm and capable and can handle anything. I don't really want to ride with other people and their horses without my partners. I know what they ride like and what to expect from both them and their horses. I think I would be more comfortable alone with Jupiter, the just two of us off riding anywhere, than with someone I am not used to being with.
Shirley said, "Jupiter's not herd bound--YOU are!" Now that's the truth. (:
Monday, July 2, 2012
Word of the day: chaps
Saturday it rained pretty hard and watered our country pretty well. Sunday, we went riding again. Lynn laughed and told me to ahead and break trail! The idea of course was to clear the spiderwebs of course, but in addition, knock all the water off the branches! I knew it was going to be a wet morning, but it was too warm for any kind of water repelling gear.
Soon it was a big laughing matter as both Lynn and I were soaked from the top of our thighs to our boots. How Shirley remains clean and dry is beyond me. She never looks like she is hot or sweaty. Nothing out of place--just that jaunty angle of her helmet, her hand on hip, and an occasional, "Star!"
Today Lynn stayed on her horse most of the time and we tootled around the top of Hennessey. We've been going around sort of backwards and looping through differently and it has been really fun. We weren't gone real long, but I could tell Jupiter was a little tired from the steep trails the day before.
Anyway, my funny story for today was on me. At least I thought it was funny. We were in the lead and heading up one of the steeper inclines back to the road when Jupiter ducked his head down pretty far. Since he ducked, I ducked. Reaction I guess. But the deal is--he ducked all the way under a limb and I sort of ducked into it. Picture this: as he stepped through the bush, a fully loaded, rain-soaked, two foot wide, branch of cedar or pine needles swung and swept directly into my face and chest as I was bent over his neck. I had water running down my face, down the inside of my shirt, which of course gapped open when I leaned over, and puddling about the top of my jeans. My hair was wet and dripping, my shirt stuck to me, and little rivulets of rain water coursed down my body from the visor on my helmet down to my already wet jeans. It was like someone turned a hose on me and soaked me. I laughed. It doesn't get better than that.
For fun information on chaps: http://www.circlerchaps.com/chaphistory.cfm
Soon it was a big laughing matter as both Lynn and I were soaked from the top of our thighs to our boots. How Shirley remains clean and dry is beyond me. She never looks like she is hot or sweaty. Nothing out of place--just that jaunty angle of her helmet, her hand on hip, and an occasional, "Star!"
Today Lynn stayed on her horse most of the time and we tootled around the top of Hennessey. We've been going around sort of backwards and looping through differently and it has been really fun. We weren't gone real long, but I could tell Jupiter was a little tired from the steep trails the day before.
Anyway, my funny story for today was on me. At least I thought it was funny. We were in the lead and heading up one of the steeper inclines back to the road when Jupiter ducked his head down pretty far. Since he ducked, I ducked. Reaction I guess. But the deal is--he ducked all the way under a limb and I sort of ducked into it. Picture this: as he stepped through the bush, a fully loaded, rain-soaked, two foot wide, branch of cedar or pine needles swung and swept directly into my face and chest as I was bent over his neck. I had water running down my face, down the inside of my shirt, which of course gapped open when I leaned over, and puddling about the top of my jeans. My hair was wet and dripping, my shirt stuck to me, and little rivulets of rain water coursed down my body from the visor on my helmet down to my already wet jeans. It was like someone turned a hose on me and soaked me. I laughed. It doesn't get better than that.
For fun information on chaps: http://www.circlerchaps.com/chaphistory.cfm
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Get on, Get off
When my alarm went off at 4:30am this morning, all I could think about was how nice it would be to just lay there. But I got up (albeit at 5:00) and did all my morning chores and headed out to Lynn's. Once in the car and on my way, it was a no brainer. Up on top of Hennessey a little later, I thought "nothing could be better than this!"
Yesterday, we went across the river toward Denny with our clippers, loppers, gloves, lunch, and Buster, since Star would be too bored. It was our intention to clear brush and connect the trail into a loop. After some steep, steep hills with puffing horses who rested every six feet, we got to the steep, steep downhill. I've dreamt about this particular trail! Jupes did fine--almost brushed me off once, but behaved and got us safely down.
But when we got to the brushy site, Lynn wasn't certain it was do-able. So off she went on foot to check it out. Shirley and I couldn't see her, but we could hear her, "Ow!" and then "Ow, dang blackberry bush!" and then again, "Ow!" Finally she pulled her way back out of the 10' high bush and said, "Nope, don't think we can do it without a chainsaw." So no new loop. But at least a couple good clipping stories:
One, Lynn can run pretty fast uphill when she's tailing her big, long-legged Quarterhorse. I could hear Shirley crying out, "Vicki! Stop!" So I stopped and looked over my shoulder and saw Ziggy, riderless, stepping out his big uphill, ground-covering stride toward me--without Lynn in the saddle. We turned sideways to cut him off, but he stepped on his rein and stopped anyway. That's when I saw Lynn. Of course she's way too little to be seen over the rump of Ziggy (and it was steep), but once he turned a little, I could see her hanging on to his tail and scrambling up the trail. I guess she dropped her clippers and got off to get them and Ziggy didn't see any reason to wait for her. Well, now she knows she can stride with the best of them (or run uphill with a little help).
Two, if her head was attached. . . after we (I mean Lynn) decided that we couldn't get through the loop, she walked Zigs over to the point and we followed on our trusty mounts (of course we never even got off in the first place!) and after some grass eating (by the horses) and general view appreciating (us), Lynn got back on (again). As she walked past me (of course Jupes isn't picking his head up until he has to!) I looked back and saw her helmet on the ground. "Um, Lynn. Your helmet," I said. "Oh!" she grinned, "guess I need that." Back over to the get-on rock, get down, get the helmet, and exchange the baseball cap on her head for the helmet. Then back on the get-on rock and start again. Nope. "Lynn, your cap." There it was laying just about where the helmet had been on the ground. So back over to the get-on rock to get down, get the hat, tie it on, get back on the get-on rock and start again. It's entertainment for those of us just sitting there on our horses. (: Good thing Ziggy isn't very big.
Three, as we were climbing through the deadfall up a very steep mountain, we couldn't find the trail. So Lynn says (her usual, by the way), "Stay there. I'll go check for the trail over this rise." But Buster got nervous and Shirley got nervous and so Lynn had to get off Ziggy and walk down to Buster to lead him through some downfall. Then she had to find a good get on place and get on (again). PS Jupes did fantastic; Shirley said he only looks like a city slicker!
Four! Lynn is getting-on-ist gal I know. We stopped for lunch and Shirley got off to stretch, eat, and pee. Buster has been a bit of a problem letting Shirley get on. He wants to walk away. So Lynn got on and off him two, maybe three times, to make him stand still. She said the old standby, "There's no work in riding." Well, she got a great workout in her left thigh for sure, but um, I just sat there and watched her, so--there wasn't much work involved for me. (:
Wow! That was all just Saturday. There's more to tell for Sunday. . . stay tuned.
Yesterday, we went across the river toward Denny with our clippers, loppers, gloves, lunch, and Buster, since Star would be too bored. It was our intention to clear brush and connect the trail into a loop. After some steep, steep hills with puffing horses who rested every six feet, we got to the steep, steep downhill. I've dreamt about this particular trail! Jupes did fine--almost brushed me off once, but behaved and got us safely down.
But when we got to the brushy site, Lynn wasn't certain it was do-able. So off she went on foot to check it out. Shirley and I couldn't see her, but we could hear her, "Ow!" and then "Ow, dang blackberry bush!" and then again, "Ow!" Finally she pulled her way back out of the 10' high bush and said, "Nope, don't think we can do it without a chainsaw." So no new loop. But at least a couple good clipping stories:
One, Lynn can run pretty fast uphill when she's tailing her big, long-legged Quarterhorse. I could hear Shirley crying out, "Vicki! Stop!" So I stopped and looked over my shoulder and saw Ziggy, riderless, stepping out his big uphill, ground-covering stride toward me--without Lynn in the saddle. We turned sideways to cut him off, but he stepped on his rein and stopped anyway. That's when I saw Lynn. Of course she's way too little to be seen over the rump of Ziggy (and it was steep), but once he turned a little, I could see her hanging on to his tail and scrambling up the trail. I guess she dropped her clippers and got off to get them and Ziggy didn't see any reason to wait for her. Well, now she knows she can stride with the best of them (or run uphill with a little help).
Two, if her head was attached. . . after we (I mean Lynn) decided that we couldn't get through the loop, she walked Zigs over to the point and we followed on our trusty mounts (of course we never even got off in the first place!) and after some grass eating (by the horses) and general view appreciating (us), Lynn got back on (again). As she walked past me (of course Jupes isn't picking his head up until he has to!) I looked back and saw her helmet on the ground. "Um, Lynn. Your helmet," I said. "Oh!" she grinned, "guess I need that." Back over to the get-on rock, get down, get the helmet, and exchange the baseball cap on her head for the helmet. Then back on the get-on rock and start again. Nope. "Lynn, your cap." There it was laying just about where the helmet had been on the ground. So back over to the get-on rock to get down, get the hat, tie it on, get back on the get-on rock and start again. It's entertainment for those of us just sitting there on our horses. (: Good thing Ziggy isn't very big.
Three, as we were climbing through the deadfall up a very steep mountain, we couldn't find the trail. So Lynn says (her usual, by the way), "Stay there. I'll go check for the trail over this rise." But Buster got nervous and Shirley got nervous and so Lynn had to get off Ziggy and walk down to Buster to lead him through some downfall. Then she had to find a good get on place and get on (again). PS Jupes did fantastic; Shirley said he only looks like a city slicker!
Four! Lynn is getting-on-ist gal I know. We stopped for lunch and Shirley got off to stretch, eat, and pee. Buster has been a bit of a problem letting Shirley get on. He wants to walk away. So Lynn got on and off him two, maybe three times, to make him stand still. She said the old standby, "There's no work in riding." Well, she got a great workout in her left thigh for sure, but um, I just sat there and watched her, so--there wasn't much work involved for me. (:
Wow! That was all just Saturday. There's more to tell for Sunday. . . stay tuned.
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