Whoohooo! Spring has sprung!

After MONTHS of not riding, we got shoes on Thursday and the sun came out on Saturday and Sunday and we rode!!! Yay! The boys were happy, happy. Star, of course, had to be difficult and make Lynn chase him around a little, but the other two were on it! Lynn even dropped her headstall and halter and I don't know what and Ziggy put his head down reached for his bit--like, come on!

We went up Hennessey both mornings taking two different trails and skirting around the ones that could've been too slippery or steep for our first outing. There is water everywhere--it's awesome. The flowers are blooming and are spread along the entire way. All colors were represented and some of the flowers were unusual and a pleasant surprise to see. There are not too many trees down and the trails we rode are pretty clear. However, our "get-on rock" by the turtle pond is surrounded by water.

Yesterday Jupes was a pill--he wanted some grass and wanted to throw a bit of a fit to keep me on my toes. Lynn fought with Ziggy too--not in quite as loud a tone as me and Jupes, but Ziggy lets her know in his own way.

Today was fantastic. Everybody had fun. We think Happy and Haley may have scared up a bear because they took off on a dead run and disappeared for a bit and when we got to the bottom trail there was a pretty fresh bear track that skidded through the mud like she was running. We don't know for sure, though.

Anyway, it was  fun day. I hope we have many more--hopefully this is just the beginning of pretty mornings to ride.

A full barn for the new year

Friday was a "hay" day! It was a comfort-raising, good smelling, expensive day that made all of us breathe a little easier. Although it probably won't actually happen, snow is promised and we need to to keep those fat boys warm and toasty.  

The cute hay guy was a friend of Lee's and he brought us some good Fort Jones hay. He gave us deal and stacked it, too. Lynn hired a young guy to help and we stood around and watched! Of course beforehand, Lynn moved a whole ton of not-so-good hay that Shirley and Don purchased and stacked right in the middle of the barn. Thankfully, we did not have to move this batch or both of us would be even more sore than we are. Dang! This getting old crap is not wimps!

After two days of unloading heavy boxes of textbooks and classroom detritus off U-Haul trucks, lifting desks and moving heavy furniture, I have become a huge fan of dollies! However, I think my arms may now be a few inches longer than they used to be. I helped moved five classrooms of stuff, which meant I didn't get to finish working in MY room. So, I am off to school to finish--well, to try to make my new room feel normal and comfortable for my students. I am hoping to start the new year off in a good way.

There's been lots of stress at the end of 2016 and we have all had the DRITS! (That acronym is so old old I have forgotten what it stands for, but not what it means!) We need to ride! 

Happy New Year! 

I can hardly wait for new adventures in 2017!  

Bring on the snow

Trees up with lights, but no ornaments yet. I'm not sure how Fergie is going to do--everything's a toy! Crazy boy. I'm ready for days off with warm fires and lots of sewing! :) I am hoping for some real snow--not just the promise of it.

Love her! Wish I could sing! (oh and look like her!) :)

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.

Backwards

Two days of great riding and a break in the storm system! Although it was supposed to get up to 76 degrees on Saturday--it did not. No matter--it was a great day of riding. We decided that it would be slick on Hennessey, so we rode Underwood. Just as we came over the first trail to the road, Lynn stopped and said, "Wanna ride it backwards?" Heck, yeah, we answered. Here we are at the "Tippy Turn." :)

It is so pretty! There are spots where we go uphill and never look back that are just beautiful trails. Everything looks so different. The horses were like, "Sheesh, I didn't realize how steep these downs are until we have to go up them!" Of course, Jupes thought, "Wow, grass grazing break already! I like this!" Well at least until we didn't stop there. :)


Lynn said a couple times that it was going to be sunny on the top--it looks lighter on the top and we'll see some sun. Not. It was misty and foggy. Still pretty and didn't "dampen" our fun, but it was cold.








Sunday we rode the ranch. It was gorgeous with all the fall colors. Again we rode it backwards--going down the meadow to the barn and then up through the woods towards the back of the mountain and then out into the meadow and back up to the top. I really like the woods east of the ranch--it was another cool day without sun, but it makes the fall colors pop.

 Cows ahead!

It was a bittersweet ride because we may not ever get to ride there in the fall again. The property sold and the new owners plan to put in several huge green houses. :( That beautiful ranch will be destroyed.

It's supposed to rain again this week. I hope it does, but I hope we get to ride again next week. I sure makes my work week a lot better. Happy trails! :)

A Shooting Star

A great weekend of riding, but bumpy, too. Saturday, we were down in one of our small meadows on the Hennessey. Lynn had to go to the bathroom, so she and Zigs went off into the bushes. Shirley and I sat in the clearing and waited. Jupes and the dogs each got a bite of granola. Star--either because one of the his ducklings was missing or because he thought bear or something was in the woods--got freaked out. He backed into us and stared into to the woods.

Then he began twirling. I know you can hear Shirley, "Star! You old fool! Star! STAR!" I yelled at Lynn to talk to us. It didn't matter. Star could no longer think. He was a whiling dervish. Shirley rode the requisite 8 seconds, but her pickup ride wasn't there and she slid down the side. That was enough to make Star stop.

She's fine, but she probably strained her right arm as she hung on to the saddle horn. She's walking slowly and carefully, holding that arm--probably a little sore all over. She's okay. By the time she landed on the ground, she was pretty close to it and she landed on a slope--relatively gently. Still scary for all of us because we don't want her hurt.

We switched saddles and Lynn rode Star and she rode Ziggy. For awhile. Then Star started limping pretty good. He too probably strained a muscle. Rather than have Lynn walk while we both rode, I got off and she and I walked back to the trailer. Shirley commented that Zigs was certainly not as smooth as Star to ride, and he stops all the time (he must have peed at least twice).

I, too, put on show. We were walking the road and I saw something in the woods. I couldn't figure out what it was and I was staring at it. Then I stepped down into a deep hole filled with water. I stumbled into Jupes who nudged me even more. Thankfully I didn't get caught up in my spurs or his legs and fall INTO the mud puddle, which would have been hilarious, but it was pretty funny anyway as I sloshed and lurched through it. (Lynn laughed so much, SHE almost ended up in it, too--which would have been even funnier.)

Lynn lost her camera in the scuffle earlier. But on Sunday, we found it--pretty much right where she figured it had come off her saddle. She didn't have it in her bra at the time because it had already fallen out of there! Hmm. What's up with that? :)

Sunday, it was just Lynn and I riding and we had a great day. We rode the same trails in order to find the camera, but it was fun. Both boys were ready and willing and we took the trails pretty quickly and did some trotting and zooming around trees. We didn't see a single soul. It was great. That's what gets me through the week!