There is a Horse In My Bubblebath

Some new ornaments....

2012-01-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

This first one, the one on top is my own design. Cowboy Santa. He is not quite finished yet. He needs his snow like the bottom Santa. We have been having problems with our well, so I wasnt able to finish him because I have no water to clean up with. (its not the well pump, thank goodness!! there is a 1700gal holding tank and one of the float switches quit, then we dont think they hooked it up correctly, so they are supposed to be back out today. Second night without water this week.)

The bottom Santa, above, is one of my favorites. I am making sure to finish the backs nicely too.

There are all kinds in this pic, the Angel, the reindeer toys, the sled, and the dishes. These dish ones are painted on antique doll plates that we found while cleaning out the attic. I researched some and they are not worth anything, so I tole painted on them. They were solid aluminum doll plates, probably from the '40s ? I believe they were my Mother in-laws when she was a girl. I will put a small hole in the top to hang them with. I finally received my wood order! So I have more projects to work on!! I have one more shipment on its way with some 12 inch memo clips!! and a pattern for them, Santa and reindeer!! Cute cute cute!!! I love doing Santa's, and the more I am doing the better they are coming out!

Sunday stills....Birds

2012-01-21T20:41:00.000-08:00

I took these pics on Friday, looking for a Sunday Stills post!!! I spotted these Three Amigos when I was walking back from the barn. They were squawking at me! I ran in and grabbed my camera and was able to get one shot before the left two flew off!! They were way up in the top of this fir tree, its probably about 40 feet tall. They are Crows.

And these little guys! I hadnt realized that Hummingbirds dont always migrate in the Winter. I have been feeding these all season!! They still fight and carry on and chase each other around. Cant tell if its a male or female, dont know either if they have a Winter plumage. I believe they are Rufus Hummingbirds, I havnt seen the Annas that are usually around all Summer, they are much bigger. They are draining the feeder about every two weeks.

So there are my Sunday stills for this week!!

Snow, and now lots and lots of rain! Oh Boy!

2012-01-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

This would be our lower field today. And all the "standing" water, well its moving as fast as it can given where it has to drain.

Emma on her island again!

Here is the view from by the horse trough. On the far right, the water is running over the driveway, because the culvert is not big enough to channel all the water.

Silly pony, sometimes I think she wants to be a duck. I would hope I dont have any problems with crossing water on a trail ride!!!

She is pretty cute though! LOL

She could go across to that area on the far side of her and be out of the water, but she always stands here. She has her choice, to be in a nice dry stall or out here, sometimes I lock her in so she dries out, but that makes her mad!

Surrounded by water, lots of water!!!

All that water has to go through our field, and across the neighbors and through this culvert, and into the Little Washougal River. The River is behind that house.

The white water is just to the right of the culvert, which is under water, That is all the water just coming off of the road. We are supposed to get rain for the next 7 days! It should settle down quick if we get some dry spells. The water usually drains off pretty quickly. Nuzz Muzz I wish I could send you some!!

Someone wrecked out here a couple weeks ago and took out the yellow anchor wires in the photo above and hit the telephone pole, they had to replace the pole. Hubby was out BBQing and heard it, it was to dark to see what happened, but you sure could hear it!

Snow, and horsie snow angel!!!

2012-01-18T21:47:00.000-08:00

Well in all this Winter happenings, we ended up with about 4 inches of snow. It is now 3 inches of wet wet slush. Yeck!!

Listened to the snow sliding off of the roof all morning, started around 5AM. Our House in an A frame, very steep roof.

All the trees and these poor Rhodies were all weighted down by the wet snow.

Went out to clean stalls and feed around 4:30 tonight.

Fat old mare LOL

Easy is up to something! I grabbed my camera quick, cuz you know I took it out to do chores!!

eh oh she is circling!!

And down she goes!! We are going to get a horsie snow angel!!!

She didnt go all the way over! LOL

I thought for sure that she was just going to make a big puddle where she layed.

And the shake.

Silly old girl!!

Well a very muddy snow angel!! Surprisingly she didnt have much more mud on her!

And they are all snug in the stalls with their dinner.

They all love their Beet pulp.

Now all this water has to go somewhere, the lower field in filling up!

The house.

These grey skies look like it could rain again anytime!

Winter is here. I hope it decides to leave again soon!!! But, it is January.

Snow, really?

2012-01-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

Emma standing out in the "snow" LOL The news stations have been hyping this up so much! Thats all they have been talking about, "snow is sticking" its the end of the world. Enough already!!

On another note, its funny how different settings on the camera show the snow coming down...

Or not so much. Miss Emma is back to her normal piggy self too!

Here are the first batch of memo clips. I did add a mouth to the snowman, because the first three people I showed them to, didnt know what he was doing, LOL. Thought his nose was a hat! He turned out really cute and is my favorite so far.

Waiting to get sealer sprayed on them. I like these Santa stars! And a different Santa on the memo clips.

Emma

2012-01-11T15:05:00.000-08:00

Had a nerve wracking evening. Went out to feed last night, brought the horses in, fed them as usual. Emma wouldnt eat. Now if you know this horse, that is not a good thing! I pulled her feed and caught her. I then took her out to see if she was interested in grass at all and walked her some. No go, all she would do is push at the grass. This mare has never refused food in her life! In fact its hard to keep her out of the fresh grass when I take her out in the yard to hose her off or whatever. She stretched a little and peed while I had her out. I brought her back in and locked her outside gate, she usually comes and goes as she pleases.

hmmmmm I made the commitment to call the vet. I dont have any banamin on hand. We have a new vet in town, she recently graduated from vet school, oh, in the last 2-3 years. She is a really nice person and a horse person. So I asked her to come down, she got here and evaluated Em and gave her a shot of banamin and listened to her gut, took her pulse, etc. (not necessarily in that order). Emma wasnt bad enough to warrant tubing her, so we left it at that. She said it was ok to give her her hay. so I did. It was around 7:30pm by this time. The vet only charged me $70. which I gladly paid!!! I went back out at 9:30pm, still no poop. Went back out when Hubby got home from work, at around 11:30, finally a small poop!! So I rested better! So the vets conclusion of a little gas colic was probably right!

Checked on her this morning when I fed, she was fine and ate her breakfast, she had pooped a couple more times. Still hadnt drank more than a little water. She seems good this afternoon.

I have a theory, I walked down the driveway to check the mail, and through them some apples off of the tree. Bad idea, I think the apples are fermented, hmmm. No wonder they gave her a belly ache. duh.
I googled whether apples can ferment on the tree, and what came up was a zillion stories about drunken Moose and Elk, from eating old apples, hhhhhmmmm again. Well that wont happen again!!! ever!!!!
Live and learn, at least nothing bad happened. So I am passing this lesson on to all you horse people.

So this is what I have been up to....

2012-01-08T22:52:00.000-08:00

A long post!!

I have started doing my artwork again. I plan on selling at the local High School Christmas Bazaar this year.
So I have 11 months to build up an inventory!!
This is my studio area. The desk is one that my Father in law made when he was in High School in the '40's.
I wanted a more friendly area to work on, Hubby found me a piece of glass, which I love, easy to clean up.
My Dad come over today and put a removable top covered with Formica on it for me!! He spent about 5 hours doing this for me today!!! Thanks Dad.
I cleaned all my stuff off of the desk so the top could go on.

The top is wonderful!!! huge! I love it. I wanted four inches over the right side so I could fix my magnify lamp onto it. It also extends about 8 inches over the back, clear to the wall. I forgot to take a pic before I started putting all my stuff back onto it! LOL I was pretty excited.

My view behind me of my storage and staging area. I have since cleaned most of the books from that shelf and have my things on it now too.

And the view to the right, down the stairs, LOL, the puppies wondering why its taking me so long to come down and feed them their dinner.

The shelf all cleaned off and used for my storage area now. We bought a great big package of those plastic boxes at Costco, to store all my completed stuff in.

This is the project I completed last night. I think these are so cute. I used a pattern Idea for the reindeer, the back is what I call "money strokes" LOL a way to finish them off so they are special, making them my own design. The original pattern doesnt do anything to the backs.

This is how they start out, a huge 6" memo clip.

And now I will show what I have done so far.
Let me know what you think. What you like and dont like! Its been awhile since I have done bazaars, so I want a feel for what people like.
This first one is a giant light bulb, about 10 inches in length.

I really liked how the Santa stars turned out. The hangers were a clearance find at Joanns fabrics. I love them, they finish the ornaments nicely!

The Santa stars where another clearance find, they were blank stars and I painted the Santas on them. I would love to find a lot more of these! There was only a package of six. The other ones came in a package of 12. I gave some away at Christmas.

The bear is holding a hand stitched quilt.

These are my first Santas that I painted in November.

An Angel. I shopped the craft stores for sales just before Christmas.

The star above is a little box, the sides are painted too.

When I was going through all the old Christmas stuff we got out of the attic, I found this box of clothespins. They are vintage!! LOL I really dont know how old they are, but they made really cute reindeer! That is the box they were in! I had enough to make nine, it take 3 each.

These are keepsakes, that I probably wont sell. They are made out of vintage Christmas cards that Hubbys Grandma collected over the years. She will be 99, in May. Most of them are from the '70's and '80's. I had gotten some cardboard blanks that they are decoupaged onto. This is one side....

and the flip side.

I thought they turned out rather cute, a use for old Christmas cards!
These are smaller, couldnt find enough cards big enough for my blanks, but I found a lot that I really liked, I still have to decoupage them. Front....

and back.

And last but not least! I got to use my new desk! This is the one I painted tonight. About 4 coats of paint to cover, I did seal them! Still took a lot of paint. First color coat.

The backs of this one. I stayed with the same theme as on the front, the star in the word Joy.

Finished front and back. I need to clear coat them and then reassemble them.

A snowman is next!! So I guess this is one reason I have been scarce lately!! But I am keeping busy and having fun!!

Late Christmas post!

2012-01-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

We had a good Christmas Eve celebration at my Mom and Dads.

Hubby and I found a 21 lb prime rib roast!!!

It sure was good, and as you will see we made short work of it!! LOL

My Dad.

And Mom! (HI Mom he he he he)

Nicely sliced.

The gravy! gotta have gravy! Moms china pattern, that her Mom gave to her. I have found pieces and almost a whole set to had to her set. The pattern is called "Golden Raphsody".

A big dent in that there piece of cow!!

Empty plates and full tummys!

Sister inlaw, petting Dads cat Bugs. She used to have his sister, lost her a couple years ago.

Meghan made one of her decadent desserts!! Caramel Apple Cheesecake!!!

Meg, and Mom.

Meg and Marques. (My Moms paintings on the wall behind them).

My folks have some of my artwork up on their living room wall.

These cute deer sit on the hearth, they always make me smile!

Mom and Dads Christmas tree.

Hubby after opening our stockings and passing out presents. New hat, and blanket! After all that food he was ready for a nap!! LOL

And this was our tree this year, after "Santa" filled the stockings. The dogs stockings are up on the tree so they wouldnt get into them! LOL naughty kids! We had a really nice holiday. I was very lax in taking pictures.
We didnt do a thing for New Years, Hubby worked graveyard and I was home alone with the pups! Nice and quiet though!! LOL
I have a new project I have started and will work on all year! Post to come soon!

Sunday stills....

2012-01-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

The challenge for Sunday Stills is to post your favorite photo from 2011 and your photographic hopes for 2012.

Well I havnt posted a lot this month. Just an end of the year slow down I think.
This is a good post to start out the New Year.

This is the sunrise out our back door on this New Years day, 2012.
We are supposed to post our favorite picture from 2011. I will get to that, why, because every picture I take is my new favorite! The colors of this sunrise only lasted a few minutes, but if you are there to capture it, its a special thing. I dont talk about it much, my car wreck, and my brain tumor surgery. Those things have changed how I percieve my life, I came so close to not being here to participate in its joys and trials. So as I say every photo is my new favorite, it means that I am here, and able to take that photo, and enjoy this life!

As I took the first photo, I look down and see, the mares are waiting for their breakfast. In that black hole in the middle would be Mickey!
An hour or so later as I walk into the barn, with my camera I see this. "Mom what the heck are you doing!! Feed me." My 1200lb Appaloosa, who thinks she is a Shetland pony, stands on her gate demanding breakfast. The bottom rungs of her gate are flat from her standing on it, little brat. The Shetland we had, she did the same thing, only she wasnt heavy enough to flatten the tube on the gate.

And these two Characters....

They are always talking dirty !! But they really are attached to each other!

Meanwhile on the other side of the barn, Emma is nodding her head up and down and nickering to me, demanding breakfast!

And finally this is one of my favorite shots from last Winter. It amuses me, LOL It may not be the best photo I have ever taken, but.... Emma on her island.

My hopes for picture taking for the New Year, I just want to keep taking them!

And I want to participate in Sunday Stills, a lot more!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!!

Dublin and Max are ready for Christmas!

2011-12-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, from Dublin and Max, and the Hunter family!

Carol bought the horse!!!! and a funny quote!!

2011-12-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

So my friend Carol has a new partner!!! I am so happy for her. The mare passed the vet check tonight and Carol is going to pick her up tomorrow and take her home!!!

They will have many good years together!!

OK Meghan and I went to the Worlds largest Christmas Bazaar in Portland today. We wandered up and down the isles and bought a few things (Barbra Storys Rum Cakes! OMG soooo good)
I am headed down this isle, following Meghan and I look up at this booth that has wooden signs. (I forgot the camera, again, and my wheeled bag).
OK, on this one sign is printed the words,
"Sometimes your knight in shining armor is just a retard in tin foil"
OMG I laughed and laughed about this for the rest of the day!! LOL Just had to share :o)
My Hubby actually found it pretty amusing too!

Missing Career changed Guide dog pup!

2011-11-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Hello folks near Portland, Oregon: Please help us find Jamaica, a career change dog that has gone missing. Jamaica is a female black Lab, and was last seen on 11/19 at 10PM in the Charbonneau area, just south of Wilsonville. Her tattoo number is 47VO. She has white hairs on her stomach and weighs 50 lbs. If you have any info or leads, please call Andy Fitzgerald at 510-418-9863. Please help us spread the word!

These dogs are worth their weight in gold!!! They are so sweet and have great kind personalities!!!

Looking for a new horse....

2011-11-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

Ha ha, not me! LOL
But my friend Carol.
This little mare is up at my Sister in-laws boarding and lesson barn. Her name is Jazzy and she is a Rocky Mountain horse. Jazzy will be 5 in Feb. Carol is looking for her next and probably, last riding horse. As she freely admits!! and should be proud of, she is 67, this year! She wants something gaited that will be easy on her back. Carol rode her in the arena, and Jazzy offered up several different gaits!!! even though Carol doesnt know yet how to keep her in them. And we dont think Jazzy has been taught to gait properly yet. Its awesome that she is doing it naturally!!! She offered a running walk, another gait where she stepped under more and lifted her front feet more, she also trotted, paced (oops lol) and she cantered. So we seen two gaits, the pace I do not think is desirable, I want to do some more reading on the gaits of Rockys.

Carol rode her all over the back yard too, and introduced her to the goats, which she has not met before. She just stared at them! She seems to be a very quiet, level headed girl. She gives her feet willingly too.
She had not been ridden in 2-3 months, took the saddle and cinching quietly to.
Jazzy is a pretty Silver Dapple or Chocolate color. I did advise Carol to have her vet checked, as Chocolate Rockys can have an inherited eye disease, that is found only in heterozygous chocolates.

I am hoping that they well make a good match. It sure seems so, so far!!! The mare was really good for Carol and she is a people loving horse too! Also she was really easy to handle from the ground, and very respectful of space. Carol is taking her daughter up to see Jazzy. I was proud of Carol, she got on and put her through her paces, with a little encouragement! LOL Carol also admits that she has been riding since she was 12 years old, but has never had a formal lesson. She needs a few lessons and she will be just fine!! She wants to find a gaited horse, trainer.

I dont know what she has decided yet. I will let you all know!!

Our wounded warrior, makes it home for Thanksgiving....

2011-11-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

A really long post!!!!

We went to Corys home instead of going across the river to the airport. We waited about an hour and finally got the word through some of this group of veterans. The plane had touched down at 3:36Pm. It had been a special charter donated by a group that does this for vets, the local pilot even donated her time. The VFW paid for the car to drive Cory and his Mom to the house.

The front of the house. Another veterans help group, donated their time and materials to retrofit the house, bathroom, etc., so that Cory can get around inside easier.

It was pretty cold! But at least it didnt rain1!!!! That is my Hubby in the black vest, Meghan, and my Mom with the red blanket.

Meghan got interviewed by the Columbian newspaper. The Columbian videos Here is the link to one of the stories that this reporter did. It is good.

Marques holding a flag. The VFW provided all of the flags.

The house is behind that little red maple tree.

This little guy was so cute, and posed for me!!

Channel 12 and 6 news.

Waiting, waiting.

Here they come!!!!

The Patriot Guard escorted them all the way from the airport home!!! This group does absolutely wonderful things!!!

One of the things that they do, is provide an honor guard for soldiers at their burials, it is very moving. They quietly surround the cemetery and will not let any hecklers or others disturb the ceremony. If it happens, they quietly, escort them away. They are awesome. But this is a much much happier occasion!!!!

Thats them!

The man in the plaid jacket is Corys Dad.

That is Cory just to the left of his Dad in the plaid.

The first time Dad seen his new leg, in person.

Cory and Dad.

That is Corys Mom in the dark brown jacket, Cory and Dad. This young soldier gave a very moving speach. He asked us all to not forget his unit still in Afganistan and the three that didnt make it.

Then this young man waded into the crowd, and shook everyones hand and talked to almost everyone. He is a great person.

At the end of his speech he looked up and said, "Wow! Thats a lot of flags" LOL

The Vancouver policeman in front of him is his brother in law.

The Patriot Guard standing in the driveway.

He must have talked to people for 45 min or so!!!!

The Guard had really neat bikes!!! Trikes LOL

A group of younger vets getting their picture taken with Cory.

Two or three of the bikes were lit up!! This one in purple.

I liked the blue one!

One of those backwards trikes!

And we headed home. This was a great experience. I am so glad that Cory got to come home, in more ways than one.

Thank you Cory.

I have to share this wonderful happening!!!

2011-11-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

This is about a young friend of ours. The letter explains all!!!
I bawled when I read it!!
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
**I got this from several sources that I know. Please come and support Cory and his family!!**Lynn Vaughn, SW Washington Ride Captain will be leading the Patriot Riders for this event and several of us here will be there to welcome home Cory along the route.

TIME: 2:30-3:30pm

DATE: 18 November 2011 (Friday)

LOCATION: 13814 SE 23 rd Circle (Cascade Park), Vancouver, WA

PFC Cory Doane (son of Rhonda Doane) was serving our country in Afghanistan in July 2011 when an IED exploded directly underneath him. The bomb caused multiple internal injuries and ultimately the loss of Cory’s right leg. Rhonda flew to Walter Reed Army Hospital and has remained with Cory throughout his 16 surgeries (thus far) and assists him with his rehabilitation process. Individual and organizational donations have allowed Rhonda to remain with Cory and also volunteers have prepared the home of Rhonda/Cory to be ADA suitable to ensure Cory is comfortable.

Walter Reed Army Hospital has authorized Cory to come home for the first time since he sustained his injuries, to celebrate Thanksgiving. He must return afterwards for further treatments.

Some airline pilots heard about Cory and have volunteered to fly Cory and his mother Rhonda home for Thanksgiving on a private chartered jet due to arrive at the Flightcraft center of Portland Airport at 2:30pm on the 18 th of November 2011.

The Patriot Guard Riders will greet Cory and Rhonda at the airport and escort them to the family residence for a Surprise Welcome Home Party. Friends, Family and Community Citizens are asked to be at the residence to welcome Cory Home. Bring US Flags if you have them and we will line the street showing how much we care about this true hero that has given so much for our country.

Here is the route we will take to bring Cory and Rhonda home from PDX if community wishes to honor him along the way:

Route we will be taking from PDX will be I-205 to Mill Plain Blvd East.

Right onto Chkalov Dr

Left onto McGillvray Blvd

Right onto Talton Ave

Left onto Angus which curves left onto SE 139th Ave

1 block on left is SE 23rd Cir (Cul-De-Sac)

Participants will need to park on SE 139th Ave or Angus (only one block away from residence)

Again, we should be arriving at the residence anytime from 2:45-3:30pm but be a little flexible on this time please.

Someone will be at the residence at 2:30 pm to direct you where would be the best place to stand in honor of this home town Hero !

Please pass this email around to all your friends and acquaintances in our area that may have the opportunity to honor this hero..

Elisa Cotton / NMLS#86692

Team Coordinator for Michael Frakes

NMLS#71539

Creekside Mortgage

360-571-5626 x 115

360-326-1672 Fax

CSM_logo_4color_WEB_ONLY

Like us on Facebook!!

Extreme trail 2....

2011-11-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

Second post.

Carol had seen an ad for a 14 year old T.Walker mare that was with Mark Bolender, for sale.

We went and found her. Some other people were looking at her, so we got to see her move and see how she handled a little bit. First thing I seen was she jerked both her front and hind foot out of the guys hand, when he asked her for her foot. She was splay toed, fetlocks in, knees bent sideways, ???. Very poor front leg conformation. A 14 year old mare that had bad conformation for $3400. ummmm I dont think so. There are a lot more horses out there that have good minds and decent conformation for less $$. So what if she had been with the trainer for a little while. With that conformation she is sure to get arthritic knees, soon. I didnt get a photo, there was to much going on.

This is a close up of the balance beam.

The riders had to go to the far right, against the wall here, a lot of horses stumbled over this one.

Warning!! Extreme cuteness ahead!!!! This is how we first spotted this little guy.

He was so adorable!

And so little!!!!

But he went UP and Over!!

Fun!

He did ok on the balance beam, if the handler had just let him walk on it instead of trying to hold him on it, I think he would have just walked along. She held him real tight and tried to hold him on the beam.

He was very willing and it looks like they had fun.

An Appaloosa with cute markings. She was great in hand, but a bit of a pain, under saddle.

Her face reminded me of Emma.

More cuteness! and yes they walked through the water behind them at the top of the water fall too!!! The in hand people all wore rubber boots.

He was so good! To bad he isnt going to be big enough to ride!

The big Percheron again!

Mark Bolender, riding a clients horse. She was a pistol and wouldnt stand still, but she did the obstacles ok.

Another one for Mom! This horse looks so much like Sonny!! There were three that were this color and looked like they were at least part Arab.

We had fun, it really makes me want to try this!!
Hope you all enjoyed seeing some of it too!!!

Horse trailer trade

2011-11-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

This is my old trailer, a 1992 modle, 4 horse with full dressing room.

This is the trailer we traded for, a 2000 trails west, 2 horse slant with a dressing room

It is pretty cool, I prefer the white but wont show the moss so bad, LOL.

She has some rust spots that need touching up, and tweeking to get it how I want it, but that will be a fun project.

I am happy, the 4 horse was way to much for just me, I only have two rideable horses now. The gal I traded with between her and her sister they have 9 horses, so they should get good use out of it.

Extreme trail NW Nationals, Eugene, OR.

2011-11-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

I went to Eugene, Or. Sunday with my favorite ladies. Carol and Judy. Carol drove her fancy new Subaru, with an in dash GPS.

When you first walk in Mark Bolender has his booth. He competes, trains horses for, builds extreme trail courses all over the world! US, Germany, he said he is going to Australia soon and much more in the works! Him and his wife are very nice people too. Check out his website Unique Horsemanship, Mark Bolender

The courses are just amazing! Here is Mark on Checkers, he was going when we first got there.

He rides Checkers and his half brother bridleless in many disciplines, extreme trail, cutting, reining, etc.

There were a lot of gorgeous mules!!!

There is a large Mt. mural on the wall in the background. There are all natural obstacles.

I took a pic of one of the like 5 or 6 different patterns through the obstacles, it all depended on which classes you were taking, experience and age. That is a lot to remember!!!

Mark on Checkers waiting to go up to the waterfall crossing.

There was a guy riding a huge Draft horse.

There were at least three buttermilk buckskins that look really similar to my Moms gelding Sonny. (these pics are for you Mom).

There were a couple of Halflingers.

The full arena from the end.

Checkers is an amazing horse to watch, it helps that he is really cute too! LOL His expressions and intelligence are really fun to watch.

He sidepassed to the left, between all these poles, bridleless.....

A few steps forward and sidepass the rest of the way.

See the waterfall Mt. in the back corner.

There are ditches and holes filled with water. There is a giant pond beside this rider.

A Bridge.

Carefully picking the way through the rocks.

Another Mule. This is the balance beam obstacle, it is 18" wide, beveled to 16", Mark told us. A lot of the animals walked on it, a lot didnt. This Mule did awesome.

Lunch break. We went to the restaurant and had lunch and they have a live feed of what is going on in the arena, pretty cool.

I had chick strips and fries.

Part 2 to come!!!

Big Buck!!

2011-11-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had these two come trough the pasture.

This morning I filled the Hummingbird feeder and spotted this guy. Daddy is visiting now!

He is a nice 3x3, no eyegaurds.

He was eating apples.

When I went out to feed the mares, he was still there.

His neck is swollen, he is in rut.

He is a pretty boy, we guess that he is about 2 years old.

He was peeking at me when I walked back to the house.

He is a nice big bodied deer. Would have been a nice one in the freezer! Deer season is closed now.

This is how close he is to the house. Just to the right of that yellow bottle.

See him? Whether you harvest them or not its nice to see them.

The girls are getting beet pulp now that it is cold out. Emma loves her beet pulp! LOL She was raised on it from the time she was foaled.

Easy was having a problem with watery stool, formed balls, but a lot of water. Messy, I was having to hose her off every day, yeck. I started her on Fastrack, probiotic, an there was no change. I decided to start them on the beet pulp, soaked of course, again and her loose stool cleared up almost immediately!! I was so glad! Its getting to cold to keep having to wash her off. She is looking pretty good, old lady, she will be 27, in March.

And the other fat old mare. One thing about Mickey is she has always been an easy keeper, she loves her beet pulp too! I like to feed it when its cold to give them more moisture in the gut, so I can hopefully prevent cold weather colic. They tend to not drink as much when its cold.

And the beet pulp. I soak 8 cups in about 20 cups of warm water. The cup in there is a 24oz sour cream container, Easy gets 4 of those, the other two get two each.

Do you know what happens when the Labrador gets into dry beet pulp pellets. Yeah....
When Hubby got home from work at 7 am day before yesterday, Dublin had pooped in two spots, Hubby said "it looks like coffee grounds!" I said oh no!! The little shit has been eating the beet pulp!!! (sigh) Needless to say I now have a lid on the bucket!!!!! Always put a lid on the bucket!!! Max would have been in it too, but he is to short to reach in the bucket!!! LOL
I spent two hours shampooing the living room carpet that morning!!

Silver and a trade!!!

2011-11-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I went the the Portland, Antiques and collectibles show last Sat. We had fun, lots of stuff to look at. we didnt find anything that we couldnt live without. A lot of stuff that we had, but isnt worth much LOL. These two pics are the only ones I took, and of course they are a horse stuff!! LOL This absolutely gorgeous silver parade saddle, caught my eye. The Indian head detail! Wow, it is supposed to be one of the rarer silver saddles out there!

I snuck the pictures, with my Iphone, didnt know it the owner would want me taking pics of it. These old saddles are so beautiful, especially in person. When I was a kid growing up the neighbor lady had her husbands old silver parade saddle in her basement. We used to ask her to go down and see it! She passed away, I never knew what happened to that saddle. Her husbands name is Jim Croswell and he rode an Appaloosa stud named Polar Star in the '60's. She had a display case full of his ribbons and trophies. Wonderful daydream memories for a little girl. (Maybe thats where I got my love of Appaloosas?
The tappaderos on the saddle were solid silver with the Indian head on them too. You could tell this is very old when you looked close at it. You can see a head on the saddle horn too.

Its one of those things "If you have to ask, you cant afford it" LOL LOL

We are making a trade!!!!!! I am sooooo excited! I currently have a 1992 Circle J, 4 horse slant load trailer with a full tack room in front. Well Meghan was talking to a gal at work, and her sister has been trying to find someone to trade her trailer with for over a year. I still cant believe it!!! Hers is a 2000 Thuro-Bilt, 2 horse slant load, with the full dressing room! We are going to do a straight across trade!!!! Wooo Hoooo!!
I do not need a 4 horse trailer anymore! I have been going through trailers on the internet and its really hard to find anyone that wants to trade to one that big! I left the ad she had posted in the garage, I went out to find it and no piece of paper anywhere, hmmmm. If I find it I will post the picture!!! (Hubby is sleeping, working graveyard shift, so I will ask him when he gets up!!!!
I cant wait to put my fat butt Appy into our new trailer and go ride!!! ( it is an extra wide and tall, with oversize axles, etc.) I am so happy, we are going to go do the paperwork on Saturday!!!
The only thing wrong with mine is it needs new tires, and the floor in the back needs to be replaced. She said they have rebuilt a few so that didnt bother them at all! It has a little surface rust but no cancer at all!!!
Hers has some surface rust and scratches on the back door, and a few other little things.
I am happy!!!!

Things in strange places....

2011-10-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

We went for a drive on Tuesday, we were way out 20 miles from nowhere, and what is parked beside the road!!

Weird huh! LOL

Archives, well, some found old photographs!!!!

2011-10-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Some of my blogger friends have been posting archived pictures. Well I can say these are not archived! But newly found!! LOL LOL

I found some pictures of Meghan and her favorite pony! Sugar. We got Sugar for her when she was about 6 years old. Sugar was 4. I know that is young with young and that doesnt always work. In this case it did work. Sugar did come with lots of baggage. Her last owner, well the Dad, had beat on her and forced her to do what he wanted, she was saddle broke, although she had a bucking problem for awhile. They put my nephew on her with spurs to get her to quit. She was a very sweet pony. She was just big enough I could rider her bareback. She was about 12H, and that beautiful Silver Dapple color. I schooled her on the ground a lot, found out she was terrified of the lunge whip. She would run and run and you would have to reel her in until you could get a hold of her. She also hated baths! LOL But that white mane and tail were absolutely gorgeous after they were whitened and cleaned.

We worked through all that. Meghan rode her for three years at the 4-H fair, as a junior. She got blue ribbons on her. She rode Western Eq., Bareback Eq., Hunt Eq., trail, Showmanship, and they did gaming. That little pony would do it all! LOL she did have some Shetland attitude at times, and Meghan rode her with a little pair of nub spurs, but that was all she needed. ( she only bucked Meg off one time! LOL and Meg fell off one time waiting in line after being judged for bareback class, she was wiping the dirt off of her butt LOL and Sugar moved and she slid off! LOL In front of the whole grandstands full of people! LOL LOL)

She had the cutest little fuzzy butt!!! LOL She was not perfect conformation, but she was OK.
I ended up selling her, after Meg outgrew her. Sugar was only 7 when we sold her, she had a lot of kids to raise!!! Sadly I sold her to someone who was a regular at the feed store I worked at. I thought they were knowledgeable, well not so much. They cowboyed her and she fell back to the fear response she had before we got her, scraped their son off on a fencepost (sigh). Poor baby. What can you do after the fact. I sure wish I knew where she was now. The people I sold her to had her less than a year, and didnt tell me they were selling her again. I hope she went to someone kind and has had a good life. She would be 16 now. Little Sugar Booger, she was a fun pony!

That little saddle in the background, I found it at a garage sale for $2, yes $2!!! LOL The tree was not broken and it needed a little TLC, stirrup fixed and such. LOL my sister in law has it now as decor in her house!

The latest project....

2011-10-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I went garage sale-ing a couple weeks ago. We found some bar stools for the kids. The guy had them marked $15 each, and Hubby offered them $20 for both, and he took it. So that caused

(he he he he) a trip to Joanns Fabrics. Where I picked out this fabric. Megs didnt like it much at first, but they had bought a solid brown couch, and I thought that this material would look good with it. I bought enough material, two yards, to cover the seats of the stools and make two 14" pillows.

I googled making a 14" pillow cover and found this simple easy peasy pillow cover pattern.

Cut them out and sewed them together.

One pillow done.

Sewing the fold side of the edge.

Finished case before putting a pillow in.

After the pillow is put in you can see the fold on the back. This was the easiest pattern! I had 14" pillow forms. Cut the face piece the same size as the pillow. For the back cut two pieces 14" tall x 10 inches wide. Hem the fold edges in the middle. Put right sides together and sew. I used about a 3/8 seam. Cut the corners, and turn right side out. Put pillow in the case. The pattern said that you can adapt this to any size pillow, just leave about a 4" overlap on the back two pieces. I hope I covered it all!

And two finished pillows, it took me maybe an hour to do two of them.

Megs was happy! LOL

This shows the pattern on the seat of the stools.

Here are the bar stools. I even made the patterns match on them!

And a full view, we found these same chairs at Bed Bath and Beyond for $69.99 each!! Score!!!

This is the best sewing machine ever. It has done a lot of projects for me. My Mom gave it to me years ago. I will never give it up!!! LOL

Passing of a great horseman....

2011-09-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

An old friend died Wednesday morning. Dick Osborn. He spent his life riding and training horses and running a boarding stable. He gave lessons to young and old. In his youth he rode cutting horses.

This picture is of Holly, Dewey (his dog) and Dick, around 1995-96, taking a break at Bear Lake in the Indian Heaven wilderness, here in Washington State. I really enjoyed that day riding with Dick, his ready smile and his pipe, his faithful dog, and beautiful Holly.

My first memory of Dick is when I was about seven years old. My Dad was a farrier back then, and he had taken me out to the job with him that day. Dad was to put shoes on Dicks cutting gelding, Hoppy. I still remember Hoppy tied to the hitching rail in front of the red barn. Hoppy was a little blood bay, all of 14 hands.

I remember Dick telling me that day to "Stay away from that mule, he kicks" There was a big white mule tied to a rail by the old old big white wooden barn. This barn has long been torn down to make room for the boarding stables that were Dicks lively hood.

I also remember going inside the red barn and seeing Dicks photos and awards on the wall, by the door to the tack room. A young child dreams of the things in those photos.

In later years my sister and I would venture back out to Whipple Creek Riding stables. My sister and her husband at the time, worked the boarding stable for Dick. Her ex is still there. I kept a horse there for around 8 months, cleaned 23 stalls a day to earn my board, with baby Meghan in a backpack on my back. That horse is Easy, our 26 year old mare. I also bought Mickey there, she is the daughter of Dicks stud, Hollywoods Dynamo. Son as he is called, is the son of Hollywood Gold Bar, a famous cutting stallion. Son is 32 years old now. Holly, the mare in the above photo is one of Sons foals.

I always loved Dicks quiet ways, he was quite the hand with a horse, and always quiet and kind.
I wish I could share all the wonderful pictures in my head that I have of him and his horses. Son has a very strong Palomino gene, I know of only 3-4 foals, out of at least 30, that were not Palomino.

My Mom bred her mare to a buckskin stallion Dick owned and later sold, only to get him back, to starved to save. Moms mare had Dusty when I was 8 years old, the first foal I had seen born, in our pasture. My Moms Creamello gelding is out of Dusty and Son.

I think its amazing to think about how long that I knew Dick, 37 years! He will be missed.

Rest in peace dear friend, ride the trails and that winning cutting horse again. You are now with your Hoppy and your Dewey.

All my love.

Meet Cecil....

2011-09-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

This is one of my oldest friends, Patti, and her new little boy, Cecil. She is my friend I have posted about before that had Cecil at 44! She sure looks good and Cecil is very healthy and a beautiful baby!

He is such a cutie!

This is a little blurry, but I love how he looks at his Mama, he is Mamas boy!!

And me with Cecil, I really enjoyed visiting with them, and meeting little Cecil for the first time!

Troubles....is it just me? I just dont get it.

2011-09-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

I have a problem, at least I think its a problem.
We live on the same property as my husbands oldest brother. I have asked him twice to not feed my horses. Again today I seen him walk out and dump corn husks over the fence. He has never had horses or even been around them until he came to live here. My girls are fat and happy, and I do give them corn stalks when we grow them on the place. I do not feed them store bought corn husks, because of all the chemicals and mold. Another time, this Summer, I found where he had tossed out in the field a bucket of old rotten apples. And a couple days ago I found a pile of moldy corn husks. Come on already! I have explained to him that I cant afford that vet bill! when they colic over spoiled food??? They didnt eat them, I threw them back over the fence.
So I have asked him twice, how do I impress upon him that I dont want him feeding them garbage? I have told him that they are not cows and cant eat like a cow. I just dont understand. I want to know what they are getting and when, I am really picky about that.
I need ideas, or I am going to go postal on him! I was so upset and shaking when I seen him do that today. Hubby he just shakes his head. I am going to have to ask him to say something too.

Do I really have to put signs up that say "Dont feed the horses" on property they have been on for 20 years!!!!

The many ears of Max....

2011-09-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Oh Max, he has many ear "styles"!!

The one ear back, on forward pose....

The Taco Bell Chihuahua, flying ears look.... "Yo quiero Taco Bell??"

The folded ear soft look....

And the double inside out ear look....

He is so funny, and he has quit the ears!!!! LOL LOL And check out those front legs! LOL He really is 50/50 Chihuahua/Dauchshund!!!

I hate rabbits!!.....

2011-09-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Which means, usually, you dont like the smoke from the campfire in your face! In this case its one great big campfire!! There are several forest fires East of us, and the Columbia Gorge is doing its thing and acting like a funnel! Bringing all the smoke down river and into the Portland area. I borrowed this picture from a local news website. This fire is on the skirts of Mt. Hood.

You can smell the smoke in the air.

And it makes your eyes sticky.

This is what the sun looked like this afternoon. It gives everything an eerie orange glow.

And more smoke!

Hubby smoked us some briskets for my Dads 65th birthday! Wow did they turn out gooooood!!!!
I didnt take any picture this afternoon of the party! Silly me!

Eye candy, Oh my....

2011-09-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

I surprised my Mom with a trip to Lindas Dahlias Wednesday. I told her I would pick her up, wear walking shoes, but I wouldnt tell her where we were going! LOL

I picked us up a Chai tea at Starbucks before I picked her up.

Dahlias are my favorite flower. They are so magnificent, and tons of colors and shapes. It was a good day to take pictures, it was just a little rainy, so there were drops of water on the flowers.

The varigated, stripped ones are my favorite.

These are little Pom pons, about the size of a golf ball.

Purple or lavender are my favorite colors.

Mom liked all the blush/ melon ones.

They are so striking, it was so much fun to see what they have this year, a lot of different ones.

They are all named too, but there is no way that I would remember all of them!!

Some of the colors just glow, like this pink one with yellow in the middle.

Some are just so fun and happy!

This is one of my favorites! Creamy yellow to lavender tips!!

Another one that glows!

There are smooth petals, curled, split and everything in between! And all of the shapes of the flowers have names.

I do remember this one, its called Jokers Wild! the white spots on the flowers are random, you can have one like this or one that is half red and half white or with just a few petals that are white, its so cool! Mom and I both ordered this bulb.

This one is one of my favorites too!! Or are all of them!! LOL

This one isnt real clear, but the anemone ones were some of Moms favorites!!

These are called Collette, or colleret, after the ring around the center I think. These I love too! LOL

So many colors!

This one is so cool!

I have a lot more to share!! LOL I will post a few more another time. If you want to look through the online catalog here is Lindas Dahlias website. We had a lot of fun! Thanks for going Mom! The owners, Linda and her husband Bob, are old neighbors of ours too! So it was fun visiting!

Huckleberries and Fish....

2011-08-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I went up on the Mtn. again. We went up to meet my Mom and Dad, they are up camping and fishing and picking huckleberries. We went back up to Goose Lake, this time my Dad has a boat. We finally found them, way out on the lake. I zoomed in for this first one.

Here is better perspective as to how far out they were! Its so absolutely quiet up there that I yelled their name and they heard us.

There were 6-8 boats and bellyboats out on the lake.

So they putted over to where we were. No gas motors allowed on this lake, they have a little electric motor that Hubby gave Dad, and he got going again. Works great for that little boat. Needless to say they were bright enough colored to see across the lake! LOL LOL

Hubby and Dad went back out fishing and Mom and I went and picked berries. This is one of the berry "fields".

Here is my Mom through the trees LOL LOL. if she didnt have orange on, she would be really hard to see!! Thats why Washington has a hunter orange law during hunting season.

These cute tiny white flowers were covering the ground under the bushes.

Huckleberries!!!!!!

There were a lot of berries, but not super thick. Between the two of us we picked about a half gallon in two hours. Mom gave me what she picked!! Thanks Mom! This is a Lupine, hard to see with the background. There are still an abundance of wildflowers up there.

And Hubby!!!! They caught fisshheeess!! Hubby caught 5, and Dad caught 4, 5 is the limit. Hubby got one really nice Brown trout about 15-16" long!! Most were about 10-12". There were mostly Browns, and a few Cutthroat.

The beautiful bowl of Huckleberries!!! I will let them dry and then measure 3 cups for a pie and freeze them.

If you have never had Huckleberries, I highly recommend them!!! They are so much more flavorful than Blueberries! They are so worth going up and spending hours picking, in my book!!! Hubby, he likes to eat them, but he hates picking them!!! LOL They have a red/purple juice and stain your fingers purple when you pick them. mmmm mmmmm I love Huckleberries!!!

Apples and Zucchini....

2011-08-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Apples and zucchini, oh my!!! Well I am going to admit it is Summer now!!! We had our first 90 degree day for the year yesterday!!! We reached 96!!! I have a lot of apples right now and the zucchini is coming on, taking up counter space! soon in buckets!! LOL (Dang I missed "National sneak a zucchini onto you neighbors porch day") LOL LOL Hubby and I picked 6 grocery bags of apples off of the tree in the front yard. I think they may be Gravenstines, but I dont remember for sure. Tart like a Granny Smith, but much softer and clearer skin. I put the apple pealer, corer, slicer to good use. Whomever invented this little machine is a Saint!!! LOL LOL

I processed a lot of apples! Still have two bags!!!

Hubby and I canned apple pie filling! Cant wait to see how it turned out. We had one jar break, so only got six quarts. It takes two quarts to make a 9" pie the recipe says.

Hubby had to buy a new water bath canner, as the one we have is older than the hills! LOL

OH the plethora of zucchini!! LOL I love it in everything, scrambles eggs, zucchini bread, just sliced with blue cheese dressing and sunflower seeds on it is my favorite, at the moment!

I prefer to pick them the size of the smaller one at the bottom, but they have a way of getting away from you! And hiding when you pick! LOL The small size is a perfect single serving, salad size.

Made two Zucchini bread loaves, but that took a meager 2 cups of shredded squash! I really wish Zucchini would can well, I tried it, but its most suitable pureed as a soup base, its so soft.

And I am waiting for the Apple Butter to reduce down! Its almost ready and then I will can it up!

Maybe I will make more when I see how much this batch does. It took 4lbs of apples.
Until next time!!!

Chickens and Dahlias....

2011-08-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

We have had a small flock of chickens roaming around, they belong to the next door neighbor. It all started a couple months ago with this guy! One day I was feeding him on the front porch, the next I was chasing him out of the garden with the BB gun, LOL. He was so nice as to scratch the seeds that I had just planted out of the ground.

Him and his Mrs. now have a whole passel of babies! At the most I have counted 13! Today I counted 11, I will see how many I see tonight when I feed the horses.

Thats Mama on the left the third one from the fence post.

The little critters are so fast, that it takes a few times to be able to count them! They just keep moving! LOL

I know Mama is a Bantam, Mr. must be too, he is not a full size rooster, but he is pretty big, at least 3 times her size.

Mama and 5 of the chicks.

Mr. peeking at me through the bushes.

Its so funny to listen to them with the chicks, Mr. or Mrs. find something interesting and they cluck and cluck, and 3 or 4 babies will come running over to see what they found.

The zucchini plants behind him are the seeds that he so wonderfully scratched out of the ground a few months ago, LOL. He cant hurt them now.

My Dahlias are finally blooming! This one is so much darker than the picture shows!

This one, the plant is 6 feet tall!!! I love the color! I cant wait for the others to bloom. There are 4 out of 16 that have bloomed so far, I got a late start with all of our rain this Spring, getting them planted.

Dahlias come in so many colors!

This is my biggest tomato plants. I have two in the pot, a cherry "Black" and a regular "Black" They are similar to the "Cherokee Purple" that is my favorite heirloom tomato. Still waiting for them to ripen! They are putting on the fruit!

These are our hot pepper plants, there is some Rosemary in the first pot, then Tai peppers, Habeneros, Anaheim, Jalepenos, and some more Rosemary.

There is a Roma tomato and a Dahlia in this pot.

So far everything but my poor Walla walla onions are doing good. We are supposed to get some heat this weekend, maybe even 90! For the first time this year! Maybe some tomatos will ripen soon!

Thats all for now!

Stanley wins blue ribbon at Skamania fair!!!!!

2011-08-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

See Stanley way out in the middle of the picture, they put him up high! He has a good view of everything! LOL

See his little blue ribbon on his leg! LOL I still cant believe he got a blue ribbon, or is it that my sister in law took him up there!!! LOL LOL

Near him was this cool Adirondack chair, made out of old skis!! Pretty cool!!!

Watched part of a goat show, this was Jr. Dairy goats and the two girls on the right, also ride horses in LeAnns barn. ( her and her husband, Hubbys brother, have a boarding and lesson barn.)

This is the horse barn, sheesh I didnt take many pics. I am tempted to go up again tomorrow, they have a "photo at the Fair" contest every year on Sat. of the fair.

The midway, it was pretty small this year. If it wasnt for 4-H there really would be no fair up here. I believe that there is a community garden in the foreground of this photo too.

This Fair is in Stevenson, Wa. right in the heart of the Columbia Gorge scenic area. I still think its the prettiest place in the country to have a fair!!!!!

Here are a couple of photos I have taken in past years at the fair.

One of my favorites.

This last one was when Meghan, on the right and Carissa, did their Parelli demonstrations at the fair. The lighting was just so nice in the evening! I love how Meghan and Easy are naturally spotlighted in this photo.
I miss going up to fair with the girls, those were good times!

Fair!

2011-08-11T11:19:00.001-07:00

Stanley got a Blue ribbon at the Fair!!! LOL Pictures to come, going up on Friday!!!

Twenty dollar table and chairs from Goodwill....

2011-08-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I found a kitchen table at a local Goodwill, for $20! Score!! LOL I have been painting the white table a moss green, although Hubby is telling me its avacado green! LOL

It has been a lot of work, 3-4 coats of paint. The top had to be sanded down, and refinished too.

We also got two chairs for the $20! We gave our old set to Meghan for her apartment.

All painted and drying. I am now painting the chairs.

The table made it in the house and is waiting for its chairs! LOL Alas after it has cured, the top probably wont be seen very often. LOL My house is not a showplace, we live here! LOL LOL

Sitting on the table is my Dahlia schematic, which Hubby teased me about!! LOL But I wanted to know what was going to come up where!

OH! and another Stanley the giraffe update!! LOL LOL He is up at the County fair to be judged!!! LOL My Sis in law actually took him up there!!! LOL

Hay trip....

2011-08-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Went and bought hay yesterday. Waited for over a 1/2 hour for Grandpa Don to get down to the hay barns to load me. It was 9:15am, so he was probably eating breakfast, which is what he was doing Mon. morning when I went down, but all they had was alfalfa, and his son Gary was going to be in that night with a load of grass. They have their own Semi and haul hay from Eastern Oregon and Washington themselves.

It is pretty good looking hay. The girls love this fine orchard grass, there is just a little bit of alfalfa in it. The bales are about 100lbs and were $14 a bale. The stuff that I have been getting is a lot coarser and stemy, hard for Easy to eat, they clean up every blade of this stuff! There is a lot of waste with Easy and the coarse hay, she just cant chew it. The last hay I bought was $11 a bale, so this is worth a couple more dollars. Don also told me that grass may get scarce by the end of Summer, because of exporting to Japan!!! Just what we need. I would love to put up a few ton at a time, but money and man power (lack of) dont allow me to. These pics are taken from where I parked in front of the hay barns, taken from my Iphone. I usually buy 6-8 bales at a time, enough to last 2 weeks. These are 20 bales to the ton, lol easy math when they are 100lbs! LOL We only live a mile from the Dairy so its easier to let them store it! LOL Although the draw back to that is I dont always get the same kind of hay every time.

This is the Dairy. It has been here a long long time. I think Dons Dad started it and Don is 70!! Yes at 70 he still runs the tractor to load the hay. His son Gary has been running the farm for some time now, along with his younger brother. Gary's boys help out now too, they are the 4th generation on the farm!!! They are a great family too! I have been buying hay here for 20 years! I dont know how old the Dairy is exactly but it is well over 100 I am sure!!! Hows that for history!! LOL Both boys have houses on the property too, one behind the main old house in the pic, and one across the road from the hay barns, to the left of this pic.
In this last pic, the big barn on the left is the main Dairy barn, to the left of that is the silage bin. Across the road, yes the road splits the farm in two. is the main house, and more storage barns. You see the tallest barn on the left, years ago from the loft in the top of that barn there used to be a ramp that they would take teams of horses with the loads of loose hay up. The ramp ran from the loft across what is now the road, to where the drive is in front of the house!! I have seen a photo of this, I need to get a pic of the copy that my sis in law has, it was pretty darn impressive!!! I have never taken a tour of the Dairy, I see schools touring every once and awhile, I need to, it would be neat to see.

We made the cover!

2011-08-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Camas Washougal Chamber of Commerce Aug. "11 newsletter

The Float and Stanley and Pete! Made the cover of the local Chamber newsletter! LOL

A normal quiet evening feeding the girls....

2011-07-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

This would be dinner! Which they were eagerly awaiting. Mick and Emma always talk to me on my way out to the barn.

I trimmed Easys feet earlier today, she was just a little long, but now that she is older she was a little trippy with me when I rode her yesterday. Hoof parings and hair and dirt! I also clipped her bridle path, legs and chin, and combed out her tail and mane. She got the works, except for a bath!!!! LOL

Miss Emma, my girl is looking pretty good. Getting whiter every year and dare I say it!!! She is starting to get liver spots!!! in her flanks! LOL

And fatso Mickey, she has always been the easiest keeper even at 22. Its just to bad she is so lame now.

Easy coming to the gate for her dinner. I separate her because she is the only one to get grain.

She is still a good looking old girl for 26!!! I still cant believe she is that old!!! She is the same age as my oldest son. That means we have had this mare for 22 years, my Dad and Mom bought her when she was 4.

Here are her pretty toes!!! LOL She is a 00, double ought, shoe size, not that she has had shoes on in years! Meghan competed her for two years in WASET barefoot!!! I am proud of that!!!!

She is the only one to get grain/mash, I have to wet it or she drops it all over, she still drops it wet, but not as bad. Senior feed, Golden Senior.

Oh! I bought myself a new pair of boots too! With some of the money I earned from selling my extra stuff on consignment. They are Justins and a winter weight water proof boot. They are pretty comfortable! I havnt bought new boots for like 10 years!!! My old lace ups were getting pretty tired! I love the deco saddle on these, thats what I wanted on my new boots!!!

Well thats an evening out to feed the mares, I will take you along again sometime!!!

Beautiful sky and a start....

2011-07-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

the sunset was pretty last night. I noticed the clouds on fire and had to grab my camera.

Hubby thought this one looked like it had ears, LOL.

The colors were just so pretty.

Light fluffy clouds....

We had thunderstorms this morning!!! Not usual in the mornings here. The lightening strikes were really loud, started at around 3 AM!

....and a start! I rode Easy tonight, bareback, for about 15 min or so. I think I am going to have to start slow, my muscles have forgot what my memory hasnt!! I want to try to ride at least twice a week, and get back in some muscle tone, before I start riding Emma again. Its not that she is hard, and she would probably be just fine, but I guess I have to work on my confidence again! Not that Easy is a slug! Not at all she is the most push button and easy to ride horse I have. I really have to work to ride Emma because she is l a z y, LOL She does everything I ask her, but preferably at her pace. I need to be in better shape to make her mind LOL. It felt good to get on the old mare, but now I need a mounting block!!! LOL LOL

Parade Day Saturday the 23rd....

2011-07-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

Finally Parade day!!! All of our work has come together.

This is about half of the kidlets that rode in the back of the truck! They are holding the signs from one of our sponsors that loaned all the plants, and for the barn.

Left front view, you can see Pete the Python! I think there is just the right amount of plants.

I didnt get any pics except this one of the first place float, behind us, I was to busy tweeking and messing with stuff as long as I could, cuz thats how I am! LOL

Left rear corner we had a Tiki man. Anyone catch THE END symbolism? LOL LOL

The END, LOL Vulture, cow skull, there even is a little alligator skull!! LOL LeAnn picks up the darndest things from garage sales! LOL All of the greenery around the edge of the float was a $5 garage sale find!

Stanley the giraffe! and the Zebra that was loaned! We placed most of the grasses around them and the larger plants front and back. The Right front view.

Most of the kidlets, waiting and waiting, in the back of the truck.

Here is the Parrot I painted, and Bro in law in the background.

Right side back view.

We won second place in the Parade! For the second year in a row!!! All the kids and LeAnn showing off the 2nd place plaque that she got!! Georgia Pacific won first place, again! LOL They had a giraffe too!

We set up behind this colorful and full of chickens and turkeys, 4-H float!

This old man was walking the parade route selling cotton candy!! LOL

Hubby had fun driving, for his first time in a parade!

We followed a firetruck during the route.

The parade was great fun, and it was fun getting second place again! LOL There are always a lot of people at Camas days. This year was no exception! After the parade was over we had to go park and tear it all apart again. Bro in law and LeAnn took all the plants back, and we met back up at the house to drop the trailer. LeAnn has her "Horse Camp" with all her barn kids this week, so she will be busy busy!!
Hope you enjoyed the float! I think it turned out great.

Sneak peek! and the Camas Days Parade is Tomorrow!!!!

2011-07-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

A quick sneak peek!!! We went up to Hubbys brothers today to put together the float!

Bro #2 and L, had picked up all the plants, now to just figure out how to arrange everything. We brought the giraffe and the snake! LOL

Pete the Python, He is looking pretty uh, snake like? !! LOL LOL

The signs that sis in law had made for the parade.

She has a friend that works for someone, who worked at the zoo, and was able to get this zebra!!! He is pretty cool
The view from the back! Can you spot the characters?

Front view!

A close up of the monkeys!!! They turned out cute!!!

More to come!!!

Fishing wash out.....or not so much

2011-07-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

Well Hubby and I wanted to go fishing for trout Wednesday, we drove 190 miles, and didnt get to wet a line. We were so disappointed. The places we took the kids when they were little are no longer accessible. Goose lake, it is way to overgrown to even think about fishing from the bank now, only if you have a belly boat, or a row boat can you fish there now. Swift reservoir, well there is so much construction there now that there is only the boat launch and about 50 feet of shoreline. It was really depressing. We havnt been trout fishing for a few years, and boy have things changed. We are without a boat right now so we havnt been able to do that either. I did get a few pretty pictures though!!!
The wildflowers were all in bloom, I dont know what these are called, but we seen wild tiger lilys, Foxglove, Lupine, and many others.

Blue flowers are my favorite. This is the area around Goose lake, it is a volcanic area. This area is covered by an old lava flow.

It is very very rugged country, if you get lost out here, navigation devices, like compass', dont work! Because of all the iron in the rocks it causes them to go haywire. Quite a few people have been lost in this area (usually Chinese or Vietnamese bear grass pickers) they usually dont find them until the next year.

This is Goose lake. It is a beautiful lake, maybe around 10 acres, I would guess. A few years back we had a dry Spring and Summer (yes we do occasionally!!! LOL) and the lake was almost dry, there is a great big volcanic hole in the center of this lake where water comes in and or in the case of that year drains out!!! It was something to see, I shall have to find a photo of it then and add it onto this post.

This is really rugged country!

They were supposed to stock trout into this lake around June 15th, they were not able to get in to stock it until June 29th, because of the snow pack!!! It just was not accessible!!

We then thought we would drive over the mtns. the check out Swift Creek Reservoir, where we used to fish all the time. We stopped at a Mt. St. Helens lookout point, to eat lunch, on the way. Really she is there, buried in the clouds!

Trying to get pics of the kids on the rock wall! LOL LOL

Finally somewhat of a pose!!! LOL

Ooooo there she is! trying to peek out!!

Still very magnificent, even though you can only see half of her!

This is the South side of the Mt. when she blew in 1980, she blew to the North and East.

Well I got a few pictures anyway. We are really going to have to do our homework and figure out where to go fishing at. We both want some smoked trout!!!! Gosh darn it!!!!!

Deer in the yard....

2011-07-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

We had visitors in the yard yesterday. I just caught them out of the corner of my eye when I headed out to feed the horses. So I ran and grabbed by camera.

Peek a boo, I see you!! LOL

Now I kinda see you! LOL

There you are.

This little guy was still on the other side of the fence. He is trying to bite an apple, took him awhile to finally chomp down on it!!

Sheesh the electric fence didnt even faze him. The center line isnt hot, only the top and bottom. Maybe it should be!

This is why they are called Black tailed deer. There are four species of deer in Washington. The Black tail being the most common, there are Mule deer on the East side of the state, and also White tails, and down close to the coast in a protected area we have a small population of Columbia White tails.

I ran back into the house because I forgot the memory chip for the camera, left it in the computer. While I was inside something spooked them, maybe the fence bit the little guy! LOL LOL But they came right back.

They had a good old time munching on the apple trees. This doesnt bother me because they need a good pruning.

Funny how she kept an eye on me.

And I finally got a good look at the little guys future horns. He looks like he will be a small forked horn.

I went out to feed and I had to fill the water trough. While I was waiting for that, the little brats got into my garden, such as it is, LOL. So I had to chase them away, which was easier said than done! They were not really afraid of me, I had to throw stones at them to get them to leave.

Easy was watching them too! LOL the other two were busy waiting for their dinner, or they probably would have chased them away! Easy well, she is non confrontational and pretty soon she turned around and went back to her herd mates! LOL Usually the horses keep them ran off, but we have new neighbors and the old place where they would feed under the neighbors fruit trees is now fenced off. I bet we will be seeing more of them!!! I dont mind, as long as they stay out of the garden and roses!!!!

Another project....

2011-07-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

I started another project, That should come together in a few days. This ones for you Mikey!!! LOL A snake!!! I named him Pete. LOL LOL LOL He is @7 feet long!!!

And he will look like a python when he is done.

a very fat python!!! LOL LOL LOL

Hey I couldnt help myself, when I get on a role I cant stop!!! LOL

I also put the palm trees in a bucket, I am going to go back to the Dollar store and get a grass skirt I think I seen there to put around the bucket.

A week until the parade!!!

Sushi bar!! First time!

2011-07-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

The kids took us to lunch the other day. To a sushi bar! Didnt know if I would like it, but I didnt have to eat any raw fish LOL. This is a close up of the conveyor and one of the food preparers. You just pick what looks good. It is like $1 to be seated, $1.10 a plate plus your drinks. Not to bad!! I think it was under $30 for the 4 of us! (The kids bought!!! Thanks you guys!) You can see part of the menu on the table that tells you what everything is.

And a shot down the line, it is a great big oval! 4-5 preparers in the middle with a waitress outside to bring drinks. Bar type seating, or a booth, which is where we sat.

I have to say, I will go again!!! It was really good!

Update on Stanley the giraffe #2

2011-07-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

From this....

To this!!

Its been a long project, and a good learning experience. His legs moved a little as the load was put on it, if I do it again I would brace the legs a little better. All I can figure is some of the tape came loose inside, may use screws next time and some kind of strap.

Here is a close up of his spots.

Close up of his face. I also learned that they have three horns, not two! LOL

and a view from the back. Learned that giraffes are really stupid looking animals! LOL LOL

I found some fringe for his mane and tail.

I am pretty happy with how he turned out, cant wait to show you all what he looks like on the float!!!! I made a few other critters too, three monkeys, and a parrot, they are only 2-D though. The Parade is July 23rd! coming up fast.

Here is the rest of the crew!

Catching up!!!

2011-07-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

I cant believe its been a week since I have posted! I will catch up on a few things!!

Marqus had fun running the tractor! lol Meghan is trying to put some country boy into her city boy!!! They cleaned out the fire pit with the tractor, using the bucket to shovel the ash into.

Dublin and I worked the fireworks booth, for the Lions Club and Guide Dogs for the Blind. We worked two different days.

He is such a pretty boy. It was just cool enough that he was enjoying the sunshine!!

Here is Pueblo, a pup we puppy sat, he is a year old now and will go back for training probably in Nov. or so.

Hubbys cousin Sherri, Grammie, Meghan and her uncle.

Hubbys brothers only daughter, got married last Saturday.

They got married at the Rusty Grape Vineyard just North of where we live.

The bathrooms have Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris on the wall above the doors!

The weather was about 75degrees, a little warm at times, there was no cover.

They said their vows with much smiling and laughter!! It was a good ceremony.

She was a beautiful bride.

They had a neat ceremony joining their own jar of light and dark sand.

Symbolizing that they are now one.

It was pretty neat.

Congrats you two!!!!!

Meghan and Hubby!!!

There was also a 60th birthday party there, I caught this pic of the pink stretch Limo!!! Also there was a Yoga class out on the grounds too! a lot going on.

He he he he being a blogger I take strange pics LOL this was one of the bathrooms, I loved the tile mirror....

Painted sink...

And light switch.

Standing around gabbing with friends. There was wine available, for $6.50 a glass or $16 a bottle. I tried some, it really was good! Pretty dry, but I like sweet wine.

The newlyweds down in the vineyard having pictures taken.

The booze cart.

It was a nice ceremony and we seen a lot of people we havnt seen in awhile. We left early, the heat was getting to me.
I am finished with Stanley the giraffe!!(but I always find something to tweak! ) Will post some pics soon!

A real treat!!!!!

2011-07-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

Well I went and seen the movie BUCK tonight with some friends!!!!

Its is about the horseman Buck Brannaman. It has received numerous awards at the Sundance music festival. It was really good, surprising at times, and a really good message. I enjoyed it.

And a bonus after the show, Buck was there for a Q&A session and he signed both of my books!!! Faraway Horses and Believe!!! Wooo hooo.

He is such a nice man, very sweet, he came out onto the street to sign autographs and talk to people! I shook his hand to!!

I got a little video of him talking! He is funny, its hard to believe when he started out he was so shy he couldnt look people in the eye and talk to them! LOL he has no problem now!

Went with Carissa and Judy. I moved so the pic is blurry! These pics are off of my Iphone.

Great movie, google it to see if it is in your area!!! Its at the smaller theaters.

Sickness....

2011-07-01T17:12:00.001-07:00

Horse sexually assaulted

This has happened here locally, Sick sick sick.
How could someone do this??

Wonderful pre-baby get together for girlfreind.

2011-06-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

One of my oldest friends, Patti, and I. We have known each other since we were around seven years old. Due to life and circumstances, she is having her first baby! (at 44 LOL sorry Patti LOL) more power to her!!! At her request I got some folks together to see her and her hubby, Bow. They were married last year.

They got a lot of cute gifts, and their first package of diapers!!!! LOL from Pattis' sister. Boy are there more of those to come!!!!

Everyone had a good time, I had everyone meet at a neat little cafe/ice cream shop called Papas Ice Cream , this is one of my favorite places!

Another old friend from High School came down with his family, it was great to see them!!

Patti is due Aug 11th!! so real soon! They elected not to find out if the baby is a boy or girl. They had wonderful ultrasound pictures with them, and if I might say so, the baby looks an awful lot like dad!! LOL so maybe a little boy?? She looks great, gained just the right amount of weight and has had no problems except for swollen ankles!!!! Cant wait for the little bundle to get here!!!! There will be a formal baby shower after the little one is born.

Update on Stanley the Giraffe....

2011-06-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

We started out with a cardboard frame.

Covered it in chicken wire and paper mache.

The full body coat of paint, done last night.

Drew the outline of spots, and started painting.

And this is where he is at this point, 1 to 2 coats of paint on spots, to cover the outlines. Next is a smaller paint brush to do the smaller spots and then the details!! He is looking pretty good!!!

She is back!!!

2011-06-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Pony girl is back, after a long hiatus!! to blog again. She is now Ranch Girl Diaries Cant wait to see her new stories and beautiful pictures!!!!
Great to have you back!!!

Down memory lane....

2011-06-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

Join me for a trip down horsey memory lane,

Sara and Easy at the fair.

Meghan and Mickey, boy is Meg little here!!!

I have always loved this picture of all my girls!

Sara and Easy at a local show, this is probably the best that Easy has ever looked in her life, she is a hard one to keep weight on.

Meg and Mick, western eq. at the same local show, boy was it hot and dusty that day.

Meghan and Mickey got their first blue ribbon in bareback eq.!!!

Sara and Easy, ready for Showmanship at the fair.

Meghan practicing Parelli, with the "big green ball". Easy took to Parelli like a duck to water!!!

A resting moment....

Me and Emma, at a Pat Wiese Clinic that we attended in 2004. She was four years old here!

Emma, the most buff she has ever been, she sure is white now!!! LOL

One of the few pics of us in class.

Oh the memories, a lot of years, 13 years of 4-H with both my girls, 11 of those as a 4-H leader! I hope to create some new memories this Summer with myself riding more!!!!

Hope you enjoyed the pics.

Phase 2 of new project....

2011-06-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Giraffe has been dubbed Stanley, by my Hubby LOL. We got the first coat of paper mache on it today!

It is actually around 7 feet tall at the top of its head! I wrapped the body in chicken wire to give it some width, should have taken a picture of that. Then we started slabbing on the paper mache!! Messy stuff LOL It is turning out pretty cool! Now to do the head and another coat on the body, then paint, when it is all dry.

My newest project....

2011-06-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

I have been asked by me sister in law to help make jungle animals for a float in one of our hometown parades this year.

This will be a Giraffe and Palm trees. The trunks of the Palm trees are real Palm tree trunks!! LOL My sister in law found them at a garage sale and asked if they wanted to get rid of them LOL the lady couldnt believe she wanted dead Palm trees! Palm trees do not live very well in the Northwest, its just to wet, and they rot and get eaten by bugs.
Any way! I will show you all the progress as I go on with this project. I have a month to complete the Giraffe. I now have to cover it with chicken wire and paper mache. The theme for the parade, I think, is a jungle theme. I will also try to make some monkeys to hang in the tree. We made coconuts that will go in the center of the palm trees when they are dry and painted!
Stay tuned!!

98th Birthday!!!!!

2011-05-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

The boys Grammy Zenner turned 98 years old on May 12th!!! What a Birthday!!!!

She is the sweetest lady. I imagin all the stuff she has seen!!! in all those years!!! R1, R2, R3(my Hubby) are in the picture with her. Grammy is the only immediate (besides children and each other) living relative that the boys have. They have some cousins, but the rest have passed on.

Happy Birthday Grammy Zenner!

A walk in the park....

2011-05-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day for a walk in the park.

I dont know what kind these trees are, but they are gorgeous in bloom!

Close up of the tiny little white flowers on the trees.

Wonderful gnarly trunks too. Keep in mind the van on the right, I will explain that later.

Are not they just gorgeous!!!

The Azaleas are in bloom too.

Purple is my favorite. We are working our way around to this building in the back ground.

There are a lot of centennial markers for the town of Washougal, this park was dedicated at the centennial celebration. In the middle of that circle, Hubby is reading the marker.

The brick paths are pretty too.

Inside the little building are historical boards, 8 of them in all, here are a few, this one tells how Washougal got its name.

The ealy fights on whos was whos in the area.

There is not a town of Parkers Landing, but the landing is still there. I admit I didnt read them all, or I could explain why, obviously Washougal won!

Walking back up the hill to another historical marker, this time....

....Local people were able to buy the red bricks and put their names on them or names of ancestors that moved to this area to start this town. Now anyone can buy a brick, to donate to the park.

All of the red bricks have names on them. You can see where they sprayed for the weeds too.

They are extending the bricks with names to the bricks that line the paths too.

Another little gazebo in the park.

And, back to the van that is parked here most days. It is the Washington dept. of wildlife, fisheries.

Here on the Columbia river we have a bounty on the Northern Pike Minnow, or Squawfish. You get paid for catching them according to how big they are. Some people make a fair amount of money when they turn them in. We have done it in the past, the biggest one I ever caught was around 20 inches, that was years ago. I think I only got $3, for my fish at that time. They are considered a predator fish, not native, that endangers the native Salmon. We can catch these fish, but Washington and Oregon are not allowed to kill the Sea lions that are decimating the Salmon at Bonniville Dam! But that is a whole other can of worms. I believe they should allow the Native Americans to harvest the seals, but HSUS keeps this in litigation over and over, to keep, well I dont know what they want to keep but I better just keep my mouth shut! LOL

You do have to register each day you fish and turn in your catch at the end of the day, by a certain time. I believe you are then given a voucher to fill out and mail in to WDFW.

A fishing guide coming off of the river, I cant believe they were out with as high as the water is.

This was the site of the old Parker House restaurant, which I posted about in the past. This was supposed to be the new, Black Pearl on the Columbia, restaurant. Sadly the man who started this building, died in January, and his wife says she just does not have the heart to finish it. Sad. So the empty shell sits there, waiting for another new investor to come along. Maybe someday I can get pictures inside, when someone finishes the building and opens it again. I really wish that a McMenimens, franchise would open here!!

Well that was our walk in the park, it has been raining, here ever since!

Roll on Columbia Roll on!!!!!

2011-05-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I took a walk today. We went down to the Port dock to see how high that the mighty Columbia river has gotten. She is way up.

This is a road, benches overlooking the launch, under water.

This is that same road looking down river. From that Fir tree to the fence is usually the road, it is just a short little road that loops down by the marina docks. On the right side of the pic you can see the guy standing up in the park where I took the pics from.

This is the Puffin Cafe, The Puffin has a cute, cute cute little bar and a Caribbean flavor food. They have great fish tacos!!! The only way to get out to it is from the Port launch dock! See how that bridge in the middle is slanted up! It usually is a 12 foot drop!!!

This is looking to the left to the Port dock, there are three, you cant see the closest one. The other two are not accessible!! The one closest is a lot longer, and the Puffins only access to their dock!!

They are staying open during the high water.

The water has been much higher. Everyone is talking about the flood of 1996, when the water was up to the top of the pilings that you see on each side of the bridge, now that was high!!!

Hubby and I then walked around the park, the flowers and trees are blooming and it was 65+degrees!!!

There are several Veterans Memorials here along the water front.

We had not heard of the Silver Rose memorial.

This has all the local people that gave their lives to War.

I think , unfortunately it may get longer, with Iraq and Afghanistan....

The back side.

From this view you can see that the docks are getting close to even with the shore!

The river was supposed to crest today, we will see, we are supposed to get 1/2 to 1 inch of rain on Wednesday!

We walked through this section of the park next. It contains the centennial celebration markers for this area, beautiful trees and azaleas in bloom!

More to come.

Beautiful flower basket and the blue balloon....

2011-05-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful basket of flowers that Meghan brought me for Mothers day! Isnt it gorgeous!!!! I have bought my seeds, now I have to get to planting!!! Its finally warmed up and dryed out a little!!

I bought zucchini, yellow zucchini, blue lake pole beans, muncher burp less cucumbers, jack be little pumpkins (love to bake these and eat them!) and two different sunflowers. I like to grow the sunflowers and leave them for the birds to eat.

The Goons and the Balloon.

This goon #1....

and the extra fat goon #2.....

Well the story goes, Emma had a 6 foot long blackberry cane stuck in her tail, when I fed them this morning. So I put out their feed and went and got some gloves.
They were loose in the field this morning. Emma let me grab her tail and I pulled out about half of the berry vine, and then she took off, and she wouldnt let me halter her after that. Then, Mickey starts acting all goofy too. They both run to the other side of the pen, staring at the road. I am wondering, what the heck? As goon #1 and goon #2 spook and run around in circles, ignoring their breakfast.
Finally I see what has them all worked up.

A lone blue balloon.

.... helium still in it, is floating, and drifting in the breeze, in the neighbors field and up onto the road, bobbing around in the wind, quietly mind you, I dont think balloons make to much noise, until they pop!!
So they wouldnt settle down, I left the rest of the vine to get later. Tonight when I fed, I brought them in and got the rest of the vine out with no problem! The big goofballs!!! I had dreaded waiting to get it out, thinking I might have to cut her tail to untangle it. Luckily it unwound out of her tail easily.

Horses can be so funny sometimes. It makes you think how our powers of observation are so different. I hate to think what they might have done had the balloon floated into their pasture and came closer!

First walk on the Dike of 2011....

2011-05-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

These are benches before the mouth of the tunnel below. I love the pretty way that they deter skateboarders! The darn skateboarders will tear everything up, and they dont care.

Of course Max was nervous and had to "do his business" LOL You can see one of the benches beside Meghan.

Mt Hood, in all her glory. Still covered in snow! The snow level is supposed to be down around 3500', that would be the hills in the fore of the mtn. Is Spring ever going to come? Oh and above the first red tank from the left in the Vista House in Oregon, a really cool place to visit on a non windy day!! LOL A beautiful overlook of the Columbia Gorge, great gift shop and the architecture is wonderful, there are memorials and history from WW11, it is a fun place to visit.

We seen a bunny!

zoom! it ran away!

Max watching the bunny.

This view is East up the Columbia river.

Exterior wood Inc. Hubby worked there for 15 years, his brother still works there.

Some wildflowers are trying to show their happy faces!!

I put the kids in the boat and made them pose! LOL

I cropped this, but it made it blurry.

Then we walked down the hill to the river. More boats, they are all made of cement.

This one even has fish in it!

Max checking out the water.

Dublin jumped in at first and surprised himself!! LOL No you can not walk on water Dublin!

Dublin loves to run in the sand, but he wasnt so sure about the water after his initial splash.

Dublin being a goof! LOL

She did get him back in the water!

The trail back up to the Dike. We walked about 2 1/2 miles, the Dike has 1/4 mile markers all along it.

A barge on the river, and you can see a helicopter on the right side. The helo was picking up water with a fire bag and dumping it somewhere over there, dont know if they were just practicing or?? There was no smoke.

We decided to go to the dog park, so we could let the boys run loose. Dublin and Max had fun playing with those three Pugs! LOL They all were chasing Dublin at one point! Max did very well and showed no aggression towards the other dogs at all! I was very happy with him. Meghan got yelled at by a lady that came in later, because we had Dublin on the small dog side. She said "I am going to call the people on you!" What people LOL The rest of the people around us told us not to worry about it. We seen the sign that told the wieght restrictions on the ground when we went out. Dublin wouldnt hurt a fly, her poodles where way more aggressive than him, growling and threatening, they made me worry about Max a little, but he just ignored them. The guy that had the Pugs he was so nice and funny! LOL Despite the lady we had fun. We went into the small dog side because the wire fence mesh is 2x4inches, in the large dog side it is 6inch squares, I think Max could get through. It would be a real pain to have to take one on one side and one on the other. So we left soon after that.

It was 70+ degrees and no wind, so nice!!! Then it went back to rain rain rain. Maybe someday we will get Spring!!! Before summer! Doesnt Summer start in June???? We are going to go from 50 degree weather, straight to 80 again!!! I hope it dries out before the first of June, or I wont be able to have a garden again!!! The ground is just to wet and sticky to till ((sigh)).

Again!!! And the Companion Fair 2011

2011-05-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

My poor mares are getting used to this! Again!!! Hiding under the Sequoia tree from the lastest downpour/hail storm while there is blue sky on both sides of us!

Poor girls, it was really coming down.

The Companion Pet Fair, the puppy club has a booth there again this year. Our clubs day to volunteer was Saturday.

Here is Dub with Pueblo behind him. Dublin is so good, he needed a few little reminders of his manners, but he is such a good boy!

We had pretty good traffic at the booth, quite a few people interested in puppy raising.

Or course everyone wants to pet the dogs. The girls were petting two of the sweetest little Corgies here.

The Newfies were there again this year! They look like bears! LOL

The 12 to 2pm crew, we had a lot of pups there. Our club is always really good about doing volunteer work. Dublin is so good, I tell him to stay and drop his leash and walk away to take a picture and he doesnt move!

We met another group of service dog owner/trainers. They raise their own dogs. They use shelter and or rescue dogs. The only problem with that is like this ladys Poodle was growling and snapping at any other dog that came close. Its really hard when you have to have them out in public. They are training them as fetching, companion, and hearing dogs. Guide Dogs for the Blind, has an exemplary breeding and training program. The Labradors, Lab/Golden crosses that they breed are bred for temperament and soundness of body. The smallest medical problem or aggression, or in the reverse, timidity, will get them career changed to a pet or something more suitable to the temperament. I.E. Dublins littermate, Doug, is now in Idaho and is being trained as a wheelchair pulling dog, they also can be chosen as a canine companion for children who are blind and will need a service dog in the future. In my opinion when you use rescue dogs for service animals, you have no idea of thier breeding background and temperament. Dublin wouldnt hurt a fly, his aggression has been bred out of him, he wont even chase a ball! LOL Well he will but he doesnt bring it back! If another dog is aggressive towards him he will just look at them. The hunting instinct is pretty much bred out of these bloodlines. They are people dogs and do really bond to people, which is what is needed. They all have a job, none are left without homes and all are taken care of until the day they pass on.

Seen quite a few St Bernards today. Lots of Chahuahuas, a few Dachshunds, Blue Heelers, French Bulldogs, Great Danes, German Shepards, Rat Terriers, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Pomeranians, Schiperkes, Australian Shepards, Mini Aussies, lots of breeds I didnt recognize, if you love all kinds of dogs this was the place to go! There were ferrets, guinea pigs, the reptile show was there, yikes!!

The information table. They did raffles for the cute little stuffed Guide Dogs. The black screen tent behind the guy on the left had cats for adoption.

I believe this dog is a Shia Shepard. Boy are they huge! This one is smaller than the other one they had in the booth, but a lot prettier!

I tried to get a better pic of this HUGE Dane! He is probably the tallest dog I seen.

It was a good day, the show was a lot smaller than last year, someone said it is a new company putting on the show this year.

Bunny and Killdeer and horses....

2011-05-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Our Cottontail bunny that I chase back and forth from the house to the barn every morning and evening. It lets me get pretty darn close.

I zoomed out, I was about 20 feet away here, it is below those t posts, which I pulled out of the garden so I could drag it and Hubby mowed it, now it just has to dry out so we can till it, maybe we will get a garden this year??? We didnt last year it was just to wet. Easy is headed up for her dinner.

Who can resist cute bunny pics!! Love the mole hill behind it, thats what we deal with up here, moles. Oh and the shrews that eat my garden. I may have to fence this little bunny out of the garden this year.

He he he or cute Appy pics! She has brown circles around her eyes this year, but isnt to much whiter than last year.

DVMs Wife found a nest of eggs that I think are Killdeer eggs, a few other people too, I wanted to try to get a pic of our Killdeers. Darn things wont let you within 100 feet of them! LOL There is one right in the center of the pic.

Easy eating her mash. She get warm mash am and pm, I spoil her. She deserves to be spoiled at 26 years old!!

And Mickey....

They have to clean up all the alfalfa first!! I am only giving them a handful right now.

Miss Emma, spotty pony.

She thinks she hears something outside!!! The neighbors have been doing something out there, to her left is the back of the property. All I could see was the neighbor throwing trash out of a truck, gaaahhh.

OK I wasnt going to use this pic LOL but the perspective was so funny I decided to share!!! LOL Great big body and little tiny head!

Back to the alfalfa!!!

On the way back to the house the bunny let me get quite a lot closer! Only about 8 feet from it. I suspect it is a female, they usually hide their nests in the field and around the barn. Alas sometimes I have mowed the nests in late Spring.

The other Killdeer, I dont have a telephoto, so this is as close as I could get. It is right between the two posts.

This would be a horsey hair angel!! LOL Kinda like snow angels! But in a field of green!! LOL LOL You can always tell where Emma has lain in the field.

Well thats all for today! I am hoping to get better pics of the Killdeer, and hopefully the babies too!

We got him!!!!

2011-05-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

Its been almost 10 years!!! The US finally got Osama Bin Ladin!!!
Way to go US Military!!! Its been a long haul!!!!

Max and Dublin

2011-05-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

Isnt he just the cutest thing! LOL LOL 70 and sunny today! Rain back tomorrow. Then a few more dry days, then rain. Its getting better!! The weather that is! LOL

Brushed out the horses last night, they are still shedding!! Easy more that the other two!! My arms got tired, LOL. They are already getting tortured by biting flies too! I put fly spray on them last night because they were stomping at them! Under the neck, bellies and ears. I think its going to be a bad year for flies!
I like to use Tri-tec 14, what do some of you like?

It hasnt been real entertaining around here. Still not doing much. It is starting to dry out some so I need to go get my Dahlias I bought last fall and get them growing. I want to try to get a picture of the Kildeer that are harassing me every time I walk out to the barn! They have a nest somewhere close. They do the whole broken wing act!

The dogs pretty much sum up what its all been about around here! A long cold wet wet Spring!! We are all still hibernating! And seeking out what sun spots we can!

Pups and pony pot!

2011-04-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Dublin is such a goof, I think he plays as much upside down and right side up, LOL

Lisa over at, Laughing Orca Ranch , wanted to know how Dublin is doing. He is still his goofy self, doesnt cause problems and loves his treats!

Silly boy!

Until he notices the camera and then he is all serious, LOL LOL

Little Max, he is doing great too. He is getting bossy! He tells me now when he wants to go outside, whether it be to potty or just to go out and play!! The weather has been so much better! So he thinks he needs to go outside. I have been taking him out with my to let the horses out at mid day. Funny he isnt the least bit scared of the horses.

Max is so tiny! He is all of 10 lbs but, he seems smaller! That toy is about 12 inches long.

He is also a goofy little dude! LOL Our living room looks like a two year old lives here! With all the toys!!

Meghan gave me this planter for my birthday!!! (Yes I had a birthday this month!) LOL

It is so cute I dont want to put it outside! The poor mums though, may have to go out!

I love the horse shoe feet it has! Its head moves too! Like a bobble head! Its just too cute!!

The weather is starting to improve!!! We are getting a few dry days and maybe even over 60F,

Woo Hoo!!!

OMG this is soooo soooo funny, I have to share!!!

2011-04-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

This blog makes me laugh!!! I hope it gives you all a good laught too!!!!

Hyperbole and a half

I have posted this blog before, this is her newest "Simple Dog" Post! Enjoy!!

This is so cool!!!

2011-04-18T20:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1DPspQ/news.discovery.com/animals/wild-horses-respond-to-native-american-drumming.html

Wild horses respond to Native American Drumming! I wish they could have taped it!!!

Visit

2011-04-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

Meghan visited last night to play with her puppies! LOL They adore her.

This is Max trying to look cute and get another "Chicken in a biscuit" cracker!

So pathetic LOL Just for the record, it worked LOL LOL

Mr Dublin, he is doing great, he is such a mellow dog. He is now devoted to my husband, and follows him everywhere and watches out the windows for him to get home from work.

In other news, our baby Meghan turned 20! last weekend!! Wow how time flies!!! I cant believe she is 20!!

Still here!!

2011-04-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

I have been visiting all my blogger friends, but I havnt had anything to post!! The weather here has been wet wet wet!!! I havnt been doing much except feeding and cleaning stalls and taking the pupps outside, wiping wet paws when we come in!!!
Here is a pic from warmer times!!!!

OH to have dry non-muddy horses again!!!!!

The weather person said yesterday that we have only had 4 dry days in the last 2 months! and over 8 inches of rain!!!!!! Sheesh!!!! No wonder everyone in this area is so fed up with the weather!! LOL

There has been way to much of this!!!!

Starting to feel a smidge like Spring!!

2011-04-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

It is warming up around here some. More rain though, it is so wet!!!! I de-muddified the girls yesterday and trimmed Mickeys feet, she was way overdue. Also shaved her legs, bridle path and ears and under her chin! She looks like a horse now, instead of a Yak!!! LOL. Emma is next, she is getting long again. Put some MTG on Emmas lower legs today, after letting her dry out overnight, she wasnt happy about being locked in the stall. I usually let her come in and out as she pleases. She has a little bit of mud scald, I shaved the hair and put the MTG on, hopefully that helps, will do it a couple times a week. I just wish it would dry out!!!
Mickey and Easy seem to be fine, no fungus or problems with them.
Shaving the hair on the legs helps, they dry out faster. MTG is an oil so it will help repel the mud somewhat too. Next is a good scrubbing with betadine shampoo. I was out in the barn until 8PM last night!!! Nice! and it was still light! All of the girls got to come out and eat some green grass too, they love that! Hosed them all off and they all stayed in last night, so were nice and dry this morning.
For as wet as it has been none of them have any thrush!!! amazing! They are in every night on bedding pellets so that drys the feet some.
I so want some nice weather so I can work Emma, I think I am going to have to take her to an arena to get started! Such a pain. But such is living in the NW!!! Emma needs a lot of ground work before I ride her, some refreshers! She tends to be a pushy in your space horse. Parelli work helps a lot with that. But for now its even to wet to bring them out onto the grass in the yard, there would just end up a muddy pock marked mess, which Hubby wouldnt be happy with when we mow, me neither for that matter LOL. For now the grass is up to 12" tall or more and its to wet to mow! Hopefully we can this weekend its supposed to be nice and dry over the weekend!
The Hummingbirds are really active and all over the place right now!! The little zingers!!! I am filling both feeders now that its not going to freeze. I just learned that some of them dont go south for the
Winter, we have Anna's and Rufus, I havnt identified any others yet.
Just waiting waiting waiting for Spring!!!! And some dry days!!!

Horse Expo....post 2....

2011-03-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

Frisiens are always a treat, they are so fun to watch. This bunch had not only Frisians but Andalusians too!

They were darn near as big as the Frisians!!!!

They all came out and did some drill team moves.

I believe the rider in the middle is one of our local Veterinarians. One whom my sister in-law uses.

Then more came out in full fancy dress! Check out that huge pink skirt!!!!

They are all gorgeous!!

That is a lot of material!! LOL

They kept doing formations.

The one on the left looked like Zenas horse!! LOL

That skirt from the back!

Then the drill team came out. The Rhinestone Cowgirls Drill Team. There were 14 riders in the group.

After watching High School Equestrian team practice and compete for three years. These girls werent as good as WaSET drill teams. But they did a fair job.

Next!!
Wind Rider trail challenge.

This is the course.

This is my enhanced version of the course! LOL

I will try to explain my scribbles and the course.

1. start between 4 cones about 20 feet apart (the black marks are cones)

fast circle canter.

2. Slow circle canter, then stop between cones, from the canter.

3. From the cones, over to 3 and over the jump.

4. over the ground pole.

5. come over to the middle and ride between two cones, half pass through the cones to the right of the barrels. Nice half circle at the trot, to the next cones.

6. Half pass left back through the cones on the middle right.

7. Walk over the pole on the ground, with the horses left and right sides on each side of the pole! not a sidepass.

8. go through the rope gate.

9. Walk over to the barrels, making sure horses tail is beyond the barrels, stop and back through all three barrels.

10. ( is the dotted line) run down the the end of the arena, around a barrel and back to the original 4 cones and stop.

Fastest time got one extra point.

This gal did a really good job. There were English riders and western riders, and a surprise at the end!

This is that pole where you have to keep the horses feet on each side! Not many did, but everyone did a great job!

I like this guy, cuz he is riding a really pretty Appy! :o) The horse looks like he has Bright Eyes breeding, he has the same look to his head as Emma! Boy you can tell which Appys come from Bright Eyes or Goer bloodlines, they have a very distinctive look to their heads.

This young lady was an absolute treat to watch! She first rode a three year old through this course! And did very well with him. This is her mare she trained all herself, and has been riding for 11 years!

She rode the whole course bareback and bridle less!!!! She does have a string around the mares neck. And....

She won the Semi finals!!!! Wow!!

These are my goodies I collected throughout the day. A free Nicker Makers, from Purina. A Savvy Times magazine from the Parelli booth. Apple and Oats treats, for $4.99. A Redmond Rock sample from Redmond Oregon, it is naturally occurring salt with minerals that comes from the ground in Oregon. It is about as big as a softball, I have to figure out how to feed it to them, LOL.

And some various magazines, catalog and the program. I left out my bright orange Parelli rubber bracelet! LOL We had a great day, and didnt get home until midnight!!! There were a lot of people there on Saturday!! Wow, there is still some disposable income, where horses are concerned, around here!!!