Memorial Day Weekend

Difficulties with our truck prevented us from attending our first scheduled camp-out with our riding club to Mt. Adams last weekend. We could have wallowed in self pity because we were grounded but we chose to instead enjoy the beautiful Memorial Day weekend weather and accomplish many things at home.

Speaking of our truck, here's a picture of Big Grey looking good after all these years of loyal use and many miles of hauling us and our horses across the country. It's been a good truck and has never broke down and left us stranded - not even once, in all the times we've used and abused it.

Hopefully, quite soon we'll get it into the shop and diagnose exactly what the problem is. After we know what we're dealing with, then we can make an educated decision on how to approach the next step. If it's not terribly expensive, we'll probably have the repairs done and continue driving it until the wheels fall off. Having no truck payments is a very good thing. However, if it's serious and the repairs are extensive...well then, that's another story. We'll probably have to replace Big Grey with a newer model. If that's the case, we'll go with a diesel and get a truck with a back seat. More space is always nice. The payments won't be quite so easy to get used to.
We'll see.

Here's Ladde enjoying some leisure time doing what he enjoys most...munching on green grass.
I've been trying to ride Lad and Harley every day for a short time of about 30-40 minutes. Next week, I'll probably alternate and ride each one every other day since I don't always have the time to ride them both. Since their appointment with the farrier a week ago, they're much more level and comfortable. Troy put the steel natural balance shoes on their front hooves this time. This type of shoe causes a quicker breakover and I do notice each horse being lighter on the forehand. They're doing amazingly well considering neither one has been worked since last October. Excellent horses - I'm truly blessed!!

And, here's Harley savoring his free time too. Come to think of it - these boys have quite the life. During our evening schooling sessions, we've been working on suppling exercises, a lot of moving off the leg, diagonals and smooth transitions. I've noticed especially a marked improvement in Harley since last year. I'm quite impressed and very proud of my boys!!

We accomplished a lot of yard work. The mowing and trimming is all caught up once again. The weather was perfectly glorious and the temperatures were in the mid 70's with a pleasant breeze. Perfect for hanging the laundry outside in the fresh air. We got the raised bed cleaned out and new dirt added. We planted 6 tomato plants in all. I chose a SunGold, which is a mild cherry variety, an heirloom tomato called a Brandywine, a couple of Beefsteaks and a couple of Early Girls. Fresh tomatoes from the garden is one of the best things in the whole world!! Sliced up and put in a sandwich with smokey bacon is a treat to be sure!! Yummy!!

This is a neighbor's crimson clover field. I drive by this field every morning on the way to work. It's just stunning this time of year.

Hubby taking a break. And the ever hopeful poochie wanting him to throw the ball for her.

The ivy has really grown a lot since we planted it several years ago. We may have to start cutting it back because it's almost halfway up the wall on the front of the house. I kind of like it in this corner though. Gives the deck a corner of interest.

Here's my berry garden. This picture was taken before I had all the plantings completed. Now however, I have 4 boysenberries planted, 5 bush variety red raspberries, and 2 marionberries. This week I will try to find some strawberry plants that will go along the front. I'm probably over doing the plants, but will make adjustments if and when they become necessary. My hubby still needs to sink a couple of posts at each end and string two horizontal wires for the cane berries to climb. There's time for that though. We can probably expect a good first crop in 3 years. Right now, that seems like a long wait, but I'm sure the wait will be worth it.

We've been using the riding corral for over a week now, but here's my wonderful neighbor performing his magic with his amazing tractor. Sure makes short work of the job! And of course, no project gets done without the great and powerful Merlin overseeing things!

In our 3 day weekend, we accomplished a lot of projects. Besides the yard work, garden plantings, horseback riding and usual household stuff, we also got to borrow our other neighbor's tractor and pile up our last winter's manure into a nice mountain where it can compost for years to come, and got our fields mowed. We got one hay barn cleaned out and have one more to go. Tis the season for cutting hay and all around us there are hay fields being mowed and before you know it, we'll be filling our barns with this coming winter's hay supply. Whew!! So much work...so little time!! There's always work to be done when you live in the country, but it feels wonderful accomplishing things and putting in a good day's work in the sunshine and fresh air.

This whole coming week is supposed to be in the 70's and lower 80's without a drop of rain in sight. I am loving it and looking forward to much fun in the sun.

Hoping you are all enjoying this beautiful spring and experiencing the goodness that life has to offer.

Blessings from cingspots!!

Accomplishments, Pleasantries and Bugs

Truly a feeling to relish! After Mother Nature's spectaular display of springtime perfection this past weekend, I'm feeling positively frisky. Tis so true. It felt like we were going from sunup to sundown, but it wasn't all work. Mixed in between, there were plenty of opportunities for the savoring of a beautiful day. White, billowy clouds floating across a sky of the most delightful blue. And the glorious sunshine was just warm enough to cause a sweat across the brow, and give one the chance to pause and savor the cool breeze. Absolutely delicious!! My shoulders feel mildly sensitive and there's a blush to my complexion that I haven't seen in quite some time. It feels so good to be warm!! I couldn't ask for anything more.

And yes, I absolutely did get to ride - both the boys. And it felt good. I felt at home in the saddle and there was a peace of mind that's been missing for quite some time. Aaahh, truly a gift to be astride a horse. Yes indeed, what a blessing! Now, some people might not know just how I'm feeling, but it's not something that can be explained. It just has to be experienced. It's truly one of the best feelings ever...without a doubt.

Since it's been a while for all involved, I put Ladde in the round pen first. Perfection. Simply couldn't have asked for anything better. Attentive, calm and happy to be schooled. My big boy performed like a professional. So, I hopped (actually climbed would be a better word) aboard and we walked around for a while both directions. We worked on some flexing and some suppling exercises, we backed, we rode some diagonals. Then we stood, well he stood and I sat, and watched the sunset, felt the cool breeze on our faces and contemplated the universe. It was good. Then we called it a day, I groomed him, gave him a treat and let him back out with his buds. That's when I noticed it. The left front foot is totally out of balance. Farrier's going to be here this Wednesday, so no more riding the Laddster until his feet are levelled and balanced. I'm not taking any chances with his soundness. Then...all bets are off. Conditioning 101 here we come!

Then it was Harley's turn. As usual, he was pleased with coming in for a nice grooming session and a little one-on-one time. He's all sleepy and doe-eyed. So sweet sugar wouldn't melt in his mouth. At least until I asked him to move out in the round pen. Then the little sucker dropped his head to the ground, rounded his back into the perfect arc and took to bucking!!! Little beast!! All I could do was stand there in the center of the ring and laugh at the theatrics of it all. His eyes were all drooped like a cocker spaniel's and the red interior was prominent. He looked like one of those rodeo broncs - it was classic style!! Obviously he wasn't impressing me, so with a look of complete and utter disdain directed towards me, he stopped. Just like that. Quit and gave me the look. I asked him to move out once again; and he was Harley again. My sweet boy. *sigh* Ya just gotta love 'em. I mounted up and we rode and practiced all the same stuff as I'd just done earlier with Ladde. Good as gold.

We got lots of yard work done this weekend too. My hubby finished building my 20 ft. long raised cane berry planting bed and our neighbor loaded the box with dirt from our supply in the pasture. Oh wow, am I ever impressed with equipment!! My wonderful neighbor got our riding corral all tilled up and powdery beautiful, and loaded the raised planting bed in about an hour. You just can't beat that with a stick!! The planting box alone would probably have taken us all weekend, just to haul the dirt. I love my neighbor...and his tractor. We are blessed because even if we can't afford to buy our own tractor - at least we have well supplied neighbors!! Could be worse.

Our weekend wasn't all roses though. Hubby and I had went out for breakfast and on the way back, made a stop at the local fossil fuel emporium for some gas in our truck. Remember the truck that my hubby had just repaired the previous weekend by replacing the water pump? Yes, that one. Well, long story short. The problem remains. It was hot and we had the air conditioner on and the blasted engine overheated again. And, what's worse, this time when it was all hot and bothered, the oil pressure dropped to zilch. That's not a good sign. I don't know a heckuva lot about engines...but I'm pretty sure that's a bad sign. I could be wrong, but probably not. So...this coming Memorial Day weekend when we had planned to go to Mt. Adams and go horsecamping with all our friends??? Yep - we're not going anyplace. It's just not worth the risk of breaking down alongside the road with the horses. Nope. Not this time.

Oh well...you can't win 'em all. Some days you're the windshield - and then some days you're the bug.

How do my wings look anyway??

Good??

Cool.

Remember to be thankful for all things...even those dadburned tribulations!!

Hope you all have a great week.