Maybe it's the heat...

but I've got all these crazy and entertaining thoughts rambling around in my head!  They just gotta get out.  So, I'm going to put them into words here, and just let it all hang out.  :)

Firstly, summer is throwing her best heatwave at us right now.  We've been in the 90's the past two days and today, we're already at 97 at lunch time on my deck, in the shade!!  Hot diggidy!!  I went home at noon to bring the horses inside the barn where it's cooler.  They have privacy, their own space, shade, a beautiful breezeway, relief from the flies (nasty buggars), and a spot of lunch.  This means they're happy campers.  And that makes me happy.

The other day Harley ran into our pump house.  Poor building will never be the same.  Rocked off its' foundation, it was.  And poor, poor Harley horse.  :(  He apparently hit the building with his head, I'm guessing, apparent from the gash above his eye, the abrasion on his eyelid, a myriad of small cuts and scurfs on his neck and down his body, and the worse of it seems to be a rather nasty gash on his left front leg, just above the fetlock joint.  He may even have pulled a tendon in the back of his pastern because there's an awful lot of swelling and heat to be just from the cut.  *sigh*  But thank you Father, it certainly could have been worse...so, I cold-hosed last evening, wrapped his leg in an ice pack afterwards and then put neosporin on his cut and bandaged his leg (again, nasty flies).  I also gave him a gram or so of bute because I'm pretty sure he had a headache.  That left eye and surrounding area had a fair amount of swelling too.

Photo of Harley from last November, before his shrinking left eyeball

I pray for guidance because I just don't know what else to do to keep him safe.  He would not be happy separated from his herd-mates.  I cannot have cross-fencing because we've been there, done that and it wasn't pretty.  I will not have a horse who lives in a box.  Other than being blind, he is perfect.  Healthy, happy, content, easy-to-please, playful, and a joy to have around.  He's very loving, very laid-back and appreciates any and all attention he gets.  I do not want to send him to an early grave because we've run out of options.  That would seriously suck.  I suppose there's some lesson here, in all of this; but for the life of me, I cannot figure it out.  So, I'm thinking we have have to invest in some sturdy, strong, thick boards and strong posts for a short fence to enclose a small winter pasture.  Every day we could rotate a pasture buddy.  Except for Sugar.  Harley's afraid of her.  And maybe not Ladde either.  Maybe it's the fact that they've been raised together, and Harley's kind of like a younger brother to Ladde, but the big guy doesn't have much patience with Sir Harles...aka the "fly in the ointment".  That's what we used to call him anyway.  Our little pot stirrer.  Always trying to get something going, liven up the party and all that.  Used to be.  Not anymore.  That's a sad thing, because he has such a playful nature, buddy to everyone and always kind.  Now he has to hang with the old gal and Shad.  They are his lifelines.  When they're gone, then our options really will be limited.  But for now, we'll do what we can do, to create a safe zone where he can move around freely and be a horse.  Even if his space has to be limited.  Life isn't perfect for any of us, right?

Lilly

In other ramblings, the word inspiration has been in the forefront of my mind lately.  Don't ask me what that means, because I just don't know.  But it's a beautiful word, in and of itself.  Really.  Think about it for a minute.  Inspiration is something that gives life interest.  It's the color in an otherwise drab day, it's the rainbow after the storm that causes us to reach for our camera.  The joy on a child's face when they meet a furry puppy for the first time.

I felt inspiration while viewing all the beautiful and colorful canned fruits and vegetables that I saw at the fair.  Such beauty from nature.  I wanted to rush home and see what I could do.  I'm inspired when I visit the ocean.  I'm inspired when I gaze upon all the glorious colors everywhere around me in nature.  I'm inspired and so thankful that God is a lover of all things beautiful.  And that he recognizes that we have that need of beauty as well.  And for me, inspiration leads to emotion.

I'm not sure why I'm such an emotional person.  Sometimes I laughingly blame it on hormones, and attribute it to my age and where I'm at in my circle of life.  But, then I look back over my life and remember....I think I've always been an emotional being.  Tears have always come so easily for me.  And for so many reasons.  Not just in sadness, but in happiness, in joy, in experiencing beauty, the miracle of birth, seeing my horses happily grazing in the pasture, a baby bird's mouth flying open when its' mother approaches with some food.  So many things inspire emotion in me.

There have been times that I've cursed at God for making me this way.  It's not easy feeling so much.  I've been angry and blamed God for so many things that have caused me pain, for so many of the injustices that I see in this world.  I wonder why He lets them happen and rage at His allowing them to happen.  I want justice in the world.  I want the wrongs righted.  I want people punished for the evil and the suffering that they cause.  And then I'm thankful that I know of only a tiny slice of the pain and suffering that He alone sees, and I realize how much pain and suffering that this world causes for Him.  How does He do it?  Have you ever wondered?

In His time.  Not mine.  His will.  Not mine.

I've never been much on patience either.  *sigh*

So, another day in the life...

this beautiful journey.

Growing, evolving, refining.  It's an awesome thing, isn't it?

There.  I feel better.

When in doubt, say a little prayer for me   :)

Where there's smoke...

This is a picture I took from about a quarter mile away, across the farm fields of my husband taking Ladde for an early morning ride last weekend.  This horse is so beautiful to me...I think he's majestic.   This is a picture of two of the most important guys in my life.  

Notice how hazy it is?  There are several forest fires in our Pacific Northwest, none really close, but near enough to affect our air quality.

My guys are headed back home, unaware I'm watching them through my lens...

Looks like they're taking a moment to gaze over at the neighbor's horses.  Such beauty...
I might be a little, tiny bit prejudiced.

A view heading over the Willamette Pass last weekend...trees as far as the eye can see.  

This is the viewpoint at O'Dell Lake that the dogs and I hiked to.  It's a really big lake and was a beautiful day.  You can't really tell from this picture, but we were probably about 150-200 feet above the water at this point.

I only saw one boat with a couple of fisherman on the lake that day.  Sure would have been a perfect day for a little boating or fishing.

 Almost made it to the top...Annie's feeling the burn right about now.  I'm not sure, but I think this trail may go around the whole lake.  Now, that would be an enjoyable hike to do someday.  This was very near the point of my "little episode" when I was making my trek back down this trail...sshh.  Note to self:  next time, bring a walking stick and do not stop!!

These pictures are in no particular order, but they're of the Pole Creek Trail forest fire in Central Oregon.  It's still not contained, and these pics were taken last Saturday.  This one is just coming into Sisters from Bend.  The smoke and haze was very dense, and the air quality was hazardous.

 Just outside Sisters...

The quality of the pictures are not great because they were taken from the car while we were driving down the highway.  The sun was amazing though; much more blood red than these photos represent.

Looking eastward from the other side of Sisters just above Blue Lake on the Santiam Pass.

Same location, looking eastward towards Sisters, but zoomed in...

Pretty trippy huh?  Living on the wetter side of the Cascade Mountains, I'd never really thought much about living with the possibility of this happening in my back yard before, but it does happen.  Everywhere is so extremely dry right now, it's amazing there aren't more fires than there are.  This is another good reason to have the sage brush cleared from rural property, and smaller trees thinned.

This is my beautiful Kadie and Jules.  She's the young gal that's been coming over occasionally for lessons on horsemanship and she's just beginning to ride.  Kadie at 28 years old, is the kindest, most gentle horse I've ever had the pleasure of spending time with.  The perfect horse to learn from...

Jules is in love.

Since Kadie has arthritis in both hocks, she can't be ridden...so, that's where Harley comes in.  He may be blind and unsuitable for mountain riding, but he does perfectly fine in a safe, enclosed environment.  This was Jules' first riding lesson on Harley.  He was a little rusty, but came around in no time.  I think he really enjoyed having a job and being pampered by a little girl again.  Being brushed, loved and fed treats...what's not to enjoy?

Since this post has gotten a little photo heavy, I'll save the pictures of my dream home in LaPine for another time.  We're still experiencing warmer than average end-of-summer weather.  We hit 91 the other day, but it's cooler and a bit overcast today.  My tomato plants are producing like gangbusters, zuchini, yellow crooknecks, green beans and cucumbers are dwindling.  Marions are drying up on the vines, but the pears and apples are in their prime.  Summer's nearing its' end, but it's going out with a bang this year.  I'm always a little melancholy about the passing of another summer, but I'm looking forward to fall and all that lovely season has to offer.

Blessings all,
until next time...Lorie @ Cingspots

We've had joy, we've had fun, we've had seasons in the sun...

And the summer sun remains.  It has been a good week now with extreme heat in the Willamette Valley.  Normally our temps are in the 80's, but we've been under a heat advisory with temps soaring into the low 100's.  Thankfully, the humidity remains fairly low.  The summer wheat field has been thrashed and is awaiting the baler to be made into wheat straw.  A beautiful sunrise shown below,  before the oppressive heat commands our full attention.  We've been watering down the yard, trees, flowers and garden morning and evening trying to keep everything from burning up.  Our pasture grass is long gone.  We've been feeding hay continuously, and never got a break this year.  We put out the mister in the early afternoons for the horses to visit if they choose, and we leave the hoses on a continual drip in both water troughs so the drinking water stays as cool and fresh as possible.  The horses have the apple trees or the outside barn and lean-to for a shady respite from the heat.  The flies seem to be unusually pesky this year despite using fly predators monthly, fly masks daily and fly spray.  But, we're getting through it, and this weekend is supposed to be cooler with predicted temps in the mid to upper 80's.  That will be nice.  We've borrowed my nephew's canoe and plan on heading to a lake and doing a little rowing, exploring and swimming.  I'll pack a picnic lunch, my trusty camera and we'll see what we can see.  Sounds wonderful to me after being stuck in this clinic all bloody week...at least I've had air conditioning here.  :)

A peek through the deck wall...

 An early morning hot air balloon just across the wheat field, across the creek and across the neighboring field.  Not bad for my little pocket camera...zoom, zoom, zoom!!

 And this is what we saw when looking straight up while giving the horses their breakfast.  Wish I would have had my camera the day that Eagle spotted his first hot air balloon over his morning breakfast.  :)  He sure can run fast when he needs to...

 A quick and tasty supper from last night.  Grilled chicken breast with garden fresh grape tomatoes, cilantro, onion and sour cream on white corn tortillas.  Yum!!

 I had to practically drag Annie into the pool for a little bath, but afterwards she got back in herself and just stood there.  Guess the bath wasn't so bad after all, huh?

 Ruby is much easier to bathe in general than Annie.  She just stands quietly until you're finished...such good girls!!  They felt much, much better afterwards.

 This ought to make you smile...Ruby LOVES the high-powered sprinklers at the park!!!  Such fun.

 And, if I didn't have to head back to the clinic after our park visit, I'd have been playing in that sprinkler right along with her!  She was cool and comfortable, while Annie and I just watched her in the sweltering sun.

Life is short.  Live large!!!  I do believe that's Ruby's motto.  I sure do love this little dog.

Heading home for the weekend.  I am so ready.  Hoping today is the last of our heat wave and looking forward to a little R&R.  We're going out for dinner tonight, just me and my hubby.  A little picnic and canoeing with my husband tomorrow.  Trailering Ladde over to the farrier's on Sunday morning for his shoeing re-fit and maybe a visit to my favorite roadside fruit stand on the way home.  That's about as much as I have planned, and it's sounding pretty good to me right about now.

If it does cool down some, I hope to find some time to work Eagle and Ladde as well.  With the hot evenings this past week, I haven't done much other than what was necessary to ensure their comfort.  Whatever...we'll see.

Blessings everyone!!

Chill baby...just chill

Whoowhee!!  It's been hot again the last few days, and they're saying it's supposed to be getting even hotter over the next several days.  I can't take it man!!  When it gets into the triple digits, I'm a sorry mess.  I have no energy, and I can get a little cranky.  Really.  Ask anyone.  So, how do you stay cool when the thermometer starts to rise?  How do you chill?  Hmmm?

 Look what Ruby does!!!  She's a water lovin' puppy dog!!  This little pool is her saving grace.  :)

She loves her little swimmin' pool, and we love that she loves it!!  :)  Did I mention that it was Ruby's birthday last Friday?  Yep!  She turned 2 years old on August 10th.  She got some cookies, a new toy (which she pretty much destroyed within an hour) and she got to go swimming at the creek.  What fun!!

Here's how Kadie cools off...standing in the mister feels oh, so good!  Looks pretty good for 28 doesn't she?  I think she's beautiful, always has been, and always will be.  She's my girl...

Here they are swimming and playing "get the stick" at the creek.

The little birthday girl herself...Miss Ruby!!!  Love that face!!!

Annie always gets the stick.  Ruby always steals the stick.  It's just the way it goes.

 A little grooming session after a cooling off in the mister.

 Artsy fartsy photo taken by my hubby of a sunrise.  Pretty!

He's a clever guy, don't ya think?

Harley taking a little mid-breakfast siesta...

And this is Harley dreaming he's a dressage pony at the Olympics.  I can see it, can't you?  :)

Hope you all are enjoying the summer, even though it's a tad on the warm side for this cool weather gal.  I'm heading home for a session with Eagle and Ladde, since this may be the last day before the triple digits hit us with full force.  *sigh*  Then, I think we'll have some big, fat, fresh tomato sandwiches on sourdough bread with fresh dill and sweet basil and icy, cold watermelon.  Sounds like a fine idea for dinner to me!  What do you like to enjoy for dinner when it's just too hot for cooking?  Hmmm?  I'd like to hear some ideas...what do you say?

Bon apetit' and stay cool my friends!  Just chill...

How does your garden grow?

Just thought I'd post a few pictures of what's been growing around our little farm of late.  Summer's in full swing and we've got all kinds of stuff just a growin' and a growin'...all kinds of stuff!


Don't you just love summer time!!??  I do.  I can no longer tolerate extreme heat, but this summer the temps have been pleasant and not overly hot.  I'm thankful!  However, this weekend we're supposed to experience a teeny-weeny little heat wave!  Yep, all the stores will sell out of A/C units, lakes, rivers and the beach will be swarming with people trying to avoid the heat, and all us Pacific Northwesterners will be screaming like banchees!!  We're wimps.  Totally.  Oh well, ya just gotta roll with what flows, right?  Not much else a gal can do...and the heat will help my gardens grow!!!   :)  Maybe I'll get some ripe maters!!  Oh yeah!!

Speaking of tow-maters!!  See these?  We ate these little beauties last night.  Now we don't have any more tow-maters!!  :(              They sure were tasty though...

This was the bounty picked from our little backyard garden last night.  We ate the tomatoes, and the green beans.  *burp*  Pardon me, but they were tasty!!  I'm thinking we'll grill up those squash and eat them for dinner tonight...it's like having my very own personal grocery store in my backyard - love it!!!

Yellow crook neck squash...very tasty added to spaghetti sauce.

Last day of summer 2011

Son-of-a-gun! Sure did seem to pass all too quickly.  Aah well, fall can be such a lovely time of year.  To me, it seems like the season of beginnings, instead of things winding down; which it really is I guess.  My energy usually seems renewed with the cooling of the weather, and there's always so many projects that need to be completed before the great move indoors again.  Fall is my favorite season to work.  I love riding my horse in the fall, with the fallen leaves on the ground and the brisk temps which call for wearing of your favorite sweatshirt or cozy sweater.  It's also the best time for picture taking.  The light seems so soft and subtle, making photographs so warm and pretty.  Being a squirrel at heart, I enjoy storing up for winter.  Filling my pantry shelves is fun for me.  I love the colors of everything sitting there awaiting my creativity later.  Canning and preserving the summer harvest for the pantry or the freezer is both rewarding and kind of fun, if I don't try and do too much.  I absolutely adore the look of a full barn, bursting at its' seam with beautiful and sweet-smelling hay for the horses.  Can't deny, that's a culinary delight for the critters!  And, getting outside in the woods and cutting firewood.  There's just something so primally satisfying about being in the fresh air and gathering the winter's heating supply that it thrills my soul!  Silly?  Maybe, but I just love it. 

But...before fall officially begins, we have this day to savor and enjoy.  This, the final day of the summer of 2011.  We'll never pass this way again, nope, not ever.  So, enjoy it!  Get outside and do most anything to commemorate the day!  I've dressed for activity today.  At lunchtime, the dogs and I are heading to the park for a walk.  After work, I'm making a quick stop at the local farmer's market and picking up some fresh veggies for a quick and simple supper.  Then, I'll head home to commence preserving that 20 lbs of tomatoes that have been waiting on me.  I suppose we'll get 7 or 8 quarts of tomatoes for the pantry, and if there's any left after that - we'll slice em up and enjoy them fresh!  There's nothing much better than a fresh-picked, sweet-tasting garden tomato!!  Hmmhmm good!!  Who know, maybe I'll fry up some bacon for a BLT.  That's probably my most favorite sandwich ever!  A treat for sure.  :)  What better way to say farewell to summer.  Maybe a glass of fresh lemonade to wash it all down with...yep, that sounds good to me!

On another topic, after the Round 1 fight between Shad and Eagle the other day, and Eagle's 24 hour time out in the pasture all by his lonesome...hubby decided to forgive and give them another shot at friendship.  I said my morning prayers for protection and peace, then drove out the driveway and left them to themselves.  It's up to them now...

They have 5 acres at their disposal.  They have apple trees, plum trees and blackberries to nosh on at will.  They have two seperate pastures and two shelters to pick from.  Not to mention, a whole bunch of randomly placed piles of fresh, green hay to keep them occupied.  You would think that they could handle a little compatability with all those choices, wouldn't you?  I'm sure hoping so.  *fingers crossed*

Peace and blessings everyone,  get out there and seize the day!!  It's ready and waiting like a beautifully wrapped gift.  In reality, each one of our days is exactly that, a gift from our Father, especially for us.  I hope we all make the most of it, and enjoy this; the final day of summer. 

Ready or not, here comes the fall...

For the love of summer

Yes, I doooo love summer and all that it entails.  Long days, warm nights, sunshine, everything!!  So, for once I don't have a lot to say and thought I'd just post a bunch of pictures taken over the last month of so.  Our summer so far...

Homemade strawberry jam...YUM!!!

 Swimming in the lake...................

 Fishin' - even if it is just for pretend!!

Bathing and spending time with the horses just because you love them!!!  This is my grandson David and our beautiful little mare "Kadie".  She loves attention...don't most girls??

"Ladde"  after just having his first bath of the summer and showing off those spots that otherwise go un-noticed unless he's all wet.  I think he's beautiful...er, I mean handsome!!

 Ya just gotta admire a gorgeous horsey butt!!  This is Harley, doing what Harley loves best...

Herd shot...with the head herdmeister - "Shad"

Naps with an old friend - what's not to love about that!!??

My berry patch!!  This is the first year I've got berries, and they're a little out of control...like so many other things in my garden.  But those berries are delicious!!!

A super weekend breakfast made especially tasty with freshly homemade raspberry topping with berries just picked my my berry patch!!!  Hmmmmm...

My gorgeous wild rose hedge that keeps growing bigger and better with each summer...I love it!!

Summer projects that are enjoyed for years to come...
Thank you honey!!

Making new friends...

And lastly, but forever at the tops of my loves list...another shot of Ladde feeling especially dashing after his bath.  He knows he's gorgeous!!  And, there's my beloved hubby trying to hide behind the Laddmonster!!  Sorry, not a chance!!  :)

Hope you're all enjoying your summer.  We're off to Costco to buy some ribs and chicken breasts for a BBQ this weekend at our house with the family and a few friends.  I'm gonna make a killer (I hope) boysenberry cobbler with some of the berries that I picked last night.  Hmmm, served with homemade whipped cream/mascarpone cheese topping...oh my!!!  Hope everybody's weekend is fun, relaxing and oh-so-tasty too!!!!