Western Weekend

Hey, do you remember these fellas?.......... oops, wrong picture,


Do you remember these cowboys? Probably not, I never got around to blogging about our trip to Durango, Colorado last fall. It was an amazing trip, six men and one crazy woman.

It was a trip of awesome views and inspiring nature.

The men thrived on outdoor manly activities.

Not all was hard work, we took time for some exciting trail rides on those mountain horses.

The men did all of the camp cooking in rustic settings. Feel free to enlarge this photo to marvel over the kitchen set-up. This was real man country, I felt as a woman, I was being allowed to enter sacred grounds.

In the mountains, living in a log cabin and tents, riding horses, packing mules.........

The week went by much too quickly and before I knew it we were leaving the back country, headed for home, jobs, hot showers, modern kitchens, flush toilets and doors on bathrooms.....

The yearly trip to Durango, has been a tradition for about 14 years. Jerry has been gathering together groups of what I call his "city slickers" to leave the city behind and be real cowboys in the mountains of Colorado for a week in the autumn.

This year, the trip will not take place. We decided to invite last year's "city slickers" out to our place for a Western Gathering over Memorial Weekend.

Wives were invited also and it was a great bunch gathered at our cabin in the woods. Some stayed in the log cabin, some slept in tents, and a travel trailer made the trip.

I had a great weekend, but then, I slept in my house, in my own bedroom, in my own bed, and took a hot shower nightly.

I fondly remembered Colorado as I watched the men do manly men things.

Please don't ask..... yes, he IS shooting a gun out of the country kitchen, no that is NOT Jerry.

Those cowboys did ALL of the cooking for three days out in this kitchen next to our garage.

Jerry loaded up horses and mules and the boys hit the trails.

Two of the "City Slickers" got to enjoy the experience of riding mules, there were not quite enough horses to go around. For some reason it made me giggle. They were really good sports about having to ride mules. Not everyone wants to ride a mule. Just looking at this picture makes me giggle again.

A couple of our local friends joined the ride. I hiked ahead to snap a few pictures.

Then the ladies and I drove around in my truck and did a little sight seeing.

Their ride took them up along the American River, the hills are still green, a breeze was gently blowing, and it is not summer-time hot yet.

Everyone seemed to have a good time.

But by-golly, we are all going to really really miss Colorado this year.

Camping in the Woods

This camping area is a short distance from our house, less than a half hour drive. We trailer here for day rides but this weekend we met with several of our riding buddies to camp and enjoy the trails together.

I love this area. Temperatures soared near 100 degrees in the central Valley, were in the 80s at our house but it felt much cooler and more comfortable here in the tall trees. We set up our tents, settled the horses in, set up the camp kitchen and went for a couple of very pleasant trail rides.

The 'boys' saddling up for our ride. At this campground we 'high-line' the horses and mules to keep them from wandering away. Ropes are stretched from tree to tree, the animals are tied with a lead rope just long enough for them to reach the ground to munch their hay, they can move around a bit, and are quite content. It was Millie's first camp outing, her first time being high-lined and she was a perfect lady the entire time.

Jerry made dutch-oven biscuits, gravy, sausage and hot, strong camp-fire coffee for breakfast.

We washed dishes, saddled up, and were on the trail by 10 am.

Hey there Amy, hurry and get that lunch out of those saddle bags so we can eat! Amy rides Remington with a cool Australian saddle, more comfy than a western or huntseat saddle on the long trail rides.

Our trusty mounts are tied while we break for lunch. Pistol, in the foreground, was my ride for the weekend. The second mule is our little Millie, Jerry's trail partner this trip. In the background is Rock, my mare, who was ridden by Tristan all weekend. Tristan usually rides Cheyenne who stayed home with a sore hoof and the colt Wrangler stayed home to keet him company. I drove home from the campground to feed and check on them, the dogs and the cats.

On this ride I neglected to take any pictures of our actual trail riding. I was too busy steering the mule.....

A few years ago, I thought mules were fine as pack animals but swore I'd never ride one . Now I have to admit that I am quite fond of them and enjoy the ride. The difference between riding a horse and a mule can be compared to riding in a luxury automobile versus a 4-wheel drive diesel truck.

I enjoyed our first campout of the season but was glad to get home, take a cool refreshing shower, and relax.

Now we have lots of projects to complete around home to prepare for our big Cowboy Memorial Weekend Party here.......

more about that later, I am off to bed.

My May Post

I fully intended to start blogging more regularly...... I didn't until today.

I've been busy working at clinics and here at home. We have constant projects needing our attention: Planting, building, repairing, maintainence, animal care, house work, laundry, yard work, horse & mule training, meetings, and so on and so on...
Today I am home -alone -. That is not a complaint.

I am taking a computer break. This morning I paid bills, went to the post office, sprayed our little baby orchard and rose bushes with fungicide (yes we have fungus, two types), finished three loads of laundry, went to our hospitalized neighbor's to take care of her cat and 2 dogs (one is fecal and urinary incontinent, so is no easy chore), looked at my garden's weeds and sighed and came in for lunch.

Our flowers and yard and pastures are lovely this time of year. I'll post pictures soon. *wink*

I need to run now; I have stalls to clean, a building to clear, a garden to de-weed, camping gear to pack up for tomorrow, halter the horses for the farrier at 4pm, camp grocery shopping to do, and who knows what else, maybe wash a vehicle or two, maybe paint the wood shed (not likely).

I fully intend to start blogging again more regularly.

I miss you all.
May your trails be peaceful.

Spring Weather and Assorted Stuff

My cowboy washes my truck for me.
In the snow. While I stayed in the warm, dry house.


Spring... and we had snow. At our house. On the blossoms. So much for living below the snow line.
I considered requesting a refund from our realtor, I desired property that did not get snowed on.

UFOs hovering above that outbuilding? Nah, just my trick photography.

Horse teeth. You can tell a horse's age by it's incisors. Really. And by this picture you can even make a very accurate statement about this horse's gender without looking at the nether regions. Guess how?

This is my horse on drugs. She wouldn't normally submit to having her mouth cranked wide open with a large metal device designed to allow access to her molars, which extend as far back as her cheek shows in this picture. Horses require regular dental work. Really.

OK, sometimes I do enjoy the snow. Especially when it is not at my house and I get to enjoy it on the ski slopes, with my daughter and my grandson.

When it wasn't snowing it rained. and rained. and rained. Carson enjoyed the snow more than the rain. Our new trees and the pastures and the flowers love the rain. Me too, until our roof started leaking, in the middle of the night, in the bedroom, right beside my side of the bed. drip, drip, drip....

Wet.

It didn't rain or snow all of the time. The weather cleared enough during Di's visit in Feb. for an enjoyable trail ride. My nephew rides horses and snow boards, I miss you Kev!

It stopped raining enough for another trail ride. Tristan in the lead on the tall horse, Jerry and his good buddy follow on the mules.

It really doesn't rain and snow all of the time. I enjoyed a very lovely ride with a small group of lady friends recently. I need to get over my fear of heights, then I could take pictures while we ride along the cliffs, instead of being gripped in a panic, imagining plunging to a terrifying and painful death....

The snow in February was pretty I suppose and didn't hang around for long.

My nephew rides horses and snowboards and is missed.

The grandson who (whom?) is learning to snowboard.

I have sorely neglected my blog, life is just busy, and I feel 'behind' most of the time. There is always so much to do. Yes we are able to get out and enjoy life and I enjoy sharing that. We also are busy working and busy with all of the 'projects' around our log cabin in the woods.

Snow skiing and horseback riding are two of my favorite activities. I am so thankful that we have been able to enjoy both with good friends and family.

I am calling a hotel room 'home' this week. Excellent Internet connection here. I watched a little TV this evening. Very little, I don't understand the popularity of 'Dancing With the Stars'. The news continues to depress. I am so ignorant that as hard as I try, I cannot comprehend, not by any stretch of my mind, how going into unimaginable debt will save our economy. So I turn off the news, turn on my computer and blog. I get form letter emails from one of my government representatives. I disagree with all of her views, I reply to her emails personally, but she never addresses my concerns personally. All I ask is for some common sense explanations. Listen to me go on and on. See, it's better that I don't regularly watch the television.

It's time to go lay down and do a bit of reading, compliments of the Gideons.

Oh and some grandma (nana) brag, visit greenslobber.blogspot.com and scroll down a few entries to see my youngest granddaughter in her very first horseshow. Yeehaw.

Happy Trails, whether they be dusty, wet or rainy!

March First

I just spent an hour composing my Best Blog Post ever. I pressed publish post and lost it forever. It was lost even though blogger was supposedly saving it. Oh well. *sigh*
February was a fast and busy month. This will be a fast and busy post.
Last month we planted our mini orchard, built more rock flower beds, I spent a week out of town working, I spent a couple days in Las Vegas at a conference, my sister and nephew came to visit for a week, we snow skied once, have been trail riding a few times, have had lots of rain, enjoyed some warm sunny days also, the green grass is thick and growing, the flowers are blooming, Carson is blooming also, we are all well and healthy.
Life is good.
Today has been grey, windy and rainy. A lovely day, relaxing and restful. A warm house, a pot of bean soup and pan of warm cornbread. Perfect indeed.

Road Trip

We enjoyed a quick road trip last week. Jerry had business in Eureka and I was able to ride along. The truth of the matter is, that I was along as driver so Jerry could work on his phone and computer as we traveled. He is quite the multi-task er, several deals going on at once.

We drove west to the Redwoods and then north to Eureka. The redwood forests are majestic.
I pulled over here to get a picture of the sunset through the trees.

We didn't have time this trip to get out and hike. This narrow winding stretch of road was so peaceful and beautiful with very little traffic.

Our room in Eureka was lovely. We had a nice jacuzzi in the room, comfortable beds and just a short walk to the waterfront.

After settling in our room, we went exploring. We found a restaurant/lumber museum that we thoroughly enjoyed. Here Jerry shows me old lumberjack boots or "corks". He's never worked as a lumberjack but his brother is one.

A nice display of antique cooking stove, supplies, pans and an antique cook.

We ate in this old Roadhouse, dinner was good and served family style. There were only about 9 diners and we were the last to leave. It was very active in the late 1800s and served three meals daily to the lumberjacks. I enjoyed reading several pages of fascinating history and stories.

I seem to find strange signs in the places I visit.

I walked to the water and this was the view. I was told that the smoke was steam from the paper plant or mill.

Jerry spent the day in meetings at the power plant. I spent the day walking around town in perfect weather.

Heading home we drove several miles north of Eureka and then headed east towards Redding.

Leaving early, the air was chill and patches of fog hovered above the forests. Jerry drove through the mountains allowing me to enjoy the scenery.

Small quaint, mountain villages nestle between the highway and mountains along the route. Patches of blue sky peak through pillowing clouds of fog. The forests were very dense and dark.

Perfect residential area for...........

BIG FOOT!

Yes! We stopped at the Bigfoot Museum. But to my tremendous disappointment, it was CLOSED!






It was disturbing driving through this large area devastated by a previous wildfire. Looking carefully, white tubes can be seen protecting the tiny replacement saplings.

Almost back to the valley; the foothills and Whiskeytown Lake. That line of buoys seen above, is holding a 100 foot deep rubber curtain in place. The curtain separates the shallow warmed water from the deeper cold water. After building the reservoir, it was found that the water temperatures were too warm for the successful spawning of trout/salmon. The curtain has helped the fish survive.

One parting shot, and then my turn to drive the rest of the way home. Cell service back, Jerry once again busy on his phone and computer.

I'll be back one day to visit that Bigfoot Museum and to hike in the Redwood Forest. Who knows, I may even be the next one to film Bigfoot.....

Wish you were here.....

I copied these pictures from yesterday's email. My brother in Michigan misses us and wishes we were there. I packed up and headed West almost 10 years ago. I am not a grey sky, slushy snow kind of person.

More Michigan pictures, compliments of bro. I miss you too; our family get-togethers, the pranks and jokes, road trips, but....

These pictures were also taken on Jan. 31st.

See the blue skies and green grass?

The cowboy and ranchkid spent the day planting redwood trees.

See the green grass and blue skies?

January 31st, dafodils in full bloom.

Sorry David, I just couldn't resist.

I miss you too and wish you were here!

Your big sis.