Tag: adventure

Hello, Ju. Jul. Aug. SEPTEMBER. FALL!

On By AveryIn Dogs, Horses, Life, Uncategorized1 Comment

oYe. Uh, hi. Hello there.

How many times now have I basically began to you in this exact same manner?! Too many to count, now that is sure. One of these days I will come up with a different opening. Maybe. Who knows. I am not sure I even believe that, so it is OK if you do not.

I started a post back in June, planning to catch up. I got a couple paragraphs down and then never came back to it. In fact, it took me quite a while to even find where WordPress now hides draft posts.

How is it already September…FALL!?! Yikes. Each month is going by like a the blink of an eye. It seems to have felt like that for the last two years to be honest! Since it was FEBRUARY that I last wrote, I am sure this is no surprise to you, dear readers. F. E. B. R. U. A. R. Y.

So, here I am for my seemingly new, regular, season change update. Back in February it was the anxious await of spring with the countdown to time change, greening landscapes, and shedding horses. Welp. Now it is the flip side. The change of fall has been in the air for a little while now while we all await the cooler temperatures. The foliage is starting to change. Horses (the one horse, Chance, like clockwork) have started to put some hair on. Cousin H and I have already had a fall cooking and movie fest and I am brainstorming holiday desserts. Pumpkin bread is happening soon.

Anyhoo…what all has been going on?! A LOT! Strap in and hold on. Get your drink of choice. I am sat here with my vino. Some things are going to need their own posts later on, but here are the highlights. This is going to be all over the place most likely and fair warning I will not be re-reading before hitting publish!

Lito celebrated his 12th birthday! Talk about a yikes! It feels like just yesterday he was a gangly colt. Sometimes I still see that colt in there, but his is a full grown Spanglish man full time now. I made him have a photo shoot and he was none too pleased about it, but he gave me some good looks so I will take it.

I will tell you it really was a lovely spring. One we are not always fortunate to have. I had to have a sweater on a few times in May with my morning porch coffee time. I know, crazy, right?!

I snuck away for a week to Hawaii just as the summer heat started to show itself.

What is that you say?! Slipped that one in there, didn’t I?

Yes! I got invited to come to Hawaii and ride Carino into the crater! I of course could not turn an adventure like that and the opportunity to visit my Aunt and Uncle down. Life is about saying ‘YES‘ when you can! Carpe diem, YOLO, all of it.

Then my Cheetah turned 21. Talk about a mind boggler. I made her do the same photo shoot as Lito. She did not really show up to play, but I got some decent enough shots.

Merley bob also celebrated a big birthday this summer and got to go to the hill country for a ride with Lito to celebrate. This birthday was one that honestly, I have been…I do not even know the word. Fearing, I guess. A birthday I never got to see with my Darcy girl. It does not help that the end of May was the anniversary of her passing. It is always a strange time for me. A big part of me actually subconsciously thought we would never get here.

But he did! My Merley turned 6!

I am a bad mom and never got around to his birthday photoshoot, so please enjoy these other snaps.

Need a break yet? OK, hurry fast. I won’t wait long.

OK, where were we?

Lito and I had a big adventure with his first out of state mountain trip to New Mexico!

New Mexico was a great end cap to summer. This morning I enjoyed pinon coffee that I bought there.

The summer really was lovely and quite mild. Many places got quite a bit of rain. Some places tragically too much. Others like us have had almost none. But, I have even had some nice mornings out with my coffee since August and I just got my winter horse hay loaded in last weekend. It sure is nice to get that chore finished. Now to source hay for the cows, which we will need more this year than in years past.

September and fall have gotten off to…um…a rocky start? Dichotomous? Is this a train wreck of a transition?

I guess that is how I could put it. I could use a myriad of different words.

It began with a major high.

I brought Lito home over Labor Day weekend for the first time and it was lovely. I had a pajama party ride with friends down the road followed by a care free afternoon with them in the pool. The rest of the time was spent enjoying our first rides at home, homemade brunches, and movies on the couch with Merle for the afternoon rain storms. It was the most truly relaxing time I have had in a long time.

After that high came the nightmare of a low. The kind that makes you regret everything. If I had not had that weekend, maybe this would not have happened. If I had never gotten into horses. I am going to be really quick here. Cold even, at least it feels that way to me. It is the only way I can put it down. It still haunts me and it will for quite some time.

We lost our dear Lei Lei. I never did introduce you to her I do not think. She was the most perfect of large bay pinto ponies. She had spirit and spunk. She fit right into the very heartbeat of our herd. I do not know how else to put it. She was perfect in all the ways. Even in her naughty pony ways. Her loss is palpable. If you could see a literal hole, it is there. A hole in the herd. In the energy. In the pasture. In the barn. In the soul. The property.

It was a fluke that I was even at the farm that morning, but it was clear from a far that something was very wrong. I got mad at first, who has the time for this? I got a call into the vet right after that. The rest of the heard knew everything was wrong. I cried with our vet before we loaded her up and I drove her to the hospital for her last chance.

Chance knew she was not coming back. The look on his face when I came back alone. He turned away from me the following morning.

We prayed she would just have an impaction in her small intestine and that fluids and pain meds and all the juju dances would get her through. Unfortunately, we believe she had a fatty, strangulating mass and quite possibly a resulting rupture. We could not get her stable and had to make the call at 3:30 AM.

I do not know what else to say. I proceeded to clean and prep her stall anyway because I did not know what else to do. I sat and stared at the box her mane and tail came in for days.

It is the very worst part of being involved with horses and animals in general. That is the unfortunate reality which is why I am even sharing this.

Then, in the truest way of horses, Lito was lame the following weekend. That will have to have its own update later as well because now I am worn out, but he is making progress in the correct direction. So there is that.

I really am very sorry for dumping on you. If you have made it this far, I appreciate you being here.

Walk in love, dear readers. Until next time.

Happy October!

On By AveryIn Horses, Life, Music6 Comments

Or, as us cool people know, the best month of the year.

Ah, my dear readers. How I have longed to sit down and chat with you. How have you been?

I am still over here just a runnin’ ’round like crazy. What is really crazy to me is how long this little corner of the internet has been around. EIGHT years (back in August). Can you believe that!?! That is just wild. I created this blog on a whim it felt like. I had been thinking about it for a long time and had done a very little research, but then one day, bam, I just went for it. While at work, no less. Don’t tell anyone. I remember being so surprised at how easy it was and also too, very proud of myself. A part of me longs for when I could write to you most every day like I used to. The majority of me though is just so glad about where I am at. I am working on being OK with stopping in here when I can.

I am currently sitting on the porch, sipping on some rose wine (long time readers know how this can go sometimes!), enjoying the sunset while I write. I am sitting in the same place I drank my coffee this morning to enjoy the sunrise. In fact, if I am being truthful, and you know I always am, what is left of my coffee is sitting here next to me on the table next to my glass of wine because I willfully left it there this morning when Merle and I hopped in the truck to head to work. I know, how very adult of me. I will be even more honest and tell you that I even put my bottle of wine in an ice bucket and that is sitting at my feet. It would be even better if Merle was at my feet too, but alas, the smells in the country can not keep that dog down for long (or really at all). He is out there sniffing and wagging his tail, living his best dog life.

I am feeling blessed that I am looking at some green grass in front of me, but pretty much everywhere else has been burned up to a crisp. Texas summer is holding on strong and keeping us rather warm in the afternoons with highs in the mid to upper nineties. That is one of my justifications for the wine in the ice bucket. It is still so hot! I plopped an ice cube in my wine (gasp!) to keep it cool when I sat down and it has already melted in full.

Pops asked me just the other day if we were going to have a fall. I have two horses growing coats. Which the one I know he starts that early every year no matter what. The trees are turning and beginning to drop their leaves. We have had some semblance of a cool front that has granted us some admittedly very nice mornings, they just do not linger all that long.

I am not complaining though, do not get me wrong. I so feel for everyone that has suffered in the path of hurricane Helene. Some of that destruction many did not see coming at all. You know we know how you feel. One thing after all of these storms that I can remember is that you have to remember ANYTHING can happen in the storm path. No two storms are the same. Scale category means absolutely nothing. Obtain any and all information you can from varied sources.

Anyway, here I am again talking to you about the weather. I can not even remember what all I have told you other than sharing my trip to the mountains of Colorado.

Here is the thing. Shhhhhhhhh. Don’t tell anyone. Life has changed for me in a (big) way, but it does not feel or seem that way. It is so natural and comforting I can not explain it and I really can not explain how grateful and blessed I feel. Really it happened a little bit ago, but I am keeping this quiet for a while to really let it all absorb. Let it settle. BE PRESENT. Get used to it. I have not shared it with really anyone, and that is OK. I may share it one day. Everything with work and the animals and everything else is the same and as great as ever and there is nothing to worry over. The most grand AHA moment there ever was.

Another, even bigger AHA moment. You will likely be tired of this one, but I do not care. This is the one ‘never’ you can say. NEVER forget that you are not promised tomorrow. LIVE your life for real. I lost someone near and dear to me and to my Mamma and to my family. She and my Mamma were the very best of friends. One of my God Mothers. Sad business that. Took me right on back to H and I felt like I could barely go through the motions.

So back to the anyway.

I baked pumpkin bread for the first time already this season (not that I need that excuse, but go with me here) way back some time in August. It felt good and right. There was just the slightest inkling of a fall thought in the air. If you believe the air can have thoughts. It was not really fall at all then (and I knew it would not be), but it sure was good. I stashed the second loaf in the freezer. I am feeling the need to pull it out now.

Lito and I have been riding, as per usual (I could go on and on about how year 11 is the absoulte magic year for homebred horses, but I think I will leave that for another day other than to say that this/he was the best decision I have ever ever made), but we have been getting ready for our big ride coming up in a couple of weeks ever since I got back from Colorado…I actually went back to Colorado for my cousin’s wedding the week after I got back from my Colorado vacation if you missed that…did you follow that???….ANYWAY…In just over a week’s time we will be making our way in that direction. If you don’t know, we go on a big week long ride in the hill country of this great state every October (outside of COVID…but a small group of us had our own little one that year anyway in the east Texas pines) with a group of ladies I belong to (since I am nice and always here for you, if you missed it and are interested and want to see what it is all about…within reason (some of it is like secret society stuff…see the following 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016…you’re welcome, there are at least some great pics). There is always a lot of prep work leading up to the ride outside of the riding hours to get you and your horse ready. Maintenance on the trailer. Stocking up on horse essentials and feed. Then the actual packing for both you and your horse and traveling.

I have been obsessed with this song lately. Really hitting my jam. Not really sure why, other than I have lived in this space. And, sometimes still am…like when I have to go to funerals. Anyway, It is so so good. Sometimes some of you good readers would ask me my favorite song or band of the moment. This is where I am at.

Give it a listen and remember, “you are still fine…God’s perfect wording…you’ll be alright…God is not giving you up,” OK that is the actual biggest AHA moment.

I am on a roll here tonight, OK? The coyotes like this song too if you were wondering.

You know there is always a song or band. Which! Hey! By the way, one of my favorite bands, Cross Canadian Ragweed, is kinda (sorta) getting back together! They broke up way back around about when I graduated from college. They once (or many times) said they would never get back together. Well, never say never because they are going to do a show (a big one…with a bunch of greats) and see how it goes! Fingers crossed it goes and sounds great and they go all in and make a new album. Honestly, waking up to that news today (well really they have been teasing the news for a little bit if you didn’t and wanted to know) sure made me feel like dang near anything is possible in this world. The press on this is overshadowing their website on google, otherwise I would link it for you. Really, I could try harder, but at the moment I am not going to (so sorry!). So, who wants to go to Oklahoma with me in April? I bet the tickets are already sold out. The internet and the world basically died (and went back to high school) when the news broke I think. I am not sure I could tell you which of their songs is my favorite.

Well, my dear readers, it is time. It is (past) dark now and feels pretty dang good out (and the bugs are being summoned to my computer screen….and a frog is hopping across my porch rug), but it is about time I get ready for bed…and have no more wine! We are up early and back to the office in the morning! Work is always busiest when you are! And you know what? I would not have it any other way right now.

Walk in love, dear readers! Tell me something good!

Tune back in for some great hill country between the dun ears pics!

The Hill Country Between The Ears.

On By AveryIn Horses3 Comments

Now on to the reason most of you are probably here for, the proof of adventure, the regularly scheduled programing, the ‘Between The Ears’ shots where you can follow along on the trail!

I am going to let this be mostly a ‘Wordless Wednesday,’ or at least as wordless as I can be. Join us in our own little world.

I am glad for the special times I shared with my people and the late nights laughing until we cried. I am also glad for the time I got with my boy.

Lito walks with a purpose and moves out. He does best when he is out front, and well, so do I. One of the lead horses was very slow and they were happy to let us lead the way to encourage my friend’s horse to walk out a little more.

I am not sure he will ever not look like a baby to me. He seemed happy enough in his pen…even if he dumped his hay out of his bucket and spread it around. You can see a little white salt block there on the ground. I did not mention this in my previous traveling post, but for long trips away, especially when he is in a small pen or stall, I also bring a little salt block. I do this for his salt replenishment if he needs it, but I also do it for his entertainment and distraction. I do not like to hang it on my panels (I do have a hanger) because I do not want them to rust.

He was happy to be back home with his herd and his mamma. The haul home was long and arduous. For both of us. It was the day of the eclipse and there was A LOT of traffic…not to mention crazy people just on the side of the road wanting to watch it. If I could have left earlier, I would have. I also think there was some extra…energy in the air and atmosphere from the eclipse and Lito seemed to be reacting to it. He did not do anything bad per se, but he was just moving around quite a bit in the trailer and seemed restless and unhappy. All was right with the world when we got back to the farm.

Unpacking and cleaning is always nicer when it is so pretty out and my horses watch with their cute faces. We got even more rain while we were gone and the pastures are really showing it.

R and I are hoping to squeeze in one more horsey adventure before we head to New Mexico to reunite with friends.

There is a lot of work to do between now and then and before we know it, it is Thanksgiving and Christmas! Time for baking and cooking and movies galore!

Walk in love, dear readers!

Ireland, The Arrival.

On By AveryIn Horses7 Comments

A place that goes by many names. Some you know, some you do not.

I am not going to go down the rabbit hole I almost just went down on all the names Ireland is or has been known by. That was a close one. We are all safe though.

I will however share a name by which it is now known to me.

‘The Place Where The Term, “Photos Do Not Do It Justice,” Was Coined.’

Good, no?! OK, fine, we will work on it, but here is why I think this. I think this is also where I might finally break WordPress’ photo capacity. Just blow it up. Wish us luck, I have many, many pictures. This whirlwind trip will be broken up into a few posts letters. The point is, dear readers, I was disappointed in most all of my photos! Now, I can anticipate y’all telling me I am full of IT. However, if you could have seen it all with your own eyes and felt it all with all your known and unknown feelings, you would feel the same. I would look at my pictures at the end of the day and just wonder what exactly it was I saw with my own eyes. It was more…everything! The pictures simply do not do the place any kind of justice.

My trip I suppose technically began two Thursdays ago. I was fully packed on Wednesday and my house was about one hundred percent clean by that point. I may have stayed up super late one night (like 1 AM), fueled by anticipation and super strong coffee to get there, but I got there! It felt amazing to only have to wake up Thursday and put clean sheets on my bed. I am not sure what feels more accomplished than that. I know, that sounds somewhat sad, but adulting is sad sometimes! It feels really good to come home to a spotless house. It also gives you a good reason to procrastinate on unpacking and laundry upon your return. Who would want to undo all that hard work!? Anyway, I digress…

Fortunately for both Merle and myself, we had a quick 12 hours at the farm scheduled after work on Thursday. He was really in a dither with the packing and energy and general change. I always feel guilty when the dogs get upset knowing you’re leaving and not wanting to be left behind. We had just enough time to let him have good run and for me to check on everyone in addition to getting a few things done before we had to leave Friday morning. I said a sad goodbye to my boy Merle at the kennel at mid morning on my way back home to grab a quick shower, throw my bag in the truck, and head to my friend’s house. I left my truck safely parked there and we hopped in a car to the airport.

I was feeling pretty good by this point, but I would still not feel like I was actually on vacation until we all arrived on the Emerald Isle WITH our bags. There have been a lot of airline travel mishaps recently as I am sure you have heard and it was definitely something that was causing me some slight worry. BUT, as they say, try not to worry for naught!

Getting through bag check and security was a blessed non event and we headed straight to find a mimosa and lunch! It is vacation and travel after all! Mimosas are the first call of duty on any trip and we had plenty of time before our 4:45 PM departure.

There are blessedly no airplane pictures for you, at least not for the flight over. If you have been around here a while, you might well have been expecting some of those. I did it both when I went to France and when I went to Hawaii! I feel it shares the whole experience. The truth is though, I always feel so silly taking pictures out the window of the wings or of the flight trajectory while in flight. Ha, normally it does not stop me, but this time it did. I was more restless while in the air than I normally am.

All that said, the travel went off just fine! We landed at 10:30 AM Ireland time and so did our bags. The fun could really begin now. We were picked up by one of the farm owners and we stopped at a shop in Bunratty on the way for a coffee and a snack. In retrospect, we should have also made a quick souvenir run through here as well, but we did not.

You already know the Ireland is very green. They call it the Emerald Isle for a very obvious reason. I was expecting it, but the stark difference to Texas at the present moment deep in a very brown and crispy drought was a bit shocking! I could also mention the starkness of the difference in temperatures, 100+ deg. F to 60 deg. F, but we do not need to go there. However, the flowers there! They are stunning. Flowers everywhere. Not just landscaped flowers, but wild ones as well! These beauties along with the hydrangeas literally everywhere were just lovely. I have never seen so many hydrangeas and of such size and so many colors. Funny thing is, I think I only have one hydrangea picture from the whole time and it is a bad one through the window of a bead and breakfast. Oh well, live for the moment! Anyway, like I was saying, the colors. All kinds and colors of wild grown flowers. The fuchsia bushes and hedges and the purple heather in the fields are just stunning against the green. It brings complimentary colors to a whole new level. It really makes me want to become a master gardener.

We only stopped for half an hour before making the rest of the drive to the farm which would be our home base for the next four nights.

Like I said, GREEN! Made also even more green by the lovely weather we had. We did have some rain too, do not you worry!

The drive was…I am not sure of the word to use here. Harrowing seems like it should be a bit strong, it is not like we did not know the whole opposite side of the car bit, but I think it just might be accurate! Put eight Texans in a van hip to hip and drive it on the left side of the narrow, non shouldered, not quite two lane road with fast oncoming traffic…not sure what else to call it. I think Bertie was laughing at all of our gasps. It was an experience!

We were all ready to get out and scretch our legs, at take a deep breath, by the time we arrived.

We were immediately greeted by the magical wonder and charm of the farm and the house, but the best part was being greeted by Sneachta, or Snow, the sweetest lab (and a good looking and behaved one too!).

Have a walk through the house with us!

So many things to see and experience here. So many nooks and crannies. So much history and magic. I bet I could come ten times and still see something new.

After arriving at the farm mid Saturday, we had the rest of the day to rest and be leisurely. We got a tour of the whole house and got settled in our rooms two by two. We had to have another toast after getting settled! I chose a Bulmers light Irish Cider. Little did I know I was toasting to my horse!

After grabbing our drinks, we went for a little walk around the farm. In addition to Snow the Lab, there was also a Border Collie, also named in Irish/Gaelic, but I can not remember her name. It sounded somewhat like snickers and nothing like Cujo, but we called her Cujo as she was a typical turbo intense BC. Very sweet though!

The house and barns were completely surrounded by a magical forest. A magical forest glade! I have no doubt that there were ferries in amongst the trees.

Cujo trying to tell us dense humans where we should go with her by luring us with her stick.

An Sibin is the name of the farm/riding center/outfitter. The name apparently means speak easy and/or/with homemade whiskey. We booked our trip through Stacey with Active Riding Trips and we had a lovely booking experience with them. We came for an eight day riding adventure from Whitegate to the west coast complete with six riding days. It was an adventure to be sure and we really covered some country!

Once we had our little walk around the farm with our drinks, we retreated to our rooms for a little nap. While I did not think I would be able to sleep, I am glad that I got a little bit of a nap as I could not sleep on the plane.

After our naps we all got a little restless and dinner was not until 7 PM. We had some time so most of us took another little walk down the road and hooked up with the walking trail before dinner.

Loyal snow stayed with us the whole way and back again.

We went a little ways down the trail before the ground got a bit soft and wet, so we turned around to stroll back for dinner.

We had a lovely candle lit three course dinner with wine of cuscus stuffed roasted tomatoes followed by succulent slices of pork with potatoes and veggies and a finale of apple and berry crumble topped with fresh, soft whipped cream.

I went to bed full of anticipation and dreams of meeting my horse for the week the next morning! This is what we came here for, to ride and see Ireland by horseback, between the ears.

The story continues! Come back soon for the next chapter!

Walk in love, dear readers!

Call Me Augustina.

On By AveryIn Dogs, Horses, Life4 Comments

“Ain’t nothin’ better than ridin’ a fine horse in new country.”

~spoken by Augustus McCrae”― Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove

I can not help but think of the above quote every time I ride in a new place. My critters and I seem to have the same thirst as Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call for seeing new country. Call it adventurous if you will, I do not even know what to call it. Lito especially just eats it up.

This past weekend, Merle, Lito, Petunia and I loaded up and headed to north central Texas to ride some new country. It was a great and relaxing time getting used to the place, despite the big time rain we got Friday night and the resulting winds. On Saturday morning, both Lito and Petunia felt as if they had been bathed, if that tells you anything about the kind of rain we had.

Today, I will just let the pictures speak for themselves, so please click trough the slide show, watch the videos, and enjoy! This is about as close to a wordless Wednesday as you will get from me as I have found out over the years.

I particularly want to point out MVP emotional support donkey, Petunia, who travels with us when we go places without other riders and the insane wildflowers. Honestly, saying the pictures do not do them justice is the biggest understatement. They give blanket of Indian Blankets a whole new meaning. There are even still bluebonnets there!

Your AHA moment for today is brought to you by Augustus McCrae, by way of Larry McMurtry:

“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” ~spoken by Augustus McCrae”

― Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove

Not just where you live, but how you live.

If you have never read the book or watched the movie, I highly recommend it!

I want to thank each and every one of you for being here. For coming along with us on this journey. For enjoying my pictures. For reading. For commenting. For your sweet email notes. I am grateful for it all!

Go make your bed, get your second cup of coffee, and get after it today!

Walk in love, dear readers!

We are headed back to the water this weekend for some bay fishing in our favorite place! Talk soon!

Rain on the Plains.

On By AveryIn Dogs, Horses, LifeLeave a comment

The coastal plains, that is.

This is the best kind of rain. This meaning any kind. Bring on La Nina! Do not worry, I am not going to go off on a tangent about weather. Or at least I do not think so! You never know with me.

Anyway, while it is not raining on this fine morning, it was raining the last time we spoke. The past several weeks have brought several inches. In fact, we have been blessed with so much rain that there have been times we could go mud skiing! At times just walking has actually felt just like that. I slipped the other day (I almost fell and I felt like I was a cartoon character, or on an episode of Punked) and my back is still yelling at me. I guess I have just reached that next level of ‘more wise’ age where the body is starting to be a traitor to the mind. Sigh.

However, the pond is full, the grass is growing and everything is colorful, and all the animals are fat and sassy. One of the best times of year before it gets too hot. The rain and life’s schedule has made riding lately an every other week occasion, but it is better than no riding! I have been there and it is no bueno. We have definitely been taking advantage of the riding days we do get, but we will get to that soon. We actually got back from an adventure yesterday!

After our Good Friday at the farm, The Merley Bob and I loaded up the truck on Saturday and headed to the beach for 24 hours. Long story short, it was glorious!

Ha! Long story short, y’all know me too well. It was a big 24 hours!

I enjoyed a lovely early bird dinner on a patio over the water with this lovely cocktail.

After dinner, Merle and sat on the porch and enjoyed a couple hours of wine and views and music.

Easter morning was of course celebrated sunrise style with a long walk. It was…? I do not even know a word. Y’all help me!

Spot the Merle blur as he hits the beach!

Just a bird dog doing bird dog things.

Merle has only two speeds if you were not aware. Zero and turbo. Turbo requires all four off the floor for the majority. Flying is more fun if you ask him.

I picked up only one shell to take back to leave where I was staying. Growing up, we always loved to collect shells with Pops. Buckets full in total over the years. Some were just for enjoying their beauty. Some were for crafts. Some were to put in a flower bed or a book shelf. Some were for candles. I kind of like to leave them where they are for the most part these days, but this one seemed like it should go back with me, so it did.

Merley was tired after his turbo beach walk and so was I! No naps for me though as we had to soon hit the road for an early Easter dinner. For this celebration, I made a lemon cake. It was delicious, but it was very ugly. A Leaning lemon Tower of Pisa! The oven I used was not level and I had 3 layers. I was too lazy to trim them even, so I slapped together my leaning cake and hoped for the best. However, It was very tasty! So long as it tastes good, that is all that really matters in the end.

We went on our annual ladies group spring ride which I have probably written about in previous years. I did not take many pictures, but we had some big thunder storms the first night. My Lito man seemed not bothered by it when I could finally go out to check on him when it was all over. It was an interesting weekend as he had A LOT of feelings about ducks because of peacocks and wind. Horses, man. He rode well, so there you go.

My Cheetah Girl then got some kind of upper respiratory funk that required 2 times a day antibiotics for two weeks. I will only share one pic and just say, there was an odor, OK? Thankfully, my girl has a kissable muzzle again, and that is all that matters at the end of the day.

While not ideal to be a commuter during those 2 weeks, it was glorious to be able to start and end my days with all my animals.

I have had to do this from time to time for varying reasons and it is always worth it. I may curse the traffic a little (actually no more than I always do), but it is generally bliss. Sunrises. Sunsets. Horses. Cows. Dinner on the porch. Evening rides or drives. Crossing things off the list. Quality time all around.

During these times I get a lot of spring cleaning and organizing done while also completing special projects or needed chores. It always seems easier to get the work done like this during the week even though you only have a few hours every week evening to do them. This way the weekend can just be that, a weekend, and not work.

My special project this go round was trimming up a ‘trail’ in the river bottom to make it easier and more enjoyable to ride. By enjoyable, I mean less ducking, dead ends, and spider webs. I used to always have a loop down there, but it is always changing and evolving and it requires constant maintenance to keep it ‘rideable.’ It had been a while since I had done any work down there, but a few evenings and half of a wet rainy Saturday and we were back in business. I spent my other evenings reacquainting the horses with the bottom as it had been a little while since they had been down there. Lito seems to like it the most out of all of them, but he has also been down there more than anyone else except for his mother, Cheetah.

I also took time every evening after chores and feeding to check the cows. They are all due to have their calves right about now. Two of them dropped their calves at the very beginning of my two week antibiotic administration stay, so I got to see them almost every day for those two weeks. There are more to come soon, but these mammas are holding on tight!

One of my favorite things to do in the evenings has always been to go sit amongst the cows while listening to them graze. I did this when I was younger too. I of course love to listen to the horses eat. Most horse people feel this way. There is just something about the rhythmic sound of the chewing combined with their breathing and the smells and the feeling of contentment. Listening to cows graze at down and dusk is the exact same. The sound of their breathing and their swiping tongue and grass cropping and the chewing. I do not know, it is hard to describe unless you are there to hear it and feel it.

OK, you are right, I also go check on them multiple times a day when I am there during the day too.

We might be tardy on the mowing, but I prefer to just focus on and enjoy the green product of all these rains. Especially when viewed between a pair of dun colored ears.

Check back tomorrow for our adventure with new views between these very dun colored ears! Spoiler alert, there was rain! BUT, it did not spoil the adventure!

Walk in love, dear readers!

A Hippie-Dippie Woo Adventure and The Bestest Boy.

On By AveryIn Uncategorized6 Comments

The BESTEST boy.

I am going to brag here in a bit. You might just want to skip to the photos at the bottom from the ride!

The bestest boy not only earned, but he deserves some carrots and apples after last week.

They really are not even enough. All the treats in the world would not be enough!

I am not even kidding. About 20 times a day I would tell Lito how good, brave, and handsome he is.

It was more than him just taking care of me and safely carrying me around all week. It was more than him just being a good boy. Both of these things are blessings to be sure. Horses give us humans so much for our own gain that does not have much to do with the horse.

I know I get all hippie-dippie, but we were in sync. We had the same feelings there in the hills with over one hundred other horses and riders that we have had for the last few months no matter where we are. I know you horse people know how great it is to have the same horse away from home that you have at home. It is the same with dogs and kids. It does not happen all the time for a myriad of reasons.

Have we been riding more away from home than in the past? Yes, we have done that. Have we been riding more away from home with more horses than we have in the past? Yes, we have also done that. Have we spent more weekends away in company than we have in the past? Yup, that too. He has been better and better every year, which is generally to be expected too. But it is more. More of a feeling. That we are on the same wavelength. That we are both right there, in a secret, private place. Almost like a cocoon with nobody else even though we are surrounded by others. It feels as though we are the same. Communicating is not even the right word. Sure, there is that and it is more open and two way than ever, but it is the feel or feeling rather than communicating. The feeling of presence. The flow of energy that has no beginning and no end. If that makes sense. It is some pretty good woo stuff.

I got emotional a few times while we were riding. It was just the whole of it all. This horse came to be from a thought, a dream. It was something I always wanted and only became possible with my Cheetah. All the planning and waiting and trials in addition to trails, and here we are. I bred and trained this horse that carried me so proudly this week.

ANYWAY.

Please enjoy some shots from the ride. Other people and secret shenanigans omitted, as per usual.

R and I had an uneventful and even pleasant caravan drive to our home for the week. We even stopped at the big tack store on the way which we have not been able to do in a while. I snagged a new pair of reins and a curb chain. I told myself I could not get any more. I am just glad they did not have a sale going on like that one year!

We arrived in camp at about 11:30 AM. It took us no time at tall to get our horses set up and let the party begin.

Did I say buffalo?! Why, yes, yes I did. Follow Lito’s left ear and you can see a big ‘ol buffalo bull.

Pray for rain. It is pretty sad. We have been blessed with some rain at the farm, but dang. It was so so dry there. Basically no grass. Dirt and dust in and on all of our stuff. My jeans by the end of the week were standing up with dirt as if they had been starched! But look at that hill country sky!

Not that I necessarily pray for a flood, but this drought might be worse than 2011.

Before we headed back this day, we went up the big hill for the best view.

My not so little Lito just trucked up and down without a trouble or extra breath it seemed. He gave everyone their space and kept pace with little input by me.

My photos are a little blurry and I apologize for that. They are all taken with my phone and I tried to clean the lens before every shot, but sometimes it did not seem to help at all.

The tract across the highway has a little more grass, which Lito was delighted with, but still way less than past years.

Why not Line Back Dun Gold??? Lito did sport some glitter one day like last year, and it is still just as fun! I had fancy braids planned, but I ran out of time for that.

If you have not guessed or did not know, this area and this river in particular are quite special and iconic in Texas. We are blessed to be able to ride here!

This place has some of the grandest cypress trees of all. It is very difficult to get a pic with Lito in it AND the tops of the trees! They are so big around, we would need four of us to hug the trunks!

We had cloudy mornings and clear, blue afternoons every day! We did not have any rain, but I think would have all welcomed a little sprinkle or two at night to settle the dust.

The Frio river itself has actually had a good amount of input and was flowing in places. It offers a good long drink and a nice cold soak to cool the horse’s hooves and legs before lunch.

We got a bit of a later start on the drive back home because somebody’s horse would not load, but eventually it did. Lito loaded well and hauled pretty well back home to the farm. I got him settled and fed and then the same to myself before dark. Then it was a hot bath and champagne before bed.

We rode. We swam. We shared stories. We remembered. We laughed. We cried. We enjoyed each other and our horses. Mostly though, I loved on and appreciated my horse.

Each year, while we ride in the same place, is different. However, one thing remains the same. This place and these days and these horses and these people, are all those the Lord has made. Tomorrow is never promised. Learn that lesson now. Enjoy now.

Remember, focus on the positive, not the negative! Most all things wash out in the rain, just another reason to pray for it!

Walk in love, dear readers!

Teaser

On By AveryIn Horses, Life4 Comments

Y’all. I just can not help it. I have a little teaser for you. OK, maybe not so little…I am sorry I am not sorry! Just a little stroll down memory lane, if you will.

It is just that…

giphy

We will be headed to our yearly ride in a little over a week and I just want to go through photos and memories until we are on the road! So, I am going to bring you along with me!

A photo summary of year 1…

This song…I listened to it about ten times on Friday.
So excited to be in Friday traffic on the way to the farm!
On the road again
Hey look what we found! A cross on the hill!
I got my sun coverage
We had plenty of provisions.
Ikey settled into his stall. I think he liked pretending to be fancy with a stall full of shavings.
Ike’s buddy Ronan, the red roan. AKA RoRo.
Ikey poo patiently waiting.
driving, driving
It sprinkled a little and it felt so good.
Look at that kissable face.
We horse people like when our horses poop. It means they are healthy, so we take photos and send them to our friends!
Beautiful sunset. Could not help but put the rig in there. Kinda hard not to with a 34 foot trailer.
Too cute for words. Ikey poo and RoRo.
Heavens. Look at all that stuff in there. We are girls…
Look at the beautiful rig!

Year 2…

Year 3…

How will I make trough the next week???

giphy (1)

I am so excited to see what this fourth year will hold. A little older. A little wiser. And no less in  need of it!

Lito is just as excited as I am, even if he can not tell me so in English.

Walk in love, dear readers!

 

 

 

 

Merle

On By AveryIn Dogs, Life, Music12 Comments

So, I did a thing and now I have a story to tell.

There was a hole in my heart and it needed to be filled.

If you have been following along on that social media thing (it was fun, you should give it a try), the pup is already out of the bag…but, if you have not been…I have some news!

Just when you thought I was going to share yet another Merle Haggard song (which I actually am because I slacked on sharing those and they are worth sharing), I am going to share a little something about Haggard’s new namesake, Merle the puppy! Likely soon to be Merle Man and Merle Dog and any other logical nickname. My favorite of those nicknames so far is Mighty Merle. It suites him!

So, without further adieu, I introduce to you, Merle, my new wingpup.

Naturally, that begins with where he came from. He comes from the same place Darcy’s sire, King, is from. And, King is actually one of Merle’s grand relations. This is all a full circle deal full of connections. Signs I tell you. The only difference is I did the drive this time instead of C and J. But this Merle’s story and it could not have been any other way.

This is his dam mamma, Nugget. I call her Nugg. You know how I am about nicknames.

A good and proud mamma she is.

After the pups were weaned, she escaped multiple times to get back to her pups. I love that about her.

This is the proud sire, Scotch. Handsome guy.

My Merle man seems to take after him.

This is a Merle pup from early on.

The cutest stinker.

He looks like a thinker.

Here is where the adventure part comes in…We flew up to North Dakota to pick him up! We almost missed our connecting flight, but we made it right before they closed the doors. And then…rented a car and drove all the way back to the great state, special package in tow!

If you are thinking I may or may not be crazy and that whoever would choose to come with me on such an endeavor is equally as insane…you may or may not be right! Let me tell you though, it was indeed a grand adventure and we had fun seeing parts of the country we have never seen before. On top of that, Merle is already a road tripper just like Darcy!

Friday evening in North Dakota we enjoyed watching the sunset after a taking a tour of the kennels. Sunsets in North Dakota are pretty! It was so great to be with the people that made my Darcy girl and Merle man happen.

Mighty Merle had bath time Saturday morning before hitting the road!

A dirty puppy is a sign of a happy, playing, outdoor puppy.

Look at all those spots under there!

He took pretty well to the road tripping and developed his riding preferences, like they do. The initial shotgun riding position that makes for a good dog.

The pretty Dakotas through an increasingly dirty windshield.

Driving.

The preferred shotgun riding position which makes for a great dog!

Pretty!

Posing or taking care of business?

Boop!

Driving some more.

Keep on keeping on.

Really so very pretty. All I wanted to do was ride a horse here…and clean the windshield.

The only evidence of Nebraska was a picture of a sleeping puppy.

Merle met some bikers headed to Sturgis.

By this point it was just put the pedal to the metal and get us all home.

Somewhere in here was Kansas…zero photo evidence. Just trying not to speed.

We finally made it to Oklahoma and the big dog had a big dog time! He was in two different random photo shoots with random people we ran into. There were two girls in a car that screeched to a stop in the middle of the street to jump out and ask if they could pet my Merle.

There was speeding from this point on to get us back to Texas.

We are finally home now and playing during coffee time. Learning what are toys and what are not toys.

He is already a brave a smart boy. Exciting times are to come!

Walk in love, dear readers, and enjoy both Merles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorado

On By AveryIn Faith, Life, Music, Uncategorized8 Comments

You know what? It is hard to get off mountain time twice in one month.

Ha!

What a statement! Can you believe I can say that? I certainly can not complain about it one bit.

This summer has been so great and it is not even over yet.

The thing is, I was too busy being in the moment, breathing in the mountain air, and enjoying just being in the mountains that I did not take very many pictures.

However, we went on a little hike after an attempt at yoga on the mountain and saw this sweet, little big view.

There was a lot of stunning storm watching. You know how I feel about storms.

There was a lot of marveling at God’s creation. How can a person not in a place like this?

We went on a bike ride to eat lunch.

And. We saw a rainbow. What is it about this place and rainbows? I see one every time I am here.

I blinked my eyes and here we are back in Texas. Is not that just the way?

Trying (not really THAT hard) to get off mountain time and back into real, adulting life for a few days. No more than that though because there is something exciting happening at the end of this week.

I told you this summer was going to be an adventure. We have been on two so far and the biggest one is yet to come! Here is your hint (ha! What a hint!). There will be a song for each day leading up to the big reveal. You do not want to miss this, I promise!

Walk in love, dear readers!