Big summer

So much has happened this summer.

Fjords and Friends in June was so much fun. Every year it ends up being the highlight of our year. We travelled to the mountains with Shari and her family again. The big difference this year was that we had a new truck and trailer. Steve bought "the Beast", a huge, bright red, 4-wheel drive, diesel, Ford truck with full towing package. And we also found an excellent bargain for a two-horse, slant-load, Sundowner fifth wheel with a large dressing room and brought it home. It's such a dream-come-true I forget to breathe when I step inside it! So we hauled our own horse for the first time to North Carolina. Solly was the only horse we took. She did me so proud ... have I told you I love that horse before? We had lots of fun group activities. Two big Robbie clinics and one morning we played games on horseback. Solly and I were the first out in most games because we haven't learned to neck-rein yet. We rode trails almost every day. We rode to the tower: Shari/Dancer, Kimberly/Pride, Audrey ponying two horses and her crew, Margo, and me on Solly. Great ride/great friends/great views. Another time we went to the lake and back: Lee/Ivar, Libby/Chester, Cherie/Tyra, and me/Solly. That was a fun, fun, fun ride. We deliberately went as a small group so we could do a lot of galloping. I hadn't galloped Solly very much at all, she is so forward that I was really kinda leery of getting her fast and excited. Well, that was silly of me because she did fabulous! Her gallop is so strong and fun to ride without gaining speed, just a steady, long-strided, breezy rhythm. One day I rode Solly behind Curt's marathon wagon and his team, Ulend and Solvar, and a horse and cart. Steve rode behind Curt on his wagon. We went to the mansion and back. That was a wonderful experience. I had never ridden out with wagons and carts before. Steve enjoyed it too! It felt so timeless, riding my horse along behind a wagon and cart, both full of people ... so "Gone With the Wind" or something. And I went out once on Solly with Robbie on Hoover. That was an interesting ride. It was a lesson ride and as usual, we rode out without a clue what we would work on until we figured out some things for him to teach me. This time, I thought to have him work with me on getting Solly to trust me on rough patches and steep hills. He taught me how to sit to encourage the horse to dig in and use her haunches instead of rushing through the obstacle. And we love our Renegade Horse Boots! Blowing Rock is as lovely as ever, and Kilwin's Ice Cream is still heaven-on-earth.

Arlo has grown into quite the handsome fellow. He looks taller than Solly, but looks could be deceiving, he is so young and rangy.

My new chickens are so dear. They are a delight. Chaucer crowed for me for the first time today! He must have been practising behind my back because he is already well past the raspy croaking stage young cockerels go through when they first start crowing.

My new chickens are half grown already