Blessing of a day ~

We had not planned this ride, as there were pending events to happen on this day. Well, as the week unfolded and the day gor closer...all plans went South and my "Must Ride" friend decided to pick me up and go up to the mountain for one- last- seasonal(colorful) ride.
 The day was amazingly fabulous...for having storms upon storms hitting the area, as per the normal chain of events for the time of year. WE SO LUCKED OUT- or Rather- We were BLESSED!!! We did give the appropriate Praises too!

As I read  from other bloggers, they too  enjoyed the same euphoric rides,  in other beautiful parts of the country and world!

Driving up to the mountain..wow it is specatacular to see Mount Hood and the fall colors, through the windshield.

Though sunny, it was crisp, in the fall air as we readied.

On down the trail to the creek...Wa was happy to follow...she has a very good memory about the creek...LARGE ROUND ROCKS. She did give me a fit about it too...I had to tell her, "We are only going to look at it this time, not cross it, I promise!"

She had distain in her ears as we looked on it.

Then up and around to another sandy roadway;  my friend had been wanting to share with me...OH! I can see why now...the view of the mountains and river below was breathtaking and we just sighed MORE Praises!

Simeon, goes to the water a bit timidly at first, but then goes ahead in confidence.  I remember all ll the times this summer, we have played a  "leap frog" riding technique( I go first-then, you go first) It has REALLY given him a confidence!

Washashe mare enjoyed the water too.

She really relaxed for some time, when we first got there, drank deeply and was very content to stand in the cold, wet, Sandy River.

There was hidden fun this day, finding sandy paths that we could circle around  trees and large boulders, making impromtu -20 meter -or so-arenas. We spent time practicing outdoorsey  "rhythm trotting".  They have to settle to be able to do it...even though one side of the trail points homeward and they truly wish to speed up...you traverse the area enough..they realize....they better settle in the even tempo, and be able to stop sooner. We did have some fun with that, as it came sponteanously, when we rode down the paths.

Untacking, we found a "Hitchin Post" rather hidden away from the paved "staging area", were we parked the rig. They enjoyed some hay and also some excitement. There was a team of search dogs being trained nearby, and they heard them yet, never actually saw them.

Red cooler mare, ready to ride home after a day in the woods.

Gorgeous day and worthy to be praised...a gift to us and our Equine loves~

Fall Beach work/ride trip Part 2

After We had ourMorning Coffee we brought the horses down for a grass munch-out and grooming. My friend decided to graze Romeo, while aboard~

Romeo...looking on -as he usually does~

The beach was great, no wind and warm again. We played in the surf for quite a few hours and also let the horses go a few times, in playful galloping. It was a blast and my friend has never done that with me so much as this trip. Romeo would usually fall behind and then start to neigh for my mare to wait up for him! He is so adorable~

We both have leather "Grab Straps" on our English saddles...just in case of a flighty horse..the froth of the waves sometimes spooks them, as it rolls under the hooves~

We saw one fellow walking the beach to query about taking a picture of us together, before the rides end~~he availed us willingly~

My husband showed up to the house just before we returned from the beach with the horses. It was sooo nicve to spend the time away with him for a change! We made some pretty awesome meals together...and they always taste SO-MUCH-BETTER away from home, after work or play!!!
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All of the below actually happened before the above...blogger will not let me rearrange the photo's on the page..oh well!


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From across the street, My friend saw me coming up form the waters edge...I had been there for a time, to take in the beauty through the camera's lens.

The one place I ***LOVE to get up early is being at the Bay Ocean House! The sunrises are so wonderful on the water and greeting my mare in the morning is just- too cool! I so envy those that have the privilege of having their horses at home.

This is the view the horses have from the stalls...they love to watch the boats coming in and going out to sea~

After feeding and mucking a bit, I came inside to find my PBO husband/wife team, already having a pow-wow with Java on the front deck. I spied them through the kitchen window~

It was a fabulous morning to be sitting looking over the water. There was absolutely NO moistness in the air....very unusual for the coast.

It was high tide, so we watched the fishermen go out to sea, as the horses did, from their vantage point.

The to-do list got refreshed , and supplemented. The main order of business was to look into covering the natural spring water Cistern. It supplies water to the horse stalls, making it handy for the rental business they run for equestrians.

Last year and this year the creek ran dry in the late summer. So they had to get creative with water sources. They actually had to refund some $ to a group this late summer(later to find out that group snuck an extra person in for the stay -without paying- AND put up TEMP fencing in the nice yard by the house, after being told exactly where to have it placed.)

Well, in the 15 years of renting the home-those ill mannered folk are only the 3rd to take advantage and they may not be able to rent again-or may have another pay rate next time, fitting the behaviour.

We had our coffee together and watched a Blue Heron in the Bay~

He flew off his watery perch to come over to the forest by the house~

Not often do you see a Heron in a fir tree!

The boys got to working later on...the tarp and cool frame in hand, they went up to the cistern~

These two go back to when we first came to the church in Oregon City, 18 years ago. They bonded instantly, being percussionists~

They got the frame for the tarp together and before you knew it...began to play it, like and instrument, with rustic percussion implements(sticks)!!!

Okay, let's get to work boys....

This precarious position lent itself to a hilarious outbreak of......gas.... and all caught on video!

The morning I left with the horses, was much different than the weekend. It began to look and feel like Autumn. Quite nice really, after such a long, hot summer.

Fall Beach work/ride trip Part 1

The Dogs my PBO has are always with us when we go places around the property. As we packed up for the beach a few wkends ago, they suddenly appeared and parked it-on either side of one of the saddles!! It was adorable, as if to say, "Pack us up too!"



We drove to the Bay Ocean house in Tillamook, unloaded the horses for a time of rest and refreshment. After we all rested up, we then left for the spit and the first ride. It was later in the day and the weather held nicely for us- perfectly calm and dry.
We were happy to see a large group of Pack llama's loaded and ready to leave. They had two groups and 5 animals.
Amongst all the strange things the horses have seen there...this was one I am glad we missed while aboard them!

Romeo looking on~

We rode just a little due to the rising tides.

Our short "sunset ride" was a beauty, in fall's crisp air. My mare kept wanting to go toward the ocean and away from the dunes. She knew it was easier walking + the dunes represent moving- scary- grasses and other unknowns.

The Sunset, through the truck window, was gorgeous~

Day two was full of foul....Sea birds of all kinds. I finally got to capture some Pelicans! Though I was unable to get very close and my moving animal beneath me also kept my shots from being too zoomed. They were so cool!

Riding South for a change, we went towards the cliffs and End of the Bay. Romeo loved the new views...he always looks and looks.

I loved how the forests met the mountains behind my friend~
Wa mare watched them go up with interest~

We had such a blast discovering new sights and the horses loved the times we allowed to race along side each other. This was a blast and when my freind sends me her clips...you'll see what I did for the first time ever...I flew-atop my mare. like in Alex, aboard the "Black Stallion"! It was delightful!

We spent much of the time in training...leaving each other and asking the horses to remain with us, in mind and action. They did really well...only a few misbehaving moments. These two know each other so well, being pasture mates. It sometimes can be easier for me to ride with strangers or another horse that tells her off sometimes, due to the mare being so at ease with him and attached.

All in all, it was such a blessing and revival time!