Riding from the Morgan Horse Club~

Saturday was a busy day.  Linda & I had planned to leave for the eastside, but I was invited to stay over.  Unknown to me, my friends were networking, in the hope of finding someone local who would be a good match for Farah.

A huge load of hay had been delivered, Farah's shoeing had taken a while too.  An old BCHW acquaintance stopped by to chat & admire Farah.  He & his wife are almost ready to replace aging mounts.  They are one of the few couples, who still pack into the back country.  After his departure, the trailer truck & trailer were by the barn, ready to go!  Barb packed snacks, we were going to ride!

Farah, back in black!

Every aspect of being with Farah, every moment, is golden.  Tacking her up with her own tack - was a pleasure.  Our only issue came, when I asked her to take the bit.  For the first time ever - she refused - clamping her teeth.  Barb looked over questioningly?  I had to take my time, talk softly & good girl she is, she accepted.  We laughed, watching as Farah realized the bit was hers & started to lick & chew.  I used the new little cell phone pouch Joyce made for us - for the first time!  It worked Great!  Very quick & easy to pull my phone out for photo ops!

Obscured views~

Once we'd gone through the woods surrounding the camping area, it was like a different world.  Over four-years - things change.  We both remembered this clear-cut.

An eerily quiet day~

We moved on across it & an upper part of what had been such a beautiful forested trail was still there.

On the trail through the woods~

I never ask for a destination when I'm riding with Barb &/or Scott!  It would almost be sacrilege, having never been on anything but amazing rides with them!  My mind went into a time warp - I would have been happy if it had lasted forever.

Barb has the "clip & go" down pat!  :-)

It's been so very dry, the branches of the trees had curled & dropped low.  I wished for my clippers, but TSA would not have approved.

The infamous bridge~

Barb wanted us to check out the trail going to the bridge Farah & I had fallen off of back in June of 2014.  I actually spotted the turn - emblazoned in my memory.  The bridge had been removed & placed off to the side, shortly after our accident.

A new trail had been cut around the creek/washout bed.  Now, someone had put the bridge back across...  Probably a bike rider.  Much too dangerous now, it becomes another item on Scott & Barb's long list - removing it yet again!  We'd had a big work party & cleared the trail to look like a freeway - but years of growth have obscured it again.

Farah waits~

Farah has never forgotten either.  When we've come to the area, she lets me know, she does not want to go that way!   We did cowgirl up & do the new trail with Joyce - but both of us were nervous wrecks until we were safely past the spot!

A smoke filled sky~

Above is one of my favorite & most beautiful areas of the climb.  Especially in the fall with the huckleberry & vine maples turning color.  The views off to the east are amazing too.

Farah listens~

With the blackberries finally ripe, the Bears are about!  We stopped for our lunch break in the clear-cut area below, where Scott had installed tie rings into the big stumps.  He now has to paint them a matt color, to prevent people from spotting them, pulling them out & stealing them.  You've got to wonder at the mind-set of people who do these things?

Rio & Farah wait~

Rio long ago made it plain to Farah - she is ignored :-)  So dry - nothing either horse was interested in munching on.  The apples Barb brought sure hit the spot though!  I got a dirty look for feeding Rio Farah's apple core :-)  We watched as the smoke came & went.  Once in a while you could just see the outline of the peaks, but then even that would disappear...

The Sun~

It reminded me of the day Linda & I rode just before a big earthquake hit.  The quiet was palpable...
We turned back, about 1-1/2 hours to return to the trailer.

Our route~

Once back, I discovered my knees really didn't think I needed to drop to the ground from the saddle.  I used the trailer fender for the first time ever to dismount!  All the bike riding I've done & my knees said;  "No"!  :-)

We were just a little later than Scott had expected us to return :-)  Pizza sounded like a really good idea!

2016 - Movin' On~

I didn't even think to do my usual yearly wrap up until this month - almost a year later!  Looking back - I realize my last one was at the Homestead in 2015.   2016 was so full of change - none expected or planned - but each in it's own way moved us forward on the path of life.  We've been very blessed to have our family to love, friends to support us & opportunities to experience the beautiful places we have.

January 14th, 2016 - Three Fingers from the Homestead~

The year started out normal enough.  A New Year's Day ride with our Traildusters Chapter of BCHW.  The mild, but wet winter & spring gave me plenty of nice days of riding.  Below - a photo of the first of the Trilliums.

4-11-16 Trillium~

By April, as usual, Farah & I had covered a whole lot of miles.  Butch was working what by now had become his usual routine.  Long hours on his job sites & even longer hours on the freeway commuting. 
A friend wanted me to show her the way up to Stimson Hill & I never had to be asked to make that ride.

4-11-16 Whitehorse Mountain from Stimson Hill

A trip to Quincy & visit to the Cave B winery with friends, was a highlight.  We left camp in pouring rain - but it was so eerily beautiful it made memories I'll never forget.  As Scott said;  "Farah tried to kill you three times." He wasn't kidding - she'd even reared & struck out at him & his horse when he was holding her reins.  It wasn't her weekend...

4-29-16 On our way~

May, my mare redeemed herself & made us proud by accomplishing my other competitive goal, the  Best Condition award at the Mt. Adams endurance ride.  Even with the shank, Butch had his hands full trotting her out at the Vet-in.  She was ready & knew the name of this game!

5-21-16 Butch has his hands full, at the Vet-in~

As June rolled around, little did we know it would be our last annual trip to Nehalem, OR.  A week of bliss riding on the beach. Sandy & I had such fun!  It was probably the last time Farah & her sire Ody will be together.

6-9-16 Connie & Farah, Sandy & Ody~

By late July, change seemed to be happening daily.  Getting the Homestead ready to sell, had us both working long hours.  Butch would come home, load the truck & haul the boxes I'd packed to storage.

8-1-16 Grandson Ben & Butch on the construction site~

My trails were wiped out.  No more riding from home.  I was doing what so many horse people now do, trailering to ride.  It seems we never appreciate anything enough - until it's gone...

8-7-16 Butch views the destruction ~

By September, with the Homestead sold, packing, sorting, hauling, donating etc. was in full swing.  We were constantly looking at the sales ads on-line, searching for a place to live, in the town we thought would suit us best.

9-25-16 Mason, Grammy & Cassidy, under the arch on the Centennial Trail~

As I've written before, the very hardest part was leaving the Grand-kids...  Something we never though we'd ever do.  Both the girls & their families visited & helped sort through everything as we downsized.  After so many years on an acreage -  we filled two U-Haul trucks.

10-14-16 In Sheridan, WY

Early October, we were on the road to Iowa.  The trip couldn't have gone any better, we stopped to visit family in Sheridan & arrived in Glenwood right on schedule.

10-21-16 The Home Place

With such a short time to find anything, we were very lucky.  Our search resulted in a place we felt comfortable calling home.  Two-weeks later I lost my Mother...  We locked up & drove to Boulder,  where we spent a week, before returning to Greenfield for services.

11-11-16 At the Greenfield Cemetery~

It was a sad time - but at least Mom lived long enough to know we'd arrived safely.  She loved hearing all about the house & town.  She was so happy to know we were in Iowa.

12-10-16 Our Tree~

December came, our first Christmas - at the Home Place.  As I write this, almost a year over-due, those months flew by.  So many changes, in such a short time.  It seems especially so, after many years of the seasonal routines in Washington.  No wonder it's taken me a while to assimilate.

The last few years, were mostly about saddle time.  This year riding took a backseat to everything else.  It had only taken Farah a short while to settle into her new surroundings.  It wasn't long before the two of us were back to enjoying our time on the trail & the beauty of the SW Iowa landscapes.

Past Year - 2015~