Horses and Haybales

We had a fun little afternoon visit with Brenda, Kami, Keely and Tressa. The girls had fun on the hay bales and giving treats to the horses.

Let's Go for a Ride!

I finally feel like life is back to where I can ride horse a bit more. Zach is showing some interest, and I have enjoyed a few evening rides lately with Dean & Z riding the 4 whlr. beside me.
Up until just now Zach only wanted to ride with me, but now realized it is much more comfortable and fun on his own.
Sassy proves to be pretty good with the smaller people. Chester is more of a one (or two) man horse liking only Dean & I.

The Nature Around Us

I love spring and all the new exciting life around us - here are some pics from our spring adventures around the yard. Last year we had baby fox in the same spot so am hoping to get some real good pics with the game camera this year - watch for further posts if I have any success.

Mallard eggs under evergreen by the house. Hen may have abandoned nest?? Not seeing her.

Fox den in pasture - at least 6 pups - waiting to catch more pics on field cam - this one was curious enough to stay out for a regular pic.

Pretty pink blossoms on crab apple tree.

Chester looking good at 20 years - was worried he was going to be a little thin? Soon he will be too fat! Lots of Grass!

Zach checks out the stunned Chipping Sparrow.

Way to many of them fly into our picture window!

Winter Pastimes

It seems once Christmas and News Year's passes...the winter slows down a bit. Here are some pics to show what we have been doing to pass the time. Thank God for a little warm snap so we could enjoy a little outdoor time too!

Visits from Grammy and Papa

Building Forts & Playing with Babies

Taking Naps!

Snow Forts and Sledding with Ross

The Big Hill with Mommy

"Scoop-it" with Loader and Truck

OH and Zach has been showing some interest in the horses too! - Yeah for Me! Zach likes Chester the best.

Horse Diet

Our outside horses have been put on a diet lately as Zach has been insisting that a handful of treats come inside for his pony. The past week we have spent lots of time each day feeding treats, brushing, riding and leading our little pony around. Fun!

The Melt Down

What has been happen around here?
Seems to be lots yet all the same. Routines I guess.
Here are some of our recurring activities.
Racing cars across the living room, climbing into baskets, playing with water (in the tub or sink), visits from and to Grammy and Grampa's, trips to the barn, wagon rides and shoveling the drive. Oh and not pictured...shooting the deer hanging in our living room. :) Words are starting to come little by little, some of the most frequently used are "up", "all done", "more", "bath"(ga or ba) & "deer" (this is clear as can be).
We are gladly watching the snow melt away and turn into bare grass and mud puddles!
Now if only the sun would shine! Endless days of fog and overcast don't lift ones spirits much.

Outdoor Fun!

Lately we have been having lots of fun outside harvesting garden, crab apples and chokecherries. Zach absolutely loves them. He also loves the horses and kitties.
He now knows what the horse says and imitates the nicker sound they make when he sees them or even a picture of a horse. He kicks it into high gear and starts making the sound when I say lets go give the horsey's some treats!
Anyway...I have snapped lots of pics the past few days and can't decide which I like best so made a slide show. Enjoy!

Summer Visit 2009

This past weekend my Godson Andrew and his family (Wanda & Michael and sister Grace) came to visit. We had lots of fun! Check out the pics!

The Future is Bright!

Spring weather has finally arrived! It really changes a persons outlook to have sunshine and no snow, especially after this long yucky winter. Anyway...we have been enjoying the past few days outdoors. I found my crocuses and tulips popping out of the ground and Dean got out the leaf sweeper and took care of all the leaves. Sassy and I went for a ride for the first time since May of 08! And Zach seems to enjoy the outdoors too, wanting to play with leaves, rocks and sticks! Of course the nuk helps keep them out of his mouth. And the shades :), keep the sun out of his eyes. Aren't they hilarious and cute?

Picture Tag

I was tagged by Garden Girl to
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder
3) Explain the picture
4) Tag 4 people to do the same

This is what I get:
Chester and Sassy waiting for their morning treats on a cold January morning. Pretty sunrise but lots of cold and snow this winter!

I don't really know who else to tag....Scoe, Wanda, and ??

Chester's Day at the Dentist

That's right the dentist! Unfortunately his owner has been putting off his dental care just as much as we all avoid the dentist. Chester had some extremely large steps in his molars which created sharp points that would poke into his lower teeth and gums and had a draining tract out his lower jaw because of it. He had been slobbering his food for quite sometime although he didn't seem to lose weight. Guess I am fortunate that he is an easy keeper. The Mobile Equine Dental Clinic trailer just pulls into the yard and you load your horse into the trailer that has custom-built stocks in the trailer. They also have power floats and other fancy horse dentist tools that were much needed in Chester's case. The hand floats at the local vet clinic just wouldn't cut it. Hopefully this will put an extra big smile on Chester's face as it will be easier to eat all those good treats!

Sassy and the Sickling

Since the New Year weekend wound down, I have been a sickling, coughing and sleeping. I haven't had any energy whatsoever. After a day of long naps and taking it easy, I couldn't stand it any more. I had to get out even though I'm not back to normal yet. It was absolutly beautiful out. It was in the 40's!!! In January! I couldn't pass it up, I saddled Sassy for a little ride! Knowing that if she gave me to much heck, I would be history! I certainly don't have the strength to fight her today if she lives up to her name! But we made it! She did really good for not being ridden for 2 months! And I got a little horse therapy.

Horse Highlights

One of Andrew's highlights for the trip was getting to ride horse. He was so brave! He wasn't scared one bit of those big tall horses!He did say it was a bumpy ride though!

Riding the River

Monday afternoon, I went for a ride with Barb and Katie in the riverhills. We had a nice long ride, nice to catch up with them. I thought we might get rained out but it turned out to be a good ride. A few mosquitos but not to bad. I used to ride with them weekly when I worked for Barb. Katie was just a little baby then, now look at her!

Pictured is Katie with Dixie.

Trotting thru the Fields

Bonus! the field just east of our place has been harvested! No more riding the boring road ditches! We went out for a fun run on Saturday! Even the slow Chester loves the first run through the stubble field of the season! Sassy of course thinks it's a race and is not content unless her nose is ahead of Chester's.
As we saddled up Dean had to run into town quick for work. So Ches and Sas got to mow some of our lawn, while we waited! They love that too!

Medora Memories

We're back from a trip to Medora. We left on the 20th and came back the 23rd. Medora has many fun memories for us. Our last trip there was 3 years ago, Dean proposed (7-30-04) near the Peaceful Valley Ranch in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. So we visited our spot again this trip.
This time we had a wedding to go to. The couple getting married were college friends and had an outdoor ceremony on the terrace by the Medora Musical location. It was a HOT!!! but beautiful wedding. We had a nice time catching up with old friends and dancing a bit. Friday night we went to the musical with Kasey and Wade and then Saturday before the wedding, went through the park. This was the first time we have seen the horses in the park so that was the highlight.
On our way back home we stopped in Mandan and went to the Raging Rivers water slides. What a blast! Again HOT!!!, so it was the best place to be. Later we got together with Wanda and Michael for supper. Had a great time playing with Andrew and Grace.

Pony Ride

Yesterday Dan, Jess & family stopped by for a visit. We had fun even though it was pretty hot out. The main event was going for a little ride on Sassy. The girls also gave our "new to us" swingset a try. It appears to hold up just fine! Later on Dean and I went over to the Ski farm and grilled out with everyone. To keep cool we set up the sprinkler for the kids to enjoy.

Horsin' Around

Just having some fun with the horses. We went out for a ride last night and I did again today. It was pretty hot, but trying to avoid mosquitos! As you can see from the photos the grass is really tall. Last year they had it chewed down but with all the rain this year they can't keep up! Sassy was showing her attitude for the pictures, as soon as the camera came out she turned her rump to me and started walking away if I persued her. Guess that's payment for taking her for a warm ride!

Riding between the Reins

Between Rainstorms we have gotten a few rides in. (Mosquitoes are out in full force now.) We also let Sassy and Chester help with the lawn mowing! They have so much grass in the pasture they are getting fat! But it seems the grass on the other side of the fence is always better! Sassy gave me the "Get outta Here!" look when I disrupted her munching for a picture.