Back on the trail again...

Our #1 priority for yesterday was to be on horseback and riding up the Ole Cashe Hollow Trail. We started the day with our favorite breakfast of apple bread French Toast, sausage and coffee. Weather was perfect, skies were crystal clear blue, with pure sunshine on our shoulders, and morning temperature in the mid-70's. Right after breakfast we hurriedly rinsed off our plates and headed out to pastures to catchup our rides for the day.

Misty and Nugget came to the hitching rail like old pros, ready to go. Before we hit the trail we took both horses out to the riverside pasture and arena. Kittee rode Nugget around the pasture chasing about a dozen Canada geese feeding in the pasture, I took Misty to the arena. There Misty and I warmed up as she had not been under saddle in over a month. After going through several drills, I took my feet out to of the stirrups and dropped Misty's reins out of my hands and proceeded riding her just using leg cues with weight shifts. She did very well following these cues and we worked the arena course for about a ½ hour. Kittee was quite amazed at what Misty and I had accomplished --"Look MA, NO hands". After this warm up we headed for the trail.

Since this was the first time off the ranch for the season we followed the Ole Cashe Hollow Trail up to the 2½ mile mark. There we let the horses graze on some lush grass and a bit of wheat at this turnaround point.

In the background of this picture is Walla Walla, WA and The Palouse. After our ride we washed the horses off, gave them a quick spot of grain, for ourselves we had a smoked buffalo steak sandwich for a quick lunch and headed for Walla Walla to do some shopping.

Returning from Walla Walla we rushed around getting things done waiting for our horse trainer Travis to show and work with Rusty and boarder Sunny. After a full day of riding and work, Travis had not shown up so Kittee stopped for the "rest" of the week. I proceeded to finish mowing the lawn, cleaning up and watering the garden.

After my work was done I brought out the Pawley's Island Rope hammock for the season and went into a semi-conscience state of relaxation, with a bit of applejack on the side.

As our spring weather has settled in we are now getting garden sprouting and the lilac bush and Hawthorn tree has bloomed this past week.






























Before the evening breeze turned from the west to blow down the Walla Walla River Canyon our afternoon temperature reached a balmy 85º, the first time over 80º this season. Believe me, after a hard day of riding and/or work, it feels great to have the cool breeze off the mountain coming through the yard and house to finish the day.

For the record: Saturday, Kittee worked on the continuing destruction of our indoor bathroom shower while I attended our forth Walla² Fly Fishers meeting.

This Saturday afternoon was a get together of fly tying and lawn fly casting practice. Everyone felt that it was a beneficial meeting for all. We had 16 in attendance for this meeting. It gave all of those attending a chance to get to know each other as our group continues to form.

NOTE: A blog has been created for the Walla² Fly Fishers. Please follow this Walla² Fly Fishers link to follow the development of our local fly fishing club.

Next weekend we have my Mom coming to town, and with that event we will have the family from Pendleton coming up for an afternoon of around the ranch activities and BBQ ribs and chicken. Once again here at the ranch, BBQ is my description of meat/smoke/sauce preparation - No. Carolina style, taught to me by my Grandmother from eastern Carolina - the birthplace of BBQ.

That is the recap of the coming and going around the ranch this week.
Hope you will come out and join us for a BBQ-ing some time.

That's life around the ranch... Happy Trails.