Summer '09 - Chapter II

This past week at the ranch has been very busy. Not only did we have a new baby -Summer- come into our lives, we had Miriam making her annual spring visit to the ranch, and our yearling -Rosey- made her first showing of the ‘09 season.

With all the goings and comings around the ranch this past week, I shall just use a series of photo to retrace the week.

Last Tuesday, we had the birth of Summer. Since then I have been holding and hugging (imprinting) her as much as possible in the mornings and evenings before and after turnouts. On a quick trip to Pendleton last week I was able to put a couple of video clips of Summer’s turnouts.


You can view them by clicking on the links below…
A Summer Stroll -and- Herrrrrre’s Goldie and Summer

Last Thursday, Miriam came over from the west side to spend the weekend with us and our critters. We had a most delicious dinner at Ms. Patti’s restaurant in Pendleton and then headed for the wind turbine meeting, which was “sold out” by the time we got there. Oh well, this the reason we needed to head straight home and service Miriam a Fuzzy Navel for dessert. The rest of the evening we just relaxed, Kittee and Miriam talked until mid-night.

Friday was a knock around the ranch day. Kittee and Miriam made a trip to town to pick up a few things at the store, came home to play with horses and relaxed. I think everyone stopped for awhile and took an afternoon nap. Friday evening we made our traditional trek to La Ramada Mexican Restaurant for a most wonderful meal. This has always been a favorite spot for Miriam to visit while on the east side.

Saturday started fairly early with a cheesy corny grits and eggs breakfast. After breakfast everyone headed out for simple fun and horseback riding time.


After a morning’s worth of horseback riding I begin to work on the BBQ works we were going to have with the Cospers later in the evening. Again with the warm summer afternoon, everyone kicked back for a short nap after lunch. After our naps, dinner preparation completed we sit around the front yard with a few drinks and some croquet play.


It was late afternoon when the Dale and Cheri showed up and we just sit around chitchatting and watching baby horse, and coyote pups playing on the hill across the road from us.
Then the time came for our sunset BBQ dinner with beef, chicken, and pork ribs fresh off the smoker grill. I think everyone enjoyed the food.

After dinner as the sun had slowly sank into the western skies, Dale brought up the metaphysical concept of the beauty of the sunset and the feelings derived from each occasion. After dinner Kittee and Miriam cleaned off the table, I went out to put Goldie and Summer to bed for the night. We did not make it a late evening staying up, as looking at Sunday we were getting up shortly after daybreak and getting ready to take Rosey to the Region V - AHA horse show in Walla Walla. Folks at the show did recognize the Shai of Rosey's AHA registered name.


Sunday, we were up early. Summertime daybreak is before 4:30 here at the ranch, shortly thereafter we were up and at’m. Putting Summer and Goldie out to pasture, bringing in Rosey to trailer load for the show, getting Rusty set for his day out of his keep. I think everyone grabbed a quick cup of coffee and a banana for breakfast and got ready to head down the trail. We got to the Walla Walla Fairground before the 6:30 a.m. registration sign-in. Rosey was in the first show class which began at 8:00. She won that halter class (received a bag of candy corn with a blue ribbon) and proceeded on to the Championship Class. In the Champion Class Rosey took third place and a $-CASH-$ prize. Yep, Rosey is into the money earnings now! We were finished at the AHA Schooling Show by 9:00, loaded up Rosey and headed home. When we got home we did get a picture of she and her prize. Yep, that is the bag of candy corn (with a blue ribbon attached) and a $5 bill in Kittee's hand.


After getting Rosey settled back into pasture, Miriam, Kittee and I headed for town for a full meal breakfast. After breakfast we came home and all of us took a nap to makeup for the sleep we lost at around 4:30 a.m. this day. After nap time we had a bite of lunch, we went out to Rosey’s pasture and made an annual “remember when” photo of Miriam and her.

The Miriam - Rosey Photo Album

7-5-2008

6-28-2009

After this photo session, Miriam was ready to head down the trail for the west side.

Which way, Nugget?

The balance of the after noon Kittee and I watched Monty Python movie In Search of the Holy Grail until the evening air began to cool off. At that point we sit out in the backyard to watch horses and the sunset. Afterwards I put Goldie and Summer to bed for the night, Kittee and I came in and watched the movie Black Beauty.

This morning, as I have done for the past six days, I work on imprinting Summer. Today I laid her down in the foaling stall straw and rubbed her all over, putting my fingers in her mouth, ears, nose. This morning I grabbed her tail and she pulled it between her legs, shortly thereafter she relaxed and I was able to wag it at will. As I was finished petting/imprinting her, Summer had almost fallen asleep in my arms. Kinda hard to believe how gentle this little horse is.

And that's the way it is around the ranch --- Dale