Blue Skies, Smilin' at me :)

Saturday was one of our most beautiful days yet .. clear, crisp -- not warm enough for melting. We decided to trot down to the snowmobile trails and follow those - and the snow cover was firm and perfect, wide as a highway for some fast travelin' :) The horses were happy and we actually found new trail for the coming summer expeditions and formulated a new loop for the next ride out. And the SKIES --- as my best friend would say -- "firkin' awesome" :)


Blue days... All of them gone.. Nothing but blue skies ~From now on .. as I trot along .. Willie Nelson is the man crooning the tune - but you can choose your own ..

I added a gadget to the right where you can actually click to play... I uploaded a choice of Willie and Ella if you want musical accompaniment. Hopefully it works and you enjoy :)

Right at the beginning - we cross a snowmobile bridge that is part of some neighborhood controversy.. and poorly built at that. The horses don't love this one.

Photo's tell the whole story :)

Out of the woods onto the ridge.

Back into the woods again with sun and shadows.

We rode this trail a few times during the summer but at some point since then, the snowmobile clubbers have altered the route... we exited NOT where we though we would. No problem though - as we spotted some great off shoots for some future summertime expeditions.

Here, through the trees, we get our first clue for where we are.

We cross the road, through a gate and onwards we go. During the summer these gates are closed -- cows in the fields. For winter-time, this is superb riding and we get to travel to new places and see new sights.

a snowy highway ..One of the best features about the snowmobiles trails is ~ if we keep going, we can trot to Canada !! However, we always have to remember-- we still have to save time to get home again. Today was one of those days where we don't want to get out of the saddle

Through out the day - we met a few other riders of the motorized persuasion. Horses are not truly allowed on the trails - but everyone is friendly and waves.

saw a few snow shoers. Usually all we see of these quiet forest walkers is their prints.

More bridges - and another road crossing ahead.

I think I just said something funny to Zoe. We trotted and cantered to the crossing over Route 106 just to see it and formulate the plan for our next ride -- which will most likely lead to Hawk's Mountain again- but all snowmobile trail this time. Then we returned home on the back roads.

it's getting later in the afternoon now-- plenty of sunrays - but they are not emitting so much warmth as before. The dirt roads are still slick- so it's slow going on the return trip.

Teasel and Keri love to stay close. We don't allow for this often.. but we can trot and canter like this for miles ! They are so silly.

The further we get on the back roads- the more close the tree cover.. creating a dark tunnel. After our blazing trots and canters in the sun - we were delightfully warmed. Here, with the slow cautious walking, we became quite chilled.

Next time we follow this route we are going to do it in reverse... the cold slow part first -- and end up with the fast and furious. Also - in reverse, the trip will be almost all up hill.

Perhaps all of you are already bored with my canter video's but I had to add another -- because it was so much fun.. At one point you'll hear me politely mention to my mount she is too close to the tree...

A section I left out - due to some of camera fumbling and a lot of hushed conversation.. was when Zoe politely poked me and whispered 'deer' .... I am whispering back 'where? ' ... 'I don't see them' which of course I can't see anything with the camera up to my eye -- as we are cantering and filming... afterwards I am wondering -- why were we whispering--- I guess because our horses did not see the herd and we wanted to keep it that way :)


This was probably the best ride of 2010 :)

Enjoy ~

Far Behind :)

Egads ! I am so far behind now, I am not sure where to begin !! :) For some reason, January is nearly over - the days are already becoming longer -- and I have not once posted here in 2010 !!

In this short 3 weeks of January, we've had arctic temperatures and high winds... not much for snow -- But riding conditions are terrible. Due to the unbelievable amounts of rain we received all of 2009 - the trails are still muddy and wet -- only it is all hidden under the snow. Springs are running like crazy still and the ground is not frozen yet. A week ago, I cut down a few birches that needed to go and I almost got my tractor stuck hitching up to them.

and speaking of hitching -- One cold snowy Saturday, Zoe and her two children and I hitched up OYY Nimue - our star driving pony for a sleigh ride. This is her first time puling a sleigh, which moves a bit differently than a cart - but she didn't notice. She was ready to move out and have fun.

Zoe and Rena took it slowly because Rena was feeling more cautious.

Dominic rode with me and we wanted to go fast... Nimue is such an accomodating mare :) slow, fast, cart, sleigh --- bells and deep snow. She takes it all in stride!

I just love this mare :)

Right now, we are in the midst of a bit of January thaw - and it is welcome for many reasons.. one of which- I am barely using any wood now in the stove- I love that !

I'll make a better effort to keep current here -- as you can imagine, I have enough photo's to fill many posts !!

enjoy ~

Last Ride of 2009 !

Reports of a Blue Moon for New Year's Eve excited Zoe and I to the point of planning for a moonlit ride on the last evening of 2009. Late afternoon, it became evident this was not in the stars... heavy snows - heavy sky -- no visible moon. So we saddled up and headed out earlier in case the weather worsened. The roads are extremely icy, the trails are very wet still even with all the extreme freeze and snowcover.... where are we going to go ? We ended up heading up my small mountain trails across the road from the farm - which was tricky going. We tried to keep the horses to the side or the middle so they could dig into the crispier undisturbed snow. The springs are running like madwomen - freezing as they flow, creating unbelievable glaciers everywhere.

My beautiful Keri waits patiently on the hitchrail while I prepare myself for the winter wonderland ride. Careful layering and bundling required :)

Starting out on the small mountain road - past this tree I have always loved since we moved here. It's two Hornbeam which over the years grew together, apart and together again several times.

There's a very big flat rock for sitting on nice days - not that I ever sit much.. except in the saddle but it's a good thought :) This past summer I planted a large sprawling rose bush near the flat rock and several wild beach roses along the retaining wall in front. it will be pleasant to look at as I ride by :)

At the summit - we enter the quiet pine woods

We actually continue to climb, more gradually -- until we look for an old opening in the stone wall from way back when this was all pasture and farmland. There, we find another trail which presents a few choices for destination.

But what happened here ??? I knew they were logging up in here -- but wow-- where's our trail ? We wander bit - but the loggers are in here with big skidders and chainsaws -- felling huge trees... they don't see us and I don't want to get squished under a tree today. We'll have to find a way down to the road - and go to plan B.

We follow some skidder tracks in the snow - from where they have dragged trees and brush- it should head down to the landing.

Pretty winter views from up here - but next time we ride in this much snowfall-- I think we are going to need ski goggles :)

Here's the Base of Operations - they chip all the smaller logs and tops for the chip furnaces so popular now.








The rest go on the log trucks - for firewood and lumber - I am surprised the guys are working today.

We trot down the back roads a bit and enter a different trail - we're not ready to return home quite yet !

Keri is not on her best behavior today - the unstable footing is making her anxious. Where she usually is perfection crossing mud/water/ice sections of the trail, she is rushy and her "cheeks" are out - which is the term I use when she is feeling recalcitrant and nervous. She puffs up her cheeks. :) At one particularly difficult spot - she could not decide if she was going to run through the ice and mud - or jump.. so she did a bit of both and more.. and nearly fell almost unseating me. Naturally I had a few words for her - because even though I love her to death.. I still call her names - and I called her a LONG list of names today :) But to her credit it was a challenging ride with the blowing snow, the bad footing and the ice balls that kept forming in her hooves.



We exit out of the trail into the pasture - and isn't there just something so enchanting about a wide expanse of virgin snow - no footsteps or prints yet ?

While I love sunshine - these greys and monotones are soothing too.

After we pass through the big field, we have to trot past the owner's house and down their town road/driveway... the woman said she liked us to ride by though - as she loves the horses.

Keri and I trot up my driveway/road -- wet and chilled... I give her a pat -- it's OK that she was a bit rude today. :)

Snowflakes and ice

when Keri is on the cross ties in the barn - I only hitch one of the ties- she always likes to stand with her head in the door of this stall.


While not our best ride - it still was great to get out into my saddle. I hope there is a big turn around with weather and riding conditions - as the roads presently are treacherous and the trails are not in great shape for trotting... we can still go out - but not much moving along and my body craves that :)

We'll be riding again today - have not formed a plan as to where... stay tuned !

Happy 2010 !! Enjoy ~