Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fall Colors and Beaver Ponds


Monday - another beautiful fall day. We planned to take Keri and Reverie out on the 12 mile loop today- and Reverie can canter the mile long hill.
Often, when I am out and about in the saddle with my camera- I am just snapping photo's randomly when I think the view is pretty. Sometimes I stop and snap-- sometimes I trot and snap. When I return home and upload the photo's - there are times when I see a theme of sorts-- This day's pictorial topic seems to be beaver ponds in the fall.
Here's the first one we pass- about a mile from my house.

We trot down the other side of Flamstead Road- and look out at what I think is Mount Ascutney.

















Hidden Valley Pond- which I guess is not truly a beaver pond. There's a family of geese here every year. They raise their young and go south when it's time.






When the light is right- even the brown leaves are pretty.
Around this time of the year- it's the leaves of the Beech trees that I think that are the most
dazzling.



Approaching pond number three - on the corner of Mattson Road and Mineral Springs Road. This body of water used to be a swamp-- now it's a beautiful pond. Funny how land and water changes over time. Beavers help that process a lot with their engineering projects.















As we trot by- the Kingfisher loudly protests our presence. He sounds more like three birds instead of just one. They are a noisy species.
I have always wondered about the stonework on the opposite side. So I stopped to get some close up views. From the road, you can just about see two triangular shaped holes in the stone- but on the close up-- it's just the manner in which the rocks were placed.











The reflection is so clear here - everything is mirrored very sharply.







Back home on Crow Hill Road- most definitely one of the more scenic back roads in our area. We pass the two bachelor Roosters again.. they were sitting up in someone's shed together so I guess they are pets and going to stay awhile.




Sunday - the roof was finished on the new shed. Now- I need to get some siding.








Enjoy your day ~

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Busy Day with many rewards

A week ago, I was ready to throw in the towel and call it almost winter. I brought out all the extension cords so I could plug in my water heaters and picked up all the hoses.. it was cold and miserable with snow in the forecast. Today however- Wednesday.. it's Indian Summer all over again ! a beautiful fall day full of many rewards.. You can read about our super day on the Dream On Curls Blog - We had quite a few enthusiastic participants travel to the farm for National Disability Mentoring Day. As I mentioned in the Dream On Curls blog- there are many days I feel too much drudgery and endless chores.. but hearing and seeing these people's response to their day at the center made all my work worthwhile :)

After the big and busy morning hosting a crowd, Zoe and I were free to get in the saddle and trot away our last bit of open time before the end of the day. Keri and Reverie are beginning to feel a good bond for each other- as Keri dances when she sees Reverie now. We trotted the 10 mile loop- just long enough for Rev- who still needs to muscle up and get some stamina. We got in a little cantering - as Rev also is just getting used to the idea of cantering in a balanced way.




Every time she goes out- she acquires more co-ordination and confidence in her abilities.

Just a plain beautiful fall day- and a fun trot !

Here's the back of our T-shirts - Dream On Curls Riding Center, ordered from OMD Embroidery.


These t's are for sale for our Scholarship Fund. If you'd like to own one for youself, e-mail me.





We were just getting up a good trot, when the horses spotted these silly roosters on the side of the road. How many times have we passed by here and never seen them ?

They must be brand new neighbors. At the end of this road, there are also new residents in the field on that corner- quite a few horses and a large black wooly llama. Horses don't seem to care for llama much.

















Vermont back-roads in fall. It's hunting season now remember- so not much trail riding for awhile.

Fortunately, the dirt roads in our vicinity are pretty scenic and we can put together some super loops for a good journey out.




I like building sheds- so it seems every year I am working on one, replacing an older one or remodeling an already existing run-in. I have been trying to finish up this shed for some time now. For some reason, I built it far too tall. Usually, when I erect a shed- because I am farily short- the shed results in being not so tall.. so this time I vowed to make an effort toward TALL-- but this is too high in the air. It's been difficult to work on it because I don't care for heights anymore then the horses like llama's. I've got part of the back roof on- and waiting for another day to start the front part... then the siding.


This area is divided into two now- so there's the reason for two sheds. The other little run-in is old- as it was standing when I moved here. However, it was in an entirely different location and was moved. Earlier in the summer, I finally got tired of looking at the roof- which was old, rusty and unattractive. I stripped that tin roof off and put the green metal on so it would match most of the other roofs on the property. Now, when I gaze out my bedroom window- I have a nicer view :)


And here are the three ponies that will live in the new shed - OYY Fiona in the back, Tall Trees Sassie in the middle and OYY HummingBird in the front. Sassie has a full time job as lesson horse- Fiona will be starting her job next week as a part time lesson horse and HummingBird is still too young but we plan to keep her as a pony broodmare and lesson horse.
Enjoy your day ~

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Many Hours in the Saddle - many trips in one

We've been anticipating this trip for days.. the weather has been unpredictable all week. We woke up to this.. and decided -- we're going no matter what !

Zoe and I try to make sensible choices about what to wear- we actually ended up being cold for much of the trip - we traveled briskly in more ways than one.


This post has a LOT of photo's - this trip was more a compilation of 3 trips in one - We visited and trotted so many different places and areas.. down so many trails and roads - traversed two mountain ridges... I told Zoe as we were near the end of the voyage, without the photo's- I would be confused about how we maneuvered ourselves from beginning to end... because we traveled a LOT of miles !


Teasel had the pleasure of wearing the pockets today - with water, etc..
Keri had her brand new Skito pad (which we both like).




We were transported to the beginning of Wyman Falls Road - to save the riding time to the location. We planned to spend all our riding exploring the area thoroughly and then trotting home.



Wyman Falls Road - bordered by a lovely brook, dark and forested. This road is a "dead end" - as it turns into this eventually.

This is the start of the trail we took last week for our quest for the Falls. This time we are going to trot the 'high' road- in order to avoid the tricky brook crossing where poor Teasel fell. Today the water is quite high as rain has fallen every day since.










The falls and the brook are way down there - Keri and I stay away from the edge.






























The trail came out onto a 'four-way' intersection- to the left is this road through the woods that looks like a boulevard--
We trotted this for awhile to see where it went-- came upon some people working with excavators and decided not to intrude and headed back. Didn't want to inadvertently make anyone cranky at us. It kind of seemed a bit private - especially after we spotted the Totem Pole.



And the same 'road' to the right -
Pretty view from here.

This is the general direction we want to go. We are eventually going to come down into Cavendish.



The small wet trail directly across the intersection, we trotted down that one to see where it went for future reference. Down into Chester, on the far outskirts of town. This will definitly make up a nice loop for another trip. It also forked off to the right- which will make a interesting exploration for another day.

Finding a trail running somewhat parallel to this 'boulevard' - we head off to our original destination. Half way down, that path merges with this one- and I am glad we chose to trot the trail - big gate with a sign-- No Horses -subject to Arrest ! Yikes - I hope they don't call in a crime team to track Keri's hoofprints. Teasel trots like a ballerina- he leaves no prints at all.. he's the stealth man.


I think we are back on the old Wyman Falls Road.

Here's an old 'cellar hole' . We saw evidence of quite a few cabins as we traveled along this old road.















In Vermont, the stone walls are everywhere. I am always interested to see the difference in type of rocks and stones on the walls as we pass through changing geological areas.















We exit the forest- and find beautiful pasture.






















I turn into a touristy leaf peeper- and snap loads of photo's.




















Even the milkweed is pretty today ! If the sun had been out, this scene would have been dazzling .































Here's where we came from. When you are in the woods, you surely don't see the palette of jewel colors like you do when looking back.


Even for a bad "leaf" year this is pretty spectacular.



According to Native American myth, fall leaf colors resulted from the slaying of the Great Bear in the sky, whose blood dripped to the Earth and painted some leaves red. As the hunters cooked the bear meat, the splattering fat colored other leaves yellow. when I was young- my mom told me it was the artistry of Jack Frost--- pinching each leaf with his chilly fingers. This sight each fall becomes so natural to me, I tend to forget that only a mere 14% of the world's forests are made up of deciduous trees which turn color.




Continuing through the pasture- on this little old road- we come to what must have been the old entrance.

Here is another quintessential Vermont scene- a maple lined lane.





We are going to forge ahead down into the valley - and up over another mountain to get home.


Cold wind here trotting down this lane. We are starting to think of cutting the trip short... just momentarily.








More leaf peeping :)












Another pasture/hayfield further down the lane.








with a very tidy rock pile in the middle.











We reach a crest and look across the valley-- which is what's called Proctorsville Gulf- or The Gulf to natives. It's marked by a road with extremely steep ledge sides.. always cold and icy there in winter and lined with signs warning of falling rock.







We linger for the view - and trot on down the hill.. to Route 103- cross that onto a dirt road sometimes known as Cavendish Road. This will take us towards home. We'll be traveling more in the valley on that dirt road.























Trotting along this road- we conference on changing routes. This dirt road will take us out onto Route 131... which is one of my favorite roads to travel. From there we can access the other side of Hawk's Mountain and come that way-- But we are not sure just how long that will take so we decide to continue on to Dean Brook Road and home. We've been in the saddle well over 3 hours now with many more miles to cover yet.

Pass by the remnants of an old farm- a few buildings still stand but no farmhouse in sight.

Dean Brook Road follows a lovely brook into the Baltimore Section of Chester. Once we are there, we decide-- what the heck... the last time we crossed over Hawk's Mountain we said we'd want to return for the fall view and we are already over here-- let's trot fast and we can manage the detour ! We pass by the Llamas on the corner- which our horses do not like and head out toward the entrance to Hawk's Mountain.





We pass by the quaint Town Hall of Baltimore.












We canter up the rocky steep mountain side of Hawk's Mountain and are rewarded with the view - again.. I metaphorse into tourist mode and snap away. We can see in so many different directions, with varying weather in the distance depending on the compass points.








































If I had any directional sense I could describe what we are viewing -- the only landmark here I know is the white buildings to the bottom right of this photo- we will be trotting past that later on the way home through North Springfield.










I think it's raining on that far mountain. We are traveling with cold mist and a few intermittent drops.












a spot of clearing and sunshine over there.






But seems for the most part- the mountain top is a bit gloomy.. you can see the rain hitting my lens.









Glancing at our watches- it is time to head back down the steep mountain side trail.







About half way on this roadway is a secure gate which we had to bypass by bushwacking through thick saplings to get here. On the return trip down-- I tried to guide Keri through the same bush-- but with a little driver error, we ended up up against a bent over ash. Now sometimes I will ask Keri to push a tree such as this one with her chest to move it aside. She went to do this without my asking--- BUT the tree was not against her chest-- it was clotheslining me. Before I knew it-- whoooosh.. I slide out of the saddle and right off her haunches like a circus rodeo trick- which would not have been so bad except my horse- the little puke.. keeps walking not even noticing she is riderless. Well, so much for the bonding I thought had been taking place between us all this time.

She is sauntering on down the trail probably thinking.. I wish Betsy could ride this lightly in the saddle all the time ! Zoe and Teasel walk quickly on ahead to catch her... what a goof. The first thought I had was the mass e-mail I had recieved last week about a horse who lost its rider and galloped away on an endurance ride in Woodstock. Last they saw the horse, he was speeding toward Bridgewater- which is rough primitive country. (I'd love to ride there someday) The horse was finally found using bloodhounds ! Now, I doubt Keri would get lost- she would know the route home.. but I was not looking forward to the walk or the worry.


We back tracked a bit to reach Baltimore Road again. Right near where the Town Hall is-- now there are cows out. We did not see those cows on our way in.. but now there are 30 or so in the pasture - and several making their way out. Thankfully, there was no stampede-- just a few crossing into what seemed to them better grazing... or perhaps heading home to the Thomas farm right around the corner.










Still in Baltimore - headed toward North Springfield. It's all road now. This sky reminds more of November than October.






And here we are a few miles from home- and the sun comes out !




Almost home-- we've been in the saddle over 6 hours today ! But every minute was splendor !!


I am feeling great and ready to do it again SOON









Just enough sun left to do chores and retire for the day - and reminisce about a fabulous ride !





Enjoy !