Some of our Christmas guests

We had a full house!
After our Christmas festivities, both daughter & son left for the in-laws.
That left us with the critters.
Left to right: Nikki, JoJo Starbucks, Bo, Brody, Hunter & Willow
and somewhere under a bed, one stressed-out cat, Simba!

Reindeer Games!

Rocky's Herd
For the past year, two does have been bringing their fawns into the pasture every evening. Usually the horses have been put in the paddock for the night, but sometimes the deer come out early. Several nights ago I glanced out and saw a few extras in with Rocky, all grazing peacefully.

Today is the last day of firearm hunting season for deer. The two does made it through the season, as did their fawns. Tonight there were nine deer in the pasture, leaping and running! Maybe celebrating life or just reindeer games!

SNOW ROMP!

Snow Day

A Wary Deer at the blue rock ranch.

Tot sized horse

Perfect horsey Grandma gift!

My youngest granddaughter turns 2 in early December. I figured I'd start early getting her interested in horses. I think this will do the trick.

Fallen Leaves

Somestimes looking down instead of up at the Autumn colors will yield some interesting views!Golden Maple leaves

Walnuts!

Tiny Honey Locust leaves

Red Maple & russet Sassafras leaves

Huge brown Sycamore leaves

Autumn Sunrise

Whitetails

Visiting Wildlife


A doe & 2 fawns grazed the front pasture A small buck jumps the fence to join her

A handsome young buck

Autumn Stuff

Fallen HedgeappleGolden Leaves

Autumn Creek

Bittersweet

Fall Scenes

Mums

Pumpkins from the Garden

Bo & a double puffball mushroom

Scarlet Sassafras leaves

We are at the peak of our Fall color this weekend. Walked around the ranch & snapped a few pictures. I don't think its as colorful as past years, but still pretty.

Trailriding Trip to Big South Fork Tennessee

Trailriding the Big South Fork National Recreation Area

Two friends & I did some serious trail riding on the trails at Big South Fork. Lots of Hemlock & Bigleaf Magnolias along the trails, plus some interesting rock formations

Looking down the trail

Crossing the Big South Fork River at Big Island. Not too deep here, but up to the horse's belly at Station Camp Creek Crossing. What a rush!

Scenic old cabin along the trail.

Recycled Junk

While driving to the local trailer dealership, I noticed some sculptures along the road made from recycled farm implements. Stopped to take some pictures. This lizard has saw blades lining his back and railroad stake legs.

This bird has a wrench head, a chain waddle and a shovel body.

Hippo with a gas cylinder body and an oil pan head.

Praying mantis & fly

Large dinosaur chasing a little one with a snake between them.

Astange new horse has moved in at the neighbor's house. Lots of snorting & sniffing until he was deemed harmless.

Freshly shed snakeskin on the Buffalo Trail. Measured out at 51"!

Visitor

New visitor to the new barn

The new barn is almost finished and this guy has already taken up residence! Welcome!

Cinco de Mayo

Rocky ready to Celebrate

Tag had too many margaritas!

Birthday Horse

Tag Me, my mellow Appaloosa turn 22 on April 9th.
Tag was purchased in 2002 at the age of 15. I am his second owner and he has always been a trail horse. He is the perfect first horse, very willing and compliant. We celebrated his birthday with carrots, a good grooming session (shaving off his winter beard) and a brief ride in the sandlot. Since it was so muddy, we worked on obstacles such as walking over a tarp, weaving cones, pulling a tire and chasing Rocky with a swim noodle.

Rocky tracked the tire as we dragged it around the sandlot.

Trail riding in Arizona

Riding in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona

Cacti & Mountains

Our lunch view from Mammoth Saloon at Goldfield Mine

I spent five days in Mesa, Arizona visiting my good friend Debi and horseback riding.
We rode in the Goldfield Mine area, around Saguaro Lake and to Hackberry Spring in the Superstion mountains.
What fun!

Finally Captured!

I had suspected we had a fox roaming around and had been trying to capture him with my spy cam. I had to move the camera several times to get him. After we had heavy snow last week, I decided to observe the plowed driveway assuming he would travel the path of least resistance. I still didn't get him until I baited the site with a turkey carcass. Finally captured him!

Nine inches of snow!

Lots of snow last nightBluebird I saw on my morning walk

A view down the trail

Bo was enjoying the snow!

I received a scouting camera from my husband. You strap it to a tree and it automatically takes pictures of anything walking into the viewfinder.
Here's what we've captured so far.
I guess we surprised this guy!

The herd crossing the creek.

And the elusive coyote