A Day with Dean

My neighbor, Dean, called me up and wanted to go for a ride on the other side of the river.  I jumped at the chance.  He is a wealth of information and a joy to listen to him talk.  He knows this area like the back of his hand and I cannot tell you how much I've learned from him.  Anyway, there was some snow on the ground, and I wasn't able to go horseback riding that day, so going with a personal tour guide to scout it for future rides was a great idea!

We went down 12th St., past Cleo's, over the river and hung a right.  Went out to Sommercamp Rd., hung a left and began our trek.  On the right side, there was a house ... seemingly normal ... until we got a better look at it.

What are all those ... oh wow!

The water in this pond is warm.  We were right near Givens Hot Springs.  Funny how the ducks all found it.

I've been here.  I've ridden along the foothills, but never straight up that road.   That's either Coyote Creek or Hardtrigger.  I'll find out.

Elephant Butte on the right there.  I didn't take photos of this area for some reason.  You drop down into some gorgeous territory on the left, I've ridden there before.  Steep mountain to go over, and Dean tells me you drop down into that beautiful ranch that you can see from the highway on the other side.  So there's another trip I'll do this summer.

Sommercamp Road where we hit Highway 95 (obviously).

We hung a right, and then a left on Poison Creek.  Passed by Jump Creek.

See that road?  I'm not sure where that goes, but I'd like to find out.

And here's the start of the road to Poison Creek.   There's the old Poison Creek Stage Station, which is actually listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, but what it doesn't tell you, is that there used to be abortions performed here when abortion was illegal here.

A place to park the trailers before that stage stop.  This will work.

We went through Marsing, where Dean showed me a couple of the houses he used to live in and where all the little widows lived.  Told me some stories that made me laugh!

We, of course, had to stop at the watering hole for a drink or two.

The nice warm stove ... but I never saw the little things on the rail before.

Dean found Joy (now there's an oxymoron if I ever saw one) and sidled up to her. 

 

And here's Janet, the best bartender!

Dean's friend, Frank, came over to visit ... and I was able to get a couple of photos of them as well.

These two ... I don't know about these two.  Couple of wild and crazy guys.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed spending an afternoon with one of my favorite people!  I hope to do it again soon.

J

Cool Stuff

Had a bit of snow the other day.  Love it.  Wish there was lots more of it!

Jaenne came over to visit for a while.  Fun seeing her!  And right after she left, I had a visitor.  Well ... the trees across the street did.  The little magpie was pissed, apparently.

Still getting used to this camera, but I am impressed with the zoom on this little thing.  If I had a tripod, this would have been really neat.

And my front yard. 

Celebration Park

Rode out at Celebration Park on Saturday with Karen.  Fun ride!  I'd like to eventually ride from Celebration Park all the way down to Swan Falls.  I love how peacefully and quietly the river just meanders through the hills.  Could watch it all day. 

See that rock thing above?  That's a dwelling built by the Chinese I believe back in the mining days.  I am going to look up the history on it.  There's several of these structures still around, but this one was largely still intact, surprisingly.

Here's an excellent depiction of how well Kahlua stands around waiting for me.  I drop the reins and she stands solid as a rock, never moving a muscle until I tell her to.  I know she looks like she's walking off on me ... but no no ... not Ms. Perfect Horse. 

I love her new headstall.  Yeah, I know it's hard to see because it's black.  That's what I love about it, besides the quality of the leather and workmanship done by J-J Leather, Jeff Attebery out of Fruitland.

And here's Karen!  She's so much fun to ride with!

Sore ... it's a good thing

I went to the Shannon Allison clinic yesterday.  What a day!  8 hours of instruction ... and he worked our asses off.  Kahlua went in very stiff and bitchy, and came out nice and soft and responsive.  It was nothing short of amazing to watch the transformation.  I did it, but only because he was telling me what to do and when, but if I retain even 5% of what I learned yesterday, I'll be doing pretty good.  Today, I am sore as hell, but it's all good. 

I'm sure Kahlua is sore, too.

 
My new reins ... I love them.  Made of parachute chord.

Took a few quick shots with my new camera.  It's definitely not my DSLR, but takes some decent photos.  So this is what I'll be throwing in my saddle bags for my upcoming rides. 

Taken from my deck and she is in the middle of the pasture.  That's about the extent of the zoom, and I didn't wait for it to focus properly, as you can see.

The Cruz dude.  (I forgot how I'm spelling Cruz ... Cruise .. Cruize ... whatever... none of them look right.)  This shot was taken over the fence.  Not bad.

There's an app for that!

Usually, when someone sees this, they think it's aimed at high school kids.  Unfortunately, there are just as many, if not more, full grown adults who should know better that this applies to perfectly.  (Can't get that sentence worded right ... too early in the morning ... deal with it.)

Goals for 2013

I usually sit around struggling to set goals for the following year ... mainly because I am afraid of failing.  Afraid of not accomplishing the goals I set.  Afraid of announcing to the world the goals I dream of accomplishing because they'll point and laugh when I don't get there. 

I am not afraid of any of that this time.  I have goals and I know I will accomplish them. 

Get healthy:   In the beginning of September, I changed my eating habits and starting losing weight.  I started out at 257 ... yes ... isn't THAT an ugly number?  It was pretty horrifying when I stepped on that scale.  Today I am at 224.  Still scary, but 33 lbs. lighter than a few months ago, and I weigh less now that I have in many years.  I can tell by which clothes fit and which ones don't.  I can see parts of my body I haven't seen in a while.  The weight has been coming off at a rate of about 10 lbs. a month, and I'm not killing myself to get there.  I'd be very happy with losing another 50 lbs., and thrilled to giggles if I lost 75.   I have a larger frame, so anything less than 150 lbs. and I look like I'm on drugs.  I would love to be able to shop in a normal clothing store instead of Lane Bryant or other fat lady store.  I'd love to buy a bra that costs less than $35 because of the level of support I need for these honkers.  I'd love to be able to buy a size "large" shirt, instead of a XXL, which I have been in for many many years.  Non stretch jeans at D&B.

And it will happen.  Because I am going to make it happen. 

And I promised myself that once I am down to a weight I am happy with, I am going to spend the money and have my teeth done.  Maybe.  I don't know what my options are for my teeth right now, but at the very least, I will find out, and maybe come up with a plan from there.  I have neglected them for many years, and I have nightmares of all my teeth falling out.  And they will if I don't do something about it.

Because I'm not using any gimmicks or anything to lose the weight, and just stopped drinking soda, stopping eating bread and pasta and beans and carbs and processed foods and sugars, sweets, snacks, etc., and I drink tons of water ... my skin feels awesome, my nails are much nicer (even my toenails), and my body functions normally.  Amazing the domino effect.

Learn to ride:  I am having a blast on Kahlua, but I don't have a clue what I'm doing.  I need to learn to sit better, learn how to communicate with her, and eventually, I'd like to feel comfortable putting a leverage bit in her mouth, knowing that my hands are light enough.  I also want to see what she's like without a bit.  And ride her bareback.  I think she's had a bad experience with someone riding her bareback because it's obvious she's doesn't like it.  I want to change that.  We have built a good relationship this year, but I want it to be better than good.  There are still areas that I have not explored, still areas where I don't trust her completely (but am learning to) and areas where she doesn't quite trust me yet.  It takes time, and I'm not forcing anything.  She's a great horse, and she's perfect for me to learn with.  She challenges me right where I need it, she makes me step up to the plate and work through whatever fear I've got, and it's really rewarding when I do. 

Scan the photos:  My father is gone.  My mother is gone.  My brother is gone.  I have a stack of boxes of family photos sitting in my room, the scanner on my desk, and it all just sits here because it's very difficult to get through.  By December of next year, it will be done, copies put on to jump drives and mailed out to the remaining interested family members.  Of all the goals I am setting, this is going to be ... by far ... the most difficult one.  I miss my mom and dad ... but my brother is an open wound.  Still.  And probably always will be. 

Off to work,
J