Sunday Stills: Landscapes and Power Lines

So...I didn't get anywhere to take landscape shots. Had to settle for the view westward from one of Indy's favorite walks close to home. Plus an intimate portrait of one of the towers. And a view of Mt. Hood (joke pic, see the teeny tiny white tip of the mountain?).

Oregon Horse Country

The Wilsonville Spokesman published a story in the current issue regarding the Chamber of Commerce's exploration of equine tourism in the area. It's very encouraging to see others acknowledge the economic contributions made by equestrian activities. The article also addresses the need to consider equine facilities in land use planning.

Access the article at Wilsonville Lifestyles. It won't be on the website for long.

Whoo Hoo!

Check out the forecast!!!

Hmmm, Good Question

Behind the Bit was tagged with a list of questions that looked intriguing, so I'll give them a try myself.

What are your current obsessions?

My current novel in progress, The Legacy of Pennleah, a young adult fantasy.

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?

Jeans, of course.

What's for dinner?

Lean Cuisine.

Last thing you bought?

A graduation gift for someone who couldn't possibly be old enough to graduate from high school.  ;-)

Before that...books (of course).

What are you listening to?

The fan. Usually it's NPR via KOPB. 

If you were a god/goddess, who would you be?

Epona, protector of horses.

Favorite holiday spots?

Since I haven't been on an airplane since 1984, I obviously don't "holiday" much. But I'd love to return to England and Down Under.

Reading right now?

What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman.

Who or what makes you laugh until you're weak?

Usually Indy, my dog. Such a Goober Boy!

Who's your hero/heroine?

Aside from my mother and her mother? Captain Sully. Grace under pressure. Experience counts!

What's the thing that always makes you smile?

Thinking about loved ones.

Favorite Film?

Pride and Prejudice - the Colin Firth version, of course!

Care to share some wisdom?

It will all work out. Maybe not in the way you think it will or should. But things will eventually sort themselves out.

If you were a tree, which would it be and why?

A Douglas fir, my state tree. Since I'm vertically challenged, it would be nice to see over everyone else for a change.

Name fictitious characters who made a lasting impression on you.

Elizabeth Bennett, Melanie Hamilton-Wilkes.

Four words to describe yourself.

Still waters run deep.

Those are today's answers. Who know what tomorrow's answers would be.

So...I tag Shared Glory Photoblog with the above questions. Heck, she's out of school now and has time for a little nonsense!  :-)

Memorial Day

In loving memory of Ed Potter

41st Infantry Division Bands

162nd Infantry Regiment.

The Sunset patch of the 41st Infantry Division, also known as the Sunset Division. Sunset Highway (Hwy 26) to the Oregon coast is dedicated to the memory of the division, comprised largely of men from the Pacific Northwest.

The 41st Infantry Division, the Fighting Jungleers, arrive in Australia and stand for review. Note the WWI uniforms. They were one of the first divisions sent overseas following Pearl Harbor and one of the last to return home after the occupation of Japan.

Assault on Biak Island. The 41st played a key role in Pacific Theater of War. Contrary to John Wayne movies, the Marines didn't do it all alone. Tokyo Rose had some choice words for the 41st Infantry as it battled through New Guinea and the Philippines Islands.

Sunday Stills: Yellow

I already had this one in my photo file. It was taken during the winter doldrums and I thought the spot of yellow jumped out from the dreary winter landscape.



I took the following photos specifically for the latest "assignment." Once again using my little Kodak since I was at the barn. I guess what I'm trying to do is look at things from different angles. Such as:


I call this one Harley's Hootin n Hollerin Halter:


This one is my favorite of the recent "Yellow" photos. I pulled out of the barn the other day and thought, Hmmm. What if.... And this is the product.

Obviously, this one has to be titled The Road Not Taken, with a nod to R. Frost.  :-)

Busy Barn Day

I had the barn to myself today, which was a surprise because Fridays have been fairly active of late. So I was able to implement my plan of action. It was warm enough for Phantom's first bath of the season!

Rode for half an hour, primarily sitting trot, until Phantom came round and bendy. I've been doing a pattern where I ride out of the corner to X and back to the corner to ride the short ends of the arena at the rail. I try to work toward a soft bend at each end of the arena, straighten on the way to X, change the bend at X, straighten on the way to the corner and return to the correct bend at the next short end. Since I'm asking for a slight bend I'm less prone to "shout" my cues. I try to think of just shifting from one side of the spine to the other. I continue to work on implementing Trainer Tracey's suggestions to sit back more and look between Phantom's ears.

Anyway, ended the ride with leg yields and shoulders-in to Handel on All Classical FM. Nothing like a little Baroque tune to put one in the right frame of mind.

So then it was off to the wash rack where I really "sudsed up" Phantom's mane and tail. Of course, while rinsing his mane half the water goes down my arm and I end up taking a shower, too. When finished with wash and rinse I sprayed him with fly repellant and sent Phantom out to free graze and dry out in the sun.


While Phantom was air drying I gave my saddle and bridle a quickie cleaning with the handy little Lexol sheets. I know it's cheating and it's not a thorough job, but otherwise I wouldn't do it at all. With that chore done, I grabbed my little Kodak and tried to take a few pictures.

Man, his mane turned out bright white. Too bad he won't be this sparkly when next I see him.

I brought Phantom into the little barn and banded his mane into a continental braid. Much easier with clean hair! Then I placed his new "clearance" fly sheet on him. Yesterday my income-tax-refund order from Dover Saddlery arrived. So I tried on the one-piece combo turnout sheet for size. I'll pack it away for next fall. Then I tried on the combo one-piece fly sheet that I'll likely use later in the summer. It seemed to fit okay for length, but the belly strap must be sized for a pregnant mare (and I do mean pregnant). So I brought it home for possible alterations. Between Gallops and the Mill End Store, I think I can accumulate the materials I'll need for the job.

New Kitty:

About the time we lost Romeo, Molly reported her family was being visited by a stray cat -- likely dumped in the area by someone.  :-(

Juliet has found a new home at the barn. She's still on trial, hiding in the feed room. Although, she did venture out to meow at me and sort-of-almost accept a pet. And Juliet was reported to be seen stalking "game."

She's very thin and it makes us all so angry to think she may have been dropped off to fend for herself. She will be wormed, and spayed as soon as possible.

Juliet is very sweet and soaking up the attention of the boarders who come to say hello and welcome her to the barn.

In Memory

Romeo

Much loved and missed by the Barn Bunch at CEC