Barefoot testimony

I just had to take a picture of Velvet's beautiful hooves. This is after I rode her about 90 miles from Aug. 21 to August 29th! (That is a record week! I loved it! I am saving up for the months that there is no riding at all. Boo-hoo, I hate to see the winter come...............well, maybe not, we replace the horses with cross country skiing!) Dad trims all the horses about every 5-6 weeks and saves us about $65 per horse at least twice/year. With 8 horses, that is quite the savings. He also does all the work to raise the hay and works extra hours on the days that we don't ride so that it doesn't take away from our househod fund to go on our rides. What a great example he is of working hard and sacrificing much for his wife's passion! I love that guy!

Harriman Park ride

This is Golden Lake in Harriman Park. We had such a delightful ride there Friday night! We met some new riding friends on a cattle drive last week and they took us to their stomping grounds. I'm sorry we didn't get a good picture of them. They are probably in their sixties and VERY fit. They don't go on our Wednesday rides because they work in the temple on Wednesdays (in Rexburg). Our friends in the group work in the IF temple on Tuesdays. Anyway, we went to the top of the mountain for this picture.

We came down into this delightful meadow to eat lunch (supper really)

We were with our friends, the Thuesons, Gregg, Jathan and his brother and two fun friends of his, and Shirley rode Mason's horse since he couldn't miss school. He then drove her car up and she went back that night and he rode Saturday with us in Yellowstone.

Gregg and his horse are quite the partners.

We came upon a herd of Elk on the edge of the meadow and ran to catch up with them when they ran to the trees. We heard the cows and calves calling to each other and it was just incredible! Jathan can imitate a cow Elk and I think that's why we were able to catch up and hear so much. It was really exciting. I took a souvenir home with me when I got too close to a low hanging branch as we scooted through the trees at a fast gait.

and night fell

Here you can see Gregg, Aaron (Jathan's brother), Mason, Me and Shirley as we went through the gate that leads back out of the mountains and back to the parking lot.

We paid respects at the Harriman's dog cemetary up on the HIGHEST mountain peak. They even had headstones!

Mary Lake Cabin

We rode to this cabin on the lake and had lunch. Gregg and Helen, Me, Dad and Mason and Gregg's partner and friends.

I had to test the water on top of Velvet first! We went in over her head for a minute. It was quite exciting since this was her first experience with swimming. Gregg got a picture of us with just her eyes and nose above water and me hanging on for dear life. I wish I had it to blog.

I LOVE dipping in those mountain lakes. It really makes the skin tingle and feel alive!

I feel so blessed to be able to have these incredible experiences and am looking forward to you joining us sometime!

Mary Lake-Yellowstone Park

Mason has just gotten out and is waiting for me to leave so he can change. I think this is a fun shot of him. My goodness he looks grown up! I think he's my man cub now, not just a cub!

Gregg is summoning strength. The water is like Hebgen in June.

Helen and I swam for awhile. Soooooo refreshing!

Hayden Valley in Yellowstone Park

Our favorite date!

Gregg is heading out after the buffalo we just scared away.

Hoo-Doo never likes it when Randy gets this close for a picture. Don't worry, though, Hoo-Doo can spin on a dime and get out of there pretty darned fast when the buffalo challenges! (the trick is for Dad to stay on!)

Mason forgot his hat and had to wear mine. I wore Shirley's that she left in the truck from the night before. He doesn't like pictures in someone else's hat since his own is kind of his trademark. We loved riding along beside the buffalo and the hot springs.

Fun at Mimi's

This girl LOVES the horses and has amazing balance and confidence for a three year old. What fun we will have when she gets a little older and can go on big rides with me!

I wish I could have captured Emma's expression as she rode along with me all by herself! It was so dang cute I just couldn't stand it, sitting up there so straight and secure and "big as you please"!

The boys were having fun with Aunt Carlianne. Gehrig is pulling her and Damian along in a wagon while she "paddles" her way with Isaiah bringing up the rear.

Riding lessons

Karina catching Dart and putting on his halter.

Natalia and Sariah jumping Tiniya and Zatorro

Karina "jumping" Dart. (bless his heart!)

Doing what I love to do.

Horse trimming lessons

The kids are so fascinated with the hoof trimming. I kind of like my farrier!

Natalia, Karina, Sariah and Mosiah all cleaning up the horses after their trims.

Sariah is riding Zatarro (grandpa's horse) "free style" (or without any restraints)

I think the horse is actually smiling.

How to babysit Gehrig and Damian

light a match! They can keep it going for HOURS and HOURS!

Gehrig looks a little different here because he got stung by a bee right between his eyes. He looked more like a chinaman than he looked like himself. It was strange to talk to him and know you were talking to him but not recognizing him. This picture is when he was almost back to normal.

Up the hill

Even when our rides are just up the hill a few miles, Dad takes his camera and hops off his horse for pictures. I think he is a real artist. This is just a view of Idaho Falls from the hill

Can this pretty flower really be a weed? Don't you love how the horse's nose is in the corner and the dog is in the background?

I guess he loves me. I'm beginning to be comfortable with the camera pointed in my direction. He does it all the time!