Monday Miscellany

 

Laurie was coming home from a weekend regional Arabian Sport Horse Show where she had won three championships and one reserve with her horse Pache. 

Her friend Roxzene had accompanied her and helped out with all aspects of prepping. 

It had been over a month since we'd seen Barbara who had gone off to a show in Southern Idaho before we left for Ireland.

Twas a lovely Sunday afternoon, so Willie and Debbie invited us all for a barbecue, which served some good food and as a coming-home gathering of sorts. 

So, we ate hamburgers and water melon, etc. and sat around outside catching up on our individual traveling experiences. 

It was nice to get together again. 

This week, we're all wondering when the hay projects will happen.  It all depends on the farmers and where they're at in their respective marathon harvesting. 

But, maybe by week's end, we'll know and maybe even be looking back on the annual winter hay supply concerns for another year. 

I'll be bringing CB home from his month's refresher training at the end of the week and hopefully have some opportunities to climb aboard.  

I went to the neighbor's to take some pictures yesterday and learned maybe--just maybe-- that Lefty's friend Terra might come over and ride with me. 

We'll see. 

It's the height of a summer which seems to be zipping by faster than ever.  Of course, when you're somewhere else for part of it, that sensation of fast forward summer is understandable. 

On this 18th day of July, Miss Bridie turned 11 months old.  We took a different route on our morning walk, through our hay field, which looks more abundant than it has in years, almost good enough to harvest. 

But, we'll save it for fall pasture, and the horses will be happy. 

Last night when we went to the barbecue, Debbie handed over a birthday present the kids had arranged for me before we left. 

I'd already seen it in a photo but seeing and feeling the real thing---a beautifully and personally crafted work of leather art---made my day. 

Debbie told me that this purse was the last item the 82-year-old leather artist from Montana intended to create, so that makes it even more special.   

The best part besides the fact that it came from the kids is that folks will know to whom it belongs should I leave it somewhere. 

Thanks so much, Willie, Annie and Debbie. 

And, that's all for this breezy Monday morning after an overnight thunder storm. 

Time to get on with the day.

Happy Monday.