YIKES!!!!!

Today was not a day like all days. Got up, did chores, drove out to Glen Darach for my lesson with Abbe....things started out a little shakey but improved as time went on. First she was line driven by Andrea...then we added the poles and I drove her....finally!!!!the cart was attached! Yey! Then it started! The sound of machine guns on the roof...thunder...lightning...the rain was so loud I could not hear what Andrea was saying. Abbe was a trooper, and worked through the whole deal. When it was time to leave, we put the horse trailer in the indoor to load her and all my stuff....and waited for about 15 minutes for a break in the weather. It looked like a river when we finally left. Andrea was busy digging a trench next to her barn. I called home and Gary had put the horses in.

Just when I unloaded Abbe and was trying to put everything away, Gary came out and said that my computer was making a funny noise. I called tech support and am in a funk without being able to post my normal photos etc. It must be in the lines, as other neighbors on our side of the road do not have phone service...at least our phone works! So, no pictures tonight. I will try to write more tomorrow if I can find a computer to use. Right now I am across the street...thank you neighbors! I hope I don't go into cardiac arrest, not being able to be on line.

OUT OF THE MOVIES....

Another beautiful morning.  No humidity.... a little breeze...temperature going up to the mid 80s.

Clear as a bell.

The pups and I went out to do chores...there was a grain delivery.  Put the dogs in the yard and did some mowing and mulching in the front paddock.

In the house a little before 11 and got a few things ready for lunch.  Gary and I met our friends Mel and Helen at the Canal Park in Holley (the next village west of Brockport).

We drove out there via Canal Road.

Some friends have a farm right next to the water.  Do they have great gardens!  Enough berries to feed the whole town.  What a setting.

Gar and I arrived first and picked out a nice picnic table in the shade...I brought real dishes and glasses just because!  This is the part out of the movies.

The park is well set up and can provide docking for many boats.

Tonight there was a concert there. The bands usually set up in the gazebo.

This is a picture of the lift bridge.

So what did we have for lunch?  Sun tea with lots of ice and fresh lemons.

Goat cheese with a sauce of cranberries and wine.  Havarti cheese with crackers and grapes.

(Mel wore this tee shirt for Gary's benefit...it gave him a reason to talk about Brooklyn, where he was born).

Helen is a working artist and Mel retired from SUNY Brockport, where he was the head of educational communication.  It was a perfect day to get together and we really took advantage of the setting.  WHY DON'T WE DO THIS MORE OFTEN?

We had egg and olive sandwiches (with spinach from you know where) on crusty rolls.

Fresh fruit with organic vanilla yougert.

The whole time we were there, the activity was very steady.

Boats of all shapes and sizes docked (or kept going).

This was a Grampa and Granchild.  They

stopped for awhile to have a picnic lunch.

After this boat docked, they immediately set up a "dish" on the dock.  Maybe they wanted to watch a soap opera, who knows?

This is a perfect example of the kind of sign that should be at every port and waterfront.  If you have been visiting my Journal for awhile, you may remember that I have been working on a project for several years called ART WALKS ON WATER.  (Trying to get a piece of art in over 230 towns along this 524 mile New York State Canal System).  They should all have a signs like this one.

I loved this.  The umbrella was for the dog.

Rollin' down the river....

There is a stone dust path that runs next to the Canal and it is used by bikers everyday.  Each summer there are several tours with over 500 participants.

Stopped at the Sidewalk Sale in Brockport to get a birthday present for our youngest grandaughter, then drove back to the farm.  Justine did chores tonight.

I went out to mow the rest of the lane after a 7pm dinner.  This plane was flying over the pasture.

It was so buggy, I left the horses masks on until just before dark....I love it when they are all waiting for me in the indoor so I don't have to go out into the pastures to take them off.

Of course the sky was amazing tonight, and my camera ran out of gas...missed some of the best shots of the week.

By the way, I spoke to Andrea about Abbe today.  She has not been behaving herself and it is getting very discouraging ....fortunately she shaped up a little today.  Tomorrow morning I am going out there for a lesson and we are going to hook her to the cart.  I sure hope it works. That's it for now.  Night all.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

This week in review, brought to you from Skoog Farm....

To view more beautiful skies around the world:  http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

BING BANG BOOM!

Chores went smoothly, then I gathered everything I needed to take out to Glen Darach Farm for Abbe (sweat sheet, harness, boots, surcingle, saddle pad, regular bridle, Andrea's bit, water bucket, grain for four feedings, bale of hay, driving whip, mask, halter, lead rope).

Loaded everything into the front of the horse trailer and took Abbe into the tack room for a good grooming.  I was here by myself and she loaded well.

This is Glen Stirling....he is Abbe's sire and lives at Glen Darach.

When we got there, I put her in the front pasture and she immediately went over to Eagle (Andrea's gelding).  She must remember him.

She kept looking at the trailer when I was leaving.

These four flower shots are from Andrea's gardens.

When I left, I drove to Country Max to buy some stall mats (had to take advantage of the fact that I had a trailer to put them in).  The sale starts next week, but the manager sold them to me for the sale price today....bought six.  When Gary got home he was not too thrilled to move them into a couple of the stalls AS THEY WERE VERY HEAVY!

Then I mowed the lawn.  A little after 3 we met with the roofer we want to use for the indoor and the studio, making final arrangements.  We're going with dark green metal roofs. Finished the lawn and  around 4:30 went into the house to make some chicken meatballs in sauce. 

At 5:30 I went out to do chores...a little mulching in the paddock first.  We ate dinner around 6:45 and then I forced myself to drive down to Apple Creek Farm to mow their lawn.

This is how dark it was when I finished.  Home, put the horses in for the night....took a shower and I AM TIRED.  Night All!

MORNING....NOON AND NIGHT (AGAIN)

Up and at 'um.  You must know the drill by now.  Fed the dogs...chores...back to the house.

Gucci and Phoebe, waiting for me to finish everything.

Had to run some errands...bank, Wegmans, gas station....
Cleaned Abbe's harness and packed things up for tomorrow morning...will leave here about 9 to take her out to Glen Darach Farm for three days of training.  Hopefully we will be in the cart driving her by Saturday.  It has to happen sometime.  The Kenney's are (once again) letting me use their truck and trailer.  How lucky can I be?
Gary was given a gift card to the Village Inn, so we went there tonight for dinner.  Excellent from start to finish.
It is 20 miles from our farm, and we drove home the back way.  The fields are golden with wheat, or have hay down for baling tomorrow.  Some are ready to do second cutting, and did it smell great.
Got home just before dark and went out to take the horses masks off.  You had to know my camera would be with me.
Tonight I took many shots in the dark... and encourage all of you to do this.
Particularly in your gardens.

You can hardly see this sculpture at the end of our driveway, the snow on the mountain is so tall.

Here's the other one.  Both are by Bill Stewart, the artist I featured yesterday.
As a matter of fact, these night shots would make a good challenge for "Sunday Stills."













He has a new home and now he needs a name.  Any suggestions?
The horses are in, it is now 11:30, and I am going to watch David Letterman.  Night All.