Mountain thunderheads~SkyWatch Friday, July 31, 2009

Our local mountains have been having thunderstorms for several days. Sometimes the day begins cloudless, but by mid-morning, thunderheads develop. By afternoon, a full-blown thunderstorm builds and I often hear thunder either in the mountains right behind me or above me when I'm out with the horses. This is typical monsoon weather here in the desert and our local mountains. SkyWatch Friday for July 31, 2009.

Dirt baths! Scout and Cali

Of course, before Cali had her REAL bath, she and Scout took a dirt bath. Not just once, but two or three times! Roll, roll, ROLL in the dirt and manure!

Cali gets a SPA DAY!

Yes, she did! Molly helped me SO MUCH the other day! That's a picture of Molly and me! Molly lives nearby out here in the desert and we emailed each other and decided to have a "horse day!" She's a fellow blogger (http://holamole.blogspot.com/) It was so nice to have another set of hands! We took Cali down to the wash rack, tied her (she hardly moved)! Molly brushed out her mane and tail and then we washed her. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!! A day at the spa....it felt so good! She didn't even roll afterwards! (she usually just drops to the ground and rolls after getting wet!). She is so friendly and gentle! GOOD GIRL! And, THANK YOU, Molly, for helping out!

Horse kisses! That's My World for Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I met a fellow blogger, Molly (http://holamole.blogspot.com/) yesterday. She's the first fellow blogger that I've met! I noticed she took some pictures of our nearby street fair and posted them on her blog, so I emailed her and asked where she lived. Turns out, she's up here, not more than 15 miles away! She has a horse, too, and misses her (she's down in Mexico) and wanted to meet THE HERD! So, we arranged to meet at a local Starbucks and we drove up the mountain and chatted the entire time! What a wonderful woman! She's so full of life and ideas! Thank you, Molly, for a WONDERFUL day yesterday! It was so nice to have another pair of eyes and ears and HANDS to help out!!! She gave Cali a nice brushing and then we hosed her off as she had rolled in manure and was FILTHY!!! Here is Molly meeting Scout...horsey kisses! That's My World for Tuesday, July 28, 2009. While it was warm, going on HOT in the desert, it was cool up in the mountains, at least until about noon, when it warmed up there, too, and we drove back to our desert homes.

Pretty sunflowers~Mellow Yellow for Monday, July 27, 2009

I met my aunt and uncle, who live in San Diego, on Saturday and we drove into Idyllwild for breakfast. This cute cabin is along the road and I've never had time to take any photos until then. Aren't the sunflowers delightful? Mellow Yellow for Monday, July 27, 2009.

More back rubs~Toys~Sunday Stills Challenge for 072609

Yesterday I posted photos of Cali having a good back rub. And, believe it or not, yesterday when I drove up to the ranch to see the horses, Gigondas did it, too! Fortunately I grabbed my camera! She's wet because I had just hosed her off. I guess you could call the corral fence her "toy"!

Sunday Stills Challenge for July 26, 2009.

There's nothing like a good rub! (Cali) Camera Critters for July 25, 2009

Cali is the goofiest and happiest horse we have! If I don't scratch her butt when she wants, she just finds the nearest spot on the corral fence and does it herself! That's Sunni next to her thinking, "What in tarnation is SHE doing?" See for yourself! Camera Critters for Saturday, July 25, 2009.

Mountains clouds~Skywatch Friday, July 24, 2009

Hubby and I have been driving up to the ranch in the late afternoons because it is just too hot in the daytime. By 9:00 a.m. some days, I can no longer work the horses, especially now that the humidity is back. There is a forecast for "mountain and desert thunderstorms" this afternoon. I took these photos earlier in the week, on one of the evenings there were a few clouds, but they weren't overwhelming, like last night. No, there wasn't a fire in the area. This was just one huge cloud that was hanging over the area. SkyWatch Friday, July 24, 2009

Just hanging out~Sunni and Cali

These two are a couple of real oddballs! Both are gentle, laid back horses, but Sunni sometimes can be a "drama queen". Cali, on the other hand, is very "ho hum" ALL the time! She didn't move for the ferrier, while Sunni pranced around and wouldn't hold still and never got his back feet done. But, when the two of them are together, they get along very well and are not food agressive with each other. Here they are just "hanging".

Retreat to the mountains! That's My World 072109

When it is too hot here in the desert, hubby and I drive to the little town of Idyllwild, at the top of the San Jacinto mountains. It's been so hot here in the desert that hikers have been rescued from local trails due to the extreme heat. We are lucky that Idyllwild is only about 45 minutes away from the desert floor and there is an excellent restaurant there, The Bread Basket. We ran into a mountain thunderstorm on the way up Sunday afternoon and the thunderheads circled the valley yesterday. We stayed home and ate dinner with our grown children and didn't drive up to the ranch yesterday, but we'll go today. These are pics of our favorite Idyllwild restaurant, The Bread Basket. Can you see why we love to go there? Instead of 113 degree heat, it was a comfortable 70-something in the mountains! That's My World for Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

Evening meal

Hubby and I like to drive to Idyllwild on Sunday afternoons and have an early dinner. Anyway, that's our new favorite thing to do! We arrived at the ranch at feeding time and the horses were all busy! There had been a thunderstorm in the area that afternoon, so the ground and horses were wet! We ran into it on our way up the mountain. Everything smelled fresh and wet! It was nearly twilight and there was a beautiful sunset. Awwwww......what a view! Cali and Sunni were quietly eating their dinner. Dinner in the dark...where are the candles? Quad got a new fly mask! He has quite a few flies around his eyes. And, yes, that's his girlfriend trying to steal some of his dinner!!! Hey, she doesn't like him THAT MUCH! Silly girl!

Aw, nuts! Sunday Stills Challenge for July 19, 2009

Yesterday we had a good day at the ranch. All the horses got a workout, except Cali, who just got in the way! I took Scout down to the arena and did some groundwork with her and hubby took Gigondas later. Quad perked up and watched both of them, under the watchful eye of his GIRLFRIEND (the beautiful Peruvian Paso!) Boy, does she keep an eye on him! I worked with Sunni, too, but Cali kept getting her big nose in the way. Aw, nuts! I should have taken him down to the arena, too, but, after working with Scout, I was just too tired! So, these are my contributions to Sunday Stills Challenge, "Aw nuts"! Yes, that's Scout having a fit because nobody was paying attention to her! And, that's Cali getting in the way while I was TRYING to do some work with Sunni! Enjoy your Sunday and give your horse(s) a hug from me!