Ranch fences~Friday's Fences~112913

We drove by the ranch that my parents owned back in the 60's.  It is near Bonsall, CA, which is near Vista and San Diego.  It is actually a mountain away from Camp Pendleton Marine Base and I remember, as a kid, hearing the Marines practicing with their artillery.  Forty years ago those hills weren't covered with the houses and ranches which are there now.  I could go riding all day and hear nothing but the buzz of a rattlesnake by the side of the road.  My dad actually put the aluminum on the barn and it is still there.  Friday's Fences for November 29, 2013.  To visit Friday Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Beach sunset~SkyWatch Friday~112913

Sunset near San Diego this past week.  We spent 3 nights in San Juan Capistrano and visited the beautiful mission there.  SkyWatch Friday for November 29, 2013.  We're actually having our Thanksgiving dinner with family today.  To visit SWF, please go to:  http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Dana Point Harbor

So, yesterday we headed over to Dana Point Harbor.  Neither one of us had ever been there before and it was only a couple of miles away from our hotel in San Juan Capistrano.  Then we took the road to the top of the cliff and hiked along the cliff.   We saw lots of pelicans flying by, so we returned to Dana Point Harbor and took the bridge road, which goes along the breakwater.  There were pelicans everywhere diving into the shallow water and catching fish!  They were so interesting to watch...we just stood there and clicked away on our cameras.  If they caught a fish, they were mobbed by seagulls.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Hubby and I visited mission San Juan Capistrano yesterday.  If you ever get a chance to visit it, GO THERE!  I think it is the most beautiful of all the California missions and I've visited most of them.  I dragged our children to nearly all of them when they were in 4th grade, since the missions were part of their social studies curriculum.  And, the light yesterday afternoon was PERFECT!  Nice, puffy clouds, with some dark ones overhead...an absolutely gorgeous afternoon!

Temecula horses

On Highway 79, the road from Anza to Temecula, there are some metal sculptures of horses.  I'd not seen these before, so I stopped along the road at one point to take these photos.  There was another one further down, but I had cars zipping behind me, so I didn't stop...maybe on the way home...

Ranch fences~Friday's Fences~112213

I always love watching the trees change up at the horse ranch.  This is how they looked last weekend.  There is a small fence which runs in front of them.  The colors were breathtaking this year.  Last year...not so much.  Friday's Fences for November 22, 2013.   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Roses at the ranch

No words needed.  These roses are up at the horse ranch.  Enjoy!

Guess who is coming to see Mom?

He's so nosy!  He came over for a rub...

Ranch fence~Friday's Fences~111513

I love to stop and view the horse ranch from a certain spot every weekend.  I can see the changing leaves on the trees, or I can see through them up to the horse corrals in winter, when they are bare.  But, right now, the red maples are ablaze with color, as well as other trees on their property (see my new header).  They didn't have much color at all last autumn, but this year, they are spectacular.  I'm thinking this color will last maybe another week or two and by Thanksgiving, when I have a whole week off school, it will be gone!  NO!  So, I'm going to have to enjoy this brillant display as long as I can, eh?  Friday's Fences for November 15, 2013.  To visit FF, please go to:  http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Frisky horses!.

I worked with two horses on Sunday.  Saturday I was too exhausted to even get out of my pajamas.  I'm find that, after dealing with this group of kids this year, by Saturday, my brain has turned to MUSH and I'm too exhausted to deal with anybody or anything.  So, I usually vegetate on Saturday.  By Sunday, however, I have recovered!  :-)  So, early Sunday morning, I headed up to the horse ranch.  I wanted to at least work with a couple of horses.  I started with Sunni, since he was waiting by his corral gate and it had been a while since I last took him out.  He's always been a good walker with me and there was no breeze to distract him.  I lunged him and then let him go.  Apparently he had quite a few farts stored up because he sure let loose with a few!  Then I desensitized him on both sides.  He didn't even move.  The farrier was out last week and everybody's feet look really good!  His "big ole feet" looked well trimmed.  So, back he went and I next took out Lucille, since she really needs the exercise.  She basically was in her corral for the previous 6 years.  I only saw her previous owner about 4x a YEAR.  YES!  So, I always try to take her out for some R&R.  She doesn't need desensitizing~she's already very calm.  She DOES need to build up her muscles and endurance.  So I just lunged her a little while and then turned her loose in the arena.  She REALLY enjoyed her time there!  I was planning on returning yesterday, but I started trimming overhanging tree branches around the house and that took me most of the day.  My trainer is coming today, so she will work ALL of them today...:-)

Blue~Sunday Stills Challenge~111013

Actually, a BLUE BIRDHOUSE.  I though this week's challenge was birdhouses, so I drove through the little community up in Garner Valley, to look for birdhouses.  HA~fortunately I found this blue one!  Sunday Stills Challenge for November 10, 2013.  To visit SSC, please go to:  http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Entering the Coachella Valley~SkyWatch Friday~110813

I don't usually take photos of power line, but, on this afternoon, the colors were so vivid I did.  And, I took these from inside our car, while hubby was driving 80 mph!  These hills are out by Chiracco Summit, when Interstate 10 drops down into the Coachella Valley.   You can see a reflection of the inside of the car in the lower right hand corner.  SkyWatch Friday for November 8, 2013.  To visit SWF, please go to:    http://skyley.blogspot.com/

We have Internet again and views of Oak Creek Canyon, AZ

So, the 5th tech came out last night and announced that the problem was with their wires and that ANY of the previous 4 IDIOTS who came could have fixed it...sigh...This guy ran a new wire from the pole into the house and VOILA~we have Internet again.  It's a temporary fix and a crew of two will have to come back and properly run the wire, but at least I can post photos!  So, here are some from our morning trip down Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona 2 weekends ago (yes, it's been THAT LONG without proper Internet!)

Waiting for Time Warner to come tomorrow...sigh...

I've been AWOL for a few days now because I can't upload photos (too big) since I'm using my cell phone as a wifi hotspot.  Time Warner is coming tomorrow to HOPEFULLY and FINALLY resolve our Internet issues.  Turns out, the problem is in THEIR hardware, up at the top of the telephone pole in our yard.  30 years ago we planted trees around it to hide its ugliness and now they have to climb up around them to get to the top of the pole.  I'm sure the guy will be swearing tomorrow (heheheh!)...

I've been visiting other blogs...I just can't post large photos on here until we get our regular Internet back...

All the horses are fine and they are getting their winter coats. The farrier was supposed to come yesterday to trim all of them.   I have a 3 day weekend coming up, so I'll have lots of horse time (I hope)...at least 1 day.

Cheers!