And, just HOW woolly was Lucille?

That's pretty Lucille AFTER I brushed her.  And, that's all the hair I got off of her last Sunday.  I'll have to groom her again this weekend.  You can see her pretty color on the top photo, but she still has gobs of hair which needs to come OFF!

Sunni having some fun!

So, yesterday I FINALLY had a full, free morning to drive up to the horses.  I couldn't do it Friday because I had to babysit the granddaughter, and Saturday we had to get ready at 1:00 p.m. to go to the McCallum Theater for open call.  Our daughter's band made the finals and we had tickets to watch her band and all the other finalists.  What a great show!  I want to go next year and just enjoy my two hours there.

It was also clear yesterday morning, so off up the mountain I headed.  Got to the ranch about 9:30.  The ranch owner was out cleaning corrals, but their collie had gotten out of the front gate, so I rounded her up and locked the gate.  She might have headed down the hill (not a good thing!).  Silly dog!

I brushed and groomed an unappreciative Gigondas.  Humppppfffffttt!  She could have cared less.  In fact, I think I annoyed her.

Next...Scout.  Her spots are coming through now that she is losing her winter coat.  I think she just tolerated me.

Quad didn't want to be brushed AT ALL and wouldn't hold still.  He just wanted another meal.

Sunni was a GOOD BOY and let me brush both sides of him.  He usually dances around so that I can't get his "off" side, but today he stood still.  He had a lot of fur come off.

Then, Lucille...Now, Lucille is the hairiest horse I have.  I could just SEE clumps of hair on her.  She had them under her mane.  She had them down her legs.  She had them on her BIG BUTT.  I took a photo of her corral after I finished brushing her.  All her hair should keep the birds busy for weeks!  She really is a "woolly mammoth".

I decided to take Sunni down to the arena for some lunging and desensitizing.  I figured that out of all the horses, he needed it the most, and I wasn't sure how much energy I would have.  So, off we went.  He did well with his lunging and "stay" command.  I desensitized him by using the long lead rope.  He could have cared less.  So, I let him go to run and self-exercise.  He's always been very good about self-exercising (see photos below).  Apparently the little colt missed Sunni because he was calling to him the entire time he was down in the arena!

We had RAIN yesterday! REAL RAIN!

It's been so long, but we actually had RAIN here in the desert yesterday!  It was wonderful!  I love the smell of the desert after a nice rain.  And, it even rained at our house yesterday afternoon.  I stopped and took these photos as I was driving back to Palm Desert from Indio.  I had to babysit the granddaughter (who took a couple of steps yesterday).  I can't wait to see what our mountains are like this morning and I may take a short drive up to them this morning.  It should be a great day for photos today!  Look how DARK the skies were.  Hubby told me he heard thunder and saw lightning, but I didn't hear or see any...

Garner Valley tree and fence~Good Fences~041814

There is a small community up in Garner Valley, apart from the 5 acre ranches.  It's right off the highway, and it is made up of small homes.  No big ranches are there.  It's a tight little community and I often drive through it.  Houses are well kept and I always enjoy seeing the yards, including this one with a flowering tree and fence.  Good Fences for Friday, April 18, 2014.   To visit Good Fences, please go to this link:   http://run-a-roundranch.blogspot.com/

What's up, Quad?

What's up, Quad?

I need to get up there one of the next 3 days and give everybody a GOOD brushing...I'm thinking tomorrow will be a good day...no school!   :-)

More cuteness!

He IS adorable.  And, he has one brown eye and one blue one...!!!   :-)

Ms. Nosy

Yes, here's Scout..."Ms. Nosy".  She's always interested in whatever is going on up at the ranch!  Curious little thing, isn't she?

Ranch roses~Today's Flowers~041314

I was able to get up to the ranch yesterday and was surprised to see ALL the roses up there in bloom!  They were gorgeous.  After greeting the horses, I walked around and took these photos of the flowers.  I also spotted a roadrunner at the ranch.  The owner isn't sure if she's glad to see him, however, as he apparently killed a quail last week.    Today's Flowers for Sunday, April 13, 2014.  To visit Today's Flowers, please go to this link:    http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

More pics of the little guy!!!

Well, I made it up to the horses this morning, but I only lasted 1 hour.  I've had a cold virus since last week (I missed 2 days of school) and it just WIPED. ME. OUT.  I straggled to school this past week, but by Wednesday, I was completely exhausted and had a horrible headache.  Each afternoon, I'd drive home and take a nap.

I wanted to see how the little colt was doing.  He's in the corral next to Sunni, with his mother, and I wanted to see him before he got too big.  He's still ALL LEGS.  He almost came up to me, but then decided he'd go have another sip of breakfast instead!  Apparently Sunni is the "babysitter".  Mom allows him to put his head over the fence between them and watch the little guy!   :-)

I wish I'd had more energy.  I didn't really do much this morning, just gave everybody a couple of scoops of pellets and their psyllium.  The farrier will be up shortly to give them a trim, but I DO have a 3 day weekend next weekend!   :-)  YEAH!

Fuzzy Wuzzy Cali

I miss my little Cali.  I found these photos from 2011 while I was looking for some other photos of wildflowers in this file.  Look how fuzzy she was back in March of 2011!  She was such a sweetheart...sigh...I miss her every time I travel up to the ranch.  I started out to go there today, but was too tired and dizzy to complete the drive.  And, I only had 2 gallons of gas, so there was NO WAY I would make it up the hill.  Maybe tomorrow morning...

Saguaro Sunrise~SkyWatch Friday~040414

Sunrise at the Rancho Mirage post office one morning this week.  I had to stop there and mail some bills.  Beautiful, old, dead saguaro but I think it still has some presence!  SkyWatch Friday for April 4, 2014.    To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to:    http://skyley.blogspot.com/2014/04/skywatch-friday-april-3-2014-edition.html