Oh, hi, Mom! I'm coming!!!

Look at this GOOD GIRL! She now comes to her name and is very curious about what Mom is doing! I'm glad she has her own corral now and is away from Scout. When Cali was with Scout, Scout always chased her away from me and she would linger at the far side of the corral. Cali really LOVES people and is very gentle with everybody!

Whatcha' doin'?

It was so darn HOT everywhere yesterday, that I didn't do much! I stayed inside down in the desert (it was 117 yesterday), and finally, about 3:00, I dragged myself out to the car and drove up the mountain to visit the horses. Hmmmm....it was over 90 degrees even up there. Ugh! Too hot to even think clearly, so I just hung out with Gigo and let her investigate my tennis shoes. I didn't wear my boots because it was too hot and when I come back to the desert, they are really uncomfortable! I figured I wouldn't get much done (and I didn't...)!!!! It's supposed to be 114 here in the desert for the next two days, then temps will drop down to 108 for the weekend. I have school stuff to do for the rest of the week, and I may not get back to see the herd until Saturday.

Getting ready for back to school

I'm one of the fortunate ones who doesn't need to adjust my biological clock to get ready for back to school, since I wake up every morning about 5 a.m. However, I will have to adjust my "horse time" starting tomorrow! I have a doctor's appt at 8:00 a.m. and then I need to go to school and finish prepping my room. And, the rest of the week, I have meetings at school. So, from now on, except for the weekends, I'll have to visit "the herd" after school...sigh...It's never easy to have to drive 35 miles up a winding mountain road after a day at school! But, I NEED my horse time and I need to work with Scout and the others, so off I'll go, at least until daylight savings time ends. I actually find it relaxing to drive up the mountain and it helps me clear my mind. It's just a "time adjustment" for me. It will be 114 degrees here in the desert for the next couple of days, then down to 111 and 110 and 108 by the end of the week. Phew! NOBODY enjoys these hot days of August! How about you? Do you have to adjust your schedule now that school is starting?

Farrier visit~"metal"~Sunday stills Challenge082210

Not the last time my farrier came to do the "herd", but back in March, I wandered around, camera in hand, and took these photos. Not this time, however~ I had to hold each horse and I couldn't balance my camera and pay attention! I'm glad I took these photos because it was interesting to see all the sizes of the horseshoes in the back of his truck. He mostly does thoroughbreds and he is VERY patient with each horse that he does. He and his assistant talk softly and, in Cali and Quad's cases, they almost fall asleep! He was even able to trim Sunni's back hooves this visit (not the first one, however), and Sunni has decided that he's a pretty good guy! Sunday Stills Challenge~"metal"~for August 22,2010.

Been so darn busy lately!

I haven't had much time for the horses. There. I said it. I've been so darn busy running around town trying to buy school supplies like white notebooks for the kids, erasers, colored pencils, crayons, spiral notebooks, kleenex, hand sanitizers, and Clorox wipes for their desks. My students come from a very economically depressed area and I don't want to have to ask the parents to buy anything! Some families are moving in with the grandparents because they can't afford their own homes any more. And, yes, some of them are returning to family in Mexico...Our enrollment is down from 750 to less than 700 students. And, my students are ALL born in the USA! I had a family two years ago...dad lost his job as a pool cleaner. They were going to move to her mom's place in Mexico, but dad found some part-time work and they were able to remain here, which is a good thing because those were good kids and hard workers! Another boy in last year's class told me they were moving further down the valley to live on Grandpa's ranch and he wouldn't be back at our school in the fall. Another girl is moving to another town...another boy is also moving....sigh....So, yesterday I found HUGE jars of hand sanitizer with $1.50 off each one at COSTCO. I normally pay about $4.00 for them, but these were $3.99 less $1.50, so I bought two of them for $2.49 each. That SHOULD last me all year! I always try to buy stuff on sale (since I AM spending my own money!). WALMART had crayons on sale for 25 cents a box, so I bought 36 boxes (since I'll have 32 kidlets this year!)...so, no, I haven't had time to get up to the ranch, but I'm goin' this morning! YEAH! Finally! And, frankly, it has been so darn HUMID here and up there, that I'm a sweaty mess in 5 minutes! My aunt called me the other day and said, "You didn't TELL US that it was humid here in August!!!!!" Huh? Of course it is! August is always humid. The storms in Arizona and northern Mexico sometimes flow up into the Coachella Valley and they bring their humidity with them. That's just the way it is! But, this morning, there is a break in the humidity and it isn't too bad outside! I feel like Scout...go here, go there, but GO!

Two days left

of summer vacation. Yup. That's all. And, today I have to meet a friend for lunch, so I won't be able to get up to work with Scout. So, that leaves Monday. I have a doctor's appt. Tuesday and after that, I report to school. ACK! WHERE did the summer go? ...sigh...so much to do yet! Here's "Little Miss Smarty Pants" being lunged in the round pen. Man, she has a LOT of energy!

Am I a good girl? YES, you are!

Yes, you ARE a GOOD GIRL!