From the Nation's Capital to runnin' the foothills.

It's been too nice to blog sometimes. Today is a groggy, lazy day, with our first real rain and actual thunders! Our driveway is currently an ephemeral stream.



A couple weekends ago, Trip and I made the long traverse over to the bustling Nation's Capital to visit his cousin Justin and future cousin-in-law, Natalie. I had never been the DC before, so everything was shiny and new to me. We went out at this REALLY tasty place called "Kitchen" some number, and, as Natalie described it; "has a similar atmosphere like that of a shore side Alabama restaurant." She was about right on the money, too. I had a delicious chicken macaroni and cheese dish partnered with some Yuenglings and a shot of Patron for dinner. Unfortunately I didn't see the President, or I would have bought him a beer. Maybe next time.

We toured the National Mall, which is all the famous monuments in DC. It was really rainy that day, but we braved it to see all kinds of stuff! I borrowed a few shots from Natalie's FB to prove that Trip and I really did grace the place with our existence.
























After spending most of the day in the cold rain, we retired to have a pajama pants party where we drank more Yuenglings, cooked a delicious vegetarian meal, and watched a LOT of the TV show Weeds. I had never seen it before, so I had to catch up on quite a bit. The whole weekend kind of felt like having roommates; everyone just sitting around and hanging out on rainy days and not caring to do much productive stuff. It was great to hang out with good company and discuss subjects such as renter's insurance and student loan debts. Adult talk made fun with Justin and Natalie! They should have a talk show. Trip and I thank them (and their cat Foxy) many times over for the hospitality, and we hope it can be returned to the same standard when they make the visit over yonder.

Aside from visiting DC, we've been keepin' it pretty real over here. The job situation for me has taken a favorable turn. The boss sent me an email last week advising me to apply for the full-time job he listed on Virginia Tech's website by the 26th. When you apply for a full-time job, obviously you have to go through everything like they've never met you before. I did such right away, and now it's off the website after the week it was posted. I hope I hear something from him soon... :D

With the weather being so delicious and delightful, we've been spending more time outside. I've been jogging more,



Trip's been working his magic on the grill (delish venison kababs),



the chickens have been chillin' in the out-of-doors area,



and I've even been bringing Woodford to work with me. He loves it, except the being tied up outside part. What a chump! I tie him to a tree outside my office window where I can check on him often.



At lunch I head outside for some sun with my yumz, and Woodford romps, naps and sniffs around the hayfields we are surrounded by. It's a fun time had by all.



One day I just couldn't resist the urge to be propelled forward by a force of life other than my own, and headed over for a midday horseback ride at lunch. It was just too good outside. I've been riding a different horse at Greg's, she's a very nervous and semi-spooky Tennessee Walker mare. They say she won't go out on her own, but I've gotten her to do it several times now. What I think she needs is a very quiet, calm, and confident handler to optimize her capabilities. She's not usually very relaxed, but I can get her to be by exercising said qualities very carefully. In fact, I can even bridle her from my knees consistently. Cool, huh?



Just yesterday Trip and I jumped in the loaded truck and trailer to head down to Patrick Springs, VA. Trip was going on his first day long southern cowboy ride! That's the same place I went on my first wagon ride, with some of the same people. It's really close to the North Carolina border in the foothills of the Appalachians, and a really gorgeous area. Greg was taking his three year old filly down to be made rider-friendly by his brother-in-law; that's Bobby. He's a really hilarious and kindhearted guy, and happens to be the first black cowboy I've ever met. Plus he carries the exact same gun I want; a Smith and Wesson .22 revolver. He let me hold it, loves it! Apparently he doesn't ride without a gun anymore because a friend of his was out a few months ago and their horse was ruthlessly attacked by four pit bulls. Through a series of related events, the horse had to be put down. You don't know know what you're going to run into down there, although most everyone is notably friendly. I sure wouldn't think twice about shackin' up down there.

I had the opportunity to ride Greg's one horse that lives at Bobby's house (keep in mind, Greg used to live down the street from Bobby). Dream horse: found! He's everything I've ever, EVER wanted. He's five, grulla buckskin, faster than the wind in November, stout as an aged Irish porter, genuinely willing to please, fat on pasture (easy keeping), trots as smooth as a baby's ass-end, and completely, utterly fearless. Unfortunately, he's for sale with a price tag higher than I could dream of paying within the reasonable future. I figured him out alright during our six or so hour ride. He's extremely sensitive in his mouth, but very rusty in leg cues, so he needs a little work there, but is impeccably flawless otherwise. I'm unreasonably in love.

Look how beautiful he is!





Ride-ready and rock-steady.



Anyway, we rode all over the country, down some busy highways, and ate lunch/rested at a gas station. There were about eight horsemen/women, so this was likely an interesting site. However, probably not too unusual down there.
























Trip proved to be a marvelous horseman! We had to go through brush, pretty high streams, up and down some steep drops, and even got some quick bits in there. Plus, the mare he was astride (my old mount) can be quite sassy at times, and he bossed her right into shape. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of Trip riding because I don't have any saddle bags for my saddle, so this will just have to do. What a hunk!



Everything I've ever wanted is right here in this photo. One big, happy family.



sunponylove.

Bring on the MUD!

This past weekend was the most delicious and savory weekend I have spent in a long time. It was gorgeous, just what everyone needed. The weather got turned up to eleven, with 50s Saturday and 60s Sunday. Plus, yesterday was in the 60s as well. I ate ice cream on my lunch break, and then did some walking around in the sun.

Woodford is currently learning how to be a real hound dog and spend his days outside now that he has a dog house and it is warm. He probably won't use it, but we did have him get in it. He didn't seem to mind too much, but I am questioning his intelligence regarding sheltering himself. And most other situations, too.

Anyway, about the weekend. It was epic, glorious, and full of great happenings. Greg took Trip fly fishing for trout. Neither of them caught anything, despite Trip seeing two and getting close enough to plunk them on the head with his bait for 1.5 hours. What I want to know is; why would you spend 1.5 hours doing that...? Apparently the water was cold, and I've spent enough time being cold this winter. They tried to get me to go, but I had other things on my mind...

I'm not going to spend the first nice sunny day out wading around chasing trout. I like fishing, but I like riding ponies more. So, as Trip woke quite early, so did I. Instead of heading for bubbling streams, I headed over to the oven and made two quiches from a recipe from Jenna Woginrich's book; Made From Scratch. I had to keep myself occupied until it was warm enough to pony around. The egg-pies were tasty. I didn't put any salt or pepper in mine, but it could have definitely used it. I think I'll put some tomato in it next time. I did make one for Greg and Laura, since I was headed over to their house immediately afterward, and I spiced theirs up a bit more. I hope it was tastyyy!


I didn't just load my saddle into the car, ready for whatever good times may come. I had a goal, a real mission this Saturday. I wanted to try two new things, since I wouldn't have anyone around to yell at me or further distract the horses. First, I was going to get Woodford used to traveling alongside a steed. I jumped on Cheyanne, the grey horse, and had Woodford on a longer rope at her side, near her front feet. We headed down the road us three, my horse, my hound and me. The horse did great! I had Woodford on lead while we were on the busier blacktop road, and when I turned down the gravel road I let him off to run around. I have him (kind of?) trained to stay on the right side of the road by exclaiming "This side" and pointing my right hand. He is usually obedient, but sometimes he just doesn't give a damn. Ah well, he was mostly good. He sure was tired afterward, though!






Now, the bigger, better story. I returned to the barn for the black mare I rode last week. The one that "can't be rode alone." I was a bit skeptical at first, because she was throwing a huge temper tantrum in her stall after I pulled her barnmate, Cheyanne. Half-hearted rearing, stomping, screaming, crying, what-have-you nonsense. Anyway, I just strolled on in, lead her out, and tied her up without saying a word or looking her in the eye. She shut right up, and stood calmer than I have EVER seen her do. Put her head down, cocked one of her back legs and stood snoozie-eyed. LOVED it. She usually pulls all kind of crap when she's tied, spinning around, screaming, running people over, etc. Not this time, not for this girl. I moved quietly, calmly, and with purpose; something I don't think she is quite used to, but obviously prefers. Saddled her up and went to mount her, which is usually a big ordeal. She runs around under her rider, tries to walk off without them, etc. She moved two cautious steps on my first attempt, and then we tried again. She stood still as a statue as I mounted, waiting for my cue. OMG, I couldn't believe it. I didn't grab a crop, which she is usually ridden with, as I wasn't going to fight or force her. I was going to teach her that when she is at the barn, she will work, and when she is out riding it will be easier for her. So I worked her around the yard, walking circles, serpentines and figure-eights for about five minutes, maybe less. Then I pointed her toward the road and off we went. Not one resistance, not one foot stomp, and not even the shrill whinny that barn sour horses often emit upon leaving. She was cautious, not spooky, but very willing. We just walked on for a bit until we were well out of her comfort zone, and turned to walk back. Three vehicles passed, she didn't even flinch. I felt like a champion of the world.



This photo is from the parade in December in Stuart. The broad I am speaking of is pictured on your right. She's a very pretty pony, but she is a Tennessee Walker, which isn't my breed of choice. However, most qualms I have against this breed are because they are ugly, and she isn't. So it's ok.

Saturday evening was spent walking around with my lover, holding hands and eating at a terrible Chinese restaurant. He likes Chinese, I hate Chinese. Then we went to Barnes and Noble and read books about home building and small pasture management. We didn't even buy anything, either! It was basically a free day, aside from crappy China food.

Sunday we spent most of the day putting up the garden fence, all but the gate. We waited until noon to share the first outside in the sun beer of the year, though the temptation came much sooner. I even got a little sunburn on my face. Here you can see the beginnings of the fence line, and then the lazy boys I share my house with, after they had a few Yuenglings.







With it being not so cold in the mornings, I have been getting up much earlier. Yesterday I got up at five am! I was so productive, too! Today I only got up at six, with Woodford sleeping beside me. Trip is in the field until tomorrow or Thursday. I miss him. But anyway, with my newfound time in the mornings, I can take Woodford for walks before I go to work. It's so fun! And now all the birds are back, so they sing me along down the road, taunting Woodford by waiting until the last moment to flush. Like he could ever catch one anyway, ha. But we also get to see more of the cows, which I think they enjoy, or despise, I can't tell. I always greet them with a "Morning Hamburgers!" and they stare as I pass. Silly cows.

A truck bed full of free stuff.

A dog house and four casement windows for making cold frames. Thank goodness for freecycle and craigslist.

The birds are back in town.

That's right! Today was sunshiney, though still cold, but renewed my hope for spring nonetheless. I played soccer with Woodford in the hay field for over a half hour, because it was fun, because the ground is visible. I don't have to cross my fingers in hopes there isn't a whistle pig hole under six inches of snow in the exact spot my foot is about to land. You think of these things when you don't have health insurance, you know?

I took Woodford on a pretty long walk the other day down a road that isn't our regular. So pretty! One of those winding, narrow roads lined with oaks, sycamores and pasture. One thing that is pretty neat about living in a agricultural college town is that half of the farm land is owned by the university. Meaning; it won't be apartment complexes some day. It's just going to go own keeping cows, employing people to take care of it. Gorgeous. Everyone benefits.



BIG NEWS. I'm not going to jinx anything, but my full time job opp is looking very good. There has been some talk, some things are moving, and a situation has been laid out that makes e'rybody happy. I'll release pertinent information as I get it.

This past weekend Trip and I did some big things. We did go see the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, which was pretty weird. It was Heath Ledger's last movie, you know. He died in the middle of the taping of it, so they had to do some juggling around. Story line was rather typical, somewhat chincy, but they tried to cover it up with overstimulating you visually. That whole movie is like continuously looking at tapestries, so busy.



But anyway, it's a pretty cute, but sorely depressing film. They bash your sweetly empathetic soul moments before the end, but the very last scene leaves you hopeful. I was too heartbroken to cry. Trip didn't care. We showed up a couple minutes late and I tried to look like a bad ass hopping over a row of seats after Trip, thinking that if his little legs could do it, my nimble body sure could. EPIC fail. I spilled the popcorn all over. Whats worse is that we were on a balcony part, above a theater full of people, and I think some fell down onto them, too. Plus, everyone behind me got to see. Boo.

Sunday we went on our first real horseback ride together! Not one that we pay for on vacation, either. It was my first ride of the year, too. I was sore until yesterday. Eee. Greg got a new horse, so I ride his old one and Trip rides my old ride. The new one I ride around is a black Tennessee Walker mare. She's oh-so-sassy and a complete wretch but I like her. She's quite tall and has an extremely ground-covering stride, making us a pretty knock out team. We saddled up and headed off down some country dirt roads. It was pretty cold still, so the only option to warm up was to create some friction between our legs and make those ponies go! Zoooom! We took off cantering around until Trip was comfortable, and really opened them up down a road lined with a bubbly river just ten feet away. Ahh, to hear the river blasting past, your pony's hooves striking the dirt road, rich in force and fury. But then to look over your left shoulder to see the love of your life just feet behind, expressing the unconcealable grin that he is feeling this exact same feeling? It's a real slice of life. The bear hounds bayed us home, and we rode on like real Appalachian cowboys.



This is the view at Greg and Laura's house, over their little pasture. It's one of the prettiest around, you see.



In case you hadn't had enough of them, I made a video of the chickens at three weeks old (Sunday) and uploaded it. If you're at all interested, feel free to view. Their four week video is going to look funny, they grow so much each week. But I have to admit, I'm getting less keen on them being inside each day. They get louder and more obnoxious with every minute!

Our little house, filled recently with the sounds of Old Tyme music and Appalachian clogging/flat footing. If you don't know what that is, watch this 21 second video. If you like what you see, watch this one, from the year between my parents being born! Oh, and this one is even great, too! That one has Tommy Jarrell, a fiddle LEGEND from Mt. Airy, NC. I've been there, it's where the Andy Griffith show was taped. Anyway, I'm obsessed with this music after seeing it live down here in its' element. Beautiful.



Old Man Weather stands guard at the west. Never faltering.