An amazing day at Santa Anita with Dave and Doug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chantal back in the saddle

Me

the crowd

Doug who got a 50 to 1 bet across the board 2nd place.

Me and Dave in the infield to get warm

The paddock

We have had rain YAY !! and more to come. It is so needed here and even though we are not used to gray skies it is worth it. Soon all the hills and open areas will turn green from brown. Today going out to the horses the truck got very muddy and I had to change shoes before we came home. Aiden my 7 year old step grandson came with us. He actually stopped playing games on the phone and said " what can  I do." I got overly tired digging trenches with a hoe and spade to drain water out of the horse pens. Doug had to bring the three horses in by him self while I sat down and rested.

A great trail ride today.

We discovered a tumble weed nest right there on the side of the trail. Doug took the picture with his cell phone from Karrots back. Karrot had trouble standing still, he has a phobia about it.  Coco also was not happy about standing for the picture and she also had to turn away from home, that is why I have a tight rein, I am getting her to stand still. Kole's nose is on the right he came along too. click on the picture to make bigger.
The weather was lovely, a slight breeze and warmish in the 60's. Later in the late afternoon it rained, so next time we are out maybe some green grass will start to sprout. We are now getting off the horses about half a mile from home, so that we get exercise too.

Me and the tumbleweed with Kole sniffing it and one of our horses Pesky .

It's tumbleweed season. This big weed was right by the horses when we arrived. They are very thorny and the only way to handle them is either with gloves on or by the stem. This one kept being blown by the slight breeze toward  Karrot and Coco when we had them tied to the hitching post ready to go trail riding. Karrot would not have been bothered, Coco I am not sure about. So rather than take the risk I put it in the nearest round pen to corral it. Out on the ride we came across several rolling around and both horses were fine no spooks.

It is rainy in England and cold, I spoke with my twin sister on Skype earlier today. Here in California it was moderately warm and about 70 F earlier and sunny. Right now in the evening it is actually raining !!. Sunday is the only day in the week when we do not go out to see the horses. I always feel nervous leaving them for a day with out turning  them out or riding. But I have to trust the people who feed them and muck out the stalls to let me know if anything is a miss.
It was really nice to have a whole day to do what ever I needed to do. So one of the things that I did today was to take a photo of how a picture pedigree is packed. I make these for sale on ebay and on my website and also Etsy. I sold one today of American Pharoah to someone who lives in Spain !!

 

 

 

 

Red sky in the morning.

I have got a Christmas cake made and two Christmas puddings. All the decorations are out ( not very much ) and the little white tree is up. No family expected this year from afar so no big tree.
Cards have been sent to my family in England and nothing more needs to be done, just the planning of the Christmas Day dinner and  card mailings to USA friends and family.
The weather has been in the 80's for a few days, tomorrow will be cooler. We really are wanting rain, and I was thinking that the old saying red sky in the morning shepherds warning is what we want here. I took a photo of just such a thing a few days ago from the spare bedroom window.

I am thinking about Christmas more and more. We got our first card yesterday from my Mom in England. Today I may get some ingredients to make some of my English favorites, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding, and mince pies.  Money is a big issue this year, as we spent close to two thousand dollars in vet bills for one of our dogs Roy and one of our horses Sierra, neither of them lived.
I will make a wreath for the front door soon, and get down the boxes from the attic, there is a small artificial tree I can use.
On another note. Yesterday while trail riding with Doug, Coco fell down partly to the ground, her nose touched the ground, and her front legs buckled. This is one of the worst stumbles I have experienced on a horse. The trail was level and footing good. no obvious holes or anything. I lost both stirrups, and used my hand and arm on her poll to push myself back into the saddle and she got up right away. Very strange and unnerving, but we carried on and rode for a while afterwards and she was fine.

Me on Coco at left and our good friend Steven on Karrot.
There are no pictures of me and Doug riding together yet.

Family

Thanksgiving was pretty good. Some years it has been just been me and Doug. this year we had Doug's kids Jonathan and Jessie and their kids over.  Also it was our 12th anniversary.

The Thanksgiving Table

The family

Me and Doug

Earlier in the day a trail ride with Coco and Kole.

Doug and I went out for a great trail ride today, but swopping horses, me and Karrot and he on Coco. D wanted to try a western curb bit, and Coco went well in it and seemed to like it. She still opens her mouth to evade the bit though. It was quite warm  in the low 80's I would say and windy. Our dog Kole came with us the whole way. ( we live in Simi Valley, Southern California) When we got back to home base, we saw some people with a young paint horse turn him out, where we turn our horses out. So we walked our horses down to the second turn out. Karrot got a full bath with shampoo, and his tail tied in a knot to keep it clean should he roll. Later I realized that I forgot to untie the knot. We gave Dave a ride into town to pick up a car. I did not sleep well because I have had a very bad cold and coughed a lot. I tried to take a nap outside in the garden but the wind was disturbing. I may go now and see if it is better in the spare bedroom.

Peace and quiet has returned to our home, as our family members who were here for three months have left.  It has been an incredible experience. The rooster who started out as a hen, the deaths of two of our beloved animals. The serious illness of Genna their dog and her recovery. The understanding as to who everyone was. An amazing experience. A new energy has started now, and I move on further.

Genna went to the vets yesterday for an over $260 vet bill, she has a tentative diagnosis of  ulcerative stomatitis and needs antibiotics and cortisone.  Nonetheless she came out with Kole and me on a trail ride today and had a great time and is sooo much better and brighter . She will come with me again tommorow out to the horses . She is learning how to travel in a vehicle also.

Genna and Kole at the horses lying down in the shade from the horse trailer

So life goes on and now Jessie and the girls are in the process of moving out of our house where they have been for several months. Genna their dog may have to stay here for a bit longer to recover from a combo of ails  brought on by jumping up on the wall to try to bite next doors dog. She is wearing an E collar at the moment to heal her abraded leg and
is very morose, also she seems to be pining for Roy.

Genna at right with Roy and Kole.

On Tuesday October 27th at about 8:30 am we lost Sierra to an impaction colic. I had her for 25 years since she was a two year old baby. RIP our beautiful girl may you run in freedom with the horse angels.

Today Roy passed away quietly at 9: 26 am from the cancer that he had bravely and quietly succumbed to for a month. Doug and I put his body in the back of the truck, and with Roy's brother Kole took him to a place in Newberry park where he will be dissolved in acid and his bones ground up and put in a special box for us to keep forever.

Roy is still hanging on to life., although now too weak to move.

Our dog Roy is still alive, but getting weaker as each day passes. His spirit has already partly left his body but he is peaceful and going about his daily routines as he always did. I am hoping that he will go into doggie heaven soon.

Today our beautiful dog Roy was diagnosed with cancer of the spleen. It is inoperable and he has just a few months to live. He is ten. I looked on line and there is a Chinese mushroom that might help called Yunzhi. I have ordered some for $36.00 from ebay. It is made for humans and comes in capsules. Even if it does not help at least I feel better knowing that I am doing something. You would never know that there was anything wrong with him except he is very thin and picky about what he eats and he eats small ammounts at a time.  He is interested in everything and looks alert and well, and today out with the horses he acted just like his normal self.

Karrot is almost completely better from his leg problem, it has been two weeks. It would be really nice to ride again. Both Karrot and Roy are thin, too thin, so may be it is best to rest them until they gain weight. Roy always comes with us when we ride.
We are coming out of another heat wave, it has been humid and over 100 degrees F  for over a week.
Yesterday we went to Santa Barbara because Doug delivered some motorcycle parts he had worked on. We walked on the beach it was hot there also, in the low 90's. Then we drove home via Lake Castaic and Ojai to avoid the traffic on the freeway. We stopped and ate at a Mexican place in Santa Paula with outdoor tables in the shade.
Today Doug found a gopher snake in the hay pile. They look like rattle snakes but with out the rattle and triangular head. I think the main thing is to always be cautious around the hay pile just in case there is a rattlesnake hiding under the tarp.

The temperature in Van Nuys last week

Me with Roy and Kole Santa Barbara

Doug with the Gopher snake

Since Karrot stood in the water last week he developed a hugely swollen right. hind leg. We have not been able to ride together as he is recovering. The weather has gone into another heat wave as well.  Hopefully next week things will be better.

For several weeks now we have been thinking of strategies to get Coco to go through the river crossing out on the trail.
Today Doug decided to go there. I was upset because I wanted to bring a lunge line and halter for Coco. As it turned out Doug got her to go in after about 20 minutes. I held Karrot standing in the river, the Arroyo Simi. Roy also stood in the river, he has not been in water before either. Coco leaped into the water and jumped around but then stood for a while. It will be interesting to see what happens next time.

We were thrilled to have Jessie out and riding Coco for a short while around  the pens. The main purpose was so that she could try out Doug's western saddle. It is too small in the seat so we need to go to the Broken Horn and find a better one. Then Doug and I went out to try a new trail. We ended up leading down the "killer" hill on the way back. It was a lot steeper and longer than it looks.

Me with Jessie Yard Sale 2015

We had a yard sale, mostly to get rid of a lot of girl clothes that Jessie had. One woman bought over $200 worth for her two girls for going back to school. She had to go back home to get more money, and left her phone number and wants Jessie to call when the next batch of clothes comes up for next year. I put out a lot of odd and ends and sold a few. We also sold a bike that Jonathan had here and did not know who it belonged to. Our neighbors also had yard sales. We started at 6:30 am and ended at around 11am because it became unbearably hot.  It was in the 100's.
Jessie and the girls and the two dogs, two chickens and cat have been here for a week now. We are going through a lot of garbage bags, clean dishes and when Aiden was here for two days constant vigilance when he and the youngest girl are together.
In the meantime Doug and I have been out trail riding almost every day. Going out earlier in the morning because of the heat . Kole declined to come a long a couple of times. We went to the Arroyo for a water crossing, Karrot went through no problem, but Coco is very afraid. So I will need to plan ahead and get a lunge line etc. and take it with us for next time.

A lot has been happening. Our visitors from Spain stayed for a couple of nights after travelling around for several weeks.  We loaned them our car and we also went with them for a tour of the San Fernando Mission. It was very hot !! Then Doug drove them to the airport for their final departure.
Doug's daughter and the three grand girls are moving in with us. Plus their two chickens, cat and two dogs. So far we have the girls the chickens and the cat. Plus lots of household items. We built a new shelf in the kitchen to put stuff on. We also have their refrigerator for all the extra food.
Doug and I have still made time to go out on a few trail rides. Coco got an eye infection, so was rested for a couple of days until her eyes were better. She is now wearing a fly mask. It has been hot and humid.

We had a major rain storm

Floor work in the dining area

the carpet

the underpad

the brown tiles

work done with removal of half wall

The kitchen now open to the dining area

at first I thought it was a rattler but it is a gopher snake.

I took out the half wall between the kitchen and dining area and the carpet . It rained a lot. At the horses I saw a snake that was a harmless gopher snake.


looking from the kitchen no half wall

the carpetless dining area

Karrot just before I rode him yesterday. I also rode Coco as Doug was at work and I went out to the horses by myself. When I was riding Coco with Roy following, we started to go past the arena where a girl was having a riding lesson. At the sight of us the horse that she was riding spooked and she fell off. Later Dave ( manager of the horse boarding) came down and said it was a good idea not to take the dogs up by the arena. I also went up later and spoke with the woman who teaches riding and she was very nice. However I am very surprised that the horse was so spooked by me and Roy. Oh well it is not a big deal not to ride with the dogs over in that area. In fact I think I will avoid that area even if I ride with out them.

I went to the Simi Valley Library and got these books today. I started reading  The Old Ways about a man who discovers the old pathways in England and walks along them and I could not finish it. I read Early Days in Simi Valley which was interesting. I read the Temple Grandin book also interesting. But the other books were not good. I ended up paying $7 to get a book on Kindle that  I found out about from a blog that I read. The book is The Unmarried Mother by Sheila Tofield
and so far it is excellent.

Doug and I went out on our third trail ride. Doug rode Karrot and I rode Coco. We changed Coco's bit to a Kimberwick with a curb chain. Both dogs came, Kole got a bit tired but was OK. Coco was much better to keep at a walk with the new bit. Doug had some trouble getting Karrot to stop and stand still, I can not find his western curb bit and bridle.