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.