It's HOT!

As I walked up to the woods this morning - things were already warming up!  Even in the shade, it was warm, without the nice breeze we had yesterday.  I made the circuit - picking up branches on my way around.  By the time I was back at the Cottage, I checked to see if there was any sign of the bindweed that I've been working to eradicate at the edge of the creek.  The weed had established itself at the base of the Salmonberry bushes.  The soil is moist &  rich - so the vine winds it's way up to the top of the Salmonberry branches & blooms.  Sure enough - there were two places where sickly looking vines were growing up. 

From the Cottage~

I sat down my cup, my phone & went for the pruners & weed spray.  Soon I was cutting, chopping dead Salmonberry & spot spraying the bindweed.  It's crazy how quickly this area can get out of control - or maybe it just seems quick!

8-02-2011

The entire area has gone through many changes.  I've tried different shrubs & flowers, most are unsuccessful.  The Big Leaf Maple grows, casting more shade, the reed canary grass, that I've fought forever got started in the ornamental sweet flag.  Now, I'm faced with killing the sweet flag to get to the reed canary grass :-(

Grass filling in~

I ended up working my way all around the edges, even finding, the hard way...  Blackberry!  Yesterday too, I worked most of the day just to cut things back off the trail past the south end of the house.

Everything cut back!

It doesn't look like much - I should have taken a before!  The Sycamore Tree has grown so much that the Smoke tree doesn't get enough light.  I cut it way back & will probably take it out.  I've had Farah five-years now & during that time - gave up all my yard work for riding a lot of miles!  Working on the landscaping moved down my to-do list.

Results of my labor~

When Butch pulled in the gate last night - he took one look at me & said;  "We'll go out for dinner."  :-)  Worked for me!  Now, we have all the mess above to cut up.

Rascal

Coming back to the house at lunch, I found my trusty Beagle boy laying on the cool concrete, waiting patiently for the cookie that he'd expected hours earlier :-)  I hope it cools off soon, so I'll be more willing to haul out & hit the trail!

Getting it Right~

 We went to Victoria today - to try out all the little changes that Cassandra suggested in my tack.  First, we moved the breast collar attachments from the D's on the saddle - lower - to the stirrup hangers.  That moved the "V" of the collar lower on Farah's neck.  I unsnapped the attachment to the saddle - to give Farah more room when she's grazing.

Fancy pad!  :-)

The SaddleRight pad we're borrowing from Cassandra is at least ten-years old.  The color has faded, but the padding is still in perfect condition.  Only 1/2" thick - it fits Jackie's requirement of a thin pad for the Stonewall.  I have an endurance style on order & hope it arrives before we leave.  With a wool felt bottom, it doesn't slip & the saddle stays put on the suede leather top.  Time will tell, but I'm liking it a lot so far.

Mt. Baldy -

It was a chilly, gray overcast day - but the kind of weather I love for riding.  Just cool enough to keep the bugs down.  Wearing a vest again seemed strange after the warm, record-breaking mid-80's of last week.

Looking back down the mountain~

We also tried raising the bit one notch.  Farah's canines haven't erupted, but they were close enough to the bit I decided to raise it.  Taking away any chance it was hitting.  She was not chomping on the bit at all today.  I also moved the reins from the bottom ring, to the middle one on the Mylar.  Maybe not for competition but it seemed just fine today.

Salmonberries!  Fresh Fruit!

The Salmonberries were ripe!  After the last two days of rain, they were so fresh & yummy!  It seems early - I know I've made jam in June other years.  It was one of my dad's favorites!

Farah in the Deep Dark Woods~

Before Cassandra's visit, someone told me that a good trainer is one that sets a goal for you.  We were in the tack room, Cassandra walked over to the Mikmar Loose Ring Snaffle Sandra had me buy for Farah while she was in training.  Putting it in her hand, Cassandra looked at me & said; "This is our goal - for you to be able to ride her in this, no matter what you're doing."  I was caught totally off-guard & my face must have shown it :-) As her words sunk in, I realized it would be a goal to suit us perfectly!  If we get to that point - we'll have arrived in more ways than one!  Thank you, Cassandra!

Dreamin'

I wanted to ride today & would have ridden with someone - if anyone - had wanted to ride with me.  But since I'd been wanting to get out from home all week - today looked perfect.  I love what trails we have left, especially so - when the landscape is coming alive with buds & blooms!  The birds were singing & flirting between the trees :-)  I must have been Dreamin'  though - since after the last big wind storm, I should have realized that the chances of getting to where I wanted to go - were - well, slim... 

The first one was hung up~

 No problem getting past the first one, nicely hung up between two trees.  Farah is still in her non-stop spring cycle - we had a couple discussions by the time we'd reached this point.  I've never seen things so wet & the trails were slippery too. 

Trail to the development gate~

 I didn't plan to go this way anyhow, it would have been jump-able.  Instead we went the usual way that takes us to the power lines.

Not looking good~

 I love this section of trail, we usually trot or gallop it.  Today though - the view was not good...  Farah easily jumped the first smaller one, but the next was huge!

Big Tree~

 Not only wide, but long - the root ball on the far side of the creek & wet area.  The top, hung up on the hillside & continuing up the hill unbroken.  I decided to try to clear enough limbs that it might be possible to take Farah up the hill, maybe find a place to get over the trees, then drop back down.  I'd done a lot of tossing, got up the hill quiet a way - just to realize that the ground was so soft, wet & littered with debris that it just wasn't work the risk.  As I was jumping back down - I slipped & caught myself just before making contact with the sharp end of a broken off limb.  Stupid & getting impaled would not have been fun :-(

Here you can tell there was a gap between the two trees~

 Farah was perfectly happy to be grazing, while I worked!  The grass is always greener don't you know?  I think she could have jumped them, but a mistake might have resulted in a hoof going between the two trees.  Instead, we did the wise thing & turned back.

I finally got bucking rolls last week from Gary Winckler.  Butch installed them & they work great!  No one had the black leather needed for the base of the rolls, but it will darken over time.  I kind of like the little bit of accent. 

Can't identify this one?

 There were many of the above Shrooms, sprouting up all around the area near the Cottonwoods. 

Salmonberry~

 The salmonberry blooms were glistening with rain drops...  The air was so full of negative ions - smelling so fresh, clean & springlike!

What is this?

 I don't care how many things you desensitize a horse to, there's always something :-)  We were coming down the edge of our neighbor's yard, on our little trail, when Farah stopped cold to check out the yellow float.  The wind had blown it from the yard, over to the trail.

Rain over Mt. Pilchuck

The sun was out most of our ride, it felt so warm!  But every now & then, a big dark cloud would roll overhead, the temperature would drop & we were drizzled on more than once.  One of our shorter rides, but the weatherman is promising that next week we'll enjoy days & days of sunshine & warmer temperatures!  Overdue I say!

Chronicle of Change~

New baby lambs at the neighbors :-)

We left from home.  One of those changeable, very early March days that brings sunshine & showers - within minutes of each other!  Both of us happy to be out - I love the fresh air March brings.

Looking southeast~

Living in Colorado, as a kid - I will never, no matter how hard I try, get the love of higher places & elevations out of my system :-)  I have to stop & admire the views each & every time I'm here.  Just a few miles away now, is heavy traffic - congestion & all the things that we moved away from the cities to avoid over 25-years ago now...

A new house under construction~

Through the last of the remaining buffer - we can see the new homes being built - to move yet more people into this area. 

Farah listens~

 Farah stopped to listen to what was going on.  Even she, knows that changes have happened & more occurring daily - those trails over there - are gone.

Cathedral Grove~

Our Cathedral Grove, is now coming to ruin.  With all the woods being cut nearby - the winds are moving across areas of the forest where they were blocked before.  Of course, when - not if - this property sells, I'm sure they'll be cut & everything bulldozed.

Almost to the power lines~

Here too, the strong wind storms of the last year did their damage to the young alder.  Alder can't take the winds anyway & had their start years ago at the edge of the cleared area along the power lines.  Still - I've never seen so many broken off.

Flowering Indian Plum

The flowering plum are just one of my very favorites!  White lace against the green mossy background of the woods.  Decoration for the wedding of Spring!

Looking south along the power lines~

On a clear day - I can see Mt. Rainier from here - today - the clouds were moving in quickly & the wind felt chill.  I went from a long sleeved shirt to my jacket about here.

Development

We did take the trail that used to form one of our loops to check on the houses.  I didn't feel like riding through today.  People are moving in almost faster than the homes can be completed.  Can you just imagine? 

Salmonberry~

The Salmonberry add their bright pink to a now gray day!  Buds everywhere! 

Mt. Pilchuck

The clear-cut logging going on behind Granite Falls has destroyed the view of the lower hills below Mt. Pilchuck.  Makes me sad to see - but the almighty $ rules.

My view to the South~

I haven't looked up the name of this peak - but it's a stunner!  This view gives you an idea of the roll of the Cascade foothills.  Another piece of forested property was cleared in the last week or so.  The noise from Hwy 92 & Getchell can now be heard from most of the valley.

Hence, the title of this post - as I look back on my rides, the change has crept in so fast!  I wish we'd had blogs way back when we first moved here & started riding in the hills behind us.  I do have a few pictures, but wish I'd had the foresight to take more, with a better camera.  The last, large open space - so diverse - is under it's final siege & I'm the unhappy witness to it :-(

Farah was just great today - we enjoyed each others company.  I let her stop to eat several times - after all - when faced with a smorgasbord, that's what I'd want to do :-)

Where Giants Live~

Following the trail~

Thursday & retrospective;  it's been a couple years since I've spent much time in the woods.  Riding has been a priority since discovering that I enjoy it so much more when on Farah's back.   During the heat of summer, when it's been so dry, dusty & buggy - the motivation to do any work up there, was hard to come by.  One day when I had both Ben & Maddi - we spent several hours pruning & cutting back the Salmonberry to make the trails more passable.

Almost to Homestead Hill~

These last few days - after the storm, I've been going up every morning - picking up the numerous branches that came down.  Luckily - nothing too big or damaging.  Now that my sister & her family have gone home, I've reminisced about how quickly the time with them went.  All the things that we didn't get to do...  Never enough time to fit everything in.  One of the things that didn't happen, was a woods walk.

On the hill~

We did spend one morning sitting on the swing, drinking tea & coffee.  Watching one-year old Johnathan take in all the green was fun, but we didn't walk the trails.

Remnants of the storm~

They are littered with the debris of the forest.  The small pieces of Western Red Cedar branches are everywhere.  Now I wonder if we'll get the usual shedding of rusty red pieces that usually drop off in the fall.

Nika leads the way~

As did Kitt, Nika has taken up the task of keeping me company on my walks.  She too, will sometimes disappear into the green, only to reappear as if by magic.

West Woods~

A couple of our largest Washington Red Cedars are up here, I love the feeling of presence that they exude.  I like sitting up here in the evenings, as the sun sets over the ridge behind us & the shadows get long & dark.

First water in the creek~

Here too, is where the creek enters our property at the NW corner.  I was thrilled to see that it's now holding water & starting to flow!  Usually this doesn't occur until mid-Sept.

Heading east on Squirrel Trail Trail~

Squirrel Tail Trail goes west/east, along the south edge of our property, which is also the road side.  Maintaining this shade is the reason I'm so adamant about any tree pruning that the power company wants to do.  They have me pegged as a "sensitive customer" & it's been a standing joke for years.

Our three largest Black Cottonwoods~

Soon, we round a corner & the creek meets up with the trail again - here is where the Giants live...

Looking up~

When we first broke our way through these woods, we stood in awe looking up at these trees.  Now, twenty-five years later - they've grown & we've grown older.  It's almost funny the change in my thinking that has occurred in those years.  I take the time to value even the small things, oh so much more than I used to.  Having at least part of our family close is beyond value.  I'm thankful that Ben comes to visit as much as he does, even now that he's a teenager!
I hurt more when I feel slighted & have come to realize - mostly since the institution of Facebook - that in truth, though I have several hundred friends there, in reality - I can count my true friends on the fingers of one hand.
These trees, these woods are my salvation - as nature has been to me since childhood, when I would hike up the first ridge as we called it - on my way home from elementary school in Boulder.

My two trusty companions~

 We were so lucky to find the right spot on planet earth to spend our middle-years!  Listening to the Aspen leaves outside my window as I write this, the wind chimes making music in tune with the breeze...  Farah whinnying to be let out to roam...   The richness of each day, changeable as the weather & unique unto itself~

Lush & Humid!

The neighbors field~

I wasn't to the top of the hill before I was hot!  Even overcast, it was really humid from the ongoing drizzle that we received yesterday.  I'd wanted to get Farah out all week, Monday Justin put her new shoes on - with pads & I wanted to be sure that I had all four gears :-)

Outflow from the big wetland~

I was almost soaked by the time we were up on the trails - all the Salmonberry overhanging the trails & everything had Grown!  I was breaking branches & wishing I'd thought to bring my pruners - but really had no time for that.

Orange Salmonberry getting ripe!

It won't be long & I won't have to bring my grapes to snack on!  Instead - I'll get to enjoy these berries!  Yum!

Red Salmonberries

They come in the two colors above - I have no idea why - since both taste virtually the same.  We did some trotting, fast trotting, a couple short canters & Farah did a bit of her bucking - just to let me know that she feels just fine :-)

Thimbleberry Blooms~

Thimbleberries, are also edible - but have a very dry flavor.  I do love the blooms!

North end of our short loop~

Once off the power lines, we just headed for the small woods that has the trail where we loop back toward our favorite wetland - before heading back south toward home.

Slight breeze over the water~

With the pads, we trotted the power line, making it back home in two hours.  The sun came out as we reached our gate, so Farah kicked back & enjoyed her bath.  I loaded the saddle right into the trailer - then went up to pack her blankets.

Looking forward to miles of nice trails, seeing friends & enjoying the Big Mountain!