Hangin' Out~

Quite time on the Homestead!  The quietest it's been in weeks!  Beautiful weather, time to gather up & sort through the items that remain.  Enough items we'll be taking another U-Haul & towing the Bronco on a car hauler.  Butch has been so impressed with the comfort level of the interior of the new U-Haul truck, he said driving one will be more enjoyable than the Bronco's rough 4-wheel ride.

Fall in the Woods~

Speaking of my Bronco...  It was nice enough to let me know with some groaning sounds - that the power steering pump was going out - it's in the shop.  Better here - than on the road somewhere!

Nika in Kitt's old spot behind the swing~

Nika & I have even had time for my morning tea up on the swing!  Such amazing days we've been having!  Farah too, has come up to ask me more than once, why we're not going out.  She's been enjoying more time in the pasture.

Farah relaxing~

No blankets for the gold girl!  I keep looking at her sleek coat, summer hair shedding out & gradually starting to lighten.  I'm hoping I can convince her to grow a thick one :-)  I've packed her heavy blanket, rain sheet & mid-weight traveling blanket - but by now I'd usually have a light weight sheet on her.

Rings~

The barrel rings that make the large wind spinner - Butch made me years ago - came from my Great Aunt's farm in Iowa.  I don't know if we'll be climbing up to retrieve them.  I'd need a huge tree to hang them from.  There are two nice ones - so we'll see.

Creek with water~

The creek is finally starting so show some water.  Not running yet - that used to happen in mid-September.  With the days of upcoming rain in the forecast - I may get to see it flowing yet before we leave!

Black Cottonwood~

The largest of the Black Cottonwoods is starting to turn yellow - they are so beautiful & smell So good this time of year.  Each time I walk the woods now, is special to me.  I find the Cedars I've planted, all growing well enough - my planting - some well over 5ft. tall.  The new owners haven't asked any questions about the woods, but I've left my notebooks & certificates for them, in the Cottage.

Three Fingers~

The view of Three Fingers from up behind the barn - always stunning - will be one I will miss...  There are many, many things we'll miss - but it's time.  Even when we thought they might not - things did fall into place & we're very grateful for the friends who helped that happen!  Our timing has worked out & I'm enjoying each of our final days on the Homestead~

First Day of Fall - Almost!

Bracken Ferns turning color~

Farah & I headed out on our own today - I wanted to stretch out the area that I'm trying to memorize.  I'm still sad to have lost one of my favorite riding partners.  It was fun last Sunday, to be the first visitors to Joyce's new home & see where her trails will go! 

Heading down to Harvey Creek

 Bright sunshine, light breeze - a literally perfect first day of Fall...  The best riding weather imaginable & only a few trailers in the parking lot.  Farah was in a good mood today - the Stonewall is working so very well for us both, making me anxious to get mine!  I'm still playing with the rigging.  Jackie said to either have it on the pad or below the pad.  I like it on the pad, but when I raised it again - it puts it under my knee.  It really didn't seem to bother me - even there.

The usual breeze at the River~

I went ahead & ordered a pad from Stonewall, that will fit the saddle.  When it comes, I'm going to see where the rigging works best.  Of course adjusting it - makes a difference in the length of cinch too.  I'm using my 26" right now, but may yet order a shorter one.  The only problem I've had, if you can call it a problem - is the pad slipping out the back.  Today - with the rigging on the pad - it stayed in place better.

The beautiful white rock, under water in the north fork of the Stillaquamish!

If you check out my post from our last ride here, you'll see what this rock looks like & of course now we know why :-)  This spot is such a peaceful place, Farah & I enjoyed it.  She has it figured out now - first we're under the bridge, next we're up on it!

Over Tin Bridge

No yellow jackets this season - sweet relief!  We went on across, up to Cloverdale - no changes yet, just the spots where the survey crew has been checking to see where a straight rail bed needs to be re-established.  This is spite of a landowner who is unhappy with the trail going through.  Over the years - there have been a lot of those...

There are off-set survey marks~

The infamous "hole" is just to the left, in the trees - where the rail bed ballast was stolen.  We didn't go this way today...  I'm hopeful that it won't be too long until this section sees some work!

The rock ballast ~

I usually walk the half-mile of ballast that gets us to Cloverdale & let me say - it's No Fun.  It also goes on forever, which I found out when I rode to the Cicero Bridge.  There's just no way that the trail is going to be getting much use At All - until all this ballast is mitigated with a top dressing of fine rock or sand.
At our meeting last week, this was discussed & it is on the work schedule - but with everything else going on - no date has been set.  There's only four bridges left to deck - so hopeful those will get done before the year end - when the funds will dry up.  I also found out that currently there are No funds for the bridge grating that was supposed to be installed to prevent slipping.   Not sure yet how to tackle that obstacle.  Guess getting it all OPEN is the first priority - & that is now pushed back from the middle, to the end of next year...

Oh That Smell!

The last of the leaves~

From a rainy morning, the day gradually got better & by early afternoon I thought that if I took my raincoat, I might get in a dry ride!  We were busy over the weekend, I'd cleaned out the greenhouse on Sat., then Sunday we stopped by Linda's & ate chocolate cake!  :-)  Well, we did do a few other things that Linda found helpful.  It was so beautiful - a great place to enjoy the incredible weather, but we both would have rather been riding.

Our neighbors jack-o-lantern :-)

Today I wanted to go back up & see if I could find my orange bandana that I managed to loose my last ride.  We headed out taking the same trails all the way.  From gray & cloudy - the sky started clearing off & patches of blue opened up!

Old road out to our newly discovered clear-cut

It's so beautiful out this time of year - everything so fresh after all the rain & the smell was incredible!  The deep, rich smell of Fall!  A few chickadees were flirting through the trees, but otherwise it was quiet.

We see Pilchuck!

With the clouds lifting - today we could see the mountains that are to the east of the ridge that we rode over to get where we were.   Next - the sun broke through the clouds - very pretty!

The end of the trail~

Farah was full of herself today - too full!  We were heading back when she started some of her antics & I yelled at her!  We rounded a corner & here was a hunter setting in his jeep!  As I rode up, I apologized for my yelling at the mare :-)  Tom laughed & introduced himself.  He's lived in our area for 30-years & said that a few people think that there might be a Cougar in the area.  Farah stuck her head in the jeep & I gave him a carrot to give to her - even if she didn't deserve one!  He told me that bow hunting is over - he had his rifle on the seat beside him.

Almost surreal~

It's so beautiful that it's easy to almost zone out as Farah cruised us back with her big - "We're headed back!" walk!  :-)  Once they switch us back an hour - these late afternoons will be shortened!

Last of the day's sunshine~

The grass is still growing!  Of course Farah's mind is on all that fresh green stuff!  I kept her moving - sure looking forward to seeing my new saddle one of these days - so that the last excuse that she may have - i.e. not a perfect saddle fit - will hopefully be Gone!

Movin' On Up!

11:30 a.m. Blazing Sunshine

Today was the day, with bow hunting open - Joyce wore an orange vest, Farah wore her orange rump rug - at least until I had to roll it up to let her cool off! 

Sweat under the rug~

Most of last week was really wet - Fall moved in & with it the rain.  The weatherman was correct though - clearing & sunshine!  So - as we do at least a couple time each season - we headed for the high country.  The 90+ humidity along with the steep climb, soon had both horses in a full body sweat.

Fireweed in it's fall glory!

  We continued up - taking a different route from our usual one.  By the time we'd reached the old quarry - we were higher on the mountain.  The clouds rolled by overhead, but sunshine predominated.

Part of the old quarry~

It was a hunting expedition of sorts, Joyce wanted to try some new trails that we hadn't explored before, so once we crested the top, we started taking right turns & got out quite a way over onto Stimson Hill, before starting to find blocked roads.

Three Fingers peeks through the layer of clouds~

At one of the logging turn-rounds - the clouds opened just enough to let us see the views that were semi-obscured by a low hanging layer of cloud cover - drifting by as slowly as cold molasses.

Taking a break at the Viewpoint~

We waited a while, hopeful that the view would improve, but that wasn't the case, the clouds were actually trying to thicken.  It was blissfully quiet - the only sounds were from two large crows or ravens that sat at the top of one of the larger snags.

Mt. Rainier too peaks above the clouds~

On our way down - Mt. Rainier too - decided to peak it's head up & say "hi"!  It's pretty awesome to be up here.  Our high point was 2,247 ft. - the highest we've ridden to date.  Only a few feet lower than Snoqualmie Pass!

The view of the peak-a-boo clouds~

We turned back, took a left & again found a blocked trail - but now we've narrowed down the places where we're stopped & the places that look like we'll be able to explore further.

"Eye" to the world~

Even heading back, the views try to convince us to stay longer.  The horses didn't mind - water was flowing everywhere after last weeks heavy rains - plenty of water & they did plenty of drinking!

Mt. Baker

We tried one more trail & found one more dead end - again with the partial view of our other large volcano - Mt. Baker.

Down anyone?

 Finally, it was time to head back - the downhill is actually harder than the up!  Farah likes Jesse to go in front, she stays behind & tries to intimidate him - which he has learned to completely ignore!  :-)

Mt. Rainer gives us a last glimpse~

Funny to say that we were going lower - when by the time we'd gotten back to Barbara's Bench - we were still over 2,000 ft.

From Barbara's Bench

According to my Garmin stats - our elevation gain on this ride was just over 3,860 ft.  Yes - I think either of our horses could do about any distance we put them to :-)  It may be close to the end of the Endurance ride season, but to those of us who enjoy riding here - we'll continue on as long as weather permits!

Joyce with Farah & Jesse

When I was coming down off the trail up to the bench, Jesse had forgotten I was up there & spooked - so Joyce had to remind him that it was just "me"  :-)  The day was cooling down just a little, we went through a couple spots where I swear the temperature dropped 15 degrees in 100 ft.

Timber going down~

On our way back, much lower on the mountain - we found this area getting cut.  Sadly - it closes off the access to one of our "short-cut" trails down.  We'd tried taking it from the bottom up early this year - but the brush had grown so thick that we couldn't get through.  Glad we didn't waste the effort to clear it - at least until we see what's left of the "trail" once the logs are hauled out.

Ride Route

It was a gorgeous day - I got a kick out of Joyce mentioning that the air got "thicker" as we descended lower on the mountain.  I told her that she would Love Colorado :-)  Where the high country is really high!  :-)  Only a couple more thousand feet & we'd be at Boulder's elevation :-)

Hackin' Our Way Through~

Here's where we started~

Original plans were to ride, but it was raining...  Then - the day started clearing off.  Joyce sent a text to say that she'd decided to ride, but by the time I saw it - it was too late to meet her.

I'd been wanting to try to ride out from home & see if I could still go north.  I took my hand pruners & heavy gloves.  As we went around the corner to get on the trail - the blackberries were in our face.  That was OK, I felt like doing some hacking!

The woods~

It's easy to make yourself forget something that you know you're going to lose...  Then it's in front of you & all your senses tell you that you're home...  When I think of what we used to have & that only this small bit is left - well - it hurts.

To the power lines

Up on top, it was just a gorgeous day - I was glad I'd left all the stuff I was doing to ride.  Of course the cutting to get through was a chore, but Farah got pretty good at stopping for evey overhanging bunch of blackberry & letting pieces fall on her while I cut.

Fireweed going to seed~

 I wanted to see if I could still get all the way north, so we kept going.  Our four-mile rock was almost hidden with shrubs since the last time things had been cut under that line.

Lots going on at the Power Sub-station

 This was just up the road from our break spot.  While I let Farah graze, a ATV came down the road toward us - going really slow...  He threw his hands up in the air as he saw us & asked if it was OK to go past.  I turned Farah to face him & that's when I saw what he had across the front of the vehicle...  A huge bow & arrows.  That scared me senseless...  You can bet money that next time we go out - whether it's warm or not - Farah will be wearing her orange rump rug.  I'm going to try to find an orange halter too.

The climb back

After that encounter, I was ready to head back & hustle.  So we hustled...  I saw one more ATV go by - but couldn't tell if he was hunting.  I was on alert all the way back...

From the other direction

We were out of the woods & headed down the hill past the cattle.  Farah looked, but took it much better than I expected.

Pilchuck with a little cloud drifting over~

We stopped to talk to Pat & Donnie on our way home, planned a ride for later in the week, weather permitting.  Butch was home, working on the cover for the camper.  Nice end to what ended up being a really nice almost first day of Fall!

A New Path~

A gorgeous little trail~

We were smoked out this morning!  Smoke so thick that I called 911!  I heard the engine come up our road, then about an hour later, the smoke was starting to thin.  I decided to ride out & on my way past Pat's, found where someone was cutting down one of the few stands of nice timber left in our neighborhood.  They'd been burning, or trying to burn a huge pile of slash.  It took a couple hours for the air to clear & the heavy, acrid smoke ruined what would have been a nice morning...

Huckleberry in full color!

It was a meandering kind of afternoon, so Farah & I were looking for anything that looked like a trail & found one!  It gave us a bigger loop at the north end of our range.  It felt like a little present just for us.  We came up onto the gas line & I decided to follow the gravel road north.

Signage at the end of the easement access.

It was too easy to get around this gate & the ATV's have been doing the same.  I was glad that there was no mention of horses :-)  I'd gotten a later start than usual, but it was such a nice afternoon that we took our time heading back.

Sunset & the Olympics

The sun was setting when we left the power lines & it was clear enough to see the Olympics.  It was amazing how the colors had changed just in the week since I'd been up there.  Trees that were in full color were now half devoid of their leaves.  I know there will be more color coming, the Cottonwoods usually put on a beautiful show of yellow & some of our ornamental shrubs will still be turning.

October seems to be going fast & Farah's winter coat is coming in!  I've discovered a little something about how Farah's mind works too.  If there's been a spot on the trail where we've had some sort of issue - like someone wanting to buck at the top of a short steep hill - just for fun... etc.   Or...  if a certain mare has been chastised or had to do it again correctly...  Then, when this particular area comes up, if it's possible to avoid - take a different trail etc., then that's what Farah wants to do!  :-)  Smart huh :-)  Before we know it November will arrive, but the weatherman is insisting that our nice weather will continue into next week!  Still plenty of time to enjoy these incredible fall days!

Ode to Fall~

The view out my dining room window~

The rains have arrived, the temperature has turned brisk...  The leaves are just thinking about turning.  It's that time of year, changing light bulbs, cleaning out closets, putting out heavier throws, candles & I love amber seasonal lights on the patios!

The Chickadee's were tweeting at me this morning!  They were busy playing in the Elderberry bush by the back patio, as I was busy loading old clothes in the Bronco - results of my closet cleaning, one of the tasks that I save for rainy fall days!  I had some really nice stuff, mostly Nordstrom bought - that I'd worn when I worked in Bellevue in the early 90's.  Out of style now, but still perfectly good.

My buddies greeted me this morning!

I'd called two consignment shops in Snohomish.  At the first shop, the problem was a lack of space.  This cute little place was literally bursting at the seams with dresses, prom gowns, etc.   This owner said that she'd had no less than seven women come in with clothes in the last week!  Guess I wasn't the only one bitten by the fall cleaning bug!

The next shop was really cool, had lots of vintage stuff, 30's, 40's, 50's,  mine was too "new".  Impressed with the labels & quality of my items - she suggested that I go to the Snohomish Senior Center Thrift Store.  At least the clothes would stay in the area & go to local residents.   There, they were happy to accept the donation & I finally emptied the Bronco!   Done!

The beginning of the Color season!

Tomorrow, a visit to see our two youngest granddaughters - then hopefully squeeze in my first ride of Fall!