I was determined to both stay put today and also ride my horses. The sun was shining brightly, so my decision to ride early was a no-brainer. I’ve been planning on riding later in the day, but inevitably the sun has been shining early and the rain clouds have let loose later.

I’ve missed a lot of riding opportunities as of late because I presumed that the sun would shine later in the day. And so, I have been putting house cleaning and book project administrative ahead of riding. Might I now say that I’ve finally learned my lesson? I think so.

The tractor

My ride on Raudi was pretty amazing – because of the sun, the red, orange, yellow, and green hues on the trail side and in the field stood out.

The ATVers must have thought similarly because I literally ran into them at Jawbone Junction. There were two machines, four people total. I stopped in front of them and asked nicely that they stay off our trails, that we all total three miles of trails left. The fellow who was out front agreed with what I was saying, and of his own volition added that yes, the nearby trails are messed up. I then got off Raudi and walked her over to the adjacent trail where I then hopped back on her. This, anyone’s agreeing to stay off our trails, was a first.

I next went for a ride with Pete. He rode Hrimmi and I rode Tyra. Tyra wasn’t very focused, but I figured we all have such days – even good riding horses.

I had put it off long enough, moving gravel, so today was the day. Pete had ordered a dump truck load of gravel and had used the tractor to spread half of it. He left the other half by the enclosure. I put the gravel in buckets, and he put the buckets in the tractor bucket, and took the four containers up to the goat enclosure.

I removed all the objects in the goat pen, water dish, crate (Sassy likes to stand on it) and rubber bucket included – then cleared out the muck. After, I spread gravel here before also spreading it in the horse pen.

I would have next picked raspberries, but as I was finishing up putting down gravel it began to rain. I told myself what I always tell myself when I it rains, and this is that I prefer rain to excess heat. Excess heat is a harbinger of fires, a very scary thought.

Our friend Robert came over as I was finishing cleaning the horse pen. He and Pete worked on the old pickup truck, the one that we inherited from the wife of a husband who died some time ago. Robert seemed to think that the truck is fixable and got the necessary part. So the two, in the rain, got it nearly fixed. All they need now is an oil filter.

This was my day at home. Now it’s been duly noted.

Next: 249. 9/11/23 A Conversation with Hrimfara