Hiya Darlin'!
Busy, busy day! Flash and I headed out early to put ribbons up on several of the private properties that we're using, starting with the pink one that's the most southeast on the course. Got back after noon, and lo and behold, my loppers were sitting on the top step of my trailer!! Moments later, I received a text from Meg telling me that volunteer Al had found them! Amazing! I'm so happy they have been recovered! I took a short break, then grabbed blue and orange and did another seven miles of riding to do some other properties. It was 4:30 by the time I got back and put Flash away, tired but feeling very productive, and very happy about those loppers! Settled down for the evening, did some work on signs for the trails, watched a Haven, ready for shower and bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!
Archives for 2025
Sunday, August 10, 2025 – More Trail Chores
Hi Sweetie,
I'm very mad at myself. Somewhere along the line yesterday, I lost the foldable loppers that I so depend on when I'm out clearing trails. It was deep in my saddle bags, so I wasn't too worried on the occasions when Flash and I cantered, but somehow, they've disappeared. I went out on Flash this morning, sure that I could find them, and ran the whole trail we took yesterday after the last time I used them, but there was no trace. I posted on the local FB groups, so I'm hoping that someone will find them and turn them in. Grrr!! So mad about that!! I'll be spending a lot more time on the trails this weekend, so who knows, maybe they'll turn up. Meanwhile, Annie and I went out in the side-by-side and finished doing the trim on the rest of the middle eastern section, while Meg did some work on the farm. Ready to start putting up markers tomorrow, at least on the private properties, which shouldn't be disturbed during the week. Need to pace myself, don't want to be exhausted when I leave for Yellowstone! Having trouble viewing TV now, think Verizon is seriously throttling down my usage, even though I upped my plan last month. Don't have time to mess with it now, so I'm doing a lot of reading instead. Did two loads of laundry today, so I'm ready for shower and bed soon! Good night, baby! Love you!
Saturday, August 9, 2025 – Busy Day Trail Clearing
Hi Babe!
Got lots done today! Rode Flash all around the southeast portion of the trails that we'll be using, doing a final trim on all but one section which has yet to be mowed. After that ride, Meg, Annie and I went out in the side-by-side and cleared almost all of the middle eastern section, until all of our equipment ran out of battery power. Not much left though. Got back after 4:30 having had a productive day! Settled down for the evening with some more episodes of Haven (I'm really hooked on that last few seasons), and once again planning for an early bedtime! Good night, darlin'! Love you!
Friday, August 8, 2025 – A Few Chores
Hiya Darlin',
Spent the day doing a few odds and ends. I worked on the trail map, determining where we need arrows and extra markers, then dragged down my pressure washer and cleaned out the tank in the truck. It had some growth in the bottom I wanted to get rid of. Pulled a few weeds, did a little research on my computer, then settled down early. Trying to pace myself, crunch time is coming soon! Made a plan for the next few days, it's going to be busy! Heading to bed soon. Love you, sweetie! Good night!
Thursday, August 7, 2025 – Beautiful “Trail Check” Ride
Hi Sweetie!
The focus today was to check some more of the trails, do a little clearing and planning for next week's Horseshoe Bend Boogie Endurance Ride. Really beautiful trails here, and it's great that the neighbors are so helpful and willing to let us use some of their fields in between the government properties! There are multiple tracts being used, which creates a lovely diversity on the trails. Flash did a great job, as usual, with only the occasional heavy sigh when I made him stop to do some trimming when he would have preferred to run, but he did make up some speed when we circled some of the fields. My go, go, go guy! Did nearly ten miles today, in about three hours with all the stop-starting. After we got back, I spent a little time gathering all the old forms and documents for the 2022 Ocean to Lake trail ride and sent them all off to the new committee members who are trying to organize the latest rendition of the ride. Then I relaxed a bit in the evening, and that was pretty much it for the day! Good night, babe! Love you!
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – Chores Around the Farm
Hiya Babe,
Had a lot more variety in my day today, just doing some chores around the farm to earn my keep! Did my usual chores, then did some other stuff for Meg. Fixed her trundle bed, weeded her herb garden, got her electric push mower working and mowed her little raised bed garden, and generally kept busy most of the day. Then around 3:30 her friend Al came out with his tractor and the three of us went out to clear the trails around her hay fields, which we'll be using as trail during the upcoming Horseshoe Bend Boogie endurance ride. We were busy for a good three hours, getting back just in time for a Zoom meeting with the organizers of the revived Ocean to Lake (rebranded to the more accurate Lake to Ocean) greenway ride. Seems they're making good progress toward making it happen, which would be a good thing, it was always a great ride. That took over an hour, so by now, I'm just about ready for bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 – Ride and Clear Trail Day
Hey Darlin',
Another good night sleep, managed to get on the trail by 10:30, mostly just checking some of the other trails, GPSing some trail changes to get an accurate mileage, and also doing a little clipping and pruning along the way. Flash did a brilliant job, as always, but with the occasional heavy sigh when we had to keep stopping. He's so funny! Had his newer boots on, didn't lose anything today, thank goodness, not that the terrain here was difficult. No mud, a few creek crossings, some stony bits and a lot of grass and dirt, so footing wasn't an issue. It is quite lovely here, and the trails are nice. No major blockages, so it was all good! Spent some time working on the trail maps, still not 100 percent finished, but we're working on it! Lost all of the work I did on my Google Earth from the last two days when my stupid computer decided to reboot without asking, a problem which I've tried to remedy many times and haven't been able to accomplish. Grrr! Other than that, it was a beautiful day! Lola's been playing with Meg's big rescue dog and getting a workout, and even started chasing one of her cats! I guess the cosequin is doing a great job! Settled down for the evening, planning on an early bedtime. Good night, sweetie! Love you!
Sunday, August 3, 2025 – Another Busy and Tiring Day
Hey Babe,
Woke up even before my early alarm, but had a good night sleep so I was pretty refreshed. All this physical labor is reminding me just how sedentary I've been for the last few months! Amanda gave me some tiny quail eggs this morning, it took six just to cover a piece of toast, but they were delicious! I managed to get my chores and breakfast done, then even had some spare time to move the trailer before Richard arrived. He was running a little late, but it worked out fine, I was able to get settled and start a second load of laundry before he was ready for me to join him. We worked until nearly noon, but had to stop using the mower when the belt broke. He went to have lunch, I had a quick bowl of cereal, then went out to the pasture and managed to get all my posts in before he came and got me. We worked some more, felling a tree that was hanging way over the trail, plus more mowing with a different mower. He had trouble starting it, even tried jumping it and charging it, but I finally came back and got my little BeatIt jumper, and that worked like a charm! We did a lot more mowing and trimming, so overall, we got a lot of work done this weekend. Tomorrow he's back to his desk job, so I'm hoping to either take a day off, take a ride, or do some more trimming around the property, depending on how I feel. I've been going nonstop and could use a break, but I don't know how much I'll enjoy it when I'm staring at all this work that needs doing. After Richard dropped me off at the end of the day, I managed to finish getting up my portable fence and moving the horses over, so at least the two major jobs I needed doing to finally be settled in got finished. It was 7:00 by the time that happened. Had dinner and watch a Haven (and did I mention I did two loads of laundry in between moving the trailer?), and now I'm ready for a nice shower and another good night sleep. Good night, my darlin'! Love you!
Saturday, August 2, 2025 – Busy Day of Trail Cleanup
Hiya Darlin',
Set my alarm to get up early, since there was a lot to be done today, though I didn't get a lot of what was on my list finished. We had a meeting with Richard the trail crew guy from the conservation foundation, and spent about two hours confirming which trails we are going to use, those in which direction is still to be confirmed. Then Richard and I went over and picked up the equipment we needed and headed out on the trails on a Gator towing a DR Field mower. We worked from about 11:00 to 6:30, with just one short break, so now I'm pretty tired! I was too tired to put up my portable fence and move the horses, or move the trailer, or do any of those things that need doing. The truck is still attached to the trailer and I'm on a bit of a hill, so I'm not level either! I'm assuming that Richard will be back to work on Monday, so I'll be able to get settled then. Not too worried, right now the trails for the Horseshoe Bend Boogie are the priority! Looking forward to a good night sleep, though, this is the most tired I've felt in a long time. Heading to bed shortly! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!
Friday, August 1, 2025 – Long Drive to Meg’s
Hey Sweetie,
Got up bright and early, packed up and was out of camp by 8:30, only a few folks up and around by the time I left. Took a slightly longer but mostly highway route by going through Lowville to I-81, but there was a lot of construction along the way, so many slowdowns. I changed my route a few times because Google maps was trying to send me down tiny roads, and once up to a railroad bridge where the clearance was more than a foot shorter than I could get through, so that lengthened it, too. It mostly flew by, though, because I've finally gotten the knack for downloading Kindle audio books, so I listened to a story most of the day. Couldn't believe I had to pay $4.50 a gallon for diesel at Flying J in PA, and that was with a five cent discount! It was more than a dollar cheaper once I got to NJ, but I couldn't wait that long. I guess since that's been my only expense these days, I can't complain too much. Arrived at Meg's just after 3:30, not too far off my original estimate of 3:00-3:15. No one was around, though, so I waited a bit for the horses to get their sea legs back, and finally put them out in a pasture temporarily. Meg arrived from a ride, and we made some plans for tomorrow, but I'm too bushed to do much today! I did managed to dump my black water and hook up to electric, though I think she wants me to move a bit more out of the way, but we'll see tomorrow. Lola is enjoying not having to be tied up, and the horses are munching on a pasture full of nice green grass. I'll just have to watch to make sure too much of it doesn't make them sick, but considering they've been eating grass cut just a week or so ago, I'm not too worried. Had a quick cereal dinner, watched another couple of Havens, won't be long out of bed tonight! Feeling pretty tired after my early start and not being able to get to sleep last night. Looking forward to a quiet night here tonight (except for maybe the roosters in the morning)! Good night, babe! Love you!