Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 16

Pink clouds at sunset on a crisp autumn day

Don't forget to stop by and leave a comment for the Giveaway!

Playlist Giveaway

When I started this blog, I had no idea what I was going to write about, what it was going to look like or if I would even like it.  Almost 3 years later and 850+ blog posts and I'm still here!  I've had a lot of fun figuring out how this blogging thing works, meeting blogger friends, reading other blogs, learning lots, taking photos and redesigning the blog.  One of my favorite gadgets is Playlist which allows you to search for songs and add them to a playlist (each Playlist holds 200 songs and you can create as many playlists as you like).  I get more comments on the music that randomly plays when the blog opens than I do about the content of the posts or pictures - I'm not complaining and I'm totally ok with that!!!!  What's on the Playlist is everything from stuff my parents played when I was a kid right up to some current stuff - all different genres which I try to update regularly.  It's cool to do a search and find a song that you haven't heard in 20 years. I grew up in the 80s at the time of hair bands and some crazy clothing styles (which to my horror have come back and T now wears) so there's quite a bit on there from my high school days.  And yes, I grew up in New Jersey in the 80s so I had big hair....


To celebrate the awesome comments I've received and the people that stop by regularly, I have decided to do a giveaway.  I have created a box of five photo notecards of some of the creekside wildflowers that bloomed this summer across from the farm.  Each card is high quality linen stock with a matching linen envelope, sealed in a protective sleeve and the cards come in a clear box.

Just leave a comment on this post and I will select a commenter at random (using Random.org).  The contest closes at 6 PM Eastern on Monday, November 1st.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the Halloween playlist I created!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Taking a Stroll

Weekend Trail Ride

Craig wasn't feeling well most of the weekend so we stayed close to home and kept things low key.  The food allergies are triggering all kinds of things and his system is pretty messed up.  The doctor was concerned about his blood pressure and felt that he was a heart attack risk so he wasn't allowed to do anything stressful or raise his heart rate and he needed to be careful about what he ate.  He hung around (quietly) while T and I headed off for the trails.  Zip and Roo were great on the trails and in the open fields, even when we came upon some unexpected obstacles and a steep stream bank.  We rode for about an hour and a half but only covered about 2.5 miles and averaged about 3 mph (walk and trot) since the trails are overgrown and we had to double back a couple of times (I took my GPS with me).  It was really nice to get out on the trail.  Craig snapped some pics as we headed back.

On the road, heading back. 

 Zip is almost 7 inches taller than Rooster but Rooster is wider.

T being silly as we headed over the bridge.  Both horses were watching Craig on the other side of the bridge.

Turning for home

Heading towards the driveway (it's a short walk from the bridge)

Turning into the driveway

We headed onto the track when we were finished.  I left the GPS on and let Roo trot and canter a bit. I was surprised to find that even a fast trot/slow canter was 16.6 mph.  That little horse has some pep!  Since he was a camp horse for 4 years and only did walk/trot, his canter is a bit unbalanced and out of shape but he's eager to go. 

A short canter

T has been working with Zip at the trot and canter to get him more consistent in his gaits.  

Trotting along

The weather cooperated and it was warm and sunny.  Overall a good day of riding and everyone stayed safe.

Macro Monday - Yew Berries

The evergreen trees are getting ready for winter

Sunday Stills Challenge - Fall Foliage

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Fall Foliage.  The hot dry summer took its toll on the trees in our area.  Most of the trees shed their leaves early so we don't have the usual fall color.

Berks County, PA

Virginia Creeper on a fence post

View other Challenge participants here.

Taking it Easy

Craig isn't feeling well due to some complications from food allergies and the doctor told him to take it easy.  There could be some serious complications so it's important that he rests.  Once the test results are in, we can figure out where to go from there.  Maybe T and I can sneak a trail ride in while he chills out.  I'm looking forward to some down time.

Sunset ride on Roo

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 15

Brilliant blue sky as a back drop for one of the draft cross horses at Feather Hill Farm

 

Equusite.com Daily Horse Picture

I submitted the Gypsy Vanner photo on yesterday's Wordless Wednesday post to Equusite.com's Daily Horse Pictures.  Four pics are published each day and are rated by viewers.  The highest rated picture for this month will become the Horse of the Month for next month.  This is the first time that I've submitted a pic so please vote!

You can view the pic and vote here

Thanks for your support!!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Gypsy Vanner Mare

Mini Sale

On Saturday we headed over to the Mountaintop Mini Horse Sale at Feather Hill Farm in Lenhartsville.  We are not looking to add to the herd but wanted to go out of curiosity.  There were probably 50 horses/donkeys total including a few riding horses.  They aged from weanlings to older broodmares, some registered some not.  Of course I took my camera along.

Waiting to go up for sale

Yearling

 Broodmare

Weanling

Broodmare

It was an interesting day and prices for the most part were low.  We didn't bid on any but were tempted on a couple.  They sure were cute!

Macro Monday - Wild Daisies

These are pretty much the only thing that continued to grow in our pasture during the hot dry summer.

Sunday Stills Challenge - Cars

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Cars.  Last week was a tough one that I wasn't able to get photos for but this one was an easy one! 

Out for a Sunday joy ride

My first thought when I saw this car was Ah OOO Gah!

Crossing a major intersection on the way to

work as the sun comes up

Click here to see other participants of this challenge.

Pennsylvania Dutch Barn

Some of my favorite things about living in this part of Pennsylvania are the old farms and buildings that have been around for generations.  The barns in this area are typically bank barns with field stones foundations and wood slat sides.  They are usually painted red with white or off white trim and decorated with hex signs.

This particular barn is located in Lehigh County and has been restored to all of its original glory.  If the walls could talk, I'm sure there would be stories to tell!

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 14

Misty morning sunrise over the dairy farm

Lancaster County, PA

Silhouette

Black Jack, Thoroughbred gelding

silhouetted by the setting sun

Taken by Craig while I was riding

Wordless Wednesday - Old School Advertising

Busy, Busy, Busy

Not quite sure what it is about this time of the year but September and October are always crazy for us.  There never seems to be enough time in the days or enough days to get everything done.  We had a lot to do this weekend and are really starting to focus on getting the barn ready for winter.  We went to a tack sale and picked up some more winter blankets for the horses, I trimmed Zip's feet, got 2 loads of hay delivered, sold some tack at New Holland, gave the mini a bath, spent as much time as possible outside in the sunshine and together as a family.  I even managed to sneak a ride in on Roo.  We rode in the ring and then took a stroll around the track as the sun was setting.

Good Boy

T took Roo along the path to the top of the hill to work with him a bit on the slope.

He got a well deserved pat when they were finished.

Skywatch Friday - Season 4, Episode 13

The remnants of the tropical storm brought inches of rain.

This Kingfisher was surveying the newly filled pond for breakfast.

Water, Water Everywhere

This has been an exceptionally hot and dry summer, one of the hottest on record with almost no rain.  The remnants of a tropical storm last week pretty much dumped all the missing rain in a 24 hour period.  The Perkiomen Creek was measured at almost 15 feet where it is normally a foot.  The main pond in our pasture rose about 2 feet and the smaller pond behind it that was completely dry filled up and then some.  Add to that another 2 days of rain and the water is definitely flowing again.

A tree reflected in the now full smaller pond

Wordless Wednesday - Mid Yawn

Finished for the Season

Saturday was the last Buxmont gymkhana of the season and it was going to decide who finished as Grand Champion and Reserve Champion for the year.  T went into the night in second place and kept her lead.  She finished the season as Reserve Champion!!!  It's been a long season full of excitement and drama, some good kids and some bad sportsmanship, busy schedules and hard work.  We are very proud of T and all that she and Zip accomplished this year!!! 

Scurry Race

Poles

Bleeding Heart

Placings:
Scurry Race - 4th place
Poles - 3rd place
Bleeding Heart - 4th place
Cone Race - no time
Speed Barrels - 3rd place
Keyhole - 4th place
Barrels - 3rd place

Zip gets to chill out until next year.

Macro Monday - Zip

From Saturday's Gymkhana

Sunday Stills - Red and Green

This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is Red and Green - the picture or pictures must have both the colors red and green in the same pic. This will take a bit of imagination and a staged picture and once again no Archives so christmas pics from last year don’t count..;-)

We're counting down to the end of show season so I've been preoccupied.  I did manage to get a couple of pics.

Japanese Red Maple with a blur of green as a backdrop

The new mini in her green halter with decorative ribbon

View other Challenge participants here