Happy 4th - Have Fun - Be Wise

Happy 4th of July!

Have Fun!

Please Be Fire Wise!

Black Forest Fire Station*

2012 Waldo Canyon Fire

• 347 homes destroyed
• 2 people killed
• Human caused - no other details released to the public

2013 Black Forest Fire

• 512 homes destroyed
• 2 people killed
• Human caused - likely accidental - no other details released to the public

Please be careful.  

 Be wise;  Be safe. 

 Enjoy this great holiday!

* Somebody is missing next to the fire danger sign.  There is usually a bear on the sign.  But some dude from out of state, after viewing national news of the fire, called the firehouse and complained about the bear.  He spewed a bunch of legalese claiming the bear looked too much like the licensed image of "Smokey the Bear".   So the bear was taken down.  Letters have been written to Washington, and the Black Forest bear is expected to return to his place on the sign.  

Holiday Trail Ride

Independence Day
in the U.S.A.

This morning Marley and I hit the trail for a holiday ride. My husband and another couple walked the trail while I rode Marley along with them. Marley was relaxed and calm and willing to match his pace to that of the 2 legged walkers. We encountered horses, joggers, dogs, and mountain bikers; Marley took it all in stride. However, we did have some arguments at a couple of really large mud puddles, but we got through them.

It was a good ride considering it was only our 2nd trail ride together, and not in the company of other horses.

We've had a lot of rain lately.

Get a load of this huge mushroom next to my husband's foot.
(Click to enlarge.)

After our ride, I gave Marley a proper bath. This was the first real bath he has had since I purchased him 12 months ago. His previous owners told me he hates to get wet and isn't a good bather. Maybe they bathed him in cold water. I ran warm water out of our garage and he was a good boy for his bath.

All clean and he's ready to go out to pasture. I thought if I put his grazing muzzle on and send him toward the open pasture gate, he'd be too focused on the grass to think about rolling.

What a silly thought.

Approaching the pasture, he seizes his moment and down he goes.

Coated evenly in dirt, he arises.

Now rid of that clean pony feeling, he enters the pasture.

Horses will be horses.

Holiday clip art courtesy of Webweaver's Free Clipart