Nuts!

Nuts remind me of fall, the holidays, festive decorations, delicious gifts, and tasty baking.  Also, this fall we seem to have a bumper crop of acorns.  And that makes me think of the song - I'm A Nut

I'm an acorn, small and round
Lying on the cold, cold ground
Everybody steps on me
That is why I'm cracked you see

I'm a nut!, I'm a nut!
I'm a nut!, I'm nutty!

I'm so nutty, I don't know
Why the squirrels love me so.
I'm descended from an oak.
Nuts to you, and that's no joke.

Again Saturday morning, Don, Randy, and Joe were up and out just after 7 am.  The skies were clear, with barely a breeze, and the sun warm.  Once I was finished with tea and computerizing, I headed out into the Glade, to walk more undeveloped roads.  This time I was in one of the 'neighborhoods' where we ride.  In fact, I was scouting out where our new trail could be cleared, taking us from Stratford Drive, to the Stable's trail, staying off the private land along the power lines, since we have been asked not to ride on it anymore.


I didn't cover the usual amount of road mileage during the two hours I was hiking, because at times, I was doing some exploring in the woods and back-tracking on the road.  I marked this log (seen above) as a good place to go into the woods from the road.  I also discovered (by evening) that I had gotten into poison ivy or something that produced a very itchy rash all over my right arm.





When I got home, I got right to work spreading mulch.  I didn't have a lot of time so only got a small section of the bed done.  It was probably almost half completed at this point.  And, the mulch pile on the drive was shrinking.





I walked the dog, for her quick potty break, and rushed off to the barn just as Joe, Randy and Don were getting back from golf.  Later in the evening Joe informed me that I had forgotten to turn off the sprinkler.  Nuts.  So one section of lawn got a little over four hours of watering.

At the barn, I put my large bag of candy with Judy's, on the back of her trunk, for the Trunk or Treat event.  We walked down the line, admiring all of the decorated trunks.  Abby's (seen left) was by far the best.  I took this video of it later in the evening.

Public Safety and the fire department were also both there with candy to hand out. 

John was dressed as Elvis.

There were many cute kids that came through the lot.

Shirley was dressed as a cowgirl ghost and was working on the wagon, telling ghost stories during the wagon rides.


Jan's husband Mike had bought a ton of pizza for a bunch of us, so I abandoned Judy and went to eat with my riding buddies.

After nightfall, Jan and I tacked up and rode.  Amiga was kind of wound up, but all things considered, did well.  Judy and Kaylah joined us later.




This screen was set up to take photos of your shadow.  These two are of Amiga and I.  I think they came out pretty cool.

We ended the evening sitting around the bonfire enjoying everyone's chatter and having a few cold brews and wine.

I was quick to hit the hay, not taking much time to visit with the 'boys' (who were watching baseball) when I got home.



Sunday the guys hit the golf course early again.  I got two loads of laundry done before meeting Shirley at Church.  Returning home, I got right to work in the yard because I would not have a lot of time.






While I was spreading mulch the three amigos got back from golf.  Don and Randy hit the road for Illinois and Joe came out to help me.  He had leaf duty, using the blower for the bulk of them but also the mulching mower in front.



Joe even blew leaves off the new grass down in back.  Now it can get what little light makes it through the trees back there.

I was able to spread several more loads of mulch before it was time to hurry off to the barn where I met Jan and Cheryl.

Jan was going to ride Cash through the forbidden power line territory to take him to Terry's, where he will now live.  I am really going to miss having Jan at the barn and I think Amiga is going to miss Cash.

Cheryl and I were riding along to escort Jan and see her off.  We stopped when we got to the private property line of Elizabeth's, but Jan rode on (her only way to Terry's).










Cheryl and I looked for and found a good spot to start our new trail into the woods, to get it over to a cul-de-sac off of Stratford Drive, on the back roads of the Glade.


I rode a little longer than Cheryl and was happy with how Amiga did.  When I turned her back out into the pasture, I got Zorro and brought him in to the barn.  I gave him Bute and then had Judy give him his flu shot.

Then I took Zorro (left photo) for a ride because the vet said exercise helps blood circulation and the prevention of a reaction at the shot site.

 
Zorro did very well, and I actually kind of had fun riding him.  (I always prefer to ride Amiga.)  I took this video while we were out on the trail.

On the way back to the barn, I let Zorro graze in the winter wheat field. This is a big no no in Courtney's book, but I am Zorro's Grandma and need to spoil him.  Ha ha ha.  He looks a little worried in this photo, like he might get into trouble.

I got home at 5:30 and Joe and I each did our own thing for dinner and evening entertainment.  Although, we did watch taped Designated Survivor together.


Happy Halloween Monday!
I did Ballroom Aerobics with Shirley.  It drives me nuts when I can't get both my arms and feet coordinated with the dance/exercise pattern.  At one point in the middle of the song, when I think I was facing the wrong direction, the instructor reminded the class that there is a five minute review session after class, of any of the steps people need help with.  But, I zipped out of class as soon as it was over, telling the instructor I didn't have time for the short lesson but would catch him later.

I rushed home and got Maggie and I ready to go hiking.  On Joe's way out of town (to Kentucky), I had him pick me up where I parked, and take me down Marmaduke to where I wanted to start my walk.  I was covering familiar territory, where we ride, but still had not walked these gravel and dirt roads.

Seen right, I would love some rocks like these for my moss garden, but these were too large and too far from a drivable road.

Again, large piles of logs were found dumped in the road, which makes getting even a 4-wheel drive SUV past it impossible.

Maggie and I made our way to Terry's property and dropped in on her.  I took this photo of Cash at his new home, while I was coming up through the field.  Terry was doing chores out in her barn so we didn't stay too long.  After chatting about 30 minutes, Maggie and I continued our walk.

I always see neat things while out walking.  Below is a photo of a very large hornet's nest very high up in a tree. 


Maggie and I ended up being on foot for over three hours.  I really needed to re-hydrate when we got home.  I was planning to do yard work, but had spent the better part of my energy.  Nuts.  Then I decided I would just go for a little ride and hang out by the fire at the stables, but the haunted trail had been cancelled due to a competitor haunted trail really hurting the turn out on Saturday.  Double nuts.  Next I decided I would cook the ground beef that needed to be used, and make a dinner adding beans and rice and other good stuff like onions and tomatoes.  I stood in the kitchen, looking at my ingredients, and decided I didn't even feel like cooking.  Just not motivated.  Triple nuts.  So I had a bowl of cereal and then went to the Conference Center and sat in the hot tub.  That was the right decision.  It felt so good and I met some really nice people. 

The early dark seems to make me think it is later than it really is, so I went to bed early.  But then I ended up waking up in the middle of the night.  I couldn't get back to sleep, so read for over an hour, and then tossed and turned some more, after I turned the lights back out.

The interrupted night caused me to sleep in Tuesday morning, until 7 am.  I had one quick cup of tea and was at the barn at 8 am.  I took this photo, and just love how the sunlight catches Ambrie as she fills the water buckets while Miss Kitty is looking down at her.

I walked with Maggie, the back part of the riding trail, past the haunted trail, to the power lines.  Where the trail turns up into the field by the cemetery, where we are no longer allowed to ride, I kept straight and headed into the woods, looking for a good place to start our new trail.














Once in the woods, I came across an old road that would be good to use, except it really wasn't going in the right direction.  Elizabeth owns a wedge of this woodland we need to avoid.  (seen left, #14 cart path of Dorchester)  This old road also had several large obstacles.

 




Eventually we made our way down the hill and to the creek.  It was very rocky, but for the most part, bone dry.  The hill up, on the other side of the creek was quite steep.  I walked the creek bed until I got to the golf course.  There were two possible crossings which I marked with yellow caution tape.  Then I headed up the hill to Stratford Drive.

At one point I got to a rather steep rock out cropping (right) I had to hike around.  Once to the road, I headed back into the woods looking for a better way to get down to the creek.  Then I took the creek the rest of the way south, towards the power line.  We cross this creek on horseback, when going down the big hill (now forbidden) under the power lines on our way into the Glade.  Many parts of the creek were not passable and I had to go around obstructions on the banks, which were also really over grown.  At one point I came across this really cool water hole and dried up water fall (below).  The roots of this tree were mossy and really neat looking.  Maggie gives you an idea of size.

I really struggled to get through the woods in some spots, but finally came out, right at the bottom of the hill (seen below).  By the time I got back to the barn, Maggie and I had been hiking for just over three hours.

Upside down view of tax assessors map showing property lines.

Water and rest occurred next, as I chatted with Judy, Ambrie, and Kaylah.  Jan arrived shortly after I had sat down and we discussed and looked at Google maps and the photos I took to try to figure out the best location for this new trail.  We have to be sure we stay on Fairfield Glade property.  The long, skinny triangle in the right photo is the land area where our trail needed to go.

Google Earth view (right side up) of same area.

I had planned to ride Amiga, but it was already after noon, nuts.  I decided to go ahead anyways.  By the time I caught her, got her cleaned up and tacked up, Pat and Art arrived with the good map John had gotten (photo of it seen above).  While Amiga stood in the cross ties ready to go, we spent another half hour talking trail building.


Finally I got on Amiga and went for a nice 90 minute ride.  It was warm and I worked her some, out in the large bean field that we could now get to because they had started taking down the haunted trail stuff (pile of this seen right).

By the time I had Amiga un-tacked, cooled down and turned back out to pasture, it was 3:30.  Seen below, her rolling before joining up with the herd.  Maggie, who I had put in a crate, had never made a peep but seemed glad to be heading home.

I was hungry and hadn't had lunch yet, so decided to cook the hamburger etc.  By the time I finished my meal, it was too late to start moving more mulch.  But I went out to look around, and next thing you know, I am moving more dirt out of the pond.  My neighbors (and husband) think I am nuts.  And I'll admit, they might be right.  But that ain't going to stop me.  I figure the more dirt I remove, the more water I will see once we get rain and the pond fills back up.  Dark descended early and I came in just after 6 pm.  Shower, snacks, pet care, and computer time, filled up my evening.

During a Wednesday morning walk with the dog, while approaching our back yard from the golf course, Maggie found a golf ball.  She loves carrying these and chewing on them.  Look at all the acorns in the photo.  Under the oak trees, the nuts are thick.  I picked up two pockets full and added them to my bin when I got home. 

I had Lady's Club from 10:30 - 1:30.  Deciding to sport my gifts from Britney, from Costa Rica, Cuba, and Guatemala, I took this photo to show her.

It was my turn to buy the wine, so I purchased a whole bottle ($16) that fills five glasses rather than paying $5 each for four individual glasses.  That then left an extra glass that I had to drink.  Oh the sacrifices one makes.  LOL

I arrived home at 1:30, just after Joe had gotten back from his poker trip.  I spread mulch for two hours, getting now,  3/4's done with this project (seen left).  Then I moved pond dirt for another two hours.  I know I'm nuts.

Joe went to his weekly poker game, so when I came in at dark (6 pm) I started watching the last game of the World Series.  I got hooked, and watched the whole game while working here.  I didn't get much accomplished on this blog.  It was exciting to watch the Cubs play in the world series.  I was going nuts.



I haven 't watched the Cubs at all this season, but this was the best time to get back on the band wagon.  What a game!  I couldn't believe the size of the crowd outside Wrigley Field watching this game, which was in Cleveland.  The 18 minute rain delay, 10 inning game, and excitement and celebration following the victory, kept me up well past midnight.

Thursday I worked on this blog for quite awhile, but was out doing yard work by 10 am.  I had set aside the day to finish up the mulch pile and work on pond dirt removal.  I got all of the mulch moved off the driveway and finished the bed and path to it (seen left).  I could use another small load of mulch to fill in low spots where I have already mulched in other beds, but it can wait.





For several hours I moved pond dirt.  I used buckets to drag some of it up onto the flat creek valley where there are low spots.  And the wheel barrow worked for moving it to the big dip at the bottom of the bank in the woods below the green.




The dark (higher up) dirt in the left photo is what I had moved today.  Joe, Brian, Roger, and Allen must all think I am a nut case.  Although, about 4:00 Allen came down to see just what I was doing.  He said "you are really having fun."  Yep.  I think he's right.
I enjoy having a nice yard and woodland, but also really enjoy working outside landscaping, especially digging in the dirt.

These are bags of nuts (we think hickory) that Allen brought over that I added to my bucket collection.  Wildlife will appreciate us this winter.

Joe and I had leftover rice and beans, watched Survivor, and I took a pain/sleep aid before bed because my back was killing me.  Go figure.

Friday, Cheryl and I were going to trailer to Terry's to join Jan in a ride, but Cash had hurt himself so Jan was not able to join us.  Cheryl and I decided to just ride from the barn and go to Daddy's (used to be) creek.









As you can kind of tell in these two photos, the creek is just a series of water holes. 

We had a nice ride.  Amiga held up well on the rocks and hills.  I could have kept riding, but didn't want to push her any more than I already had.  And actually, I was a bit saddle sore when I got off of her.  I have been putting a hoof conditioner on her because her hooves have been so dried out.

Getting home mid-afternoon, I only had a few hours to work outside.  That was plenty of time to exercise my arms and back some more, moving pond dirt.  This time I moved a bunch onto the bank in front of the bench.


I took this photo to show the layers of stuff washed from up stream in the creek and down our hill.  The light color is sand.  The dark is a mix of dirt and lots of rotten leaves.

Joe and I headed into town at 5:45, to have dinner, do a little shopping, and see the opening night of "A Christmas Story" at the Play House. 
What a well done, crazy, fun, nutty, musical.  We hadn't had time for Wal-Mart before the show, so hit it afterwards (11 pm).  The isles were full of re-stocking crates, there were still plenty of shoppers, and there were only two check out lines.  I was so tired, just wanting to get home, I realized we were nuts to have gone there then.