Saturday, March 28, 2009

What a great weekend! Sun with temperatures in the 40's.

I have to tell you about a phone call I received on Friday. I look at the display and it shows Long Distance so I answer the phone, "Good Afternoon, McKesson! This is T." I hear, "Terri, this is your mom." Let me tell you this was freaky. My mom has been past away for a few years now and this person even sounded a bit like her. I tried to say, "I don't think . . ." It was hard to finish the sentence. I finally managed to ask what number they were trying to reach and determined it was for another T in the building. Too funny and way to weird.

Friday, I rode Josie hoping to have a better ride but due to the traffic in the arena it sucked. I didn't realize there was a group lesson and unlike other group lessons this one took up both ends of the arena. I gave it my best shot but it was a bit scary when the app that was being ridden was asked to canter and they kept running into the walls. I sure didn't want them running into us. I finally got off Josie and took her out.

Saturday, the pups were a little boisterous at the sliding door so I take a look out to see what is going on and here is a woodchuck, rather slender looking cross the street in front of my town home. I quickly get my jacket on and take the pups outside. During these brief moments said prey has disappeared. The pups run about a little willy nilly with me saying, GET IT! Chuck had gone under the neighbor's covered grill. Ha! No where to run to, now where to hide. My little hunters locate him and Chuck makes a run for it . . . and proceeds to climb a tree! I didn't know they climbed trees. Not that I know much about them, I am very surprised and bummed as the chase is over pretty much as soon as it started.

The dogs are jumping and barking. I run home to get the camera. In the meantime, the son of the owner of that particular unit comes out to see what the commotion. He looks rather pissed. I am so pumped as we treed Chuck and I tell PissedOff this. He doesn't seem to share in my excitement. No, he looks even more pissed off as he now knows the reason for the barking. I tell my dogs how good they are and back up so I can use the lens (more for farther away) on my camera. At this point I don't exactly know what time it was. As I see Mr. PissedOff glance at his watch, an indication that it might be early, I decide I better I run the camera back and grab leashes.

Ever try to get a collar on a jumping jack? I get a hold of Pix but Wyatt is wise to my plan. He wants Chuck and he wants him bad. I am remembering back to Wyatt first vole and think, Wy, you are going to have to do some serious pouncing to take out something that big and when you close your eyes as you are pouncing he is gonna get away. Maybe if Chuck got a hold of Wy's toy then he would get ferocious like he does with Pix but I think Chuck outweighs him. I finally get a hold of him and scurry back with a dog under each arm before Mr. PissedOff manages to start yelling at me. I check the time, it is 9:00. Nope not so early at all. Maybe he will thank me later for getting him up so he can enjoy a beautiful, sunny day.

Viewing the photos on the camera, it appears I took some pretty good shots. Hopefully, they will look as good when enlarged on the Mac.

From time to time throughout, the pups would bark excitedly. Chuck must have been trying to get down from the tree and make a run for it. He was up there for at least three hours. I checked again after we took a nap and he had left his post.

I waited until almost dinner time to go ride, hoping to avoid the crowds. Josie came when I called her. I got her ready down at my barn. I had the arena to myself - YIPPEEEEEEE! I let her romp around and get some bucks out. I set up three cavelletti which brought her over to see what I was doing. I warmed up, she didn't need any more but I did. Towards the end of my ride I had sweat dripping down from underneath my helmet.

We practiced the trot poles both rising trot and in jumping position. I really have to beware as she slows down as my legs aren't on her as well in jumping position. At least we didn't have a horse rolling in front of us!

Looking forward to another nice day tomorrow.