Quick Labor Day Wkend Pics

Since Nick and I left our camera 2 hours from home over Labor Day weekend, I hadn't been able to put up pictures from our Labor Day weekend trip to the Roundhouse until I got our camera back. Now I wanted to just post a few since it's been over a month since Labor Day. Hope you enjoy -- after all, we all know that Nick and I RARELY leave anything behind -- so something like this probably wouldn't happen again. :)

Lilah's FIRST jacket -- might still be a bit big?


A beautiful view from the Pac Crest Trail


A highlight of my summer -- getting Miss Kate into water somewhat willingly. Yippee!

Reining with "Roxy"

I recently started taking Reining lessons, and I'm having a blast. It has been a long time since I've ridden a horse that knows more than I do -- I'm usually schooling naughty school horses or training up a young/green horse. It has been great fun learning from "Roxy"! After I conquer spinning (in the video) without getting dizzy, it will be time for me to start learning about sliding stops -- where the horse skids to a stop from a dead gallop. On a good run the horse will slid 20 to 30 feet after stopping. Sounds like fun!

The Rejects....

My good friend Michelle has been visiting me the last few days. She is a photographer, and I asked her to take Lilah's 1 year pictures. We visited the Pittock Mansion and the Portland Rose Gardens for the shots. Unfortunately, Lilah was not the most willing participant and the following pictures are some of the rejects. Enjoy! And stay tuned for some final 1 year shots.....


Lilah Rose, eating the rose?!!?!?


NO!! Leave the hat ON!


Lilah's face after a bloody tumble at the Pittock Mansion. Can the red be photo-shopped out??


Lilah, hold still....


Hold still dammit! Hey, come back here!!

Uh-oh....

This shot was taken during Lilah's 1 year photo shoot.....




Houston, we have a problem....

Not it!

The Princess has gotten her Castle!!

There's no denying it....

In our household, Summer is not officially over until we've done the Fall "adults-only" trip to Shasta. Nick and I will set sail next week to Shasta, but there's no denying it --- Fall is already here.

We have been noticing that the nights are cooling off quicker, but we were both in denial. We love hot summer weather, and we have been having so much fun playing this summer that neither Nick or I want it to end.

However, this morning I awoke to find this:




This picture is a small section of my backyard, but you can see the grey sky, the red tinge in the leaves on the tree, and the leaves already on the ground.

When I went to dress Lilah for the day, this is what she ended up in -- long pants and a hooded jacket from Aunt Michelle.

There's no turning back. No more 90 degree days until next August.

Well, now let's cross our fingers for lots of snow this winter!

Heather's New Friend

I honestly cannot go for very long without horses. About week #2 with no horses (Sweet P is still vacationing with Kate), I decided to call the owner of the barn I like to board at in the 'Couv and I asked her if she had anything she wanted help with.

And here he is:

I don't know anything about this horse, other than he's completely unbroke. Beggars can't be chosers though! :) This horse was abandoned by his owner a few months back (which, in today's economy, is getting to be fairly common) and the owner of the boarding barn would like me to get him going so that she can get him sold.

Currently, I'm conditioning him from the ground and getting him used to wearing a bridle. He tends to be a little explosive, and is very athletic (meaning when he is scared he does very agile bucks, bolts, and twists in the air) so I'll make sure not to get on him until he's 120% ready.

I'm also taking reining lessons once a week now at a different barn in the Vancouver area. Last week I got to spin on the horse until I was dizzy. I'm hoping between this appy gelding (I don't even know his name...) and the reining lessons I'll be able to get my horse fix. I'm such a junkie....

-H