Out in the woods

Harley's Labor Day weekend was another breakthrough. Sunday, John (mounted on his bike) and Callie joined me for a hack in the woods. We unexpectedly hooked up with some folks from North Point on their horses. It became a joint ride, but one that Harley was a bit fractious on. He didn't want to be last in group! Must have been his former racing career coming out in him. He jigged quite a bit, and really wanted to run a couple of times. We had only one minor incident; Harley backed into the branches, knocking my hunt cap off, and bruising my forehead. Needless to say, we went shopping that afternoon for one of those newfangled helmets with a harness! Callie was beat. I don't think she's gone that far ever with us. Once she hit her bed, she was down for the count.
Yesterday, co-boarder Michelle and I rode again with the North Point gang. This time I put Harley out front and he was a dream! He just wanted his spot, with his gang nearby. We roamed the woods for two hours and had a blast.
This week, I need to get him back out by the fake deer, and to get in a good long canter to release that energy (I sound like Cesar Millan). He does like stretching his legs.

Time for sauce and salads!

Yikes! It's a fake deer!

Poor Harley, he was doing so well on our trail ride; past the scary house, past the guys shooting guns, through the water, past the scary gate and the wild turkeys. But it all came apart when he saw the deer target in a back yard. Spinning left, then right, lunging up the trail, I came unglued. Thankfully, I held onto the reins and didn't lose my horse! After dusting off the trail debris and pine needles, I led him past the scary deer, past the scary camper, the scary wood splitter, back to the safety of his barn. Whew!

Breakthrough!

Harley crossed the water (4x!) with me! Now, if we just keep the momentum going, he'll be trailworthy yet. I hoped to find the Emery's Bridge Rd. entrance to Orris Falls but had no luck. We came to a closed  gate that Harley would have no part of--the spin and dance routine again. We'll make a trail horse out of him yet!

Verdant garden

The garden is peaking. Everything is lush and producing fresh produce for our table. Each day, I pick another pint of grape tomatoes. The bush beans are on the verge of a third picking, but the Kentucky Wonders are holding out on us--lots of flowers, but still no beans. And the squashes, well the winter squashes are creeping over the flower beds, into the driveway, and up the walkway. We should have a decent crop of buttercup and delicata for the fall. The yellow summer squashes are putting forth just enough at a time to keep caught up eating them--grilled, sauteed with onion, and maybe with some fresh tomatoes! My nemesis, the fully red-ripened bell pepper still eludes me. Not enough water, sun, good soil? I never have achieved the end product featured in the catalogs! As for the eggplant, it looks like we may have another late crop again, due to my late start this spring. But there's still time for us to get in some late carrots, lettuce, spinach, and garlic. Lord knows, with the number of carrots Harley eats, we need a big bumper crop!

Time in the irons

Harley and I made a breakthrough on Saturday. We finally got across the brook at Orris Falls. It did require me to dismount (something of an issue as he was all in a dither), but with a lead line and carrots we finally made it across. Most of the ride was a challenge. Poor Harley was afraid something was bound to jump out of the woods at him and insisted on trying to turn back. I wouldn't say he's barn sour as much as he is scared. But with constant leg, crop, and an insistent seat, he finally moved forward. We backed up and circled around at least 6 times, and once, I nearly gave up, but we did it--a completed ride on the lollipop loop. Too bad Callie Lou couldn't come too--she'd have liked the romp the in the woods.

Sunday, I hooked up with Michelle, the other boarder, and we took to the woods heading for Wells. She has shown us some great trails up there, but it's such a tangle in my head, it will be hard to remember them all. We rode for about an hour an a half with some nice spots for trotting and cantering. I think Harley really enjoyed the latter--I could feel that Thoroughbred blood coming to life! The thrill of the race! He's also afraid of being left behind, truth be told. Harley, you big chicken! Michelle's dog Dasher came along for ride, streaking through the woods, sniffing around stone walls, and leaping downed trees. Next time John and I head up that way, Callie Lou will have to come too! She needs some new territory to explore and maybe if she's out front, she can boost Harley's confidence!

As John said, time in the irons is what I need to get my legs back. Sure enough, I was a bit sore Saturday night Sunday's ride loosened them up a bit, but it will take a lot of hours in the saddle.

Tomatoes...at last!

All winter, I crave the sweet juiciness of a tomato, and none of the store-bought varieties can come close. At last, the grape tomatoes are coming in fast and furious, and the first Amish Paste tomato dropped off the vine. The Brandywines are slowly swelling, but still green as their leaves. They will be the last tomatoes, picked just as fall is starting to show her colors in the maples. But now summer's sweetness has arrived on our doorstep. It's too bad there's  no way to preserve that same fresh-from-the-vine flavor. Yes, I'll can them for sauce and other recipes, but the sun-warmed flavor is different. For a few months out of the year, we can savor summer's freshness. Tonight, fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella on homemade bread--our own bruschetta!

Best Buddies

Harley's new home

John and Harley home from the forest

We moved Harley to a new barn last Monday--a farm lush with grass, closer to good trail riding, and much nicer company. He's made friends with Echoe, and figured out he's not to bug Vance or Gator (the two head honchos). John and I have taken him for rides up into the Orris Falls Conservation area a few times, each time a little further. The bugs have been voracious this summer, but today, we finally had cooler, breezier weather. John rode him for about an hour and got back to the barn just as the skies let loose with a shower. Tomorrow, it's my turn!
He will be much happier here, plenty of food, and plenty of shade. Plus he's not forced to be in a stall 14 hours a day. These guys are out all night in the summer, mingling with the fire flies, the wild turkeys (of which there are many), and the deer. I'm sure an occasional fox or coyote pass by as well. Pete says he's seen moose, and bear sign out in the woods, but never near the paddocks--that would really give Harley a start! Callie likes it better here too--she gets free run of the barn with Michelle's dog, Dasher, and Pete's two dogs, Libra and Moby--all very laid back and cool with one another. Oh, and she gets to clean up Harley's spilled grain--yummy!

How does the garden grow?

It's a jungle overrun by winter squash, climbing, creeping, taking over the corner gardens. Our tomato plants are full of plump green tomatoes--we're just waiting for them to finally ripen. I harvested our first crop of green beans, enough for two meals. With everything started so late, I'll be glad to get whatever food we can this year.

I had my third driving lesson on the tractor yesterday. Dad had me harrowing, up and down, up and down, chopping up the grasses that grew in during our absence. John will plant a cover crop and then next spring, we'll plow that under and start anew. I told him there was no point in planting a fall garden unless he planned on fattening up a deer for our winter meat! We need to build a fence and decorate the borders with pie plates.