A camping/Dressaging we will go!

My dear friend and goat enabler Donna and I went over to Fort Bragg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California and up to our campsite at MacKerricher http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=436 on Saturday morning. I must say "we did good". Great campsite and view of the ocean, in fact the only campsite with an ocean view.

We pitched camp and then headed down to Santa Rose for DRESSAGE IN THE WINE COUNTRY. I believe you can link to it in a previous blog. Several wine tastings later accompanied by great snacks brought by Michelle B. and ourselves we watched the exhibition unfold. The highlight had to be the gal who was retiring her 20 something old mare from the circuit and preformed to late 50's early 60's music wearing her 1960 prom dress. They were awesome!!

We than left about 8:15 and headed out for fuel and the 2.5 hour trip home to camp. When we went through Sebastopol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastopol,_California we got entrapped in the largest DUI check point I have ever seen. Thankful we drove on after a pleasant exchange with a nice Sheriffs deputy.

Going up Highway 1 added about 30 minutes to the drive but was worth it as the moon was half full and danced on the Pacific all the way home. We encountered a multitude of deer and cows in the road. Much to my dismay no photos of that adventure as there were no turn outs along the way to accommodate any digital documentation.We got home about midnight and quietly collapsed into our tent.

Sunday morning found us up and about at 8 a.m. I can't remember the last time I slept that late! We tried to start our propane camp stove only to realize we were missing the male adapter for it to pierce the propane cartridge.Isn't that just the way-where are those male adapters when a girl needs one?! So Donna pulled out her "Sierra high country" camping resources and we had a yummy breakie of fresh farm eggs, bacon and skillet toast over the open fire pit.

We then showered and about 11 a.m. high tailed it into town to the http://www.yelp.com/biz/mendocino-cookie-company-fort-bragg
for coffee and searching for the lost male part for the stove. Great coffee but no part so we ambled down to Caspar for the Crafts/Music festival http://casparfest.org/
Where Donna purchased a Cedar wand for purging any thing negative on her land. There were allot of interesting characters in attendance and we arrived just in time for the Gorse Monster parade through the festival.

After about an hour of checking out every vendor and exhibit and listening to a few bands we ambled down to Mendocino. We ended up with luncher (late lunch, early dinner) at ://www.pattersonspub.com/
with fish 'n chips and a shrimp basket. Yummy, oh did I mention some nice draft beer? Then on to the local candy shop , Papa Bear's Chocolate Haus, for some incredible hand made sweets for dessert.

We then headed back to camp where we walked the beach in both directions for about 90 minutes and met some wonderful seals. Then we built an amazing fire in the pit and had wine, beer, cheese, wonderful macaroni salad that Donna made for dinner. We hit the hay about 9-10ish and slept well. At least I did. Poor Donna was up and down all night with politely put , intestinal disorders. And then there was the raccoon raid on the provisions.

We were intending to have eggs, potatoes & onions, bacon again on Monday. Well guess what? The wild life joined the party and managed to get into the cooler. Stealing all the eggs, a bit of bacon and dumping the remainder of a bottle of homemade Blackberry wine, sigh. So *that* didn't happen!

We headed home over the northern route which is Branscomb Rd. that goes from Westport on the coast to Laytonville on 101. It passes through some amazing areas including the old Branscomb mill that was closed down about a year ago. We got home about 11 am , unpacked my truck and packed her truck. Loaded up my Nubians Berrie and daughter Pearl to go home with Donna for a "meet and greet" with one of her bucks and she was on her way.

So it is now Sunday the 6th. What took so long you say? Work, cranky back and neck, life in general. On Friday I womaned the Rescue table at the Great Pyrenees Club of Nor. Cal specialty show. I have photos of that still on the camera. For now I will try to get up some camping photos and then go feed the goats.

Cool Sunday Morning

It was a lovely cool night and morning here. A bit of coastal fog floated over the hills and gave us a very ocean feel. Nice to have for the people but the critters are suffering from change of weather complaint. The kids all have runny noses right now , clear thankfully , from the high daytime temps and the very cool night temps. Quick pneumonia is always a worry this time of the year so I do a good check every morning when I go out to feed and milk.

Geoffrey is returning from Cayucos today. We have a family beach house that is on the market and has required his time this summer to clean out his Mom's things and get it ready to market. It is the last of the trust and after the sale he and his brother will be done with it all. Kinda sad that it is leaving the family. They bought it the year Geoff was born in '74, but we are too far away to use it , our kids are closer but in the end it is a better thing to sell it. Expensive to maintain someplace that will rarely be used and we don't want to get into the beach house rental business.

I am going to give this house a good cleaning today and dry some yummy plums from our tree in my new dehydrator. Already did apples last weekend and they turned out very nicely. I may get some knitting in on a sweater I am making for Geoffrey. Just my standard top down affair with some nice heather yarn from Ancient Pathways in the Berg.

A few more misc. photos for you all to enjoy. Great Expectations on the right from the rear. Yes he is long and level! The doe kid at top is Spring she is a keeper and sweet. The snow scene is from a few years back and the sun rise from this past Spring.

Donna and I are going to go camping next wkend at MacKerricher http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=436 We are also going to Dressage in the Wine Country http://www.winecountrydressage.org/ so it should be a great wkend. I haven't been camping since the 2006 Mendocino Co. Fair goat show. Will take camera and get some photos for the blog.

Horse Camp

What could be more fun than horse camp? Aubrey,Emily and Claire all went to camp when they were here this summer. Aubrey had one day all to herself and I have no photos :-( since I had to work that day.)That young lady has a schedule that rivals Barrack and it just didn't work out for her to be here the next week for a full camp. But we have high hopes of getting them all up at the same time in 2010.

Emily is the dark blond with braids, Claire is the shorter brunette with a wicked smile and sense of humor. The two adults in the photo are daughter Annie and honey James. They were able to come up on the Amtrak for family day the last day of camp and then take the girls home with them. A good time was had by all as you can in the slightly dark group photo.

Thanks to Angie of White Dog Ranch for offering this incredible opportunity for young people!

More photos

Didn't realize that I had my photos divided into two areas. Here are more and then I will do the long overdue blog on Horse camp.
The long distance photo is of Mt. Lassen. It is slightly obscured by smoke from the fires to the west. But it is lovely on a clear day!

New life, new blog

Since the Blogger site will not allow me to access my old blog The Goat Barn I have decided to take that as a clue that with beginning a new life I need to have a new blog.

On my blog you will see photos of the "place". A lovely home on almost 6 acres with a barn, fencing and cross fencing that if all comes together (and I do believe it will) is to be our home. It is located in Palo Cedro , California. A sweet little town in Shasta county about 10 miles plus south east of Redding.

Our dear friends Dallas and Donna along with two of their grandchildren went along with Geoffrey and our realtor Russ on Wednesday August 12th to look at a laundry list of potential properties. They looked at the first 6 and Bradley , Donna's grandson, kept telling Geoffrey "nope not the one." Then they got to Palo Cedro (which means cedar wood) on Coloma Dr. (which means beautiful) and Brad came up to Geoffrey when they were looking at the barn , yanked on his shirt and said "this is the place."

Well Geoffrey agreed and plotted out an offer with Russ on the way back to Donna and Dallas' home. We all know this is the place, even the folks selling , were delighted with the possibility of us moving in. They are on their way to Arkansas with their llamas and sheep.

When Geoffrey went over for the home inspection/termite inspection on Wed. the 19th we stepped on the front porch/deck area and I realized on the trip home the feeling I got was one of someone warm and loving wrapping their arms around me saying "Welcome home, I have been waiting for you. What took you so long?"

It is such a gentle,peacefilled property. The home is beautiful and has been well loved by Michael and Marilyn during their stay. Now the count down is on for the folks who have made an offer on ours get their business in order so we can all go to our homes. They too are wonderful folks who will bring two young girls with them. This house we live in has needed children since we moved in and before.

If all goes as prayed for we will be leaving here in late Oct. or early Nov. The last three years have been an amazing journey and such a palate for learning. Geoffrey and I are stronger together then the day we were married 38 years ago. I have learned patience, contentment and grown spiritually in huge bounds. I look forward to more growth, a new beginning and a life that will not be perfect but bountiful!