Hi, Durango here....

Oooh "sigh"  I am one lonely horse right now.

So, you all know my girl and I had a really good winter down here in the desert.
That's why I've been so bad about updating you all here on our blog.
We'v been very busy doing fun trail rides, seeing lots of palm trees,  canyons, creeks, and doing some really hard climbing.  Its been fun!  My girl was here almost every other day.

 But when she rode me that last time, she stood with me for a long, long time, petting me and whispering quiet things in my ear.
The last time she did that, I didn't see her for a whole two weeks!  And, sure enough..... she hasn't been back....  "sniff" "sniff"


Some people might think that horses don't understand what "their person" is saying, but we do.  I knew she was telling me that we won't see each other for a while.....

I trust her not to leave me... :-(

But.... then.... I start to think...."Maybe she's upset with me because of those couple times I've spun around when she was riding me?"  She didn't seem too happy about that.  :-(
But, I only did that cuz I was scared!   

Do you think she would leave me here?

There's this other lady "Long haired Blondy" who has been taking care of me and riding me.....She's real nice and I feel safe when we are out riding, but..... I just can't help wondering, whats going on?  Where'd my girl go???  And why are there so many damn flies biting me???


I heard a rumor that "That Lady with the Red Hair" fell out of her trailer, on the same day she was riding ME and broke her leg. Oooh, I feel so bad that she's hurt, but I am glad she didn't fall off me, that would have really been bad.
And then I heard that's why "My Girl" isn't hauling me home with her.  Ya know?  I think she's gonna have that Bossman guy drive me home....at least, that's what I heard "Long Haired Blondy" saying one day.

Well,  I'm just going to try and be strong, I have to know "My girl" is somewhere missing me.....

and that,  we will be back together soon....I hope.  I miss her too.

Durango





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Hay all!  Well, my girl and I have been SO busy here in the desert that I haven't been over here to blog very much.

She told me I'd better get caught up with that cuz she's counting on me to help her out.

When I first got down here, I was freaked out by all the machines that hang out and run around this stables!  OMG they have a lot!  Tractors, old noisy trucks, diesel trucks, bobcats that they level the stalls with and if THATS not enough, Theres a farrier who does this welding, sparking thing that just scares me!  

Anyway, I AM getting used to all these things and my girl says I'm being a real good boy.  I have gone up and down some really steep and scary trails, but I'm ok with that. Its when those bicycles and hikers all come around the corners at a high rate of speed I USED to get upset.  Well now, you cousins would be proud to know that I'm now comfortable with those.  (Well, not if they come at me high speed but....) I actually stop and say hi to them now and I'm confident they aren't going to EAT ME!

My girl gives me the heads up when they are coming, she says "People People" and I know to expect them soon.  

We (my girl and I) seem to be getting much closer this season,  She's actually taken more charge and is MAKING me do things.  But, one time when I was "getting prancy trying to get back in to the watering trough before those other horses got there," she was getting real mad at me....Well, then WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, that red haired lady got on me and SPURRED me, then made me go back out and walk AWAY from the watering trough until I settled down and would come back in real nice and calm.  Hmph!... that red head,  She busts my balls every time.
But, since that day, I have given my girl several days of nice rides, no acting up.

So today, we went out riding and my girl was doing something, but I didn't know WHAT THE HECK she was doing with making me nudge up close into these bushes and stand still while she put colored ribbon (using SCISSORS mind you!) around these branches.  One of them had pokies on it and hurt my nose.  But I think we did a good job, and she said "we won't be getting lost in those hills for sure!"

My girl told me that she and hubby bought a winter home down here!  So I guess that means I will be a desert horse snowbird from now on.  She's pretty excited about it, that's all she talks about lately.  "This couch, that bed, those pillows, that hot tub, this COOL chandelier she found and those paint colors.  But it seems to be making her real happy,  however, unless she's decorating my stall its not very exciting to me.

Life is good, the weather could be a bit warmer (especially at night) but I know its better than whats going on at my old home in Washington!  Its COLD there!

I just wanted to check in and let you all know we are doing good!  I'm adjusting well and "my girl" and I are becoming quite the team!  I'm so glad she's here with me.

I'll try and keep up on my blogging better, but you know how it is when you're having fun!

Love you all,

Durango

Hey there, I'm just checking in with all of you to see if you had a good Christmas?  As you know, I'm STILL waiting for my girl to get back, and that is getting close!  ONLY 5 more days till she gets here!

But, She did share some tidbits of what SHE'S been up to while we'v been apart.  Let me share a little with you ok?

Well, She has begun a new way of eating called Gluten Free.  She was told several time by her RA physician that it may help the pain in her hands.  I hope it does, that means she'll be able to ride me much longer!  This is a picture of an appetizer she made out of a GF pizza crust.  She said everyone loved it!

Then "My girls" sister and family came over to her house to celebrate their birthdays.  She brought this HUGE bottle of wine!  Wow, it took my girls family about 6 days to finish this one off!

And THIS is the reason my girl and her hubby (my dad) had to fly home.  His mom is 85 and not doing very well.  They had to put her in an Altzhiemers / Dimensia home.  My dad spends almost all day there with her, making sure she's ok, adapting to the new environment and making sure she eats.

 My girl says its really a nice place as far as those places go.....I don't think they are very happy she had to go there, but it got to where they just couldn't do everything for her.

So, this place went all out to decorate for Christmas.  My girl even plays the piano there once in a while.
Here is a few pictures of the place.  It has a "Town Square" where everyone can walk to, and hear music, play games or just socialize.  There is a coffee shop there too!

So, they had a nice Christmas tree.....

Painted Ice skates hanging.....

This is a picture of the "Town Square"   Its always set up like this for people to gather and visit.

That is the Coffee shop in there......

They had the tables all decorated.....

And this is just some of the GF things "My girl" made over the holidays for her family.  These were a hit, no one even knew the crusts were GF.

 She made homemade stuffing that was GF too.

She made her own cornbread, dried it out in a oven @ 250 degrees, then broiled for a couple mins. to crisp up.

She just used the regular cornbread recipe and change it up with GF flours.

She's also started cooking with GF Coconut Oil in place of Veg. oil.....

Now, heres my "other girl" who rides me occasionally too, her name is Brooklyn.
She made some Christmas cookies and decorated them for everyone.  These weren't GF, but they were good!

Then "My girl" made a ham for everyone to go with the Turkey!  Yum...

Here is how happy everyone was after eating all that wonderful food!  This is "My girls" son and his wife.

This is "My girls" daughter Jamie and her "Boyfriend" Mike.

This was a good holiday for "My girl" and her family.  She got to spend lots of good time with her grandkids and 

now she's getting ready to come back and see me!!

5 days and counting, and she will be back in my saddle again!

Whoo hoo!  I got to see my girl!

She  took a trip to Vegas to see something called 

"Cowboy Christmas?"

Well, after that, she drove back to the desert JUST TO SEE ME!

I was so happy when she came walking up to me.....

I made some funny nickers and that seems to make her laugh.

She spent some time just grooming me, and whispering those nice things to me.  Then she tacked me up and we went for a ride!  It was so nice to see her.  

 She told me she will be back FOR GOOD in just a couple weeks.  In the meantime, she shared some highlights of Cowboy Christmas.

This is her first pair of chinks.  They are Italian leather (I think she's kinda partial to Italians....)

And here are the very nice boots she picked up.  She said its a must for her to have some good riding equipment, but I think an old pair of jeans, sweatshirt and her old, dirty barn boots work just fine.
 I'm not complaining tho, cuz she got ME a new saddle blanket and pad to make me more comfortable.
I wish I had a picture of them, but they are locked up in the tack room and I can't get to them to show you.

I kinda like it when my girl looks good on me.


While she was in Vegas,
She also got to go to a really unique party.  There were Crown Royal girls pouring what else?

There was a Patron Tequila Bar made entirely out of ice!

There was a very cool sushi table with none other than a LIVE MERMAID!

Then there was a biker themed room, where half clad guys and girls would polish your boots.

Heres one for the ladies.

And get this!  In the pool they had a "Biker Horse"  mounted.  He was very cool.

And by the time the party was over, The  "lady with the red hair"  was wearing a funny lookin
breast collar.  Hmmmm  Those humans, always trying to be like us horses.  I think she had a great time, wouldn't you say??

I'm glad my girl was able to come and visit me, even if it was just one day. 

I know we'll have lots of fun when she gets back.

And thanks to Kimberly for stopping by to say hello!  I get pretty bored just standing in my stall, waiting for my girl.  This blogging breaks up my day.

Hello, My name is Durango. 

 I'm pretty new to this "blogging stuff" but my girl (yeah, thats right, I now have "my girl.)  has asked me to take over her blog as she is just too busy what with taking wonderful care of me AND helping   caring for her MIL (who's 85) AND spending time with her grandlittles too.

I don't mind, really....I hear thats what a true partnership is all about.  And I really DO want this to be my home,...I think.

 I've only been with my girl for about a year now.  She's starting to grow on me, but boy when she started out with me....good grief, let me just say.....I didn't think she'd EVER get a clue about how to handle me.  I can remember standing in the barn aisle way for over an hour while she just groomed and tacked me up!  Didn't think we'd ever get to the ridin part....

I have managed to "try" and boss her around a little tho, ha! I know she startles pretty easily if I jump quickly like something scared me....
She whispers nice soothing things to me, and she has a gentle hand with me....
She tells me we are together forever, and I've got to be honest,  that sounds real nice, but, I've never really had that, so Im not sure what that really means.  I know she wants me to trust her, and I'm tryin, but damn, I feel like she's just not able to keep scary things from eating me!!!

I just never know when I'm gonna have to go to a new home.  And the last cowboy who had me, wasn't all that nice (or smart) but,  I don't think he liked me too much.  I heard my girl saying the other day she thought it was because I couldn't gait very nicely.  But dang! all we ever did was trot,  no one showed me how to GAIT!
 Until my girl came along, and SHE worked with me till I now have "a gait like butter..."  Least thats what SHE said....

Lately, she's began gettin kinda bossy with me, and I thought "Girly, you are lucky you feed me so good or I'd show ya whose boss."
Over time tho, I've kinda learned to like her.  She's pretty funny when she falls off, speaks a language I've never heard before....

But, one time, I seen her out talkin to that "trainer girl" and I think they've ganged up to make me do what she says, hmmm....not sure bout that.  I'll keep ya posted.

So, this girl of mine, she hangs out with several different people, who also have "partners for life."

One, is this lady "with the red hair."  SHE kinda scares me sometimes....Don't know what it is, but she has some sharp thingies on her heels,  that she jabs into me if I even think about acting up.  She also has two partners of her own, named Jesse and Lady who I really like.  We'v gone on several rides together, and....I think we will be friends.
Another is this pretty blonde lady, well she WAS blond, then next time I saw her, her hair was dark, hmmm but still she's real gentle.  And HER partner is named King.  He's a good guy and I'm not sure he likes me around Lady too much, but he has been nice to me.  I think we'll be buds too.
The other girls she hangs out with have nice "partners" too.  We'v gotten to ride together quite a few times, and I think they are all gonna make great buddies.  They seem to know what they are doing and I  kinda like following them.

So, my girl and "the lady with the red hair" took me for a loooong ride here recently, I was worried that she was taking me to another home, but I was glad to have Lady with me.  When we FINALLY arrived we were in a really warm place!  My girl said this was called the desert.  And there were SOOO many horses around.  I was glad to see my girl was still here with me.  And they also have ALOT of scary equipment around this place too....I'm not crazy about that.  After we got settled here, we took a few rides, and then my boots got ruined.

 I was climbing up a steep, rocky trail when my boot came off.  It kinda scared me, but the "lady with the red hair" and my girl helped me fix it till we got back.  Then my girl got me a new pair of shoes and these seem to work better pretty good down here.

About a week ago, my girl told me she was gonna have to leave for a while.  Something about her MIL being sick.  She promised she'd be back, but I'm getting kinda worried cuz its been a long time! But that "lady with the red hair" has been spending some time with me, and she even took me out on a long ride which was real fun, I got to lead!

Oh, and there is this Cowboy down here who has been kinda nice to me too....He comes and feeds me my supplements every day.  He's kinda gruff sometimes if I crowd him, but he likes me I can tell, cuz he came and took me out for a long walk one day.  I didn't even have to have anyone on my back, just got to run along side him and his horse.  It was fun!

Well, thats all I have to tell you for now, I will be updating you on my adventures here in the desert. And when my girl back I will let you know.... I sure hope she gets back soon,....I miss her.

Nice to meet you all, and I hope you check back in with me, my girl says there are alot of nice people on here.

Durango and I took our first "alone" ride the other day in some trails behind our fairgrounds.

My hubby came, brought his bicycle to ride "next to, around and behind" him, just to desensitize him a bit.

He was good with "most" of it, but he didn't like it when we separated from him and went off on our own.  Ooooh!  He was so nervous, looking back trying to find that scary bike man!

Then my hubby stood on top of a hill whistling,  overlooking the woods we were in and Durango headed right for him when he heard him.....Here we are just coming up out of the trail.

Barn and Tack Sale today

Went to a barn/tack sale today, and I found a fly mask for Durango. I'm not sure he's thrilled with it. He looked at me as if to say...."Mom, the other horses are gonna make fun of me."

It was even a tad big on him. But, for $5, and brand new, I figure it can work as a second if needed.

I may have to cut out those ear nets, just to save him some dignity.

GLUTEN FREE? What's that?

Lately, I've heard of so many people who are finding out they are allergic to Wheat, or have asthma, or Rheumatoid Arthritis and the list goes on.

I for one have been diagnosed with RA and am shocked at how much and fast it attacks.

I also LOVE to cook and bake and am always looking for new recipes. On one of my searches I came across this blog, and I just have to share it with you because her recipes are AMAZING looking and having been to culinary school, I've become familiar with most of these flour and sweeteners that she substitutes, so please don't let their scientific names scare you. You can get all of these at the supermarket now. (Occasionally might need to visit a health food store). But if you have been told by your doctor that you would/might benefit from a gluten free diet, THIS is the place you want to be to get good information and recipes!

I hope this site helps you too!

http://glutenfreegirl.com/recipes/

WEEKEND IN PORTLAND!

Cowgirljlynn and I went down to spend a wonderful weekend in PDX.

Desert Rose is such a great hostess! And, we just love her home.

We were lucky to have nice, hot weather and we got our share of sun.

We rode at two different places. One called Hardy Creek (outside of Mololla Ore.) it has awesome trails, mostly in the shade so we weren't to uncomfortable.

During this ride, my boy Durango SPOOKED at a ROCK....really? A rock? We worked him around it, he snorted and tried to go in the other direction etc....but when he saw

Lady walk up to it and sniff it, he decided that maybe it won't eat him after all!

He'd better get over THAT, cuz there are rocks the size of cottages in the

desert!!!

There was this beautiful river for us to water the horses...but Durango REALLY got into it! Splashing, shaking etc.

Goof ball....

And here, he looks like he's fishing! I'm looking forward to getting him to Yuma this season, to see if he would SWIM in the river. Something tells me he's gonna like it!

Cousin J was so happy with her King. For a 27 year old horse, he proved he's still got it! We did some gaiting all together, WHAT FUN!

King was in the lead, DR and Lady next, and then we were in the back.

We did good, but my boy just didn't want to stop once we started!

And, here is cousin DR wading with her Lady

This wonderful hostess made sure we had nice lunches packed each day, our "cowgirl courage", and when we came in all hot, sweaty and tired, we had a nice hot shower with delivered Thai food (Yummy!) and a drink waiting for us.

We sat around in the evenings in our jammies and just chatted. Which was all we had energy for.

It was a great weekend! Thank you Desert Rose.

Weekend at Painted Creek Farms

I had a wonderful invite to go up and spend the weekend with my cousin Jenny "Adventures of Painted Creek Farms" this last weekend.

She has GREAT trails to ride on very close to her house. We trailered just a few miles up the road.

This picture (left) is taken right after I arrived, and she came to pick me and "all my stuff" up.

Pretty fancy cab service, wouldn't you say?

I was looking forward to this because she's done so much work around her place this year, and I LOVE to see remodels. She has remodeled her home and it really turned out beautiful. Everything was done very high end. Her grounds, landscaping and the set up she has for her horses is just what I would want (if I had property to keep my horse at). I love it when you can stand in the kitchen, sipping your coffee and watch your horses....

I've got videos here, but as you all KNOW I can't seem to upload them to my blog these days, so I figured out another way you can see them.

Click on this link (highlight it), then click open in new window to see these videos!

http://youtu.be/USRKVMVdQtA

I had not met her new little Mustang (Chance) yet. I was really looking forward to this. But I wasn't prepared to see her fall "HEAD OVER HEELS" for my boy when we came walking in.

She Whinnied....then, followed him up to his paddock (right next to hers) and she WOULDN'T leave his side! Cousin put her food down in her corner of the field and she wouldn't even leave Durango to go eat! She stood there watching him eat. And all weekend, she stayed right by his side. As a matter of fact, they both never left that corner. When I got up in the morning, I looked up there and they were both sleeping, right next to each other in the same corner... "sigh"

When I arrived, Cousin told me to pull into the (nicely mowed) field next to their house. Said I'd have more room to turn trailer around....In I went, and DOWN I went. I felt so bad, having just arrived and got stuck, and left big ruts in their grass!

Here is an example of the ruts I left in her side yard! Ugh...I felt so bad, but she TOLD me to pull into that area, they just didn't realize it was so soft there.

So, her DOH came to my rescue and hooked onto the front of my truck and gently pulled me to higher, firmer ground.

Ugh....I wonder how long THATS gonna take to grow back!? I could just hear her DH thinking...."Dang relatives."

After I was settled and had all my "tack" put in place, we loaded up and went for a ride. We did a good 3 hours I think.

Here is Cousin on her "very well behaved, Brandy."

Aren't they cute?

Ride videos:

Click on this link: http://youtu.be/2DyIha8CI48

And, here is another one. Click on this link: http://youtu.be/eTXhVE5KCAg

So, after our first day of riding, cousin took me to the wonderful casino just down from her house! We enjoyed ourselves for HOURS! She told me she NEVER wins, so after a few Q and A about how she plays them, I shared a few tips and off we went!

Cousin had a LUCKY night, she played on her money that DOH gave her (we call that FREE MONEY) and she won $70.00 on top of it! We had such a good time, that we lost all track of time, and when the staff began vacuuming around us, we realized maybe we should think about leaving! ha! Paint girl couldn't believe she played for hours and still came out ahead! I think I've created a monster!

This is us at the casino, we just HAD to send this pic. to cousin "Desert Rose" (my casino buddy in the desert) to let her know what we'd been up to!

And, they gave me a free coffee mug when I signed up for my playing card.

This made me happy as I figured it would be the ONLY winnings I'd have....

But, as it turns out, I came about even, and that's good with me, I played for hours!

Thanks for sharing this weekend with us!

And thank you cousin for a wonderful time!

Hugs!