Just For Fun

Yesterday was one pretty nice day in the Okla. Panhandle!  A little breezy, but a t-shirt was enough to keep you at a comfortable temperature.
    We as a family, Dad, Mom, Big J., Little J., and I, went out riding--not to move any cattle or brand or any work for that matter, we just rode for the fun of it.  We have this 'old' filly, Baby, which was 'sort of' broke a few years back, but we hadn't ridden her since.  So Big J. and Dad saddled her.  Big J. rode her while Dad led them off of Hudson, Dad's horse.  Mom rode Lucky, our great 23 year old gelding.  Little J. rode her horse Trace, and I rode my horse Paradise.  After loading our goats in the trailer, we headed west in to the now setting sun. 
    Every horse did great, even Baby.  Dad knew she would do good.  We rode 3/4 mile west and stopped.  My horse was going slowly so Big J. dismounted and held Baby, while Dad led Paradise and me at a trot.  We went through our river bed, now sand and dead grass, and through our grove of tamaracks.  Then we loped a little on the flat land with little grass and lot of sand.  After that , Paradise was a little more energetic.
    We headed back knowing that we still had baths to take and go to bed.  The ride to the pens was fun.
    At the pens, we tied the horses and played in some sand/dirt piles.  If you would have been watching, it would have been obvious that we watch westerns... almost daily...  Thankfully, Dad's horse is pretty tame, so we 3 kids were all over her.  Anywhere from laying on our bellies over the saddle, swinging on to her, falling off of her, jumping on and off.  I have got to say, ranch live is great!
    Yes, we did finally go home, all of us kids in the back of the pick up, letting the wind tangle our braided hair, except for Big J. of course.  On the way home, I couldn't help but notice the grass in the pastures.  They seemed to glow with yellow from the sun.  The sky added a beautiful touch of blue to the yellow.  And white smudges were here and there in the sky.  It was like a painting.  It was a painting!  God's painting.  Beautiful!
    We rode the horses bare back down to their home and returned to the house.  The day was close to ending.  It was a great day!
    May you have a great day.  Bye from the ranch!  : )