Memory Lane

It's all water under the bridge now, but I'm tired of winter and playing with Picasa so here is a good thing to blog about that I just didn't have time to do in the fall!

Here is the water under the bridge.  

It was September.  I'd just started my new job as Office Manager of Dupont's Service Center in Dover NH just a few weeks earlier.  The fall brought huge changes to our family all around.  A previously homeschooled boy going to school full time.  A new grandbaby on the way and due soon, a new job for me, a new job for our middle son who's still on his gap-year adventure and an internship for our oldest, college son.  I think John was the only one who didn't make his own personal changes although all of these affected him, I'm sure.

With all of this going on I still wanted very much to take the vacation I'd booked back in January.  So I drove up to Memory Lane in Andover, ME on Friday after working a little in the morning (to get payroll accomplished.)  I grabbed the horse and too much gear and off we went.  It rained most of the day that I traveled.  It was cold and overcast and very dreary.  But in Maine I got the horse settled into one of their stalls and schlepped my stuff into the studio to find that a few quiet minutes to myself were almost helped by the inclement weather.  I pulled out some knitting and began to unwind.  I had lots of unwinding ahead!

There were 5 of us sharing this weekend together and I was horrible at taking photos.  Not a one of the hot tub.  Not a photo of the horses in their paddocks or stalls.  Not even a photo of 2 of the ladies who were there!  

Shame.  But I did take some photos so here is what I've got.  On Saturday we woke up to rain and spent a bit of time eating breakfast and looking at the weather reports from various sources.  We agreed that the rain would end mid-morning and we'd have time to ride out to a waterfall for lunch.  It was a bit of a muddy ride in spots due to the recent rain but otherwise we were dry for our ride.  The waterfall was spectacular and I was lucky enough to leave my horse in the care of others so I could explore it.  Then we ate lunch while the horses found suitable leaves to munch on.  A friend had come along with her car to meet us at the lunch spot and took photos as we were getting ready to head back.  Thanks for the photo!  

 This farm really intrigued me.  As we approached it was obvious that someone put some time and money into the grass and the fencing.  At first I didn't know what they were raising in there.  Could it be horses?

Nope.  No horses.  I'm thinking they are raising rocks.

This is the daddy rock....

Oh, there they are, it's cattle!!  The farm had some huge barns and a brand new looking windmill to boot.  Quite a farm.

On the way back from the waterfall that day King decided that he was no longer a pleasure horse and we should get a move on.  Fortunately we enjoy riding alone, and fast.  I had some precious unwinding during that part of the ride.  As quick as we went we did stop and eat the apples....

On Sunday we needed to sneak in another ride before leaving.  This time we took different trails and rode out crossing the Ellis River and riding some really lovely and flat trails which were sandy.  Just beautiful.  We decided to turn back after getting a drink in the river out at this crossing.  I couldn't believe the difference a day made.  We rode over this river at this spot the day before on a paved road's bridge as this river was at least 2 feet higher, solid brown and raging from the rains on Thursday and Friday.  By Sunday morning it was as tame as could be, crystal clear and lovely.

Memory Lane certainly was full of good memories.  Hot tub after riding.  A crock pot meal waiting for us and beer for some (wine for me).  The laughing and ride stories and sharing our passion of horses.  Priceless.