November 25

The boys and I enjoyed another beautiful fall day here in McCall. Though it was cold out, the sun was shining and felt great. The two year old is getting more trusting and enjoying the attention of "barn" life, while her roomate, Marquis is starting to act like an adult! I had to venture to the neigbors sand ring since the horses were slipping on the pretty frozen turf in the field.

Just over a week ago I traveled to Plymouth, Massacusetts to take my USEA Instructor Certification for level III. I was super nervous since I do not work with anyone at the two star level often (and that is who I had to teach!) Once I spent a day watching the exam, I felt a little better. The exaiminers were not asking crazy questians of the canidants and the autmosphere was calm. The hosts did a wonderful job of getting appropriate and enthusiastic volunteers to work with and the facility was ideal. The weather barley held with cold winds and threatening clouds. I am still waiting for my final grade on the written exam. They did let me know before I left that I had taught well above the standard for level three and gave me such kind and educational advice I can only be grateful I went through the process.

Now that we are all home (Josh arrived last night!) we are excited about the Thanksgiving holiday coming along with a new set of horses, people and adventures! Our dear friends, Ashley and Lindsay Wagner are coming up from Utah to spend a few days riding, eating, soaking and general fun. I will meet them in Boise tomorrow morning to look at a group of horses. Some may be a project for one or all of us, some are for clients, and some we are looking at purely out of curiosity. The rest of our visit includes great food, and a trip south east of here to a cabin we reserved. We plan on spending the night in the wilderness there to hit several natural hot springs near the cabin!

I wish you the best Thanksgiving and let me know if you need anything in Boise tomorrow.
I will keep you posted on what we find!

November 22

I am off to Boise this cold November morning for a fun day of teaching and hopefully a ride or two (just to stay warm!) The weather is exactly as November should be; with some snow a few days ago and bright sun to follow. The landscape is always changing this time of year with white outs one day, then the heat of the sun making the grass, leaves and trees all shine the next.

Michelle is now a licensed driver (watch out) and will get herself to the barn today to work some.

The barn is all anew with the two Fresians, (who should probably come separately due to their attention on each other!) a seasoned event horse in limbo and Michelle's dynamite horse enjoying the easy season. I have quite a few to look at in the next week that may fill the barn until our southern migration; more to come on that subject!
I'm off for my canyon drive and reunion with horses and riders in Boise!

Perfect fall day

What a great day to be home! The sun shone brightly all day with temps in the 50's! I had a great day trying to get caught up after it seems like I have been gone forever! I missed the boys (Shilo, Tucker and Thomas) a ton! We spent some good quality time in the house trying to rid it of some of the dirt that collects if we are here or not and went to the doctor (got a flu shot and pneumonia shot!)

I am thrilled to have Marque and Tren back in the barn. I am looking forward to a good gallop on Marque tomorrow. I am always amazed when the Fresians come in; they are so sensible and pleasant, yet they find the canter so hard (or at least this one does.)



Michelle is taking her written test for her license tomorrow and I can't wait for her to be able to drive us all!

Leaving Vermont

I have just come out of the hunting camp my husbands family has used for generations in the back woods of Northern Vermont. It fills with up to four generations of the Davis clan, along with friends and neighbors several times a year. It has been 6 years since I had ventured off the paved roads here in the "Northeast Kingdom" and little has changed.
The "camp" is a medium size cabin with 2 wood stoves, propane and generator for the camp extras. The upstairs is a large room with beds and mounts lining the walls. The table seats up to 20 pretty easy, and it always seems to fill. Gossip and politics heat up the rooms every night along with stories of past hunts, childhood adventures and tall tales. Everyone is welcome in "the stream" therefor women, children, mighty hunters and vegetarians have been known to sit together.
The land where the camp is located has been managed by the matriarch of the family, Jack, for most of his life, and his father's before him. The woods are pristine in a world surrounded by less loved and preserved forests. This past weekend the table was split between 3 generations; some having been coming to Paul's Stream for more than 50 years!
I am leaving the Kingdom tonight with new memories and respect for the traditions of others. Josh will stay in and hunt another week with friends and family cherishing the time and land of his roots.