Littlest Cowgirl

Looks like a happy girl huh? The little girl in pink chaps too! This is the new pink chinks debut horseback. I bought them this last summer, and she hasn't had much call for them til now. But what they are good for, is rain slides off them quick, rather than soaking into your jeans. Not to mention that PINK and PURPLE is just a good thing on the trail anyway. What girl doesn't agree?

Here is where I have to point out that this is NOT her saddle. So, not only did I nearly forget it, I went back and grabbed the wrong one. We bought 2 that are nearly identical. This one is is mostly Al's, and has longer stirrup leathers…. and while Jilly can ride it for the most part, it isn't "hers" and for long days, up steep hills and down, some quick movements that might happen, it's nice to have a saddle that you consider yours. This Grandma was sorry to have somehow grabbed the wrong one. One other thing that "we" (Jilly and I) forgot, was Jilly's spurs. Marshmallow really LIKES to take it easy, and sometimes little legs just need a bit of help. For this trip, Marshmallow had an iron deficiency. Jilly had to work for everything they got done, but she was up to the challenge.

Jilly found this dog way out in the literal middle of Timbuktoooooo. Obviously, it's a Great Pyrenees. We never went by any sheep, but there are known to be some out there, and the sheep herder has this type of dog. We found out later that someone gave this dog to the Sheep herder, but the dog wasn't raised to be a guard for the Lamb, so he wandered. Naturally, he latched on to Jilly. And Jilly latched on to him. He wasn't as big as some I've seen, and lacking much facial expression. When she and I first came upon him, I walked my horse up to him first, to make sure He "got me first" and gave Jilly a chance to run. Heheheheh He didn't look aggressive at all, but not partically friendly. Just kind of like he looks right here. This photo I took shortly after we came upon him. I tried to 'shoo' him away, only to hear Jilly prattling away to him. She called him "Flake" Any guess why?

This is a reminder to Grandma that this is not her saddle. Every now and then, she had to hang off the side of the saddle to make it settle back in the middle. Obviously, someone rides a bit to one side, or something, but I thought it was cute to see her hanging like a Monkey off the side of her saddle.

This is one of our Pups, Penny …. getting ready to tell a sour cow "What For"

Penny has a Flake for a helper today. She's far too busy to pay much attention

This Cow thought she could bully Penny, but Penny showed her that size doesn't count for much, when you're determined. She is in her own kind of Heaven, when she gets to work a cow.

She LOVES being able to turn a cow around. It's make anyone feel powerful.

Talk about Powerful. How do you suppose a 7 year old girl feels when she rides along a ledge like this, and can look back where she just rode, and known she kind of has the world in front of her. Looks to me like she can conquer just about anything. I'll make sure she keeps that feeling as best I can. I wish every kid in the world could see a sight like this, from the back of a horse, and know "I did that"

She was up a hill in front of me, and when I looked up and saw this sight….I pulled my camera out again. The sun was hitting my Golden Children just as it appears in this photo. The skies were getting ready to let loose, but the sun hadn't give up the battle yet. I keep my camera in my coat, with the strap hanging around my neck. It's not always easy taking care of it, and sometimes I think I"m stupid for packing it around with me, but this shot reminds me why I take it.

She is riding along sooo comfortably here. hunkered down into her coat, arms down by her side….. reins hanging loose on a content horse. Yep, this is life at it's Golden Moment.

This is what life is about.

Jessie