This past weekend, I completed another trip around the sun (a poetic way of saying that I had a birthday).
As I’ve been prone to do in recent years, I’ve decided to stretch out the birthday celebrations as long as possible.
Last week, my dear friend, Janet, treated me to lunch at our local bakery. Although we email each other nightly, it’s always fun to catch up in person. (I need to remember to get a picture with her next time.)
Saturday evening, Motor Man and I had dinner with our friends, Bev and Bill. Bev and I met when she was 15, just a few years ago. Her birthday is the day before mine, so we’ve been celebrating together for many years.
Sunday morning (my actual birthday), Marshall joined us for breakfast at a local diner; that’s become a tradition, too.
After our breakfast, Motor Man surprised me with a one day trip to Snowshoe (West Virginia) resort for a trail ride. You may recall that we’ve been there in the past for sleigh rides with the nice folks at Autumn Breeze Stables, and I went on a trail ride in the snow with them a few years ago. The weather on our trip there Sunday was certainly a combination: sun, mist, drizzle, fog….and repeat. But we had no issues and arrived in plenty of time for my ride.
My horse’s name was Lacey (which, by the way, is also Bev and Bill’s daughter’s name). My guide was a young lady named Rhea, who has a great personality and is a very competent horsewoman. She was riding Lacey’s brother, Shorty.
Motor Man took this as we were leaving…..in the fog.
Our ride took us to an overlook, where, on a clear day, you can see Virginia. But, alas, this was most certainly not a clear day. It was a nice place to let the horses rest, and for Rhea to get a some pics.
A few years ago, Motor Man and our friends, Bev and Bill, went for an amazing excursion up a mountain on the Cass Scenic Railroad. Cass is just a few miles from Snowshoe, and what a surprise during our trail Sunday ride to hear this:
The horses were definitely interested, as you can tell by Lacey’s ears, but they’ve probably heard it many times before. We were just a short distance (through the woods) from the train. Rhea said they may have been more concerned had they actually been able to SEE the train.
I’m always amazed at how sure-footed (for the most part) horses are. Our ride took us through a few areas of pretty rough terrain, but the horses did great. I had my cell phone in a lanyard and managed to get this video as we crossed a tiny creek.
Motor Man was waiting (camera in hand) as Rhea and I returned from our ride.
And Skip, who, along with his wife, Peggy, owns the stables, snapped this one. Lacey appears to be proud of herself for being a good girl on our ride.
I’m so thankful for family and friends who helped me celebrate. Oh, and one more celebration is planned for this week. S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out the fun.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 