tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-343132232012-01-30T20:32:26.538-07:00Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.comBlogger13281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-58390352090952330742012-01-28T19:09:00.002-07:002012-01-28T19:21:40.913-07:00

  Last weekend, while riding in San Lorenzo Canyon during the ARA Poker Ride, I noticed a beautiful peach-colored section of cliffs off in the distance.   When I got back home and posted these photos on our New Mexico trail riding group on FB, Dacodah, the trail boss of our ARA rides, left a comment that he calls that beautiful landmark: Spa Cliffs. Dacodah added that he does lead

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-34669456203112708212012-01-27T13:26:00.002-07:002012-01-27T13:28:20.887-07:00

 

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-52945510556489872122012-01-25T18:44:00.003-07:002012-01-25T18:49:50.733-07:00

  Back to the Poker Ride……. I must admit, that while my preferred trail ride is a nice slow rambling walk down a mostly flat or gently rolling trail, I am having a great time challenging myself on these more technical trails that I’ve been riding the past few weeks down in San Acacia. It’s been helpful for me in developing a better seat and good balance and I’m having lots of fun and

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-44313247534628362312012-01-24T03:29:00.006-07:002012-01-24T04:10:26.487-07:00

  On Saturday morning I drove west and down from the mountains into the Rio Grande Valley and then headed south towards San Acacia for another horse riding adventure with new and old friends at ARA. (This is my friend Beel. He always teases me about my flashy helmet covers and fun, but unusual riding attire. He calls me Bling Girl. Remember that most of the folks on these rides ride Western.

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-21008711848964719162012-01-22T14:33:00.002-07:002012-01-22T14:45:05.629-07:00

  I’m still going through all the photos I took, and getting some of the awesome photos off of FB that some of the other riders took during the ride and shared on FB. But suffice it to say that Saturday’s ride was my very best trail ride yet! Even though I wish I could have ridden Apache, our trailer is still mired in snow and mud at the top of our hill beside the barn, and Apache’s

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-55623575788832160312012-01-19T12:51:00.002-07:002012-01-19T13:00:23.916-07:00

    Catlinite, our 6 yr old gelding guard llama is our resident baby sitter. He takes his guard llama duties seriously and is a terrific protector, but he also cares for his little goaties and tolerates a lot of silliness, too. He breaks up head-butting battles and herds his goats back to the barn if he spies danger. And he allows them to curl up beside him on cold windy days. I don’t think he

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-528121374029620672012-01-18T15:35:00.002-07:002012-01-18T15:37:24.929-07:00

  (Note: There were no goats harmed…or eaten…in the making of this photo.)

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-54789728421668208392012-01-14T01:30:00.006-07:002012-01-22T14:46:06.295-07:00

  On Sunday Trish, Shelley and I awoke at the motel to cloudy skies and a chilly wind. We watched the weather report and it didn’t look good. Snow storms were expected all over New Mexico that day. (While we were watching the weather report, Shelley’s Fox Terrier was chewing on my Dobbie Girl. lol! Seriously, those two were having a blast playing in our motel room. They provided lots of silly

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-21267573252371764672012-01-11T21:43:00.003-07:002012-01-22T14:47:03.504-07:00

  (Grab some refreshments and visit the potty first. Lots of photos and stories in this post) On Saturday we had an even bigger group of riders and horses show up for the San Lorenzo Canyon Trail Ride.  But we wouldn’t all be riding together. There was an early group of about 20 riders who headed out at sunrise, a High Ridge group of about 40 riders that would travel along the top of the

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-20848962262288890902012-01-10T19:15:00.005-07:002012-01-22T14:48:13.036-07:00

    On Friday, I arrived at Acacia Riding Adventures (ARA) in San Acacia, NM, (ARA were the hosts and organizers of the Centennial Ride), about 1pm. San Acacia is just a little over an hour from my house in the Sandia Mountains and is as close to the geographic center of New Mexico that we could get, and still have full facilities, easy access, and a plethora of amazing trail riding

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-84520597483307587452012-01-10T01:54:00.003-07:002012-01-10T02:00:22.192-07:00

  Driving home from the Centennial Trail Ride Event on Sunday afternoon, I relished in the terrific memories of sunshine, blue skies and warmth all of us riders and horses enjoyed during the entire weekend. It was such a wonderful break away from our last month that was filled with snowstorm after snowstorm, blizzards, chilly temps, cloudy skies, and the 35+ days of hard-packed, icy, crusty snow

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-56818901330530930002012-01-05T14:58:00.003-07:002012-01-28T13:25:39.057-07:00

  On Friday January 6, 2012, my beloved Land of Enchantment is turning 100 years old! January 6, 1912 is the date New Mexico became the 47th state in the United States, signed into statehood by President William Howard Taft. But statehood didn’t come easy for New Mexico. It took more than half a century for New Mexico to achieve statehood. The U.S. government established the

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-22775287770250002622012-01-04T11:10:00.001-07:002012-01-04T11:20:41.494-07:00

  Did y’all watch the Tournament of Roses Parade the day after New Years Day? RFD-TV honored Roy Rogers with a spectacular 75’ float entitled “Happy Trails” in the 2012 Tournament of Roses® Parade. Roy’s faithful companions, Trigger “The Golden Palomino” and Bullet “The Wonder Dog” stood at the entrance of the float,(The faithful duo are the actual preserved remains and were not

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-6759757991032127912012-01-03T12:58:00.002-07:002012-01-03T13:03:28.994-07:00

  You may recall my recent post: "Get a Room, You Two!" where Luna, my 7 yr old Angora Goat doe was getting a lot of affection from my Nigerian Goat wether, Mud Pie. Apparently, around here, everyone loves sweet, little old Luna.        

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-27307548837166566052012-01-02T14:43:00.002-07:002012-01-02T14:53:00.131-07:00

  Ever since I was a child and read Dr. Doolittle I wanted my own Pushmi-Pullyu. I just knew they had to be real. They were so rare and unique and beautiful. So when I was older and watched the Dr. Doolittle movie and actually saw a real Pushmi-Pullyu, I vowed that I would one day make my dreams come true. “Pushmi-Pullyus are now extinct. That means, there aren't any more. But long ago,

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-54341202239861145982012-01-01T02:09:00.002-07:002012-01-01T02:34:56.886-07:00

  The first Sunday Stills Challenge for 2012 is to post our favorite photo of 2011 and share what our photography goals are for 2012. But first I just want to say that I’m grateful for my camera. My Canon PowerShot SX110 IS is now 3 years old and has served me well. Although it is always tempting to upgrade to a more expensive camera with more of this and more of that, I’m still pleased with

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-52282525758366906702011-12-30T22:27:00.002-07:002011-12-30T22:32:41.482-07:00

  Poor ravens and crows have become so desperate for food because it’s been 30 days since the brown earth has been visible here, that they are willing to scavenge on our fresh goat and llama poo. This is the first time I’ve ever seen them do this, but of course, we’ve not had snow that has stuck around for this long either.   New Mexico snow tends to melt after a few days, providing

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-68729902087993830562011-12-29T22:09:00.002-07:002011-12-29T22:19:51.055-07:00

  Just like many of you, I prefer to let my photography skills shine through my unedited photos. A person can buy the most expensive cameras and use the most expensive photo-editing software, but if they don’t know how to take photos correctly, then their photos will never look good straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) and they will have to spend hours editing them just to share them with anyone. This

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-74844853551176901302011-12-28T14:22:00.002-07:002011-12-28T14:29:24.038-07:00

  See the photo below? Keep an eye on my doe Angora goat, Luna and my wether Nigerian goat, Mud Pie, over on the right. Yesterday I happened to spy them through my bedroom window while they were up to no good. Also notice Latte, my doe Mini-Mancha goat heading up the hill away from Luna and Mud Pie. I think she was a little miffed……

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-55621495756818452062011-12-27T16:11:00.002-07:002011-12-27T16:16:52.051-07:00

  On Christmas Day my kidlets ran upstairs to tell me that one of our chickens was stuck in the snow. I thought to myself, “No big deal. I’m sure a chicken can get herself out of some snow by hopping, flapping, or something”. My kidlets said, “Hurry! She’s really stuck and can’t get out. She needs your help, Mama!” I went downstairs and immediately looked out the sliding glass doors in our

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-47765540755301966032011-12-26T22:21:00.002-07:002011-12-26T22:27:19.002-07:00

 

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-69984491782276204032011-12-23T15:55:00.004-07:002011-12-23T18:11:30.948-07:00

    ‘Twas two days before Christmas and outside of my house, the snow was falling as quietly as a mouse,  The chickens were tucked into their house with care,  In hopes that the morning would find them all alive in there. When out on the snow there arose such a clatter, I grabbed my camera to take photos that matter. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But five

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-78309201568390987652011-12-22T14:49:00.002-07:002011-12-22T15:22:16.334-07:00

                                                      To Snow… But we did manage to get two beautiful days without any white stuff falling from the sky. And then the snow started falling yet again. (Photo taken of our paddocks and barn, at noon on Thursday) (The lower paddock feeding/watering station is working out well and is very convenient for me) (Though I do feel bad

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-41393841805438295942011-12-20T23:24:00.002-07:002011-12-20T23:46:45.888-07:00

                               

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-58417956677542176352011-12-19T13:55:00.005-07:002011-12-19T15:38:48.889-07:00

  I’m sorry all you snow lovers, but it’s true. (photo of my side yard taken at 2pm today) I’m feeling a little bah humbug today because Sunday was such a huge high full of joy and happiness because of the Hearts for Horses event and my twinlings Boy Scouts Court of Honor Ceremony. And here at home I actually saw some brown earth peeking out from underneath the old snow that has refused to

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-19901678256265833312011-12-19T02:16:00.002-07:002011-12-19T02:43:53.549-07:00

  On Sunday afternoon I was invited to participate and volunteer with three very special, and dear-to-my-heart organizations: Hearts for Horses, Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network, and the New Mexico Mounted Search and Rescue (NMMSAR). My friend Matt of the NMMSAR contacted me on Friday night asking me if I wanted to come out and help out at the Hearts for Horses event being held on Sunday in

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-3731529842465184422011-12-17T21:50:00.002-07:002011-12-17T22:31:25.901-07:00

  This week’s Sunday Stills Challenge is to share photos of things that remind us of the holiday season. My family has a favorite and festive holiday tradition that we have done every December for the past 15 years. We started this tradition the same year that my twin sons were born here in New Mexico. This was also the same year that this holiday tradition called River of Lights, due to it’s

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-61363022147761295752011-12-16T16:58:00.002-07:002011-12-16T17:49:44.480-07:00

  About 3 years ago, I stumbled upon a website called Paddock Paradise when I was looking for a way to slow down my mare, Baby Doll’s speedy way of inhaling down her hay twice a day. I knew that it was healthier to allow horses to have access to hay 24/7 because they are grazers and browsers. I knew that horses could get ulcers and even colic when forced to eat meals like humans and wait 3-8

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-64824957632719479982011-12-15T17:02:00.003-07:002011-12-15T17:08:28.108-07:00

  Outside my Window. My horse Standing by the Barn. Hidden in the Mist. The Fog Surrounds Me. Making Me Feel All Alone. Ghostly Horse Appears. Snorting, Blowing Past. Fearing My Ghostly Image. Am I Friend or Foe? Fearful Not of Me. Only the Strange Dancing Dog. Just Mist and Mirrors.   Horse Wants to be Close. But I Don’t Want a Lap Horse. Horse Disappointment.

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-74161583637187636172011-12-13T15:32:00.003-07:002011-12-13T15:40:20.746-07:00

                                                           Camo Horse                    Apache, “Hi Mom. Got any treats for me?” Me, “Hey! Be careful Apache. You almost slid into me!”              Apache: “Mmmm! A carrot! Nom, Nom, Nom!”   Apache,“Thanks Mom. You wanna hang out with me?”                  Apache, “Not much to look at, huh?”                Me, “

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-16193367004507245372011-12-12T01:02:00.004-07:002011-12-12T08:47:51.423-07:00

  Most of my posts seem to be about all of our critters, with a few scattered here and there, of my 3 kidlets. I started this blog (and my original blog) over 5 years ago mostly for keeping a journal and for sharing updates with friends and family from out of state. I’m pretty sure the critter posts are not as well received by my Dad and Stepmom as are the posts that contain photos and updates

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-65302690553907526432011-12-10T23:45:00.002-07:002011-12-10T23:48:05.645-07:00

  On this third anniversary of Sunday Stills the challenge is to photograph Pets. (1)This first one is my sweet little canine soulmate, my Chiweenie dog, Dobbie Girl.   (2)And this is our newest family member, Mustang Sally, being loved on by my twin son, Jax. (3)While Dobbie Girl tends to be a one person dog, Mustang Sally is definitely a family dog and loves attention from

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-23671053032159600862011-12-10T12:23:00.002-07:002011-12-10T12:34:30.302-07:00

  It’s been a week since our first snow storm, and 5 days since the last snow storm dumped almost 2 feet of snow on us. And the snow just continues to stick around. (The snow has formed a very hard, crunchy crust and is challenging to walk on with chunks of snow feeling more like rocks and small boulders. Makes for painfully twisted ankles and knees. Dobbie is light enough that she can walk on

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-51358649806005044952011-12-07T21:52:00.006-07:002011-12-07T22:09:18.902-07:00

I can't get enough of watching the excitement on the WNFR in Las Vegas. I've got quite a few favorites I'm rooting for, too. I started cheering for Taos Muncy last week when I learned he was from New Mexico. And then I realized just how talented he is.Taos Muncy, from Corona, NM is fast on his way to winning his second World Championship in Bronc Riding. Whooohooo! Good stuff!

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-48984606133425706372011-12-07T11:57:00.003-07:002011-12-07T16:26:27.111-07:00

  I’ve been watching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on the Great American Country Channel (GAC) the past 5 days. Is anyone else watching, too? Did y’all see the gorgeous Palomino horse at the beginning of yesterday’s rodeo during the singing of the National Anthem? The horse was ridden by the rodeo queen and was carrying the American Flag. Wow! That horse’s flaxen mane was nearly touching

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-20891847395369642522011-12-06T12:24:00.002-07:002011-12-06T12:39:47.060-07:00

  What does an airplane and a horse have in common? A new saddle seat that was inspired by saddles used by cowboys. Yeehaw! Passengers may want to don their chaps, boots and cowboy hats to ride this pseudo-saddle on their flight. “Yippee Ty Yi Yo! Get along little doggies! Your misfortune is none of my own!” Named the 'Skyrider', the new seat design is attracting plenty of attention

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-37273388365159908942011-12-05T14:55:00.002-07:002011-12-05T16:00:40.356-07:00

  About 23 years ago before I moved to New Mexico and really knew nothing at all about this unique state, I used to work for the Airlines in Baltimore, Maryland, and often took quick weekend trips to different locales to relax, explore and sometimes to warm up during the cold, snowy, wet winters Maryland is known for. This is my favorite little private forest glen where I’m planning to put a

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-73345697974075594182011-12-05T00:56:00.002-07:002011-12-05T00:58:03.687-07:00

  Check out Macro Mondays!

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-28463164178414752302011-12-04T18:32:00.003-07:002011-12-04T23:52:15.914-07:00

  My day started on Saturday with lots of bundling up with layers of warm clothing as I headed out the door, with Zuni, our German Shepherd and Dobbie, my Chiweenie. I filled a water bottle with hot water for Apache’s warm breakfast mash. And we trudged up the hill, through the snow, to the barn, to feed and water the goats, llamas and horse. Mustang Sally is a fair weather Chihuahua and chose

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-72912739071638801842011-12-03T20:59:00.002-07:002011-12-03T21:01:47.778-07:00

    I’m back to participating in Sunday Stills after a few weeks off. This week’s Sunday Stills Challenge was to photograph a backlit subject. This is my mare Apache.    

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-31802914717491856552011-12-01T09:23:00.004-07:002011-12-01T09:31:43.018-07:00

  The Summer Chicks are now 24 weeks old and some big changes have been taking place. Some of the pullets have graduated to hen status because they are now laying eggs for us. But one of our Blue Wyandotte chickens confirmed our suspicions last week and began crowing. Yes, we are now positive that he’s a roo. But you really must listen to the horrible sounds that come out of his beak. It sounds

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-65145585919037430642011-11-30T14:08:00.002-07:002011-11-30T14:11:40.556-07:00

Aarene’s post today was very entertaining and I couldn’t stop laughing. And while it is focused on Endurance Riding…and what NOT to do, it could also pertain to just about any equine discipline. It is also filled with lots of Haiku Farm-isms that really should be included in mainstream equine terminology. lol!   You just gotta check it out: The Bad Idea Fairy  (Why is this photo included

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-25345168518529319092011-11-26T22:38:00.002-07:002011-11-26T22:55:51.222-07:00

  Well Mustang Sally has been with our family for a week now and it feels like she’s been here much longer. Sally has already integrated herself into our daily lives  and she’s a perfect addition to our family. She goes everywhere we go, and does everything we do, just like Dobbie Girl has been doing for the past 2 years since we adopted her, too. I think that Sally’s need to be included in

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-1339406493080567272011-11-24T12:57:00.004-07:002011-11-24T13:27:07.124-07:00

  Photos taken from my backyard using my Canon PowerShot SX110 IS.   Check out SkyWatch Fridays!

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-8160541146414067082011-11-23T22:32:00.003-07:002011-11-24T09:34:31.342-07:00

  Posting this a day Late….I saw this peculiar sight on the way home while driving through the canyon. It was parked across from Molly’s, the local Biker Bar.     Notice the license plate? They sure do make ‘em big in Texas!  This one would make a great desensitization prop, don't you think? Or maybe for an ACTHA CTC Obstacle. lol!

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-59044089056968364142011-11-22T11:29:00.004-07:002011-11-22T11:33:09.074-07:00

  If you liked my last post and video on the Caballos de Christmas Parade in Corrales, NM, you’ll especially like this one, created by Dan for the Corrales Horse and Mule People (CHAMP). Dan lives in Corrales with his wife Betty and their two horses, a Mountain Horse named Sugar and an Icelandic named Morgunn. Dan’s video has a beautiful musical soundtrack, unlike mine with lots of cackling (

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-20694796181531770142011-11-20T22:13:00.004-07:002011-11-22T11:30:41.669-07:00

    Another busy day today. Jax and Jem had a Boy Scout Service Project scheduled at Road Runner Food Bank in Albuquerque at 1pm and I had promised Jen that I would take her to the Caballos de Christmas Parade in Corrales that started at 1pm. Thankfully, one of the Boy Scout Parent Leaders offered to meet us at RoadRunner Food Bank at 12:15pm, so my twinlings could stay with her and I could

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-46478439357238067932011-11-19T22:29:00.003-07:002011-11-19T23:31:17.051-07:00

  I had a very busy day Saturday. It started off with watching the parking area of a local ACTHA CTC ride location fill up with horse trailers. I had hoped to be able to ride in this one, since I could not only ride my horse there in 5 minutes if it weren’t for the fences in the way, but I can also see the location from my bedroom window! See that green barn and all those horse trailers in

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-27791043871406389062011-11-17T12:57:00.002-07:002011-11-17T13:05:40.916-07:00

  This is a busy week for us around here. Although I do love to travel and go on road trips, when I’m home, I like to be physically home, if that makes any sense. But my driving talents are needed this week so my kids can attend all their classes, activities, time with friends, and events. I’m grateful that I get to be so involved in their lives and that they seem to like having me

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-87817481614186479052011-11-16T12:31:00.004-07:002011-11-16T13:38:05.089-07:00

  I rarely ever watch TV. Not many shows can lure me into staring at the television screen for an hour. If I want some light entertainment, showcasing a lifestyle very different from my own, I might watch Cake Boss, Say Yes to the Dress, 4 Weddings, Toddlers and Tiaras, or Hoarding-Buried Alive. For something with a little more substance and educational value, I can watch just about anything

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-66292809118491826912011-11-14T23:03:00.004-07:002011-11-14T23:25:40.236-07:00

  Since Val over at Fantastyk Voyage blog is still MIA without computer access, and I just did a blog post about Llama Drama, it just seems perfect-timing to do a post about alpacas. These photos (and video) were all taken over a week ago when I was hanging out inside the alpaca paddock over at Val’s barn. ~~~~~~~~~ Thelma: “Why does Louise get a cria, and I don’t?”   Thelma: “Hummm.

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-1094761004641583982011-11-13T21:56:00.002-07:002011-11-13T22:05:15.500-07:00

  Poor Apache. Having to accept goats and llamas as part of her herd. Apache wants everyone to know just a little of what she has to endure just to live with these weird looking, banana-eared camel creatures that everyone calls Llamas. It’s terrible, she says!       Apache: “See?! Here’s some nice grass Jen picked just for me, and who is being rude, reaching over the fence, to steal my

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-4979868607282813772011-11-12T12:09:00.007-07:002011-11-12T13:07:53.827-07:00

  We left off in my last post: The Adventure Continues, with our arrival at our House of Horrors Cabin within Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury, North Carolina. We thought we’d just unroll our sleeping bags and lay out our pillows, after a busy, long day and previous night, and just fall into blissful sleep. Nah. The Letterboxing Adventure was not over. The hosts of the next day’s event

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-14400308747436898012011-11-11T03:06:00.003-07:002011-11-11T03:15:02.965-07:00

  I was at the grocery store yesterday and something happened that both annoyed me and cracked me up all at the same time. This is a true story. And it involves Little Chickens. As I was walking past a deep freezer bin, I saw two children under 9 years old tossing around frozen packages of Cornish Game Hens. Their discombobulated Mother was preoccupied with selecting cheese for

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-8190146790538490432011-11-09T12:40:00.002-07:002011-11-09T12:52:47.421-07:00

  I was recently reading a blog post reminding people that horses are not dogs and how they would rather spend time with their horse herd than with us humans. The blogger went on to say that horses aren’t food motivated to be with humans because they can find food all on their own. The blogger also said that horses will always be indifferent to us, because that’s just the way they are. As I

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-47535703949850105552011-11-08T23:42:00.002-07:002011-11-08T23:46:06.772-07:00

             

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-44575837334216116312011-11-07T21:26:00.007-07:002011-11-08T01:08:18.612-07:00

  I’m finally getting around to completing my blog entries from our trip to North and South Carolina during Halloween Weekend. This post is a continuation of The Adventure Begins. And it is very very very very very very long. Grab refreshments first. You’ll need them. You’ve been warned……….. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We left off with my twinlings and I spending a very fun evening with our

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-14509704396977362112011-11-05T14:44:00.018-06:002011-11-05T16:46:03.578-06:00

  What a difference a day makes. Friday was chilly, but dry. This morning was a maelstrom of wild, freezing wind and whirling flakes of snow. I’m glad Apache chose to sleep in the barn last night, so I didn’t have to brave this storm to let her into the barn, early this morning. Brrr! Winter is finally here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Note: None of the Following Photos are Mine, unless they

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-49180385000246166332011-11-04T00:25:00.002-06:002011-11-04T00:27:01.158-06:00

  Not my herd, but Val’s of Fantastyk Voyage Blog! Val called me this morning to share the exciting news, that Louise, her female black alpaca had given birth sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Louise, the proud Mama! Thelma, the doting Aunt seemed very happy to have a new baby around. And the entire alpaca trio! The new herd! Of course, the baby had to

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-51138546874271804192011-11-03T10:27:00.002-06:002011-11-03T10:41:37.716-06:00

  We spent a lot of time wandering around Historical Cemeteries last weekend while we were in North Carolina for a “Zombie-Themed” Letterboxing Event, so, with the photos I took, I figured it would be fun to participate in Thursday's Things in a Row along with my blogger buddy Gail from At The Farm. Old English Cemetery in Salisbury, NC   National Cemetery in Salisbury, NC

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-30929308374826089692011-11-03T02:08:00.002-06:002011-11-03T02:28:08.424-06:00

  I was reminded over the weekend, why I rarely ever travel by plane anymore. Even though we are blessed to have the privilege of flying at no cost, to enjoy this privilege we must always fly stand-by, which is great when there are plenty of seats available, and not a lot of stand-by passengers waiting to grab a seat on the same plane that you’re hoping to fly on. Thursday morning began

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-71301981913324408002011-11-01T16:54:00.003-06:002011-11-01T19:38:01.485-06:00

  Ok, so yeah, I know this is belated, but we just got home late Sunday night and Monday was spent doing laundry and sleeping, trying to recuperate from our whirlwind trip to North and South Carolina over the weekend. I’m so far behind on e-mails, phone calls and reading blogs, it’s likely I’ll never catch up. So, for now, I’m just going to share a few photos from Halloween Night when I took my

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-48535921657368215882011-10-26T21:07:00.002-06:002011-10-26T21:12:28.452-06:00

  Crazy weather we’re having right now. This morning I went up to the barn to feed, wearing just a tank top and crop pants in the bright, warm sunshine. By late afternoon, I donned my winter coat to head back up to the barn under dark clouds, thunder, and wind, to feed and tuck everyone in for the night. Right now it’s only 32F and we’re expecting 1-3 inches of snow before morning, although at

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-20849773143851163572011-10-26T01:27:00.002-06:002011-10-26T01:41:33.210-06:00

  Recently I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Letterboxer in person, which included looking for a letterbox together. Just an FYI, Letterboxers always use a Trail Name when involved in letterboxing ventures. Our family’s Trail Name is “The Twinville Trekkers”. The letterboxer I was meeting up with goes by the Trail Name, “Hi Desert”.   Hi Desert lives in Santa Fe and has been

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-4106772936354640202011-10-23T13:04:00.002-06:002011-10-23T13:09:48.526-06:00

  I had planned to take the month of October off from participating in Sunday Stills. After 2 years of doing the challenges every Sunday, I felt like I wanted a break, and truth be told, I just wasn’t feeling very inspired to take photos this month anyway. But this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge was Rocks. And anyone that’s visited or lived in New Mexico knows, we have plenty of rocks here.

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-16973778663034295222011-10-22T22:45:00.003-06:002011-10-23T00:51:04.224-06:00

  I don’t know if it’s just the time of year, but I’m feeling kind of down in the dumps and in a funk. I’ve been beating myself up and doing quite a bit of deep thinking. There’s a lot of stuff on my mind right now. Nothing I can really talk about, at least not right now. My thoughts are too jumbled up to make any sense of anything. If I wrote it all out I think it would just seem disjointed

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-61061899312800485822011-10-21T23:55:00.002-06:002011-10-22T00:00:02.660-06:00

  My kidlets and I recently spent a few hours in the Botanical Gardens at the Albuquerque Bio-Park. We were there to find a Letterbox, but since we have a family membership, we like to visit as often as we can. We found the Letterbox easily and then had some fun playing in the Fantasy Garden. (And yes, I slid down through the log, too) I know that the Fantasy Garden was

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-27719011953384191052011-10-20T01:00:00.004-06:002011-10-20T01:05:25.890-06:00

          (This is Jax's cat, Hopi. She is 3 yrs old)

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-69626613741546331642011-10-19T00:35:00.002-06:002011-10-19T00:39:50.270-06:00

               

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-21544757639688151282011-10-18T13:19:00.002-06:002011-10-18T13:27:17.772-06:00

  A few days ago, Jen and I went into Albuquerque to run some errands and do some hiking and Letterboxing. First we went up to La Luz Trail to look for a letterbox and do a little hiking. La Luz Trail is about 8 miles long with an elevation gain of close to 4,000ft and a steep, rugged grade of 12% as it climbs up the side of the Sandia Mountains to Sandia Crest at 10, 678 ft high. I hiked

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-70111454693644821082011-10-17T10:53:00.004-06:002011-10-17T14:11:10.627-06:00

    Today is a very special day. For someone very special. And we want to honor him on this day with our own version of an online, handmade card. This great guy loves spending time with his family.   This very special man has been my husband and best friend for over 23 years.   He is a history buff and can tell you the dates of of any Civil War Battle. (But he sometimes has

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-58561641810906846602011-10-12T12:08:00.002-06:002011-10-12T12:27:19.650-06:00

  I just want to acknowledge and say thank you for the award that was recently bestowed upon me, not once, but twice. Thank you Deanna from My Country Genes and Wolfie from What was I Thinking? I think it’s lovely!   I’m also supposed to follow the guidelines that come along with this award, like sharing this award with some of my favorite blogs. I’m sure some of you have already

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-9534926887615978792011-10-08T11:16:00.011-06:002011-10-09T11:31:06.331-06:00

  Not many people believe me when I tell them how short-lived our Autumn is here in the central mountains of New Mexico, above 7,000 ft elevation. When I posted on September 18 with my I'm Going To Miss Him post, I’m pretty sure some folks probably thought I was just being silly for whining about how much I was going to miss summer, the beautiful warm days, the cool breezes, wonderful hiking and

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-26900070532295759872011-10-07T02:42:00.006-06:002011-10-07T12:21:12.963-06:00

  Warning: This is a long, photo-heavy post. I tried to make it shorter, but I just couldn’t do it, at the expense of not giving this incredible place the respect and admiration it truly deserves. So, if you’re not into learning about archaeology, Native American history, the past and it’s people, this post might be a bit boring and long. But I completely and whole-heartedly recommend a

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-22635668912358664352011-10-03T23:25:00.002-06:002011-10-04T00:08:34.371-06:00

  Yeah…. Famous Last Words. After Jen, Dobbie and I left the Jemez Pueblo State Monument, I decided we would stop off at Battleship Rock Picnic Grounds to enjoy a beautiful 2 mile hike along the East Fork of the Jemez River in the Jemez Mountains, while searching for a letterbox. The destination we were hoping to reach would be McCauley Warm Springs. (Yeah. I know they don’t even show it

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-59180507134566265022011-10-02T01:12:00.002-06:002011-10-02T01:28:23.946-06:00

  I have been to the Jemez Mountains many times over the past 17 years, but for some reason had never visited the Jemez State Monument. So, I was very excited when I learned that there had been a Letterbox placed within the monument and made plans to visit the Jemez State Monument with my daughter as soon as we could.  A short drive from Albuquerque and Bernalillo, the Jemez State Monument

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-26062256258412506322011-10-01T17:52:00.001-06:002011-10-01T17:53:03.150-06:00

  Every time I try to sit down and type out this post, my eyes get droopy and I end up taking a nap due to the muscle relaxers and pain meds I’m taking for my sore neck and shoulder. Thanks for all the well wishes and worrying. My sore neck and shoulder wasn’t caused by just one injury, I don’t think, but was probably caused by several events or situations. Nothing horse related, though. Just

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-81322044594014368192011-09-29T22:26:00.002-06:002011-09-29T22:53:45.294-06:00

  With our very busy schedule, activities and my recent neck/back injuries I’ve just not had any motivation or time at all to update and post on my blog. As some of you know I’ve even tossed around the idea of just shutting down my blog because maybe then I’ll feel like I have gained some kind of control in one part of my life and my world might stop spinning so fast. I figured that

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-9166501132924739822011-09-28T01:24:00.002-06:002011-09-28T01:28:03.356-06:00

   

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-70264831961075278502011-09-27T12:39:00.002-06:002011-09-27T13:03:39.817-06:00

  I’m still enjoying doing these Tea Time Tuesday reviews along with Ed of the popular weekly challenge blog , Sunday Stills. This week’s review is of one of the Revolution tea varieties that Ed sent me a few weeks ago, and is called Orange Chocolate Green Tea. The ingredients include: Sencha Tea, Ginger Root, Cacao Nibs, and natural chocolate and orange flavors. The first few sips I found

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-10424446371289573412011-09-26T12:51:00.002-06:002011-09-26T12:55:49.423-06:00

  Oh wow! Oh wow! I just found out today that one of my photos was chosen for the Atlas Quest Letterboxing 2012 Calendar!!! Go check it out. My photo was chosen for the month of April! You can learn more about where that photo was taken from my post: Where I Was (Once on that page, just scroll down to the 11th photo).                                                 I am thrilled!!! I

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-37236936478680538842011-09-22T23:06:00.002-06:002011-09-22T23:07:54.842-06:00

    All of the following photos were shot in Downtown Albuquerque with my Canon PowerShot.                              

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-64283685629018175962011-09-21T10:56:00.002-06:002011-09-21T11:00:28.883-06:00

           

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-75564355668483516302011-09-20T17:49:00.005-06:002011-09-20T18:16:38.665-06:00

  Please remember to watch HRTV and vote for one of the most talented riders and most amazing horses I know, and consider dear friends! (Theresa and her hubby, Joe)   Theresa and Zeema are generous with their time and skills while volunteering for the New Mexico Mounted Search and Rescue. Besides training in dressage, Theresa and Zeema have traveled to compete in ACTHA CTR’s all over

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-64966058764490973212011-09-19T22:46:00.002-06:002011-09-19T22:49:05.742-06:00

  Continuing on with Ed’s idea of Teatime Tuesdays posts, here’s a new addition. I’m still drinking several cups of tea every day, but I missed last week’s Teatime Tuesday post due to just being too busy. I did recently try the Revolution English Breakfast Tea, and it’s the first Revolution Tea I’m not that crazy about. I drink black teas every day, usually Irish Breakfast, Earl Grey, and

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-88105141472166223192011-09-18T18:37:00.002-06:002011-09-18T19:01:33.170-06:00

  I’m in a funk, feeling rather sad and melancholy. I’ve been so crazy busy lately, you’d think that would keep my mind in a happier place, but I’m still feeling as if I’m walking in pudding. Trying to adjust to lots of different things going on around me, one of those things being the changing of the seasons. I’m NOT happy about that AT. ALL. (Tile Wall Art at Explora Science Center, ABQ,

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-7382595908445868032011-09-17T15:17:00.016-06:002011-09-17T16:17:00.023-06:00

  Camper’s packed and hitched up. Ready to go.   Apache Mare loaded and comfortable.   Cowgirls discuss directions because………Y’all know that Cowgirls Don’t Get Lost.   Arrive at Caja del Rio National Forest, set up corrals and camper.   Hey! Nice views from inside the camper.   Kicking back relaxing until dinner time. Temperatures are dropping, clouds are rolling in.

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-72423875131088898702011-09-16T10:40:00.003-06:002011-09-16T11:19:37.391-06:00

  My hubby, Ranchman John took all of the following photos, either with his cell phone or with my camera.                                                      Tacking up Getting ready to head out, posing for a few photos first.   My friend Roni on her mare, Halley. Apache was on high alert distracted by all the sights, smells and sounds.   Heading out to ride the trails on

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-35650144297982819352011-09-15T11:21:00.002-06:002011-09-16T11:05:41.078-06:00

  Thanks to Zambito Oaks Farm for opening up my eyes to a fascinating microcosm of life that I had no idea existed. She posted the first video below and as I watched it….I got goosebumps. I also discovered through a Google search that the Fugly Blog (click link to see her post) shared this on Sept 3., and even though I don’t share her views on most everything else, I love what she said about

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-67592549051611632312011-09-14T12:32:00.003-06:002011-09-14T12:35:47.022-06:00

     

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-2911068419990355292011-09-13T13:12:00.002-06:002011-09-13T13:52:19.555-06:00

  Wow. Has it been a week already? I think this may be the longest absence I’ve ever had from my blog. Anybody miss me? I’ve just not been able to get caught up lately. First there was my twinling’s Boy Scout backpacking trip up to the Pecos to prepare for, along with my birthday camping trip up to Santa Fe for the Caja del Rio AERC Endurance ride that I worked as a Pulse and Respiration

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-78197983798809835122011-09-07T23:27:00.002-06:002011-09-07T23:41:34.125-06:00

  In preparation for this weekend’s Santa Fe ACTHA rides on both Saturday and Sunday, one of the things I wanted to test was Apache’s tolerance for mountain bikes, because these are something that can often be seen up at the Caja del Rio and I had no idea how Apache would deal with them. So, I asked my twinling Jax to ride his bike around Apache’s paddock just to see if she had a reaction to

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-47624959403912243902011-09-07T14:00:00.011-06:002011-09-07T14:46:07.883-06:00

  So, this is how I spent my birthday weekend. My hubby was working in Phoenix, and my twinlings were on a weekend Boy Scout Backpacking trip up in the Pecos, so it was just Jen and me, and I didn’t want to spend the weekend home alone doing nothing. So, after stumbling on a new blog the week before, while doing some research on the Caja del Rio for this weekend’s ACTHA rides, I read that the

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-30476276630447615892011-09-06T18:59:00.002-06:002011-09-06T19:01:46.436-06:00

    Looks like the cowboy and cowhorse have been replaced. lol!

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-89371780869410049522011-09-05T23:23:00.002-06:002011-09-06T00:04:26.049-06:00

  Continuing with Ed’s Tea Time Tuesday, my tea review this week is for another Revolution Tea called White Pomegranate. I have to admit I was prepared not to like this tea because I don’t usually like fruity style teas or teas that contain rosehips because I just don’t enjoy the flavor nor the acidity. But this tea was fairly smooth and only lightly fruity and definitely tasted of

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-3599478905864413402011-09-05T13:04:00.004-06:002011-09-05T13:20:57.272-06:00

    Yeah…… Umm. We’ll get to that in just a few minutes. But first I wanted to go over the side-passing that Apache and I worked on during last week’s riding lesson, since so many were interested. If you all remember, we were having some challenges with Apache not moving off of my leg. After realizing that Apache would not move off of my leg, Jessica wanted to try a new tactic. One

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-21236555114549653622011-09-02T01:36:00.010-06:002011-09-02T10:13:53.130-06:00

  Had another lesson on Wednesday, with my instructor Jessica. I wish I could afford to have more than one lesson a week. Jessica has done so much to teach, encourage, support and push me and my mare into a better safer, and more confident relationship. Oh, we still have a long way to go, but we have also come very far in such a short time, too. Just think. Before the beginning of July I hadn’t

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-79320863037205766152011-08-30T01:17:00.002-06:002011-08-30T01:23:07.984-06:00

    Following in the footsteps of Ed’s Tea Time Tuesday, this is my second week of sharing my own tea reviews. And this particular tea is one that Ed sent me recently and I must admit………… I. Love. It! This ASSAM tea is a true wake-me-up, dark, rich, strong, black breakfast blend with a lot of substance and character and I have even enjoyed a cuppa in the late afternoon when my eyes start

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-19480627637911102532011-08-28T14:18:00.002-06:002011-08-28T15:27:59.868-06:00

  Last week an 18 wheeler backed up into our driveway and dropped off a new arrival. A Deluxe Jr Portable Corral by  Shady Shack. I decided to get one of these portable corrals for future overnight ACTHA CTC rides, base camp horse camping trips and for grazing my horse and llamas in the front yard (When we have grass. Thank you monsoon rains!). I had considered getting an electric

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34313223.post-85657646051754368122011-08-28T09:59:00.006-06:002011-08-28T10:51:20.602-06:00

    This week’s Sunday Stills Challenge was to photograph pests or things that annoy us. I wasn’t especially inspired by this challenge and wasn’t in the mood to chase down flies and mosquitoes for a photo shoot, especially when some pests seem to like being photographed. Our 9 week old hand raised chicks aren’t especially annoying, but they can be pests. Even though they are more entertaining

Laughing Orca Ranchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.com13