Happy Friday, well actually late Thursday here, close enough!
Candy corn, yuk! Way too sweet for me.
To me, an Indian Summer is warm weather, where I can turn on yard lights and stay outside well after dark. My mother told me it was a warm autumn, so you harvest your garden without frost on the pumpkin. Not happening this year, frost almost every morning or pouring rain.
Dinner will be steak and steamed veggies. Hopefully it's not raining and I can barbecue the steaks on the sundeck.
Everything else is work and sneaking a ride in when it's not raining. I am procrastinating about designing a horsehair engagement ring, my goldsmith has a few of my gold rings I no longer wear to repurpose. It's the measurements I must figure out, I hate that part!

 

Happy Friday!

1. I've never tasted, or seen candy corn. If it's awfully sweet then it would be a nay.

2. Interesting read about Indian Summer or St Martins Summer.

I don't think Brits would use St Martins Summer, we're more likely to use Indian Summer. Other names: Sàmhchantas an fhoghair (Saaa-hantas an o-thair), and something else in Wales etc, they're less likely to be heard though. Variations of St Martin's Day would be used in Europe.

It goes well beyond weather; St Martins/Martinmas is the old festival and date, 11th Nov, for Samhainn before the calendar change and is associated with the same traditions, including, as mentioned in the article, frost and change of weather but also slaughtering animals for winter, harvest, lanterns and bonfires. Similar traditions in Europe.

3. Ghost town - Article not available in my country .

It's very sad to see remains of once thriving towns. Here, you can walk in any glen and find old, decaying stone houses. Too many were lost due to forced evictions, the Clearances, while others were voluntary due to conditions:

St Kilda is a deserted settlement off our west coast. It's extremely remote and difficult to reach due to stormy weather and seas. People survived on Hirta, the largest island, for at least 4000 years until 1929 when the remaining 36 people asked to be removed. The stone cottages and 1400 cleitean, stone bothies, were left to decay.

A few people stay there to watch over the World Heritage site. Now it's known for being a bird sanctuary, the St Kilda wren and fieldmouse, and the ancient breed of feral Soay sheep, the first type of domestic sheep found in Europe. It shows how isolated the islands really are. I don't think I could cope...

4. Supper - Hmmm... fish, perhaps cod...I'll stop at my fishmonger on the way home. Combined with steamed veg and a scone for afterwards.

5. Weather - A dry start to the week but we have yellow weather warnings for very heavy rain and flooding for the weekend. It's warmer than normal though, 17C/63F and 13C/56F overnight.

6. Everything else - Working this morning. I'm having a cup of mint tea before I attempt emails.

I'm off this weekend and will ride tomorrow morning and Sunday afternoon if the weather holds. Both will be short hacks. I think two ponies are due for another clip and paddocks will need cleaning and fences checked. The mud is getting really bad in places now.

The grass and bushes to the front of my house were cut at the start of the week as we had our garden waste collection on Wednesday. I can compost a limited amount, the rest gets collected by our council bin lorry. Hopefully it'll be the last before winter, although if it stays warm, I'll be cutting well into November.

Food shopping this afternoon on my way home.

Have a good weekend!

 

@walkinthewalk: Thanks for the thread... Hard to believe how fast time is going... CRAZY!

1. I can take them or leave them. I'd rather have a small piece of marzipan or even halavah if I want a really concentrated sweet. Speaking of sweets, last night I ran into Publix for something and saw the 1/2 gallon ice cream was 2 for $9. I am an ice cream fan big time and I think that is one of the best around. I have to go back and buy some before they go off sale. Favorite flavor: cappuccino fudge blitz.
2 & 3: Interesting.
4. Most likely salmon.
5. Not bad, but it doesn't take much for me to get very stinky sweaty. We had the A/C off for 5 days, but put it back on last night.
6.
A. Hubby's has the respiratory infection going around like wildfire. No fever and not COVID-19. I can resolve most things, but after a week of <meh> results yesterday... maybe 25% better... I called our doctor. Went to the pharmacy to pick up meds. Patty (pharmacist) is a friend and said welcome to the 'club'. She said everything I had been doing continue. At the beginning, I warned hubby this is probably a 3 week run. Patty said I am right no matter what we do. Ugh, poor guy.
B. All exteriors of all the buildings on our property are being power washed & painted. First time painting since moving here. I asked them to start & finish the barn first. Poor Chuck has been fenced off from his main pasture each day and that is where the barn is. First day for power washing & then masking stuff. Yesterday for painting. The guy has just trim hand painting to do and then he has to finish power washing the other buildings today. It's a big job... 10 five gallon buckets of paint.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I officially retired Chuck as a riding horse. It's okay for both of us at this point in our lives.

 

Supper - I'm on strike. I work two jobs and keep up with most of the farm chores. I get help from the man-child and one if the nephews. Brother helps out as well but none from the other half. Talk about entitled. He was probably the first documented case.... I refuse to start work by 5.30 and then end my day after 5.30 with cooking (and then staying up to clean because he expects it ready for 6 though he often doesnt eat until 8 nor finish stringing it out until 10) for one that has no appreciation yet complains the rest of us show him no appreciation. Mean as I can be I fed the meat he thawed for last night to the dogs. I don't often do that but my dishes are in the dish washer. Child's dishes are in the dish washer (that child emptied). The rest are piled high in the sink and every pot he emptied because he can't bother to put leftovers in suitable space saving containers are stacked on the stove. All that to say that it's fall break. Kids are off. We aren't. I'm not spending my weekend in the kitchen though having said that it will be the only way to move forward. This is his answer - complain to mommy who sent him this to tide him over

There's plenty to cook in this house. He just can't seem to figure that out nor to cook for all of us. The meat he thawed? Would have been browned in copious amounts of garlic salt (his contribution to the pantry) and served over stale bunny bread that he bought at the gas station on the way home from work. Sorry, not my idea of dinner. Vent Over.

There's a soft enough rain the dogs have had a good walk without us being soaked to the skin. Welcome rain. We needed it at this point. It's getting cool enough (80s) to be relatively comfortable. The biggest change is in the night temps. That makes so much of a difference. Late to overseed but that wouldn't have mattered as it was too hot and dry for the grass to come up anyway. I'll get it done in the next couple of weeks.

There are haunts around here that draw crowds at various times of the year. Haunted mansion at Disney is more my speed. I don't voluntarily put myself in places that have that reputation.

 

@QtrBel: You're among friends... It's okay... Use the 'broom' to hit him over the head with it... I PROMISE, he will not starve... Leave the dishes, too. 🫣

 

1 Never was a fan of candy corn. Makes cute decorations, though.

2 I love second summer. I'll take a third and fourth one, too! All my native relatives call it Indian summer and after the first freezes or snow they accuse each other of "slacking off" and not getting Indian summer back. And like me, a cousin says, "Who says there can only be one?"

I've not heard of St Martin. I'll have to read about him. I always discover something to learn in these threads. Thanks @walkinthewalk

3 Wyoming and Montana had a few ghost towns. I used to like coming up on old homestead and cabin sites while working, too. Often the only way you knew there'd been a house there was because non-native flowers would still be growing in a square or rectangle. Up in the mountains or on the prairie. I'd pause if I could and ponder how or why they chose that spot.

4 Supper is going to be leftover chicken enchiladas I made last night when we had company.

5 40s at night. 60s during the day. Good riding weather.

6 My Jeep Cherokee is still waiting for us to find parts. And I'm fighting my warrantee company, who has lied to me, and the dealer, who excels at avoiding responsibility, but sold me the policy. It doesn't help that my otherwise good mechanic has been found to stretch the truth a bit. I feel like I'm dealing with a bunch of 7 or 8 year old boys in a playground dust up.

Have a good weekend!

 

@boots: That s*cks about your Jeep. Hope it gets resolved soon.

 

Candy corn is okay, I don't hate it, but I'd probably only eat like a handful. After that, it just doesn't appeal to me anymore haha.
I'm more of a Reese's fan lol.

We're having deer steak for dinner tonight. I'm excited lol. Deer meat is one of my favorites.

I'm trying to figure out what we're doing this weekend. Might go to an orchard & pick out some pumpkins. I wanna do a spooky attraction too, but not sure yet. It may rain tomorrow which won't be fun for any of those activities lol.
Starting to get cooler here again, we're heading back into the 60's but I'm fine with it lol. Perfect riding weather if you ask me!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

 

Mittens had 3 adorable kittens Friday night! ( 1 week ago) Their eyes aren't open yet but will probably start opening pretty soon.

We are going to another parade on Sunday one week from now. I am considering bringing Nevada, just for her to get used to it all. There are lots of risks but I am going to have to see how it all works out. I don't plan on leading her in the parade, but also another thing to see how it goes. Here's a couple of pics that I took at the 2nd Expo that I went to. It was last sunday.

 

Happy Happy Friday! Yes!

I can eat a few candy corn.... but not a huge fan. I'm more of a dark chocolate fan. Trader Joe's dark chocolate peanut butter cups are a fav!

I've heard of Indian Summer but not the others.

I like stopping at old ghost towns! And like @boots I ponder what made them pick that spot and what made them leave?? Or did they just die off?? Sometimes I spook myself! lol

Supper not sure I'm wanting sushi but it's hard to get the Friday night gang to go that far out on a limb! lol

Need to do a Costco run, out of a few big items.

Also I'm really hoping I can talk someone into going to the Highland Games in a town a little ways away! I really want to go and spend the day shopping, trying foods and maybe some ideas of where to go in Scotland. And to see a lot of men in KILTS! lol I could go alone but would kind of feel like a loner. I will see.

Vet visit yesterday, yikes the prices have really gone up. Chal has something going on, I kinda have suspected something as he's been spooking a lot in the last year and a half.... he's usually a steady eedie but something is going on. But that's not what had me ask about checking him out... its the way he's eating his food. So we did his teeth and will try that then it's a try a few things and see if that works if not then try this and then... on and on. He also has a spot on his pink eyelid. Ugh... they are getting older.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Thanks as always @walkinthewalk for starting the thread and it always makes me think of @aubie! I hope he and Remington are doing well.

 

@younghorsetrainer: Congratulations to Mama Mittens!

When you were talking about making a bridle like some of the riders had at the Expo you attended, I did a screen capture of one that I thought was amazing and I've attached it.

 

Thanks! I also posted the thread on our photography chat, did you see it? I do like the bridle, but I don't like the excess rings. It has a matching breastcollar. I am making something far more complicated and not with rings!

 

Hello all. Haven’t posted in one of these in a while it seems. My life has taken a very strange turn and I’m having to be pretty careful to not let the depression and low simmering anger take over…I’m not pleasant at all to be around. At least I’m honest about that…I don’t even want to be around me.
That’s kind of unusual because I usually think I’m hilarious and can amuse myself for hours on end! It will get better…it always does.

Love candy corn and what the kids and I call “Li’l Punkins”…made by Brach’s maybe?

Supper has been hit or miss since DH has been out of state. I’ve gained weight since I’ve basically been eating mostly junk…nothing sounds good.

Cold front came through earlier part of the week bringing some much needed rain and cooler temperatures. Another one is supposed to come through this evening and our highs for the weekend are in the 70’s.

Finally got the damages from the latest storm cleaned up. My Stage 4 COPD son, my 86 yo Mama and I loaded the destroyed metal building onto our flatbed. If anyone had been around to video, I’m sure we could have had our own reality show! Good thing we all have a good sense of humor.

I haven’t been to a ghost town, but I have seen a ghost. Interesting experience.

Hope everyone else is doing well and has a great upcoming weekend and week.

ETA: Since the last storm, we have been overrun with scorpions. Any tips/tricks for
getting rid of them? I have a black light and go “hunting”, have used Demon outside and peppermint oil mixture inside, but they’re still coming around. Was stung by one this week, and I forgot how much that hurts!

 

Wow, it's Friday again! This week has flown by. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

I used to like candy corn but I bought some last year and it didn't taste the same. I don't know if Brachs changed their recipe or my taste buds have changed but it wasn't good. Not even mixed with peanuts which if you got the ratio right tasted like a Payday candy bar.

In years past this would have been the week we would have been in Missouri for our Big Piney trail ride. There was one riding destination that was called the Girl's School because it was rumored to be a place they sent unwed mothers. I have no clue whether that's true or not. Anyway there were several abandoned barns and houses and a log cabin. I always loved exploring them and wandering what the story of the place was. This picture was taken by the house.

You had to be careful where you stepped because the floors were rotted and if you fell through you would have to swim because the basement was full of water. The big barn was in pretty good shape though.

Rained all day yesterday which I was happy for. It brought this to the sliding glass door last night.

Didn't aim for the door to act as mirror but a good photographer I am not. LOL He/she must have been tired of being wet. LOL

Last week it was chili so yesterday I turned some leftover rump roast and fixin's into veggie soup. I ate 4 bowls of the stuff (not all at the same time). There is still plenty left over for supper tonight plus some. Try as I might, a small batch doesn't seem possible.

Planning on a chill weekend. No longer having to doctor Cutter because his abscess cleared up without bursting through the hoof. Would have rather it had come out because I always worry there's a little bit of infection left that going to raise its ugly head again. Farrier will be here next week though so I'll give him a heads up and he'll do a little extra digging.

 

@lb27312: Hope the poney is okay.

@Txshecat0423: There just aren't enough emojis that we can use. I want to send you a hug and a wish for betters days ahead. My Mama Rose is 85 and TOUGHER than all of us combined. She exhausts me and I am blessed.

@younghorsetrainer: Yep, I remember our 'chat' about that and you said no metal. Can't wait to see your final product!

 

@Txshecat0423 it will pass, I used to get that way, I have learned to not let it win, my own weird coping mechanism. But son and mom sure stepped up to the plate! Hubby, pre-transplant wanted to go off on disability, his doctors said no. They told him to work until he physically couldn't so off to work he went with a liquid oxygen tank strapped to his back. He worked up until 3 months before transplant, at that point he could barely stand long enough to use the bathroom. Quite amazing how he recovered post transplant. Your son is younger, his recovery should be even more amazing.

 

@JCnGrace: Look at you stylin' in your bibs and pretty/shiny hair. The siding on the house in the pix doesn't look that old, but I bet the original house was. Were those your horses?

 

@waresbear, thank you. We kind of had to laugh because between the three of us, we didn’t make a whole person! It was hard to watch my son…he would work 20 minutes and have to rest 15. He is back working at his job because sitting around was doing him no good mentally. I’m just currently surrounded by a lot of family negativity but I know I have many blessings to be thankful for. My son was denied SSI (they told him he qualifies but they basically deny everyone initially, so just keep trying until someone says ‘yes’) and although we were willing to support him, he’s a grown man and needs his own income for his own mental satisfaction. This too shall pass.

 

Well this has been an extremely rough week. First I lost my father to cancer sometime Monday night. Then found out our horse mentor also passed from cancer just a few days before that! And to top it off I've been home all week with a terrible head cold.

Daddy was a godly man and was a good example. He loved the Lord and served others. He was also a family man, often working 2-3 jobs to make sure his girls never went without. He didn't really understand our interest in horses but he encouraged it by always letting us visit friends with horses and planning family vacations at dude ranches so we could ride. He told me once that he wanted to buy us a horse property in northern CA where it's wild and beautiful but it didn't work out. Just knowing he even considered it is enough. Mom said he finally looked so peaceful and had a smile on his face when she found he had passed. He kept telling her he was ready to go home and be with Jesus and now he is. Thanks for everything daddy--love you so much and can't wait to see you again in Heaven!!!

Our horse mentor was an old cowboy who was a bit rough around the edges but had a good heart. He was amused with us greenhorn city girls but also concerned for our safety. So he took us on and gave us a firm foundation in horsemanship. Many happy hours were spent under his watchful gaze both in the arena and on the trail with him calling out corrections if we needed it or praise when we got something right. And of course he liked to tease and make smart remarks with a smirky little grin but we knew it was all in fun and loved every minute of it! We'll always be grateful for his guidance, patience, humor and horse sense. So happy trails my friend--with love from the "pretty horse" girl.

 

I used to eat candy corn. Still think it's cool as a decoration but I don't eat any candy now days. Didn't know that about Indian Summer. We're having a mini one now with 80F yesterday and 85F today. Unusually high for October though.

Here's a pic of the new kid's camp horse. It's the best I could get since I'm usually there when it's getting dark and/or raining. She's a cutie with huge doe eyes. So far she's been friendly and respectful but a bit cautious in her new surroundings. Of course my paso doesn't like her at all. At first he gave her the works--chasing, nipping, threatening to kick, etc. Now he's down to mostly just the snakey neck and flat ears. It's so funny because normally he's the one on the bottom or close to it. Hey, he might be old but he can still push girls around--lol! What a tough guy.

 

@Txshecat0423 - We've used lavender scents to get rid of scorpions. I've used dried blooms. One of my kids has used scent that you'd put in soaps.

Good luck!

 

@pasomountain - my deepest sympathies for the loss of your father. My thoughts are with you and your family. He sounds like he was a wonderful dad who would have done anything for his family - hugs to you.

 

1. Candy corn is a bit too sweet for my taste.
2. Indian summer according to my wife who is part Native American is a warm stretch after the first frost.
3. Supper will be Ham and Beans with cast iron skillet cornbread. Ohhh, my favorite.
4. The weather has really cooled off. Today the high is to be 60* but, I don't think it will make it. 5. This morning I went to the trails at Hillsdale State Park and met our very own @charrorider and his wife and we had a great ride together. It was a lot of fun to finally meet him and his wife. Great people!

 

@pasomountain: Oh, my dear, I am so very sorry.

From both a professional and personal perspective, cancer is a 4 letter word.

My condolences to you & your family.

 

@pasomountain I'm so sorry for your loss of your father. Deepest condolences.

 

@pasomountain, my condolences for your losses. Prayers for you and your family.