Lots of News

 It was an eventful week with cars, but I'll save that news for later. But we were short a car, so I was getting out at 6 to take Stace to work a couple of days. Cora went to stunt workout classes in Burbank several days - she's loving it! 

It was also a cooler week, so the girls were able to have their first riding lesson in a while. 

Violet is riding Bandit, and Cora is on Rocky. 

After working on the bathroom a lot on Saturday, and searching for a new car, we took a family trip to Carpinteria on Sunday. Even Cora came with us! 

We enjoyed lunch and teas/coffees at our favorite Thai place there...

And we also took the walk along the bluffs to see the seals. 

Stace and I went to the Main theater to see a play called The Dresser, which was very well done. We got a drink afterwards at the Refinery. 

The girls went to a friend's house to watch Treasure Island, since that is what Cora's old school is performing this fall. Cora is planning to help with stagecraft and stage managing again, and this year they want Violet to be a paid tech employee, working in the booth.

Violet started her junior year of high school this week! She's taking one class in person, another AP art class, this time focusing on 3D art. Her plan is to make a stained glass lamp shade.

I picked up and packaged/froze my order of 30 pounds of organic peanuts from Azure Standard - it looks like an insane amount - and maybe it is. 

But we actually went through a full order of 30 pounds in exactly one year, and were about to run out. (We eat a lot of peanut butter, and Stace likes snacking on peanuts or homemade trail mix after dinner.)

I got an email that the county was holding free music and dinner events at various parks, and this week one would be at Val Verde Park. Since Colleen and Rigo were free, we made a night out of it. We enjoyed our free tacos and salsa music.

Meanwhile, Cora went to an orientation for Fright Fest, and found out she will be on the slider team! Very exciting; she's worked so hard.

Back Home - Decisions, decisions

Here is the state of our bathroom, on Monday. Shower and drywall gone, floor gone, and Stace dismantling part of the closet so we can have a bigger vanity and a floor-to-ceiling cupboard.

We have one toilet to use, and the kitchen sink for brushing teeth and washing up.

Showering is happening elsewhere, clearly. Stace can shower at work, while we girls are using Grandma and Grandpa's house, Mel and Nick's, the neighbor's, and friends' houses. 

I'm spending my days shopping! Lowes, Home Depot, specialty tile and vanity stores, multiple trips in a day. So many decisions to make! And because we want to get rebuilt as soon as possible, the decisions need to be made, yesterday. 

We've found a wonderful contractor, with a tile store, and the lady there has been very helpful as we consider our options.

A few doors down from the tile store we're using is Bodhi Leaf Tea and Coffee. Once I chose and paid for everything, I rewarded myself.

In other news, the weather this week has been lovely, so the girls did a horseriding lesson.

 

Treat time! Violet is giving the horse an apple.

Cora and Violet cat-sat for Mel and Nick while they were back East, and had a sister date at a pottery painting place, plus ramen! They spent the night, had fun with Poppy and Gibby, and got to shower. Such a bonus.

Week in Review

 Stace was off Monday for Memorial Day, and we went to Home Depot to check out supplies for the catio we're going to build. He found a Panini World Cup sticker album, just like the one he filled up in 1986. 

We then went to Total Wine and More, for cider - he's been reading his cider book, and wants to brew some up this year.

Violet had a solo horse lesson on Tuesday with Rocky. She got some great experience trotting and guiding the horse directionally.

Happy girl! So glad we have found this ranch and this way for her to ride again.

On Tuesday, after her lesson, she watched the film Hidalgo with us, because it features Viggo Mortensen in a grueling horse race.

On Wednesday, Vi and Cora had Sofia and Liana over for D&D, while I met up with a friend for Happy Hour/dinner.

On Thursday, Violet and I went to the optometrist and she picked out new glasses. Cora, meanwhile, went sliding for the second time this week, and later played D&D. And on Friday, I went up to Palmdale and lunch with my former newspaper co-workers. It was nice to see them again.

On Saturday, Stace watched the Champion's League final with work friends, while I met up with "the ladies" and celebrated one of their birthdays at Agua Dulce Vineyard.

We had a wine tasting and then enjoyed a picnic. It was a great time together.

On Sunday, we celebrated Rigo's birthday at their house.

They'd had a family part on Saturday, and Rigo showed us the very old sword he inherited and was just given. Very cool!

The kids (and young adults) played Telestrations, and other games.

Horse Lessons

 Violet has been interested in taking horse-riding lessons for a few months, and I'd been researching different ranches in the area. There are a lot of them! One that I'd looked at on Yelp, with positive reviews, is very nearby in Newhall, a plus since most of the others are 20-30 minutes away. 

Then, walking to our car from the Cowboy Festival, we saw a flyer on a car window from this equestrian center, and it felt like a sign. I scheduled a tour, and we set up lessons - the first was Friday.

Violet is grooming Rocky, to get him ready for his saddle.

Cora is taking lessons too! This was her first time on a horse. She hadn't been interested previously, but because she'd like to try stunt work as a job, it seems prudent for her to know how to ride.

She is riding Chick, on an English saddle. Becky, the instructor, thought it would be best for Cora to learn on an English saddle, for her stunt purposes.

Violet is using a Western saddle, with the saddle horn and extra support. She got Rocky to trot and is learning posting, the rhythm of going up and down as the horse trots so it's less bouncy.

They both really enjoyed the lesson, and we look forward to more in the future!

Week in Review

 

Violet and I checked out an equestrian center in Newhall on Tuesday, and were very impressed. It was huge! Some 60 horses, spread out in lots of areas, including the barn above. 

One of the instructors, Becky, gave us a tour. Some of the horses are boarded there, while many are owned by the ranch owners.

The mini horses were so cute! We will plan to start lessons soon.

While on a nature walk with Violet's school, near the Iron Horse Bridge, we saw a dead King snake. These snakes, with their distinctive black and white bands, are called that because they can eat rattlenakes. 

Cora and Violet stopped at the bridge at sunset one night this week after the Mean Girls rehearsal.

It was a long week for Cora, between her college classes, set strike for Once Upon a Mattress and Mean Girls work. At least she'll be making some good money with the last one!

Our blueberries are ripening! So many!

And we always have monarch butterflies in our yard. One is here on the milkweed, circled in blue.

I revived my sourdough starter and made a loaf this week.

Not too shabby.

Also this week, I woke up Friday to find the screen popped out of the dining room window, Evie in the yard, and Winston gone. Thank God, he was in the yard behind ours, and I was able to go grab him, though I don't love the thought of him knowing how to jump onto/over the wall.

And also Friday, Nick's car broke down, and he was towed to their mechanic near us. I picked him up, and picked Ellie up from school with him, and dropped them both off at their home.

Joshua Tree: Horse Ride

When we decided to go to Joshua Tree, Violet began asking if we could incorporate a trail ride into the trip. 

I suggested she research it for us, and she found Cascade Trails Mustang Sanctuary, which has about 30 horses, lots of goats and chickens and a half-dozen dogs who serve as guardians. 

When we looked at their site, we found they also offer a couple of glamping-style tents. Since Vi loves animals and the idea of ranching, I knew she'd love to wake up with horses in view and goats to feed and pet. 

I'd already booked another place, but it was easy to cancel and book with Cascade Trails. And, we got a hefty discount on the trail ride by booking a package!

We arrived at the ranch Wednesday evening and moved into the tent, and checked in for our ride. It was us, the guide, and four ladies in California from England. They were university friends, all celebrating their 30th birthdays this year. We enjoyed chatting with them.

It was about a three-mile ride, and all went smoothly. Our horses were great, and our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. 

Our guide took these photos, and since Stace was directly behind her, he was featured prominently. 

My only trouble horse-riding like this, on an easy trail ride, is that my right leg/knee seems to bend the wrong way, and it gets really sore after a while. I kept giving that leg breaks from the stirrup to change the angle.

It was a beautiful desert evening, with perfect spring weather.

New Hobby

A few weeks ago, I saw a mention online of a new offering at Gilchrist Farm, where the girls have picked pumpkins and Vi's ridden horses in the past: Mounted Archery. Yes, archery on horseback, two of Violet's hobbies in recent months. Wow! Sign this kid up!

On Saturday, we went to the farm for the first of three two-hour lessons. 

It was supposed to be a group class, but this lucky girl was on her own the instructor! A private lesson!

For this lesson, the instructor led Violet and Dixie around, while teaching her how to ride and shoot at the same time.

She shot from the side, shooting behind, and ahead.

And, she got a bulls-eye! Another boba earned. Her instructor told us about high-level competitions she's planning to enter... who knows, maybe this will become something Violet can compete in?

She absolutely loved her first lesson, and asked the next day how soon she can go back - and can she go twice a week, say on Tuesdays and Fridays?? I love seeing that enthusiasm from her again!

Dixie is a sweet girl, and Violet gave her a nice brushing when she was through.

Before we left, we checked out the newly hatched chicks...

...so soft!

There were lots of baby goats, too, along with bigs and peacocks showing off their plumage. 

What a great afternoon!