so long summer

It's been a fab one though! Can't believe it's almost over. There have been gypsy caravans (minus horses)...

But also, horses (of varying sizes)...

Still, the darker nights mean more time to finish Morse and for blogging; I've totally been slacking over the summer.

Next excitement? The indy ref. No prizes for guessing which way I'll be voting...

playing cowboys (girls)

I squeezed a western riding lesson into my hectic schedule last week, and I'm hooked! I visited Leaf's ranch near Alford and got to ride the lovely Cody (the spotty horse above). Fun!

blowing away the cobwebs

Just back from a riding lesson on gentle giant Travis, the laziest horse in the world! Here he is above (but not me riding him, the pic is from the riding school website, as I keep forgetting to take my camera with me...). I've been feeling kind of fuzzy-headed all day, but now I am awake! A beach ride looks fun though, I might book myself on to the next one in August.

Meanwhile, the first Growing Boy colour visual is beginning to take shape...

admiring the view

For the first time in 10 years, I rode a horse yesterday. Arrangements were made after mucho red wine on Saturday night - I woke up sweating at 4am after remembering I'd agreed to go! Glad I did though - Ginny (the horse I rode) was fabulous and completely unfazed by my nerves (even when a couple of pheasants flew out of the woods next to us unexpectedly) and, now that I've done it again, I'm quite keen to start riding again. We rode out on the Fasque estate and the views were stunning. Ginny likes to paw in water, so I had my Liv Tyler LOTR moment too... fun!!!

The duck eggs started hatching out while we were there, so we got to see the ducklings emerging... Their eggs really are duck egg blue (oh and yes, they are being hatched by a hen). I must get round to posting the photo of Jack with the tiny duckling we rescued from the crows, but that's another story.

Back to the Jumis illustration tonight (pity I feel like I've been kicked in the butt today! Normally I need a kick up the butt to get going...)