NEW BERN, NC VACATION

I cant believe I have not posted since May!! Time flies.It is so hot I have not ridden in two months. We traded our timeshare for New Bern, NC
which was near the coast (didnt make the mountains cause I waited too late) So we went sailing on the Neuse River.

It was a sunset trip and we really enjoyed it!

Then we found a free ferry trip. We got there just as they were about to leave!! They had to make several people pull up so we could fit. I really thought our back wheels would be hanging over!

We took a boat ride over to one of the Barrier Islands. The lighthouse was closed . We saw a band of wild horses on one of the islands we were going past.

Our condo was excellent. Lots and lots of room. It had two

bedrooms and a loft. I loved the jacuzzi tub. There was a small

lake/pond in the back that had lots of black geese. They use to

come up on our deck and look thru the slideing glass doors for

treats!!

We had a really good vacation. We also went to a fort, did a historic trolley tour and toured Tyron Palace!!

Judi's Retirement Trip

Retirement Trip April 13 -24th

23 years at ATT and my friend Judi finally retires and we get to take a fabulous trip together with our horses. First we spent a week at Heart of Dixie Trailride located in Troy, Alabama and then 5 days at Roosevelt State Park in Georgia. Dennis and Lisa joined us at Heart of Dixie. What a nice place to stay and ride. But the first few days were very wet and muddy; some trails were closed. Altoona Trail Riders were there too. They had three people on horses go down in the mud in the river and had to be pulled out with ropes.

Dollar is such a begger Cookie please~!

We were very careful after that report. We followed this cowboy across a water hole no problem. On the way back across Judi was about two feet to the left of Lisa and down she and Chico went! It was so scarey. Chico could not get his feet under him. Andy (ATR member) came with a rope but Chico finally got up. He had been lying on his side with he head barely out of the water!! Whats so bad is, this is the third time this sort of thing has happened to Judi.

The next day we went back to see where they went down. The water had gone down about two feet. You could see that there were two seperate bodies of water with a built up trail between the two--with 3 foot drop offs on each side. Any way the rest of the trails were great. We had a really nice trip. We each took a turn at dinner and a night of left overs. Works for me.Dennis made donuts one night. Yum Yum! Dennis also had to fix Lisa's trailer and he had a little help from Faith!

The barn was HUGE...a long row of inside stalls and a long row of outside stalls. The owners were really nice. On Saturday Judi and I rode across the street. It was nice there too.(Lisa and Dennis left for home). Judi and I left on Sunday.

Roosevelt State Park is beautiful. We camped on Lake Delanor. The horse barn was four and a half miles away...we did not like that idea. The barn was not as nice as we would have liked but the owners were really nice; they even invited us to ride with them..but we didnt. The first trail was pretty level but the other trails were very rocky and all up,up, up and down, down, down. Good thing we had shoes put on our horses. Our horses got pretty tired. Dollar did really good. No spooking and did everything I asked. He is a really good horse. The first night we left our feed in containers with tops but the coons got into Judi's feed!! The last day we took the Cowboy Trail and Ifinally got to see deer. We would feed, eat breakfast, ride for two hours, go to town or sight seeing, do lunch and not get back until it was time to feed again!!We were both ready to go home by Thursday. It was a 7 hour trip home. I had a fabulous time.

Watch for Judi's retirement horse camping trip to Alabama by way of Ga.

Extreme Horse Clinic

Judi Fleming and I attended a desensitizing clinic to help our chicken *&*(
horses!!! Within fifteen minutes three or four riders came off their horses. It was a relay race passing pool noodles .Now how many horses know what pool noodles are. They were scared to death. I have to say Dollar was not really afraid of the stuff they had...........he is more scared of butterflies, the wind and logs..I learned that he love to play ball. I am just going to have to buy him one.

First real estate closing of the year!

Yipee!! I just closed on a short sale and it only took 5 months! Got it just before the bank was foreclosing on it too. Real estate just isn't what it use to be. When I show property now, nine out of ten are bank owned already or short sales!! They are usually stripped of appliances and in poor condition. The banks sell them "as is" which means no repairs.....but you can get some realllllllllllllllllly good deals. It is a great time to buy!! Call me if you want to scoop up a deal!!

Maine for Christmas

We were going to stay home because tickets for Utah and Maine were outrageously priced. Then two days before Christmas we found some really great priced tickets to Maine soooooooooo off we went! It was five degrees out when we landed at noon!!!! and snow on the ground. I only went outside when I had to except one day the sun was shining and Pat said why dont we drive to camp and go snow shoeing??? Well I fell three times in an hour. We climbed up this incline and the three of them shot rounds at some cans. I rested.

Christmas was fun with all the family. We pick up Scott from his new rooming house in Bangor. Bridgett, Gary,Nora and baby Ginny came over. Then the Brad Rands came, Brad,Betsy,Liv and little Gwen.

It was fun watching everyone open their gifts. Bob and I decided not to exchange gifts. The trip was our gift. I sure missed our Dad. I cant believe he is really gone.

We had skit night at Brad's house. The Saunders take the award!! I never laughed sooooooooo hard. Gary played Grandma got run over by a reindeer and Bridgette and Brittany held Nora and baby Ginny up like puppets. Ya had to be there!! Pat and Craig did reindeer games.....throw rings around the antlers. Bob and I did the spelling game with letters hung around peoples necks. Brad and Betsy had a set of chimes and we all had ring ours when she pointed to the number on the songs. The kids all dressed up and did the the nativity of the birth of the Christ Child. It was great fun. Then Craig read "The night before Christmas story?

We had a great visit with family. .

The kids nativity skit

Reindeer Games

Ring toss on the antlers

"

Here is Grandma before she

got runover by the reindeer