Tuesday, September 25, 2012

City Slickers, Swimming and Golf

September 25, 2012.  Today we went horseback riding.  Among the 8 of us we had varying degrees of experience.  And I kid you not when I say the trail guide's name was Crusty, or Cranky as I liked to call him.  Seriously, it was right out of the movie City Slickers.  I was yelled at several times by Crusty and not allowed to bring my camera on the trail ride.  Luckily Johnny was able to bring his camera and the assistant guide, MJ, took pictures for us.

Phyllis was a good sport and got on the demo barrel so Crusty could give us some tips before we hit the trail.

We all looked really cool in our helmets.  Some of us got the super cool cowboy hat helmets.  I was not one of them. 
 
Right before we were ready to mount, Crusty's horse bolted.  Not really reassuring for those of us who were more novice with riding.
 
We were quite the gang of riders.  It was a beautiful countryside.
 
Scott was one of Crusty's favorites.  He was an excellent rider...brownoser!
 
Crusty was picking on me from the beginning so it was a bit of a stressful ride as you can see from my concentration face.
 
 Johnny and Nadine had well behaved horses. Mine came with special instructions...lucky me.
 
My nemesis Crusty.  Doesn't he look mean??
 
When we put the horses back in the field they were rolling on their backs.  I had never seen this before.  Guess they were glad to be rid of us humans off their backs. 
 
 
When we got back to the house it was time for the dogs to swim!
Sawyer would retrieve all day if I let him.  He's trying to figure out how he can get both of these bumpers.
  
Even Brooke swam!  I was shocked.  She jumped in, went after bumpers, even chasing Sawyer for his. 
 
She just swam across the pond as a short cut.  She was like an alligator slinking out of the water.
 
Sawyer says 'Really, Larry, can't you get your own bumper?'  Larry thought it was much easier to grab from the others who went into the water to retrieve.
 
Sharon did not go swimming but did have fun running around the pond.
 
Perhaps Daisy needs goggles so she can swim with her eyes open.
 
Larry and Brooke take a time out to stop at the salad buffet.
 
Puppy Larry got in a swim too.



Sawyer is a swimming fool and just loves it. He actually shakes to go back in.
 
 
After swim time the boys played a round of golf.  Barb & Frank built their own 9 hole course on the property.  It's tricky, passing the pond several times.
 
John retrieves his ball from the pond, not the first and certainly not the last for the guys.
 
And what's golf without a cigarette and scotch, right Frank.
 
Kurplunk!...see the ball in the top right of the photo about to plunge into the pond.  Good thing they had floatable golf balls. 
 
This looks like the great debate of who has to retrieve the ball, Scott or Johnny.  There's got to be a better solution.
 
Good thing the dogs are able to help out with retrieving the balls...too bad they were grabbing them off the course rather than out of the water.  Silly Dude and Larry!
 
Now I don't play golf myself but this looks like a difficult shot for John.
 
By the end Scott was getting the hang of it.  Look at this great shot!
 


Monday, September 24, 2012

The Falls...Not the Crappy Side

September 24, 2012.  Scott and I took a day trip to Niagara Falls today.  According to our friend Barb, a Canadian, we had to see the "good side of the falls, not the crappy American side."  It was a beautiful day and we did several touristy things. 

Double Rainbow and a view of the (crappy) American side.
 
Spectacular Horseshoe Falls (Canada side) with the Maid of the Mist.
 
Maid of the Mist under a rainbow.
 
And what would a trip to the falls be without going on the Maid of the Mist.  You can't actually take pictures while on the boat because it is VERY wet.
 
 
 
The still photos don’t really justify the power of the falls so I took a short video clip.
 
We ate dinner at the rotating dining room in Skylon Tower.  Yes, you have to get there on that outside elevator...Yikes!
 
It was worth it to see the view!  Even of the US side.

And Canada, Eh!

We didn’t get to this attraction which I called the Niagara Eye…as in London, so we'll have to come back.

We did walk through the Casino but didn’t have enough time for Scott to join a game of poker.  I was so bummed…Not!

 


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Oh Canada!

September 23, 2012.  Well it's been a very long time since I blogged and I know have have tons of stuff to catch up on and hopefully one day I'll be able to do that.  A few months ago I started a new business, Active Paws Photo, so that's been keeping me very busy.  Hopefully it will do well and I won't have to return to the stressful corporate world.  You can see my work at www.activepawsphoto.com  Now, back to present day.  It's time for our annual Wine Country show circuit trip.  This year we received an invite from our friends Barb & Frank to come and visit them in Canada prior to the show rather than spending the full week in NY.  We jumped at the chance since their property is beautiful and all our dogs are welcome!  So we're here in beautiful Canada and the dogs (and people) are having a fabulous time! 

This is Barb and Frank's back yard, any question why we jumped at the chance to come here.  It's so beautiful here!! 

Here's the back of the house.
 
The kids are having a great time running around the property.  Hopefully we'll get some swimming in soon. 
 
Sawyer patrolling the grounds.
 
Sharon running amok.
 
Desi, the man of the house.
 
Desi and Sawyer are getting along fine.  What great boys!
 
Daisy thinks we're going hunting.
 
Brooke is forgetting her age and running around like mad.
 
I think Sawyer is trying to fly.
 
The older girls, Brooke and Sharon, checking around the pond.
 
Sharon says 'You can't catch me!'
 
Brooke says 'Yes I can!'

 
'Here I come!'
 
'What do you think, is it sanitary?'  Daisy and Sawyer investigate the pond. I'm sure when I break out the bumpers tomorrow they'll be jumping right in.
 
Miss Daisy, exploring.
 
Sawyer, King of the Stairs.
 
Larry, Prince of the Stairs.