"Into the West" The Norco Mounted Posse, Trail Riders

"Into the West" the Norco Mounted Posse Trail Ride is my first post, in a series of post, relating to the history behind the East Mojave Desert. For the last Twenty-one years, the Norco Mounted Posse has sponsored a, twice a year horse back ride, where riders cross the Mojave Desert by horse back upon the Old Mojave trail.

They spend a couple of nights at our friends Bud Smiths ranch. His ranch is down around the mountain from ours. While at Buds ranch, they spend a day riding trails in the East Mojave Desert. Camp out around the Bonfire, eat some great outdoor cooking while enjoying some skits and good company.....

Here is a group of the riders as they rode into Buds Ranch.....

After 27 miles they are still having a great time......

This is Ron and Washney.....

Kimmie and her horse...

Kimmie works with horses for a living.....she also trains Clydesdale's! Below I rode Washney

Our dear beloved Bud passed away this last year. "Everyone misses you, Bud!!!!!" Bud is like a second father to my husband, so we will gladly have the horse back riders camp at our place next year, if need be....

The goody truck...drinks, treats, and happy servers....

Cute little Dudley, he is a newbie to the area....


a much needed drink for the horses....

OK, I found this to be so funny, yet cute....as in who knew!!!...These horses get upset, if you do not park them next to their buddies....they let you know that they are upset. No worries tho, I found a carrot or apple made things all better....in fact you can make a life long friend with a horse that way......

Below is Jason's horse, he works for the Bureau of Land and Management...It was very nice to meet him.....the BLM is the Wild Horse and Burro Compliance Specialist. It is very big on my heart, so Jason and I will be talking in the future.

Bonnie's horses......

Ringing the dinner bell, it smelled soooo good and you bet everyone was ready......

The riders bring their tents.....

Each night ends hanging around the camp fire....

Well, I hope you all enjoyed my first post from into the West.....

My son and I are going to see Wolverine Friday nite!!! Anyone else going??? I will be posting a tutorial this next week on how to spark up a plain pillow, so see you then....Hope you all have a wonderful weekend....Hugs....Lisa

Totally Useless Sal....

My first Sal post......I chose a large jar because I do alot of crochet. Here is what I have so far!!!!

Totally useless sal is an artful yet totally useless endeavor! It is a stitch along with a Jar of your choice, that you agree to put all of your "stitching throw aways" in. Each month, on the New Moon, you post your progess. On December 16, Sal will end with the beautiful projects we have created. Maybe even a Trade and one or more totally useless Prize's!!!

If you would like to join in on this fun, just check YoYo's site, "Dragon my needle" for more info and sign up!

Also for those checking back on my ranch post, I'm still working on it! Sorry it is taking longer then I planned! I'm working thru the time line on information from the 1900's....So please check back and have a wonderful day....Lisa

Wow, I was gone a little longer from my blog then planned ! We had a wonderful time at the ranch. I was able to take lots of photos and will post them in two different post this upcoming week. One post will be about the history of my Husbands family's homestead that had burned down in the days of the wild wild west! I went to the original location of the homestead and old school house and took lots of photos....I also took photos of the horse back riders that ride the old Mojave trail twice a year. They have always stop and stay two or three days at a friends ranch. He sadly passed away this Winter so we will now gladly provide a camping site for the riders.

Well, remember the crochet project I took with me on our vacation?.... I finished it! Yes and I love it!!! But, I must say it took me longer then I thought it should have, and somehow I added more stitches to the bottom then Lucy had, "not sure how I did this!" So my bag looks a little fuller. But, I still like it!! What do you all think?? Here's a picture. I think it will make a great run around summer bag.....Thank you Lucy for taking the time to create and post your Pattern!!!!


Also, when we arrived home we found that we had some very happy little tomatoes growing in our garden!!! Happy signs of spring!!!!


Of course there was also these two! The inseparable dog and chicken! They were very happy to see us....These two really didn't care! They are always on vacation!!!

After church this morning I spent some time in the kitchen making these homemade Blackberry Tarts. We spent the evening having them with some coffee and a good movie....so yummy!!!!

Well, I hope you all had as lovely a weekend as we did and don't forget to check back by this week to see lots more pictures like this one......:)

Taking a Vacation....

My husband and I are ready for an Easter getaway! So we are going to take a week long trip up to our ranch with some friends. I have a wonderful book and a new Crochet project that I will be taking along. It is this very colorful cute as can be purse in the picture below......I think it will be adorable with shorts, and colorful summer tees....

You can find the pattern here on Lucy's site over at Attic24.typepad.com "sorry I could not get that to link to her site"...she is such a delight!
O, I can't wait to just sit out there in the beauty of it all and stitch away. Enjoy some bonfires at night, hot coco, and boardgames, then end the day with a good book and a fire in the fireplace....:)

Our ranch is located in the "Mojave National Preserves." The area makes for a nice family getaway. There is a lot to see if you have never been and the park service can fill you in on some of the real life western stories that took place out on the Preserves or you can see pictures and artifacts in the museum.

My Husbands Grate Grandfather use to time the trains coming in at Kelso depot. We have his original gold stop watch with chain. They have now turned the depot into a museum and a coffee/lunch counter. His Grandfather use to attend school when it only had a handful of students. The first homestead that his Grate Grandfather grew up in was burned down by some very bad cowboys that also took a whip to his Grate Grandmother, short of killing her. The old bed frame still sticks up out of the ground amongst pretty color broken bottles, bits and pieces of their house, china, stove, etc. Indian artifacts can still be found while taking walks and lots and lots of beautiful land, any which way you turn! You can check out the link up above to get an idea of what there is to do if you would like to plan a trip.

Well, I hope you all have a very lovely warm fulfilling Easter! I will check back in when we get home and if I finish my project I will post some pictures.....Lisa