Howdy Y'all! This evening will probably be my last at home post on this blog. YEEHAWW! FINALLY!!
We will be heading out yonder come the break of dawn in the morning!

The past couple of days around here have been pretty hectic. I think today it really topped it off. Having some things we just had to leave until last thing(s) to do. Seems that wound up being more than overwhelming. But, it's now done! We hope. One thing for sure, a few miles down the road tomorrow, I for one, am not gonn'a even give a hoot!

So until my next post, everyone stay well, healthy and happy!
Giddy Up!

This day has heartache in it. My beautiful, loveable, sweet Daisy won't be going West with us. Instead she went to Pet Heaven this morning. R.I.P. my sweet Daisy. I am the cause. Making my heartbreak even worse. I didn't know she was in front of my truck as I went through my drive way.
I had returned to my house to run in and grab my camera. I had forgotten to take it with me earlier this morning when I left. Daisy wasn't at my side when I went back out to get into my truck as she usually does. She's use to me going to work when I leave the house, and I back out of my drive. Instead today, my U driveway was empty, so I just pulled forward. I never knew she was there, never even seen her! I was thinking she was at the side of the house since she wasn't at my side. Today just had to be so out of sync. "IF" only I had backed my truck (as I am sure she was expecting) out of the driveway my Daisy might still be here and going with us on our journey. We are so missing her. It hurts badly when you lose a fur family, even harder being the cause of. I'm so very sorry my precious Daisy.
My heart aches.

Today was medi-pedicure day for our horses. Most of them where also shod today. The only two that was not shod, Jake the mule, and Diamond the 3 yr old. We discussed this matter with our farrier. Kyle felt that the mule, Jake, would do fine without shoes and only a trim. We won't be riding Diamond, so he says she should be fine also with just a trim.

Working on Jake, are farriers, Kyle (working w/hoof) and Nathan standing and holding Jake

  
Ol'Red, Flicka, and Sugar behaved nicely for the farriers, Kyle and Nathan. For the most part so did Jake. He wasn't really fond of his back hooves being fooled with. But, Kyle went into his trailer he pulled on the back of his pickup and came out with the solution! A rope. He roped his back feet one at a time. Nothing traumatic, but a good safe precaution and it even helped Jake too.
Diamond was a whole different gig. She was a naughty-naughty girl today! Never before have we had an issue with her raising either of her legs. She surrenders without issue. Not today. Diamond rared up and pawed Nathan right on his head! I thought for sure Nathan was going to pass out. He shook it off though and started assuring us he was alright. He must surely be one hard -headed man!
Miss Diamonds misbehaving didn't deter either one of them. They went right on back to work and Diamond got her hooves trimmed rather she wanted too or not!
Kyle and Nathan did some great work today. Thanks fella's! We really appreciated them. Kyle even told us if we have any problems on our journey to call him. He knows of several farriers towards the direction we will be traveling in. This is comforting to know.

Bobby put the horses back into the catch pen for awhile after the farriers had finished with them. After a couple of hours passed he got them all back out and tied them each up to a trailer. We then brushed and groomed on them. We also decided Jake should try out his new outfit for the journey. I think he looks real spiffy! Wearing his pack like a real trooper.

There is a lot of thought and work in preparing to leave out on a journey like this. One also wouldn't really think that to carry so much less, it would take up so much time figuring it all out. Some how it just does. Then for us and the horses, we all have to keep on working at it all to try and prepare for the days-weeks-months ahead.
Know what? We are ALL loving every single minute of this and still can hardly wait till THAT DAY arrives!

                                            Tamor Veterinary Service, Magnolia, MS.
We've had a busy past two days. I notice that my camera date is 1 day in arrears. I need to try and fix this. Yesterday, we loaded up our traveling stock (which has increased) and off to our vet we went. Coggins day and health check. The coggins test results should arrive back to the vets on Mon. June 11th. We will be going and picking it up, verses in the mail. This now puts our leaving date as June 12th. I asked Dr. Gordon and his assistant, of Tamor Veterinary Service in Magnolia, MS., if I could include their picture too? Ah shuckens, it seems they were both just too camera shy~

Loading our traveling buddies first thing that morning went fairly uneventful, kind'a, sort'a. We did have a few moments of challenges at first, when it came to loading up Diamond, the 3 yr old. She has only been trailered just a very few times.
Ol'Red, the horse Bobby is riding, loaded right on up, old hat for him. Next was Sugar, she is also coming with us on our journey. Our grandson, Mikey, is cowboying up to ride with us on our journey! More prepping, but oh so worth it! He will be riding Sugar, our 8 yr old trail ridden, bomb proof, quarter horse. Needless to say, she loads in any trailer just fine. Sugar will do anything you ask of her. Mikey has fell in love with her already.
Jake the pack mule, couldn't wait his turn to load and just went right on in after Sugar. Jake doesn't want to miss out on anything the others are doing :) Flicka, my horse was ready to load so aboard she went to her place in the trailer. Then it was Diamonds turn to be loaded. She approached the trailer as if she was going to step right on in. Ha, Nope, at the last second she changed her mind. She merely was bluffing us. We circled her around a few times and back to load and every time, uh~nope, just not happening.
Right next to the catch pen is a chute where cattle can go thru to be loaded. Bobby had an idea to run Diamond thru there. Moving the horse trailer to the cattle chute opening, she'd have no where else to go but aboard the horse trailer. At the same time we were trying to do our best to not traumatize her of loading either. That worked like a charm! Perfectly. She loaded right up, as if it was her idea all along. We figured we'd find a way to re-load her at the vets office, somehow.

Left to right, Diamond, Sugar, Mikey's ride, and my horse Flicka. Why is it every time I have my camera in hand to take their picture, they turn their rears to me???

Bobby, his horse Ol'Red, and our grandson Mikey. The only one not pictured of our traveling stock was Jake our pack mule. He decided to remain inside the trailer.

All of the horses unloaded at the vets perfectly. They all were very well behaved too! Not one single complaint from any of them during their blood draw. Jake too, though he became a tad bashful and remained loaded in the trailer. Dr. Gordon said that was fine with him. When time came to load them all back into the trailer. They were awesome! Even Diamond step right on in without blinking an eye. I was so proud of all of them :)


Today, the UPS truck arrived this evening about 6:30. Two boxes were handed over to me! YEEHAWW!
Bobby opened both boxes and we just eww'ed and awed over the gear we had just received! From outfitterssupply.com we received our saddle pannier for our pack mule, pair of tree straps, and a 6.5 gallon collapsible water trough. I highly recommend this place. They carry lots of supplies for the trail. Plus, when you call you actually get to talk to real folks and they are very friendly, and helpful!

The other box contained, 2 rain gear 4 horse back riding suits that I had ordered off  Ebay. Not included was our grandson's which was extremely disappointing to us. I haven't given up the hope of receiving it just yet though. I ordered his a day later than ours. Perhaps, he will get his tomorrow? Keep fingers crossed. The tracking stated it as included in this order though. I have written to the seller, hopefully this matter will soon be settled. If not before we leave, we will still see to it he stays as dry as we do on our journey. Even if it isn't exactly the same kind of rain gear as the other two are.

Have I mentioned lately just how EXCITED we all are? YEEHAWW!!!!!!!!!!

Today was my last working day at my job. Tough day. I am sure going to miss my store family, and many, many of  the great customers (I think of as my friends) that go there. Hugs were exchanged, phone numbers and addresses were given to me, so I can try and keep everyone updated during our journey.  Lots of laughs today with my work buddies too. As they are for the most part still thinking I have lost my mind. Imagine that? They teased me with kindness and sent their well wishes with me in the end. What great folks :)

The gear that we ordered online should be arriving here the middle of this week. We're anxiously waiting. In just a few days we will have the saddle pannier (the pack for the mule), collapsible water bucket, to water the horses, and the straps for putting around the trees for when we use a highline to tie our horses to. These straps help by not causing damages the trees. We're taking this journey with "leave no trace behind" attitude. Also, our rain gear should be here about the same time.
As dry as it's been, I am kind'a hoping we will need to use our rain gear. Poor Texas, last year had such a horrible drought. I hope it's not a repeat this year. New Mexico right now, is having its largest ever wild fire in the Gila National Forest. I sure had high hopes of possibly going thru some outskirts of the Gila National Forest, but that may not even be accessible. Such a beautiful area, what a shame.

We have portable solar now! Yes! Bobby bought a solar kit so we will be able to charge our cell phones, and laptop. The kit even came with a solar lantern! Thanks goes out to my son Josh, for helping point Bobby in the right direction with this too! I had been looking online at solar stuff and hadn't seen anything like what we have now:)
So YEEHAWW! Time is growing nearer and we are becoming more prepared as each day passes.