MIA (again)

I have gone MIA again (for good reasons this time).  It's riding and camping season!

Thank you so much to everyone who supported me on the Miracle Ride at Rock Springs.  The event was a big success.

Together, we raised over $1000.

Cathy and KD heading out at Rock Springs State Park

You know Linc can't resist playing in the water

Group shot in the pretty flowers

Marilyn and I

Click HERE for more pics of the Miracle Ride.  HERE is a link to KD's description of the ride.  (She is much better with the details than me.)

A few weeks later we headed to McCulley Farms for the weekend.  We opted to avoid the crowd and skip the fall ride this year.  Instead, we had the whole place to ourselves.  It was nice!

Heading out.  They have some of the nicest trails in FL.

Cory and her grandma, Coral.
(I've recently reconnected with my family.  You have no idea how special this photo is.)

Pretty pic of Cathy and Maybe

Chele and Willy posing for a picture.

Coral on Linc.  (He is one sexy horse!)

:)

Christina and Cathy

Not my best look, but WTH, I'm loving life.

Silly picture of KD playing headbands around the campfire

Click HERE for more pics of our McCulley trip.

Early in November, we headed to River Rise for the annual Thanksgiving ride with the Sante Fe Trailriders.

My sister, Mickayla, on Ranger

Great pic of Chele

Photo opportunity where the river rises.
Cory, Mickayla, Susan, and me

Cory, Mickayla, Coral, and Me

This makes my heart happy!

Coral, Mickayla, and Cory

Love her too!

Beautiful!

I am blessed with great friends!

Group shot

Cory on Chief (still going strong at 25)

Mickayla on Rocky

Mustang butts!

Mmmm...

Last weekend, we explored a new place, Rima Ridge, with some friends I met through the Cracker Ride.  The trails reminded me of Pumpkin Hill - nothing spectacular but still worth the trip.  The campground was fantastic, and you ca't beat the price ($10 a night).  We definitely plan to go back and do some more splorin.

Heading out on our first ride

Christina and I dealing with our ponies.  They both had their panties in a wad.

Happy kid!

The men getting the fire ready to cook over.

Pot Pie in the dutch oven.  Jalapeno poppers in the tin.

Adding the crust to the pie

Poppers are done

Pie is done

Salami bread

Delicious!

We got rained on but no worries.  We had Erik to dry our chairs.

Mitch making monkey bread

One side got too close to the fire, but the other side was delicious!

Organizer, Debbi, and chef, Mitch (who has inspired me to cook with a dutch oven)

Morning girls

Wait for it

Go get it

Got it

Do it again

Stalls were big enough for 2 if they got along

Sunday ride

Mounting block

Linc in the round pen saying, "Don't forget me!"

Several hitching posts

Water pump

Porta poty

Home, sweet home

Tired babies

Click HERE for more Rima Ridge pics.

My computer died...

so I haven't been able to post much.  :(

However, I have to share my excitement.  Cooler weather is almost here and that can only mean one thing -  CAMPING SEASON!!!  FINALLY!  I miss hanging out with my buddies, sitting around a fire, and letting loose.

We've still been riding, but it's with various groups. Here's a few pics from September and October.

Diamond D powerlines 9/8/12

Diamond D powerlines 9/8/12 - Addy was lame, so Christina rode Linc.

 

 

Diamond D powerlines 9/8/12 - Linc loves to play in the water..

Diamond D powerlines 9/8/12 -  Ranger tries to mimic Linc, but he's almost swimming.

Diamond D powerlines 9/8/12 - Fun times!

Diamond D powerlines 9/8/12

Boys Ranch 2012 - First camping trip this season

Boys Ranch 2012- Waiting for the grand entrance

Boys Ranch 2012 - I was extremely proud of Ranger for being so well behaved.  He's going to be great on the cracker trail this year. 

Boys Ranch 2012 - Cory was one of three kids wearing helmets.  It just seems normal to her.

Boys Ranch 2012 - This is a huge accomplishment for Cory.  Rocky is not into obstacles at all.  He thinks they are stupid.  However, she persisted, and he finally did everything she asked.

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012

Boys Ranch 2012 - This cow was HUGE!!!

Boys Ranch 2012

This weekend is 20th Annual Miracle Trail Ride benefiting Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at Rock Springs Run State Reserve.  I am $58 from my goal.  If you could spare a few, please click the link below and donate.  It's for a good cause.  :)

20th Annual Miracle Trail Ride

Dear Friends,

On Saturday, October 13, 2012, I will be participating in the 20th Annual Miracle Trail Ride event. It is a marathon fund raiser on horseback where participants are asked to collect pledges in advance for each mile of the ride they will complete. In its 20 year history, Miracle Trail Ride has raised more than $396,367.26 for the kids!

Net proceeds from the 20th Annual Miracle Trail Ride will benefit Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, an organization dedicated to supporting improved health care for young children. More than 350,000 children come to these two hospitals each year for treatment, including children with cancer, AIDS, and birth defects...organ transplant patients and accident victims...and children living with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, kidney disease and heart disease. Arnold Palmer Medical Center and Shands Hospital for Children at the University of Florida are the participating Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Central Florida.

Join me in making a difference in the lives of patients treated at Arnold Palmer Medical Center and Shands Hospital for Children at UF!

My personal fundraising goal is $250. All donations are tax deductible. Please consider supporting me in this worthy cause by visiting my personal donation page at:

http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=125423

Your dollars can truly make miracles happen for these children, donate today! To learn more about Miracle Trail Ride, please visit www.gocmn.org/events or please search for my name at http://www.helpmakemiracles.org and the click "support this participant".

Thank you for helping make miracles happen!

Michelle  =)