The 4th and Beyond!

Well, Sienna has been gone a week and a half now. I do still miss her, but I've found it very easy to fall into the "less work" routine of being down one horse. Plus her new owners seem very happy with her, which makes me happy.

This fourth of July weekend was fun. Philip and I went and met my mom, sister, brother, and grandparents at my aunt and uncle's house north of Austin. We swam, watched fireworks, and got to ride horses! My aunt and uncles have five horses and are looking for a sixth to add to their herd. They have three kids, so with the sixth horse, everyone will be able to go riding together (one of their horses is my aunt's retired, 30 year old quarter horse who is getting to spend his days hanging out).

After riding around the pasture, my aunt, Philip, and I went out to ride around the neighborhoods and roads around their house. My aunt rode the horse she is trying out, Weller, a 16.1 hand quarter horse, I rode Stretch, a quarter horse who is also 16+ hands, and Philip rode Rusty, a maybe 14.3 gelding that one of the kiddos usually rides. It brought me a lot of laughter.

Riding was a lot of fun, especially with such bomb-proof horses. At one point a jack rabbit practically exploded through the bushes right next to Stretch, and he didn't even flinch. Another time 4 birds flew up in his face. None of the horses batted an eyelash.

We reached a mowed down section of open pasture, and I decided to let Stretch, well, stretch out his legs a bit. My aunt had told me that he had really smooth gaits, almost like a gaited horse. And she wasn't lying. I don't think I've ever ridden a smoother horse. It was just lovely. At one point I looked up, and there went Philip, loping by on Rusty. He just smiled at me, perfectly at ease.

I wish I had photos of us riding. My grandmother had been in charge of that. However, when I asked her to send me the photos she took, she replied, "Apparently I took videos instead." Womp womp.

This weekend was also exciting in that Romeo returned!

Turning into a distinguished, older gentleman

He had spent the last couple of weeks in Katy with my parents while I went to the job interview in Dallas and had the exterminator come (meaning one less animal to take to work that day). I'm not sure who was happier to see him, me or Fiona. Or who he was happier to see, for that matter. He immediately reclaimed his spot on my bed that night.

Fiona is always snuggled up with someone

Oh, and about me taking Ramses and Fiona to work? Ramses sat in his carrier the first part of the day, but at lunch I shut the door to my office and let him explore, which he happily did, chatting me up all the while.

Why hello, mother! What are we doing in this weird place?

Then, after his curiosity had been satisfied, he walked up under my desk, laid down at my feet, and stayed there until I put him back in his kennel.

He is the best, and most luxurious, cat.

Yes, peasant, continue petting me.