Progress Report Delay

Yesterday was the first day of my nine day paid vacation from work.... I had all these plans to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and brother.... to go fishing.... to just have some quality family time that I've missed a lot lately.... and yesterday my husband spent all day puking with the stomach flu....

So I had to cancel my surprise trip that I was going to tell you all about and I can't be with my family because I can't risk my brother getting sick (compromised immune system).  So I've spent the first two days of my vacation taking care of my sick husband, having panic attacks (I have that vomit phobia thing) and disinfecting my entire house.  Oh and doing everything in my power to keep from getting sick which includes sleeping on the very uncomfortable couch (or trying to sleep).  At least I will get to spend Thanksgiving with my husband and my best friend who is back in town for the week (after not seeing her for three months).  I just miss my family and I'm sad about missing out on my favorite holiday dinner.  :(

I'm trying to focus on what I have to be thankful for, but it's been hard, so I'm taking a break from the blogs and I'll do the progress report when I can.  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family and wonderful food.  :)

My First Photobook

I'm so exited, I finally got a photobook done of all of my own photos!  Here is a video of the book.  I sped it up so you don't have to sit watching it for three minutes.  Sorry it blurs sometimes.  I should have used my other camera, but I forget what the video does on this one.  Anyway I had the book made by Shutterfly and it wasn't unreasonably priced since I used a 50% off sale when I ordered it lol.  I think it turned out great and I'm pretty excited.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  :D

Chrome's Eleventh Ride - First Ride on the Road - Pictures!!!!

 I haven't ridden Chrome since August because of various problems including his abscess and sweet itch, but yesterday I finally climbed back in the saddle.... err bareback hehe.  It was only his eleventh ride (although I have sat on his back while he ate his supper a few times over the last couple of weeks) and we ventured out on the road for the first time!!  It was soooo much fun!  :D  Here are the pictures (in the order they were taken; captions below photos).

Oh, first bit of exciting news is my husband finally sat on Chrome for the first time!!!  He couldn't ride long because his back was hurting, but I'm excited he finally got on him.  Looks good up there huh (well I'm not fond of his ugly, plaid, over-sized jacket but I won't hold that against him)?  :D  Notice Chrome's rear hoof?  He is so relaxed about this whole riding thing.  Hehe.

First time on the road!  We started out with my hubby holding the rope, but when we knew Chrome was fine he turned us loose.  He's still so narrow!  Look at my ridiculously long legs hanging out in midair lol.

The sun was kind of cool in this one.  Oh and I'm wearing my husband's other plaid jacket.  I like the gray plaid way better than the brown hehe.  :)

I like how this one turned out.  Not sure what we were looking at though lol.

He was soooo excited and eager on the way out with his head and ears up, but then when we turned around his ears relaxed out sideways and his head dropped.  I think he was disappointed to be headed home so soon.  I love how relaxed he is though.  I didn't want to go too far his first time since we were on pavement and I didn't want him to see the neighbor's horses and get too excited.  :)

I LOVE the fall colors!  Such an awesome time of year.

We're watching Faran and Zep.  :)

 He got bored and started playing with his rope hehehe!

 

Headed back to the pasture.

Waiting for Faran and Zep to come back around to us before my husband turned us loose again.  I didn't want them galloping up and Chrome getting too excited hehe.

This turned out so cute!  It shows the size difference between the three (click to enlarge).  I love how all of their ears are forward too.  Chrome is downhill from the other two, but not much.  He's technically almost three inches shorter than Faran.

I love how relaxed he is!

Hehe, he didn't much appreciate his hug.  :)

Best place ever for a nap.... well until he starts chewing on your foot hehe.

This is hilarious!  He didn't want to put his ears forward for the picture so I leaned on his neck and pushed them forward.  Please ignore the creepy, silly expression on my face lol!

Pushing his ears forward again, but without the scary face lol.  He is so tolerant of my antics.  :D

Chrome kept trying to wander off and I was trying to keep him close to the corral so my husband could take pictures without walking around too much (back was hurting and he'd been up over twenty four hours because of his nighttime weekend job), but Chrome was so insistent that after he stood quietly for a few minutes I finally let him wander off to see what he wanted......

I pulled my legs up as he waded through thorny blackberry bushed.....

He wandered halfway across the thirty acres of our lease land and stopped to drop some pasture muffins (I'll spare you the picture) and then wandered a little further.....

..... and stopped for a pee!  I couldn't figure out why he stopped and was trying to get him to walk when my husband told me he was peeing!  I cracked up and he got this picture lol.  The mare I had growing up HATED to empty her bladder while being ridden, so I was surprised how comfortable he was with stopping for a potty break hehehe.  He didn't even care that I was cackling.  He looks half asleep lol!

After relieving himself he walked off and tried to graze, but I wouldn't let him so he promptly walked up to this bush and started eating it LOL!  Persistent, smart boy.  :)  He obediently moved on when I asked him too.  I'm glad he's not going to be obnoxious about trying to eat while being ridden.  Oh and I LOVE his pretty tail.  :D

Sorry for sharing a picture of him exposing himself, but it's soooo cute I had to share.  I like his expression and how the trees behind us are practically glowing with the setting sun lol.  

My husband cut my head off......  still cute though.  He was playing with the wagon.  :)

After the ride I gave him a hug....  You can almost see him thinking "Enough with the hugs woman!  I just want grass!"  LOL!

The End!

Haha I just wanted to share a picture of his gorgeous tail!!  And I only barely brushed it because our neighbors drove up while I was grooming him before the ride lol.