Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May

Friday, May 22, 2009

I finally figured out how to add more than 4 or 5 pictures to one post! I am such an idiot blogger! This post has lots of pictures!! But they took forever to load. Oh well!

There is an english poet named Robert Herrick who wrote the following poem:

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

The age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime
You may forever tarry.

I love this poem! Today I woke up, saw it was a perfect day, and I said to myself: Time to gather some rosebuds, cowgirl! This very first picture is Lilly's Big Horn saddle. I like it because it is not all leather. This makes it lightweight and easy to maintain. I really don't do much to it. I've had it as long as I have had Lilly and it's been perfect. Before I bought Lilly I always used an english saddle. After one ride, I switched to western. For one thing, I love the horn. And for another, who doesn't want to feel like they are sitting on a couch on the trail??





Here is the most charming brumby you will ever see going down the road to the trail. Whoever invented the crocheted fly bonnet needs to be given twelve dozen roses. When we leave for the trail and we are alone, like we were today, Lilly never makes a fuss about leaving the herd, even though all the horses look at us very intensely. I bet she'd rather be with them. But she hardly ever complains about having to go off with me.


But she does try to get everything in her mouth that she can. I know it is a bad habit to let her see the trail as one big snackfest. But sometimes I do allow her to eat some yummy leaves. After all, I want it to be fun for her too. Clinton Anderson says your horse should feel humbled after going on a trail ride. Hah!



I was able to get this great profile shot only because there was some terrifying tractor noise beyond a stand of trees and over a tiny river. I couldn't see anyone, but we could hear them very well.


Here are some funny mushrooms we saw. Last year I saw a mushroom the size of a hula hoop growing at the base of a tree on this trail. My husband studied mushrooms intensively while at the University of Montana. He knew right away what it was. He would know what these are too, but he just left for the store so I can't ask him. They didn't look very tasty.



Here we are cruising by a beautiful lilac bush.



Uh oh. Here's Brumby chomping down on some more snacks.



We passed the big pasture and found Cody, Charlie and Pokey hanging out in a little circle.



So we went to the gate to visit them.



Cody was particularly affectionate!
After we stopped at this gate, we headed home. At the part of the trail where Lilly really likes to fly up the trail, I held her back and made her walk for most of the hill. But then I let her run. She started at a nice canter...and then turned into a racehorse. Whhhheeeeeeeeeee!!!



Here is Lilly clearly trying to get out of trail gear and back into Lounge Mode.



Well, even though I like the Big Horn saddle best, I do have a little Wintec english saddle, just in case we want to jump in the ring. I put it on her after our ride today just for this picture. The thing must weigh five pounds, it is so light. I hardly ever use it, but am glad I have it.


I hope tomorrow is nice too so I can gather more rosebuds!

3 comments:

Paint Girl said...

Love your bigger pictures! What a great ride today, and thanks for the tour! That is so cute that Cody was rubbing on Lilly!

Anonymous said...

Your brumby is delightful! Don't feel bad - it took me forever to figure out the photo thing on Blogger. Looks like you have had a nice day - like all the pictures. I've ridden both English and Western - one thing that has always deterred me from Western is the weight of the saddle - yours looks good. These days I ride in a close contact English saddle - it fits my horse (who is very hard to fit) so I'll stick with that for now.

juliette said...

Your photos were grand! I feel like I was on the trail ride with you. I am jealous-your trails are lovely. And the lovely Lilly - adorable! I epecially like the picture of Cody kissing Lilly. That is very cute

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