Giovanna's First Adventure

Looking where we came from...

Not to be outdone by Berhwood, Giovanna went for her first adventure today.   I took her on the same path as Ber and I traveled yesterday, but I walked her all the way out.   Wasn't sure if she would be steady or spooky.  She did great, and was much calmer and more settled than she's ever been, anywhere. This herd life really suits her, and this ranch has good energy.

It is a rare overcast, muggy day here. Still over 100 degrees, but the shade is nice.

The trail goes along the edge of the pasture the herd is in, except the pasture follows the ridge of a hill.  As we walked off down the trail, the rest of the herd walked along the fence line. They looked like they were going up an escalator as they rose with the hill.  We left them behind and ventured out into the ranch.   

The next section of trail to explore....

I rode Gio back. Boy does she walk out quick!  She was much steadier than I expected, and not in a terrible hurry to get back to the herd.   All in all, another good horse day.

Herd buddies just neighed, hence the cocked ear and eye....

Canning season has arrived. First up was plum jam.  These were clingstone plums, so we experimented with methods for getting the plum flesh free from the pits.   Cooking the plums in a bit of water, then cooling them and fishing out the pits worked well.   Pretty much no loss of juice or flesh that way.  Hands get stained, but that's okay!  Reminds me of my mom's hands when it was blackberry picking season.

Looking to the yonder.

Today is pickled beets. Tomorrow or Thursday will be Asian Plum Sauce. I had one jar left from the infamous Rio Dell plum canning of 2011, and we used it the other night in stir fry. Jay thought it was awesome and we need more.   :)

Where we came from....