October Wrap-Up & 'Back in the Saddle!'

  We have been so crazy-busy since I began teaching as a long-term sub (wish I could keep the job!). I am basically making min. wage (or less!) with the hours I put in, & no benefits, but I am so happy anyway!!
  This is the monkey at the Cuddy Valley Pony Club Fall Harvest Festival. Next year, anyone with kids HAS to come! They give the kids a FREE pony or horse ride (about 1/4 mile or more). Additional laps are only $2, they have yummy goodies for sale, and it is all in a beautiful setting!

The monkey also got to ride a big horse....





















The big news for me, personally, is that momma got to be
BACK in the SADDLE again!

I was soooo happy that Sharon Bonfield let me take a few laps on 'Luke.' I was a little rusty (had to remember how to post on the correct diagonal), but I had sooo much fun!!! Woo Hoo!!

Halloween!!

The monkey was Davey Crockett, and lookes so cute!!

Monkey had so much fun trick-or-treating, and the homes in Pinon Pines went all-out with the decorating!!

Monkey Business

So, the monkey has been having a great month. We did some peach picking at M&M on Oct. 1, for the 'Last Chance' peaches. Yummy, but I think my favorite is the Ryan's Sun. Aaaaaah, now we have to wait for cherries in June...

On our way to M&M, we took Pine Canyon to 3 Points, instead of staying on the 138. Gorgeous drive with spectacular views...

This is where the southbound part of the Ridge Route soon turns to a dirt road & goes all the way to Castaic.

On October 16, the monkey & two other pack members sold popcorn at the Flying J (that truck stop that most people think is Frazier Park, & does not at all reflect what it is like to live here). They were able to sell two cases to raise money for the pack!!
  Now, I'm a little more caught up. I am exhausted after happily teaching all week, and being done with meetings three days in a row (HOA, cub scouts &  Chamber of Commerce). No wonder I'm sick!! LOL

Catching Up; Beautiful Horse Visits Our School!

Wow, I am sooo behind!! On Sept. 30, the wonderful Mrs. C brought one of her beautiful horses to visit the Gorman School. Sorry, can't remember his name (I'm sick!). Anyway, she showed how she cares for his natural, unshod hooves, & everyone was able to pet him.

  The campus of Gorman School is so pretty, and we allegedly even have a ghost! No one currently at the school has encountered her. I have been there alone on numerous occasions, and if there is a ghost, she must be really nice, as I have only had good 'vibes' there.

  The story is that there were fields where the school is now. A little girl who lived on the farm really wanted to go to school. One day, she jumped off her father's tractor to greet the school bus, and was accidentally run over. The school is supposedly built over her resting place. I will actually be telling Harriet's story this Saturday at the Ridge Route Museum, during my monthly storytime/craft.

Chamber of Commerce Mixer at Beale Adobe

   I have a lot of catching up to do! A week ago Thursday, I took the hub to the Chamber of Commerce mixer at the Beale Adobe. It is on Tejon Ranch Land, & the headquarters of the High Desert Hunt Club. It is an awesom location, with a lot of history. General Beale built it in the 1800's (around 1864 if I recall correctly). This is a barbed wire sculpture of the Tejon Ranch brand.

   You drive down a dirt road, then suddenly you happen upon the pretty grounds of the adobe, with a nice pond. It would be a great location for a wedding.

   Tejon put on an awesome spread (which of course I didn't photograph!) Caterer was amazing, & out of Bakersfield. Rustic artisan sandwiches on whole wheat biscuits, grilled vegetables w/a balsamic dipping sauce, brie w/raspberries, panna cotta, Tejon Ranch wine, etc...No wonder there was a great turnout!
   Barry Zoeller, a big wig & spokesperson for Tejon gave a brief history of General Beale. The hub & I spoke with him later, and found out Tejon has been a publicly traded company since the 1930's, if I recall correctly (perhaps 1940's). Was founded by several prominent men and combined a number of large ranches into one.

      This is the kitchen; note the Tejon logo on the iron fixture holding the cooking pans...

   This was a cozy room in the adobe...

Display of vintage shotgun shell boxes...

   Very special location...

Kern County Fair, Etc.

Last Friday, we went to dinner at Hotel Noriega with our friends K & T, and had a blast (Moscow Mules first, of course). And yet again, I took no photos (it's that good, I'm enjoying myself too much). We had beef stew, lamb and all the Basque fixin's. YUM. And, no kids! That K is hilarious, and kept me in stitches the whole night...

   Enroute to the fair, we saw the most amazing lightning storm (turns out it was hitting where we live, and raining).
   We saw the tail-end of the Doobie Brothers concert (not my cup of tea, but sounded great). The next night, we had an amazing birthday dinner at my friend L's house, & her hubby cooked. Wow, carnitas & these great vegetarian black bean enchiladas with chipotle sauce, as well as margaritas with fresh lime juice. AND...we went to the fall Pine Mountain wine festival on Saturday. What a great weekend!!

My Veggie Garden Attempt

   My family in Japan has a farm, so growing food is in my blood. This is one of our first eggplants that we ate last week. I'm going to cook some for the kids in the class I am subbing in when I get more, since most of them have never tried it.

Look at that cute 'Mooshka!' He has blossomed so much, and we are so proud of our rehabilitated maniac...

This photo was taken about a week or so ago. I have way more squash, and it is getting much larger! I have some mystery squash I grew from seed taking off as well. I think & hope it is spaghetti squash, and that it doesn't take as long as pumpkins to grow...

Busy, Busy, Busy!

   Last weekend, I had my "Magic Bookshelf" storytime at M&M peach ranch. It was awesome; Bill Basner walked us around the ranch, and we learned about growing peaches (e.g. all of his trees are grafted onto plum bases), cherries and even his new persimmons and pomegranates. Next year, Mr. Basner is going to put in a pumpkin patch, and we are going to have a special pumpkin festival weekend! The kids all received two free peaches, and a lot of us went peach picking afterward...

Here are the baby pomegranate bushes. Some have flowers and fruit, but they aren't mature enough to have a harvest this year. Next year should be their first productive year.

   Remember how pretty the grounds are? Great spot for a wedding!

   Aaaah..."Last Chance" peaches...I am waiting for these to be ready to pick! They should be ready in a week or two, and I will be there! Today was the last day for the Ryan's Sun. I have two bags of the Ryan's Sun frozen, so I can enjoy a peach pie in the middle of winter...
   I'll try and post about THIS weekend's happenings tomorrow!