Now that cold weather has set in, I want to share this post as a reminder of warmer days... somehow, I overlooked getting it online. We took a lovely trip to our high country house the first weekend in November, trailering Rose up for a weekend hike. We felt especially lucky after the long and busy summer and fall to have two nights to spend together at the 'old home place', where we raised our children and lived for many years.
Here, Rose has her sawbuck pack saddle and two wooden pack boxes, which we got second-hand, tied on and ready to go... she gets to carry the lunch.
She knows it is time to go to work when loaded up and wants you to see how good she looks from the front!
Though it is only mid-morning in this shot, the slanting light reminds me that winter is rapidly approaching and being able to take such hikes will soon be impossible, as the yard of our house in the background will be filled with snow in another month and a half, and likely stay that way until March.
We headed out from the house, located in the historic mining district of Forest City, and out one of the oldest roads, called Mountain House Road.
This one's for Smith; he will definitely recognize the shirt.
Glenn led Rose while I admired the scenery, though we both commented on how most of the deciduous trees had lost their leaves already in the winds from the heavy rainstorms two weeks before.
We soon took a four-wheel drive road, originally another old trail, called Sandusky, and stopped at a stock pond for lunch.
Here, Rose is hoping to share my lunch with me - check out that nose!
She did get apples, but not the cheese, and it turned out she was more interested in trying to snag a bite of our tuna sandwiches... donkeys love carbs!
As you can see, one of the nicest features of the hand-made pack boxes is that they also work very well as a table or a bench, making lunch a happy affair.
A beautiful trail, a sunny afternoon, and our donkey Rose - what more could we need to feel like we were in heaven?
The reward at home
For Rose, it was more apples and a fresh growth of grass in the yard while for us it was getting to be in the high country and watch her enjoy it!
On a more timely note, perhaps you noticed the Blogaversary button ticking away in my sidebar of late.... I am preparing a special giveaway, thanks to Bev's sharing with me her birthday giveaway tradition, so come back by on the 9th!
