Horse back riding

Papa’s World – Looking back – some memories.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Living in NVA for 20 years – we became Washington Commanders fans!

We lived five miles from their headquarters and practice fields!

Many times in the season –

I would take a half-day vacation and go to those fields!

I could see players and coaches up close.

These are memories I shall always cherish from the past!

Six years ago – the day Maddy signed her letter of intent – to play soccer at –

The University of Lynchburg!

In her career, she made the all-conference third teams –

All-conference second teams.

And in her final senior year captain.

They won their way into the NCAA nationwide tournament two out of the four years.

Memories that will last the rest of my life!

The day we took Bode and Taylor by Metro into D.C. –

And visited the museum and THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE!

A replicate of the nation’s WHITE HOUSE!

Here is Taylor sitting at the President’s desk –

And Bode and MORMOR at the chairs for visitors!

I am sure that as well as I –

they will have this as a lifetime memory!

The little girl who since she was three years old-

loves Horses!

Today – she spends all her spare time at the barn!

Taylor rubbed the horse down before going out to the corral.

She would do this every day if allowed.

Taylor – creating lifetime memories!

Before we moved South – we golfed locally –

It was not unusual to have deer on the course with us!

A lifetime memory!

Today we are living in our sixth home together –

The last three we have had built!

We are in the warmth of the South making dreams come possible.

A lifetime of memories with our last home –

Here we shall be –

making more memories!

Volunteering for Sea Turtle Protection on OIB.

A memory we shall have as we grow older!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – LOOKING BACK – SOME MEMORIES!

Papa’s World – Taylors world of horses!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Taylor is at the barn getting a bit ready for her horse.

Ask her if she loves being in the barn and she says YES!

She rides once a week but any spare time she has –

She is at the barn – cleaning stalls – brushing down the horses!

Here she got the horse out of the stall, attached the bit, and brushed it down!

She loves this –

It doesn’t bother her with the smell or cleaning the stalls!

After placing the saddle on –

she walks the horse around the fenced-in yard.

She talks to the horse who has not been ridden in a couple weeks.

Soon – they trusted each other!

Now they walk as one – around and around the corral!

This went on for a good fifteen minutes!

Now it is the time she has been waiting for

The riding lesson –

walking and then trotting around and around and jumping!

Our granddaughter is a full-fledged horsewoman!

Taylor – her thoughts turn to the barn and the horses whenever she has free time!

Her first ride was when she was about four years old!

Someday she yearns to own her own horse!

Just another memory of PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – LITTLE TAYLOR loves horses – now BIG TAYLOR riding horses!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Our grandaughter Taylor with her mother – soon to be a teenager – she has grown up riding horses!

A beautiful young lady to be – she would clean stalls and groom horses every day if she could!

It all began with her – she could barely walk – yet she knew what she wanted and today she rides so gracefully – here her mother helps to steady her on her first ride!

Now she is a regular at the riding stable and volunteers to groom and take care of the horse’s stalls!

Tall in the saddle – little Taylor does not need any help – becoming an accomplished rider.

Her dream is to someday own her own horse – she is so graceful and an easy learner.

LITTLE TAYLOR LEARNS TO RIDE! PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedooingitmyway.blog

Taylor and her MORMOR ( Swede for grandmother) walking hand in hand – PRICELESS!

Papas World – A walk in Panther Paw point park!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

We decided to drive seven miles away –

To a state park where there was a almost three mile

nature walking path –

Named Panther Paw point park –

because they spotted a panther there

sometime in the past!

” LIONS – TIGERS and BEARS OH MY” !

The loop ran trough the woods and then around this lake
and the trail around the lake
in some spots
got very narrow
with brush and reeds on either side!
We read this before starting out
and notice the pictures of all
we might observe while walking
we did see a lot of areas dug up
like giant moles had been there
my thought “WILD BOARS”!
Here is a picture map
of the several loops
you can make
This also is a place
where people come to ride horses
there were a half dozen
horse trailers in the lot!
Debbie and Tom
the path leading into the woods
As you can see
stay on the path
its a jungle out there!
After walking through the woods
you break out and start following the lake
The first GATOR we saw
just over the bank
and right near the water
I would estimate 15 to 20
feet from me!
He was big – but not as big
as the next one we saw
still I was nervous
standing there!
Just down from the gator
about 30 feet away
that gator would of been one half the distance

The path itself was 10 to 12 feet wide

with the lake and reeds and bushes and trees on one side

the other side sometimes a fence with pasture

other times just marsh and a lot of bushes

I keep my eyes on the lake side!

And I never saw the gators until I was maybe 25 feet away!

Now- I never saw this fellow
Sherry was following
and she said here is a snake
I had walked right by it!
It was maybe 6 to 8 feet away
She saw it – it raised up
and she backed away
and then she took this picture
when I went back it was slithering away
I told her it looked like a black snake
but still I never saw it!
I would say it was 4 or 5 feet long!
Avery big hawk sitting on a gate
this was pasture land on the right side
away from the lake
however
there were sections that you could not see through
and the path narrowed down
to maybe 6 or 7 feet wide
making me very nervous!
This guy was huge!
I would say 10 to 12 feet long
those are the hind legs
and the tail was maybe another four foot long
He was really big around and almost black!
This one was maybe 15 feet over the side
of the bank – out of the water
and in the bushes and reeds
there was a trail down to him
and I assume that is where he went
back and forth!

This gator was really big – never moved – I learned later

at that time of day – they are not that active – plus the water

is only around 60 degrees –

They are night hunters and during the day -they warm up in the sun

and heat of the day and digest their food

from the night before!

This one was maybe 200 yards from the other one

which makes me think this was his territory!

It was a beautiful walk
nervous at times
hot in the sun
a half dozen horse riders passed us
I WOULD NOT WALK THIS AT TWILIGHT!
The birds and ducks
huddle together
in the middle of the lake
we have been told several times
that gators do not attack in deep water
That is why people swim in the middle of the lakes
and water skiers
are in the water in these lakes
BUT I DO NOT TRUST THAT!
That’s like telling me BEARS don’t bite in the woods! LOL
I hope you liked this little adventure
It was a spur of the moment
lark that we went on!
SAW TWO GATORS AND A BLACK SNAKE!
along with birds horses – riders – and where
Wild boars ( pigs) dug up the ground
or some very GIANT MOLES!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

PAPA – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY !
THANK YOU!