Good morning, horses
After some needed rain fell to dampen the dust on the ring, we slept with windows open, and this morning dawned cool and pleasant. We all rode and had a great time.
Jane and Derry arrive 
Waiting for Oisin and Bart 
Susan and Oisin 
Marmalade ran to breakfast this morning.
Tom Morris napped in the tack room after breakfast.
After riding, Jane and I went to do some clearing of trees so that our neighbor can get through the woods to pick up his big bales of hay. As usual, we wore ourselves out. Some of the branches were too dangerous for us, but we did clear things enough to make a log jump. When Nathaniel returns, he will help us finish the job.
Before 
After
I took a couple of pictures between chainsawing and clearing.
A sculpturally cracked tree 
Bright fungus
Jane is an expert chainsaw worker. I am much more timid than she is (and weaker). She is an inspiration.
Back at home, I was well fed by Harry, who took a break from working in the studio to make a delicious pasta with vegetables from the garden. The Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) are in full bloom at the front, and the perennial hibiscus are flourishing at the back, by the stream. On the back porch I got quite close to a tufted titmouse. Those little birds are not very timid. I have noticed that they and the tanagers are less shy around humans than some of the birds.
It was a lovely day. We turned the horses out this evening, and I had a fun visit with Marianne, while Stone and Oisin shared a scratch.
Harry and Stone 
Marianne with her trademark smile 
Stone has to work harder to scratch through Oisin’s clothes
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.