Monday stuff...

As I type, two carpenters are up on our roof fixing the supports underneath one of the upstairs bathrooms. They started last week, arrived on time each day, and worked all day long with a short break for lunch. Wonder of wonders... we found people who really do what they have promised. Pardon my sarcasm, but we've not been lucky with too many workers up here in these hills.

With all the repairs being done up there on the roof, one of the workers told us that we don't need a new roof yet, which we thought we did need because of a recent leak during a heavy rain. The problem, says the carpenter, is not the roof, it's the flashing. It was installed incorrectly and when a heavy rain hits that particular part of the house, we have a leak in the kitchen. Every problem we have with this house goes back to the previous owner who did the work and didn't do it correctly. By this time, that fact shouldn't surprise us.

But on the bright side, the work is now getting done the right way.... and it won't be long till the flashing is fixed and then we can take those ridiculous blue tarps off of the roof above the kitchen. I'm trying my best to love this big old house again because I know that my husband does not want to move.

We drove to a little town called Milano on Saturday... our young friend Corey was there at Morning Star Ranch with her horse Tallahatchie. Corey and her horse-loving friends go up there for riding and competitions. The ranch was filled with horses and trailers, riders and visitors, and that 166-acre property was teeming with enthusiasm and excitement as they handed out awards for the events. Gary and I met Corey's horse (Hatch for short) for the first time, and we were impressed with the bond between 'our' little Corey and that huge horse. Hatch's eyes follow Corey wherever she goes and he puts his head on her shoulder as if he's a puppy.  Tallahatchie was very young when Corey first got him, and now he's nearly full-grown and handsome with his buttermilk coloring and chocolate-colored mane. Corey is very much in charge of her horse and very confident in her ability to handle him. Hatch is one lucky horse, but I know that Corey would say that she's the lucky one to have such a good horse.

I was very impressed with Morning Star Ranch.... the property is private and secluded, way off the main highway... long trails for riding, obstacle courses for the competitions, clean corrals for the horses to rest in, lots of land for the trailers, and very nice and clean accommodations for eating and sleeping for the riders. After seeing the ranch, I can understand why Corey likes going up there so much with Hatch.

Halloween is next week.... no decorations in the house here, which is a first. Actually, not having a costume party for Halloween is also a first.  With all the work going on outside, my heart was just not in a party mood.  I did put out two huge metal pumpkins near the walkway, though... mainly for the little kids down the hill who will no doubt come trick-or-treating.  I bought them coloring books and crayons instead of Halloween candy. Do little kids still color? Will they think the crayons are candy? Well, little kids should color. I'll have to remember to tell them not to eat the crayons.