Spring time projects

 A rare non-dog post! Gasp!

(kinda)

Since we've moved to our new house, a little over a year a go, we've been putting most out focus on the neglected backyard. This weekend, we took on the area under the pergola, it was mud, weeds and ants. We decided to dig out the area and replace it with sand and rocks, with the goal to have it cleaner and easier to maintain (weeds/ants).

Hubby digging out the area.

Of course Riley had to help. He thought the weed fabric was the best thing ever and absolutely needed laying on. It helped, by keeping it from flying away from the wind, but it wasn't in the right spot. Grace was too busy hunting for lizards during this project, she missed out... Or maybe Riley missed out on lizard hunting... who knows.

Finished product!!! Great weekend project!

Here are some before/after pictures of our project area. The only thing left we have left to do is plant some hostas/shade plants in the flower bed area next to the house (under the windows to the left, you can't see too well), potted plants, patio furniture and a grill.

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone a happy Easter from Riley, Grace and their friends!

Mountain Biking

Today we went to a ranch about 1.5 hours NW of us. We've been there before and always have a good time. The ranch is a working cattle ranch, so we do have to be mindful of the cows, but even Riley doesn't seem to care about them. My husband, my brother, Riley and I did one lap together, well mostly together! I was a bit slow, so the boys would all just wait for me to catch up every now and again. Riley loves to run with the bikes and does very well running on the trails, but sometimes we have to remind him to stay with us and not try to run with the faster bikers who pass us. The only thing we really can't keep Riley from are the lakes! I don't blame him tho, it was pretty dang warm out. When we come up to the lakes we all take a break while Riley swims and cools off himself.

A couple of the calves came over to say hi!

The guys took a harder tail, while I took the bypass and waited at the end, and along this portion of the trail, there is an old, abandoned shed. It was just begging for a picture!

Hubby after the hard potion of the trail, that Riley and I skipped.

After one loop, Riley and I took it easy and walked around the grounds and the lake. The guys went on to do another loop (without my slow butt).

Water was a too low, but this ramp is used to jump bikes into the lake!

Old Long Horn skull

Riley and I chilled after the first ride, while the boys when on a second.
It was pretty windy towards the end of the day!

Wordless Wednesday; Mr. Sunbeam

Camping

Camping is fun, but camping with dogs, even more fun! This was Riley's second camping trip and Grace's first. I think they both enjoyed themselves. We were camping with our friends and their dog, Sadie. We have been trying to set up a camping trip for the past year, but life events and our schedules kept getting in the way. Finally, we were able to secure a weekend and planned our trip.

We arrived late afternoon on day 1, and it was spent setting up camp and collecting wood for the fire, while the dogs just hung out. With so many enticing smells, Riley and Grace had to stay on long lines for most the trip, but I don't think they minded.

After camp was all set up, the sun had started to set and we went for a walk around the lake. When we came across a bench, I stopped everyone and just had to get a picture of the dogs. Sadie and Riley are pretty good with their stays, but get easily distracted, while Grace is an old pro.

  
 On day 2, the guys when mountain biking, while the dogs and us girls went on a hike.  We had a very rough idea on where to go, but since there were no real trail maps, we used Google maps and an app. on my phone and off we went. In total, we a little over 4 miles and never got lost! Most of the trails are mountain biking trails, so they are all intertwined together, but we had a general idea of where to go and where camp was.

    Riley will do just about anything I ask, especially if there is a treat involved, so I was able to get him into some pretty fun positions. At one point, there was a large fallen tree across the trail, so I asked Riley to climb up and he did so without even blinking an eye. Got to love my crazy boy!

How did you get up there?

 After a afternoon of hiking/mountain biking, the dogs and people were quit tired, and soon we settled down for the evening.

 Something must have smelled good in that old stump...

Jump!

 Riley can do agility outside the ring too!

Table!

In the evenings the dogs enjoyed the chairs around the fire just as much as we did! Grace was the one who spent the most time in them, and I don't blame her, it got a bit chilly in the evenings.

Wordless Wednesday

Tut Tut, Looks Like Rain

Today I took it easy. Slept in a little and hung out outside with the pups until it started to rain. But seeing that there were birds trying to eat at the bird feeder, Grace didn't care. She LOVES to chase them around the bushes, as they fly from one to the other.

Usually, once it started to rain, Grace won't even go out to potty. But the lore of the birds proved too much for her, and she continued to play. So, needless to say, both the pups got a both today. They were over due for one anyways.

    

    It must be breeding season for the little sparrows, because through out the day they will have fights in the bushes and all you hear is a lot of "tweet!" "tweet!" "tweet!", and it gets Grace (and sometimes Riley) all excited. All I can hope is that the little sparrows keep to the higher bushes, because when they are in their fights, they aren't really aware of their surroundings, and I don't want to know what Riley or Grace would do if they caught one.

Chasing the birds, just before the rain started.

Standing in the rain.

Riley's crazy hair after the rain.