November's Come and Gone

It's 52 degrees outside and 7PM.  Steve and everyone in Idaho dealing with snow. This is the first winter in my life where snow is absent.
Horse Events:  I rode Magnolia, Connie's 8 yr old mare in BN at Ram Tap Nov. 20th.  We got 3rd.  We may have won were it not for a rail at last fence in show jump.  We had a solid cross canter going toward in gate to last vertical.  That is a grand opportunity to pull a rail at any level. She is green for 8 and we are working on her canter.  I enjoy riding her. She really is a lovely mare.  TB/Draft/Qh. She is good mover and quite fancy really.  Other Lone Tree riders were on hand  standing out on the course cheering us on.  I'm grateful for the support and assistance.  My stall was bedded and water set up when we arrived.  I could get used to that!  Banner stayed home.  He is not one to let down for winter. He likes being in training and misses me when I'm gone.
I had a great ride on him today at end of day with waning light, perfect moist footing and the mare herd gently grazing around us.  The advantage to having a xc course is that I can practice the cross country without jumping.  We gallop, re balance, canter up hill, down hill, keep rhythm, stay relaxed etc.
The gentle mares in pasture are not always placid with the cooler weather. They like to run from one end to the other just for fun which can get some of the riding horses fired up.  It didn't happen while riding Banner today but it will sooner or later.
Music:  I'm still enjoying voice lessons and playing on my own.  I have not been out at all now and have had only one brief encounter with a song writer named Willy T who is a friend of boss Connie's. She graciously hired him for for some work here so we could play. He is an AMAZING song writer/ singer.  I hope to mingle more but obviously have to leave farm first!
Holidays etc.:  Connie took us to SF to see Cavalia.  It is a very fun show with amazing, dancers, acrobats, music, sets and 52 performing horses. After the show she drove us down Lombard St in Sf and we took a city tour in her BMW.  It was a great day.
I spent Thanksgiving with Aunt Priscilla Hanford and cousins at David and Sandy Hanford's in Pleasanton.  I visited Anna too as she was in area and we had a great time.  My friend Willy T was playing with his band the "Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit" at Cafe Nord in SF that weekend and I planned to go.  Upon thought I realized after I finally found street parking I would surely get lost trying to find car after gig.  I require an escort for city adventures now. Now I know....
I am tempted to close with Happy Holidays and I do wish everyone happiness.  The truth is that the holidays can be very lonely for some and so I pause for the folks who suffer over the holidays.  I, myself have no expectations this year so it will dandy. Another fun ride on Banner in waning light on good footing surrounded by settled mares will be more than enough.