The spectacular mountain views posted a few days ago are from the eastern edge of my property as well as a loop Karl and I walk at the start of our twice or sometimes 3 times daily walk from home. That mountain view loop is on an adjacent “sub-division” – 5 and 10 acre parcels that have been sold but nothing built – and I hope they stay that way for awhile!

We complete that loop and then come back across the southeastern edge of my property and begin another loop that circumnavigates the edge of the 40 acre parcel of state land that is adjacent to my southern border. The state parcel is landlocked which means that access is across all the properties adjacent – all 6 of us. I have seen one “neighbor” on this land once. It is a beautiful piece of land – mostly flat but two of its borders have magnificent valley and mountain views. Karl and I usually walk the logging tracks that run inside the border by a bit. We have peek-a-boo views of the mountains beyond but it is mostly a woodsy area.

When I first moved here and walked out on that parcel, I scared myself silly – got disoriented as to which direction was “home”. For a while I activated the navigation system on my cell phone so I could see my position in relation to my house. Gradually, though, I came to know the various “stands of trees” – they are all familiar to me now and I know where I am. There is a group of 5 ponderosa pine – 4 form a diamond and the 5th is the center cross point. I wish I could capture that in a photo but there is no way save from above. There are several pretty copses of small trees and evergreens. Other places there are just trees that I recognize. There are several downed trees from windstorms that occured since I’ve lived here. There is the place that last year I found wild orchids – I’m keeping watch as now I know how to use the camera functions to get those miniscule blossoms in focus.

For now, though….this Glacier Lily….and a bit of the walk and places that Karl and I know:

Above, one of the logging paths that make it easy for me.

The end of the loop – the return to home.

I had a quick visit with the horses in the photos below. They live near where a friend is living temporarily and belong to the owner of the cabin she and her family are renting. The horses are obviously used to people and probably used to the people having horse treats as they came over to see Karl and me immediately – snuffled my neck and shirt trying to find something horses like. Karl loves horses – at my previous house there was a horse pasture and round corral. My neighbor rotated her 3 horses through my pasture so I had the fun of watching and petting them without the expense of food and vet – plus I didn’t have to have the pasture mowed! Kelli wanted the horses to be okay with dogs so we worked together – me training Karl to not approach from their rear and Kelli working with the horses to be calm with Karl. Karl would take a toy out to them mornings – repeatedly baffled that they would not play. All 3 of the horses were “lay-down” nappers – Karl liked to join in that activity also. I have photos from then that I will find and post when I get a chance.

But today’s photos – the horses at my friend’s…

This is their view….poor horsies…