What a Great Christmas Party!

Once again, our MVBCH Christmas party was a real hit! Everyone showed up with a special holiday treat to share, Wayne Cornwall and Susan Davis did a fabulous job of carving the juicy prime rib, while Jackie Iddings, Betty Wagoner, Donna Stoothoff and several other volunteer elves served it all up in a scrumptious buffet. We had cranberry salads, creamed corn casserole, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and several other wonderful dishes specially made for the occasion.

 

And of course, we had a full compliment of low fat/low calorie (just kidding!) yummies for dessert.

Before we got started enjoying the meal, everyone gathered to snack on the delicious appetizers and fruit punch while exchanging stories of the past year. There were many smiles and yes, quite a few belly-laughs too! Talk was about what's going on these days now that our horses have had their shoes pulled and are on their own vacation, and what plans are underway for sharing the holidays with families. 

Karen Theimer, Ken Shannon, Gary Sterner share stories

Nancy Palagruti and Mary Pat Bauman, "Really?"

After dinner it was time to draw our numbers for the gift exchange. Betty Wagoner passed the hat and everyone got to take a chance! Pete Stoothoff seemed quite pleased with his number, while Betty offers Jan Ford a number from the hat.

All gifts were under the tree and everyone had a chance to pick and choose, whether it was a gift from under the tree, or one that someone else had opened but it was up for a "steal". Everyone enjoyed watching as others opened the surprises, some of which were hilarious and deserved a smart remark or joke! 

 

Ken Shannon loves his new, frilly apron!

Christmas Party 2013!

Big Valley Ride

Cathy Upper, Betty Wagoner, Julie Johnson, Kathy Bader, Ann Port, Kay MacCready, Joan Winsor, and Marion Webster joined up on October 11th for the Big Valley Ride. It was a spectacular day for viewing the autumn colors and everyone had a good outing. This trail is extra special in the fall because it displays a brilliant canvas of all the trees that make this season in our Valley so amazing. With the colorful leaves floating down here and there, it reminded riders of the classic photos of leafy paths in the woods along quiet streams. (Story by Betty Wagoner, photos by Julie Johnson)

Betty rides joins the ride on "Koda"

Kathy and Ann give their horses a drink

(L-R) Betty and Ann amble down the trail

Julie on "Sonny" by the Methow River

(L-R) Betty, Kay, Marion, Cathy, Joan, Ann, Kathy

Latte Ride

Uh-oh, the ride was canceled for the originally scheduled day of October 8th due to nasty weather conditions. Fortunately, the next day’s weather was perfectly marvelous so the ride was re-scheduled. Cathy Upper, Kay McCready, Carla Lange, Ken Shannon, Jackie Iddings and Jenn Hover decided to join Louise Stevens and carry on with the original plans to make the ride. All had a great time! Well, almost… As they started off from Brown’s Farm, Louise’s pony decided to toss a “fit” (and her!), so she decided to drive while the other folks continued on the ride to the Mazama Store for lunch. They all gathered after the ride at Louise’s home for libations and appetizers. It was a beautiful day, but unfortunately no one thought to take photos! Louise is doing better after her abrupt 3-point landing on the rocks—and yes, she still loves her horse! (Story courtesy of Louise Stevens)

2013 Hamburger Ride

The Hamburger Ride took place on September 19th with 17 riders. By the time lunch was ready, 8 more people had shown up! Though Betty Wagoner didn't make it this year (for the first time?), her horse "Koda" did. Julie Johnson brought him with her horse—Betty had kindly lent him to Jenny Stahl. The weather was perfect, the pot luck dishes delicious, and Tom Cornish cooked the hamburgers. (Photos and story courtesy of Jan Ford and Dolly Stahl)

Bill Ford leads the ride out

Richard Erickson's horse pauses while others munch

Richard looks over the scenery

Jenny Stahl leads, with Julie Johnson, Bonnie Andrews and others trailing

Browsing the trail

Riders gather in the yard

Hamburger time! Grill out of gas?? (No, not really!)

August and September Trail Work

On August 13th Bill Ford and Burt Karaposteles spent a long day brushing a stretch between Scatter and Poplar Flat. This section includes Scatter Creek and three other creek crossings. Whistling Creek was the most brushy. On the same day they brushed out part of the trail near South Creek where a culvert was covered by brush. Once the trail was brushed, the culvert showed through the dirt so they built a short “turnpike” over it. On August 18th Bill and Jan Ford hiked up to complete a section of brushing west of South Creek which was not finished on Trails Day. Bill also cut out recently fallen logs which he learned about from Deb Whittemore the day before while at the Loup Loup Trail/Raffle Ride. On Saturday August 24th Bill and Jan rode up South Creek Trail to the pass, one of the three trails that MVBCH paid the Forest Service (FS) to brush, and remarked that the FS did a good job. (Thanks to Jan Ford for photos and story)

(Above) Whistling Creek “before” brushing and

(Below) Burt shows Whistling Creek "after"

brushing (Note: log on right was completely hidden

before brushing!)

Bill and the new “turnpike” over brushed trail culvert

Log covering the TRT was encountered by Terry and Steve Dixon

It was located between Scaffold and Eagle Creeks

Bill and Jan set out on Sept 4th to open the trail

Newly downed logs on the TRT

       

Trail's open--thanks Bill!