Gypsy at Whipple Dam

 There is something about the deep green summer forest that is just irresistable, especially when you've got a good horse under you.  Gypsy has been with us for many years, and she's always been reliable.  A lot of tack has been made off this girl.

Timaru Star II Western Saddle #452 is finally finished, and someone absolutely had to bring the camera along when we visited Whipple Dam State Park.  This is a small recreational area around a mountain lake just big enough to go canoeing in, south of State College by half an hour.

My mother was visiting us last week, and we dragged her around to many local sights.  This was one of them.  I took advantage of the opportunity.  She drew flowers, my husband read a book, and I flopped down in the forest floor and tried to capture Gypsy Tintinnara and the new saddle.  With some success.

Sometimes the ground isn't exactly level...  you have to trust your horse to stand up to it!  A few more steps...

Rocks and ledges are nothing to her.  She will carry you through.  Me, alas, didn't want to get my knees and elbows too dirty...

Note that the saddle blanket is NOT #452's.  This saddle blanket is none other than the one to The Elk, #432.  It was the only one I had at the time that had dark brown and turquoise on it, and was near enough to what I had planned for this set.  Also, since these pictures were taken, the bit has been replaced.  More on that in another post.

Taking big trees in stride.

 Birds-eye view. 

Through the trees the lake appears.  It's not really that slanted...  It's just that one gets tipsy with all that grass and the good smells.

It's sooo good to be outside and moving around, healthy and happy.

And on this note we'll pause for a while.