July 24th marked the day Samantha left Rexburg officially starting her summer vacation from the Y of I.
It didn't take too long for us to come to the same conclusion; Seven weeks is much too long for two besties to be separated. 4 weeks later I headed off with some good tunes and my superman sippy (uh...I think I've been hanging out too much with the nephews and neices...) er...and my superman water bottle and was on my way to western Idaho!
Once I got there we didn't waste much time hitting up the local scene in Boise for some boys. We found some real hotties :)
"Well, howdy do, Handsome!" Smokin' hot. I know. Try not to be jealous.
I know I'm diggin' those shades. You?
"That's a good one George! Tell me another! Keep the jokes comin'!"
They didn't want to see us go, but we had plans. We left them and headed up into the mountains. We met up with one of Sam's old buddies, Cole. He saddled up a couple of his horses and took us on a trail ride up a mountain side near his home. It was SO much fun. It has been YEARS since I've gotten the opportunity to ride a horse. I'm not much of an animal person, but this trip was one of my favorite highlights of my trip. (Even more than those guys we found. Hard to believe, yet true).
Here's the horse guru himself, Cole
Here I am with my horse, Delta.

Sam and I on our horses. I was a little more out of practice at the art of getting up on a horse than I'd like to admit. But I made it! It wasn't so bad.

After so many years, I was surprised at how relaxed I was on the ride riding a big strong animal. Yet, about halfway up the mountain, I called up to Sam and asked her if she was experiencing any pain in her knees. She replied in the negatory. Cole commented that since I wasn't used to riding a horse it was normal to have discomfiture in these horse riding muscles...in addition my horse had some extra chub around his (her?) middle that my legs were awkwardly straddling .
During our ride, Delta was a little sluggish with keeping up with Big Mama (in her case, big referred to height, not width) and Kuhn. Here's my view for most of the ride.

When we tagged along too far behind, I would click my tongue and Delta would take off on a trot.

I'm pretty sure I figured out a cause to Delta's extra pudge. About half way through her workout (as we neared the top of the hill), She kept slowing down so she could grab a bite to eat off the side of the trail. She'd chomp that down and want some more. She could have grazed all day if I let her. Not that I blame Delta for wanting something to eat. I'm pretty much the same way ... :) I also felt bad because it was me (who's not so slender myself) on her back.

Our bowlegged selves after the ride. ( For reasons previously discussed, I was more bowlegged. Obviously. ;))
We also went antiquing with Sam's Mom. There's just something about looking at old stuff that draws me in. We went to an antique shop where many vendors were set up in the same store. This sign was cool. I liked the thought behind it. All these old things had mattered to someone, somewhere.

We found all sorts of treasures! Wooden shoes,

an old scuba diving mask,