Oh, what fun it all would be

Today is Maizie's 12th birthday! I have been busy with the annual baking and party preparations.

Here is the birthday girl picking apples for the horses with our antique apple-picking tool.

Even though I didn't get to ride yesterday, I do have some exciting riding news. On Thursday, Maizie and I rode an ELEPHANT!!!! Can you believe it? Maizie had a school field trip to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and I was a chaperone. I heard someone talking about the elephant rides and I couldn't believe it. We found the elephant, Lady Wrinkles, and got in line. I am not able to attend circuses or zoos because I am not much for caged/performing animals. I learned while sizing up the whole situation, that Lady Wrinkles lives at a nearby farm in the afternoons and evenings and she has many dog friends. The area where we rode her had good footing and many trees. She looked very well cared for and her trainer seemed concerned about her and kind, so I decided that I should take the opportunity. After all, Brian spent 7 months in Africa and he never rode an elephant -(Lady Wrinkles was obviously an Asian elephant). I adore elephants almost as much as horses. We sat on a thick, soft blanket that was right on her back. Her trainer cautioned us to not touch her, which was impossible. Her sweet, giant ear draped over our legs and I just had to touch it! He frowned and Maizie apologized for me, saying that I just couldn't help it! Who could? What a view from up there. Pie is tall, but this was something else again. Her eyes were soft and sweet peeking out from very long eyelashes.