Chubbles in Charge

Today was not just any other day at the barn.  Today, Chubbles and I went on a mission, with Murphy in tow.  Our task?  Clear the trails of low-hanging branches and prickers!  (I've taken one too many trees to the face while trail riding.)  We headed out this morning with nothing but a pair of clippers, our inter-species friendship, and some determination.  This mission turned out to be a bit challenging from the get-go because:

• Murphy apparently loves to chase wild turkeys through the woods.  Especially when his mother is on a horse and cannot catch him.  
• Chubbles thinks trails are for walking, not standing.
• My clippers were most likely made for trimming shrubs and not trees.  
• Chubbles thinks that a rather odd dog and a girl are not good enough company, and would prefer another horse to come along (He screamed for his friends for about 1/2 mile down the trail).

Mishaps aside, we actually cleared a good portion of the trail.  Still needs a little work, but once Chubbles realized why we were stopping directly under and sometimes in the low-hanging trees and prickers, he was much more willing to stand there and let me trim away.  While Murphy frolicked around in the woods chasing anything that moved.  (Really, could he have been less help?!) 

Once we made it out of the woods, we had a nice trot and canter around the soybean field.  Poor Murph had to cut through the field to catch up!  We only came close to bucking once, when Chubbles thought Murphy was going to pass him.  Apparently his competitiveness also applies to silly dogs.  We had another nice canter back on the newly-cleared trails, which passed the test.  I did not have to duck once, and made it through without getting any prickers in the eye!

There's no stopping Chubbles on a mission.

Finally found a little bit of Fall in Salem County!

I did all my cleaning this morning before heading to the barn, so I came home to a fresh, clean house!  And then I found this on Pinterest this afternoon:

33 Meticulous Cleaning Tricks for the OCD Person Inside You

Seriously?  Was this written for me?!?!  I will definitely be using #4, 5, 6, 10, and 18.  #13 and 33 are obvious ones.  (I mean, who in their right mind would vacuum BEFORE dusting?  That's just crazy talk.)  If you are slightly or massively OCD about cleaning like me (Ahem!  Honeybear!), you should check this site out.  If you just like to laugh at the crazy OCD people, you might also want to take a gander.  

We are still working on our Mushroom and Barley Soup leftovers, so no cooking tonight.  I did make these tasty guys though!

Spooky Halloween Cake Balls   

(source)  

1 box of your favorite cake mix (I picked chocolate)

1 container of frosting (I went with chocolate frosting as well)

2 pkgs. Wilbur's candy melts- 1 orange pkg, 1 black pkg.  (You can find these at a craft store)

1. Bake cake according to package instructions
2. While still warm, crumble cake into a large bowl.  Mix in entire container of frosting, then refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
3. Form 1 inch balls from the cake mixture.
4. Melt candy melts in 2 microwave-safe bowls according to package instructions (Be careful not to microwave too long!  Candy will start getting hard again).
5. Roll cake balls in melted candy to coat and place on baking sheet to harden.  
6. Decorate with sprinkles, chocolate chips, drizzles of melted candy, or anything you like!

Cake balls are best shared with friends to prevent the consumption of an 

unhealthy amount of deliciousness.