The red tree and beyond

After Olive's surgery, I was told that, if everything went well, I could start riding her again in ninety days.

I did the math and came up with back to riding date in early September.

"Oh," I thought to myself. "That would be amazing."

After all, fall is my favorite season.

Not coincidentally, it's also the best season for riding.

I decided right then and there that our big rehab goal was to take a picture of Olive in front of the Red Tree in October.

As it turned out, Olive and I are really good at rehab.

We walked past that tree in July and rode past it in September, weeks before it turned red.

I promptly made a new rehab goal, which we will hopefully achieve this weekend.

In the meantime, Olive and I are enjoying an absolutely fabulous fall.

The weather is perfect, the tree is red and we have gone on so many rides.

In a year during which so many things have gone wrong, Olive's recovery has been so gloriously right.

I am unendingly thankful for my beautiful, healthy pony and all these wonderful pictures of her and the Red Tree.