Inconceivable

Earlier this month, I spent a week in California visiting my Mom, who is living in a Alzheimers/dementia care facility. It's the right place for her, and she is doing better than she was this summer. Still, nothing about this is easy. Not for her. Not for me.

On Saturday, I allowed myself a twenty four hour mental health break. Instead of getting up and heading to Burbank that morning, I drove to La Cañada, where I met my friend and fellow hobbyist and photographer, Corina Roberts, at a local Starbucks. 

"You're never going to believe this," she said as we sipped our drinks. "I left home without my camera. I have a lens, but that's it."

"No worries," I replied cheerily. "I brought my camera and two lenses. We're covered!"

We finished our drinks and walked to the parking lot. I took my bag out of my car and put it in hers. Then we headed out to Agua Dulce.

Agua Dulce is a "census-designated place" forty five miles north of Los Angeles in the rugged Sierra Pelona Valley region. It's a harsh rugged landscape that feels like the middle of nowhere.

It's also horse country.

In fact, it's where Corina's new horse, Cinnamon, lives.

We drove all the way around to the back of the twenty three acre property and parked.

There's Cinnamon!

Corina popped the trunk. I got my bag, unzipped it and found...

Yeah, I'd left my camera in La Cañada. All I had was a single lens. How this happened, I will never know, but thank goodness for cellphones!

Cinnamon laughed at us as we fumbled with our phones.

Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction!

We did a few groundwork exercises, during which Cinnamon showed me that while she may be twenty five, she is still a whole lot of horse.

No hard feelings, Cinnamon. That actually makes me love you more.

Afterwards, we toured the rest of the property.

I oohed and aahed over the covered ring...

and appreciated the fact that unlike most LA County barns...

this one actually has attached runs.

Aside from being a long way from anything, this is a really nice place to keep a horse.

I'm still not moving back to California, but if I do, Olive's going to live with Cinnamon.

This place is amazing.

For the record, here are some real camera pictures of Cinnamon taken by Corina.

I'm sure I'll be back in California sooner rather than later, and when that happens, I plan to visit Corina and Cinnamon again. Maybe - just maybe - one of us will remember to bring our camera!