Wide Open Spaces

As the day progressed I decided to take Richard out for fishnchips.  It was only 11:30 but I knew there was no way I wanted to think of lunch/supper much less cook it.  So with that satisfied little grin and finishing up row 3 & 4 of #8 quilt I headed down to the pizza oven.  It's all in presentation on getting something accomplished.  Politely I asked him how much longer and lucky for me he was just cleaning up the tools.  He really is doing a wonderful job, it is looking so "old world" straight from Italy style.  I think, never been there but it is what I imagine their pizza/bread ovens would look like.  Years ago Bob Pratt from up the road tore down the old homestead house of his family.  At the time Dick got some of the huge planks from the house.  I wondered what would he ever do with them.  They were 8" wide and 4" thick and as long as 10' to 14'.  He built me a rustic narrow table that I dearly love.  This winter it will be used for my next adventure, painting.  Today he went to the barn and came back with 3 lengths of wood cut from the planks.  They are now framing the opening under the oven.  Perfect, just made the oven look even more original.
Well, after giving him rave reviews on his talent for building the pizza oven I mentioned taking an hour or two break for a ride and lunch at Kaytees in Coudersport (use to be Erways).  It was a go, he was just as happy to go as I was.  Car is dirty so up over Moffitt Hill we went.  A nice slow ride enjoying the "wide open spaces".  We checked out apple trees that we gathered apples from in years past. Taste test, still 'lipstickers" but hoping they will sweeten up after a frost.  On top of the hill is a beautiful farm owned by our Vet.  She comes to the farm for our horses and gives the dogs their yearly shots.  Just a tiny little gal, makes ya wonder how she does the big animals.  I watched her float Smokey's teeth and he can be an "ass",  she did just fine and got the job done.  Her farm is beautiful, surrounded by forest on all sides it opens to rolling green pastures with a big pond and nice barns.  She has quite a few horses to keep her busy.  When we walk the PA Game lands not far from her farm we always see horse tracks where she rides.  Wide open spaces, enjoyment.

On top of the world, actually on top of Moffitt Hill.

Moffitt Hill looking over the hills of Potter County.

Hard to see but 2 hen turkeys with their little ones all in
a line.  Where the two hills come together at the center
is a narrow dirt road leading to Camp Four Bears,
owned by the Watterson family.

After fishnchips, we filled the car with gas and back over the hill we went.  Of course I stopped to take a couple pictures of the horses, wild turkey and the beautiful views.  I also thought of the song from my childhood.  I always loved the song, now it really rings true on how I feel about living in Clara.
Oh, give me land,
Lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in,
Let me ride thru
The wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself
In the evening breeze,
Listen to the murmur
Of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever,
But I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.
What a nice ride today, even though I was the driver.  We try 
to take turns driving so each can enjoy the ride.