I know I have been a little bit absent the last couple of weeks, very unlike me. This was pretty much due to the end of the school year activities for both Michael and Grace with field day events and the wrap up of all their sports. Finally this past Tuesday, about an hour after the bus dropped off Michael for the last time this school year, the kids and I were on our way to spend the next three days camping with my dear friend Donna, her son Ryan and stepdaughter Ashley, in Maryland's state park known as Assateague Island. (Poor Mr. Rosemary Lane had to work, so he had the house all to himself for three days!)
Legend has it that these horses are descendants of survivors from Spanish galleons that were shipwrecked off of Assateague Island back in the 1700's. Assateague's horses are considered ferral which simply means they were once domesticated horses which have gone back to the wild. Assateage has a "hands-off" policy regarding these gorgeous animals. The only contact they have with the horses is a once a year immunization for the females to control the horse over population. In addition to population control mares also live longer and healthier lives without the stress of yearly foaling.
The horses pretty much have the run of the land...nothing is off-limits to them, and they are completely uninhibited by the presence of humans.
This stallion decided to take his morning snooze right next to our camper.
I managed to snap a picture of the kids with the horses grazing in the background. There are safety rules with regard to campers and the horses of Assateague. Rule one is for campers to stay a minimum of 10 feet away from the horses as they can both kick and bite. Rule two has to do with the feeding of the horses. It is strictly prohibited to feed these animals, they are wild and need to depend on their own resources for obtaining food.
We actually camped just behind the dunes of the beach so there was plenty of swimming, playing and exploring in the sand.
And what is camping without a fire and making s'mores?
We did check out the Island's Visitor Center and Museum to learn about the wildlife of Assateague.
No TV, no DVD's, no music...just the air, sky, sun and moon...plenty of nature, surf, sea critters and horses. Yes there was much to do for the three days we spent in Assateague...next year I think we may need to make it a whole week!
Wishing you all a very happy start to your summer!!!
XO
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