Happy Tuesday! Happy Year of The Horse! It is our time!
Vibe plate for The Man before some body work, thanks to our friend, M.
I hope this finds you all well, dear readers! I have missed our little corner of the interwebs. These days it feels like the only safe place on the internet.
Do tell, how have you been, what have y’all been up to?
Doing our secret society thing.
My little Christmas Tree is still standing strong giving me all the joy, complete with a big, long pink bow for Valentine’s Day. I am thinking I am going to keep it up most of the year and just add things each month of the year. Something for St. Patty’s day, Easter, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, 4th of July, you get the picture. I think we could all use the increased joy!
Holiday baking also brings joy!
Anyway, I have something for you.
I just wanted to say that we are less than a month away from MORE DAYLIGHT. March 8, we are coming for you! I need the sunlight! I will say that this year I have been able to ride more than some years and it has kept me a little more sane.
Just some snap shots of life since we last spoke.
You can do it, we are almost there!
The horses are shedding. Actually, that reminds me. My shedding blade broke the other day! Can you believe that?! All our shedding blades are OLD and it seemed like that would never happen!
The wind is…winding. It feels like springtime winds and everything else that goes along with that…frisky horses and broomstick tails.
The grass is finally green as we finally have gotten some much needed rain (still dancing for more though!). I spread some wildflower seeds a while ago and I can see their beginnings sprouting.
I feel like I can almost feel the pecan trees thinking about greening. Look, OK, I know that is a bit jumping the gun, but just go with it!
I am choosing to believe that the worst of winter is over. That could have been a bad thing to say…but I am not going to think about that. I am just not! We are focusing on the light! Manifesting the good and positive. That dang groundhog just wants to keep hibernating.
The moon and fog were just stunning and I couldn’t not snag a pic.
I wanted to give you a reminder to give yourself grace this season. But not just this season. Give yourself grace every winter. Remember, winter comes every year not matter what!
And winter is hard.
You know it even if you do not want to admit it. It is cold and wet and dark and dull. Do not get me wrong, it is beautiful and wise in its own right, but it is also heavy. It is necessary to get to spring, yes. But, it is OK to slow down. To rest, reflect, and recharge. I dare say you are SUPPOSED to do that! And I loathe that word.
I want you to think about what everything else does in winter and give yourself grace. You work hard all year round, winter is the time to slow down. Allow yourself to do it too! Just think about what happens come spring because of winter’s dormancy. It is coming!
Or, as us cool people know, the best month of the year.
Ah, my dear readers. How I have longed to sit down and chat with you. How have you been?
I am still over here just a runnin’ ’round like crazy. What is really crazy to me is how long this little corner of the internet has been around. EIGHT years (back in August). Can you believe that!?! That is just wild. I created this blog on a whim it felt like. I had been thinking about it for a long time and had done a very little research, but then one day, bam, I just went for it. While at work, no less. Don’t tell anyone. I remember being so surprised at how easy it was and also too, very proud of myself. A part of me longs for when I could write to you most every day like I used to. The majority of me though is just so glad about where I am at. I am working on being OK with stopping in here when I can.
I am currently sitting on the porch, sipping on some rose wine (long time readers know how this can go sometimes!), enjoying the sunset while I write. I am sitting in the same place I drank my coffee this morning to enjoy the sunrise. In fact, if I am being truthful, and you know I always am, what is left of my coffee is sitting here next to me on the table next to my glass of wine because I willfully left it there this morning when Merle and I hopped in the truck to head to work. I know, how very adult of me. I will be even more honest and tell you that I even put my bottle of wine in an ice bucket and that is sitting at my feet. It would be even better if Merle was at my feet too, but alas, the smells in the country can not keep that dog down for long (or really at all). He is out there sniffing and wagging his tail, living his best dog life.
I am feeling blessed that I am looking at some green grass in front of me, but pretty much everywhere else has been burned up to a crisp. Texas summer is holding on strong and keeping us rather warm in the afternoons with highs in the mid to upper nineties. That is one of my justifications for the wine in the ice bucket. It is still so hot! I plopped an ice cube in my wine (gasp!) to keep it cool when I sat down and it has already melted in full.
Pops asked me just the other day if we were going to have a fall. I have two horses growing coats. Which the one I know he starts that early every year no matter what. The trees are turning and beginning to drop their leaves. We have had some semblance of a cool front that has granted us some admittedly very nice mornings, they just do not linger all that long.
I am not complaining though, do not get me wrong. I so feel for everyone that has suffered in the path of hurricane Helene. Some of that destruction many did not see coming at all. You know we know how you feel. One thing after all of these storms that I can remember is that you have to remember ANYTHING can happen in the storm path. No two storms are the same. Scale category means absolutely nothing. Obtain any and all information you can from varied sources.
Anyway, here I am again talking to you about the weather. I can not even remember what all I have told you other than sharing my trip to the mountains of Colorado.
Here is the thing. Shhhhhhhhh. Don’t tell anyone. Life has changed for me in a (big) way, but it does not feel or seem that way. It is so natural and comforting I can not explain it and I really can not explain how grateful and blessed I feel. Really it happened a little bit ago, but I am keeping this quiet for a while to really let it all absorb. Let it settle. BE PRESENT. Get used to it. I have not shared it with really anyone, and that is OK. I may share it one day. Everything with work and the animals and everything else is the same and as great as ever and there is nothing to worry over. The most grand AHA moment there ever was.
Another, even bigger AHA moment. You will likely be tired of this one, but I do not care. This is the one ‘never’ you can say. NEVER forget that you are not promised tomorrow. LIVE your life for real. I lost someone near and dear to me and to my Mamma and to my family. She and my Mamma were the very best of friends. One of my God Mothers. Sad business that. Took me right on back to H and I felt like I could barely go through the motions.
I baked pumpkin bread for the first time already this season (not that I need that excuse, but go with me here) way back some time in August. It felt good and right. There was just the slightest inkling of a fall thought in the air. If you believe the air can have thoughts. It was not really fall at all then (and I knew it would not be), but it sure was good. I stashed the second loaf in the freezer. I am feeling the need to pull it out now.
Lito and I have been riding, as per usual (I could go on and on about how year 11 is the absoulte magic year for homebred horses, but I think I will leave that for another day other than to say that this/he was the best decision I have ever ever made), but we have been getting ready for our big ride coming up in a couple of weeks ever since I got back from Colorado…I actually went back to Colorado for my cousin’s wedding the week after I got back from my Colorado vacation if you missed that…did you follow that???….ANYWAY…In just over a week’s time we will be making our way in that direction. If you don’t know, we go on a big week long ride in the hill country of this great state every October (outside of COVID…but a small group of us had our own little one that year anyway in the east Texas pines) with a group of ladies I belong to (since I am nice and always here for you, if you missed it and are interested and want to see what it is all about…within reason (some of it is like secret society stuff…see the following 2023202220212019 201820172016…you’re welcome, there are at least some great pics). There is always a lot of prep work leading up to the ride outside of the riding hours to get you and your horse ready. Maintenance on the trailer. Stocking up on horse essentials and feed. Then the actual packing for both you and your horse and traveling.
I have been obsessed with this song lately. Really hitting my jam. Not really sure why, other than I have lived in this space. And, sometimes still am…like when I have to go to funerals. Anyway, It is so so good. Sometimes some of you good readers would ask me my favorite song or band of the moment. This is where I am at.
Give it a listen and remember, “you are still fine…God’s perfect wording…you’ll be alright…God is not giving you up,” OK that is the actual biggest AHA moment.
I am on a roll here tonight, OK? The coyotes like this song too if you were wondering.
You know there is always a song or band. Which! Hey! By the way, one of my favorite bands, Cross Canadian Ragweed, is kinda (sorta) getting back together! They broke up way back around about when I graduated from college. They once (or many times) said they would never get back together. Well, never say never because they are going to do a show (a big one…with a bunch of greats) and see how it goes! Fingers crossed it goes and sounds great and they go all in and make a new album. Honestly, waking up to that news today (well really they have been teasing the news for a little bit if you didn’t and wanted to know) sure made me feel like dang near anything is possible in this world. The press on this is overshadowing their website on google, otherwise I would link it for you. Really, I could try harder, but at the moment I am not going to (so sorry!). So, who wants to go to Oklahoma with me in April? I bet the tickets are already sold out. The internet and the world basically died (and went back to high school) when the news broke I think. I am not sure I could tell you which of their songs is my favorite.
Well, my dear readers, it is time. It is (past) dark now and feels pretty dang good out (and the bugs are being summoned to my computer screen….and a frog is hopping across my porch rug), but it is about time I get ready for bed…and have no more wine! We are up early and back to the office in the morning! Work is always busiest when you are! And you know what? I would not have it any other way right now.
Walk in love, dear readers! Tell me something good!
Tune back in for some great hill country between the dun ears pics!
In case you missed the memo, spring is indeed here and it has been lovely! I feel like last year we only had a flash of spring before it was full on summer hot, so this has been really nice.
Except it actually got a bit cold at the end of this last weekend and I was quite glad I still had a sweater in the truck!
So, what is that? Where have I been?
Ha, that is a good question. Contrary to some beliefs, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Yes, I know you are glad. I have just been very busy. How boring of an answer, I know! The truth is, I just have not had much free time to make for the blog unfortunately. Not for lack of want to, mind you. This is just where I am at right now. I even started this post over a week ago if that gives you an idea.
In fact, the other day…which actually means well over a month ago…I took a bunch of pictures of young wild flowers and budding plants as evidence of spring’s official arrival with full intentions of writing to y’all about it.
Anyway, I am here now and that is that!
We have of course been riding and enjoying the weather.
I have actually been working on getting my Cheetah girl into some semblance of riding shape just for fun. She is missing that part of our relationship I think and I absolutely have. We take it day by day and meet her where she is at with the goal of staying inside her comfort zone. She has good days where you might think she has no arthritis at all and she has some not so good days. Her brain on the other hand thinks she is about four years old all the time as opposed to almost twenty. It is a fine dance.
Close your eyes and your ears, but I ordered a new saddle for Lito. Which means, I have a saddle to sell. It has to happen, I have reached that point. If anyone is needing a saddle or knows someone that is…please send them my way!
On Good Friday, Merle and I went to meet R’s new foal and then went over to her new property to celebrate the closing and being closer to each other geographically. We had a dang good time exploring. Merle also had a very proper, good time.
Then on Easter Saturday my Grandmother came out to the farm for a visit which was really nice as she got to visit all the horses and give them treats.
Lito also turned 11! It feels like just yesterday he was born!
Then we went on our annual Spring Ride with my ladies riding group. We were blessed with spectacular weather and My Lito was very good. Especially since he apparently had the world’s largest splinter in his neck the whole time.
If you look really closely at Lito’s throat latch area behind his jaw, you can see the abscess.
…If you are squeamish, you may just want to scroll on…it is going to get a little gory…
Yes, splinter. When we arrived on late Friday afternoon, I noticed a little tiny scab and a swelling that grew up and away from the scab on his neck. He was mildly bothered by it, but I decided to watch it over the weekend. It did not do much changing, but by Monday morning it appeared to be a little more raised and possibly a little harder. Luckily, our vet was able to fit us in Monday morning so I loaded him back up to go investigate at the clinic. The ultrasound probe was barely on his neck before Dr. F swung the screen around exclaiming, “Yup, look, there it is!”
After a little sedation and a little cut, we had the world’s largest splinter thankfully out of his neck.
Naturally I took the splinter home so I could show all my horse friends!
Dr. F was quite happy with how it all went, but of course wanted daily treatment.
So, that is what we have been doing lately! Monitoring, hydroing, cleaning, and treating. All the while running up and down the highway working both in and out of the office. My phone is full of daily progress pictures and we are now almost healed up. We have just been taking it easy since then, but I had a full on proper horse girl bareback Saturday with all the ridden horses followed by a deep grooming session for My Lito Man. All the horses are looking really good and shiny. The best thing coming out of winter.
I am currently wishing I could go back to Saturday as life is about to get even more hectic.
A little Monday morning coffee break moment for you.
A reminder for you on this fine day.
Remember those life lessons you have learned over the years.
They were presented to you for a reason, for you to learn what works and does not work for you.
Stir that around in your pot of thoughts.
Sometimes those same similar situations will present themselves to you again from time to time and you will recognize a little something that will raise a flag to get your attention. Are you paying attention? It is up to you to see and feel that flag and move accordingly if you want to keep moving forward.
Well, uh ya, hi there! How are y’all this evening?
What do you know?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I will just go ahead and throw in a Happy Valentine’s Day as well! And everything in between for good measure. Why not?! It is right around the corner. It is OK if you only just realized that point and, hey, we can always use more love, right!?
Get yourself a little libation of some kind and catch up with me. It is just that kind of evening.
Let us see. Long time no talk! I can not believe it has been since before Christmas I last wrote. What has been going on?
I suppose a lot has happened, but then again, not quite a lot actually has! Life just took over and I seemed to have no space in my little pot of thoughts for blogging or any other forms of social media. Good or bad, right or wrong, it does not matter, it is what it is. I looked up and here we are in February.
I started to write a couple of weeks ago and it went something like this…
My dry and crispy little table top Christmas tree is still standing there, droopy limbs and all, on my table. Said table is covered in folded laundry and my hampers are full of dirty laundry waiting to go through the machines. But, hey, my machines are going, so we are making progress. My truck is a disaster, just full of living, shall we call it. It might as well be a closet. However, the barn is clean, or at least it was when I left the farm on Sunday. Who knows what kind of horsey party shenanigans have been going on in there since it has been raining since I left and will continue to until the weekend.
So, you can now scratch all of that above.
The Christmas tree has been dismantled, decorations have been put away, and the table has been cleaned and set…actually, all the surfaces have been cleaned. The laundry has not only been done but it has been put away (gasp!)…well, the hamper is full again somehow, but forget about that. My house is the cleanest it has been in a while and I even have bagged up 3 bags full of clothes to take to donation. Something happened and I went into full deep spring cleaning. I am hoping it is not premature! I had to put all that energy somewhere I guess.
The barn however, that is another story. We have had even more rain and therefore more mud. I did not leave it as clean as I normally do. I just could not do it. I needed a break. It feels like all I have done for a month is feed, muck, treat hooves, and try not to slip and fall in the mud. I even left early on Sunday…to clean my house…
ANYWAY.
Since we last spoke, Christmas was celebrated and baking was done. I could write a whole post on the life lessons learned from baking, but I will spare you. The flavors were good, but nothing really turned out as expected or played by the rules. It was all fine and everyone seemed to like the desserts, but to me this year they did not pass muster! I am not even going to share finished pictures!
New Year’s Eve was peaceful and quiet, blessedly. R and I continued our tradition of closing out the year in the right way with a ride.
The day started out like this.
Just us and our horses. We packed food and had our music. We rode for hours and then sat and talked for hours. It was the best day.
On New Year’s Day I rang in the new year from the backs of my dun duo before I had to go back to town. It was the best way to welcome the new year. For me, the only way to ensure a good year is to begin and end it with a ride. Forget the black eyed peas and all that other nonsense. Spend it doing what you love! Begin as you mean to go on! It sure has worked out for me lately, so I bet none of you are surprised I made sure to do it again. NYE and NYD are just another day like any other, but if you have the right mindset and try and keep the perspective every day…you are setting yourself up for success.
Then, Lito decided to colic. He recovered fine. I waffled on and off about whether or not to even write that as I don’t want questions or to keep that energy, but horses are going to horse and sometimes it sucks. There is no avoiding it. That is fact. That is life. So there it is. Keeping it real.
Then the winter weather came.
Now, I am fully aware that y’all up north have ‘real’ winters with much lower temperatures and much more snow and ice. I am also aware that this latest winter event was also nothing like that crazy big freeze we had a couple years ago, but we did have noisy sleet (and much more of it than they were predicting….also, can we please talk about how awful sleet and ice sound? It is gross) and temperatures at about 20 to 18 deg F with wind chills at about 7 deg F.
It is still a lot of work and stress to make sure all horses and cows have enough to eat and drink and that the barn is mucked (yay for frozen poop being easier to scoop!). That certain horses have access to wind breaks and shelter, to make a four horse barn work for six. That certain old and young cows have made it to morning. It will sure make you grateful for a barn! I was also still on hyper colic alert, so you can bet everyone was getting electrolytes and probiotics the whole time.
I will say cold mornings are really pretty and hot chocolate in your coffee makes it all easier. Take my word for it and do it. Maybe not not the best idea every day if you live in perpetual winter, maybe just when it is really bad. You do you though!
Once everything thawed out, we did discover a few broken water troughs that needed fixing after the freeze. I think their main downfall was actually age coupled with multiple freezes. It was just their time. To be honest, I am somewhat glad as it gives us the opportunity to get them set up better than they were to begin with. Life is all about perspective, I tell you!
Winter is just hard on living beings, especially the old ones. That is the hardest part above and beyond the work. Every morning I went down to cube the cows and break ice I was extra excited to see our geriatric Longhorn steer ready to get fed with everyone else. His name was Chacho. A staple in our herd as we had him for well over 20 years. He was even first in line to get fed the last cold morning. He got his own special, large pile of feed and hay as he has gotten for years. He ate well and I was surprised when later that morning Pops told me he was down and believed this was it. He seemingly laid down with a belly full of breakfast and went to sleep. That was it. It is crazy how you go for years thinking this is going to be it. He won’t make it through this winter and they prove you wrong so many times. Then when their time finally comes you are shocked. It is the end of an era, but what a blessing to have it be the way it was.
He was really old even here. Curly the bull has been gone a long time. Now these two bros are reunited.
Now here we are in our rainy season (which I will take over freezing). We have gotten many inches of rain in a couple of weeks. I think last week we got eight inches or more and on Friday night alone we got close to 2 inches. It is like the water is just coming out of the ground. Everything is slick. The pond is quite large. All the terraces are full and flowing.
I am not complaining about the rain. I will never complain about the rain.
I just.
I have MAJOR rainy winter blues. I have not ridden since New Year’s Day I do not think. I am not handling this well either. I feel like I am in a major funk.
Anyone want to gift me a covered arena?
Even still, with all of this rain, we have also had sun. Blessed sun. The pastures are benefiting. I have seen it with my own eyes. THE GRASS IS GROWING.
We have also done some of this. A happy Merle makes me happy and growing grass makes me happy. JUST LOOK AT HIM.
I did take a free weekend between the rains to slip away and go fishing with my parents, so that was nice to have little mini vacation away to one of my favorite places.
Tell me what you have been up to? Anything. Good or bad. Distractions or something to look forward to. Oh! Or vacation plans!
I do know this though. Spring is coming. I know it is. We have rain and sun AND lots of hair coming off the horses. You can do it spring!
Joy, it is here! I practically yelled that at you yesterday.
I am still yelling it and feeling it today, but as we all know, life is funny. Facebook slapped me with a memory of one of my Darcy’s Christmas portraits and it just sucker punched me right in the gut.
I was almost literally stomach sick (no mincing words here!). This happens from time to time, that is how grief and memories work, but I also had a dream about her earlier this week and I just can not get her off my mind. So many memories. So many feelings. I tell you I could almost feel her in my arms in the broad light of day.
I got to thinking and I realized that in the last eight years, I have experienced eight deaths. Three of which were tragically devastating.
What a statistic. Numbers are just that, numbers, but that is kind of a lot of deaths in a short period of time for someone who had previously not really experienced any beyond the passing of a well loved pet that lived well into its golden years.
Grief is funny in that when you are in it and close to it, the loss and the myriad of emotions that constitute grief lace all your thoughts and actions. You can not escape it and it seems to shape all you do. Blessedly, time does goes on and it morphs into something a little different bit by bit, but it is always a part of you, part of your inner tapestry, shaping you in different ways and giving you life perspective.
The point of all of this is that the holidays can be a very hard and lonely time for many people for any number of reasons, but chief among them is that in this time of togetherness and in the reflectiveness of winter, one thinks of those they can not gather with.
However, this is the AHA moment. One thing that we ALL share is loss. Grief is something that, while unique to each individual, is a universal connector of us all. NOBODY is alone in their grief for the simple reason that everybody has it. Even if it feels like you are alone at times. When you are in it, you can not see much else.
Here is what I want to tell you. What I have come to live for myself.
Through all the grief and loss there is another side to discover. Somewhat removed, but in a bird’s eye view kind of way. Not just a light at the end of the tunnel as they say.
Good morning, dear readers! Or, whatever time of day it happens to be for you wherever you are!
I just wanted to tell you that joy abounds this very day.
It may begin with you or it may begin with a stranger.
Let it grow, dear readers. Choose to believe it and choose to see it. Let it spread.
It is there!
I was blessed by strangers today and I pray that I blessed others in return.
I had to go downtown this morning to the County Clerk’s office to record a deed. Yes, I realize you can do this by mail, but we needed it done in a timely manner and I had never done this before so I wanted to learn about it by doing it in person. I find it humorous that I never go downtown and I will be there twice by the end of the day.
Anyway, I got up early and finished my eggnog cake for Friday this morning and then got dressed and in the truck before 7:15 to make my way downtown well before 8. I had to find parking, pay for said parking, and get to the door ideally before anyone else. I got there in a round about way because I missed a turn of course (we will not talk about how I made a big goof yesterday by making the wrong turn, so much for GPS), but I was able to find a spot a block down.
While I was in the process of gathering my things, I was approached by a man on the street. I will admit to wanting to ignore him and send him on his way while I thought about how to protect my purse. He babbled on about this and that and all I heard was cancer and tacos pondering what to do. At some point I realized that he was offering to help me use the parking meter correctly to avoid extra fees if I needed it…in exchange for tacos. Still being somewhat confused, I accepted his offer while he told me about his cancer and how how he was about to go in for another chemo treatment. He was very nice and respectful and wanted to show me the taco stand around the corner, presumably so I knew that it was tacos he wanted and not something else.
Now, I am aware that this story could go in any which way and very likely in a bad direction. I just did not feel like this was that kind of situation. We talked for a little bit and I gave him some money for tacos and coffee. He was extremely grateful. I asked him his name, to which he told me was Anthony, and I gave him a hug and a prayer.
I made my way down to the courthouse passing many smiling people. Normally I find that people just look down or have a scowl on their face. I walked into the building and made my way through security…more in depth security than you will find at the airport. TSA is not accepted there, if you were wondering. I asked as I was told I had to take my shoes off. They offered a laugh at my question, possibly in pity. They more than thoroughly went through my purse after it was scanned and smiled and laughed at my ridiculous number of keys. They said I must be a busy person to which I had no response but a smile and a nod. They wished me good day and a Merry Christmas after pointing me in the direction of the County Clerk’s office.
I arrived outside the door five minutes to 8 AM and I was the only person waiting. The door was opened at 8 and I was so nicely asked what I needed. I halfway thought he asked because I looked like I needed help, but I was happy for it none the less, maybe I did look that way. I was still surprised by my morning thus far. I told him what I was there for and he said with enthusiasm, “Yes mam, right this way to the right!” I practically snapped to and said with as much enthusiasm, “THANK YOU!”
The office was joyfully decorated and everyone had a smile on. I followed the signs and stopped at the stop sign. The lady at the window smiled brightly and asked what she could do for me. Her desk was so clean and organized, but it also had very personal things on it including her devotional. The whole encounter was just so nice. She was so happy and helpful and smiley. Is that even a real word? It is now. The whole errand took less than five minutes. She told me she loved my name and that it sounded like a super hero! Color me whatever you wish, but that made me stand up taller! I said thank you about five times and we both wished each other a Merry Christmas.
As I walked back through the building, I swear it got more festive. Everyone was wearing something red and green. Even those in uniform. I complimented everyone and everyone was saying Merry Christmas! On my way back to the truck were even more smiling people! I passed someone carrying red and green cupcakes and I told her to have fun at the party, to which she beamed.
Anthony was not there when I got back to my truck. Hopefully he was filling his belly with tacos.
Joy is here, dear readers.
Love is here.
God is here.
Everyone is in different circumstances and it can be had to see it. The light, it is here.
Walk in love, dear readers!
Enjoy some of my Christmas favorites to help you get in the spirit!
Sometimes the stars align and everything is just right for things to feel like old times. Old times that are good for the soul. The weekend before R and I flew to New Mexico was like that. It was a horse girl weekend.
We planned a weekend to ride on some quiet country roads that were new to my Lito man and myself. On Saturday morning, we took our time having coffee and breakfast, grooming, and tacking. We glittered our horses! We packed a lunch and left R’s husband with instructions of where to meet us for lunch. We got the music hooked up to the speaker on R’s saddle and struck out. The sun was shining. The air was right. Our horses were amazing…albeit a little quick. They could have won a powerwalking relay race! It was good for the both of us.
The roads were for the most part quiet. The only thing we could have wished for was for the haying to take a break while we rode, but our horses really did handle it well and they have to make hay while the sun shines, you know! Some of those rakes are rather large and scary!
Madeline put it best when talking about ‘barn friends.’ I may not be a part of a boarding barn community (I once was and I loved it) where we are in the same place already to hang out and do horse girl things just because, but you can create that if you want to with a little work. R and I have done that for ourselves thanks to being thrown together as friends in 2012.
I almost felt like a kid again that weekend. Just two horse crazy girls having a good time.
I am not one for really having a word for a year or having resolutions, but 2023 I think has been my gratitude year if I had to put a word on it.
I think 2024 will be my horse girl year. And by that I mean the inner kid version of myself. To more than continue to embrace my inner kid, my inner horse obsessed little girl, but to be her again.
To really live it and breathe it. To be the girl that has fun just because it is me and my horse. To do it for the glory and the grace and the gratitude of it. No worries or excuses. The girl that does not take things or herself too seriously or gets bogged down by unimportant things. Does not worry about what others think. The saddle club kid. Riding. Hanging out. Grooming. Braiding. Glitter. Sitting in the stall while they eat. Sharing space and energy. Just because. To be with others like this. Even more, to create more of this community of quality. Build my own little saddle club. To honor my energy, my self, and my time with those around me more seriously.
I am almost there and I am catching up, my friends!
Since we are coming up on the last month of the year, if you had to give 2023 a word, what would it be? Looking forward to 2024, what word would you like to bestow on the coming year?
I have to say, I think all of our wishing for summer to hurry up and get on out sure seemed to make it get up and go! This weekend we will have highs in the mid seventies and prayers for rain on the way there. Which, it is currently raining right now while I drink my imaginary cup of coffee. Why imaginary, you ask? Imaginary because I am just a good adult, and I am out of coffee. Well, technically, I am not out as I have a bag of coffee packed for next week, but I do not want to get into it, so I really am being a good adult. Just your average every day musings going on over here.
So, here we are, October, and there you are! If you can not tell, I am more than ready for it. If you know any Texans, I bet you already know this. I might freeze with lows in the low fifties.
Chance started growing his winter coat a couple of weeks ago, which is normal for him, and it was actually noticeably cooler on Sunday morning. My brain wanted to tell me it was even cold! It was not actually cold, we have still been having highs in the nineties and so humid, but the horses’ coats were the tiniest bit puffed up that morning and the nineties are on their way out.
The crazy thing is the timing of it all, but there is never any surprise there. I am just grateful for it. Lito and I will be headed to our annual ladies ride in the hill country for the week starting this weekend and through next week and we will be glad for the cooler temperatures, I grant you that. I think we might both be a bit fresh with it! I will have my lunge line at the ready just in case and his sheet. When temperatures drop while we travel, I always throw his sheet on for some extra comfort. It may just be for me, but it is just something I do along with giving probiotics and electrolytes every time we travel.
ANYWAY.
I have been jamming to this song and those like it these days. It will make for good driving music.
We are mostly ready to go! The trailer is mostly packed and I have most of my things ready to throw in a bag. I do have to pick up some things at the feed store after I drop my Merley Bob at the kennel tomorrow on my way out to the farm. Leaving Merle behind is one of the worst things about some travel.
I sure wish I had some real coffee right now to go with the pitter pat of the rain on the car port tin roof.
Well, it is way past time for me to get going for the day and I have lot to do before I head out tomorrow.
I think trip hangovers just get worse with age, just like regular hangovers. Why can’t it be the opposite? Like wine and beauty?
This time, the trip hangover lasted about a good week and it felt like it took me almost a solid two weeks to get to feeling like my regular self and back in the groove, but truthfully I did/do not have time to wallow in a trip hangover even if it was obviously and absolutely worth it.
I have of course been back to riding my big boy, as per usual. He had a little two week break with my traveling which is good for him.
We ride all summer and all year, so periodic breaks are good for his mind and body. Besides the fact that I would do it anyway, riding through the summer is important around here unless you have your own covered arena…which I do not. Most people seem to take the heat of the summer (which has been about three months worth this year) off of riding in addition to winter, but you never know when in the winter or more desirable temperature months you will not be able to ride because of rain and mud. We really generally only have two seasons, summer and winter. The other two seasons kind of only pass through. Keeping a higher level of baseline fitness for them (AND you) is better and easier and SAFER to me than having to hurry up and get one legged up two different times of year in a hurry before it gets two cold/wet or too hot.
THE POINT IS (don’t worry, you did not miss anything), news flash, Lito is the best boy and acted like he did not even have a break.
Last weekend I was in Dallas for my niece/Goddaughter’s baptism.
We have been busy this year and it is not over yet! We still have a couple exciting things coming up.
Long time readers know we go on a big adventure every October and this year is no different. We will head to the hill country in about three weeks (actually, less than!) and the count down has begun in earnest. No rest for the weary, as they say, but hey, we can rest when we are in the nursing home, right?! We have good reason to hit the fitness grindstone. More riding equals a happy Avery and Lito, so it is no hardship to be sure.
Then in November, I will be headed to New Mexico for a long weekend with good friends to visit another good friend. You will hear more about this later.
The even more good news is that we have had a bit of a shift in the weather. Knock on wood, but I think we are finished with triple digit temperatures for the year. Hopefully. It was beginning to feel like it would never happen and we were going to be stuck in a perpetual August. That is really how it feels. Like it is never going to change, even though your brain knows better. We still have highs in the nineties, but we are trending in the fall direction. I can feel it.
AND, we got some rain. At least and inch and a half. I will pause here for you to do a happy dance on my behalf. Then I will do one for you, just give me a reason to! You can count on me, dear readers!
We still need quite a bit more rain for the grass, the pond, and to start to bring down the drought deficit, but we will take any we can get. Lito and I rode the pastures Monday morning after checking the cows and calves and I can see some grass growth and some greening up. There was still barely any standing water and there are still a few cracks in the ground, but again, we are trending in the right direction.
The rain and the ticking down of temperatures really put me in good spirits after Ireland. As if the trip of a lifetime was not enough! I treated myself to a pumpkin spice late while I did some grocery shopping AND I made pumpkin bread. Ya, you heard me. We are all in the ‘ber months and fall is HERE. Get with it and get ready! It is time for baking and the season!
Tell me, have you started to celebrate fall? Have you decorated yet? Pulled out your sweaters? Indulged in anything pumpkin? Baked anything???
