Naughty little dog. The Darcy Doolittle found some horse treats that R had somewhere. She decided they were indeed for her. Good thing I have an indoor/outdoor rug. Us traveling horse gals can be hard on the finer, indoor things of life. Tracking in shavings and hay, leaving burrs all over the house, and eating horse treats off the floor. You know, everyday stuff. Have I ever told you about the time Darcy ate crayons? No? Well, that is indeed a story for another day very soon. Anyway.
I wonder why she left the crumbs? A snack for later? Maybe she saved them for R’s cat? How sweet.
Not having time for such nonsense, I shook my head at her as she wagged her tail innocently at me before we loaded up and left. We had good times awaiting us.
I met up with some friends Friday evening who were spending the weekend doing fun horsey things. We talked and laughed, ate and drank, and listened to music. I had a grand time and got back to the farm late.
Which, indeed made waking up early to do all the things a wee bit difficult. After some encouragement from Darcy and Petunia protesting the late breakfast service, I got up and started the day. I rode Chance and Lito between moving sprinklers and taking care of other odds and ends. There are always a ton of odds and ends.
After riding, I loaded Lito a couple of times. You know, practice makes perfect better, better, better. He self loaded twice and was calm and confident so we called it a day. He is back to nickering at me when I come in to unload him which makes me more than happy. I am going to take him and Cheetah to a friend’s in a couple weeks for a fun, low key day.
Kisses for everyone from Lito. The day could not have been more beautiful. Not too hot and not really humid. Scattered clouds providing occasional blocks from the sun. A good breeze.
I had a late lunch after finishing up and went back to my friend’s for another fun evening. Friends and laughter along with a sunset like the above, is great for the soul and you feel it right down in your heart.
Sunday morning greeted us with an unexpected, and most welcome, chance of rain. I quickly packed up, left, and went to the car wash in hopes of ensuring some moisture. Here is hoping it worked! It was practically a gully washer in town!
What beautiful things did y’all get up to this weekend?
Walk in love, dear readers, and make it a great Monday!
Because there are only a few more hours between me and this…
You want to know what else is yay? I get to find out if I am going to have a niece or a nephew on Sunday! I am thinking pink. I just have a feeling.
I have one more yay. I think spring has sprung. There is pollen everywhere! This is not so yay for allergies, but this is yay because things are going to get green and it is going to get warmer. That is reason enough for a happy dance. All that rain can finally get to work and grow some grass.
By the way, thanks for yesterday. I just needed to get that off my chest. It has been developing for a while now. I will let you know when I know.
Would you like something glorious for this Monday? Of course you do. Who wouldn’t?
Well this weekend…well, you know what I did this weekend.
Saturday I caught the end of the sunset after going all day.
Then Sunday, my ever optimistic boy was sure there was something left just for him.
He always follows me when I go to feed Apache. Apache requires copious amounts of feed to keep him going, but that is not the point. The point is he always follows me, hopeful for a morsel. The others just stare at me, knowing it is not for them. Lito however, has not given up hope.
Petunia is the same way. Always trying to get to Apache’s feed. Hopeful that one day the buckets will not be secured well enough, just out of her reach. Or that she will somehow be taller.
Well, yesterday was both of their days. There was a tiny little bit left in that bag for my Lito man, despite the fact that he almost dumped me in the pond on Saturday. And Petunia somehow managed to lower one of Apache’s buckets just enough to stuff her face with some of his feed. Unfortunately for her, I had to put it back up and Petunia proof it.
Don’t give up hope, dear readers. AHAmoment. Be like Lito and Tuners. Keep searching. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Keep praying. What you truly desire takes work. That is how you get it and what makes it all worth it.
Wrong. It is one that was not promised. I bet that changed your Monday blues.
Make the most of it, dear readers, and make it a great one.
Dare I say, make it a marvelous Monday!
Shine your light and spread the love! Get all hippie-dippie. Go on. You know you want to.
I had a lovely, restorative weekend at the farm (I even took a nap! Gasp, I know), capped by an amazing dinner with family last night. Seriously, that meal. Fresh caught red fish on the half shell topped with hollandaise and fresh crab meat served with green chili rice and green beans. We ate like kings. However, the meal was nothing compared to quality time spent with my niece and nephew. Love those little people!
I hope everyone had a great weekend and is getting their week off to a great start.
I for one am glad to be back in the swing. Bring it on! I have missed y’all!
The sun’s predawn light trickled through the blinds as I blinked, reaching for my phone to turn off my alarm. Patting my bedside table, I realized it was not there, but I was still not comprehending. The only thought was why the volume was so loud and how it seemed to slowly get that way. Like it came from afar. My vision finally came to when I saw a dark something on my sheets, very close to my pillow. Strange. What in the world could that be. I did not hear my alarm anymore. I laid there staring. My still asleep mind jumped to a pool of blood. Yes, that is natural. That has to be it. Where could it have come from. My nose? I never get nose bleeds. My ear? Heck if I know. What is it?! How?
I moved my sheet and discovered the rest of the black rectangular shape that was my phone. I dropped my head like a rock on my pillow with a sigh as I began to hear my alarm sing again. Turn that off. I have to get up. Shower. Go be an adult. How I longed for the days of my youth when we got to take naps at school. Why did we fight the naps? Most all kids seem to fight the nap. If only I could tell them not to. If only they knew!
Such a dramatic wake up for a day like Monday! I can not read into that one too much. When I had my appendix taken out, I woke up one night from a nightmare that I bled out. I read somewhere that is common after surgery. Yesterday was somewhat dramatic. I am not sure if that is really the word, but we will go with it.
I can not help but feel that my life lately can be summed up in a single emoji. Something like this…
Especially yesterday. Ugh. I do not even want to share. But. That is what this is for, right? What IT is about? Sharing our story. Yes. Please tell me I am not alone at the end of this.
I spent the weekend at the farm. Lito started his light trot work and was nice and sound. He seemed to be quite happy to not just be walking and the short 5 min of trot had him slightly breathing. On Saturday, I loaded up Cheetah and rode with some friends who have a place down the road from us. Cheetah was great and we had a grand time. Rode in the morning. Then had mimosas in the shade before spending the afternoon in the pool. We had dinner and I got home a little late but not bad.
I had Sunday all planned. You know what they say about plans, right? Anyway, I woke up without an alarm a little after 6 AM. After trying to will myself into sleeping more, I got up and went to go feed the horses with the dogs. I was dog sitting for some friends over the weekend. I had a leisurely breakfast and read a little with my coffee. I got dressed and took care of some things before taking Lito out for his little bite of exercise. All good. I packed and did some house cleaning, before loading up the dogs to head back before lunch time. I had all afternoon.
I was going to get back to town and drop of the dogs at their home. Then Darcy and I would go on our merry way to our new townhouse and finish moving over the course of the afternoon. We were to spend our first night there. I was excited. I will add that Darcy was excited too just for dramatic effect. We need more of that.
I stopped in the little town right by the farm to fill up before hitting the road. I did my auto pilot thing. You know how you are doing things and do not even realize it because you do them all the time and your mind is off in a different world thinking about other things? Not really in the present? That. I filled up like I always fill my car. MY CAR. Not my dad’s diesel truck.
Yes. you read that correctly.
I could not have felt more stupid. I am not a stupid person.
I sat in the truck while it filled up completely oblivious to what I had just done. Just waiting. Yelling at Poodie to stop barking at the innocent people walking back to their cars with their drinks and snacks. I heard the pump click off. In a split second my eyes got wide as I got an image in my mind of what I just done. No, surely not. I hope I did not just do that. Don’t freak out just yet. Turn around and look to confirm before you freak out.
That was a wasted second of clear, level thinking. I turned around to see the gas pup innocently resting in the diesel tank of the truck. My head dropped as I took a breath. I returned the pump to its holster and slowly turned around to sit in the truck and think. No one answered their phones. Typical. I called my dad three times. I look up and see I from the feed store! Oh thank you Lord! I waved him over and gave him the run down. He was very happy I did not start the truck. My spirits lightened slightly at that. He gave me our mechanic’s brother’s number who has a tow truck. Then called the mechanic begging for help.
Lucky for me, we are long time customers and they are nice people. I owe a lot of people some homemade cookies. I seemed a little worried about me, but I assured him I would be fine once I quit being mad at myself and I would text him if I needed a ride or when I got back safely.
My dad called me and said, “What is wrong?” Well, I told him what happened and that I had the ball rolling to get it fixed. His responded with, “Oh no.” I know. “You didn’t start it did you?” No, I didn’t start it.
We got the truck towed down the road to the shop. “You didn’t start it did you?!” NO! I didn’t start it!!! Why doesn’t anyone believe me! “Don’t feel bad, I had someone just last week who did this. At least you didn’t start it.”
The tow truck driver gave us a ride back to the farm. The four of us. Me and the three dogs. A comical sight on the bench seat of a tow truck and a bit of a tight squeeze.
R came to rescue us from the farm and deliver us safely back home. She was our knight in shining steel she said. She has jokes that one. I could not ask my parents to do that. I felt, and still kinda feel, like a cowering dog with his tail tucked between his legs. They were not mad, but I was. I made R stay for dinner. R said she has driven off with the pump a few times. Thanks for trying to make me feel better, R.
Hopefully it will be all fixed today.
At least it makes for a good story? Self deprecating humor? Eventually.
Mom said to be nice to myself. People make mistakes. Yes, we do. Some just are not that easy to swallow. I tried to google how often people do this. Ha! Not an easy answer. I will find the humor!
Today is a new day, as my mother said this very morning. And it is just that!
A new day, and new hit. You only thought that was the end of it or the worst of it. I just got a text from a friend that I rode with last weekend. She is pretty sure her horse has strangles and to watch our horses closely. Great.
But hey, I am already there taking care of Lito, no time like the present. Praying that it is not and that our horses do not contract it!
We will tackle this too. These issues do not know who they are dealing with!
We will tackle them with high heads, walking in love. Drawing our strength through Him, growing and learning.
Really, just me. Lito seems to be handling things pretty alright. Bless him.
Now that he has had his precious rest, it is time to slowly and gradually get him into some light work. To slowly stretch his tendon and see how it responds. Then, once we have finished the regimen and he has not turned up lame, the vet will come out and re image his leg. Cheers to another couple of weeks!
Apologies for the snarky attitude. Kinda.
I have counted out the workouts and have a plan. Here is hoping the weather does not get too much in our way, but we do need the rain. We have gotten some, so that is good.
This second week of rest has been fine. I guess. This short work week kinda threw me a curve ball. Hence why you have not heard from me. If you were wondering. If not, well then, oh well. It went by too quickly and now it is Friday. Not quite sure how, but here it is! AND it is June! Let us not discuss that.
Y’all feeling the same way? I hope? No? Sigh.
Anyway, my anxiety has been up in my throat the past couple of days. Hence, the restless. Mostly because I hate this situation for Lito. For us. And it just feels like there are too many balls up in the air that I am juggling. Which is another reason I have fallen silent. It felt too hard to share and explain. That it would not be understood. That I would not be understood. But this is life.
I would like to be moved into my new place. I have not even been there since Monday when I first started unpacking. One of these days…Which, I guess moving is really the only new player. I have so much laundry to do between clothes and my sheets and towels that have been in storage for a year. I feel like every time I turn around there is a new pile haunting me! I just want to be able to play some music and cook a meal in my townhouse. I also need an oil change. Well, my car needs one and a good bath. It is so dirty. That makes me think about this song by Wade Bowen.
My windshield literally got a rock chip last week driving in from the farm. I feel a little like my engine is running rough. Me and my car!
However, I am never one to complain about the coming of the weekend! This weekend, I am loading up my Cheetah girl and headed to a friend’s place for a girls riding weekend. A much needed respite. For the both of us.
I just wanted go drop a line and give y’all an update. I have not fallen off the face of the earth or anything. Just feel maxed out. Here is hoping that it passes as quickly as this past week!
This next week is already pretty booked up with only one free evening. I might be spending my lunch hours moving!
Send reinforcements!
It is all good though. These are not problems and I have nothing to complain about! At most these are challenges to be conquered and I will do just that. It might be hard to see the light and be positive when I am getting tired and feeling strung out, but that is the only thing to do. I am going to put the “hammer down” and get it done.
Interestingly enough, my anxiety has already throttled off a bit while writing this post. One of the things I am learning to love about blogging. Do any of you ever feel this way?
Thanks for letting me…spew. That is what it feels like.
I have a weekend hangover. Not necessarily the good kind. I also have no pictures. Way to go me. Friend R took this pic.
I am up there on the left, in the orange shirt, on my girl Cheetah, looking back. That is friend S riding Chance. I will tell you that the weather was spectacular. A little windy, but I will take that.
Not everything thing went exactly according to plan, but that is the way life goes.
Thursday it appeared everyone was leaving work early. The traffic was horrendous when I was headed out to the farm. It took me about twice as long as normal. It was OK though, because I had a fun long weekend ahead of me. It went slightly downhill from there.
When I went to go hitch up the trailer, it had fallen off the block and sunk into the ground. I had to use the high lift jack to get it high enough to hitch (after I found it…which reminds me, I forgot to put it back where it goes. Face –> palm). It took long enough that I did not have enough time to bathe the horses. No worries, I am a pretty good groom ninja.
Then I discovered that Ike had a nice fat, swollen leg. Great. I was going to bring Ike for a friend, S, to ride. She even came out last weekend to ride him to prepare. Strike number 2. We made a plan to see if he was still swollen or lame in the morning. If he presented 100%, I would bring him. If not, I load up early and bring Chance with enough time to ride him for friend S for a while before everyone started rolling in. Come Friday morning his leg was still swollen (by Sunday, he was no longer swollen). No worries, I load up early and head out with my go cup of coffee.
About 10 or 15 minutes in, I almost (and by almost, I mean I did) got run off the road by a gravel truck traveling way too fast around a bend, down the middle of a 1ish lane road. Strike 3 and I was not out! I am just so glad that I was paying attention and that the ground next to the road was solid enough. Horses were fine, I said a little prayer, and we kept driving. I called the police to report it even though I had no info other than I thought the color of the truck was silver/gray.
We safely arrive and I unload and settle the horses with enough time to work Chance.
Saturday morning rolls around and we discover that over the course of the night, one person’s horse got in an accident at the trailer and another’s coliced (both are fine now!).
Three people came off their horse throughout the morning (all are fine). There was something in the air or it was the coming on of he full moon. Something.
I think Cheetah was in heat and my two horses were extremely buddy sour, like they have never been before. If they act that way again, we are all going to boot camp. I was ok giving them the weekend and ignoring the behavior because there was clearly something going on. I will deal with it later.
The rest of the ride ended up pretty nice. S and I stayed in the back and had some good quality horse time. The good news is, we are all home safe and Ike’s leg is no longer swollen. That is what matters.
By the time I got back to town, all I needed was a shower and a cocktail..and that is just what I got!
Back to regular programming this week. I know I already said that, but the last few weeks have been crazy and I apologize for being MIA…again.
