When taking a photo, especially of animals; light, angle, and
composition are important... but timing is everything. Baling hay must
also be timed with the weather. Proper training of animals is dependent
on cues and/or rewards given at the right time. And you definitely
need good timing to be a musician or comedian. I think people that are
"naturals" at anything, have built in perfect timing. Others of us have
to learn it as best we can.This retirement thing has sure changed my approach to life. I am no longer in a hurry. I have no where to be and all the time in the world. (However, today, trying to get this Blog post done with Blogger not
cooperating, I was getting quite anxious.)
While sitting and reflecting,
I find myself wondering, what is my purpose now? Surely God doesn't
intend for me to just have fun and play all day. I think that is how I
have started out... (in June) but I too know I need to work at
something. Even though I work hard around here and am catching up on
neglected house and farm jobs, I sometimes feel like a bum. But I am also really enjoying myself. This photo is so true of many cats, especially our Abbey... and whether or not you get bit when you pet them, is all in the timing.
Last Monday I boiled the left over leg of lamb, adding more veggies
and spices. The meat just fell off the bone. Kaysha was glad to help
with "clean up" of unwanted scraps.We didn't get any of the predicted rain, but by Tuesday morning the cool air had returned and it was quite pleasant out. Tue am I walked, read my Bible, caught up on Facebook & E-mail, and played a word with each friend (that I am "Word With Friends" gaming with). After lunch I took Roni to Marj's
and
rode indoor, out front, in the outdoor arena, and in her hay field. I am
getting Roni ready for his picture debut with Ashton. My work in
the garden involved adding blocks to slow water erosion. A trip to town took
me to Courtney's, to get water and then to four different stores to buy
plants for the garden. No one has zucchini plants. Guess I need to
start from seed, but I am so late getting started. I did buy a few
plants and many groceries.
Early Wednesday I let the horses and cow into the new grazing area. (Babe back on the good green stuff later in the afternoon while the horses were in the barn.) I walked, read my Bible, and drank two cups of tea because it was cold and I was groggy. I played on the computer, then took Roni to Marj's and rode for 90 min. Lacey was there working Rainbow. I didn't time this shot too well.
Eating lunch on the lounge chair because I was so cold... I ended up falling asleep in the sun. I woke up sweating... the breeze had died down and the clouds dissipated and it had gotten hot. I prepared to finish planting the garden, with Betty's help.
Courtney, Joe and I did the weekly stall cleaning at Marj's. I had to sit and rest and eat a late dinner before cleaning our stalls.
Thursday... it was in the 50's again when I emerged at 5 am. I found this unfortunate baby opossum at the bottom of the stock tank. I
keep a board floating in there to save such critters, but sadly, it did
not help. I followed the usual walking, devotional Bible reading, Facebook + E-mail routine. 
Then I tackled the garden walkway. I was on the shady side of the barn, so it was not too hot. I cleared three wheel barrow loads of old broken brick, concrete, and clay tile that we have been throwing there the past three years. I raked and moved rock and weeded, then started laying a brick walk using sand as a foundation and to fill between the cracks.
I have to keep watering the garden because it has been so hot and dry. First Zorro came over to see what I was up too.
And then pretty soon Amiga joined him. He loves playing in
and drinking out of the hose.
Amiga was not so sure. Roni and Babe stayed completely away.After a very late lunch I headed to Marj's with Roni. We did the usual arena work and then headed out to the back pasture. I helped Nan with cleaning some stalls and filling water buckets and tanks because Austin was unable to get them done. I got home just in time for steak dinner (the last of Sir Loin) thanks to chef Joe.
Joe got up early for work Friday and opened the chicken coop and let the
horses out of the barn for me, so I rolled over and went back to
sleep... not getting up until almost 7:30. I was dog tired
from the day before. I decided to postpone my walk, and as it turns
out, it never did happen. 
I headed out early to work on the garden path because it was going to get hot again. Luke came after lunch to cut our alfalfa.
I didn't finish the garden path, but made good progress. I needed to quit early to give Roni a bath to prepare him for his picture debut. I let him graze while drying and then showered myself.
Joe dropped Roni and I off at Wellgreen Farm where we met Ashton, her parents and the photographer. She had on a beautiful dress and we started in on Senior photos. The long blowing gown worried Roni at first, but then he was better. He did not like Ashton getting on him bareback with the dress however.
All in all, Roni did a pretty good job.
We couldn't get him to turn his ears forward, they were usually back,
worried about Ashton. She made a dress change into a cowgirl outfit and I put a western
saddle on Roni. And the photos continued. Marj and I even got into the
picture taking.
It was 8:30 by the time I headed home, riding Roni. I let him rush (mostly speed walking with some gaiting) because I knew our daylight was dwindling. It was almost dark as we came up the drive. The end of another exhausting day.
Saturday I decided to wait and walk the dog at Moraine View later in the day. I hit the outdoor work early because it was going to get quite hot.
I finished my walk-way to the garden/compost, including transplanting several Day Lilies. I had to water everything a second time because it was baking in the hot sun. Back in the air conditioning for a nap and then I no longer had ambitions to do anything outside.
I took Roni to Moraine View and had another great ride around the
lake. I made one wrong turn taking a little longer than expected, so
arrived back at camp a little late. Joe and Kaysha were there, fire
going, hotdogs cooked, and waiting for me.
Roni was very hot and tired. I rinsed him
off and let him graze nearby. We enjoyed a simple picnic dinner around the fire.
We tied Roni to the trailer and went with Kaysha, for a 30 minute walk around one of the riding trails.
Heading home at dusk, I drove towards the distant lightening filled skies. The 60 mph winds hit while we were getting all livestock in and we had just enough time to batten down the hatches before the approaching storm hit, pelting the house and fields with much needed rain.
I have figured out why we have big holes in the yard. It's not the dog... it's bad boy Hercules. Betty is usually near by him, looking for food.
Joe started today, Dad's Day, going to work at 4 am. I went to Church early to work in the nursery, but was not needed, so I went to the early service instead. Last night's storm brought over an inch of blessed rain... beautiful, perfect, well needed rain... only one problem... we have cut hay drying in the field. We are hoping for two days of wind and sunshine now. It dried out a lot today.
I don't think cats ever worry about the time, and they always seem to have time for a cat nap. The older Kaysha gets, the more she naps too.
Before lunch, the three equine escaped and were running around the house and bucking as
we were trying to catch them. So now, not only do we have a bunch of
sticks, apples and peaches in the yard (from the storm), we also have deep horse hoof
prints all over. Even though it was cooler outside, I
decided to stay in and rest, work on this Blog, and read my novel. This is how I spent a good part of the day. Also Words With Friends and
IMing with Britney. I know the timing is right for weed pulling, so
plan to tackle that tomorrow.Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (NIV) tells us:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
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