Retirement Bliss

     August marks the beginning of the end of summer for teachers (and students).  I always feel a sense of melancholy and dread this time of year... knowing that hard work, long hours, and no freedom soon await me.  But not this year!!!  For once I can relax and enjoy the rest of summer while all my teacher friends are making the trek back in to school to set up their classrooms and prepare for the start of a new school year. For me, life (summer) goes on, as I am no longer a slave to the school calendar or work load.

     After I think up a blog title, I always "Google" it, to see what I can find on the topic.  This image is the name of a 300 acre horse ranch in New Mexico... not for retirees like myself, but for retired horses.  How nice.

     Is there life on Mars?  Since I have more free time, I have the opportunity to watch what is going on in the world, like the landing of  "Curiosity" at the start of this week. 



     The Mars rover successfully landed on the surface of the Red Planet in the early hours of Monday, and this is the first image they picked up!  Ha ha ha.

     I have also had plenty of time to watch the Olympics on TV.  And I think I will find one or two TV shows, or series, or what ever you call them, to watch this fall.  Usually once the middle of August hits, I never sit in front of the TV again, until June.  Not anymore, now I am free to recline.
                                                           Being retired has afforded me the
ability to be able to "drop everything" and go do something else, knowing I will have time to get back to the task at hand later.  Monday I took time off from working with Amiga and Roni, and from work around here, and went with Marj to ABC Horsemanship.  It is a training facility, west of Greenville, where she had one of her horses (Cowgirl) in training.  So we went to

pick her up.  Her trainer, Tim Austin, 
showed Marj what Cowgirl has been taught and how to work with her.  I really liked his philosophy and approach with the horses.  Once done working, Cowgirl got hosed off.  Marj treated me to a delicious lunch in the little town of Bethalto, and then we headed home with Cowgirl. 

     I ran to LeRoy for some groceries in preparation for the evening Growth Group potluck.  Dean and Linda were back with our group, after his summer of cancer treatment. It was so good to see and talk with them again.      

     Abbey lies in waiting for birds to come for a drink.  The grass is green here from watering and filling the bird bath, but most of the yard is brown.  Notice all the brown leaves... which have already started falling.


     I have this broken bird bath on the ground with the hose on a slow drip, which keeps the water fresh and cool while the overflow waters the tree.

     Tuesday I watered, fed, mucked stalls, and rode Amiga then Roni.  Amiga has very little speed and steering control.  She needs lots of work.  I had a few restful hours at my computer but then went out once Joe got home, to work on trimming and weed control while he used the weed whacker.

     The majority of Wednesday was spent at my computer generating and answering e-mails, making phone calls, and planning and preparing for some future weekend trips with Roni.  It looked rainy all afternoon, so I spent a few hours completely cleaning our master bathroom, even washing the walls and wood floor and adding a new sectional carpet.  We got less than a tenth of rain as sprinkles and the threat of storms had cleared by 6pm, so I went out and worked with the horses.  These photos I took of Amiga and Zorro tied to the trailer.

     I decided Zorro could use some practice at standing patiently, so that was his job while I brushed Amiga.  It wasn't long and he was pawing the ground and playing with the rope tie.  Once I was ready to take Amiga to the round pen, I put Zorro back in his stall and brought Roni out.


      Amiga and I are still trying to figure each other out.  She gets nervous and starts to gait, but I don't want to push her legs until she has had lots of time to get back into shape, and limber and muscle up.  So I have to keep slowing her down.  I rode her for 20 minutes, taking her on the new trail out back.

     These two photos are of Zorro fidgeting with the lead rope.  He just can't stand still.  I kept Amiga tied to the trailer while I groomed Roni, then returned her to her stall.  It was dark before I finished with Roni, and he definitely is more nervous/excited working in the dark.  It wasn't pitch black, but the large equipment at Becks was dark and ominous, and kept Roni on high alert.  But he did what I asked and I was pleased with his efforts.

     I don't know where I got this from, but I like the advice.  "When working with a horse, we ground ourselves by consciously dropping our excitement level, lowering our voice, and being sure in our steps. We know where we are and where we're going, and will be less likely to get dragged around by a horse who doesn't know what's up."  I try to always keep this in mind.

     Thursday was overcast and we got a little rain shower in the morning.  This poem popped into my head as I was coming in from chores.
Blessed rain, so short but sweet.
Please return, to beat this heat.
It's been dry, there is no doubt.
We need you more, to beat this drought.
You've settled the dust, I can tell.
But now we want you to fill our well.




     I rode Amiga and then Roni as usual, spending 3 hours horsing around.  I met Joe at the bank to refinance our house loan... at 2.6% interest rate.  It poured as we were leaving.  I bought some supplies for camping and the rain was done by the time I came out of the grocery.  The ducks were still enjoying the puddles when I got home.  I kept the horses in until my 11:00 bed time, and then turned them out hoping it wouldn't be too muddy.

     We were supposed to go to Kansas City on Friday, for the Yellow Ribbon Weekend.  But there was some screw up and they did not plan for us to attend.  I don't know if it was the army or Dan, or a little of both... but a case of bad communications I guess.  Anyway, since Joe had half the day off Friday, and no work Sunday, we decided to go camping.

     We went to Middle Fork Park near Danville, our old stomping grounds.  We unloaded and set up camp, including the tent, and then headed off on a ride/hike.










     Part of the time we were in the meadow, along the wood's edge, and part of the time we were in the woods.  We weren't very successful finding our way to the river crossing, but still had a scenic walk.

     Back at camp we got a fire going.  There had been a burn ban, but they got a lot of rain Thursday, so it had been lifted.  We made friends with the neighboring camper, a lady from Paris IL.  She helped me get the pick line adjusted for Roni and even gave us a trail map. We have a blessed life.


     Kaysha and Roni (and Joe, Ha ha ha) were very well behaved at camp.  There was no barking, whinnying, getting lose or tangled by horse or dog.  It was perfect camping weather, almost too cold, making the fire so enjoyable.

     We slept okay, although I was awaken by creatures in the night (owls, whip-poor-will, coyotes, and horses) and Joe complained that his mattress was not thick enough.

      I was up just before dawn, got the fire going and water set to boil, fed the horse and dog, and watched the sun come up, with Joe rising shortly after.


   
     After a light breakfast, we headed off before 7am, with map in hand, on our long hike around the largest loop.





     We crossed the meadow and found our way to the river, this time following it north to get to the south crossing. (That was my confusing factor the day before.)












     Roni enjoyed a drink and Joe managed to get across without getting very wet.
     





     I rode and Joe hiked up and down several ravines. 



     We stopped to give the horse and dog a rest after an hour.






     Once to the North crossing, which was broader and deeper, everyone got wet in the river but me.






     Roni enjoyed splashing and playing more than Kaysha did.


     They both got a nice big drink though.  Joe took off his shoes and socks to let them dry out and give Kaysha a rest before heading back to camp.  I continued to ride and explore with Roni.  We were on the trail for almost 3 hours.

     Joe and I went in to Oakwood for a big brunch, then back to camp to take a nap.  I went for a ride with Julie, the lady I had befriended and Joe went for a drive through our old stomping grounds.

      We got home in time for chores.  Unpacked all the camping equipment, and rested in front of the TV.

     Brother did not show up for dinner last night or breakfast this morning.  I worked in the nursery and was kept busy with more than the normal number of babies.  Joe met me for second service.  I was beginning to get worried about Brother, so once home, was going out to look for him.  I was just behind Joe who had headed out to mow. 

     Guess who was asleep on the seat of the tractor in the garage shed?  I tried to take our picture... I was so happy to see him.  I worked with Amiga as usual, going a little farther and riding a little longer than last time.  I feel the slow progress has been good.
 

    





     The grass in the back pasture has greened up some, but notice how green and lush the alfalfa is again.  We are ready to get a 4th cutting.

     You can tell this is Amiga because her mane falls on her right side while Roni's is on his left.  Her's is also more thick and lush.

     After riding in the front pasture, we went around the outside of our fence line, and then over to Becks. 




     Coming back to the barn, a squirrel ran across in front of us from Beck's corn field to our corn crib.  Wonder if he is stocking up for winter?  The cats were playing in the yard, which is also showing some signs of re-growth.

      It was a cool, cloudy, fall feeling day.  We have had the air-conditioning off since Thursday.  I have been walking with a jacket to keep warm.  I am in a blissful state, with the coming of fall but no worries about school.  No bad dreams, anxiety, and sleepless nights.  I am loving retirement.