Better Days

     This week, even though many days were flooded with rain, I felt much better about life.  I have changed my efforts with Roni, attitude on living, and outlook on life (especially with horses). I also continue my attempts at simplifying my life and making more room for God.  When I thought of this Blog title, I immediately remembered this Christian song: Better Days by Goo Goo Dolls, so have linked to this music video. 

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV
So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

      Carol and I both slept in Saturday morning, which is unusual for us.  After morning coffee and tea, E-mail and Facebook, we looked at the forecast, which did not look too good.  So, we hustled to change out of our jammies and get a walk in with the three dogs.  We nearly got back before the rain started, and were glad to be inside shortly after the down pour really hit.  



     Carol left right after lunch.  It continued to rain off and on all day, so I stayed in and worked at my computer, downloading photos, writing my Blog, making a party invitation, and reading Facebook comments.

 





     As you can see in these photos, the paddock was flooded.  Not seen, the waterway was quite full as well.  


     Once it seemed to stop for awhile,
I let the horses out on the back pasture.  Eventually more storms came.  The horses continued to graze during a few down-pours.  Finally, they were ready to come in for an early dinner.  They were wet and muddy, but it was actually quite warm outside, so I didn't worry about them getting cold.  

     The storms continued throughout the night, and with Joe leaving for work at midnight and the dog pacing the floors, I didn't sleep so well.  I had to hustle to get to the nursery by 7:40.  After Church, Joe met me at school to help me empty the trailer load of manure.  Kevin Suess (the garden club teacher sponsor) also helped. 

     It was not a very productive weekend because of the continual stream of storms that passed through both days.  I had moved my computer onto the dinning room table, so I watched the weather from inside.  Abbey and I acted like "fat cats", lounging around.  I did give the trailer a good hosing out so it would be ready for its next job... hay rack rides. 


     The sun was out, the temperature up and the winds down on Monday morning.  Britney had suggested not eating lunch each day until I had walked the dog so I would be sure to get this done. I have been forgetting to walk or not had time... which is silly because I waste so much time.  So I walked and then worked with Roni. 

     I had read up on Parelli's 7 Games For Horse Training so started with the first exercise... "the-friendly-game."  It involves lots of rubbing on the horse to gain their trust.  He says to start by rubbing the horse in a pleasurable way wherever the horse will allow and gradually move to the ones he feels more defensive about.  And to persist through the process until the horse becomes confident and relaxed.  I was
                                                                                   able to finally
get Roni to let me (momentarily) pick up his back right leg without him flinching, stepping aside, or jerking it away from me.  This is the hoof he has not let me pick.

     I did some round pen exercises with Roni and then went for a one hour ride.  He listened and responded well and I really enjoyed my time with him.  In this photo we stopped in the water way to look at the culvert under the tracks.

     We rode around at Becks working on stops and goes.  Returning home, we were greeted by Zorro and Amiga.








     I had made up my mind to try to simplify my life by starting on clutter removal... pick up, clean up, pitch, or whatever... to rid me of the disarray that causes me some restlessness.  The garden was Monday's clean-up project.  I gathered up all the vines and tomato plants, taking them out
                                                     back.  In the process, I discovered a
big fat toad I had stepped on and sadly buried him on the spot.  I gathered up many of the green tomatoes... recalling there is a good recipe for fried green tomatoes... somewhere.  I took half of them to Growth Group to off load.  You can see the parsley and spinach (and chives in the back right corner) that are still living and growing.

     These mums have gotten too big to stay completely up-right, but still add great color to the rock garden. 

    It was a beautiful day Tuesday, actually getting up to 72 degrees.  I had a 10:00 riding lesson, so went out at 8:30 to brush Roni, play the "Friendly Game", and try to load him.  As usual, the loading was at times a tug-a-war, but because I had the extra long lead rope wrapped around a section of the trailer, leverage was in my favor.  I never got mad, kept rubbing and reassuring Roni, but kept asking him to get on the trailer, with gentle little tugs on the rope.  Once he finally did, but I couldn't get the long line from around the trailer pole before Roni decided he needed to get back off.  As soon as he hit the end of the line, with both feet back on the ground, he reared up.  I remained calm, reassured him, and asked him to get back on the trailer.  The next time he did, I unhooked the lead line and walked him to the front of the trailer and gave him lots of lovin' once he was securely fastened in.
                                                    It had taken 20 minutes to get Roni
loaded, and by the time I had him to Marj's, tacked up and ready to go, we were only 10 minutes late getting started.  Our lesson went okay.  Roni did much better at standing to be mounted.  I had worked on that a lot.  I showed Josh some of the problems I was having and he gave me some tips.  Unfortunately, I didn't have much success in fixing the problems.  Josh rode Roni some of the time, and experienced some of the difficulty I was having.  I still need to ride with a tighter reign to get Roni collected, and hopefully he will get used to this and relax. 

     Above, Hercules is with Betty as usual.  I love this photo (to the right) of him looking at my camera.

     I had to eat lunch before my walk because I was just too hungry.  Luckily Kaysha is always ready to go for a walk, whenever I finally get around to it.  My new glasses were in so I went to town to pick them up and do the dreaded Wal-Mart shopping. 



     They are transition lenses for near, far, and middle vision, so I will need to get used to them.   The style is different enough, that it will take some getting used to too.  They also get dark when I go outside, so theoretically, I should keep them on all the time.  Once I got home, I was ready to call it a day... not even wanting to fix dinner... Joe was golfing and Dan was gone anyway.     



     Dan brought home his new, and improved, 1978 GMC Caballero.  He had the hood from the 1986 El Camino switched to this car, and painted blue around the black marbling to match.



     I think it looks sharp... Dan had a good idea and has a good eye.  I was bringing the horses in from out front and let Zorro check it out as we walked by.

     It was a beautiful evening and the fall colors really seemed to be pretty with the setting sun illuminating them.

Here is the same view 24 hours later, on a cloudy rainy afternoon.


 
     The neighbor was harvesting his corn even before the sun came up Wednesday morning.  Because rain was in the forecast, and I had planned to trailer Roni to Marj's for an 11:00 farrier appointment, I decided to first go to Moraine View for an early morning ride.  It took less than ten minutes to convince Roni to get on the trailer, and
                                                     there was no tug-a war this time.  

     As I was getting Roni tacked and ready to go, something really caught his eye and held his attention.  He can see through the trailer slats.  I looked and saw a deer.  My photo of it was too out of focus to show here.




     It was difficult to get Roni to stand still for mounting.  Once on the trail though, he really relaxed.  The woods change so quickly this time of year... with leaf color and then absence of leaves.




     I had to cut my ride short and hightail it back because Loren called to say he would be ready for Roni by 10:00.  Roni got right on the trailer at the park, and he was even good for Loren, who removed his shoes and trimmed his hooves.  Then Roni got right on the trailer at Marj's to come home.  This made me feel so good about him and my life with horses.  But who knows what tomorrow will bring.  I wonder if the Parelli "Friendly Game" is what has made a difference.  Roni seems to trust me much more again.  I have made great strides these last three days... and think it has finally clicked for Roni and I.

     I got my walk in right after lunch and then went out to move the rest of the old manure pile into the garden.  First I harvested much of the parsley and spinach.  I ended up finishing up in a light sprinkle, which soon became more intense.  I came in and sat on the front porch to read, gaze at my horses and cows, and watch it rain.  

     Another night of storms and Joe working from 1:30-3:30am and I got up feeling groggy Thursday morning.  I couldn't even imagine Joe's state of mind and body.  The rains had temporarily ceased so I went out just after 8:00 to move the horses out front, walk the dog, and do some outside "clutter control."  I got things picked up and put away out in the barn and started winterizing by bringing in all the stuff that could freeze.  I also secured the extension cord that will go to Roni's heated water bucket.

     Joe came home while I was out in the barn and was asleep when I came in for lunch at 1:00.  Abbey is always looking for trouble.  Bad kitty, get off the china hutch.  A rainy afternoon and evening, and two tired people, resulted in plenty of time in front of the TV, something I rarely do.  Hangin' out on the couch with Joe doesn't accomplish work, but it is part of the simple life I need to enjoy.

     Having gone to bed at 9 pm, I was up today at 5 am.  The rains had continued all night and were predicted to persist all day, which they did off-and-on.  Not knowing where to put the horses, I left them in the barn and gave them some hay after their morning feeding.  I started a lamb shank roast which looked liked this after broiling it for 10 minutes on each side and then putting it in the crock pot with a bunch of veggies and fresh parsley.

     Abbey and I AIMing with Britney.  I led the horses, in a drizzle, from the barn to the front pasture.  The paddock was too muddy for them again.  Amiga and Zorro took off at a gallop, but older and wiser Roni must have known (from experienced) that it was slippery, and he just walked out to the youngsters.  I cringed at the thought of any horse getting hurt and did not like what they were probably doing to the pasture either.  There was a little bit of sliding, some mud flying, but no falling.

     I spent much of the day working in and around the house, doing some cleaning and picking up.  I read and did my Bible study as usual and then worked on this blog post.  Notice the gloominess out the dining room window.  When Joe got home, he helped me with some little jobs out in the barn.  I took Kaysha for a walk late in the afternoon when the threat of rain was minimal.  We got drizzled on for a minute, but the wind and cold were more of a nuisance.  The lamb was oh so tender and the couch and TV irresistible come nightfall.  Life is good and I have a good life.