Can't Get Enough

     I’ll admit I’m one of those people who can’t get enough Christmas decorations and Yuletide spirit, but I also feel the same about riding.  And with all the warm days we have had, decorating has taken a back burner to being out with my horses.  For us that are used to snow in December, this balmy weather and the Christmas season are kind of an oxymoron.  Often times we equate snow with Christmas... as we do sleigh rides, snowmen, Jack Frost, winter wonderland, caroling in the snow, and fire so delightful.


     Our warm Saturday started out foggy.  The sun did shine for awhile
in the morning, but it clouded up and remained so most of the day.












     The temperatures did reach 62 degrees, but in the afternoon it also got quite windy.

     I started in on cleaning and decorating early in the morning, while I felt energetic.  I got both porches cleaned well, which was a big job.  They get neglected, so the dust and cob webs were heavy.  I even washed windows before hanging the lighted window decorations.

Joe wanted to drain the riding mower of the rest of it's gas, but didn't have the patience to ride it around, nor did he think the yard needed anymore mowing.  So I took a break from inside work, and mowed all of the yard on
the north and west side of the house.
I felt rewarded with the results, and was thankful the mower ran out of gas just as I was finishing up.

     Roni and I looking at the freshly mowed lawn during Sunday's ride.  I don't think he is admiring how nicely manicured it looks, but probably sees it as appearing quite tastey.

     I didn't get much more cleaning/decorating done by lunch time, and after lunch I went out to ride Amiga.  She has recently become more difficult to catch out in the pasture.  I also noticed she has really started putting weight back on.  Exercise was just what she needed.  I lunged her with a line, in the round pen, so I could control her speed and stop her.  Then I did lots of stops, goes and turns while riding her in the round pen.  I took her around the side pasture and then over to Becks.  She did quite well until we turned for home, and then she wanted to race back. It reminded me of the early days with Roni.  Once home, we did a little more round pen work.  Joe had been spreading manure and cleaned more of the bad (moldy) hay out of the corn crib.

     I took Kaysha for a short walk just before dusk, and another one later in the evening.  I wanted to see how our Christmas lights looked at night.  With all our pine trees getting bigger, the house is pretty well blocked from view.  Joe went to bed at 6pm because he had to be up for work at midnight.  I had troubles staying up till 8pm.   

     It was a balmy Sunday starting at 56 degrees at 5:30 and reaching 65 degrees by afternoon.  I went to early church, ran into the store for another string of Christmas lights for the tree; cat food, orange juice and beer; and then hurried home to go riding with Lisa.  We went "around the block" taking the almost 6 mile section south of I-74.  Getting across the overpasses is always a little nerve racking, but we made the whole loop without incident, chatting and enjoying the weather the whole two hours.  Joe had just gotten home from work after Roni and I came up the drive.  That was a 13 hour work night for him.  The poor man.

                                                           I let Roni graze by the barn on the
good grass while I cleaned stalls.  Then I put him in the paddock with Amiga.  I kept Zorro out on pasture with the cows.  After a 50 minute rest here at my computer, eating Cheerios since I missed lunch, I rounded up Roni and went to Marj's for my riding lesson with Josh.  It went very well.  Roni got tired by the end so was happy to stand for a change, while Josh and I talked.

     The evening ended with more work for Joe and decorating for me.

     Monday's weather continued to be wonderful, even warmer than the weekend, although windier. The ladies at the pool were a buzz about Sunday's Christmas parade.  I wished I had gone, but I had my lesson with Roni.  For a small town, it sounds like they do quite the parade.  I think the horses, some of which pulled wagons, would have been fun to see.  I had joked with one of the ladies about how Roni would have done had I ridden him in the parade... so I found this photo.

     I wanted to ride, (just can't get enough) knowing it was going to cool down, but I wasn't game for battling the strong winds.  It reached 71 degrees but with 28 mph winds.  I walked the dog and did daily chores, but for the most part stayed inside, working on more Christmas decorating and cleaning in the kitchen.  Some of the jars and canisters on the counter were pretty sticky, so got a good scrubbing.  I also hung ornaments on the tree, finally finishing it.




     Abbey, biding her time out in the garage, waiting for an unsuspecting mouse to wander out of hiding.

     There has been a recent problem in "the neighborhood" with hay getting stolen out of people's barns.  I feel bad that someone is that desperate for hay.  So I took inventory and then swept out the barn.  There was so much hay "droppings" on the floor, I wouldn't know if someone had dropped some bales down from the loft and hauled them off.  It makes a mess... so with a clean floor... an unexplained dusting of hay would be the first sign of an unwanted visitor.  In the above photo, I am sitting with Brother on my lap and admiring the neat look.

     I went to Growth Group on my own because Joe was in bed catching up on some much needed sleep.

     We got rain overnight and it was a rainy Tuesday morning.  I was not motivated to do anything. I should have gone to the pool or shopping, but just couldn't get going.  Eventually the sun did come out and I put on the Christmas tunes.  I cranked up the CD player and was singing and dancing from room to room adding finishing touches to my holiday decorations.  I can't get enough of Christmas cheer.  As for rain, well... actually, we can't get enough to ease this drought condition we are still in.

     Eventually, the afternoon sun was beckoning me to come out and play.  I rounded up the horses because they had been grazing long enough.

     Amiga (above) and Zorro (rt) were both quite dirty.  But Roni (below) took the cake.  The mud cake.


     Getting Roni cleaned up and ready to ride took much longer than usual.



     Picking hooves was a messy job because the mud on his feet hadn't dried.

     The dust was flying as I brushed.  Brother sat in a good spot to watch the whole process.





 



     Roni  kept an eye on the cat and I, and I just hoped the cat wouldn't try to hop aboard the top of Roni's back.




     At one point the cat got distracted by a fly.  Who'd have thought there would be flies in December.  They are one thing I have had enough of.







     When I finally got the saddle on Roni, I took additional time to secure the bow and bells I had brought out for it.

     Roni was a little distracted by the bells while I was walking and lunging him, but once I was in the saddle, he listened to me and didn't seem bothered by the bells.  I think he couldn't figure out what was following him so closely.  I decided it was a good lesson for him... and I thought it was merry as we went jingling along.  Because of our late start, I ended up riding home in a beautiful sunset.  I wished I had brought my camera.

    I let Roni graze by the barn while I cleaned stalls after dark, and decided to feed and keep all three in their stalls for the night.  Joe and I watched a movie right after dinner and then I went back out to the barn to feed the horses a little hay for the night.  I also brushed all three.  Zorro and Amiga took quite awhile. 

     Wednesday's Water Lily discussion focused on Christmas preparations... cooking, decorating, etc.  But we also spent quite awhile on Christmas stockings... what to put in them, who all (of extended family) should get one, and where to "hang" them.  We also sang "barked" Jingle Bells in dog talk.  Different people were assigned different dog voice parts... alto, tenor, soprano... it was a hoot or
                                                     should I say Woof or Arf?

     The temperatures were colder, and I was busy here at my computer, so didn't go riding.  I applied flea medicine to the cat and dog because they have been scratching lately.  I did go out to clean out the horse trailer real well because Daniel needed it to move furniture.  I put all my tack in the barn and then swept  the sawdust and manure out of the trailer.  Late afternoon I went to town to shop.  Getting home well after the dinner hour, I snacked in front of the TV, watching our two weekly shows with Joe. 


     Thursday was the Water Lilies luncheon at Carol's home.

     Everywhere you looked, there were holiday decorations.

     She had three tables beautifully set to accommodate the twenty of us.



Even her dinnerware was Christmasy.



     There was tons of fantastic food and we all filled our bellies.  I barely had room for dessert but had to try some cookies.  Those of you who can't get enough chocolate would have loved this fountain.












     We had a lovely afternoon, chatting and joking and getting to know each other even better.  We sure do have wide and varied backgrounds, and I was taken back by the trials and triumphs shared by some of the ladies I ate with.  I just can't get enough of these gals... they are all so nice. 

     I took Kaysha for a long walk when I got home, to help aid my digestive process.  I fought the need to take a nap and went out to the barn to do chores.  Joe had cleaned the stalls for me, so that was a pleasant surprise.

     Joe's idea of Christmas decorating was giant green bubble wrap from the box my new lap top was shipped in.  He draped it over the china hutch.  Needless to say... it didn't stay there very long.      

     The long put-off decorating job of fixing the dinning room window lights was finally tackled.  I labored over them for almost two hours, and Joe was no help at all... he didn't even give me any sympathy.  Only half the set from last year worked.  After testing all the lights, I gave up on the string, unwound them from the garland, and found a replacement set of lights.  There were a few burnt out bulbs I replaced, but then when I started to wind the string around the garland, the whole "new" set stopped working.  I could NOT get it to work again.  I checked each light bulb and replaced the two fuses... even tried a different outlet, but no go.  So I started back at square one with a third set of lights, finally getting them hung.  This is one part of holiday decorating I could completely do without.

     It was a warm, wet Friday morning and it continued to sprinkle on and off all day.  We only had 11 Water Lilies, but still managed to have lively conversation and some craziness.  Back home, I decided it was a good day for laundry and Christmas cards... and a nap, tea and cookies, and Christmas music.  It was one of the grayest, gloomiest days I'd seen in a long time.  Abbey was wishing she could go out, and Brother was wishing he could come in.

     My festive lunch consisted of leftover Chinese Cole Slaw I made for the luncheon and some fresh picked spinach from the garden along with parsley garnish.  

     I did go out in the drizzle and hose out the manure spreader... deciding it was not going to be used for awhile now.  Then I drained, washed out and refilled the stock tank that had gotten cluttered with hay that had blown in it.  After stall cleaning I came in for the day/night. 

     I made a quick dinner with the help of Hamburger Helper, and then Joe and I settled in to watch a movie.  I am sure you have had enough of my musings.  Hope I didn't drone on too long for you.  As for me, I can't get enough of the holiday lights and sitting by a warm fire.