Hap-Happiest Season

     This may come as a shock for some of you, but I don't think Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year as the Andy Williams song says.  I prefer early Summer.  The weather is so much nicer.  But I do believe that it is the hap-happiest season of all, sung later in the lyrics.





     People complain that Christmas is over-commercialized, which is true, but the commercialization provides spirit and fun for the season.  The problem is the timing. There is no reason why the Christmas store decorations, all modes of advertising, songs on the radio, TV show specials, etc. should begin the day after Halloween.  When to start all the festivities becomes the question and discrepancy.  Retailers tend to jump the gun.  Couldn't they
just wait until the beginning of December to start
                                                     hammering us with all the sales? 
As for decorating our homes... I say, to each his own.  Regardless of what anyone else thinks, I start the decorating after Thanksgiving, even before December rolls around.  We are out of town during ten days of the month, and I want to be able to enjoy the decorations longer than three weeks.
    
     So, this week I have been busy putting up the tree; and hanging the lights, mistletoe, and holly as I sing to the music of Deck The Halls and It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.

     Colossians 3:23 reminds us that: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." So I also sing Joy To The World as I set up my Nativity Scene. 

     The young adults left sometime during the night Friday, after I went to bed.  Saturday morning Carol and I bid farewell to Cathy, Ralph, Ben and Joe.  The Leiningers went east to Ohio and Joe, Dan, Valencia, Courtney and Mike went west to Iowa.  Carol and I were home alone... Whoo hoo!  Abbey was not feeling too well, so was happy to have a quiet, relatively empty house to rest in.











     With the wind and low temperature, it was a little too cold for a long walk, so we took a few shorter ones (throughout the day) to give all three dogs, and ourselves, some exercise.  Above, we were at Becks, with the
                                                     dogs on the trail of ground squirrels. 

     Carol got the turkey started cooking in the morning while I cleaned up after Friday's dinner and guests.  We savored the smells while chatting and sharing photos, other people's blog posts, and Facebook chitchat.  I even got some help with Words With Friends.

     We had our turkey dinner with a great barley/kale dressing Carol made and some tasty mashed potatoes with parsley.  Then we loaded all three dogs into Carol's car and went to Moraine View to walk in the woods.  The hiking trail was open to hunters, so we decided to walk on the road, which was not well protected from the wind, but presumably safe from hunters.

      Late in the afternoon, Carol finished carving the turkey while I cleaned stalls and did feeding chores.  We watched some TV but were falling asleep, so went to bed before 9pm.      

     I ran into Church to work in the nursery, but then came home so Carol and I could "play."  Riding was first on our agenda, so Carol brushed the horses while I picked hooves.

     We got Amiga and Roni saddled and then started with Amiga.  I showed Carol how to free lunge her, but Amiga went crazy, running around in the round pen.  I don't know what set her off, but it took several minutes to slow her down and catch her. 

  










     While I went to get Roni, I had Carol walk Amiga around so she would calm down and get used to Carol.  We tied Amiga to a post while I lunged Roni and Carol took some photos.











     Finally we were ready, or rather the horses were ready to ride.  I gave Carol some instructions and watched her for a few minutes.  She caught on quickly, was great at making needed adjustments, and did a fantastic job.  Amiga was very well behaved.  I hopped on Roni while Carol practiced.  Then we ventured beyond the round pen into the side pasture.  We had a nice ride together.  I was thrilled with how well it went, and look forward to taking others on rides come spring.

     Carol and I had a big, late lunch of leftovers and then went for another quick walk before she left.  She took this photo of Brother sunning in Amiga's stall sometime.


      I got the idea for this Sunday sunset photo from Carol who had taken a similar one Saturday night.  Joe watched football in the evening  and I was soon off to bed.

     I was 1 of 12 Water Lilies Monday morning.  I did a bunch of cleaning in preparation for holiday decorating, including washing window sills and walls.
                                                      I brought in the numerous tubs of
decorations and got started on the kitchen first.  I had Christmas music playing and was merrily going about my work.  I did go out to do chores and took care of some other little odd jobs. Then  Joe and I went to Growth Group as usual.

     Tuesday flew by but I feel I wasn't very productive.  I did have a riding lesson with Roni.  He was really testing me, which he doesn't usually do during a lesson.  Josh had me stick to the exercise we were on and keep correcting Roni.  We didn't progress much, except I realized the importance of not moving on if my horse is not performing as asked.  He just kept wanting to rush, both when I was walking and later gaiting him.  So I would stop him, back him up and start again.  We did this over and over, until he did as I asked. 

     Part of my chores included emptying feed bags into feed bins for the horses, cows and chickens.  I also filled the bird bath and feeder.  Too much of my day was spent here, working on this blog, but I did end the day doing some more Christmas decorating.  This was the full moon rising at 4:30pm. 


     Joe put together the Christmas tree with the help of Abbey and Kaysha.












     I then set to work putting the lights on the tree that I had bought, on sale (75% off), after Christmas last year.  I wanted something new and different since many of our old lights were not working.  Well, the three new sets of lights were not enough, so I had to put further tree decorating on hold.

    
     Wednesday morning's full moon setting.  For some reason, I woke up every hour from 1:30am on. At my usual "get out of bed" time of 5:30, the sun was already shinning... come to find out, our bedroom clock was an hour slow.  I was late for chores and the horses and chickens let me know.  I had to have my cup of tea, so did not have time to get to Water Lilies.   

    While standing at the kitchen window, which is why these photo's aren't great, I watched Roni and Zorro working out their spot in the pecking order.






     Roni has gotten tired of being picked on by Zorro, so he was "fighting" back.






     Imagine 1000 pound puppies chasing and wrestling.  With the paddock now divided in half, they don't have as much room to run, so I get a little worried about them.     

     I had received in the mail, summons for Jury duty for Dec. 17th - 21st.  That was not going to work... would impede this hap-happiest season for me, especially with Britney coming home on the 16th.  So I called and deferred it until the third week of January (only a 4 day court week :-). 

     All morning I cleaned and decorated.  I ran into another snag... One set of the dinning room lights, that are wrapped around garland, did not work.  I put it on hold, and would repair if possible and then add to my shopping list if necessary.  I looked at last year's photos to remember where and how I had put things.  I was thinking, this year's photos are almost the same.  There are some differences, like the new lights on the tree and star a top it, the mini village I never unpacked last year added to the little tree in the office, and different candles set about. 

     Joe came home from work just as I was sitting down to eat a late lunch. 
                                                     I went out to do a little yard work...

finished cleaning up dead flowering plants, and stored away all my flower pots and lawn figurines.  Then I took Roni for a ride, after first working him in the round pen.  Joe had come out to do some work in the barn yard and was even willing to take my picture.  
    

     I rode Roni to Lisa's to deliver a note with some money I owed her, and proceeded west following the path along the tracks till it ended.  We rode waterways and in un-plowed bean fields back to Lisa's.  Here we are looking back at where we had been.




     Lisa's horses came to greet us as we were headed home.









     During my ride, I did get pitched from Roni's back, landing on my feet and keeping one hand on the reigns so he wouldn't run off.  We were gaiting along, fairly smooth and relaxed, and he spooked at two big old tractor tires leaning up on a fence by the path.  In the blink of an eye, Roni came to a dead halt and spun to run away.  Because I was relaxed in the saddle and momentum was taking me forward, I lost my balance.  In a split second, I decided to dismount, swinging my leg up and over the saddle. 

    I got right back on and we continued our ride.  Although Roni was a bit wound up, jumpy, and rushing most of the 90 minutes of our adventure, I still had fun.  It was such a pretty day, we were exploring new territory, and I was enjoying life.  Above, Amiga and Zorro came out to greet us on our return.  To the left, Roni got to eat while I put away tack and brushed him.  He had worked up a little bit of a sweat.

     After dinner, Joe and I did our usual Wednesday night TV watching of Parenthood and Survivor.

     I went to Water Lilies Thursday morning, since I missed the day before.  It is always a fun way to start the day, the ladies are so lively.  Back home I continued cleaning, unpacking tubs of
decorations, packing up knick knacks,
and decorating while listening to Christmas carols.  My biggest decorating accomplishment was the fireplace mantle.

     A few hours outside doing chores and other odd jobs, was a nice break from the inside festivities.  I even took Kaysha for a walk for the first time since Carol left.

    Joe grilled steaks for dinner and watched TV by the fire with Abbey.      

     It was a very warm and mild Friday morning and the thought of riding Roni instead of Water Lilies crossed my mind.  But my hair needed washing and I like to save money on showering, plus I love the ladies... so I drove to the pool at 7:40 am. 

     Drying off back home with a second cup of tea and some cookies, I got so sleepy, I went up to bed for a nap.  Over an hour later, I slowly awoke to a world of sunshine.  I did some more decorating, but quickly lost interest because I came across some more burnt out lights and it was just too nice outside.

     So, I took Roni for an enjoyable ride after doing some ground work in the round pen.  Today we went along the tracks, east as far as we could go.  Just before reaching a fence causing us to go north towards 150, this pack of hounds came trotting by with their noses to the ground, hoopin' and hollerin'.  You would think it was Christmas Day.
                                                     They made Roni a little nervous,
but paid no attention to us because they were tracking something.  I rode up an embankment at the fence, and saw a hunter, with shotgun in hand, in his bright orange.  I guessed he was with the 5 hounds.  I was glad I had my "don't shoot me" orange on.

     Across 150, I started down the road I often take to Moraine View.  I was going to make a big loop, going past Marj's and down Brian's road.  About half way, I decided it was farther than I had time for, so I cut across the field following the utility poles.  It had been plowed and was kind of tough going for Roni.  I had him stop to rest two times, but he did not want to stand very long.  He did get a good work out, and we were both glad to come out on the road at Brian's house.

     I brushed Roni and then let him have a good roll in the paddock before turning him out with Amiga and Zorro.








     He looks funny in this photo because he was shaking his head and swishing his tail, sending the dust flying. 

     I continued to enjoy the day outside, taking Kaysha for a walk and picking up road ditch trash on the way home.  After doing a good job cleaning stalls, I also rinsed out all the water buckets and bowls.  I hadn't had lunch, so I came in for an early dinner.  Joe was napping in preparation for a night out playing cards.  I finished the day, and this month, working on this blog and doing more decorating.  I didn't make much progress because I spent a great deal of time replacing burnt out light bulbs and batteries and hot gluing broken decorations.

    See what scientists did to get more people to use the stairs instead of the escalator.  This video (click on photo to watch) about making stairs fun to use, just goes to show that fun can change behavior for the better.  I also think fun has a lot to do with what makes this the hap-happiest time of the year. 

     We tend to spend much more time with family and friends, doing fun things during the holidays.  People seem to be more jolly.

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow

     So take it from Andy...
     and "Be of good cheer!"

Lord Of The Dance

"Dance, then, wherever you may be

For I am the Lord of the dance, said He

And I'll lead you all wherever you may be

And I'll lead you all in the dance, said He"

     "Lord of the Dance" is a hymn with words written by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1967.  It follows the idea of the traditional English carol, "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" which tells the gospel story in the first person voice of Jesus of Nazareth with the device of portraying Jesus' life and mission as a dance. (Wikipedia)

     As most of you know, I love to dance.  It is such a joyful experience, I wonder why more people don't dance.  This montage, done to "I've Got Soul But I'm Not a Soldier" is great.  What fun!  I say we should all dance more.

     Saturday the electrician got here by 9am, so I was off the computer and outside early for a change.  He started in the barn, moving a light that we had turned sideways because the garage door would hit it.  It is now near the step that goes into the middle part of the barn, and when the garage door is open, it no longer blocks out the light.
 
      I cleaned stalls while the electrician worked and even had time to kill so cleaned up manure out in the paddock around the barn.  I did notice that Babe no longer has diarrhea.  Happy dance.  Then the electrician came in and put in a dimmer switch in our dinning room.  I have wanted this since we moved in.  More dancing.

     I spent most of the day working outside because it was so nice out.  Even the horses and cows enjoyed the weather, taking time to relax in the sun. 











     I put a second coat of paint on everything that needed it, moved some gravel, cleaned (scrubbed) all the heated water bowls we will soon need and took some semi-moldy hay to the burn pile.  Then I took Roni for a nice, almost two hour ride while Joe was off golfing. 

     Stew rests more than Babe.
I guess he still needs more naps.






       He got up because I made him nervous and Brother came over to see what I was doing.

     In the evening, Joe and I finished up the mini series "World Without End" that he had taped. 

      Sunday morning we were without internet.  The router was completely dead.  So I had to find other things to do until early service.  After Church we shopped, me for our groceries and Joe for a new router and food to donate to Church.  Once home, Joe got our internet back up and running and I danced for joy.  I did weekend chores and more painting while Joe cleaned out the corn crib.  I thought I was done painting, but Joe had repaired the end of this board so I decided to paint it.

     I took Roni to Marj's for a 3:00 lesson.  I was glad to see Marj, who was out working one of her horses.  It was such a nice day, I had my lesson in the outdoor arena.  Riding a horse can be like a dance.   Roni continues to improve... as for me, the progress is slower.  So our dance is not fluid yet.

     Daniel dropped by late, after his drill weekend in Decatur, which                                                        included getting a flu shot. 

     The Water Lilies were a lively group for a Monday morning.  We sang a few sunshine songs together while exercising because the day was so gloomy.  I had over-dressed earlier, for morning chores, because it looked so cold out.  Even though there was no sunshine, the air was quite warm.

     I had a very productive (actually rather exhausting) day.  I moved this board into Roni's stall because it looked like rain, and gave it two more coats of paint.  I also scooped a ton of dog poo and put it out along the tracks, cleaned up hay/hay dust from the floor of all the barn and spread it out back, mowed (5 bags) of grass and leaves I put on the garden, once the mower ran out of gas I stored it for the winter, fertilized and dead head all my house plants, and did regular chores.

     The cows and then horses came in for a drink of water.












     Once done outside, I made Oriental Cole Slaw and a corn casserole and then got cleaned up for Growth Group.  We had our Thanksgiving Feast.  Linda cooked a huge ham, and everybody brought delicious dishes... even mine came out tasty.

     Courtney needed a lift home from the car fix-it shop, so I went into town about 8:30 Tuesday morning.  I shopped at four different stores, spending plenty of money and time.  I got some much needed items, lots of food for the holiday weekend of eating, and also indulged myself with some unnecessary purchases.  I finally found a napkin holder I liked at Goodwill.

     By the time I got home, groceries unloaded and stowed away, ate lunch and checked Facebook and E-mail, there was not quite three hours of daylight left.  Joe and I spent all of that time out in the paddock putting up a semi- permanent fence to make a smaller dry-lot for the horses and to separate the cows and horses when needed.  Brother is usually under foot, curiously checking out what us humans are doing. 




     Inquisitive Zorro also came in from the pasture to get a closer look, as always, and see if he could "help out."  We didn't quite finish... ran out of fence poles and daylight, so quit for the time being. 

     Joe headed to the Replex to work out and I cleaned stalls and put away fencing supplies.  By the time I came inside, the day was long past shot and so was I.  Abbey was missing, but I found her resting under Daniel's pillow.

     Wednesday was a very foggy morning.





     Tiny coming out of the chicken coop into the fog.



     Roni eating his hay.  Our new fencing in the background needs to be stretched better.




     Babe eating her hay while Stew goes for grass.

     Horses playing musical chairs moving from one hay pile to the next.  Zorro is usually the ring leader, chases off Roni, so Amiga moves to Zorro's empty spot and Roni goes to the pile Zorro had been at.

     As cool as the fog was, Lisa and I were not too happy about it.  We had planned to leave first thing in the morning to go to Danville to ride.  Our plans didn't go up in smoke... they went down in fog.  Ha ha ha. 

     The fog finally clearer by 11am, so we altered our plans and went to Comlara Park, which is much closer than Middle Fork.  We had never ridden these trails before, so Lisa was looking at the map in this photo.  Her son Dayne came with us. 

     We took turns riding in the front, middle and back of the line, and sometimes side-by-side. 


     Mark and Roni were revved up most of the ride... but young Scout and Dayne remained cool, calm, and collected. 



     It was a gorgeous day to ride and the lake, woods and fields were very pretty.



     We kept at a walk most of the ride because the old boys were charged, and might do just that if we gave them the "go." 

     Roni did a kind of Paso Corto much of the time, even though I tried to slow him to a relaxed walk.  He was basically dancing down the trail.  We would stop to calm Mark and Roni down, and Roni would still sometimes "trot" in place, similar to this video.  Needless to say, he was very sweaty when we got back to the trailer. 

     Roni enjoyed a good roll in the dirt upon getting home, but he was still damp after I cleaned stalls and fed everybody.  I kept him in his stall because it was really cooling off after the sun went down and I didn't want him to get chilled.  I went back out after dinner and brushed his dry parts.

     For Thanksgiving, I gave my turkey extra corn. Ha ha ha.  Little does Hercules know what he truly has to be thankful for.  Here he is doing his Thanksgiving Dance back in 2010.

     It was another warm day, but was clouding up and cooling off.  The chickens hung out in the barn to get out of the wind.  I decided to ride Roni fairly early because it was predicted to rain in the afternoon.  I thought he   
might be sore, and would benefit from
some light exercise.  He required a good brushing to get the dirt and dried sweat off his coat.  Then I did round pen work with plenty of lunging to warm up his muscles and establish a working frame of mind.  I rode in the round pen and side pasture, practicing a relaxed walk, stops and goes, and slow gaiting.  He did fairly well, especially compared to the day before.

      Joe and I finished work on the fencing.  We drained the stock tank and moved it.  I added two bucket (tractor) loads of lime to the ground, first to level the tank and also to prevent a mud hole there.  See Stew in the corn crib?
 











     Since the horses no longer have access
to the stock tank, we also got the water tub, including floating heater, set up for them.

     I cleaned, chopped, and tossed a bunch of lettuce and veggies for a salad, we picked up Dan and Valencia at his place in Downs, and then headed to her parents house.  It was a quick and easy two hour drive to Auora.  We were welcomed like old familiar family and immediately hit it off with stories of our pasts as we got acquainted.  Ricardo,
Yanith and Valencia Cruz with Daniel.

     Yanith had prepared a huge and delicious banquet of food, (turkey, ham, lasagna, two rice dishes, salads and deserts)  which we savored while continuing our fellowship. 
   





     I found it interesting that this week's blog title corresponds with a commonality I share with Yanith and their three daughters... we love to dance!!!

     Not home and in bed until midnight, this morning's 5:30 dog alarm (bark) seemed too early.  I had to clear the cobwebs from my brain with a second cup of caffeinated tea.  I took this photo of a cool spider web in the garden a
few days ago.  While on the subject
of webs, I spent the morning cleaning them, along with dust and pet hair from many surfaces inside.  With the 33 degree temperature and 30 mph winds, I avoided being outside anyway. 

     Carol arrived around 1:30 and I was still cleaning.  Saving the bathroom for last, I finally finished my labors at 3:30 and did a celebratory dance.  Dan dropped Valencia and Charlie off on his way to work and I was ready to sit and talk and have a beer with Carol.  Courtney and Mike and then Cathy, Ralph and Ben arrived within minutes of each other and everyone enjoyed each others' company.

    Charlie has gotten much bigger since he was last out here.  Abbey felt a little more threatened by him.





     The timing of my meal was a little off because the potatoes were slow to cook.  I got good advice and help in the kitchen though.  

     Mike, Ben and Joe watching TV.

     Charlie was the entertainment for us ladies. 




     He loved playing (dancing)
with his mini tennis ball.





















  






    
     Charlie wore himself out and took a cat nap.

     After dinner, we ladies rested and sat and gabbed.  












     Charlie was so pooped out, he fell asleep in Courtney's arms.

     I gave in to sleep before 11pm as the young adults started a board game together.

"They cut me down and I lept up high

I am the life that will never never die

I'll live in you if you'll live in me

I am the Lord of the dance, said He"

     Click on this photo to watch a fun video of this cute two year old dancing at a wedding.

     Remember to dance with and for the Lord, filled with the joy of life, like a free spirited and blessed child.