A New Norm

Normal is a relative measure.
In science and medicine it
is given as a range.
Normal was the name of my High
School and of the town we lived in.
My new norm is retired in Downs,
working on the farm and riding.

     Normally this time of year, I would be going off to school each morning and planning and grading papers each evening and every weekend.  But now my normal routine includes a morning walk with the dog, riding almost daily, playing "Words with Friends" on Facebook, doing chores, and working around the farm on daily, weekly or monthly tasks.  I also go on weekend excursions fairly often, usually with the horse.  I am a creature of habit and love a routine.  That is why I am not a fan of traveling.  Although, taking road trips and sometimes camping with the horse is becoming normal.  It runs smoother with practice, and has emerged into a more relaxing experience.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are... Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in my pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."     -- Mary Jean Iron


     Monday started out unusual.  Dan had a training session with the army in Peoria and was up with me at 5:30.  Joe, on the other hand, had worked 23 hours Sunday, so slept in, getting up at 8:00.  I did have my two cups of tea along with computer time.  The cooler mornings call for a second hot cup.  

     Above, you can see how green the grass has gotten now.  I love the Rose of Sharon which blooms all summer.  The bird bath needs a good cleaning.  With the rains, I haven't had to fill it for several days, so it hasn't gotten its normal cleaning and fresh re-fill.  In the background, Luke is raking our alfalfa that he had cut Friday.

         I spent a few hours mowing the ditch and fence line out front.  Luke felt we could bale today, but I was trying to push for later to give the alfalfa more time to dry.  Well, it was a lost cause, and he started before 4:00.   

     We only got 53 bales, but they were tightly packed.  Unfortunately, they were also quite moist, making them very heavy.

     I could barely lift the bales.  Lucky we have Dan to help Joe.  
Ninja Dan.






     We spread the bails out on pallets anywhere we could make room on the lower level of the barn.  We stored them stem side up and put salt on them.  The rest we left on the wagon to dry some more, parking it in the corn crib at night because of the heavy nightly dews.

    
     Dan headed off to do some cross training on his new mountain bike, as I headed to Growth Group, and Joe looked forward to hitting the hay early.
















     Tuesday I woke to find a pimple on my nose.  What is up with that???  It ain't normal for a 56 year old to get zits... it just ain't right.  At least I don't have to show up at school with it, and my horses will never notice.


     After feeding chores, I pulled the hay wagon out of the corn crib, then headed down the drive towards Brian's, on my walk with Kaysha.  Coming home, I enjoyed seeing the rising sun cast a pretty glow on our buildings.

     After a nice 30 minute ride on Amiga on various trails around here and at Becks, I decided to spread out the hay more so it could dry better.  I IMed with Britney while I ate lunch.

 
     Life for Britney as a missionary in Guatemala took on many new norms.  Here she is at the pila (big concrete basins) doing laundry for a lady in need, scrubbing clothes by hand.

     She has so much love and compassion for all peoples, and is so caring.  I am really proud of the work she is doing for God.




     She also loves the outdoors, and is a wonderful ambassador for the Earth as well.



     I went out to read my Bible, and eventually took a nap in the lounge chair.  I got up and rolled the bales to the next side, exposing a different surface to air and sunlight, and to let the grass underneath breath.  This is the view from my lounge chair.  Tiny came out from hiding and was taking a dust bath while another chicken was looking over the bales of alfalfa.


     Once Joe got home we went to the Replex to swim.  It had been awhile since I have swam, but I went 10 laps without a problem.  I quit, more out of boredom and laziness, than fatigue.  I picked more of Becks sweet corn for dinner, which was good, but not as tender as last week.  It is getting a bit old. 

                               The Mask of Zorro



The Three Masketeers










     Dan had mowed before dinner and Joe did a little mowing after.  Joe got a second "hay cart" to expedite the moving of hay and then moved the hay back in the corn crib.  I went to move the Expedition, but it wouldn't start again.  The battery was dead as a door knob.  Then during night chores, I discovered that Babe was limping badly.  I do not like these bumps in the road of life.

     Dan went in to work before 5:30 Wednesday morning.  I helped Joe move the hay back out of the corn crib and then he took the Expedition back in to the battery place on his way to work.  While out by the hammock, a partly eaten cob of corn with the husk still on, fell from the tree.  I can't believe this little guy could haul it up there.

     Babe would not put any weight on her back left leg and appeared worse than the night before.  I was hoping for improvement.  Before letting the horses out, I checked the back pasture for holes or other problems, in case that was what injured Babe, but all looked normal.  The horses went straight to the field from the barn and I shut the gate to keep the cows in the paddock, thinking maybe a kick was what caused the problem.  I tried to feel Babe's leg, but she would not let
                                        me touch it.  I compared it to the other leg and
it looked fairly normal.  My fear was a possible infection in the hoof. 

     Tiny's new norm is to come out from under the corn crib more often.  She is enjoying the greener grass and likes hanging out with the flock.







     Dan returned from work and then headed off to Heartland College for his two classes as I was moving laundry into the dryer.  I needed to clean some clothes to pack for Carol's house.  More chatting with Britney while printing some maps, and then I went out to enjoy the sun and check on livestock.

     I brought the horses into the barn at noon and checked on Babe.  It seemed she might be a little better.  I took her a bucket of water and she got a big, long drink, so I felt better about that.  Stew has been keeping her company.  Aren't his ears cute in this picture?

     I rotated hay and then went back to Becks' sweet corn patch to get some to take to Carol's.  It was starting to dent and get buggy.  There was a ton of it out there, so I could be kind of picky.  I also picked some veggies and apples to take on my trip to Indiana. 

     Thursday morning I trapped the ducks before opening the coop and only walked a mile with the dog.  I got organized and packed the car, (including horse, dog and three ducks) and headed for Gibson City to the vet.  I was late because they had moved their office to a new location. 


     Roni cleared the vet check, and I proceeded, with him in tow, to Carol's.  The trip was uneventful, but my trailer tire was low and leaking air at the stem which concerned me.


     Once at Carol's, we set up a pick line, tied Roni to that, and got him some water.  He was content.

     Between Carol and I, we have a ton of photos, several of which I will post here, with captions, so you can get a glimpse of our three day visit.


      We released my three ducks with Carol's three that are free range.  Her rooster welcomed them to the flock but Tie tried to herd them around, much to their chagrin.

      I greeted and played with Ike.
 

      Then I saddled up and took Roni for a ride.  We explored Carol's pastures.

     I also went out and around her "neighborhood," walking at the edge of fields and water ways.

When riding at Carol's, Tie felt he needed to herd or supervise us.

    



After our ride, Roni got a good hosing off. 

     All sweet and clean.







     You can see the bales of hay I had brought, that we had set out to let dry in the sun some more.

     I usually let Roni graze while drying off.  Well, this time he decided to take a walk which is totally out of the norm.

     He actually walked all the way down Carol's drive to the front gate.  I am convinced he was trying to go visit the neighbor's two horses we had ridden by earlier.  I retrieved him and tied him back on the pick line and we enjoyed a fantastic pork roast dinner Carol had baked.

     After dinner, we put Roni in with a group of sheep and sat and watched.  He immediately took to eating the lush green grass.  He loved it, but I only let him graze for an hour or so.

 Carol had three different sheep pens. 

     At first, the sheep that were in with Roni were very leery of him.  Then they became quite curious.



     Roni was skeptical about the sheep, then curious, then he wanted to befriend them, and then finally he got a bit bossy.



     Our usual chit chat resulted in a later than normal bed time, but we were still up quite early.





     After Friday morning breakfast for all (horse, sheep, dogs and poultry) I let Roni graze out front.  He was quick to go back to the east fence, looking over towards his horse friends down the road.





     Carol and Ike, herding sheep, came down the drive.  She wanted the dog to work the sheep with the horse near by, because in big trials, they use horses. 


     Ike did well focusing on the sheep.  Roni did not interfere, but grazed and walked the fence line looking for equine not ovine (sheep).

     Carol packed a lunch while I took the trailer in to Ladoga to get the tire fixed.  Then we loaded up the horse and three dogs and headed down some winding, hilly county highways.  
About 95 minutes later we arrived at
the Owen-Putnam State Forest.  Roni was glad to get off the trailer but we left him tied to it while first taking the dogs for a walk. Then we enjoyed a great picnic lunch.

     Finally I took Roni for a nearly two hour ride.

     I couldn't find the start of the Mountain Bike trail (also for horses) until I was headed back to camp.



     I did see a lot of pretty scenery and cool things, including a little box turtle and this tree of holes.




     Back at camp, Carol was working on the three R's... reading, resting, and relaxing.









     Roni was slow to load, but with a little coaxing, got on the trailer. 

     Carol and I mustered up enough energy to take the dogs for another little walk after dinner while Roni got to graze for awhile. 

     In the evening, the strange noise we heard on the front porch, was Roni scratching his booty on the pillar post.







     Saturday morning, Carol worked with Ike on loading the sheep, or at least in getting them close to the back trailer opening. 

     And I thought loading an unwilling horse was difficult.

     Later, Carol had me ride Roni to herd the sheep away from her and Ike.

    

     Then she sent the dog to get the sheep.  Roni and Ike both did fairly well at their tasks.






     I continued, with Roni, to go for another ride out around the fields.

     Roni and I were covered in yellow weed pollen when we got back.

      He had it all over his face, nose and chest... so got a sponge bath. 


      The ducks had settled in to their new home at Carol's.  They adjusted to a new norm and were getting along well with Carol's flock.



   
    
     Tie helped me with manure clean up, not taking his eyes off the rake the whole time. 




     Once picked up, packed up, and loaded up, my next stop was Danville.  Seventy five  minutes of smooth easy traveling and we were at Middle Fork Horse Campground.  Before unloading, I stopped to talk with the camper next door.  And it wasn't long before Roni was having a horsey fit, kicking the trailer really hard... totally abnormal.

      I got Roni out, Kaysha settled, everyone a drink and then tacked up and headed on a nice ride.  Roni and I explored the woods to the south and played in the river.




     I let Roni rest and eat for awhile when we got back, but again he tried to wander off, so I tied him to the trailer. 


     Then, when it was time to load, Roni would not go.  I tried several strategies we have done in the past with Zorro... but nothing worked.  Luckily, the man from next door came back early from his trail ride and helped me.  All he had to do was wave his hat and holler, and Roni got on.  Before I pulled out of our spot though, Roni was kicking the trailer really hard again.  This is so out of the norm... I don't know what to think.  If I didn't know him as well as I do, I would be afraid of him.

     The trip home was uneventful and I got back in time to shower and make it to the Leroy Fall Festival for the B&G Band playing at 7pm.  Joe and I had ice cream while enjoying the music. 

     Sunday morning I only had time for a one mile walk with Kaysha because I had to leave for nursery work by 7:15, right when it started raining.  Joe didn't make it to church again because of work, and was off to his Fantasy Football draft choice / Poker party by the time I got home.  It rained much of the day so I worked on this blog among a number of other indoor and computer things. 

     Today the rains cleared off by 8 am and I took Kaysha on a later than usual walk.  Most of my day was spent working on this blog.  I had lots of photos to down load and organize.  I also finished unpacking, did all of my regular chores, and cleaned up the kitchen which the boys had let slide a little.  The poster below is of my new norm.

     Several of you have asked about Marj and how she is doing.  I don't get over there as often, or as much as I would like to, but feel she is still adjusting to life without Richard.  She is trying to find a new normal that works for her.  She will be starting up a weekly group riding lesson in September, which will hopefully be fun for her and for those attending.

     Some other new norms around here:  The barn door with the window is no longer around, due to a driving error while Joe was pulling the trailer of wood chips out of the barn.  Babe has been confined to the corn crib and needs to be given medicine twice a day for her leg... she has injured her hock (knee joint).  Thankfully, Joe had the vet out to look at it.   Stew has been castrated, also due to the vet's visit while I was gone.  The ducks are gone, which means the chicken water is no longer a muddy mess because of them, and I don't have to herd them into the coop every night or fill their pool every day... but I do miss the ducks quite a bit.