Work In Progress

Me,
and my two horses,
and our farm,
and our hunt for 
   retirement living,
and my relationship 
   with God,
are all a
   work in progress.








     Hebrews 12:1  "As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin that so easily hinders our progress, and let us run with determination the race that God has set before us".




     We are all a work in progress.  But because I don't "work at it" I feel I am not progressing... if anything, I am back sliding.  Romans 7:15 (NIV)  "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do".






     I keep wanting to get back into a better exercise and eating routine.  More of one and less of the other.
My energy and willpower are both so teeny weeny, unlike my newly developing waist line. 

     I also desire to get this house cleaned up and ready to sell, but just can't get motivated to start.   And I wish I would put more effort into working with my two horses.  They really need the training and the exercise.  I have also drifted away from reading the Bible on a daily basis.  Surely if I start with God first, all else will fall into place.

     I have "caught the cats" on numerous occasions this week, doing what cats do best... lounging.  I got to say, I think it looks like a great passtime.  I have scattered these photos of sprawled cats throughout this post.


     Sunday I was late getting out of the nursery because no one came to replace me for second service.  I had two sleeping babies who were staying from 1st service so I couldn't go get help.  Eventually someone came and I was able to meet up with Britney in time for Church.

                                 Bunk beds ->

     We turned on our AC because company was coming and the humidity was bad even though it wasn't horribly hot out.  Storms were expected so windows were going to need to be shut anyway.



     I don't know where the time went, but I was busy until Cathy, Ben and Ralph arrived.  Dinner was soon ready, and my rice/kale dish, to go along with grilled chicken breasts, didn't turn out half bad. 









     After a walk around the barn yard we came in for ice cream.  The guys watched TV and we girls sat at our computers at the dinning room table, chatting online with friends as we chatted with each other.

    Photos courtesy of Cathy.

     More sheets were washed Monday morning after the three Leiningers hit the road.  I spent the morning continuing my house hunting in the Fairfield Glade area.  Abbey did her best to distract me.

     Abbey's idea of a "lounge chair."

     I feel like summer is slipping away and I haven't even accomplished very much.  "House hunting" in Tennessee is taking hours of my time and achieving very little so far.  It is kind of fun... but just seems so unproductive sometimes.


     I was going to walk from the park where I drop Britney off to run on Monday afternoons, but we got hit by storms, that persisted while we sat in the car and waited.  Giving up on the weather and the possibility of exercise, we drove to Growth Group for a pot luck dinner.

     A true "lounge chair" is versatile and functions in multiple sleeping positions.

     I walked in LeRoy before Water Lilies Tuesday morning, giving Britney extra time to run, lift, stretch and shower.  I skipped the usual candy and cookies, but did eat a muffin with my after exercise cup of tea. 

     I went out and weeded for two hours, primarily in the rock garden.  I happened upon the owner or close relative to the snake skin I found on the tracks last week.  I nearly pulled the corn snake up with the dried Day Lily leaves.  It was quick to slither off while I let out a little scream... not that I am scared of snakes, but the element of surprise gets me every time.

<- Bunk beds.  Barn cats in the sports shed.  The male Tom cat is still in the hay loft, so the barn cats don't hang out in the barn as much.

     More internet house hunting much of the afternoon, resulted in finding one in the perfect location, with not quite the right floor plan, but very intriguing as it was designed and custom built by an architect.  It sits next to a golf course pond and is close to the amenities and walking trail and right across the street from a church.  This is a photo of the "bunk room," so we could handle visitors.  Ha ha ha.  We plan to view the house and property the end of next week on our way (indirectly) to our southern Indiana vacation.  This time Britney gets drug along while Courtney farm sits.

     Thunderstorms rolled in late afternoon, subsiding long enough for Britney and I to take Kaysha for a quick walk.





The water way was full.




The sky was dark and cloudy.








  All of ->  this water that was up stream, was headed our way.

     We made it back without getting rained on.









     More storms came and went throughout the night and several times my sleep was interrupted by thunder and lightening and a panting dog. 

     Our rain gauge said 3 & 1/4 inches Wednesday morning.  I discovered these barn swallow babies on the floor of Amiga's stall during morning chores and grabbed them, and then got Britney to hold them while I locked up the barn cats who were on the prowl. 


     The babies were set back where I found them.

     After feeding time, it was flying lessons for the other three.




     This little baby was resting on the stall gate after zooming around with one of its parents.


     Midmorning, Britney and I went to Moraine View taking Kaysha with us.  The dog and I walked the three mile loop around the lake while Britney ran it and then some.  This woodland shades much of the road, keeping it cooler.

     My afternoon was spent diligently working on house hunting, searching through more real estate websites.  Abbey continued to distract me...

...finally giving it a rest because I was ignoring her.  Later I took a nap.  At least I did skip eating the usual cookies and candy.

     Britney reviewing vocabulary on flash cards, in preparation for taking the GRE.  










     Missy distracts Britney, then gets up and stretches before moving on.




     I checked on the barn swallows in the evening when closing the chicken coop, and all five babies were back and tucked in for the night.




     Britney did a short workout Thursday while I exercised with the Lilies.  The water, sun, and outdoors were wonderful. 








     I did more house hunting on the computer while Britney continued her diligent studying for the GRE.  She took her last two timed practice tests.

     We took a break and went to the pool to sun and swim.  I read my novel and Britney continued reviewing vocabulary flash cards. 

     Once home, I went out to work and ride Amiga.  I have really dropped off on my riding and want to get back into a routine of riding more often.  The horses need the exercise and training as much as I do.





     Eventually I was able to entice Britney to give riding a whirl.  I didn't do a very good job of instructing Britney, and Amiga was being difficult, so Britney had a rough start.










     After a little work, things came together better, and Britney did a great job riding and getting Amiga to kind of do what she wanted her to do.

 I rode Amiga after Britney had her fill.













 








     Zorro watches the action.




     My ride went pretty well.  Once un-tacked, I practiced loading Amiga.  It was touch and go a few times, but ended on a very positive note. 


     I fixed a late dinner, and we ate as the sun set.  I was off to bed... to read until sleep got me... which was after about ten minutes.






     The pool was cold for Friday morning's Water Lilies after the previous evening's storm and drop in temperature.  Britney came to do a short run to let off nervous energy. 

     All week I have been giving the horses two hours of pasture time mid-morning and two more late afternoon.  They get to rest in the shade of the barn during the heat of the day, but are kept in the mud paddock early morning and all evening.  This routine is to help them drop weight.  It also keeps me on my toes, moving them from one place to the other. 



<- Why was that black rag not
picked up from the floor of the barn? 


                             
                            Oh, Brother! ->

     Britney spent the day (7hrs) driving to and from and taking the GRE exam in Peoria.

     I spent a great deal of the day working outside.  Dan came to mow.  I had all the sticks and other messes picked up.  I burned the stick pile, weeded, moved dirt, and mulched with the grass clippings.  I was even able  to fit in a 45 minute ride on Roni.  He spooked at the big round hay bales but did fairly well after we got past those. 


     Britney filled me in about her test as we walked the dog to Brian's and back.  Then I sat to work on this blog... not having done much with it
all week.


 

     Philippians 1:6  (NLV)  "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns".