On Track?

It's best to stay on track, if possible, because getting back on track is much more difficult than just staying on track.  Unfortunately, it can be easy to get off track.  There are so many things that can derail us, like an illness or a necessary medical procedure.  Maybe it’s a big event to plan or go to, which causes us to put things on hold, and get out of our usual routine.  We might even have to pause our routine to help somebody else out.  Even a vacation can cause us to step out of our normal routine, making it difficult later to get back on track.  The farther and longer you veer off course, the more difficult it is to get back on track.  

Are you on track?  Are you making steps towards achieving certain goals?  Do you have projects you’re whittling away at?  Do you have dietary or exercise goals you are slowly accomplishing?  How about that bucket list?... have you accomplished a life goal, fulfilled an aspiration, realized a dream, or completed a must-do?  Try to stay on track!

Sunday 8/24 - It was a cold (mid 50s) morning, as evidenced by Babe and Mama Styx being curled up.  
 
I finally made it to church with Shirley, first time this month, very overdue, but hopefully back on track.  I also returned her cooler we had borrowed.  

I hit Food City on the way home.  Packed a dinner and was off to work at the pool, returning home at 6:15.  It was a very  light day because it was too cold (and overcast) for many to want to come to the pool.

Monday 8/25 - I could only see two of our three Pasos when I got to the ranch, with one down.  This always causes the heart to skip a beat.  Who was missing and what was going on?
  
 






It was Zorro standing guard and Rico sunning.
After Rico stood up, Amiga then lifted her head.  She had been flat out, probably sleeping.  

The three horses made their way in for breakfast.

I worked at the pool from 9:15-1:45.  Again it was a light day of business.  

Oh, the girls (young hens, a few days over five months old,) have finally started laying eggs.  They are 'baby' eggs - the three small ones on the right in this egg carton.  




Also, I had gotten this cute little egg basket at Allen's garage sale (for 1.50) and put it here in the ranch house.  I like it and how it looks.  Now it needs some eggs in it.

After a nap and shower, I headed to Mirror Lake Blast.   







It was a cool evening, as you can see, Micki had a hoodie on.  The band did not have very good vocals, but played good dancing music, so we (including Linda and Vicki) had a fun time.



While at the blast, I finished off the bottle of wine Cathy and Jean had left in our fridge.  I had to add some ginger ale because it was so dry.  Anyway, it was much more potent than the two light beers I usual drink, thus contributing to the good time I was having.

This summer there has been a man with his son in a wheelchair, that have been on the dance floor much of the time.







Well tonight we made their acquaintance.  Come to find out, the man (Brian Hoffsmith) has written a book about his son Kevin (who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant).  Brian showed me this photo of his book (which proceeds have supported his son's love of fast nitro cars and highway cruises).  It's about overcoming limitations, the power of kindness, believing in oneself, and living in the moment.

Tuesday 8/26 - The morning was cool and the cats (this is Monita) acted like they were cold.  I worked very hard and intentionally on the Happily Ever After blog but didn't quite get it finished before rushing off to the gym at 1:30.

Babe also looking a bit cold.  It was my first time back at the gym in several weeks.  I cut back on some of my weights or some of the reps, and made it through the whole workout in two hours without feeling too exhausted.  I'm just trying to get back on track.  I hope I can push myself harder next time.    

I went to Lake Tansi for the first time this summer, to listen to a live band and to dance.  I went with Vicky and her husband Bob, and also Dave who works at Druid pool.  Linda and Jim were there too.  

This is a great venue for music and dancing.

The band was really good, and we got in a fair amount of dancing.  Donna (who lives in Tansi) was there and also out on the dance floor with us.  It was so good to see her.  







During intermission, I walked the path to the beach, getting some photos.  I love that people show up in their golf carts and pontoons to listen to the music.  What a beautiful night it was.
 

Wednesday 8/27 - This was posted on Facebook later today.  We are all very proud of Vale and the great job she does.  

It had actually dipped into the 40s last night and the house was freezing when I got up in the morning at 4am.  I finally finished and posted the Happily Ever After party blog.  And then I got last week‘s blog (Stop To Chat) started.  

I was later than usual getting to the ranch to do chores.  All ten hens enjoying the oats I threw to them.    

The three boys were in the shady corner of the back pasture when I went out to put fly masks on them, after feeding the three Pasos. 

Then from the back pasture, I climbed through the barbwire fence and went on our trail through the woods to clear limbs that had come down over the past several weeks.  I had taken a handsaw and big lopping shears with me.  








I peeked in the shop to see how the new hay looked.  It is definitely greener than our remaining hay you see on the floor and stacked to the right of the new bales.  And hopefully it is not full of thistles.  

I also checked out the new yard sweeper Joe has been in the process of assembling.  We hope this will ease the work of leaf removal in the fall, both at home and at the ranch.

Karen came out at 11:30 and we saddled up Zorro and Rico to go for a ride.  

Wanda was laying on Karen's new saddle pad when we got back.  LOL  It was a rather short ride.  Rico did great, but Zorro, who was good to start off with, began favoring his front leg a little bit.  He’d be off and on with it so we decided to head back on the trail I had just finished grooming.  We probably went less than two miles total.  He wasn’t bad lame but just seemed off to Karen.  




I had given Amiga a Previcox before leaving the ranch, with the plan to ride her tomorrow.

Saw this buck (in the process of growing antlers) while dinner was cooking and I was playing games at my computer.  I had a cheese pizza to cook and then added much of our leftover pepperoni (truly the last of all the party leftovers) to finally get rid of the rest.
 

Thursday 8/28 - I did some blogging and then left at 8:30 to meet Joanne for a ride.  This time I rode Amiga and she rode Rico. I knew Amiga was sore and a little off, but it seemed she got better, the more we went.  Movement helps her arthritis (recommended by Katy the horse chiropractor and Dr. Perry).  Going downhill was difficult for Amiga so we took the downhills very slowly.  

Look at Rico with his tongue out for his photo.  Silly boy.  We did stop a few times to work with our horses on standing quietly while out on the trail.  We took these photos during one of our stops.  

 






We never did gait and we only went 2½ miles.  But it was a very nice ride and both horses behaved quite well except at one point when we split them up, Rico got a little headstrong.  Another time when I didn’t turn the way which would take us home, Amiga stopped and refused to go any farther.  Each time, with encouragement, both complied.  

Once back to the barn, I did some things around the ranch like cleaning in the port-a-potty and watering some plants.  I also gave Amiga a Previcox.  


I got home at noon, ate lunch on the deck, read (finishing my book) and took a nap. 



I was at the gym from 2 to 4 and did 20 minutes of rowing and an hour of elliptical with my 10 pound weighted vest, then stretched. 

I went straight from the gym back to the ranch to do evening chores.  I didn’t dillydally and was home by 6pm.

Friday 8/29 - Just as I was backing out to go to the ranch, Joe left for Iowa City and the Villhauer reunion.  He had gambling stops planned on the way there and back. 

I took this (video) of the three Pasos coming in for breakfast, and was glad to see that neither Amiga nor Zorro looked lame.  





I sat back here at my computer when I got home and did some of my usual games I haven't played in a while.  I have to brag about my Wordle results.  

I got a call from one neighbor while eating lunch, that another neighbor's dog, Maggie (too or 2) had gotten lose from the pet sitter and they couldn't catch her.  Well this led to much excitement.

I went down the street with our Maggie, who Maggie 2 likes to play with, hoping that would help catch her.  The dog sitting company had called the police and animal control and there were two of each vehicles in addition to a four wheeler with a policeman in it, out looking for and trying to catch the dog.  Maggie 2 was scared to death and running for her life.  Maggie and I headed off in the direction that the escaped dog was last seen headed, and walked the one mile loop where Maggie 2 is usually walked.  There was no sign of her.

When I got back to Maggie 2's house, they had decided to all 'back down' so to speak, and the only people left at the house were the two ladies from the dog sitting organization.  They said that Terry (the owner who was gone on vacation) had told them they’d have a better chance of catching Maggie 2 if less people were around.

I went to the gym, knowing it would be closed Monday and got in an excellent workout.  After my shower there, when I was driving home, I saw Maggie 2 standing in the vacant lot next to her house, looking a bit confused and worried.  I talked to her through my open window And she didn’t run off.  

So I went home, grabbed Maggie, and walked back to where Maggie 2 was.  This is us, on a different walk, but I needed a filler photo.  I love the fuchsia flowers around the neighbors house.

When Maggie and I got near Maggie 2, she ran right up to us, but when I reached out to pet her, she shot out of range.  I tried talking to her, giving her treats, and playing with a ball in her back yard with Maggie.  She would get quite close at times, but every time I tried to grab her, she’d run off.  I spent time loving on Maggie and giving her treats and Maggie 2 really wanted in on the action.  At one point I even had Maggie 2 coming up to Maggie and I while we were in her garage.  But she still feared the pet sitter lady who was kind of hiding and watching from in the house.  

Maggie at her lookout station.

After well over 30 minutes of effort, I finally decided that Maggie 2 was not going to go in the house with the lady in there, so I nicely asked if she would be willing to leave for a few minutes and let me see what I could do on my own.  She thought that sounded like a good idea and as she drove out the drive, Maggie 2 barked a bit and then settled.

It took me probably less than five minutes after the pet sitter's car had disappeared down the street, to get Maggie 2 to come follow Maggie and I, right into the house through the front door.  She had really wanted to be back inside, but was afraid to go in with the pet sitter in there.  Animals just know when they are being stalked, but can't always distinguish kind objectives from predatory intent.  

Stop To Chat

We get so busy or focused on what we got to get done, that we fail to connect with others, and pass right by them.  It is healthy and can be helpful to pause and take a moment to talk to someone.  And just importantly, take time to listen to them. 

There were so many conversations I wanted to have and questions to ask people during our five day party event, that I regret those conversations never occurred.  It just wasn't possible to do because there simply wasn’t enough time to see and really connect with each of my family members and friends.  I wonder if I should have been more intentional and stopped what I was doing to chat with each person.

Tuesday 8/19 - The past five days had been a blast.  It had left me exhausted, but filled with so many great memories, and thankful for such great family and friends and God's blessing on all of us.  The last of our guests (Britney and Juan Carlos), left with Joe to Nashville at 6am.  As they backed out of the drive and disappeared down the road, the impact of their visit and the whole weekend washed over me.  My once quiet house had returned to peace and quiet.  But after all the commotion, fun, and festivities; the silence was deafening.

I got to work on my Blog about the five day wedding reception/party event, started laundry, cleaned in the kitchen, and communicated about ranch business.  I was also trying to figure out what to do with all the extra (leftover) food.  







I think all the cats, especially Shadow (the outdoor stray) were glad to have things quiet again, and much less traffic in and out of the house. 

Mid-afternoon (after many hours of blogging) I joined Patty out at the ranch to start cleaning food from the fridge, and washing sheets and towels while she vacuumed and cleaned bathrooms.

Because we need to give the side pasture a rest, I planned to move Amiga and Zorro onto the front pasture with 24/7 access and put Rico with them.  Cowboy, Dorado, and Banner would then have access to the back pasture 24/7.  So when Patty went down to feed the four boys, she changed the gates so the lower paddock opened into the back pasture.  

After Rico finished eating his dinner, in his stall, I led him through the corral into the front pasture to add him back with A&Z.  He could not see them because they were still up in the shade of their shed, so he ran around crazy, trying to get back to Cowboy, Banner and Dorado, who were still down in their shed.

It was so hot and Rico had gotten so worked up that I went to get him to lead him to the upper paddock.  At this point, he threw a few bucks and race right past me and finally joined up with Amiga and Zorro.  
Because he was very hot and a sweaty mess,  Patty helped me cool him down, trying to gently poor water over him.  But he would not hold still.  So I kind of threw water on him, which also hit Amiga, and the three went running out to the front pasture.  Ugh... I need to slow down with these Pasos.  I called it a day and hoped Rico would be okay and would settle in with A&Z.
 

Wednesday 8/20 - I was up early blogging, then off to the ranch to do chores.  Juan Carlos had sent this photo of Britney heading off to work, so I returned with the next photo, of me at 'work', feeding horses.  

 

Betty and I went for a ride.  Rico had been very pushy on the ground, not respecting my space or really even paying attention to me.  He was still fairly unsure of himself (wanting his herd).  Once back I thought he would be better, having been on the trail with Dorado for two hours, but he was still very fidgety, tied in the barn for un-tacking.    


Once put in the front pasture, rather than going to join Amiga and Zorro, he went to the lower gate, wanting to go back with the three boys.

Joe had bought 50 bales of hay and made two trips to haul it all to the ranch to store in the shop. 
I made the ranch guest bed and did a little more ranch house cleaning and organizing.
 
Below, a photo Britney sent, showing the flags from our center pieces that she had taken home.    

Notice her view of the farm out their kitchen window that is at the backside of their apartment.  You can see the mountainside above.   
We got word that the car with Tracy, Teresa, and Mary had made it safely back this evening.  They were the last of our guests to arrive home.  I am so thankful that everyone's experience (concerning the five day party event) went safely.  As far as I know, the only bad thing that happened to any of us during the five days of travel and play, was when I scraped Patrick’s car with mine.  I was quite bummed about it, off and on, all weekend.

Thursday 8/21 - I was up and blogging by 4am.  Britney had also sent this photo of her mementos/keepsakes she'd had stored  in the bunk room and took with them, along with some new ones from the wedding party.  

At 5:30am, Maggie alerted the whole household to a jeep turning around in our driveway and parking out front. Her barking sent the cats flying off my desk and vicinity.  Are you kidding me, is this the estate sale people already?  Yep, they were lining up on Allen's driveway.  This photo was taken later.

The farrier came at 8:30, but I went last in the line-up, to give me a little more blogging time.  Amiga's thrush is gone and all the Paso's hooves looked good.  And the three of them stood nicely for the whole trim (and new shoes for Rico) process.  

I settled in to more blogging after getting back from the ranch and having lunch.  Before long I got too sleepy, so took a nap on the couch.  The cats always settle in to my space when I lay down.  

I had evening feeding chores and then did finished a few more tasks at the ranch house like replenishing soft soap and TP.  Next I carried out a search for some clothing that had gotten left behind.  Found them in a drawer.  But also found Ava's soccer ball.
 

Britney and Juan Carlos sent these photos.  Their own little bonfire outside her tiny house that they are trying to sell. 

They have cleaned out the house and cleared the property around it, which is some of what they were burning here.

Friday 8/22 - I went later than usual to feed and do chores.  The next door estate sale was well underway again, with cars parked all along our street.
 
From the ranch, I went to town, to my oncologist, for a tumor marker and iron count blood draw.  I will need to wait 0n the results.  I had a great chat with Dr. Davidson.  He is so easy going, friendly, and down to earth.

I made a very quick stop at Tractor Supply and Walmart before heading home.

After a late lunch, I tried to blog, but only lasted about 15 minutes, then took a nap.

I washed out coolers to return to people and let them dry in the sun.  




I met Betty at 5pm for a ride after the horses ate their dinner.  Rico was a handful, being anxious and pushy.  He does not do well with change (now being back with his former Paso herd).

Once out on the trail, Rico did great.  He definitely has more training under saddle than on the ground.  

  


We had stopped here in the woods to look out over the back pasture where Rico saw Banner.  Notice Jem's field in the background...  After he bush hogged it with our tractor, he then mowed it twice with his riding mower.  Hope he didn't kill the grass, cutting it that short with mulched dried grass clippings over the top of it. 

Betty and I got rained on a little just before getting back to the barn.  It had thundered a few times while we were out on the trail.  We timed it almost perfectly cause it poured for ten minutes just after we got back to the barn.  I was so glad to see Rico calmly join back up with A&Z when I turned him back out into the front pasture (video).

After closing the chicken coop at close to 7pm, I got a few photos of the mountains and sunset.  








It was a pretty ending to a pretty day.  It has been so nice to finally have cooler temperatures.
 

Saturday 8/23 - With the cooler days, we have also had cooler nights.  I needed a long sleeve shirt and a blanket over my legs while I sat here blogging before sunrise.  Britney sent a photo of one of her guinea pigs who likes to 'tuck' herself in this way.  I was ready to do the same thing.  


Today was my first day back at work since August 10th.  

I came home at 2:30 and took a 2½ hour nap.  I guess I was still having troubles recovering from the five days of company/parties/etc.  I'm am also still eating a lot of left-overs that have not yet gone bad, but I'm getting quite tired of them.  The 'Happily Ever After' blog, with hundreds of photos, was taking me forever.