Pause Awhile

It is good to pause, to allow for reflection and rest.  This is true of working with horses, dogs, children, and in so many other areas of our life.  Pause to find peace, like Devonoutwest does with her horse (video).  

Pause Before You Begin 
Before you do anything with your horse, pause for a moment.
Most of us arrive carrying more than we realize.
To-do lists.
Worries.
The rest of the day.
Even when we’re physically with our horse, our mind is often somewhere else.
Horses notice this.
They feel it in our body, our breath, our energy.
Before you start, try taking just one minute to arrive.
Stand still.
Soften your shoulders.
Unclench your jaw.

Take a slow breath in through your nose.
Exhale gently.
Do that two or three times.
Feel your feet on the ground.
Let your body settle.
Then quietly notice your horse —
their posture, their breathing, their presence —
without asking anything of them. 
This pause isn’t just for your horse.
It’s for you too. 

When you take a moment to arrive first, everything that follows tends to feel easier.
Calmer.
Clearer.
More connected.
Taking one minute doesn’t take time away from your horse.
It improves the quality of the time you share.
And often, that’s what both of you need most.
Author unknown.

Monday 4/6 - I woke way too early and started on my Easter blog.  The sunrise reflected in the pond with the white dogwood flowers was beautiful.  











When putting the clean towels back in the guest bath closet, I discovered some toys left there.  Kind of like finding Easter eggs.  






The dogs staying out of the dinning room, but hoping for food, while I ate.  Maggie is a great example for Cookie.  





I tried to take a nap, and when I finally fell asleep, was woken up by Joe, calling with a question about Maggie, whom he had taken to the vet for her annual heart worm test.  





I was too tired to go to the gym and exert myself, but I did go for a nice ride with Karen.  I went out on Amiga.  Rico was most unhappy that Zorro and Amiga both left him behind.  He ran the fence line while we were gone and got more exercise than Amiga and Zorro did. 

Tuesday 4/7 - I went to the ranch to do morning chores a little later than usual, so that I could help Joe move horses while he maneuvered the sprayer through gates.  









While waiting for Joe to spray and then help him again through gates to refill the sprayer, I did a lot of work on the jigsaw puzzle.  

Joe heading through the lower paddock gate where Cowboy and Cash were at, wondering when they could go back out on pasture.  We like to keep them off the sprayed field for 24 hours, even though the product says they can graze after two to four hours, once the chemical is dry.  

Joe was unable to get the sprayer off the tractor, so while waiting for the co-op guy to come out and help him, we installed a heavy duty gate latch up between the yard and upper paddock.  Rico is inspecting the finished product.  

I had paused more than awhile, getting a lot of work done on this puzzle.  Once home, I went to the gym and had a great full body weight workout.  I finished up doing the last 30 minutes of Cleet’s class, to get a great stretch workout in.  

Wednesday 4/8 - We had kept both groups of horses in their paddocks overnight to be sure the Gazon was good and dry.  Jan went out early to open gates and let both groups out.

I went out later to get the Pasos back off the grass and in for their late breakfast.  

 

Then I worked on a new trail (seen in purple on this map) so we could get from Claremont Circle to Castlebar Ln, without going out on Marmaduke, which is getting more traffic.  We think that more houses will be built along Marmaduke, and a few days ago the mailman, who was speeding down it, didn't even slow down for Karen and I who were out on our horses.  It was very scary.  We could barely get out of the way fast enough.   

The red lines on the map are the trails we have built.  The yellow is a route we take quite often as well as the green (we call the Green Mile).  
It was really rough going in this middle section of the woods where I was building the new trail.  There were a lot of logs on the ground.  I got way too hot so quit before getting the roughed-out path made.  






Thankfully, Jan texted that she was on her way, so it was quitting time anyway. 

We tacked up our horses (this time I rode Rico) and had a nice 3½ mile ride.  I showed Jan where I had started work on the new detour trail.  Returning to the ranch, I took this (video).







Rico had one big spook with me and another little one, but otherwise did well.  

I showered right away, removing three ticks.  For dinner I heated up turkey and all the fixings.  Then Joe and I proceeded to have popcorn while watching Survivor. 

Thursday 4/9 - I posted the Easter blog and got this week's blog started.  I paused from blogging to walk the dogs, play with them(video), and check on them, primarily Cookie. 

I was at the ranch by 11am to do a few little projects with Joe.   

We sprayed 'Kills-all' and applied gravel, to level a spot for the bench Patty and I re-painted.  It is now on the backside of the barn and will come in handy to put buckets, tack boxes or sit on when working in the round pen area.  



We had extra rock, and were adjusting this gate so the new latch wouldn't rub on it, so added the gravel here. 

I then went back into the woods to continue work on the new trail.  I removed many, mostly dead logs from the middle area.





Unfortunately, I also ran into several rocks that were hidden under the leaves.  Luckily I was able to dig them up and get them out of the way.

Again I wore myself out, but I did finish the rough 'draft' of the new trail.  I had planned to ride Rico, so it was quitting time anyways.  Here he is grazing by the new bench.
I did chores and also noticed Debra hadn't seemed to have been out of her room all day.  

I headed home with concerns about Debra, so talked with Joe who would investigated the matter.

I removed two ticks when showering, and went to bed a tad agitated.
 

Friday 4/10 - While busily doing things like laundry, cleaning the humidifier to store until next winter and wrapping a birthday gift, I discovered Cookie had chewed up (hopefully not ingested) a charge cord in Joe's office.  

There Cookie was, in Joe's chair, looking all innocent.  You can't scold an animal after the fact, reprimand needs to happen during the misdeed.

While telling Cookie (in a calm, mater of fact voice) that she had been a bad dog, she moved down to her bed and proceeded to look a bit guilty and remorseful. 

Needless to say, Cookie Monster was put in her crate when I left to join Patty, Karen, Jan, Shirley and Judy for lunch at the new Italian restaurant.  (Joe was golfing.)  We had great food and conversation. 




The dogs got walked and then I met Patty and Karen at the ranch to go for an afternoon ride.  We all got a little warm, with the temps in the mid 70's, and were thinking, just wait till the summer heat.  

Poker Joe was gone, so near bed time I decided to read in his chair, in the mancave, to have a little bonding time with Cookie.  

Saturday 4/11 - I was woken up after 1am by the return of a late night poker player.  Unable to get back to sleep, I got out of bed at 2:00.
Just after this first photo, Monita, who is laying on the bench, swatted Babe's tail.

So Babe hopped up on the ladder, out of Monita's reach.  The dogs stayed asleep, but the cats always think it's great to have human activity in the middle of the night.

I went back to bed (and slept) from 5-7am.  I was at the ranch before 9am for morning chores. 

I was glad to see Debra up and about and she actually left while I had been finishing up chores, watering the chickens.  Planning to ride, I went in and worked on the puzzle while waiting for Amiga to digest 'breakfast.'  









Brushed, leg wraps on, bridled; and Amiga was ready to go out on a ride.  



The three black boys were in the field beside the barn.  They had Amiga a little reeveed up.  

 









Amiga did very well.  She had one little spook, but they are nothing compared to Rico's.  

We went 2½ miles in a little under an hour.  I had actually taken Amiga down the new, unfinished trail (red highlight).  Her hoof sank in, in two different spots, and I had to duck in a few places, but it was quite passable.  






I had forgotten to take a photo of the rocks I'd dug up and stacked along the side of the trail.  So I took one today.    









I did not have time to pause once home.  I quickly changed and scurried off to the gym.  

Joanne sent this photo when she was done with chores.  Wish those clouds had brought rain.  I had watered at the ranch and also here at home.

My workout was very difficult to get through.  I was really dragging from lack of sleep.  I only had two hours before the gym closed at 4:00 (early on Saturdays) so just kept pushing through, all the while wanting to stop.

Joe and I started the Kay Scarpetta video series based on Patricia Cornwell's book series.  We only lasted for one hour episode, both of us were too sleepy.

Egg-cellent Easter

Our three day Easter weekend was egg-cellent!!!


Friday 4/3 - Courtney and Ava were in route to our house, from Murfreesboro by 9am.


Meanwhile, I was frantically trying to finish last minute cleaning.  


I got word that they had made a pitstop, which thankfully bought me a little more time.  






After an early lunch, Courtney took Ava to the Library Park while I packed up supplies for dinner and bonfire at the ranch.  We were stalling, waiting for Dan, Vale, and Layla to arrive, to watch Ava during her 'pony' ride.  







At the ranch, first it was a visit with the chickens.  

Ava threw them some vegetable scraps.

We collected some eggs.  


Our egg-cellent hens have been laying 8 to 10 eggs a day.

Ava fed them some chicken feed before we moved on to our next activity.

Collecting wood for the night's bonfire.

Ava was a great little helper (video).























We got word that Dan and Vale (with Layla) had been delayed because of work and also some business, so we went ahead with our ride.

Ava was more than ready to go.  Papaw took her to the barn in the gator while Courtney and I led Zorro and Rico down.  


Aunt Patty and Wanda met us down there.

Wanda was a little apprehensive about this smaller version of a person, but did pretty well with Ava.  













With Zorro saddled, Ava got a 'pony ride' while Courtney led him around in the round pen. 

There was no uneasiness on Ava's part to get up on Zorro this time.















What a cute little cowgirl.

Then they ventured out through the back gate and down the trail (video).  



Returning back to the ranch.  








Courtney and I then headed out for a trail ride (video).


Joe, Patty and Ava, in the gator, were in hot pursuit of us.  








Actually they weren't, but they came down Hathaway and we rode out from the trail to meet them and desensitize the horses to the gator for a minute.

Courtney and I had a lovely 3½ mile ride.  

Back at the ranch, Ava and Papaw fed the catfish.



Amiga was happy to have the boys back in the side pasture with her once we got back.

 


I was glad to 'take a break' with Ava.










Dan, Vale, and Layla had finally arrived.
Come to find out, their 'business' was a big transaction; purchasing a lot, making final arrangements to build a new house, and choosing floor plans, etc.  Wow!    

Layla really gets into eating, literally.  





Pugsley looking for handouts. 




Patty grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, we also had baked beans, potato and macaroni salads, coleslaw, veggies and dip, chips, strawberries, and Debra contributed a cheesecake sampler tray.

Ava eating her cheese cake by the fire.


It was a beautiful night, the perfect temperature for a bonfire.

Dan and Vale left early with Layla to get her bathed and to bed ahead of the rest of us.

Below is Jem's yard light at what looks to be the horizon.  It's not the sun setting or the moon rising.






We cleaned and packed up everything by 8pm.  

I was the last to leave the ranch.  By the time I got all the food and drinks carted home and put away, the granddaughters were in bed.  So I too was soon in bed.

Saturday 4/4 - Today was Daniel's Birthday.  We were blessed with another beautiful day, although rain was expected later in the afternoon.  I enjoyed some sunshine, tea, and Layla out on the screened porch.  


Joe and Ava came with me to the ranch, to help me with chores.  There was nothing to do in the lower paddock because Jan and Bonnie have been taking turns feeding their boys an extra snack in the morning.



Ava was great help with several little jobs.  In this (video) she was helping put the feed buckets away.  

Once back from the ranch, I got out Courtney's old doll house and a bin of Playmobil furniture and dolls.  Ava had a lot of fun setting up and playing house.  It was up on the balcony, out of the way, and where Layla and Cookie could not nab any parts.  





Speaking of Cookie, she did great with all the excitement and guests.  This is the first we have let her loose in the whole house (especially the carpeted living room).









When needed, she was put in the crate you see in this photo.  She has learned to go in it when asked and settles down right away (no barking or whining).  






Of course, lots of dog photos were taken throughout the weekend, especially of Cookie.  

Having had surgery on Thursday, we needed to keep her calm (no running or jumping), so play was limited to short amounts and not too rambunctious.  





Ava was very gentle with Cookie, and likewise, Cookie with Ava.







We explained the reason to be gentle and showed Ava the incision site (which I was to check and monitor every day).  



Cookie was even very gentle with Layla.  This young dog had been given (pushed onto) the previous owner by his grandchildren so it was obvious she was used to and loved youngsters.  










Kids and puppies, what could be cuter?  








The only mishap was when Maggie's wagging tail smacked Layla right in the eyes.



I think Daniel really took a liking to Cookie also.





Courtney taught Cookie some tricks, but sitting on Maggie's head was not one of them.  He, he, he.




Cookie is good at sit, but I couldn't get the 'lay down.'  Courtney worked with her and before long, had her laying down when asked.  She needs lots of work on 'stay' however.  



Showing off our socks, while the dogs chill out.  








The dogs, especially Cookie, were a big part of the action.
Naps and rest time were observed by all during the duration of the weekend.  

Miss Layla Belle.

Don't pull the birthday boy's hair.

Ava was chomping at the bit to go for another horsey ride. After lunch while waiting on Patty and I, Courtney took Ava back to the park.  

Then once to the ranch Courtney and Ava checked on and fed the chickens.  


Finally we were all ready for the day's horse ride.  It was overcast, but the rain held off.

Once Zorro and Rico were tacked, Courtney did some work with Zorro, then Ava got a 'pony' ride in the round pen (video). 

Then I led Zorro out into the woods so Ava could have a little trail ride (video).  

Over the woodland cavalettis.  

Back out of the woods we came, and into the ranch barn yard.




Karen had arrived and had Cash tacked.  








Soon Patty, Karen and I hit the trail, going 3½ miles on a perfect spring day.  

Courtney, with Ava, had returned home to our Flossmoor house and hung out with Dan, Vale, Layla, Joe and the dogs.

After Patty, Karen and I finished our ride, Patty dropped me off back home.  



A quick shower and then all us Villhauers and Karen went to The Cabin for dinner.

While waiting for our food, Ava and I went outside.  We played the alligator (or lava) game... stay on the stepping stones or the alligators will get you.  

A picture of Courtney's food.  We all ate heartily.  

Once home it was time for desert and to celebrate Dan's birthday.

  

Cookie looks more like Cookies & Cream ice cream than she does an Oreo cookie.  


We had sung Happy Birthday at the restaurant, but sang it again (video).





And then we all enjoyed a tasty treat.  I ate a small portion, but it was still too much sugar after being off sweets for over 40 days.  











No time was wasted getting into our PJs/loungers for the evening.  Once the girls were in bed, the cats came out from hiding.

Sunday 4/5 - Happy Easter.  
Mama Styx enjoying some quiet pre-dawn time before anybody but the dogs and I were up.  








Just after sunrise, I got devastating news from Bonnie.  Her husband Rick had died from a massive heart attack very early this morning.

Along came trouble while Ava was reading.  

What a cutie patootie!

Something caught her eye up in the balcony.  Probably her dad doing something silly.  

We had gotten some rain overnight and the temperature had dropped considerably.  No more open doors and windows and we even turned the heat on.  It was a slow relaxing morning.  






Mid-morning Joe grilled sausage, eggs, and pancakes for everybody.



Vale put on a pretty Easter dress and got the girls dressed up.




We went out to the pretty azalea in front of Brian's to get some Easter photos.

I love my silly family. 

Next we moved over to our back deck to get a few more shots, this time with the white flowering dogwood to add flair.

I got Easter dinner started, putting the turkey in the oven, after Courtney prepped it with a tasty herb rub she had made.  Ava helped me harvest the asparagus that was ready for cutting.  

I later added the stalks to the bags of asparagus I had bought.



While Ava was out on the back deck blowing bubbles, the 'Easter Bunny' came and hid many eggs.

Ava proceeded to hunt and find most of them.  The balcony was the last place she looked, with one hidden in the doll house.  


Ava brought her basket downstairs and opened each egg, most of which were filled with candy.  






Ava kept hoping to find a toy in some of the eggs, so that was a disappointment.  



But she did get some money.







Later, Daniel took her to Family dollar to do some shopping and she got herself some toys.





Ava had also bought her Mom and sister a gift.  Layla loved the eggs in a carton toy Ava had picked out for her.

Layla had lunch before time for our Easter dinner.  Cookie knew right where to lay in wait.




Patty came over and joined us for Easter dinner.  

I fixed turkey, ham, corn, asparagus, gravy & dressing.  Patty brought potato casserole, bread, and brownies.  Courtney's photo of her plate.  

The day turned out pretty and sunny, but it was still jacket weather.  Patty getting some Layla time.  










Courtney and Vale posing for a photo I was too slow to catch when they were discussing Google Photo Share.

Ava helping Papaw walk Cookie.  

Soon everyone was packing up to head home.




Patty and the kids all left by 4pm.  
Joe went to the ranch with me to help with chores.
Once home, I picked up toys, did dishes, and started guest laundry of towels and sheets.
Maggie was on the look-out for more company.
It was a way too quiet evening at home, but one with many happy memories of an egg-cellent Easter weekend.