The Beat Goes On

"This clock of mine keeps beating all the time."  Life moves on regardless of whether or not we choose to go with it.  The rhythm of everyday life, the problems and promises and everything else, will keep on going.  And even though I have struggles, my heart keeps beating, and drawing me to the things I love; dancing, horses, family, friends, and don't let me forget - God.

As the song by Sonny and Cher repeats, "Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain," I keep jiving to the beat, marching on, and trying to enjoy every step.  Sometimes I even march (or dance) to my own beat. 😋

Many of the lines that Sonny and Cher sing in their "Beat Goes On" song -
Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Boys keep chasing girls to get a kiss
Men still keep on marching off to war
Electrically they keep a baseball score
Bums still cry, "Hey buddy, have you got a dime?"
This clock of mine keeps beating all the time.
- indicate that history often repeats itself, and the drums keep beating.

Saturday morning was the first time in over 24 hours that the dog finally pooped, and that we weren't out walking in the rain getting drenched in the process... two things to be thankful for, and the beat goes on.  Photographed through the window, a great blue heron fishing out back during a light morning shower.







During our 10 am walk that lasted 30 minutes, I went to the far side of the pond to see what the new dogwood looked like planted in front of the bench.







I think it adds some nice privacy and looks very natural here.  It might make the duck house feel more homey too.





Once done with our walk, I went down back to pick up sticks and check on things.   All the new plantings were still green, although some of the dogwood leaves were a little wilted.










The ducks didn't miss a beat, and came to see what additional food I might have brought them (can you see them in the right photo).  I always put corn out when I put the bird feeders out first thing in the morning (usually 5:30 am).  The ducks were out of luck for a second helping because rain started about 11:00 as predicted, and I ran for the house.

My day was filled with naps, reading, computer time, and pet snuggling.  I skipped a trip to the gym because I was a little sore from the day before.

I took Maggie on another long walk late afternoon.  We went by the Druid Family pool, which is still under construction for renovation.  It is not going to be ready to open on time for Memorial Day weekend.  We just hope and pray it can be opened ASAP.  They get lots of swimmers out here.



Maggie got an early 4pm dinner, in the Mancave, and I left to pick up Shirley.  We proceeded to Hebbertsburg, for the monthly dinner and dance night.  The Sweet T's performed during both intermissions and I even won a cake during the cake walk, which I shared with everybody.  Needless to say, I had a great time dancing, even though there was one fellow who kept insisting on taking my hand and dancing with me, which I prefer not to do, and tried to make clear to him.  But, the beat goes on and so did the dancing.  It was all fun.  I was home by 8:45 and went to bed shortly afterward.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky Sunday morning, but the temperature was still in the 40's.  Notice how much the trees have filled out in back.  I woke up with a cold, or bad allergies.  Whichever it was, I felt like I had when I had the sinus infection back in February.  Shirley and I both felt crummy and opted not to do the first outdoor Church service for this season, it was just way too cold and windy.





The hammock sure looked inviting for a mid-morning nap, but it was still too cold (48) outside.  I bundled up for short dog walks and hung out inside by the fire.  Maggie's unabated energy was spent playing. 





Extra tea, soup, blankets and reading occurred till early afternoon.  I had planned to meet Jan on the trail, but just wasn't sure if I was up for it.




I had a long walk to catch Amiga, who was way out back by the power lines.  I used a big rock to get up on her and she felt pretty good on the ride back to the barn.  She walked quietly, listened to leg ques, and was being sweet.






I decided I wasn't up for a long ride and as soggy as the pasture was, the new trail would be pretty muddy, so I opted not to go meet up with Jan, and texted her.  Instead, I rode out to the winter pasture and went around the perimeter of all four fields.



I think Amiga knew I wasn't feeling well. I was just a tad under the weather with no get up and go.  She was nice and quiet, calm, and relaxed during our whole ride.  She never rushed the pace and only jumped once, a little bit, when we flushed three wild turkeys out of one of the fields we were riding beside.  I just love my horse.

Seen left, I let Amiga grab bites of grass along the way.  We were just on a relaxing stroll, I in no hurry, and I wanted to let her enjoy our ride too.

I don't remember what I did the rest of the afternoon.  It was dinner time when I got home.  I did take these two photos, noticing a bird fly from her nest by the front door, so I was probably putzing around outside.

Joe returned from Indiana St. Louis (they had changed golf locations because of the cold weather up north) after I was asleep.

It was a pretty morning Monday, although a little slow to warm up.  The critters at the feeder were taking turns coming and going.  I was reading e-mail and appreciated sister Cathy's comment about my last blog post where I said "I spend too much time here"  Her point - Sitting around looking out the window is time well spent!  It is restful time, time to process and integrate information, time to think and dream.  It is the time you wished you had when you were teaching.  Treasure it. - This is so true, and the point is well taken.

I had a computer practice session at the CC from 9-10:20.









I came home for a snack/early lunch.  Then just before leaving, Stevie got out.  It took 15 minutes of chasing her around until I finally caught her, so I was late getting out to the Dorchester Pool to help.  Nancy, MJ and I were at a loss as to where to start and what to do, and were waiting for the pool man to come.  We did discuss new procedures we would follow and came up with some additional rules to accommodate the families (kids) we would be getting in June.

With several hours to work outside in the afternoon, I brought out all the potted plants I had kept in the garage during the two cold rainy days.  Then I planted the last three flowers I bought, (the fuschia geraniums seen left and below).














For quite awhile I weeded and worked at removing leaves from around bushes and sticks from all over the yard and gardens.  The bed to the right of our driveway (seen in left photo) still needs quite a bit of work.

I skipped my weight workout and stretch class and Joe and I were off to Vegas with Brian.  I always enjoy these two characters, and caught them in action.

Like Hey, I am sitting across from you and you are both on your I-phone!

Cheers... and the beat goes on.








A long walk after dinner was much needed.
As I was headed with the dog out back, I noticed this couple feeding the fish and large snapping turtle.  This lady is the one who got her finger bit and fell into the pond last year, and her husband jumped in to rescue her.

Jan, Steve, and I were going on a group ride Tuesday, so after my regular morning routine, I went to the barn.  Judy was there visiting (recovering from knee surgery) and it was so good to see her.

Steve is a relatively new boarder at Wildwood, seen below on his horse Tejas, while we were riding with Jan.  He is the one who brought his round pen to the barn, which many of us use. 

This was the first day for Tejas to be out on the trail.  He is normally a performance horse, working in a riding arena.  He did great, although had to be led across the creek, seen below.



I had an embarrassing moment on our way down to the creek.  I hopped off Amiga to move some rocks and when I put my foot in the stirrup to get back on, the saddle slid down to almost under Amiga's belly.  I had forgotten to even latch the girth.  Well, I had to struggle to fix it because we were on the hill and it was in an awkward position.  Steve was very patient with me. 




Steve had to get back for an appointment, so turned for the barn before Jan and I were ready to quit.  We rode up and down some of the cul-de-sacs we usually skip, and enjoyed seeing new sights, like this fern patch by a creek, that was very pretty.  Later we were messing around and I took this (video) of Jan 'jumping' cash over a log.




I washed Amiga when we got back because she was hot and sweaty after 2 1/2 hours out on the trail. 

Once home I watered all the new flowers I had planted, the new transplants, and the areas I had sowed grass seed.  In the process, I noticed the deer had trimmed this dogwood I had planted near the salt block.  Those scoundrels.

I had a little time to get in a quick weight workout and shower and then met Joe, Nolan, and Lisa up the road at the Mexican restaurant for dinner.  The guys had been golfing.



Wednesday morning I was at the CC by 9 am to practice computer operations.  It went much better than Monday and I now felt more confident in running the POS at the Dorchester pool.

I had a little time to kill at home, and believe it or not, Stevie got outside again (this time Joe's fault) and it made me late for cleaning detail out at the pool.



And then on the way, I saved this painted turtle who was crossing Westchester, going who knows where, because there were no ponds nearby.  When I got to the pool, Nancy and Mike were the only ones there and Mike couldn't get logged into the computer, so I decided to run the turtle home to our pond.  Seen right, he quickly entered the water from this rock I had set him on.




There were several people working at the pool when I got there, so I felt bad about being late.  We got all the tables, chairs, umbrellas, lounge chairs, etc. set up, cleaning as we went.

Mid-morning, this mama duck brought her eleven babies in through the fence and jumped right into the pool with each of the ducklings following.  They were cute and fun to see, but I knew the babies couldn't get out of the pool (I had read this back when we raised baby ducks) and that they would eventually drown if not helped.


I was fretting about it, so Larry put a lounge chair in as a ladder for them to get out, but it didn't appeal to the mom.  So I built steps out of two rocks placed on the top step in the shallow end.  We corralled the ducks over to the rocks using long pole, pool equipment.  Once they all got out, except the last who needed help, we herded them to the pond that is right behind the parking lot (video).





I was given some grief about the ducks, so later looked up about baby ducks swimming abilities.  Until they get their big duck feathers, baby ducks can only swim til they get tired of paddling and then they sink if they can't get out of the water.  Ducklings are only waterproof because the Mother Duck coats them with oil from her glands.  They can't waterproof themselves until they are full grown.

I worked helping Larry at the pool a little longer than the others because I had felt bad about being late, and I had planned to go straight to the barn when the vet got there.

I tied Amiga and Zorro facing each other while we waited our turn for the vet.  Both horses were happy to see each other, since they are now in separate pastures.  They both got groomed and then after getting their strangles vaccine, I rode Amiga bareback.  She was a little pistol, I guess making up for being so nice to me on Sunday.




It was Joe's poker night, but the beat goes on, so I went to the full moon party unescorted.  Donna and DJ were the music entertainment and a lot of fun.  There were also several other 'single' ladies dancing, so I had a good time.  Soon after the moon was spotted, the party came to and end.  When I got home, I walked Maggie in the moonlight to finish off the night.

Thursday morning Joe and I were on our way to Knoxville at 8:00.  We took my car in for it's six month check up, had a late breakfast / early lunch at IHOP and then I dropped him off at the airport, for the start of his three week trip to Peru. 








I was home around 1:00 and got to work in the yard, with the notion that it would soon be raining.  Planning to work until the rain came, I picked up sticks, mowed the back yard, planted more asparagus, and moved several loads of mulch.  I ended up working until after 6:00, missing my workout and stretch class again.  Maggie kept watch.

Before dark, I took a walk on the library trail which I had heard people working on while I worked in the yard.  More of the path has been cleared and leveled as seen in this photo.

A storm blew in during the night, bringing rain and cold, blustery winds.  I had to get up, close windows, and add a blanket to the bed.

Friday things were wet outside, but thankfully, not too many more sticks were in the yard.  More rain was in the forecast, so rather than work here on this blog too long, I went out to do more yard work.  Before getting started, I took some photos and this (video) to compare to the progress made since this (video) taken a year ago.







Seen above, the nicely mowed back yard.  Seen right, the oasis (I know, misnamed for a small fertile or green area in a desert region) as I call it... but actually it is really more like a peninsula.  I had also mowed it.



Piles of leaves had been left (by Jack the golf course guy) in back and were kind of an eye sore.  Jack was weed whacking by the dam, so I asked him if it were okay if I hauled the leaf piles away.  He apologized for not getting back to them and said that would be great.  I hauled off many loads of leaves and sticks, taking them across the creek and part way up the hill, spreading them out in the woodland.






While I worked, Mr. Mallard convinced me to put out more corn.  After he ate, he settled on the pond, head tucked under wing, and took a nap (seen above).  I walked back and forth with loads of leaves while he slept, but when I stopped to take the photo, he woke up and started quacking at me.  I moved away and he remained there, resting.  I think the Mrs. is sitting on eggs somewhere, hopefully up in the duck house.

I heard the trail builders again, so went over to get some photos of them at work.  John Conrad and Don Hazel seen left.  

The machine seen here can dig, lift, and level at the same time when skillfully operated by Valerie (video).  While chatting with John, I volunteered to be the monitor of this trail since I walk it regularly.  There is a web page to report problems or see what problems are on any trail and if anyone reports a problem on the Library Trail I will get an email.  Every two weeks or so I am to trim and clear it as needed and also report to the maintenance group if there are any problems.  They will then arrange for a chainsaw or other needed equipment to repair the larger issues.

Maggie and I came across this Eastern Box Turtle during our afternoon walk and I moved him in the direction he was going, out of harms way, as I should have done with the painted turtle. 🙂 

The rain held off longer than expected so I had stayed outside longer than planned.  As I was eating a late lunch, I got a surprise delivery from UPS, well from Joe actually... flowers.  This just gave him more brownie points. I followed the instructions and it said to give them a day or two to fully open up.  Time with flower prep caused me to get an even later start into town.  Once school lets out, the stores seem to be more crowded, so I had wanted to get there earlier. 

I had to deal with people, traffic, and rain... but that didn't keep me from going to several thrift stores (looking for a large flower pot), Big Lots, K-Mart, Lowe's, and finally Wal-Mart.  I got rained on in two outdoor garden centers, but got some great deals on annuals.  I did however splurge on the blue Hydrangea (seen right with all my other new plants) to replace the one that died over the winter.  By the time I got these unloaded, along with other stuff I bought, and got the dog walked, it was 7:30.  I didn't want to make dinner, so it was just beer and popcorn, here at my computer (a no no) as I worked on this blog post... until way past my bed time.