but not just any other day,
it is a new day,
so make the best of it!
My favorite and usual way to start the new day, is with a cup of hot tea, to look out on nature and reflect on all my blessings.
I love Carole King's lyrics:
"You've got to get up every morning
With a smile in your face
And show the world all the love in your heart"
Deana and I rode into the Glade and met up with Jim and then did a big loop on the back roads. The footing was great, the day beautiful, and the ride a joy.
On the way back to the barn Deana and I horsed around in the bean field. She tried to get Sandy to walk across the tarp, but with no luck.
Deana even tried to lead Sandy across the tarp, but Sandy would have none of it. She did finally get one foot on it.
Joe had planned dinner and concert with Patty, Jean, and I, but was running late because golf had been slow getting started due to a frost delay.
I don't know why, but I was stressing out about the change in plans and us being behind schedule. However, it did all workout wonderfully. We were on time for our dinner reservation at Conner's in Turkey Creek. And we all thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful meal.
Next we drove downtown Knoxville and had plenty of time to grab an ice cream at Coolato Gelato's. Not that we had room in our full bellies, but oh was it good.
The historic Tennessee Theater was just a few doors down from Gelato's. It is a beautiful building, built in 1928.
In this selfie in the lobby, I was trying to get the pretty chandelier. A nice lady took this second photo of us.
In this selfie in the lobby, I was trying to get the pretty chandelier. A nice lady took this second photo of us.
Waiting for the Home Free concert to start, we marveled at the architectural design inside the theater. We sat in the section on the far right, about five rows up from the stage.
And then the show began! Home Free did not disappoint. They are an American a-cappella group that sings primarily country and gospel, but do a lot of other popular, hit songs also. Adam Rupp is their amazing vocal beat boxer.
Early in the show they took the photo below and posted it on Facebook. Members of the audience then commented and at intermission a winner was selected, who got to go backstage to meet the group up-close and in person after the show.
With the time change, easy exiting, and minimal traffic, we were home and in bed before midnight.
So it was fun to joke around a little. But seriously...
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| Happy Easter |
"It's a new dawn / It's a new day / It's a new life." Nina Simone (song).
I set my alarm to be sure I was up in time to make it to the 6 am Sunrise Service that was across the street at the Lutheran Church. It was a collection of 6 or 7 different Fairfield Glade Churches and our minister Jay was giving the sermon so I wanted to hear it and support him.
The title of Jay's sermon was "A New Day" which he tied into many things, including the resurrection. I was home by 7 am to finally get my tea and then started this blog. I decided to go with Jay's theme.
Mid-morning I took a nap like Maggie and Monita are doing here. When I woke, I had more tea and another breakfast. The gym was closed so I decided it would be a day of rest, and read.
Brian picked Joe and I up at 1:30, and along with Andy and Rita, we rode into town. We met several others (including Ken and Linnea) for Easter Buffet dinner at Fortes. It was a wonderful meal and a joy to share with friends.
After a walk once home, Joe and I went next door to hang out with everybody. It was definitely a lazy afternoon. I walked Maggie again, for a longer walk, before her dinner. I skipped eating any more food because I was still stuffed.
Monday 4/2 - "Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games." Babe Ruth. I woke at 2 am and couldn't get back to sleep, so got up at 3 am. I messed on the computer and then eventually fell back to sleep on the couch. When Joe got up at 7:00, that woke me, and I started the new day again, having more tea and another breakfast. It stayed foggy out a good part of the morning.
After Ballroom Aerobics I had intended to lift weights, but I was dragging and just didn't have the energy or motivation, so skipped it. I guess the lack of sleep did me in. I was more in the mood to nap like my kitties were doing.
Maggie came to join me on the floor and then something alerted she and Monita outside and they left to investigate.
I really needed to do some yard work, but it was gloomy and looked like it could rain, so I opted to go ride. I was too lazy to tack up so just rode bareback. I was able to get on Amiga from the ground when working in the round pen. That was my only physical accomplishment of the day. Although riding bareback takes a lot of leg muscle.
I dropped in at Shirley's on the way home, ran to Food City, and then took Maggie for a long walk. I didn't even take any photos Monday, except all these of the cats here at home.
Joe went to play poker. I ate dinner on the back porch and read until it got too cold out and was getting dark. While out there, I gave the sunroom design more thought. Back inside, reading in the recliner, I fell asleep for an hour. I woke up, watched Fixer Upper, and still couldn't stay awake, so was in bed at 8 pm.
Tuesday 4/3 - "When I wake up every morning, I thank God for the new day." F. Sionil Jose. The day looked very promising but mid-morning when an unexpected rain hit, I decided to go to town to shop. I ended up at K-Mart again and tried on a ton of clothes, bringing home some $2.00 items I don't really need, but also three pair of jeans that I do need.
I had also gone to Lowe's and spent a lot of time looking at plants, and look what I bought. Just can't help myself.
Well, it was 4:30 by the time I got home and still 70 degrees out. Joe was just leaving on his motor scooter. I was sad I had missed out on a beautiful afternoon outside in the sun. I opened up all of the porch doors and let the warm, fresh air into the house.
By the time I got most things out of my car Joe had returned and we decided to re-arrange the garage some and did a little cleaning in the process.
I ate a salad for dinner out on the back porch. Then at 7pm we skyped with Britney. It was so good to see and talk with her, but a little disconcerting to hear of her struggles. Tomorrow will be a new day, especially for her, and things will work out and life will get better. She is a strong, determined young lady.
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| Dan loves opening presents. |
Wednesday 4/4 - Daniel's birthday. "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." Eleanor Roosevelt. We had some strong storms overnight, but the sun was out and birds singing by 6:20. The temperature had dropped considerably though.
The squirrels were thick for a change, which kept the birds away, and I wondered if Hobo was off hunting in a different yard. After Ballroom Aerobics and weights, I met with Steve here, again about the sunroom, and feel good about our altered design plan.
After lunch I went out to work in the yard. Joe mowed some and then left for poker. I did a little more mowing, transplanted a cherry tree the deer almost killed, sticking it in a random spot in the woods, not expecting it to survive, but wanting to give it a chance. Then I planted a new cherry tree in its place. A larger and stronger one that has a better chance against the deer. I had bought deer netting and put it around the tree which I hope helps protect it.
While I worked, Maggie sat out on the deck keeping an eye on her domain. She really looks pit bull in the first photo, when she is in guard mode. But when she smiles, she takes on a different look.
I had to shower and feed the cats and dogs quickly to make it to Legends by 5:30 for the Chicken Pasta Buffet. Seen in photo are Patty, Cheryl, Don, Brian, Mike, Jan and I. We all pigged out on the buffet and also enjoyed conversing with each other. Food is always better when the meal is shared with loved ones.
Thursday 4/5 - "Don't ruin a good today by thinking of a bad yesterday, let it go." Russell Simmons. In the morning I tended to household chores after corresponding with several people via e-mail. Joe and I had an early lunch and then went and worked on the Holly Trail for 90 minutes, until he had golf to play and I was to be at the barn.
The barn was a busy place with trail rides, pony rides and folks just hanging around waiting for their turn or for others who were horsing around.
Zorro was really working the crowd, trying to get all the attention he could. He is such a silly, sweet, handsome boy.
Jan and I rounded up our horses, tacked up and hit the trail for Fairfield Glade. We saw Helen's horse trailer and later ran into her on her way back to where she had parked. After having a nice chat, we turned and went our separate ways.
Jan and I rode for almost three hours, it was such a perfect day for it. We enjoyed our horses, nature, talking with each other, and horsing around as always (video).
I got home at 6pm, Joe and I ate. When walking the dog I saw this black cat cross Lakeview right at Flossmoor. He had just marked the tree behind him. I have seen him around the neighborhood several times.
Joe and I watched both Survivor shows to end the day.
With rain and cold moving into the Glade later in the day and all weekend, I decided to put blogging on hold and go work in the yard. When I first went out I was cold, but working warmed me up. First I tackled the leaves piled up behind Allen's (with his go ahead) and moved them away from the creek and overflow area so they wouldn't wash into the pond. In the process I found this cute little ring neck snake who I tucked back in under a rock.
Next I worked on this area by the pond where I want to put a moss garden. I weeded and Joe help me remove a stump. Now it is ready for planting.
I continued out front and planted a dwarf rhododendron by the front walk and this dwarf Alberta Spruce by the big rock near the road. I had to remove the stump of a dead bush first.
The rains came as a light sprinkle as I was finishing up outside. A quick change and I was off to the gym to lift weights. I showered there and then went to Food City to get veggies and dip to take to a party. It was a mad house because snow or ice was predicted the following day.
Joe and I got to Ken and Linnea's before 5:00 and enjoyed a wonderful party. Ken had smoked hamburgers that were absolutely delicious.
I didn't get any photos of the group of the 14 of us, but I did take a photo of a sliding window in their sun room to send to Steve with a question. My poor contractor.
It was almost 9:30 when we got home, after my bedtime.
Each night as we look forward to a new day tomorrow, we should reflect on the blessings of the day ended.
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