This is an interesting article from Scientific American investigating why animals play. According to HelpGuide, play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well. It is a sure (and fun) way to fuel your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being. Play helps: relieve stress, improve brain function, stimulate the mind and boost creativity, improve relationships and your connection to others, and keep you feeling young and energetic.
Saturday 5/11 - My days usually begin with play, watching the cats play that is. Sometimes I even get woken earlier than wanted by Monita playing with a toy on the bed.
Once the cats start in on a game, the dog often follows suit.
I can sure whittle away the time watching these characters and joining in on the fun with them. I could frolic and play the day away.
Following play comes rest. The bright light on the dog bed is sun coming in from the skylight. We did see some sunshine, but clouds were plenty and rain came around noon, just when I quit work here at my computer.
After two hours at the gym I went shopping at Food City.
I met Brian and Joan at Red's. We enjoyed a couple of drinks and singing along to some of the Karaoke songs.
Above, Brian and Joan with Terry, our friend and awesome singer and Karaoke operator.
Joe got home from Illinois around 11pm, long after I was sound asleep.
In less than 24 hours, we had gotten from 4 1/2 to 6 inches of rain (depending where in the Glade the rain gauge was), so I went down back to see the results of the flooding we had had the evening before. More rock and sand have been washed down the drainage ditch. I need to cement them in if they are going to stay put.
Lots of debris had washed down from upstream, especially many of the leaves along the banks of the creek. Some of it had washed up onto the oasis and a lot of it had gotten caught up in the cat-tails.
Also, much of my new grass seed and all of the grass clippings covering it (seen in this now rather bare area) had been washed away. I may be fighting a loosing battle, but I will continue to try to clear the pond to have 'water front' and raise the level of the oasis with the extra pond gunk and get it secured with mature grass.
The kids came bearing the roses, hand towels, and giant cookie. Patty came with her homemade Kringles.
The gifts are wonderful, but for the kids to drive two hours both ways and sacrifice their whole day, meant more than anything. We had a light lunch, sat and talked, and played with the dog and cats.
We went to the barn so Courtney could see Zorro. I love it when she is able to visit him. Her selfie with him came out very nice, as did this second photo she took of him.
What a handsome boy.
Courtney has decided to ride Zorro in the Parade of Breeds, so we showed her the parade route. Patty was telling her the techniques she has been using with Zorro, and in this photo, helped adjust Courtney's stirrups.
I rode Amiga around the route two times and Patty also rode Zorro around one more time because he had gotten pretty wound up with Courtney.
Back at the house, we all chose to nap rather than play a game. Soon, Patty left for work.
Next on the agenda was a pontoon ride. It was sprinkling some and rather cold, but we didn't let that stop us.
I brought the towels to dry the seats off, but they were also used as blankets.
I had asked Dan to take a photo of Courtney and I. He started getting carried away so in this second photo I was getting up to reclaim my I-phone.
The marina attendant had said the lake level was up 2 1/2 feet and we had noticed a lot of debris washed up on the docks, banks, and floating in the water, which was very muddy.
Also, some docks were completely or partly under water.
We went straight to Reds after the pontoon ride and enjoyed a tasty dinner. The day hadn't exactly been filled with frolic and play, but it sure was wonderful to get to spend time with my children.
Once the kids got packed up, we drove two cars to the Custard Cabin where Patty works. We all enjoyed yet another treat. Then Dan, Courtney, and Val headed for Nashville at a late 8pm.
I dropped by the pool at 9:30 (during Nancy's shift) to make sure I could get logged onto the computer out there, but it was down. So I continued on to the barn. Kayla (who broke her collar bone in four places, getting bucked off her horse two weeks ago) was visiting him.
I had a very successful practice, with my 'skirt' on, riding Amiga around the parade route a few times. She did great. I got rid of the skirt and then took her down the trail. It was still quite muddy, so we didn't go far.
I gave Amiga well deserved grazing time at the end of our ride.
Hitting the pool on the way home, I was able to successfully log on to the computer, so was ready for my shift the following day. I chatted with Nancy for awhile. She had not yet had any customers, and it was already 1:00.
I had planned to do rock and concrete work in the back, but was tired and cold and it looked like it could rain. So I took a nap.
Once awake, there wasn't really time to get into concrete work, so I removed eight wheel barrow loads of wet, mucky leaves from the pond and re-seeded where the grass seed had washed away. I had no grass clippings, so covered the seed with manure, until I ran out.
Just as I was considering stopping (it was 6:30), two deer came across the fairway on the other side of the pond and stood and watched me. So I took the wheelbarrow and tools up to the garage and came back with corn. Before I could put it on the second rock (that is near the pond) they moved in to eat the first 1/2 allotment I had put out by the salt block. (You can see the second, more cautious deer) to the far left in this first photo.
I haven't intended to 'tame' the deer because I don't think it is wise. But it has just sort have happened because I provide some food and am non-threatening. The one male mallard will come up quite close to me also.
I hadn't made it to the gym, so I took Maggie on a 45 minute walk after her dinner. We got home at 8pm, as darkness encroached. Joe was at a card game, so popcorn and TV time ended my day.
I cleaned all my bird feeders and added the hummingbird feeder to the group. The grass seed got watered and then I was off to the gym. I did the Zumba class and then didn't have time for all my weights, so cut out the leg ones. I hurried home to change and pack a lunch before heading to my first pool shift of the season. It was still too cold for swimming, but I did get the first two customers of the season. Once they stepped into the pool, calf deep, they decided to go to the indoor pool, and left.
I closed the pool early and was home by 6:00. The sun had been warm and the grass seed needed watering again. Mr. Mallard saw me and swam closer to see if the corn was out yet. He was just a few feet away from where I stood with the hose. I watched him feeding on the pond muck, mostly dead leaves mixed in with the sand.
Wanting to do nightly (longer) walks, I held off on dinner (I had eaten a late lunch) and took Maggie for an hour walk. This is the washed out area on Snead (at Snead Canyon), causing this section of road to be closed. The dip on Lakeview, by our house, had started to wash out, but they repaired it already. It just goes to show how 'raging' the water was.
This is the other side of the washout and is actually about 1/3 of a mile down stream from our pond.
I had popcorn dinner at 8:00 and watched TV with Joe.
This is Christie's horse Twister, half Quarter horse and half Friesian, who was at the barn in the afternoon.
After a hard pushed weight workout, I chose to be productive in the garage rather than the yard because it had sprinkled a little and rain was predicted.
I removed all the tools that had been leaning up against the wall and sorted through duplicates. Then once Joe was up from his nap, I helped him put up a board that we then attached the metal bar to, that the tools had hung from. Most of the screws had pulled from the dry wall and the bar was bent and falling off the wall and it could no longer support the weight of the tools.
With the tool bar now tight and secure, I hung all our lawn tools up, getting them off the floor finally.
Then it was time to go frolic and play at the barn. Christie had just arrived with her two horses.
Twister is a very curious three year old and liked to put everything in his mouth like Zorro does. He was very interested in the barn cat.
Jan, Christie, and I all practiced the parade route. Amiga was on the edge of getting too wound up, but I was able to keep her fairly calm most of the time.
Christie riding Wings down the parade route.
Once we had accomplished all we wanted, Christie loaded her two boys back up and Jan and I untacked.
Joe was at cards, so after I and the pets ate dinner, I went on another long walk, even though my body was wanting to flop down on the couch. I did do that later though.
Walking down #17 fairway to turtle pond, do you see what Maggie and I saw?
I chose to turn around and go home by way of the road so we wouldn't scare the deer who I knew were headed for the corn in our back yard.
This hummingbird came and went from the feeder all morning while I sat here until 10:30.
Oh, this was also Amiga and Zorro's birthday. They both turned thirteen.
I finally got going (after text, phone, and Facebook messenger communications) with Courtney, Britney, Patty, and Jan. While down back, watering the grass seed, I noticed what looked to be a big rock on the other bank, by the tree stump. See it?
But the little rock on top of the big rock was moving. It was a super huge snapping turtle turning its head.
I transplanted some flowers out front so I could finish planting the flowers I had bought a month ago. I moved a dianthus to the corner bed and then all of the pansies I put under the maple by the front door where they will be out of the hot summer sun.
Running out of time, I had to save the rest of the flowers for later and get ready for work. This was our first nice day at the pool and I had 12 customers during my shift. Gail and Marie are two of my pool peeps.
I got an update on Courtney, that her family Dr. (after seeing the results of the scan done at the clinic) wanted her to go to the ER.
I was able to close the pool early, took care of pet duties and then went on a long dog walk. This photo of a nearly full moon, was taken looking down 18th fairway towards turtle pond.
At 8:00, Courtney was finally taken back into a room at the ER. More waiting ensued. I watched two episodes of Blue Blood to pass the time. Joe was in Nashville at a Who concert that Courtney was supposed to have attended with him. By the concert's end, Vanderbilt had taken their own scan of Courtney's abdomen, but the results hadn't been read yet, nor a decision made to keep Courtney. Joe headed home, arriving at 12:35 and I still hadn't been able to get to sleep. I did learn that Courtney has a pseudocyst on her pancreas and Vanderbilt had just admitted her and started an IV.
Courtney saw a GI doctor at 7am. He said the risk of infection with a drain in her cyst was high so he'd rather not do that since she was doing so well. But it sounded like a stent was possible.
I stayed in communication with Courtney while computerizing. This photo is a view, looking out my bedroom window into the sunroom. Stevie is on the dog bed.
Cathy posted this photo of her travels to the Mid-Rhine valley and Heidelburg.
She found our 'fatherland' - Our maiden name is Sidenstick, changed from Seidensticker, which means silk knitter or shirt shop.
Courtney called mid morning to tell us the result of the meeting of doctors. They believe the pseudocyst is relatively new, having formed in the last week or two. The rind (outer shell) is too thin to safely put in a stent, so they need to wait two to four weeks. Because Courtney is able to eat and drink, does not have a temperature, vomiting, or diarrhea, and is managing the pain, they feel she can safely go home and wait out the time there. They gave her a late breakfast to see how she would tolerate it.
After watering grass seed, I went to the employee picnic, partook of tacos and ice cream, and sat with the front desk ladies and enjoyed catching up with them. 
I appreciated time in the yard with sunshine and birds singing (video). I weeded for awhile, but got discouraged by all the wild violets. The right side of this bed was weeded, with the left still needing it. Look at all the new little wild violet (weed) plants on the left.
Courtney was doing well, but once again, just waiting to be released. With my lunch mostly digested, I made a trip to the gym and shortly after I got home, Courtney called to say she was home. She went on to tell us how the GI doctor (who released her) explained her condition. She does not have pancreatitis (no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever) which is great news.
But, the cyst that is attached to the middle of her pancreas is avocado size and pressing on her stomach, causing the pain. These cysts typically form when the pancreas leaks, and with Courtney's case, it is because of the necrotic section (over half) of the middle of her pancreas being damaged.
I went to the 'Derby Days' Moonlighters dance dressed as jockey Luis Saez, who was disqualified while 'recklessly' riding Maximum Security who crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby. Patty and Shirley also came to the dance. We enjoyed talking and dancing; frolic and playing.
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