Horses Too

Cats aren't the only good therapy, horses are too.



A few of the many things equine therapy can do, is help build confidence, trust and empathy, problem solving skills, emotional awareness, impulse control, communication, strength, balance, and many other motor skills.








Saturday 1/25 - I enjoyed my predawn walk with a light snow falling, and all the roof tops and cold surfaces were white with the light dusting.


I went to the gym in the morning and the barn in the afternoon.

I rode bareback, just having Amiga walk around and graze quite a bit.


I was so glad to see good improvement in her sore.  I again washed it with soap and water and treated it with triple antibiotic.


I was not happy that she has more bites on her neck, some that I also washed and treated with the triple antibiotic.

Every time we get a new mare in the field (which has been just about a monthly occurrence since September) there is drama, jockeying for rank, and injuries.  I hate it.






Dinner was enjoyed at Reds with Shirley, Ana, Patty, Yvonne, and Joe.  And of course there was some dancing to follow (video).

Sunday 1/26 - I would much prefer a sunny day in the low 30s than a very cloudy, damp day in the mid 40s, which was what we had.  Throughout the day I kept getting chilled, especially my  hands.
Can you see who I was watching fish?








The Great Blue Heron. 

Well, I pretty much failed on every aspect of my new years resolution goals, except I made it to church and later had a very nice ride on Amiga.




Mama Styx and Babe were at it again.  I guess they call this cat's play (video). 


Monita and Maggie lounging next to me, by the fire.





I was glad to see Amiga's sore continuing to look better. 
I rode 95 minutes and went 2 1/2 miles.  I did let Amiga graze for quite awhile.






Some parts of the trail were fairly dry, other areas were quite mucky.






I kind of went on a junk food binge most of the day.  Unfortunately, the sugar I consumed outweighed the nutritional foods I ate and I am sure I took in more calories than I expended with exercise.  But I enjoyed most of my day, reading by the fire, napping, and extra time at my computer.

Monday 1/27 - With a drizzly rain all morning, it was hard to get motivated to go to the gym.  I had wanted to lift weights before Line Dance and Zumba, but didn't get there in time.  So I felt weak and tired doing my weight workout up until lunch time.

The afternoon was spent with a trip into town to meet at Arby's with Shirley, Patty, Judy, and Marci for last minute cruise planning.  I hit Walmart and then went to the barn on my way home.


I love Amiga's eyes when she is relaxed.  They are so kind, gentle, and sweet.


My main purpose for stopping at the barn was to check Amiga's wound.  It looked dirty, (out of focus photo) so I washed it well (second photo).
 

Because I was concerned about it getting infected, I put on triple antibiotic ointment again.  I had used Wonder Dust the day before because it is good on infected lesions, abrasions with capillary bleeding, and it controls tissue granulation.  Once home and looking at the first photo I then got to wondering if it wasn't the purple/gray powder that made her wound look dirty.  I started to second guess myself on washing the wound (this the third day to do so) because it did start it bleeding again.
Ugh, horses too, can be a great cause for concern and worry.

Tuesday 1/28 - I read from 2 - 5am, toasty warm with blankets, a cup of tea, and the fire going.  Waking again at 7am I felt as foggy as the air outside.














The deck was slippery with frost, but it was pretty, and the ducks greeted me when I took corn down to the rocks.







These photos were taken in the afternoon of the gunk (mostly leaves but also sticks and mud) that have settle in the curve of the creek.


By 9:00 the sun was attempting to break through the clouds, and the fog was mostly dissipated.

I finished up one last game of solitaire while drinking a third cup of tea.  Then I got to the morning's business, looking up detailed information about our four excursions, what to expect, and planning what to pack.


I did a Zumba class before lunch and then got to work in the yard.  Joe moved the remainder of the mulch down back.  I am going to need to re-seed this area in front that the pile killed, having sat there for six weeks.








I finished mulching this bed, first having to remove a lot more leaves that had blown into it from the golf course.








I like the contrast in these two photos of the shadows cast by the sun and then not, when it was behind clouds that continually drifted across the sky all day.

To finish off the remainder of the mulch pile, I had Joe dump the last several loads on this path that leads down to the bench on the rock.  As I was raking out the rest of the mulch and removing larger sticks that came with it, I got a call to sub in Bunko.














I still needed to get to the barn.  I had planned to go for a long ride, but didn't have time, so just sat on Amiga bareback, letting her graze quite a bit, and having her walk around the various areas out front.
Amiga's wound showed a little improvement.


There were twelve of us ladies at Bunko.  I got there in time for a quick taco before the game began.  When you get this many 'girls' together, you can be sure there is plenty of laughter, stories, and fun.

Wednesday 1/29 - While on the deck filling a bird feeder, the ducks were up eating corn off one rock and the deer 20 feet away eating corn off the other rock.

Babe was getting into trouble as usual.  She had just taken a swipe at this plant hanging above my desk.

I was at the gym by 9am, home for lunch at 11:30, and then puttered around a little bit. 

I moved this beautiful painting from our dining room to above our mantel where it is showcased better.  It was painted by Britney's Guatemalan father Carlos and gifted to Joe and I by him when we were visiting her in Guatemala June of 2010.  I still hold it dear to my heart.

I met Jan at the barn and we rode for 90 minutes.  Kaylah joined us out front and horsed around with us.





Amiga was more wound up than she has been during our last several days of riding.  She gets this way when other horses are around. 

Here is a close up of this plant growing up the inside of the fence post I was trying to show in the first photo.  Amazing adaptability.


Amiga's wound continued to improve, for which I was very thankful.

The cloudy, damp weather made me too cold again, so my hot shower was extra long and then I sat here at my computer with the space heater on until bedtime.

Thursday 1/30 - The day wasn't a total loss, even though it felt like it.  I did a Zumba class and the elliptical, had a late lunch, and then sat in front of the fire and read.  I was cold and my good book is nearing it's end in an exciting conclusion.  

All four of the cats joined me by the fire for awhile.




Monita and Stevie stayed and napped with me.

I had planned to rake leaves but just couldn't get motivated when I woke back up.  I did start preliminary house cleaning in preparation for the kids coming for a visit this weekend.

Friday 1/31 - It was a busy and productive day.  The cats continue to enjoy playing in the tent.  Babe and Mama Styx, who still have their front claws, have managed to rip three sizable holes in the tent.  Now they have escape routes in the back.








Stevie catching Styx peaking in one of the holes.


Monita comes to check out the action.  They are all great entertainment and a big distraction for me, and they are great at entertaining each other.





I went to Food City after the gym.  Once home, I ate a late lunch while I got supper started in the crock pot and finished a load of laundry.

Allen was greeted by Maggie while Joe raked leaves out of the front ditch and I was leaving for the barn.





I enjoyed riding with Jan and Patty.  It was 50° out but the wind was cold as we did some obstacles in the front yard.  Jan and I hit the trail (which was protected from the wind) and then rode around in some of the fields. 



This out of focus photo shows Amiga's wound healing progress.  It is dry and scabby now and looks dark because of the Blue Lotion I have put on it the past few days.




I had invited Patty to join us for dinner because Dan and Val were going to be here to eat.  But they got a very late start, so Joe, Patty and I ate without them.

The kids arrived just after 9:30.  We got them and Tango settled in, and then we all hit the hay fairly soon.

Cat Therapy

I came across the post below, on Facebook, and thought, "Wow, I have four therapists, no wonder I feel so good every day."


I usually do a little research of my blog title, to get a photo or two, and read up about the topic.  I read that cats are being used in hospitals, cancer centers, nursing homes and with veterans.  I have a friend who took her cat to school everyday and was used in her Special Ed. classroom to calm the students.




When Jean moved in with Mom over a month ago, she brought two cats with her.  I think they have been helping Mom in many ways, except when they trip her (oops).

I find my cats are great company, warm and cuddly on a cold day, entertainment and comic relief, and help to calm and relax me.  Even though they get into all kinds of trouble and their occasional fighting upsets me, their positive influence in my life far outweighs the negative.

Friday 1/17 - I was woken by a cat sitting on my pillow licking my head.  Trying to ignore her, I soon realized another was nestled in my back purring and a third went after my toes when I stretched out my legs.  It was 5am and time to rise and shine anyway.


I love this series of photos of Mama Styx on the floor playing while it looks like her kitten (Babe) is holding the stick and swinging the bird on the end.


The stick is actually wedged in the couch and the bird always hangs there to be played with.  Styx was making it swing by batting at it and Babe was watching.


I lingered here at my desk longer than planned, waiting for it to warm up outside.








When I spotted these deer while siting here at my desk (you can't really see them in the first photo) I took this second photo on zoom.


Mid-afternoon, I bundled up and went out to move wood chips.  Joe had moved a bunch more in the morning and the day before.  This was what was left to be moved by the time I was finished working, compared to an earlier photo of the pile when first dumped.


The large wooded area down back has been finished.  The steepest part of the hill has been converted from grass (and lots of weeds) to mulch, and the flatter section (seen in this first photo) has just been re-mulched.  















This panoramic view does a fairly good job of showing you the whole area.

Joe left for a weekend away, mostly playing poker, but to also deliver stuff (from Florida and some old yard toys) to the kids in Nashville.

Patty, Shirley, and I went to the Moonlighters dance to celebrate 2020 by going back in time (a century ago) to a Roaring 20’s Speakeasy.  Many people dressed as gangsters, silent screen stars, or flappers. The night started a little slow (with 1920's slower music) but it gave us a chance to chat.  The music and dancing really picked up in the third (and final) set.

Saturday 1/18 - I slept in to get a needed seven hours of sleep.  I got the dog walked just before the rain started.  It was quite windy all day and rained rather hard several times.




Maggie (like myself) preferred to laze around, rather than go out in the rain.





No matter what the weather, there are always fun things to do.

Since you can't change the weather, it's a good idea to find a way to enjoy what you've got.


I sat at my computer, worked the jigsaw puzzle, enjoyed a great cup of hot chocolate (Christmas gift) by the fire, read my book, and took a nap with some of my fur babies on the floor, in front of the fire.

I did get myself to the gym for 90 minutes and then got ready for another lady's night out.

Micki, Sherri (and her parents), and I went to Spikes for DJGT and the Best Dressed 70 & 80 Contest.


I had grabbed this dress from Courtney's Goodwill pile when helping her clean her house last September.  It worked well for the 70's attire.

The DJ was great, keeping the music going non-stop.  And the crowd had a fun time.


In this photo and (video) we were dancing to YMCA. 



We three ladies went to Reds once the party at Spikes drew to an end at 9:30.  Karaoke and more dancing occurred.  I was in bed by 11:30, but too wound up to get to sleep for almost an hour. 

Sunday 1/19 - The temps had really dropped and it was cold walking the dog.  I finished a game of Spider Solitaire in under five minutes.



Babe and Styx were napping in the sun by Maggie.  But by the time I had gotten my camera to get a photo, they woke up and had started wrestling (video).




I had a big lunch when I got home from Church and then napped on the floor in the sun.  One of the cat's (probably Stevie) was on my back during part of the time.





At one point I got too hot and rolled over into the shade with my head on the dog bed by Monita.  She left and then Stevie came and laid on my stomach, purring away.  My cat therapy session for the day.



I took a 45 minute long dog walk in 30 degree temps.  While across the creek, up on the hill by the golf course, I took this photo.

Monita on the couch staying warm in the sun.










I followed my walk with 90 minutes at the gym.  The music wasn't working and most TVs were also 'down.'  I found it very boring to row and do the elliptical.  So I tried a bike that had a TV going and watched TN get beat my KC.


I was being watched by mama cat and her kitten while at the table eating a yummy salad for dinner.







A movie, in front of a fire with my fur babies finished off the evening.

Monday 1/20 -  Snow flurries where occurring when I got up and continued through the morning.  The high for the day was in the mid 20's.  I felt bad for this group of deer who came through looking for corn, but it had already been eaten.  So I took them a can full.  They moved to the edge of the woods, not far off, and watched me replenish the feed.  They were eating it before I had gotten halfway back up to the house.


Not much snow stuck to the ground, although the 17th green turned white.


I had filled bird feeders the day before, and the birds also were enjoying a bounty of food.





Ten minutes shy of spending four hours at the gym, I came home starving and fairly tired.  I made a great big salad for a late lunch, and exercised my brain with a puzzle while I ate.







This salad started with iceberg lettuce.  I then added red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, hard boiled egg, chicken salad, ground flax seed, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and Ken's Steak House sweet onion dressing.  It was delicious, typical of most salads I make.



Joe got home from Tunica and I finished the jigsaw puzzle.










I then pursued reading by the fire.  Monita joined me, and see the little kitten in the basket?


She is so cute, and not so little anymore.
















After a short nap, I went to the barn for a quick ride in the 20 degree weather.  It was already 4pm so I was surprised Emily was still there working.  She was in the process of trying to catch five of the livery horses that had escaped from the winter pasture across the street, so I helped her out.  Then I rode Amiga bareback, until I got too cold, and it was almost dark.

Dinner was just popcorn.

Tuesday 1/21 - I had a two hour session reading in front of the fire from 3-5am.  Babe was between my legs, Monita beside me and Styx on the hearth.

When I woke a second time, sometime around 7am, the deer were in back looking for corn.

I made a trip into town to shop, with the intention of picking up my new prescription reading glasses.  Well I had forgotten to make the deviation in my usual route, so turned around and had to backtrack a few miles.






Three of my four bird watchers.






I thought it interesting, quite phenomenal actually, that the sunlight coming in through the two sky lights just happened to hit the wall exactly where each of the valances are.

A long dog walk once home left me a little cold and somewhat perturbed.  I had come across these bags of leaves dumped on the side of a gravel road.  It is frustrating that people do this.  The leaves will decompose, but the bags will be there forever. 







It was a quiet evening at home with Poker Joe gone. 
I had to move the food dish up to where Maggie can't get into it.  So instead of eating beside each other, Babe had to wait her turn to eat while Mama Styx went first.

 Wednesday 1/22 - I caught Babe playing with her back foot.  Of course she stopped when she heard the camera click.










Line dance, Zumba, weights, and then stretching took me through the lunch hour, and I again was feeling exhausted and hungry while trying to lift weights.  I will need to change my weight workout to a different time than after the two dance classes on Mon and Wed so that I am not at the gym so long.

I rode with Jan for 90 minutes.  The trails were still too muddy, so we found places to ride around the barn yard and fields.





In the video, the white line on Amiga, where her neck meets her chest, is a cut she had gotten several days ago, that I have been putting Desitin on.

Joe and I took Brian out to dinner at Vegas for his birthday.  I had been hankering for a steak for several days now, and thoroughly enjoyed the mouth watering cut of beef I ordered.



Thursday 1/23 - The dreary morning made it hard to get going, and by the time it had warmed up outside and I felt motivated to work in the yard, it had started raining.

Stevie is watching the stand off between Monita (who is monopolizing the food dish) and Styx.






A little later, Monita started pulling kibble out of the dish (circled in yellow) and then knocking it onto the floor.


Babe came over to get in on the action, while she and Mama Styx chased and ate the food as it slid across the floor.  Monita thought this was quite entertaining.



Maggie on watch as always.  If she hears or sees anything out front she goes to see what it is and scare it off.



I timed my elliptical and rowing workout to be followed by the one hour stretch class.  I'm not sure why I haven't done this class in ages, because I sure feel good afterwards.

It was another evening in front of the fire watching TV.  Babe and Styx were loving on each other (video).








But soon they started wrestling and got rather aggressive towards each other (video).  Monita was after Babe's tail while the kitten was preoccupied.

Friday 1/24 - A heavy downpour woke me in the middle of the night.  Later, when I got up at 4am, I quickly walked the dog during a break in the rainfall.

I did weights before line dance and that made a big difference.  It was the best workout I have had in awhile.

The cats and dog were laying in the sun when I got home, which looked quite inviting.  I joined them after lunch, reading for a bit and taking a nap.  Stevie was laying on my back again.


Babe is still very cute, even though she keeps getting bigger.

I went to the barn to ride, since it had warmed up, but it was a mucky mess everywhere because it had rained overnight and most of the morning.






I kept Amiga at a walk and she actually did quite well for me, even out in the open yard out front.






I also let her dine on the big tufts of grass that were in various spots.






The cut on Amiga's neck looked a lot worse.  I washed it well with soap and water to get a better look and clean it out.  Well, now it appears that she is developing proud flesh, also known as exuberant granulation tissue, which is the excessive growth of the connective tissue and blood vessels that begin to fill in a healing wound (Equus).  I applied triple antibiotic ointment and Jan lent be a product specifically for proud flesh treatment I will use in another day.

It was a quiet evening at home with Poker Joe gone.