The Way We Were

 
After the crazy month of May with all our guests here and with our little 'get-aways' to other places, we are now settling back into our usual routine, and the way we were.  Although, now I am back to work at the pool, not the way I was all winter.  LOL

Also, with so many people getting vaccinated, and Covid restrictions being lifted, many of us are getting back to the way we were, and living life almost as we used to before Covid.

At the start of this week, I was experiencing joy at getting back to my regular routine.  But with the final departure of Britney, flying back to Costa Rica, I was also still feeling sentimental, melancholy, and nostalgic about family.  This is a Mother's Day photo that didn't make it into the Blog three weeks ago.

In the song (and movie) The Way We Were, the lyrics "Scattered pictures, of the smiles we left behind, smiles we gave to one another" doesn't have to cause sadness or a sense of loss.  When I look back at family, and the smiles, I feel happy.  We as a family are always changing.  We each are maturing and growing older.  New members are joining the family and unfortunately, others have left us.  But the smiles we gave, and the memories we made, will always be there.  So here are some scattered pictures.

And here is an oldie but goody of my Mom, most of my siblings and their spouses, an aunt and cousin, our three children, and most of my nieces and nephews.  This is so typical of who we were, and how we still are.  LOL

Saturday 5/29 - I walked the dog before sun up, in 53° temperature, with a light, misty rain.  It felt cold.

This is the only Ava photo we got today.  She is seen here with a baby boy one of Daniel's coworkers had four days before Ava was born.

I had a good workout at the gym.  Now that procedures are back to the way we were, and I don't have to wear a mask, I am able to workout faster and with more intensity.

Nobody had shown up at the pool yesterday or yet today, so it was closed before I had to go in for my shift.  So Joe and I went out to the ranch to work.

Pat and Art met us at the ranch.  While Pat and I talked fencing and having horses at the ranch, Art let Joe have a shot at his Marlin 22 Caliber shotgun, which Joe was buying from him.  Art is ex-military, and had been a competitive shooter. 

After Pat and Art left, Joe and I got to work.  Joe cut down trees along the fence line, using his new chain saw, while I continued clearing the trail in the back.  It was cold, windy, and rainy, so when Joe was ready to leave before I was, I gladly conceded. 

I was actually cleaned up with my PJ's on by 4pm, and turned on the fire.  I sat in front of it to warm up and read.  I was so close to finishing my novel.  Later in the evening, Joe and I started a new (for us) series (Mare of Easttown) and watched two episodes.

Sunday 5/30 - It was even colder than the day before during my morning walk (at 47°) and it was misting again.  Val sent this photo.  Little Ava looks like she is schemin', takes after her dad and Papaw.

Joe and I were out at the ranch by 9:00.  This is a photo of Tracy and I from a few weeks ago, while we were discussing fencing. 


Joe and I planned to work on clearing the fence row.  Little trees and brush have grown up in and along it. 

To protect the fence, we wanted to remove all of the unwanted growth, especially little trees that in years would grow bigger and damage the fence.  It is easier to cut them as saplings than when they are big trees growing in and around the barbwire.

Terry had the golf cart down at the barn and let me use it, pulling the little wagon (video).  Billy was out on the tractor mowing.

I worked on the woodland side of the fence line and Joe worked in the pasture.  While hauling some of the brush back into the woods, I came across this femur.  The length and width leads me to believe it was a bovine.








Then I noticed more bones and dug a few 'arm and leg' bones from their partial burial.  At this point, after removing a layer of leaves from the area, I discovered this whole skeleton.  

The larger bones I set there for the photo.  I was wondering about the life, and death of this animal... and glad it wasn't human remains I had found. LOL

Look how there is a little sapling growing up through a sacral foramen, one of the holes that nerves and blood vessels passed through when this animal was alive.

Once Billy took a lunch break from mowing, Joe used the tractor to haul larger branches to the burn pile.






Joe headed home for lunch and I continued working in the field a little longer.  Here is a look at one area we had cleared, and then farther down the fence line of where we still need to work.  Look how dense the growth is.

I took my lunch break sitting on the well cover, eating a breakfast sandwich I had heated up in the tack room microwave.

Next I went out the back of our property to work on the trail.  I started at the 'creek' water run-off area and went up into the power-line bramble.  This needs to be cleared so I can ride through it to get to our ranch from the Glade.

This photo was taken from the woods, looking up across the power-line area.  I didn't get very far for the amount of work I had put into it.

This second one was taken from the power-line looking back down into the woods.  The low, wet spot is just beyond the shade in this photo.

I had worked nearly seven hours and finally quit because of thirst (I had finished all my water) and exhaustion.  It had been great working weather (low 60's) allowing me to go as long as I did.

I went to the barn next (as planned).  But there was no time or energy to ride.  I need to remember to not let the ranch chores get in the way of why we bought it, to have fun.

After grooming Amiga I came home, did evening house chores, had some computer time, and hit the hay early, taking a pain relief sleep aid.

Monday 5/31 - Happy Memorial Day.  Happy that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms we have in this country.  Sad that so many gave their lives so the rest of us may have freedom.  As much as I dislike war, I thank those who continue to serve to protect our freedom.

Ava is 'growing up' so fast.  She still likes to be swaddled though.  And with it as cold as it has been, I thought wrapping up in a blanket was a good idea.

I met Patty at Mirror Lake to set our chairs out and then went on to the ranch where I met Joe.  We had more brush to clear from the fence line.  The tractor can handle larger stuff than the golf cart wagon.
Joe didn't work long because he had a golf outing. 

I went out the back of the property to work on our trail some more.  I did more ditch digging to try to contain and direct the water that swamps a low spot in the trail when it floods.  It was slow and tough going because of all the roots.  The dirt was actually sticky mud that clung to my shovel, weighing it down until I scraped it off. 

 
I also did more whacking through the briar for the path across the power-lines.  


My late lunch break was on the back bumper of my car.  The day had warmed up so I removed my long sleeve shirt from under my t-shirt.

I made myself quit early so I could go have fun with my horse.  The barn is just five minutes from the ranch.  This photo was taken a week ago.  My phone battery had died again so I didn't want to get too venturesome in my ride.  I only rode for an hour, and did part of the Holly Trail, the first mile of the long trail, and big circles on the front lawn.  Because my rides in May have been short and infrequent, I feel like Amiga has lost some of the conditioning she had in early May.

A photo up-date of Ava said she was enjoying her Memorial Day.  I can't get enough of the cuteness and that smile.

I took a hot shower when home to scrub off bug spray, and any possible ticks or poison ivy oil.  After early chores, I packed up our cooler and headed to Mirror Lake. 

There was already a large crowd gathering.  Joe, Patty, Shirley, Karen and I all sat together.  The Fire Fox New Grass band played songs of our era with blue grass instrumentation (video).  They were entertaining.

The band was a lot of fun, and a huge crowd had turned out for this first Mirror Lake Blast in over a year.  Eventually there were also plenty of people out on the dance floor and it felt so good to get back to the way we were.

I didn't get home until after 8:30, and hit the hey exhausted from ranch work and dancing.

Tuesday 6/1 - Wow did May ever fly by.  It had been a very busy month.  Joe and I are starting to settle into a summer routine, but unlike past summers, we have now been going out to the ranch quite often.  I was out there by 9:30 to hit work on the 4X4 trail through the power-line.

This map shows our property in the (shaky) yellow line.  In pink is the new 4x4 trail to get us into the Glade from the back of our property.  Our 'second home' is circled in red, the machine shed in green, and the barn in blue.  Terry and Billy are currently renting from us, but will be moving to their other house (in purple) when their in-laws move out in August.

I walked out to Hathaway (a dirt Fairfield Glade road) and found the old four wheeler trail.  I started clearing it, which went fairly quickly because there were very few briars.  This photo shows Hathaway (the dirt road at the bottom) looking up the power-line at the trail (dirt spot seen in part of it).

This second photo was taken from the four wheeler trail looking back down the power-line with Hathaway going across the picture.

I proceeded clearing the old four wheeler trail, heading up towards the barbwire fencing of our neighbors.

I got to a big mound of dirt and deep 4x4 tracks on the right side of it.  Not wanting our UTV to bottom out, or Amiga to stumble in the tracks, I dug up the mound and filled in the deep tire tracks on the right side (seen in the photo).  This is when our neighbor (Paul, whom I have now met) came down through the field in his pick-up truck.  We chatted for awhile, I explaining what I was up to.  He was a very nice, easy going fellow and not too concerned.  But he did mention that his barb wire fencing had been recently cut to the west of where we were at and four-wheelers had come onto his property.

Well, this left me feeling a tad concerned about what they (the four wheelers) might do if they were to take my new trail which would lead them right to the back of our property where there is a locked gate.  So I decided to make the trail in (under) the power-lines into a large circle, directing four wheelers back out onto Hathaway.  I added a pile of brush (seen in this photo) to the old trail leading up to Paul's fence.  I also put a log and a branch (with lots of stems) across the trail that leads into the woods, which goes to our back gate (seen below).

I need to do more clearing, so it is difficult to see, but the trail circles off to the right.  Wanting to 'map out' the trail that will circle around in the power-lines, I skipped going to the barn, took a short lunch break, and worked until 2:45.

By the time I got home, I had 45 minutes to scrub down (ended up removing 4 ticks), do nightly chores, and get dressed for a cocktail party.

Joe met me at the Lake Tansi Golf course and we rode together to his golf buddy, Farrel's house.  His wife Janet had a bunch of food fixed.  Two other couples came and we had a great time at their gorgeous water front property, eating, drinking, and chatting. 

Later, Joe and I joined Ferrell, his wife Janet, and their dog Neyland, on their pontoon boat.  Their lake has no speed restrictions, so we zipped along to the Lake Tansi Waterfront Pavilion to listen to a 'Beech Boys' concert.

We enjoyed listening to the music, watching the crowd, and being out on the lake on a beautiful June evening (video).

By the time we had motored back to Farrell's after the concert, Joe had dropped me back off at the golf course to get my car, and I had driven the 35 minutes home, it was past my bedtime.  I was feeling exhausted from the day of work and the evening of play, but fulfilled.

Wednesday 6/2 -  It was a cold rainy day so the pool was closed and I would not be going into work at 1:30.  So I took extra long at my computer and then went to workout.  I was still feeling sore and exhausted from ranch work, so didn't push myself on the weights.

My only photo of the day is this, that Joe sent, burning the pile of brush and debris out at the ranch.  I shopped in town for a few hours, late afternoon, and then Joe and I watched two episodes of Mare of Easttown. 

Thursday 6/3 - I was awake for a few hours in the middle of the night while it stormed (I read).  Then I was woken by another storm at 6am.  I got news that the pool would be closed again today, so I did not need to go in at 9:15.  It rained hard all morning, accompanied by thunder and lightening some of the time.  I took this photo at 8am when there was a lull in the rainfall.  The pond was fuller than usual, however the area  in front of our back hill is no longer water front, but marsh.

Joe and I had planned to go out to the ranch, I to check on the drainage ditch I had dug through the swampy area the 4x4 trail goes through at the edge of the woods and the power-line field.  Well, later in the morning, Terry sent this video, so there was no need to go out there.  I was delighted to see that my ditch was working as I had intended.

I made cornbread, did an extra load of laundry and then finished my novel, The Horse Whisper.  Now I want to watch the movie again.  

I was going to do the elliptical at the gym, but it cleared off, so I took Maggie for a three mile walk instead.

Next I headed to the barn to ride Amiga.  I only rode an hour because the trails were too wet/muddy for my liking.  But I had a great ride on Amiga, checking out the trail, and riding around the barnyard.  Seen in these photos, we are looking at the garden plots, and bee house.  

When I rode Amiga in the arena, I got her to do a fairly slow canter, doing a large circle in both directions.  I had her gait a figure eight each way to change directions.  I was riding bareback, and I think she really reads my 'seat' cues better this way.  She did an awesome job, and it was so much fun.

Dan sent this photo of Valencia and Ava, during their movie night.  I wonder what they were watching.  It is amazing how much more alert Ava has become.     


Joe and I watched two episodes of Mare of Easttown while having popcorn for 'dinner.'  It wasn't long then, before I hit the hay. 

Friday 6/4 - It was a beautiful day, and one in which I would finally be able to work at the pool.  I decided to skip the gym and go ride Amiga instead, at 8am.  I went bareback again wanting to do more arena work like the day before.  It was awesome.







I took Amiga down the trail in both directions including riding the Holly Trail to the #14 tee box.  I had to hold on to her mane going up the hill so I wouldn't slide too far back on her.




I dropped in at the ranch to meet Joe and do a little work before going to the pool to work. 

Seen here, I had backed through the open gate to park in the shade.  Joe did some weed whacking of the trail using his new, self propelled, weed eater.  Then I had him spray the poison ivy on, and at the trail's edge.    





Today's lunch was eaten on the bench in the shade of the barn.  Smurf and Little Sweets were in resting, out of the hot sun.

Work at the pool went well.  It wasn't near as physically taxing as ranch work.  LOL  But I would rather dig, cut, and pull weeds, than clean restrooms.

Val sent this photo with a baby Ava up-date.  'Ava got her three shots in the morning, and she’s now 11.10 oz.' 

Joe was at poker night, so Maggie and the cats were very happy to see me when I got home from work at 6:20.  Like several nights this week, I was in bed earlier than usual, exhausted but content.