"If you obey all of the rules, you miss all of the fun" - Katharine Hepburn
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West.
“If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.” – Groucho Marx 
While training horses, working at the pool, playing with my granddaughter, pet sitting Tango, doing house work, working out at the gym, doing chores on the ranch, or intentionally going somewhere to be with family and friends, it is important to keep it fun. And the fun times is what makes the experiences more memorable.
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I think one of the ways to enjoy your work, get along with those you may disagree with, get through difficult tasks, have a good marriage, really enjoy your friendships, etc... is to keep it fun. A positive attitude, one of playfulness, merrymaking and joy, help get us through the frustrations, boredom, disagreements, and unpleasant or tough times.
Jean was down in the round pen working with Robbie when we arrived. She reported that Robbie was doing very well with tarp practice, and had surely been exposed to it before. Soon Joe and I were on our way.
Our drive to Nashville was uneventful and went quickly, especially since I napped for half of it.
Ava woke from a nap soon after we arrived. She was a bit leery of us at first, but soon warmed up to us. We must make a point of visiting more often. We all enjoyed a tasty lunch Vale had cooked.
Play time in the yard started with walking Tango (video), and then moved over to Ava's very own backyard splash pad (video).
What a cutie.
And oh boy does she have a lot of toys, which keeps it fun.
Vale's garden has more tomatoes and peppers than ours does. But her cilantro died like ours did.
Ava and I spent a fair amount of time playing in her inside 'play yard.' She has lots of way cool, fun toys.
When it was dinner time, we loaded up in their SUV and headed to Hickory Falls restaurant. 
Vale and I sat in back with Ava.
There were no high chairs at the restaurant, so Ava sat in a booster seat. She did quite well, although realized she could get up from her seat when she wanted. 
Dan and Vale did a great job of entertaining Ava, always keeping it fun, even when Ava tried eating the crayons. The food was great, but I was disappointed they wouldn't serve me a beer because I did not have my ID on me. (Who knew, Tennessee law)
I took Ava on a stroller walk once home, and then she had her bath and went to bed as usual. Right after Dan and Vale left (at 9:00) to go see a movie, I went to bed. Easiest babysitting job ever. Ava slept all night.
Sunday 7/31 - I was first up as usual, and the cats were hanging out with me while I sipped my tea, computerized, and watched darkness break into day.
Luna in the first photo and Pacco in the second one. I walked and fed Tango a little later and then others began to rise and shine. 
What a wonderful way to start the day, breakfast with Ava. 
Pretty soon Ava was off having fun, amusing herself in the play pit. And a little later I joined her again. 
When Joe went to walk Tango, Ava and I joined him with the stroller. The day started overcast but soon the sun came out and it got pretty warm again. 
It was a slow, easy morning, while most of us entertained ourselves on one device or another.
Jean reported they had had a rainy night and Maggie slept in her bathroom. They were still getting showers off-and-on during the day, but in this photo, Maggie was relaxing between showers.
We decided to go out to lunch and headed to Longhorn Steakhouse just off I-40 in Lebanon. We had a 30 to 40 minute wait, so to keep it fun, we went to the Boot Barn right next door. Ava wasn't too sure that trying on boots was much fun. But she sure was cute in them. It was fun looking at boots, but most were quite pricey.
It was well after lunch time and we were all hungry by the time we got seated. This time Ava's booster seat had a seat belt, so she focused mainly on eating.
Dan and Vale are such great parents. It really warms my heart to see them raising Ava so well. They are so laid back, easy going, and keep it fun, which is wonderful.
We left the restaurant feeling quite stuffed.
It's no fun saying good-bye, but I had to get to the ranch to feed horses and was ready to get back home. I also looked forward to a nap in the car which happened while Joe drove. 
Jean and Parm were relaxing out on the deck when we arrived and Patty and her friend Roxie were just finishing up chores. 
Joe went off to mow and we girls visited for a bit.
After Patty and Roaxie left, Jean and I did some catching up on 'ranching and wrangling' and did some planning. Then I fed our three horses and headed for home.
The patter of rain on the skylights in the adjoining sun room lulled me to sleep at my usual 9pm bedtime.
Monday 8/1 - Goodbye July and hello August.
The gym was very crowded when I got there at 10:00. It slowed my workout down, waiting to get on different weight machines, but gave me more rest between sets so I was able to actually push myself harder than usual, through to the end. It also gave me the opportunity to visit with several I often see (but don't take time for) at the gym, which made it more fun.
Jean sent this photo of the horses watching the window (and door) for Jean to appear to let them out into the pasture. No pressure to get going Jean. LOL
Having had a great workout and showering at the gym, by the time I had gotten home and ate lunch I was feeling all relaxed and in the mood to rest. It was raining outside, so I reclined on the porch swing to read. Maggie was hiding in the closet even though it was a light rain with no thunder.
But three of my four cats joined me. I have no idea where Monita was, because she is usually the first to show up when I sit or lay down.
After that I started mowing, using the push mower, around the new trees along the fence row and in the chicken yard. I struggled because the grass was too wet, and too tall in places, so the mower kept clogging up and stalling out.
I was tempted to quit when the mower ran out of gas, but I was so close to being done, I went in search of more fuel, and soon got the job finished.
I was looking for Jean (who had gone down to the barn to do chores) to bid her goodbye. She sent these two photos, reporting that the three neighboring horses were back (seen above with the newly painted porta potty, Jean's gift to us) and that she was getting some lovin' from Wanda.
I didn't get home until 6:45. I scrambled to do my usual evening home chores and by 7:15 was ready to watch two episodes of Virgin River with Joe.
I woke up at 2am, after getting five hours of sleep, and took my thyroid pill. Then I struggled to get back to sleep because I kept thinking about the day's trailering. Getting Amiga on and off the trailer has rarely been a pleasant experience. I love taking her new places and riding trails, but trailering can sometimes be quite stressful. For some reason I kept recalling some of the really bad mishaps that have happened, or the close calls, or the frustrating times when it took close to two hours to get a horse on the trailer. I was dreading these possibilities.
This is the broken light, because of a rotted board it was mounted on, that Joe has been working on fixing. Now that most of our scrap lumber and power tools are at the ranch, Joe ended up making two trips out there to get the job done.
I was subbing for MJ in the morning at the pool so left home at 9:00. Today was the first day of sunshine we have had since Friday, so after three days of rain and clouds, the pool was fairly busy. I enjoy these days at work, and have fun with the customers.
From work at the pool, I went straight to the ranch. Joe hooked up the trailer while Jean and I got Amiga and Robbie groomed and ready for loading onto the trailer.
The trailer loading went okay, Amiga got right on, but twice she tried to bolt backwards to get off. Thankfully her lead tie and then the butt bar stopped her. Horsing around can be dangerous, it's not always all fun and games, and it’s sometimes a bit of a chore. But to enjoy life, often you have to challenge yourself when it comes to new endeavors.
Robbie was hesitant, but willing, and loaded in no time as Jean worked with her. And we were off for a ten minute drive into the Glade.
We parked on a grassy side road off of Lancashire. When I asked Amiga to step back, to off load her, she went charging backwards off the trailer, but at least she waited for us to get the butt bar down and get her untied. However, her rushing off made Robbie anxious, but Jean did great with her and she backed off very slowly.
When off the trailer, Amiga always does a great job standing quietly while I get her tacked up.
This is a new skill for Robbie to learn. She was a bit worried and fidgety.
Once we were in the saddle and ready to ride, Joe took our picture and then headed back to the ranch to drop the trailer off.
Jean and I had a nice 3.8 mile ride, taking almost 90 minutes to go this route back to the ranch. 
There was lots of water on the grassy rode, which I haven't ridden on in ages and Robbie has never been on. She did not want to walk through any of the big puddles so 'skirted' them one way or another. 
It had warmed up some, but was still quite pleasant, and there were not too many flies, which was nice.
When we got to the tarp (you can see how big it is in the photo below) which we have ridden over twice before, Jean was hoping Robbie would be more willing to walk on it. But she wasn't ready yet. So she ended up jumping over the one end again. Silly horse. 
After the tarp experience, Robbie seemed to want to take comfort with Amiga, and my horse willing obliged her in a little nuzzling.
We had finished untacking back at the ranch when Polly arrived to do chores. We had a nice chat with her. Jean got the trailer cleaned up and I went up to our dry lot with Amiga. Patty was just finishing mucking out the loafing shed, and I helped her with feeding chores.
Back home, our evening was an exact repeat of Monday's.
First (here at home) I walked down back to get photos of the hillside where it was cleared of all little trees and vegetation, all the pond muck was spread out on it and it was seeded.
I was glad to see that much of the seed had germinated. Some had washed down the hill however. First photo taken from our oasis. Next one I took after crossing the creek and going up the hill. And the last one I took from the golf course, looking towards the creek.
The ground is not very smooth at all and there are a lot of roots and tree branches sticking out of it. I guess those will rot in time and the soil will settle. I was just glad to see green.
Coming up our drive at the ranch, I discovered that our neighbor had black-topped their driveway, and it extended across our shared drive for a short (two car lengths) section. Hum, I knew instantly what was probably going to be asked of us.
My plan for the morning was to transplant one of the Carolina Sapphire Cypress which had gotten up-rooted when hit by the riding lawn mower. I had been thinking about moving it anyway.
Since
I had put the line of Green Giant Arborvitae along the wood fence in
the pasture to give us privacy, it made more sense to move this one in
line with the rest. The shovel marks the spot where I was digging the new hole. 
I got the tree moved and filled in most of the old hole with dirt I had dug out of the new hole. When I went to put the pieces of sod in this hole, Maggie had claimed it as her cool spot to relax and watch me. Silly puppy. 
I did some watering, and walked the fence line in our pasture. This is a new, volunteer cucumber plant Jean has let grow, and here is its first 'baby.' Joe had been working on putting old manure down on the hill by the shop and sowed some seed in the level area. Once all the big holes are filled in, we will seed this also. I went to see how this project was coming along, and was impressed with Joe's work.
I had to leave the ranch by 1:30 to get to work. It was very crowded at the pool because people wanted to enjoy a day of sunshine before the rain came. Also, it was quite warm out. This wasp was sitting on a chair for quite awhile, holding this ball thing that it eventually flew off with. Weird.
Joe was home early from poker, but we didn't have time for TV together. I am trying to finish a book, but couldn't stay awake long enough to get much farther along with it.
Thursday 8/4 - I had a hectic morning before leaving for work at 9am. Joe and I got in a discussion about driveway paving (which I had correctly guessed Jim would ask us about) and I ran to my Dr. office (by the gym) to get another blood draw (because her nurse screwed up the first order and my blood draw June 1st got lost and was now too dated).
We never got any of the predicted rain, but it was cloudy and the wind picked up at one point. However, the pool was not very crowded.
Jean sent me these photos of Joe spreading the second bucket of 'Damit' on the pond, since he hadn't done the first one correctly.
Joe is a doer, and does get right on a job, and usually gets it done quickly, but sometimes I wish he would slow down, be more careful, and do more research... so he gets a job done better.
After work, I opted to go ride with Jean rather than go to the gym, since rain had been striked from the forecast. We were fairly quick to get tacked up and hit the trail.
Jean does a great job with Robbie and our ride went well.
It was a little warm, so after riding down to Beachwood, we headed for shady roads. We covered almost four miles in a little under 1½ hours. I had forgotten my phone, back at the ranch, so the only photos we got were these on Jean's phone, when riding along the power line.
We got on Eli Ford from Marmaduke and rode in through our front gate. The small section of blacktop on the drive was new for the horses and Robbie gave it close inspection before walking on it.
Once back to the ranch, since rain was not coming until tomorrow, I watered all the newer transplants. Again the chickens were quite interested in the wet area around these.
I was home by 6:00, did the usual routine, and Joe and I watched two more episodes of Virgin River (with two to go to finish the season).
Friday 8/5 - Dan had dropped Tango off the night before for us to dog sit over the four day weekend. Tango had me up at 4am, needing to go out to relieve himself. So my day started a little earlier than usual.
After their breakfast, both dogs were chillaxing while I sat here at my computer.
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I got this photo from a video Jean shared, Amiga scratching her butt on a tree in the corral. I need to put more coconut oil on her tail dock.
It was rainy early in the morning, with a little bit of thunder a few times and periodic wind gusts. Jean sent this photo of Robbie, 'breakfast in bed.'
I was just leaving for the gym when I got a call from
Brian. He needed a ride home from the hospital in Cookeville.
Thankfully Joe was willing to go get him.
After a good workout and shower, I came home, walked the dogs, and grabbed a quick lunch. Then I was off for town to buy ranch and house supplies.
I was wearing my new boots because my old ones have a hole in one sole and cracks in the leather over the toes. A torrential downpour flooded the parking lot at Rural King, and my new boots did not get wet inside! 😊
I unloaded groceries and supplies at home, walked the
dogs, and then went out to the ranch to unload feed and supplies and do
chores. I took this (video) of our horses enjoying their dinner.
I had also planted this Pampas grass (seen above) at the utility pole support cables. The chickens were quite interested in the hole I was digging and when I watered all the new transplants they enjoyed searching around them for whatever it is they like eating.
I hadn't taken a photo of the Sapphire Cypress once I got it replanted, so I took one before heading home. The tree is now in line with the cinder block wall. I need to fill in the gaps (with one more tree on both sides of the gate) to complete the privacy row of evergreens.
I had to get home to walk and feed both dogs (and cats) so I did not join Jean for libations. I was thinking of going to Spikes to hear Jeff Allen, but by the time I got all my chores done, we got another torrential downpour and I decided to call it a day. I think to stay positive and to try to keep it fun is important, but relaxing at home is good too.
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