Nostalgic

I have been feeling nostalgic, quite a bit lately.  Even though my days are good now, I miss the good old days.  I have had so many great and marvelous experiences, been blessed with wonderful family and friends, and had the affections and fun with so many wonderful pets.

I am still really missing my sweet cat Stevie, and I think reflecting back on life with her, gets me remembering and looking back on so many other great pets I've had.  Also, long rides on Amiga are now a thing of the past.
And, having recently spent time with college roommates from 50 years ago, and then Jim and Debbie who we did life with during our ?? years in the Danville area, where all three of our children were born; just keeps the sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, prevailing in my thoughts.
So many of my past experiences are well worth repeating.

Monday 11/11 - Happy Veteran's Day!  Here is a great song by Toby Keith to honor and thank our veterans, (American Soldier). 







I made a quick trip to the ranch to let horses out.  The overnighters were still there.  Look at this giant rig (seen from the chicken coop) that they were using to help move their daughter and her horse. 



Here is her horse in the coral and you can see their horse/camper trailer in the background.  Two of the travelers slept in the ranch house and one in their trailer with their two big dogs. 

Anyway, once back home, I worked hard at last week's blog, having difficulties with photo placement again.  I realized I wasn’t going to get it done or posted today so quit and went out to the ranch to horse around. 

I got Amiga from the backfield along with some manure from the very old manure pile way out in the back pasture, to send as kind of a joke to Jim and Debbie.

Amiga looking at Banner, Cowboy, and Zorro. 

I had a great little ride on Amiga.  I especially like the trail through the woods (video) although it is impossible to see all the roots and little stumps because of so many leaves.

I rode Amiga around the barn yard and up the drive once back from the trail.  On the way back to the barn, we saw Wanda in the neighbor's woods along the drive, up rather near our garage.  We like her to stay closer to the barn. 

I stuck Amiga in the round pen while I went up to the ranch house to collect trash and guest sheets and towels to take home to wash.  Then I brought Rico back down with me and tied him in the barn with Amiga.  I proceeded to do grooming and other cleaning and hoof care on both of them.

Once both my horses were tidy, I put Rico in the round pen to see how he would behave and immediately he started coming undone.  Amiga was standing very calmly in the barn but I could tell that Dorado was still running the fence line in the upper paddock. 

Rico seem to calm somewhat, when I went and talked with him and tried to sooth him (video).
It was past feeding time so I took Rico back up to let him and Dorado cool down.  I closed the chicken coop and went back down to muck and feed the horses in the lower paddock.  By now Betty had come, and it was getting quite late.  Betty ended up feeding the two boys and I got up there just as dark was descending, and they were finishing their dinner.

Joe and I watch Survivor to finish off the evening. 

Tuesday 11/12 - I got my blog done and the two loads of sheets and towels from the Ranch house started before heading to the gym.  Oh, I also mailed a package off to Jim and Debbie, which included some horse manure, chicken poo and Debbie's yeti water bottle she had accidentally left at the condo. 

Mama Styx really likes to cuddle, especially with it feeling colder in the house. 

I had to push myself to get through my usual workout.  I ate lunch on the road to the ranch.

Betty and I took our two boys on a six mile trail ride.  Slowly I am getting Rico conditioned to go many more miles.  Also, we are getting much more used to each other.  I was feeling really good about his responsiveness out on the trail today.  And even his two little spooks weren't bad. 






We noticed a bunch of smoke upon our return.  Karen was in the process of feeding.  While our boys cooled off some in the side pasture, we ladies chitchatted and decided to put the two boys on the front pasture because the smoke was so bad.  The idiot neighbor behind Jem was doing a 'controlled' burn that seemed out of control.

Wednesday 11/13 - I went to the ranch for morning chores a little later than usual because I was going to stay until our planned ride.  The two boys had spent the night out in the front pasture and were down by the corral when I pulled in down by the barn.  









The two boys trotted over to the back gate where I was opening the adjoining gate to let the other group of four horses out on the back pasture.  And then all six horses started racing around (video).


Saving mucking the lower paddock for later, I went up the hill to muck the upper paddock, open the chicken coop, and then tend to the ranch house.  I put clean sheets on the beds and stowed the towels.  The farrier arrived earlier than I anticipated, so I went down to help Bonnie out, and get Rico and Dorado in the corral. 












The three Pasos will be shod and trimmed in ten days, so Chris was finished in under an hour.  With time to kill, I worked on mucking, and Betty helped me.  Then I started raking leaves to get them out of the lower paddock. 

Karen arrived and we were on the trail in no time.  Karen and Zorro went a little over two miles with us, and then turned for home while Betty and I continued onward, completing a total of six miles today.

These previous three photos were taken at the same stop under the power lines.  Betty was looking down on me with Wildwood way off in the distance.  And I was looking up towards Betty, with our ranch way up past her.  



I didn't get home until 2:30, having left for the ranch at 7:30 this morning, that was a long day.  The first order of business was to grab some lunch.  Then I went out to work on the three leaf piles Joe had blown together.

After five trips across the creek with the king size sheet full of leaves, I took a break on the bench with Rose.  I couldn't get a good selfie with her. 

I did six more trips with leaves but ran out of daylight and had to quit with a third large pile still left.  I was out of energy anyways.  And once it's dark, I'm just done for the day.
Can you see Rose near the upper right hand corner of the photo?  She was staking out a chipmunk hole.

Thursday 11/14 - This is the first I have seen a cat (Monita) in this cat bed that Stevie frequented.  It's nice but sad to remember.  Gosh, how can one sweet soul leave such a void?

We had gotten a tad over an inch of rain overnight and it remained a cold, windy, damp, overcast day; all day.  The gym was the only place I went, which occurred from 2-4:30. 


The only other photos I have for today are ones from these two (videos) Betty sent, along with some photos when she was doing chores.


Betty and I wondered if Rico was tired from the extra mileage the day before, or maybe from a rough night out in the wind and rain.  He did have access to the sheds though. 


Rico is a lot like Zorro, in that he is 'in your pocket' curious, and mouthy... lipping everything he encounters, but never biting. 



These two boys really like each other and get along very well... almost too well.  They have become quite buddy sour right off the bat.


 

The two could be a comedy act. 




I wished I'd been more productive at home.  I struggled with things here at my computer for too long.  I did wash and stow away our cotton sheets and put flannel sheets on our bed with an added heavy blanket. 








Once home from the gym, I scrambled to feed the cats and dog, change clothes, and go to the Center for the FG Board of Director's budget meeting.  There were a number of us disgruntled Wildwood supporters who wanted to show our disapproval and distrust of the board's financial decisions.  

I had a late dinner of popcorn and beer (with some almonds for nutrition) while watching Survivor with Joe.

Friday 11/15 - Something about theses overcast, gloomy days make me ponder more, rather than get moving to seize the day.  I tend to be more sentimental.  Sitting here at my computer, I realized that eleven years ago today, with horse trailer loaded with Amiga and big house plants, and the car and SUV with golden retriever Kaysha, and our house cat Abbey, we left for our two day drive to TN. 




Flipping (well actually clicking or scrolling) through photos from back then, struck up wonderful memories and sure made me nostalgic.  We drove almost five hours and stopped at a campground in Shawnee National Forest.  A nice long hike on an equestrian trail helped all of us to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. 



We 'set up camp' in a little cabin and Abbey got to stretch her legs also.  The following day we drove almost another five hours and arrived at Wildwood Stables, where Amiga and I made many friends over the years. 






This photo was taken late afternoon on 11/16/2013.  Jean, Jan, Judy, and Shirley are all very good friends.  Sadly, the stables are being shut down by our board on December 31st.  I never would have moved here if it hadn't been for Wildwood.  I hold so many wonderful memories of my times there with Amiga and all the saddle sisters (and brothers) I had.

Even though the FFG board of directors was devious, deceitful and dishonest, it is evident that they are NOT going to change their minds about closing Wildwood Stables.  Such a shame and a loss.

Abbey and Kaysha have since passed from life here on earth.  I grieved their loss at the time but have moved on and filled the void with another dog and several cats.



My day included a long shopping trip to town, going to seven different stores.  I then went straight to the ranch to do feeding chores, but first worked with Rico down by the shop where I will be doing a trailer loading lesson Monday.  He has no clue how to lounge, and I'm not sure how to teach him, but we did accomplish some ground-work things.

After dinner, Joe and I started a new James Patterson, Alex Cross mini series on TV.

Around the holidays, we tend to remember days gone by.  I often get filled with a nostalgic longing for the past, for long-gone moments and happy memories with loved ones.  Oh, to be able to go back in time and relive the wonderful experiences, how sweet that would be.