Be Merry Y'all

To be merry is to be happy, cheerful, jolly, and ready to frolic, especially in a fun, festive way.  Parties and celebrations are merry, and so are the jovial, fun people who attend them.  This old fashioned word for “happy” is popular in December when people say, “Merry Christmas.”  It suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety. 

I ended last week a bit disgruntled.  But I try not to let the frustrations get to me for long and hope to quickly switch back to being merry and joyful.

To be merry, I try to show high spirits or lightheartedness and uninhibited enjoyment of
frolic or festivity.  I decorate, dress in Christmas attire, sing carols, go to holiday programs and parties, and dance.  I also spend time with my horse.  And even going to the gym makes me happy.
 

Saturday 12/7 - Mama Styx was still acting sickly, staying curled up and sleeping, and not greeting me first thing when I got up.  And she stayed here on the bed all morning.

Our house was warmer (65°) this morning because it did not get as cold last night.  It had been down to 12° outside when I got up Friday, and the emergency heat had been turned on overnight, and our house was still only 61°.  These heat pumps just can’t handle really cold temperatures, even with the auxiliary heat on. 



Our fireplace had not started the first time I fired it up several days ago.  I was really wishing I could turn the fireplace on to help warm the house and for our evenings watching TV.  Joe had made a call and we were waiting for a callback from the fireplace company to come out and clean and inspect it and do whatever needed to be done to get it working again.  Joe decided he’d call again, because like they say 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease.'  Joe got us on their appointment book for Wednesday.


I had actually made it to the gym by 9am and was home before noon.  Joe came out to the ranch to help me set up the heated water tub along with a few other chores.  He had brought Maggie, and just the sight of her in the house yard sent the chickens running for cover in the coop, even though Maggie did not show much interest in them.  When I went to get a shovel in the coop, all five hens were huddled (hiding) in the corner.  Poor girls. 






This photo was taken before the girls saw Maggie and made a run for the coop.  Notice yet another ground rod drilled in at this pole in the chicken yard.  I love the hen eyeing me at the very bottom of the photo. 






While setting up the heated water tub, Maggie, our usual project supervisor was not focused on the job because she was worried about the gunfire near by (as has been the case lately on weekends or on late afternoons).





So Rico and Dorado filled in for Maggie, watching Joe closely.  I had moved some dirt to flatten the ground and also stretched out the hose to fill the tub.  Joe was securing the container to the fence post.





I just can't get over what a stunning horse Rico is, and it's not even the reason I bought him.  He is just an all around good boy.  But it's sure nice he is also so good looking. 










With the tub set up and the hose drained, Joe worked on leaf removal and I did some organizing in our upper feed room.

I had switched from bagging my food into individual feedings in zip-locks and put the oats and pelleted food into two different bins.  I also brought out this little table to put them up on to prevent having to bend over.

I had feeding chores for Betty (who is out of town for the next 20 days).  When I went to let Cowboy out of the back of the loafing shed, I heard the chanting of sandhill cranes overhead and quickly took this (video). 





While puttering around out at the ranch, I had hung this decoration on the front gate.  I had also ended up taking too much of the afternoon to then have time to hit the gym.  I didn't even have time for a short nap. 
I did pet care, including giving the steroid medication to two cats.  Karen had suggested swaddling each cat in a towel, and that made it go much better.  I was also glad that Mama Styx was back to her normal self and ate.

After a quick shower, I got dressed in festive Christmas attire.  Joe ended up driving me to Reds because Micki's substitute caregiver for Rita had a medical problem and couldn't make it.  This is Tony, who was voted most festive with her light-up Santa eyes. 



Randi took this photo of us (me with Elaine, Sherri, and Toni) enjoying pizza and drinks. 


Cheers!

We five ladies had a great time, but sure did miss having Micki with us. 







This is Randi sitting to my right.  







As you can see from the photos, we were being merry.  There was much joking around, laughter, and dancing.  And none of us even drank that much.

The group of six at the table next to us were drinking plenty and ended up 'getting' into the action too. 
Merry making is contagious. 









This is a merged photo of two screenshots taken from a video.  It is the best I could do to get a photo of this fun group as a memory of them.

More photos (from videos) of us singing and dancing.

And, some photos captured moments of shock or astonishment... but we were just being dramatic.
Tony left first to go walk a dog she is pet sitting.  Randy was picked up by her husband to go tend to their foster dog who is going through heart-worm treatment.  And Bill took Sheri and I home just after Richard picked up Elaine.  I went right to bed at 10:30.

Sunday 12/8 - Some little bird has decided to do a little winterizing, adding more insulation to its bed, I reckon. 

I met Shirley at church, second Sunday of Advent.  (The four weeks of Advent are: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love)  Even though next week is 'Joy,' I am striving for it all season and year... as we should do with each of these themes of advent.
 

When I pulled in at the ranch early afternoon, both boys in the upper paddock were laying in the sun (although there wasn't much of it).  Dorado got up just before I took this photo as Rico was starting to get up. 


Both boys came over and got a drink out of the new heated water tub, although I hadn't plugged it in yet. 

Bonnie and Dave had just come to feed, so once Amiga and Zorro were done eating, Karen and I took them for a short little ride.  They both had one big spook when we were riding on our woodland trail beside Jim's back pasture and a gunshot went off, really close by (sounded like from the neighbor's).  We shouted to cease fire, but decided to turn around just in case.  The rest of our ride went great.

I had planned to do outdoor decorating once home, but had very little time and then got distracted by leaf clean up, which needed doing in some places I was decorating.  Our ornamental Japanese Maple has not dropped its leaves yet, so blocks some of the front porch decorations. 

I had worked till dark and then it started to sprinkle, just as I was finishing.

Monday 12/9 - The rain quit right at daybreak so I took out the trash and went for a longer walk with Maggie.  I checked the rain gauge, we'd gotten 1½ inches.

Monita had been playing with the Santa windsock, but quit when I approached to take her photo. 

Then my sassy girl started 'sharpening' her claws, which she doesn't even have on her front paws. 


I did a little decorating, getting these things up on the mantel, since Karen and I were meeting at the ranch at noon and I didn't have time for the gym before riding. 




I still have not gotten the lights set up on the shelves or mantel and trees, and here, I'd been in such a hurry to go out and buy them to get it done.  I have fallen behind schedule on decorating because horses, gym, and other outings and pet duties have taken priority. 

When Karen and I got the boys, they were both quite dirty.  It was mud that would not brush off.  We got the saddle area as clean as possible and were soon tacked up. 

Off we went to ride the Kirkstone loop.  Dorado did great for Karen, her first time out on the trail with him.  He is a very good boy.  It was damp and dreary, but 56°, so not too cold.  Although by the end, my hands were cold (I hadn't taken gloves).


I had Karen take a photo of Rico and I at the big rock slab.  She took several. 



Here are a few. 

Oops, Rico was drawn back to Dorado when I wasn't paying attention.  Notice my Christmas bandana.

I rode Rico back out onto the rock to try for another photo.
 

There we go, this photo was a keeper. 

We were out on horseback for an hour and 45 minutes and probably covered close to six miles because we didn't stop much and did a fair amount of gaiting.


Karen had feeding chores, and I hustled home and then to the gym where I worked out from 3:30 - 6pm.  I had wanted to take a nap, but am glad I went to the gym.  It was fun and I felt invigorated by the time I finished.

Oh, while we were out riding, we noticed that the lineman/cable/internet company had made a mess along Marmaduke.  This new visual was definitely noticed by our two horses, but they did fine with it.


Monita napping under my desk before I left to go riding.


It was a little more difficult giving steroid meds before feeding the cats dinner.  They have figured out the bunting and try to escape even that.  It's hard to wrap them tight when they are so wiggly.   

Joe and I watched another Alex Cross episode.

Tuesday 12/10 - I was planning to do the lights on the mantel and shelves and finish decorating it after computerizing here at my desk.  When I checked with Patty for a time and day that would be good to worm the horses, she said she was at the ranch staining the picnic table and in a half hour would be good. 






So I headed to the ranch instead of the living room.  I got the herd of four in off the back pasture while Patty finished up.  Zorro won the dirty boy contest today, but Cowboy was a close second. 








We wormed Amiga and Zorro in the barn.  This is a posed photo, but the reaction was similar with each of the horses when Patty squirted the paste into their mouth, while I held them.  We went up to the upper paddock and did the same with Rico.  All three Pasos did very well. 


After I completed feeding chores, it was already 2:30. 

Since I was in work clothes and snow was predicted overnight, I decided to get lights up on our blue spruce before decorating inside.  This time, Rose was my project supervisor.  Each year, as the tree grows larger around, and taller, I have had to stretch the lights or buy more to 'cover' the whole tree.  I was stretching it this year, but think I need to buy more to fill it in better. 

Rose didn't seem to care about the lights, but just wanted to make sure I didn't forget to feed her.


It was feeding time when I finally finished outside.  And well, basically once I finished with all my pet chores, ate and did personal care, it was after 7:00 and I had no motivation to decorate.  Ugh, why is it that when the sun goes down, I lose all drive to do anything physical.  And, I couldn't even stay awake while reading in bed.

Wednesday 12/11 - I felt like I woke every hour after midnight, and looked at the clock, but then fell back to sleep.  I finally decided at 5am that I had gotten enough sleep, and rose from my warm bed.

It had started snowing earlier in the morning, and continued until just about 8am.  We got about a ½ inch of wet snow.  The spruce looked quite festive, although a little skimpy on lights in some spots. 









While computerizing, I watched the snow fall and the daylight get brighter.  It felt wintry and Christmasy.

Monita has developed a sneeze/cough and I fear it's from inhaling steroid medicine while I tried to get it down her again last night.  She fights tooth and nail, even though I try to keep her wrapped tightly in a towel. 







Some deer came by looking for corn, but I hadn't put any out yet.  They enjoyed the salt lick though. 




I later braved the elements to put corn out, and took another lighted tree photo.

By 8:20, I was at The Center for the early morning board meeting.  The board did listen to at least 20 of us that made comments and asked questions about the closing of Wildwood Stables, but they would not comment or answer to any of us.  So much for 'transparency' which is part of their mission statement. 





I left the meeting before it was over, to get home by 10:30 so I could finish decorating and clean up the living room some, before the fireplace guy came. 

Maggie supervised Larry, who determined that our pilot is wearing out and there is no electricity to the fireplace to start the fire, and run the fan or lights.  He did install batteries so we can get the fire going, and he cleaned the unit.  Our next step is to get an electrician.

I had been working at decorating while also 'helping' and gathering knowledge from Larry.  I continued with decorating once he left.  I finally got the lights and knick-knacks on the shelves and mantel.  Now I need to add 'snow' to complete the fireplace area.  This is two photos of the shelves, merged.

While decorating, I was interrupted when Joe got a text from our ranch neighbor Jem.  Dorado and Rico were in his yard.  Patty was just leaving to do chores and Joe went to help collect the two renegades and fix wherever they had gotten out.  So I didn't have to drop what I was doing to also go.  Patty took this photo of Joe leading Dorado in Jem's back field, down the fence line.  Rico is right beside Dorado, following Joe. 

 
Patty helped get the two 'bad boys' closed into their feeding sheds (stalls) while Joe mended the fence.

The horses had pushed the old red gate out/off of the fence post so Joe tried putting up a strand of electro-brade to keep them from pushing on the gate again. 




The four horses in the back pasture came up to watch what was going on and help supervise.  We humans must be quite entertaining to our pets sometimes. 



Joe's audience.



Then Joe took time to get the old gate hung on new screws drilled into new holes on the post. 

I went to the gym from 3:30 - 6:00 and had a decent workout.  I still have a very sore left gluteal and right shoulder, so continue to 'baby' them on certain machines. 

Joe had gone straight to poker from the ranch. 

Once home from the gym, and after all the pet detail and house duties, again I was not in the mood to decorate.  My energy and enthusiasm goes down when the sun does.
 

Thursday 12/12 - We had Simon, our professional electrician, here mid-morning for over an hour, assessing why the fireplace did not have power and the built-in lights above the fireplace shelves did not work.  I showed him (in the crawl space behind the fireplace, accessed through a small door in our walk-in closet) the wires and he had me use his tester on them.  Some had current, but the one to the fireplace (which starts the fire and runs the fan) did not.  After much searching and testing, it was determined that the lights above the shelves have power, but the control box that runs them needs replacing, something to fix another day.  We also discovered a switch (which is backwards and was in the off instead of on position) that gives electricity to the fireplace.  So that was a very easy fix... turn the switch off, which means electricity was now on. 



Simon also replaced a bad circuit breaker on our electrical panel in the garage.  But he then proceeded to go through lots of other things (he is a perfectionist) on the panel and then testing outlets in the kitchen.  He found two un-grounded outlets and one wired backwards.  UGH!  All we wanted was him to get our fireplace working.  We told him we would worry about fixing all the other stuff later, since they aren't a big safety issue and have been this way since we moved in over eleven years ago.  This 50 year old house is bound to not be up-to code and have LOTS of 'problems.'  Many we keep fixing, but some are just not worth the time, trouble, or cost.  The house does have a lot going for it, like it's great location, size and layout... and of course my sun room/office/cattery. 

Dealing with and helping Simon had taken up a chunk of my morning and made me feel 'behind' on my to do list.  Once he was gone, I could, and did finish decorating the shelves, mantel and hearth.  I also got the foyer entrance decorated and 'fluffed' the Christmas tree.  Then it was time to clean up, dress up, and head out to the night's festivities. 

Joe drove and we picked up Patty and Karen.  We met Judy, Fran, and a second Karen at Dynasty Chinese restaurant.  After dinner, we went to The Community Band Holiday concert that Shirley was playing in. 






They, and four other smaller quartet groups, put on a great show.  It definitely put us in the holiday spirit and made us merry and bright.

Friday 12/13 - I noticed this evening that all day long, it had been Friday the 13th.  No worries.  It is the merry Christmas season, and our house certainly looked festive, merry and bright coming back from our early morning walk.  Notice I had Maggie get in the photo for me. 

Yesterday I had closed the cats out of the cattery, put all the pillows, blankets, bedding etc. in the dryer (to kill fleas in all stages of the life cycle).  Everything else I sprayed with a reputable household flea spray.  We all stayed out of the cattery for almost three hours.  Today I did the same thing, except closed the cats in the cattery and our bedroom, and dog in the 'Mancave.'  I sprayed the living room, balcony, kitchen, and laundry room area, just before going to the ranch to do chores.

I was at the ranch for almost three hours.  I had taken some decorations to the ranch house and spent extra time working on hay management.  The four horses in the lower paddock were enjoying fresh, new hay as I spread out all the old piles they were no longer eating or interested in.  I wanted the old hay to kind of rot into the ground, replenish nutrients and possibly re-seed the paddock along with slowing erosion. 
Look at our two pasos.  Such a bonded pair.






Once home, I then locked the cats out of our bedroom and the dog out of the 'Mancave' and sprayed those areas and did two more dryer loads of pillows and blankets on high heat.  Thankfully this flea outbreak has not been nearly as bad as the one in August.  I haven't gotten bitten by any so feel like I am holding them at bay... killing them off.  And for over a week now, when I comb the cats, there have not been any fleas on them.  But I want to make sure it stays under control and I get rid of them ALL!
 

A wintry sky as the sun drops to the west and the two buddies in the upper paddock kind of mill around, eating hay and watching me pick up sticks in the yard, rather than going back out to the pasture.

I got a third (out of four Christmas cards) today, from people I did not send to, so quick sent out another one, after sending two yesterday.

I love the classic Christmas card with a farm scene including a red truck and tree.  The barn, horses, and snow make it that much better. 

A look at the nearly full moon above the Lutheran columbarium, across from our driveway.   Just after I finished a long three mile walk with Maggie, took this photo and was petting Rose out by the garage, I heard a commotion out on Lakeview.  I walked up to the end of the drive and watched the action unfold.  A truck was stopped at the Flossmoor intersection and a man and woman were arguing.  He was swearing at her and told her to get back in the truck.  The truck inched up Lakeview (towards Snead) as the argument continued. It was too dark to see, but I think she was hanging onto the truck or walking alongside it.  At one point, she said I can call 911, and that’s when I chose to do so.  While talking to the dispatcher, the truck ended up driving off on down Lakeview towards Westchester. 

I came inside, and several minutes later, as I was going to change into my pajamas, the doorbell rang.  I ended up talking to two different police officers and basically reported the same thing I had said to the 911 officer.  They had questions I couldn’t answer cause it was pitch black and I couldn’t really see what kind of truck it was or where exactly the woman was.

Unfortunately for many, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. 

 



The Christmas season can be a difficult time for many people.  They may struggle with:
-Grief and loss of loved ones, a job, or their health.
-Mental health challenges feel more burdensome.
-Family drama because gatherings can lead to tension and conflict.
-Pressure to spend money on gifts and celebrations.
-Holiday blues and feelings of loneliness and stress.

If you're struggling during the holidays, you can try:
-Processing your grief and accepting what has happened.
-Being honest with your feelings.
-Giving yourself what you need, such as rest, tears, food, or drink.
-Watching for warning signs in others and providing a supportive environment.
-Focusing on putting Jesus at the center of your holiday season. 


Sometimes all the business of the season gets me a little overwhelmed.  I try to prioritize what is important and cut out some of the less necessary things (like sending less Christmas cards) but I still struggle with time management. 






I'm really looking forward to having everyone here at Christmas.  I am just trying to get EVERYTHING ready so when people get here, I can relax and enjoy having them, and not stress.  This included decorating, having a working fireplace and getting rid of any fleas!
I hope y'all can, and will be merry!