Dancing Around

The song 'Dancing Around the Christmas Tree' comes to mind this time of year.  The phrase 'dance around' means to purposefully avoid or delay something.  



I am focusing more on movement of the feet and body, in the form of dance.

"Dancing Around the World" is generally about using dance as a universal language to connect cultures, explore human commonalities, and share diverse movement traditions.  I like that.

Saturday 12/6 - After a late night dancing on Friday, I didn't wake up until 7:30.  Yikes.  And I crawled out of bed feeling quite rundown.  









I had planned a day off from the ranch so stayed in my PJs all day.  And I even skipped the gym.  



I had gotten my Christmas cards off the table so it can be exclusively a puzzle table, as the puzzle expands each day I add a new section.  But, I have to keep the puzzle covered, so I use a sheet of cardboard with a festive tablecloth on top.  I had my computer playing Christmas music and I was 'dancing around' the house putting finishing touches on the decorating.  




I have done fairly well at keeping the decorations to a minimum this year.  As usual, I set up a card table to put stuff on as I sort through what I have.  














↑ Monita up on the table 'helping' this year and Stevie 'helping' a few years ago. →  Gosh I miss her.

It was a pretty day outside, nice and sunny, and I really should have gone out to work on leaf clean-up.  But I was dancing around the matter of doing that unpleasant task.










Joe had stayed in Nashville Friday night because he was going to the 7:00 Music City Madness: TN vs. IL basketball game with Courtney.


Meanwhile, I had rallied to get up the energy to go for another round of dancing.  Micki picked me up, then we got Johnny, and we went to Club 1660.  They had a Santa up on stage, dancing all night long (video).
 
They had a DJ taking requests and playing dance music, so it was non-stop dancing to many old favorites.  


Later a younger crowd showed up and the DJ switched to club music - which encompasses genres like House, Techno, Trance, Hip-Hop, and Pop remixes.  The music is defined by strong rhythms and beats designed to keep crowds moving.  It wasn't really our style, but we hung in there.  



At one point several of us got up on stage and were dancing around the 'dancing' Santa.  Notice there were both young and old joining in, and all were having a good time.  

We stayed a little past midnight, having danced for four hours, until ready to go.

Sunday 12/7 - It was National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  A time in which we remember and honor the 2,403 service members and civilians who lost their lives that tragic morning.  

I didn't get up until 7:30, so had to shorten my morning routine to get to Church by 9am.  

Shadow waits for me to take corn out to the deer, and then comes dancing around me, rubbing on my legs, to get me to feed him.  This morning he gave up and took a nap right outside my window.  




Looks like Wanda left me a gift, quite awhile ago, that I noticed when I went to set my tack box down on this bench.  Just goes to show, she is not that hungry.  
  
  




Patty fed early, so I didn't tack up Rico until after he ate.  He stood very calmly for me, no dancing around, for which I was most happy.





I had the 'don't shoot me' orange cloth around Rico's neck, in case he were to dump me and run off.  He did much better today at the construction site, which we rode past.  And thankfully, there was no gun fire while we were out on the trail.  

Riding back past the construction a little later, Rico started getting nervous and dancing around.  

    
I got him to stop, and look what he heard and then saw... a car coming down Marmaduke.  (The headlights are circled in this photo.)




Rico did a wonderful job out on the trail today.  He walked out much better than usual, only hesitating a few times, but continued on when I nudged him.  And he gaited very well; smooth, fairly fast, and keeping up the pace until I slowed him back down (video).  He was picking his feet up well and only had a few startles, no big spooks.

I fed Amiga and Zorro and chatted with Debra before leaving.  

On the way home, I noticed this 'lone' cow out in the 'front yard' of the Stables.  









Here is a blurry enlargement of that photo.
For dinner I finished off the last of the salads left over from last Friday's luncheon.  Falling asleep at my computer, I went to bed just after 7pm. 

Monday 12/8 - I did not take any photos today, so here is a look at the ultimate Catmas Tree!  In fact, I did not do much worth mentioning all day long.  

I had woken up at 2:30, getting a little over seven hours of sleep.  But then I took two naps.  Scheesh.  

Sunlight was nonexistent due to low hanging, thick, gray clouds.  There was moisture in the air causing that cold, damp feeling.  I could not get warmed up and felt rundown all day.  

I did make myself go to the gym and muddled through an arm/ab workout, never getting that burst of renewed energy I usually experience.  I drove home in a freezing sleet.      

Tuesday 12/9 - I was up at 2am with only five hours of sleep logged in.  I did my usual blogging, Facebook scrolling, emailing, and gaming.  Then from 6 to 8 I went to the gym for an aerobic workout.  It was very strange to be exercising that early, and more difficult than usual, but I got it done.

I was at the ranch by 11:15 to give Amiga Previcox and help Debra hang pictures in her bedroom.  Then we went for a hike/walk to show her the trail/undeveloped roads back behind our ranch, in Fairfield Glade. 

I took these pictures of the boys eating hay after I had fed them, but Rico started walking off before I could snap the photo... and he went to get a drink.
  
   

Joe and I had dinner at Stonehenge restaurant.  These gingerbread houses made up a little village just outside the restaurant.  








We were home by 6:30 and I decided rather than to get on the computer, I would sit by the fire to read.  Monita liked that idea, laying on the blanket over my legs.  I did not last long, due to the fact that I'd been up since 2am without a nap.  😞

Wednesday 12/10 - I didn't wake until 4:30, giving me nine full hours of sleep.  The sunrise sky was pretty this morning.  

Patty, Polly and I met with Gerry Miller (head of the Member Awareness Committee) to discuss possibilities and a plan of action for trying to get the stables re-opened.  We definitely had varying ideas and time lines.  I don't know if there is any hope or not.  

Patty and I had planned to ride, but the forecast was 'off' and it was much colder and windier than expected.  So she cancelled.  I hemmed and hawed with myself, or danced around the decision of whether to ride or even go out to the ranch to give Amiga her pill.



In the end, I wound up staying home. 



I tended to household tasks and finished all my decorating (inside and out).  We had a very short hail storm just after I finished putting these 'Snoopy' type lights on this little bush (video).

Then I stowed away all the leftover Christmas clutter; decorations I would not be using this year because I did a 'Tiny' Christmas, with less decorations.

Joe and I watched a riveting episode of Survivor.  It was filled with stellar 'acting,' the best Tribal Council of the season (so far), and all sorts of hullabaloo with lies, back stabbing, and emotional breakdowns.

Thursday 12/11 - My pets don't dance around the Christmas tree, but there is certainly a lot of playing that goes on under or around it. 

I love this 'hand-me-down' wreath and matching bows from Jan.  They are hung here in the barn until I can find a good spot for them.  






I dropped in at the ranch at 10am to give Amiga her pill and drop off some things, before continuing on, into town.

I wasn't exactly dancing around in the stores, or from store to store.  There were lines EVERYWHERE, including backed up traffic, so the going was very slow.  Also, I couldn't find everything I was looking for and I got distracted by some other stuff I thought I might need or want to buy.  

Due to the slowness of my shopping experience, I did not get home until 3:15, and by the time I had everything unloaded, sorted through, and put away, it was just too late to have time for the gym.  
Every year I get out the Christmas 'singing dog' toy, which dances around, and Maggie loves (video).  But she is not allowed to harm it.  So she redirects her 'kill' urge on her squeaky/crinkly corn toy.  

Joe and I watched a show that Jan had recommended.  It was interesting, eye opening, and sobering to watch; and imagine this miraculous occurrence.

Friday 12/12 - The bulk of my day (11-5) was spent working at the ranch.  Joe joined me a little later and we 'wrangled' leaves.  He mowed/mulched piles that had collected in the side pasture, to keep them from blowing into the pond.  I raked them out from under the evergreens planted along the fence line.

Once Joe was finished with the mower, I used it to haul (five loads of) leaves down behind the barn into the woods.








While I drove the riding mower, pulling the wagon, back and forth to dump my loads (video); Joe used the tractor to haul fresh manure to the back pasture pile, and bring three bucket loads of older, decomposed 'stuff' to the chicken yard.

The girls had a "heyday" in the two piles of manure, digging through it all and basically spreading it out, all over the numerous holes in the yard.  

This one hen found what I believe was a frog (probably hibernating in the manure) and ran off with it so the other hens wouldn't try to take it from her (video).

These two photos show a 'during cleanup' of leaves behind the chicken coop... and after I was done.  

The lattice in the first photo was to keep the girls from coming back there, and in the second photo, the cinder blocks will hold the lattice in place at the other end, so chickens have access behind the coop but can't escape.

In the next photo, you can see where the girls had flattened the first pile (towards the coop) of manure and at the bottom of the photo, a black hen starting in on the second pile Joe had just dumped.



I am sure they were finding plenty of grubs, and the additional frog.  










After dumping my fifth and final load of debris, it was getting so late that I just parked the mower at the barn and started chores down there.  Right away I discovered water on the tack room floor, behind and under the sink, water heater, refrigerator and feed bins.  UGH!  It is always something.

The geldings had been waiting on me, and all did very well at feeding time, with even Rico standing patiently in his section of the shed before I got gates into position.

Cash helping me distribute hay after he was done eating.

  





Before Joe left, he had helped me dig these holes to plant the three evergreens I had bought.  However, I wasn't going to be able to finish planting them today.  

I almost forgot to let Amiga out of her shed/stall before going in to chat with Debra, who had just gotten home.  With the sun setting, it was getting dark when I did open her shed gate.

I was in bed asleep, long before Poker Joe got home.

When The Wind Blows

This week started with snow storms blowing across the mid-west and bringing high winds and some rain to Tennessee.  And of course, leaves were blowing from the golf course and church yard, into our back and front yards.  


When I decide on a blog title, I always look it up to find a meme and any other connections to the subject.  The first thing that came to my mind with "When The Wind Blows" was the lyrics to “Rock-a-Bye Baby.”  The history of this lullaby goes back to the mothers of the Native American Muskogee Tribe.  They would hang their baby's small cradle from the branches of birch trees where they were safe from bugs, hot sun, and wild animals.  And as the wind blew, the cradles would rocked gently.  
"When The Wind Blows" is also the title to a James Patterson murder mystery thriller and to the novel by the British artist Raymond Briggs, about an elderly couple's experience during a nuclear attack.

Saturday 11/29 - I didn't amount to much all day, nor did my fur babies.  My body was acting a little stressed, and I wondered if the infection in my wrist (from the cat bite) was affecting my entire circulatory and nervous systems.  I was also thinking that the deep puncture must have damaged muscle because there was still pain, swelling, and lack of strength and mobility in my wrist and thumb.  I took ibuprofen and soaked it in Epsom salt a few times.  

I did a lot of blogging, with Thanksgiving to recount.  This involved organizing and editing many photos from the past two days.  

Joe left for the casino in Cherokee.  

Like my pets, I napped and gazed out the window, watching leaves blow across the back.  We also saw Shadow hunting and chipmunks, squirrels and deer.

I did do some Christmas decorating, making my office and the front entryway festive, all the while Christmas music played.

Rain and higher winds moved in before the 4:30 sunset.  Also, news of the snow storm sweeping across the mid-west with videos and photos of the beauty and the hazards were posted.  When the wind blows snow, you get whiteout conditions.  Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, were hardest hit with many places getting 8 to 12 inches.  

Courtney and Kent were experiencing a snow storm in Milwaukee but that didn't stop them from enjoying the hot tub. 
I was concerned for all holiday travelers (but especially Courtney and Kent, Yaneth and family, Jan and Mike, and Debra and her brother Bill).  They would all be making their way home the next few days.  Strong winds and sleet hitting our windows at dinner time had Maggie worried and wanting to hide.  

Sunday 11/30 - The last day of November.
Church was at 10am this morning because on the fifth Sunday of the month, they combine all three services into one.  This photo was taken from the video of the service.  Shirley and I are center/bottom of photo during the greet your neighbor time.  



After church, it was another stay at home day.  The cold/damp weather made me uninterested in going to the ranch, and unmotivated to do much.  

Essentially I spent the whole afternoon addressing Christmas cards, decorating, and doing household chores.  Putting up Christmas decorations always involves dusting and light cleaning. 
  

Monday 12/1 - Wow, we are already to the first day, of the last month of this year.  Time, like the power of wind blowing, are both uncontrollable forces that cause change.  

Courtney got me a Christmas puzzle, made into an advent calendar, so I got started on day 1, with Mama Styx helping.  My table for Christmas cards is doubling as a puzzle table now. This will motivate me to get my cards done.  








Ta da!  Got it done.  And I commented to Courtney that this must have been a challenge with 1000 pieces to sort through and pick from.  I had enough trouble with my little section of 36 pieces.  She said it was a tough one.  

Mama Styx had moved up to my shoulders, to take a nap.  She was now out of my way but still a bit of a hindrance.  I worked on Christmas cards for a while.

I headed to the ranch midmorning.  Amiga was resting while Zorro stood guard.  I gave her a Previcox, which I do first thing, every day that I go out there.  
    
   

Then I got busy cleaning the ranch house, especially the master bedroom.  I did a deep clean of the bed and bath that Debra would be moving into, even wiping down base boards and window and door sills.  

Debra (with her dog Pugsley) and her brother Bill arrived at 1:45.  We (Patty and Joe also came to help) unloaded everything (mostly a bunch of totes) into the sun room where Debra could then go through them and unpack what she would be needing.  

Pugsley kept a close eye on our coming and going, but was good at staying out of the way. 

I went over some house basics, Patty showed Debra how to work appliances etc. and while Joe was showing her how to operate the TV, the electricity went off.  Bill had left right after getting his car unloaded and now Joe left.  

 





At some point, once Pugsley's bed was found, he took a much needed break in the action.  Patty and I stayed till 4:30, helping Debra unpack kitchen items and clothing.  Thankfully, the electricity did come back on shortly before we left.

Tuesday 12/2 - Overnight we had storms, with high winds and rain, blowing branches and many more leaves into the backyard and front ditch.  
The gym was very crowded when I got there at 9am, but had cleared considerably by the time I left at 11:15.
I dealt with the bitter wind as soon as I got to the ranch to give Amiga her Previcox.  She and Zorro were both revved up, and actually just very apprehensive about coming into their sheds.

Then it started sleeting.  When the wind blows, especially with an air temperature of 33° and tiny sleet blowing sideways, it is miserable being outside.  This is an internet photo, but shows how it looked, although it wasn't sticking to the ground yet.  All the horses were standing with their butts to the wind.  Why don't they go into their sheds? 
I went inside to warm up and go over some things with Debra.  While we chatted, I sipped on hot tea.  
 

It was even windier with heavier precipitation when I started chores.  It didn't help that the boys couldn't hear the dinner bell and I had to walk partway out in the field to get their attention.  And then they didn't want to come into the paddock and were also leery of going into the shed.  I have no idea what had them so spooked or nervous.  AI says that horses get spooked by wind because it interferes with their prey animal instincts by creating loud, distracting noises and unpredictable, fast-moving objects, which makes it difficult for them to use their senses to detect real danger.

Three guys from the Spectrum Internet company came to the front gate as I was finishing up with the chickens.  The sleet had stopped and the wind died down, but the temperature was dropping.  
I shopped at Food City on the way home.  It was relatively empty at nearly five o'clock.  

Joe and I watched the movie Burlesque, with Cher and Christina Aguilera.  It was entertaining with great singing and dancing, although a little risque.  
And we all enjoyed the warm fire.
 

Wednesday 12/3 - While working on this blog, I saw Shadow down back hunting again.  He had just missed a chipmunk, so I went out and fed him.

After 'play' on the computer doing advent calendar games and working today's advent jigsaw puzzle section, I did more work on Christmas cards.

I took a TV tray and some under the bed storage bins out to the ranch for Debra to use and then got the heated water tub set up for Amiga and Zorro.
I also had to ask Debra to not let Pugsley run back and forth along the chicken fence, scaring them.    




This wreath in a bag on top of a Christmas bin = perfect cat bed, NOT.  Once I got home, midafternoon, I started work on outdoor decorating.  I had to disturb Monita to get to this wreath I hang out on the front porch.  Soon I discovered the lights on it were not working.  Ugh.  I put it on 'Santa's workbench,' the dinner table.  Now I have another job for another day.  

My day ended watching Survivor with Joe.

Thursday 12/4 - Mama Styx is always watchful.  And of course Babe had to come over to see what it was I was looking at.  Babe is so much bigger than her mom.

Before 10am, I was off to the gym and Joe was heading to Nashville to help out Dan and Vale.








I focused my weight workout on legs and enjoyed HTV as usual during my hour on the elliptical.  




My afternoon was spent at the ranch, picking up all the Thanksgiving/fall decorations and putting up Christmas stuff.  This photo wasn't taken until Friday.  







Joe's afternoon was spent at the hospital with Daniel, who was having surgery on 7 out of 8 blocked nasal cavities and a deviated septum.  









Your para-nasal sinuses are four paired, air-filled spaces (cavities) inside the bones in your face.  A deviated septum is when the wall of bone and cartilage that divides your nose into two separate nasal passages is off-center and can block one side of the nose.

I was home by 4pm and cleaning up clutter when I finally got word from Nashville.  Courtney had successfully picked up Ava at daycare and was taking her home.  And Daniel was out of a successful two hour surgery and 'waking up' in recovery.  Vale was at home with Layla.  


Joe got Daniel home a little after 6pm and reported that he was still pretty out of it.  Paco being Dan's nursemaid.  

Our internet was down when I tried to log on after dinner.  Joe, via text messaging, tried to help me resolve the issue, but we had no luck.  So I read by the fire with our four fur babies.
 

Friday 12/5 - I was up at 3am but with no internet, so I worked Day 5 of my advent puzzle and then did some Christmas decorating.  






It was a gloomy, foggy morning, kind of fitting my mood concerning the disruption of my normal routine/computer time.  

Once Joe was up, he put in a work order to have Xfinity come look at our service.  They would come between 8 and 11:00.  Well, that put another 'wrench' in my game plan.  

I needed to shop for food for the day's luncheon, so I got to Food City by 7am.  

The internet guy arrived fairly close to 8:00 and while he checked things out, I worked in the kitchen making a fruit salad and putting the other salads into nice looking serving dishes.  Meanwhile, in Murfreesboro, Joe and Courtney were dong baby care while Vale took Ava to daycare.  
 


Dan was up and about and his nose bleeding had diminished.  But he wasn't to bend over or lift anything heavy, like 18lb Layla.  Also blowing his nose was forbidden and sneezing discouraged.  And he was to start his nasal rinses.

Well, the internet issue was simple.  The power-bar that the box was plugged into, had been turned off.  UGG!  I had unplugged and re-plugged the strip from the wall but didn't think to look at the other end (slid into the 2" space under the TV stand).  Apparently Joe was the culprit when getting a device from the TV to take to Dan's.  



I got to the ranch 90 minutes before party time, doing some chores and then last minute things in the house.  Debra had added the lights around the fireplace.  Our luncheon was small (only six of us) but very nice with boarders/workers getting to know Debra a little bit, and her getting acquainted with us.  Karen is missing from this photo because she took it.  

Pugsley is not the well trained service dog I was expecting, but he's cute.  He is also spoiled rotten.  Debra feed him scraps from the table while we ate.  I am so much stricter with Maggie who I don't even allow on the furniture.  This will be an adjustment for me.  

After getting dishes and food cleaned up, I still had time for a quick nap once I got home.  And then I was ready to go at 5:45 when Sherri and Bill picked me up.  Micki, Linda, Sherri and I went to Reds and enjoyed a lot of dancing at our ladies night out.  We were disappointed that two others had cancelled at the last minute. 
I was home and in bed by 11pm.