Be Grateful

Sometimes in the dead of winter, with the short, and often gloomy, dark days, it is easy to get grumpy.  But everyday we wake up, is a reason to be grateful and to (celebrate)!

Debbie's comment to my Christmas blog reminded me of all my blessings that I have to be grateful for. 

From her words:  I have everything to be so very happy about.  I have an amazing, loving family; my health is restored; Courtney's brilliance and success are a gift; Britney has found love and plans to marry, and she is doing the work she is passionate about; and wonderful Dan and Vale - they're blessing us with grandchildren.  And actually, all of our family and extended family are super. 

Debbie went on to say, "Plus you have the dog and kitties which are blessings in and of themselves, and the beautiful horses!!!!  They make MY heart smile and my spirit rejoice.  Life is so very good for you."  She is so right.  I am grateful for Debbie and her profound wisdom, insight, and reflection.  I have so many loving, caring, friends that I am blessed by.  I'm beyond words and am utterly grateful for all of them.

Saturday 1/25 - As the days are getting a little longer, they are also finally getting a little warmer.  For this I am most grateful.  I did a number of things around the house, including 'playing' with Joe's i-pad.  However, it wasn't fun and games.  And I found it difficult to remember gratitude when I was struggling with technology.  Thankfully, Joe helps me out a lot, although he has some gaps in his skills that (believe it or not) I actually have more experience with.  Anyway, I was trying to see if an i-pad could replace my travel lap top, since I plan to do more traveling than usual this year, and the old lap top is too bulky and too slow. 

Rose at her feeding station under the porch. 





I had to drag myself to the gym but was then delighted that I was able to push through my thoughts of quitting early, and actually get in a decent workout.

Joe and I had dinner at Stonehenge.  The one beer I drank put just the right mellow in my mood and the food was absolutely scrumptious.  Even though I brought some of it home, I managed to overeat and feel uncomfortably full.  We watched more Virgin River.

Sunday 1/26 - I finally made it to church for a first this month.  I really enjoy the up-beat music and the sermons our minister Lanita gives, and am so grateful to have this church.

I met Betty at the ranch at 12:30 and was trying to decide whether or not to ride.  It was 45° but very overcast, and calling for possible rain/snow in the late afternoon or evening.  Lately, I just can't seem to feel warm, even though I put several layers on, so was dragging my feet today.  Well, I am so grateful that Betty gently nudged me and I decided to ride. 

We rode for over and hour, going 3½ miles.  I never felt cold and thoroughly enjoyed being out on Rico.  Both our horses did great, but are also a little out of shape.  Upon dismounting, I realized my riding muscles are a little out of shape too. 

Poker Joe was gone for the evening, so after Sunday weekly chores, I finished working this jigsaw puzzle. 

Reading by the fire didn't last long because I had navigated through the day with only five hours of sleep.  It was 'lights out' at 7:45.

Monday 1/27 - I stopped for gas, gate latch hardware, and then groceries on my way (slightly out of my way actually) home from an earlier than usual, 2½ hour leg, ab. and aerobic workout at the gym. 

After a quick change of clothes and a bite to eat, I went to the ranch.  I missed getting a video of Zorro rolling in the mud, but here he is, right after the dirty deed.




Betty had arrived just after me and we soon got to work moving hay.  Joe had put out a new round bale so we were taking all the picked over hay left from the old round bale.  Betty wheeled it to me and I spread it out on the muddy, high traffic area in the paddock. 

Bonnie and Susan had fed the herd of four early, in preparation for the farrier (who was doing Cowboy).  Betty and I took care of feeding and watering our two.

Then I headed into the back woods to work on our horse path.  I raked leaves and sticks off of it and had to pick up a few large branches that had come down on it.  I took this photo from the woods.  Zorro is behind Cowboy and notice Rico is napping again.

I didn't make much progress because I got distracted by the drainage ditches clogged with leaves.  But I got them all cleared so they're ready for heavy spring rains.

This photo was taken as I was leaving the yard, after chicken duty.  The sun had finally come out while Betty and I were working, and was now shining full force and felt quite nice.  But the 4:00 shadows were long. 

I just can't get over this nice looking boy, even with hay sticking out of the side of his mouth.  As I was loving on Rico, Dorado came over so I gave him some lovin' too.  They watched me as I walked away, because it was time to take care of my fur babies at home. 

 

 

After a healthy salad for dinner, I indulged in popcorn while Joe and I watched Virgin River for two hours.  This and a few other bad eating choices have started to become a habit.  Ugh.

Tuesday 1/28 -After another good workout at the gym (arms, abs, and aerobic) I went to the ranch to ride with Betty.  I had brought a ladder to help Charles with moving storage up onto the garage shelves, and saw that his side of the garage needed a good cleaning.  I also made a note to Joe that we really need to get a load of crush-and-go gravel for the upper area of our drive. 

Betty and I had a lovely ride on a nice sunny afternoon.  Dorado and Rico did very well. 





Today we were out for two hours and went six miles.  We rode all the dirt and gravel roads in the Dorchester golf course area. 







Rico was tired and 'dragging his feet' so to speak the last fifteen minutes of our ride.  But it is good to push these boys a little, to help get them back into shape.  He did get revved up a few times during the early part of the ride but also tripped more than I liked. 





Rico is a joy to ride and I am so grateful I found and was able to buy him.  I look forward to working with him, helping him become more confident, and teaching him as I also learn with him.  I hope and pray we have many happy, healthy miles of trails together. 


After our ride, Betty helped me with chores.  



It was too late to do any cleaning in the garage.  It could wait until tomorrow. 

Poker Joe was gone, so I sat and read by the fire for an hour.  The house wasn't that cold, but the fur babies and I enjoyed the extra warmth of the fire.  And as usual, I was nodding off before my 9:00 bedtime.

Wednesday 1/29 - After two days at the gym, I decided today's exercise would come while working out at the ranch.  I was there before 10am and started out cleaning in the garage.  I moved things off the storage shelf that was on Charles' side of the garage and sweep it off. 







Then, just as I was heading out the back gate to work on the trail, I heard (and then saw) a truck come in the drive.  Apparently Joe had ordered gravel, but it came three hours early, before Joe was coming out.

So I directed the driver as to where to dump (spread) the gravel.  And he emptied the load (videos).  I could see right away we needed another load, so I called Joe and he arranged for another delivery.  Then I headed back into the woods and spent the next two hours raking the whole trail we've made. 

The ladies (Patty, Betty, and Joanne) started arriving and soon we saddled-up our horses (except Amiga - I rode her bare-back). 










We rode out on the newly groomed woodland trail.  Joanne (seen above) rode Rico.  Betty (on Dorado) was taking a photo of me taking a photo of her.  And I took a selfie with Patty on Zorro.
   


When we got to the corner of Jem's back field, we went to look at the food plot for deer that his neighbor had planted last fall.  Look how green it is.  I really hope the neighbor won't be shooting at deer back here, but suspect it is his intention. 

I on Amiga, taking a photo of Betty. 




And Betty's photo of Joanne.





We took turns, each of us leading the group at different sections of our ride.




And we stopped to chat, and teach our horses to stand quietly, several times.  All the horses did very well, and with the sunny (over 50°) weather we all had a very enjoyable ride.









Patty and I pealed off from the ride and headed back early, but had ridden for an hour, going 2½ miles.  It was enough for Zorro and Amiga.  Joanne and Betty went another mile, returning about 20 minutes after us. 

Amiga and Zorro were in their stalls eating, and Rico did fine being un-tacked in the barn, even though the feeding process was underway. 

Peek-a-boo.  Wanda is a silly kitty. 

Dave arrived early, to help us move Charles in, so we (including Patty and Joe) worked at spreading gravel out (from today's two loads) while waiting. 



Once we heard Charles (and his nephew Brian who was pulling the trailer) were running late, we ordered pizza from Domino's.  It was nice to have a chance to get to know Dave a little better while we ate. 

The trailer didn't arrive until just before 7pm (2½ hours behind schedule).  We all quickly got to work, in the dark, unloading Charles things, first in the garage, and then in the house.  We were finished by 8:30, chatted a bit while Charles and Brian had pizza, and then all headed to our perspective homes, Charles remaining there at the ranch (his new home).  I guess I was too busy to take any photos. 

Thursday 1/30 - I had troubles getting to sleep and staying asleep during the night, with so much on my mind regarding Charles' move into the ranch house.  So, even though I didn't get out of bed until 6:30, I did not feel well rested.
 
At 9:00 I went to my wellness exam, and then right next-door to the gym at 10:15.  I struggled through my workout because I actually was kind of exhausted from the day before and from lack of sleep.  And, I was sadden by the news I saw on the different TV's, of the plane/helicopter crash in DC.

On my way out of the gym there was a lady struggling to walk in with cane in hand, and she stopped partway up the sidewalk.  I went over and asked if she was OK and she said that she was, but she just wished she wasn’t struggling so.  I consoled her a little and then she said "Well, at least I’m not in the Potomac."  That made me laugh but then immediately sober.  Wow, that hit home.  You know it’s all about perspective and to be grateful for what we do have, even when it doesn’t seem like enough. 

After a hearty lunch, I laid down by the fire to finish my Alex Cross novel that was a clincher at the end.  And I couldn’t even finish the last two pages before falling
asleep.  A phone call from my doctors office woke me from my long nap at 4:30.  I read the last two pages of my book and then had to hustle to be ready to get picked up at 5:30 by Sherri, Bill and Micki. 

We met Linda at Rumors for Karaoke with Terry.  He played and sang several good dance songs that we ladies enjoyed 'hitting the floor' for.  A good time was definitely had by all.  I got home at 10:15 but couldn't fall asleep cause I was so wound up... second night in a row.

Friday 1/31 - It was a stormy night with strong winds and pelting rain.  The rain and wind continued all morning, but with less ferocity.  I wouldn't call it being grateful for my day's Wordle success, it is more a feeling of accomplishment.  I believe a player's first two guesses is more luck than skill.

I had enough to do and catch up with here at home, that I decided not to go to the gym.  I left for the ranch right after lunch, to meet with Charles.  We went over the workings and procedures of up-keep in the main part of the house.





We are grateful that Charles has moved into the ranch master suite and will be sharing the house with all of us, and he is even more grateful to have the beautiful and tranquil place to live.  He hopes to get a new lease on life.  It will be so nice having someone living out there full time, keeping an eye on the property and house.

The rain finally stopped about 3pm and I went out to do chores.  By the time I was finishing up and did the chickens, they were already in the coop for the night.

Gloria as usual, was hanging out on the windowsill, while the other four were on the roost.  Notice there was some sunshine at the time of the photo, but that the skies were still quite cloudy.

Back in the ranch house, Charles and I moved some furniture around in an effort to find good spots for some of his furnishings.  We have added his table, recliner, antique radio, and curio cabinet to the main house.  And then I decided to make room for his couch, so we moved the futon into the guest bedroom.  We needed Joe's help with the couch though, so would wait on that.

There is so much good I am grateful for, many of which I have mentioned in this blog.  But, instead of only appreciating what we have, we can also be grateful for the negative events that almost happened to us, but didn't.  Feeling happy when we narrowly avoid suffering (didn't get sick or hurt) and celebrating "near misses" are also beneficial to our well-being.