Pregame

This week continued as kind of a pregame period.  The pool opening had been delayed until the 25th, so we were still prepping for opening day.  Val’s baby was still not making a show of it, so it wasn't 'game on' yet.  And our planned trailering to horse camps to trail ride was still on hold while Betty heals from her mishap; first it was me, now her. 

In the sports world, pregame for fans is different than pregame for athletes (and all other working personnel).  Pre-game activities are more than just a warm-up; they're an opportunity to connect with fans, build excitement, and create memorable experiences that keep spectators coming back.  Pre-game activities are designed to prepare athletes physically and mentally for a game, and to enhance the fan experience. 

There are lots of different games we play, ventures we do, and contests we partake in.  Some require prior preparation, while others we can just jump right into.  Sometimes the pregame (prep) seems like an anxious time of waiting, but it can be enjoyable and the time goes quicker with fun activities.

Saturday 5/17 - We had strong winds and thunderstorms overnight, but nothing like Somerset & London KY got, with violent tornadoes.  The day was shaping up weather-wise, and did turn out to be beautiful.

You can't see Rose in this photo, but she is on the bench also, with the black cat, whom I may need to name. 

Driving by the old Legends location at Druid on my way to the gym, I am taken aback by the magnitude of this construction project, for a new club house. 

When I arrived at the ranch, Joe was already working on the electric fence around the upper paddock.  And Rico was causing trouble. 






I didn't get photos quick enough, but after nosing around the gator, he had taken the white box (seen in photo) out of the brown box and was tossing it around.  At least he followed the other two out this gate opening, rather than going under/over the uncharged fence lines, which he has been doing.

While mucking, I found another baby bird right under the nest.  The first one had died overnight at Joanne's, and this one was already dead.  Shoot.  I got the ladder and went up to investigate the nest.  There were still two warm babies left, but simply not enough room for four or three of them, and maybe not even two as the last two grow. 


I decided to hang a bucket, with old hay as bedding, below the nest.  This way, if another baby falls out, maybe it will land in the bucket, be a little safer, and mama bird (assuming she is still around) can feed it in the bucket. 


I did wonder if the horses would mess with the bucket.  The hay was old stuff off the ground that they were no longer interested in, but ya never know. 

Karen arrived and we rode Rico and Zorro.  I have been much happier with Rico's behavior recently.  It really helps that I work with him almost every day. 
 





Wanda and Maggie hanging out at the barn while we tacked up. 






Bonnie and Dave doing chores while we un-tacked. 

I had an hour before our bonfire gathering was to start, so I did some last minute mucking when I took Rico back up to the Paso paddock.

And look who I caught checking out the bucket, Amiga.  But she quickly decided it was nothing worth eating.  She is dirty from laying in the pond.  It was in the lower 80's and felt quite hot, although we had a fairly strong breeze. 







In fact, the wind made the bonfire experience a little smokey.  But it was a nice gathering and we all had a good time.  I only took one photo, too busy enjoying myself to think about taking pictures. 
I checked on the chicks after dark, and they were all huddled in the corner by the door, okay I guess.   

Sunday 5/18 - I was kind of feeling this way (sleepy and tired) like Monita, but she is part of the cause of my poor sleep at night.  Face to face with Babe, who had the right idea to just stay in bed. 






It was overcast and cooler, but warm enough for Shirley and I to attend outside Church.  We enjoyed the nice service as the clouds dissipated and the sunshine started warming things up. 





At the ranch after lunch, I noticed that the fence rope (not electrified yet) was down.  Yesterday Joe and Patty had discovered that the rope along the top of the wooden fence was not working because the welded wires woven in it had broken and there was no connection to transfer the electric current down the line, even though the rope was in fine shape.  So the electric fence around the paddock, that attaches to the hot wire (that isn't hot) is also uncharged. 




Smarty pants Rico has learned that he can walk under the top wire and over the bottom one.  Thankfully, he is smart enough to navigate it without freaking out when the rope catches his back feet (video).  Hopefully the other two Pasos don't learn from Rico, but continue respecting the rope and going around to the open gate. 




I checked and there were no baby birds on the floor of the shed or in the bucket.  And I actually saw the mama bird come feed while I was in the shed mucking.  I believe she is a blue bird.  And I watched her fly off with a white glob of baby poop in her beak.

Amiga needed some spa time and I wanted to go for a short ride.  She was very good out on the trail, and seemed to enjoy the brushing, de-ticking, and extra attention while tied in the barn.  

Patty had been out mowing and then feeding treats to the hens.  The babies were figuring out the ladder and that hanging near humans might be worthwhile. 

I had more on my to do list, but suddenly feeling quite tired, I went home for dinner and then started my new James Patterson novel out on the back porch swing. 






Britney sent an up-date and photo.  Four weeks since surgery, much of the glue has been peeling off the incision spot, new hair is growing in, and all is looking well.  I also got confirmation from Terry that he will be DJing our wedding reception party for Britney and Juan Carlos here in TN in August. 👏😃

Monday 5/19 - I cut my morning short here at the computer and went to the ranch for chores and then to ride with Betty.  A Killdeer has built a nest in the turnaround area in front of the shop.  No eggs are there yet but I noticed she has put some wood shavings in the shallow depression.  I set a larger rock next to it, to mark the area not to drive over. 

Betty arrived at 9am because we saw that rain was predicted earlier now, by noon.  This was her first ride since hurting her chest/sternum/ribs four weeks ago.  We had a nice little ride and were both happy to know that Betty could ride without discomfort, as long as Dorado didn't spook.  My only photo was of Betty shutting the gate. 

Betty did get a nice photo of Rico and I by this big Mountain Laurel.

Our ride went well, but then we got rained on a little, and then got rained on a little harder.  We decided it wasn’t going to let up and it was starting to get slick underfoot, so we quit.  We did put in 3.2 miles though. 







While it poured, I decided to shrink the chick side of the coop even more.  All eight were in to keep out of the rain, and scurried around to stay out of my way.  

By the time I finished in the coop, it was nearly done raining.  Here is a look at our garden that Patty planted.  In the front bed can be seen tomatoes and gladiolas.  In the other, as seen from view below, is kale, parsley, onions, zinnia, and potatoes.  





I picked some kale to add to the salad I had planned for dinner.  And then I scooted home for a protein lunch and reading time while I digested.  The sun had come out and the rain was done for the day.  Joe went to the ranch after golf, to take down the electrobraid across the paddock so Rico wouldn't get tangled.

I had a good workout, although time got away from me as I chatted with folks a little too much.  Joe had suggested dinner out but I was noncommittal.  Well, I skipped my hour on the elliptical and told Joe "I'm in" for dinner.  I cleaned up and we went to Stonehenge, enjoying a tasty meal.  Once home, we watched Survivor to end the evening.

Tuesday 5/20 - I got caught up on blogging and laundry, had an early lunch, and headed to the ranch.  The little girls are getting the hang of the ladder perch in the coop.  The eight chicks can usually be seen in fairly close proximity.  If one gets separated from the flock, it will scream (peep loudly) for the others.   

Once Joe arrived, we worked at several little jobs I had.  Unfortunately, a rain storm was now predicted, which washed out my plans to ride with Betty. 

Seen here, figuring out how to put an inner frame in the little door to fill the hollow gap in the door where the chicks have been pulling out and eating insulation.

We had put outside jobs on hold while the 30 minute storm, with a torrential downpour, passed through. 

Once the rain quit, we went down to the barnyard to do more jobs.  Wow did it pour and now it was flooded (videos).

We moved the round bale hay feeder back up to the shop behind Betty's trailer and then tried to unroll (spread out) the moldy round bale of hay. 







It did not go quite as planned (most jobs rarely do), so we ended up pulling it apart (kind of in layers) and push/rolling it along the back of the dam.  




The bottom of the bale was very wet and moldy and the top of it had grass growing on it.  I was amazed by the amount of heat coming from the inside of it as we pulled the outer layers off. 






It would be neat if grass started growing on this hay, although more manure will still get dumped back here.

Wanda cat had followed us out, and was hollering early on in our work. 











Before Joe left for poker at 2:00, I had him help me take down a small dead tree that was leaning across the trail.  He forgot the battery for the chain saw, but we were able to push the tree down and out of the way. 

You can see from this photo, how flooded our riding trail was.  

After Joe left, I continued spreading out the hay better and then took all the photos seen above. 







I also took time to pet and love on Wanda, forget stopping to smell the roses.  

I was wet and fitly dirty when I got home so hopped right in the shower.  After dinner, I worked here and read while we were under a tornado watch and then warning.  We did have quite a storm blow through, dumping more rain.

Wednesday 5/21 - I was up in the middle of the night again, but did go back to sleep on the couch for an hour.  I saw posted that an EF-1 tornado touched down in southern Cumberland County last night.  It had been really windy here.











Rose had not shown up for dinner last night or breakfast this morning.  She does tend to 'disappear' during bad weather; snow storms, tornadoes, etc. 



I was at the Ranch by seven to do morning chores. This little tree frog was by the chicken coop door.

I got to The Center before the 8:30 Board meeting started.  During member comment time, Patty and I both asked a few questions and made a few comments, concerning the stables. 








I zipped out of the board meeting by 9:30 to get to the pool for 'pregame' cleaning, and worked a little over an hour.  The Glade has put up flags everywhere in preparation for Memorial Day weekend.

I was at the employee picnic from 11-12:30, while Joe was at the ranch replacing the electric fence.  I dropped in at the Center and Library and then came home for an hour of rest out in the sun, reading my book.  








I was at the gym for only 90 minutes, feeling weak and tired, and having a rather poor workout. 
I think this one deer is ready to have her baby, just like Valencia.  A mother in waiting, ready to be done with pregame and get the show on the road.

Thursday 5/22 - In preparation for the pool season, I attended a CPR/First Aid refresher class at the police station from 8:30-9:45. 





I went straight to the gym and had a much better, actually rather good, ab. and arm workout.  These flags are around the sign as you leave central 'campus' (the old four way stop) of Wyndham/Fairfield Glade.  I took the photo while sitting at a red stop light. 



Patty had morning chores and took this photo of the boys hanging out at the fence along the upper paddock where the three Pasos are.
When I got home from the gym, I had lunch and then needed a nap. 









I went out to the ranch to do chores.  Arriving plenty early, I worked in the chicken coop again.  I took out the 'baby' fence, put away extra water and chick grit containers, and got the coop back to it's pre-baby chicks set-up.  The Pasos were ready for removal of fly masks and to go out in the pasture.  And Rico respected the hot fence all day... yippee. 





I had popcorn for dinner and watched the three hour ending of Survivor.  We had TV troubles partway through and ended up finishing it on Joe's computer.

Friday 5/23 - When I pulled in at the ranch for morning chores, Amiga and Rico were flat out, napping, but both started to rise by the time I took this photo. 

Rico had gone through the tight fence (not hot at night when the stretch gate is open because it doesn't connect to the hot fence line) and pulled it down some.

And then when he came in for breakfast, he walked right through it (under the top line and over the bottom strand) again.  And Amiga, who was following him, contemplated trying the same thing.  But I made her go around like they all are supposed to do. 
 

From the ranch, I went to the pool to work.  It is supposed to open this Sunday.  We'd been waiting for the deck surface to be repaired.  The company had finally done it yesterday (although they did a crappy job).  We had to pull all the chairs and lounges out of storage (in the restrooms) and clean them.  The restrooms were filthy and got completely cleaned.  And all the tables were also washed.  I got out of a lot of cleaning because I planted flowers. 




By 1:00 we were all tired and had places to go.  I headed right back to the ranch to ride with Betty.  I had a few extra minutes so took some photos.  The Killdeer had laid one egg (very well camouflaged) in her nest. 








And Gloria was just leaving a nest box, having laid her egg.  She is the only one that lays brown eggs.  The other two lay the bluish green ones.

The first coop photo shows the current, and hopefully final set up of the chicken area.  And this photo shows the back garden area of the coop where the chicks had been, that I got all cleaned.
 






A medium size black snake in the grass by the coop.  When I tried to move it farther away, it scurried (fast) into the log pile.  He can eat the mice but better not go after our eggs. 




Betty and I were quick to tack up and hit the trail. 





It was a perfect day for riding.  The temperature was in the low 70's and there was enough wind to keep flies off our horses.  We ended up going six miles.  Both our boys did great, with only a couple of little spooks when we encounter people walking on the Kirkstone hiking trail/road.
 

I helped Betty with chores and didn't get home until 5:30.  I quickly did pet care chores, threw on a clean shirt and body spay, and went to The Grove. 










Dennis Long (kind of the warm up band/pregame music before Mirror Lake Blast kickoff on Memorial Day) was the performer.  He did a nice job entertaining us with a variety of music.  I had no idea he played the saxophone (video).  I had beer and popcorn for dinner, just what you'd expect at a pregame party.  It was a nice ending to the day and the week.