In The Game

In spite of being crazy busy and not having the energy level I used to (I tend to want to rest more often), I'm still trying to stay in the game rather than sit on the sideline.  My life, or game of life has been very fulfilling and blessed.  For me it does not concern winning; but is about being a good sport, learning and growing from experiences, and having fun while in the game.  

These two are ready to play, and  who wouldn't want to be in the game with them?

Saturday 6/21 - Getting up at 3am, I finished and posted last week's blog, but later endured a dull headache associated with lack of sleep.  But I had to stay in the game... go to work at the pool.  I did take a very short nap, but was then running late so had to really hustle to get opening chores done by 10am.






The regulars came before opening time and very soon many others showed up.  By 11:30, almost all the chairs and lounges were taken and it became a 'juggling act' to find spots for new arrivals to sit.
 

My pool shift flew by because I was so busy.  I hit Food City on the way home and then, rather than sit down (and loose all ambition) I changed and got right to work in the back yard.  

Joe had dumped several more loads of wood chips for me, so I continued with weeding and spreading the piles out.  These two photos show my continued progress.  



It was 6pm by the time I got to a good stopping point, while also running out of steam.  Household/pet chores and a quick dinner and shower and then I was ready to 'face time' with Britney and Juan Carlos.  Joe and I had lots of travel/wedding plans to discuss and share with them, as did they with us.

I got a kick out of these photos Britney sent.  Juan Carlos has never had a cat, but is doing a great job figuring out how to live with one.  Cats are always in the game.

Britney's cat (Lupe), like most cats, is always 'in the game,' especially when it comes to food.  Look at her sitting across the table from Juanca.




She was definitely workin' it, and her efforts paid off.  Juan Carlos has become a great cat dad!  

Joanne, who was doing chores for Betty, sent these photos.  

Rico was enjoying the broom head Patty put up for them, as a scratching post.  
 

Sunday 6/15 - Holy Moly!  June is already half over.  
I was sitting here at my desk getting this blog started, and watched two very young squirrels; exploring, playing, and practicing evasive moves, jumping, twisting, turning and running up and down trees. Very cute and captivating.  

While Shirley and I sat at church, we had numerous insect sightings.  I was fascinated by them, but Shirley was not so thrilled with their presence.   

I always come out of church like a player from the locker room after half time; refreshed, stoked, fired up, excited and ready to successfully resume the game.










After church I went to Patty's to get several wedding photos scanned.  We will be using a few at Britney's wedding receptions.  This sample shows my family and Joe's family along with the bride's maids and groomsmen.  I wore Mom's wedding dress and Britney will be wearing it too (77 year old dress).

I went to the pool an hour early for my shift, to help set up for the pool party.  We had live music, which everyone enjoyed and the regulars had a big pot-luck.  It was very hot so lots of people stood or floated around in the water.  We actually weren't as crowded as we had been Saturday (video).  

I didn't get things cleaned up and put away at the pool until 6:45.  Maggie got a quick walk once I was home and she and the cats had a late dinner.  

Monday 6/23 - It was going to be a scorcher today and was already heating up before 6am.  I took this (video) of the deer splashing in the creek, a good way to beat the heat.


I left for the ranch at 7:30 and had just finished feeding and mucking out sheds for the three Pasos, when Patty and Joanne arrived to go for a ride.  


Joanne pointed out that at the ranch, I am POO Staff.  Bah, ha, ha. 




When I arrived at the pool at 9:00, I discovered that the trash I had set by the office wall had been gotten into.  There is no trash pick-up on the weekends, so with the party and three busy days (Fri-Sun) our huge can on the curb was full.  I had decided to keep these two bags inside the pool area, but not in the building because they were leaky and smelly.  Well, I won't do that again.

Today's temperature got into the mid 90s with a heat index over 105°, so it was another busy shift at the pool.  I was in the water before opening, scrubbing tile, and later got in one other time, just to cool off.  
Once home, I saw this posted on Facebook.  The 9th green of Dorchester is literally right behind our pool.  

After a shower, short nap, and a little reading time, I went to Mirror Lake Blast, finding a spot - center stage and in the shade.  Joe soon joined me.





The band 'Double Shots' was a little slow at first.








Micki and Linda came a little late and we joined the few dancers out trying to make the best of it.  In the second set the band really picked up the pace and were fun to dance to.   Vicki, Cleet, and Karen joined us on the dance floor, and are three other fun ladies to boogie with.

Tuesday 6/24 - It was a Rosie day.  Here Rose is napping on the lounge chair first thing this morning, about 5:30.  

Around 6:30 the sun was coming up over the house and heating things up outside and on the deck, so Rose already sought out the shade.
 

By the time I got done at my computer and went out to work in the backyard, Rose had moved to the cold concrete where there wasn't heat radiating off the deck.

Maggie, my project supervisor joined me part of the time, but also went into the air-conditioned house to nap with Joe.  It was the dog days of summer. 

Joe brought me several loads of wood chips, some seen here piled on the big rock because I needed to first weed the area where I was going to put them.  






Next are several views of the finished product.  It was again a mid 90s day with heat index near 110° so I worked at a slower pace, sat and drank plenty of  water (refilling my 16oz glass quite often), and luckily was in the shade most of the time.  



I wish I could get the grass to grow thicker in back, around my beds.  And why is it that it grows where I don't want it but I can't get it to grow where I do want it?






The wood chips really help hold down the weeds, but the beds need re-mulching every two or three years.  I tell Joe (who does all the mowing) that it is easier to maintain grass areas than all the beds we have.  He thinks (and has a good point) that it would be easiest to just let most of the back be wild woodland rather than yard.  

Joe left for poker and once I got all of the largest bed 'completed' (weeded and mulched) I called it quits.  

A cool shower was really enjoyed and I had to do a little more poison ivy control.  I've gotten it around my wrists, I think from my gloves when I take them off and on.

Rose's little black friend, whom I've decided to name Shadow, because he/she follows Rose around.

Wednesday 6/25 - Monita not ready to face the day or get in the game.  Exactly a year ago today my doctor told me I had colon cancer.  If I knew then what I know now, it would have been much less stressful, reducing my anxiety and worrying.  I continue to thank God for His grace and healing and for all the prayers, as my battle was so much easier than what most people go through.  

 

 

 

Joanne rode with Betty early this morning and offered to do chores for me, so I took her up on it.  Unfortunately she had to deal with a dead chicken.  This is Arnie who I've had to clean the back end of a few times this summer, but not recently.  The unshelled egg indicates she was probably egg bound, but Patty said she was running around eating watermelon last night.

Patty and I had an early appointment for a pedicure, something I have never done before.  It took a long time, but it all (foot and leg massage, exfoliation, trim and nail polish) was well worth it.  And the chair massaged my back while sitting there.  All so nice.







Letting the polish get good and dry took awhile too.  But the salon lady, Patty, and I did a lot of talking, so the time went quickly.  During Patty's manicure, I read.  

We hit Taco Bell on the way home because it was 12:25 when we left the nail place.  




My book had gotten really good and it was just too blasted hot to work outside, so I laid on the couch with Mama Styx.  Notice Babe high up on the cat tower.

About 3:00 a big storm blew in, with thunder and lightening, but very little rain.  Apparently it hailed in Crossville.  I had actually fallen asleep for a bit, and then finished my book.  








At 4:30 Joe and I went out to the ranch to muck the upper sheds, put fresh shavings in them, and bury Arnie, the dead chicken.  We didn't work that long (just over an hour) or hard but were both drenched in sweat.  Home for a late dinner for all, and I played games on my computer since I'd finished my book. 

Thursday 6/26 - Monita bird watching with me this morning, or spotting other critters like squirrels and chipmunks, or Rose and Shadow, or deer.  I often have one large buck that eats all the corn in the morning, but today these four deer were first to come. 

  




I haven't seen any fawns this year, but still get plenty of adults.  I wonder if these four are young bucks.  With the heat, they come to drink and lick the salt block, even if the corn is gone.

I wanted to be quick to get outside, to try and beat the heat, but got a late start and worked until 3:30 anyways.

I finished up at the large lower bed; weeding, moving some sparse patches of moss, and then mulching with wood chips.  Before photo first.

I watered all the moss, which is the dark green and brown dirt areas you see.

Next I moved to the bed along the east side of our yard, that runs along Brian's yard.  







This section of bed, seen with leaves and weeds, is what I didn't get to.  





To the right of that area I had weeded, raked up leaves, and mulched with wood chips.  Joe brought me several loads from the pile in the driveway.  






This is farther down towards the pond, near the end of the bed.  The lighter green shrub is a cedar tree, planted right on top of Stevie (her grave).  





I was hoping we could finish off this pile of wood chips, but we still had this much left by the time I quit.  It used to be as large as Joe's SUV, when we first got it.  






I was beat by 3:30, ready to come in and shower and finish laundry.  But then I remembered I had chores at the ranch.  So off I went, with more water in hand.  





We now have two old hens (Black Betty - aka Babe, and Gloria) seen on the ground at the bottom of the photos.  Seven of the eight young hens can be seen perched in the fallen dogwood, that is still alive.

Once home, I still wasn't done.  I remained in the game even though I was ready to sit on the  bench.  I fed the masses, finished laundry, gathered more items to be packed, and added things to my to do list as fast as I was crossing others off. 

Roll Along

Merrily I roll along.  Life, like a game, is rolling along well for me.  


This blog title brings to mind the University of Iowa fight song (Roll Along Iowa).  We played this (when I was in the Hawkeye marching band) at the start of every Iowa home football game.  It is good to always keep the ball moving down the field, whether in a ball game or the game of life.
Some song lyrics:  Don't ever yield,  Give your all,  
With firm endeavor - Roll on forever  
Roll along - On to victory!

Saturday 6/14 - Look who Joe and I got to meet, our new, two week old granddaughter, Layla Belle.

Early this morning we got packed up, dropped Maggie at Patty's, and were rolling along I-40 by 9am. 

Our trip went smoothy, until we tried to order lunch at Chick-fil-A before 10:30.  So we improvised and then arrived with 'lunch' at Dan's by 11am.






This new arrangement of family names on their wall was immediately noticed.  New pictures will be added soon.  

Layla was napping and Vale resting, so we (Joe, Dan, and I) took turns playing with Ava.  







I didn't take any photos because this girl was really on the go, but I got this photo from a (video) I took.  We colored, went for walks, played, drove around in her tractor, blew bubbles and biked.

Once Layla was awake, fed, and changed: I got to meet her.  This is actually a selfie I took.  And then Dan assisted me and took this next one.  



What an absolutely precious 
beautiful two week old baby.




And look at all the hair!  Ten pounds sounded big but when holding her, she really was a tiny package of delight.




Joe took Ava and Tango for a walk and they got caught in a downpour.  
Seen here, they were later goofing off.












Layla did what babies do; eat, sleep, pee and poop.

 
Later in the day, Ava and I went in to see mama Vale and Layla once they were awake.  

Ava really likes holding her little baby sister.  





Layla has been a very good baby, usually not fussy except in the evening for a bit.  



Courtney arrived and joined us in the master bedroom for some baby time.  

I am so blessed!  This just fills my heart.












Layla looking at the fan overhead.

After a little more lovin', some fun and games, a feeding and diaper change, we went outside to get a few Father’s Day pictures (some I'll include Sunday).

Nana and Pawpa with Layla and Ava.  



And then each of us (Joe and I) with Layla.  













We ordered dinner from a Mexican restaurant so Joe went to pick it up while Ava and I were out biking again.  I had to walk quickly to keep up with her while she was rolling along.  

Our two children, with Dan and Vale's two children.





Dinner was enjoyed and then Ava and I took a walk to digest.  Ava (and Layla) have the best dad.  He truly is an incredible father.  I think he gets it from his father, Joe.


When it was bath time for Ava, we said our goodbyes and headed to Courtney‘s. 




We drove through a thunderstorm and heavy rain, and when we got to Courtney's neighborhood, there was no electricity anywhere. Stoplights weren’t working and traffic was snarled.  Once at Courtney's condo, we sat in the decreasing twilight from the windows, and then candlelight.  There wasn't much to do so I went up to bed and read by my phone flash light for a few pages, until my phone battery was getting low and I sleepy. 

Sunday 6/15 - Happy Father's Day to these two wonderful dads.

The power had come back on during the night, so I started this blog once I was up and drinking tea just after 5am.  











Joe with his son and one of his daughters.
And Dan with his two daughters.

Joe and I with two of our three children and our two granddaughters.  Here we have added daughter-in-law Valencia (also one of our 'children') to the group.

This photo is from the first of June, a tender moment of Dan with his two daughters.

Courtney was going to Kent's and then on to his parents and I had to be home to work my afternoon shift at the pool, so we were all out of her condo by 9am.

The drive was uneventful, we picked up Maggie at Patty's, and were home shortly after 11am.

Rose and the black cat (whom I guess I need to give a name) were lounging on the back deck when we got home.  I fed her canned food and noticed her limp isn't as bad.  I'm hoping there's no permanent damage.

I left for the pool at 1:30.  The regulars were having a party and were well into celebrating summer, pool, and life in general when I got there.  They invited me to get some food, a pot luck of lots of good stuff.  Two more cases of beer were brought in and the party continued for my whole shift.







We get lots of Wyndham guests on Sunday afternoons also, so it was a fun, yet busy shift for me.  I still had about 20 people at closing time, so wasn't able to start cleaning restrooms until 6pm.  I got home at 6:45, fairly exhausted, and had my Sunday chores to do.

Monday 6/16 - I did my usual morning blogging, packed a lunch, and headed to the ranch at 7:30, in a bit of a fog.  I wasn't in a fog... the sky was.  It drizzled on me a little bit during chores, as rain clouds rolled along.  









Once the Pasos were fed, they munched on hay, but Rico was more interested in re-joining his 'night group' of the boys in the lower paddock.  

My view from the pool office, where I sat and read while it was raining.  I continued to 'battle' drizzle and little rain showers during the first few hours of my shift.  When it wasn't raining, I worked out on the deck, brushing it off with the big broom since it was wet and there was food and dirt left from yesterday's party.  

Other outside tasks included cleaning skimmer baskets, wiping off tables and chairs (which I skipped because it kept raining on them), opening umbrellas, putting out pool equipment, doing a water test, etc.  Judy was my only guest until the sun came out a little later.  In this photo, she is doing her exercises in the rain.  What a trooper, but as she said, she was wet anyway.  I did wipe off a few tables and chairs when a small number of people trickled in after 11:30.
 

Home before 2:30, with almost three hours until Mirror Lake Blast (California Dreamin' Band), I was thinking about what I could get done.  But I made the mistake of sitting down with my book to rest for a bit, and I ended up taking a nap. 
The band started early with hopes of getting in most of the show before the forecasted rain would come. 

It was a small crowd because of the weather so Micki and I sat right up front with Patty and Mike (from the gym).  It was good sing-along music with some dancing (Linda and Vicki joined us on the floor) and I had a good time.  
I was home and readying myself for bed when the downpour hit at 8:30.  Phew, I'm glad it held off.

Tuesday 6/17 - I blogged, did laundry, and organized some thoughts and plans with Joe.  Maggie was provoked by this squirrel while Mama Styx watched quietly (video). 

After a very early lunch (but not so early really, when I eat breakfast at 4am), I met Betty at the ranch.  









As I was coming out of the feed room with rope and halter to get Rico, Amiga went stomping and snorting, towards the back gate.  The boys were her 'back-up' but let her lead the 'charge.'  I thought maybe it was a deer or coyote in the back field, and then saw what the danger was.
     

The Great Blue Heron (that usually hangs out around the ponds) was up on the fence.  Silly horses, but I love my brave Amiga.  I got the bird to fly off before haltering Rico, just in case he spooked at it.

 

Betty and I rode for over two hours, enjoying a nice 6½ mile ride.




It was muggy, but with the overcast skies and a breeze, didn't feel too hot.  Although the flies were a bit annoying.
 

When we got to Lake Kirkstone, we let the horses get a drink.  Rico always acts scared to step in the water at first, but ends up splashing and drinking and enjoying the water.  









I enjoy trying to get 'between the ear' shots, but don't always have much luck.  Below I wanted a 'between the ears' shot of the pretty orange flowers that had two butterflies on them.  But I wasn't getting much cooperation from Rico.  He wanted to munch grass.  





It was almost 3:00 by the time I got home.  I knew I shouldn't sit down, and needed to keep rolling along or I would stall out. 

I was at the gym by 3:20 and had a great workout.  I was surprised by my strength, in spite of my fatigue.  It poured at 4:10 and again at 5:20 while I was at the gym and I was concerned for Patty, who had ranch chores.   

Poker Joe was gone, so I made a salad including fresh kale from the garden to go along with my chicken fettuccine alfredo frozen dinner.  A little work but mostly games on the computer concluded my evening.

Wednesday 6/18 - Here are a few beautiful professional photos of Layla in her first few days of life.  



Our little princess.  



I adore this last one of the three hands.  These are the hands of the ones (Dan, Vale, and Ava) who will be loving her daily, supporting, caring for, and teaching Layla as she grows.  






This morning I had a little brain fart, or a senior moment, or something.  I had prepared myself for a shopping trip to town (putting the cooler with ice packs in my car with some extra water, my grocery list, and a second pair of boots and clean socks), but when I headed out to do chores at the ranch first, I turned the opposite direction and headed towards town.   

I redirected my course of travel and when I arrived at the ranch, went straight to the barnyard to get fly masks.  I also had Fly Predator to disperse.  The Great Blue Heron was at the lower pond and felt it necessary to move around to the opposite side from where I was, as I spread the insect (predators) on the manure pile.  They are natural enemies of flies, and help keep the barnyard fly population down.  




Arriving at the upper paddock to feed the Pasos, muck, close the paddock gate to keep them in for the day, and put on fly masks; a Killdeer caught my eye, acting injured.  I backed off and then saw these babies (video).







Rico's cute little nose and lips.  Sometimes I worry that I'm stylin’ the same chin hairs as him. 😆

Below, Rico looking out the window of the shed he is closed into during feeding time.  And notice who's peeking around the corner.  








Amiga gets closed into the other shed to eat and Zorro's feed bucket is put on the outside of her gate, where he eats in the alleyway and can walk around the paddock once done with his feed.

I see you Zorro.  They (horses) can be so silly sometimes.

I put on dry socks and boots and headed to town, hitting several stores and picking up many necessities and some less necessary things.  I'd put my name on the one hour wait list at Great Clips and got my hair cut after my Walmart shopping.  I then had to scramble to get home, unloaded, changed, and head to work at the pool.  I was filling in for the guy who quit.

Ugh, yuck, oh no!... two mice and four little frogs, dead in the skimmer basket when I cleaned it out.  I hate it when this happens.




It was a fairly quiet shift.  Joe came and got dinner for us at the club house.  

I did have customers up until the 6:00 closing time so it was after 6:30 by the time I got home.

Fatigue hit and it was an effort to get my evening household chores done.  I was in bed by 8:15.

Thursday 6/19 - Happy Juneteenth, also known as  Freedom Day or Emancipation Day; celebrating freedom for ALL.  It commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

I had not slept well, so it was 6:30 before I felt rested enough to get up out of bed.  Along with blogging, I did desk work and texted people about various things or with questions; working on my to do list before leaving for Costa Rica in twelve days.









For some reason I was stuck in a state of immobility, and needed to get rolling.  I ate a big lunch (trying to finish off leftovers) out on the deck and then lounged there, even taking a nap.  Scheesh.

After 90 minutes of yardwork, which I wish I'd started sooner because I was on a roll, I had to quit to go do chores at the ranch.  On my way, I had the privilege of seeing this black bear on Westchester.  There have been numerous sightings of two different mamas with three cubs each in the Dorchester area, but I think this was neither of them.  It was mid size and alone (video).  

  

While feeding horses and Wanda down at the barn, I wondered why Wanda wouldn't eat.  And then I discovered this squatter in the hay loft.  I ran him off.  

I let Rico into the front pasture from the upper paddock and he quickly joined up with the boys.  Here he is with Cowboy and Dorado.  I was keeping an eye on him, because Banner has gotten some mysterious sores in various spots and we wonder if he is getting kicked or bit.  Rico didn't interact with the others except this one time (video) while I was watching.

When I was leaving, Rico was with Banner and Cowboy... musical chairs or a carousel of horses.

I scurried home, fed the masses, cleaned litter boxes, showered and put on my dancing shoes (boots), walked the dog, and then headed out.
  
 




There was a 'dance party' fund raiser at the library building for the Dog Park.  Linda joined me and we had the best time dancing with all the other ladies.  I tweaked a butt muscle at one point when jumping up and down to 'Who Let The Dogs Out.' 😆

Friday 6/20 - Happy Summer Solstice!  Wow, the days sure are rolling along and today officially marks the first day of summer.  The solstice date is typically 6/21 but can fall on June 20 or 22 also.  Guess it is early this year.

My computer time extended rather long into the morning so I was later than usual getting out to the ranch to do chores.




When I finally arrived at the ranch at 9:45, Bonnie had been there and put fly masks on the three boys.  Banner was out in the field, in the hot sun (it was already 80°) apparently not bothered by the heat because of his light coat color.  




The other two boys, along with Rico, were in the shade of the paddock.  I imagine their black coats make them hotter.  I grabbed two 50lb bags (one of feed and one of barn lime) from the shop and took them to the upper paddock feed-room and dumped them in the bins.  Then I had to walk back down to halter Rico and walk him back up to his feeding shed/stall.   

After our three Pasos were fed, along with mucking and doing some weed pulling, I opened the large chicken coop door to help keep it cool in there.  The chickens were also staying out of the hot sun, finding shade in the chicken yard.  

Black Betty (Babe) couldn't wait for me to refill the water container and got a drink when I set it down to open the gate.  

Before I left, I ran some feed down to the barn for Cowboy and then decided to collect some baby toads to take home for our yard.  I quickly and easily caught well over a dozen of them.  
So the first thing I did when I got home, was to release them in groups of three, in various places.  

I ate lunch on the back deck, read, and took a short nap.  I got way too hot and came in to cool off.  I was doing some things here at my computer and got too sleepy so took another nap.  What in the world?

The black cat (who is very skittish and hard to photograph) has become friends with Rose, who continues to improve walking with her sore leg.  




I didn't get to the gym until almost 4pm and had to keep moving to get in a full workout, including extra stretching of my sore butt muscle.

My silly son posted this photo.  He certainly knows how to roll with it, keeping things fun and not getting too bogged down by stuff. 

As our lives roll along, there is an inevitable progression of time and events, often unpredictable, but always a continuous flow or forward movement.  Roll along with it, finding joy and happiness and appreciating your blessings in spite of the struggles you face.