On Track?

It's best to stay on track, if possible, because getting back on track is much more difficult than just staying on track.  Unfortunately, it can be easy to get off track.  There are so many things that can derail us, like an illness or a necessary medical procedure.  Maybe it’s a big event to plan or go to, which causes us to put things on hold, and get out of our usual routine.  We might even have to pause our routine to help somebody else out.  Even a vacation can cause us to step out of our normal routine, making it difficult later to get back on track.  The farther and longer you veer off course, the more difficult it is to get back on track.  

Are you on track?  Are you making steps towards achieving certain goals?  Do you have projects you’re whittling away at?  Do you have dietary or exercise goals you are slowly accomplishing?  How about that bucket list?... have you accomplished a life goal, fulfilled an aspiration, realized a dream, or completed a must-do?  Try to stay on track!

Sunday 8/24 - It was a cold (mid 50s) morning, as evidenced by Babe and Mama Styx being curled up.  
 
I finally made it to church with Shirley, first time this month, very overdue, but hopefully back on track.  I also returned her cooler we had borrowed.  

I hit Food City on the way home.  Packed a dinner and was off to work at the pool, returning home at 6:15.  It was a very  light day because it was too cold (and overcast) for many to want to come to the pool.

Monday 8/25 - I could only see two of our three Pasos when I got to the ranch, with one down.  This always causes the heart to skip a beat.  Who was missing and what was going on?
  
 






It was Zorro standing guard and Rico sunning.
After Rico stood up, Amiga then lifted her head.  She had been flat out, probably sleeping.  

The three horses made their way in for breakfast.

I worked at the pool from 9:15-1:45.  Again it was a light day of business.  

Oh, the girls (young hens, a few days over five months old,) have finally started laying eggs.  They are 'baby' eggs - the three small ones on the right in this egg carton.  




Also, I had gotten this cute little egg basket at Allen's garage sale (for 1.50) and put it here in the ranch house.  I like it and how it looks.  Now it needs some eggs in it.

After a nap and shower, I headed to Mirror Lake Blast.   







It was a cool evening, as you can see, Micki had a hoodie on.  The band did not have very good vocals, but played good dancing music, so we (including Linda and Vicki) had a fun time.



While at the blast, I finished off the bottle of wine Cathy and Jean had left in our fridge.  I had to add some ginger ale because it was so dry.  Anyway, it was much more potent than the two light beers I usual drink, thus contributing to the good time I was having.

This summer there has been a man with his son in a wheelchair, that have been on the dance floor much of the time.







Well tonight we made their acquaintance.  Come to find out, the man (Brian Hoffsmith) has written a book about his son Kevin (who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant).  Brian showed me this photo of his book (which proceeds have supported his son's love of fast nitro cars and highway cruises).  It's about overcoming limitations, the power of kindness, believing in oneself, and living in the moment.

Tuesday 8/26 - The morning was cool and the cats (this is Monita) acted like they were cold.  I worked very hard and intentionally on the Happily Ever After blog but didn't quite get it finished before rushing off to the gym at 1:30.

Babe also looking a bit cold.  It was my first time back at the gym in several weeks.  I cut back on some of my weights or some of the reps, and made it through the whole workout in two hours without feeling too exhausted.  I'm just trying to get back on track.  I hope I can push myself harder next time.    

I went to Lake Tansi for the first time this summer, to listen to a live band and to dance.  I went with Vicky and her husband Bob, and also Dave who works at Druid pool.  Linda and Jim were there too.  

This is a great venue for music and dancing.

The band was really good, and we got in a fair amount of dancing.  Donna (who lives in Tansi) was there and also out on the dance floor with us.  It was so good to see her.  







During intermission, I walked the path to the beach, getting some photos.  I love that people show up in their golf carts and pontoons to listen to the music.  What a beautiful night it was.
 

Wednesday 8/27 - This was posted on Facebook later today.  We are all very proud of Vale and the great job she does.  

It had actually dipped into the 40s last night and the house was freezing when I got up in the morning at 4am.  I finally finished and posted the Happily Ever After party blog.  And then I got last week‘s blog (Stop To Chat) started.  

I was later than usual getting to the ranch to do chores.  All ten hens enjoying the oats I threw to them.    

The three boys were in the shady corner of the back pasture when I went out to put fly masks on them, after feeding the three Pasos. 

Then from the back pasture, I climbed through the barbwire fence and went on our trail through the woods to clear limbs that had come down over the past several weeks.  I had taken a handsaw and big lopping shears with me.  








I peeked in the shop to see how the new hay looked.  It is definitely greener than our remaining hay you see on the floor and stacked to the right of the new bales.  And hopefully it is not full of thistles.  

I also checked out the new yard sweeper Joe has been in the process of assembling.  We hope this will ease the work of leaf removal in the fall, both at home and at the ranch.

Karen came out at 11:30 and we saddled up Zorro and Rico to go for a ride.  

Wanda was laying on Karen's new saddle pad when we got back.  LOL  It was a rather short ride.  Rico did great, but Zorro, who was good to start off with, began favoring his front leg a little bit.  He’d be off and on with it so we decided to head back on the trail I had just finished grooming.  We probably went less than two miles total.  He wasn’t bad lame but just seemed off to Karen.  




I had given Amiga a Previcox before leaving the ranch, with the plan to ride her tomorrow.

Saw this buck (in the process of growing antlers) while dinner was cooking and I was playing games at my computer.  I had a cheese pizza to cook and then added much of our leftover pepperoni (truly the last of all the party leftovers) to finally get rid of the rest.
 

Thursday 8/28 - I did some blogging and then left at 8:30 to meet Joanne for a ride.  This time I rode Amiga and she rode Rico. I knew Amiga was sore and a little off, but it seemed she got better, the more we went.  Movement helps her arthritis (recommended by Katy the horse chiropractor and Dr. Perry).  Going downhill was difficult for Amiga so we took the downhills very slowly.  

Look at Rico with his tongue out for his photo.  Silly boy.  We did stop a few times to work with our horses on standing quietly while out on the trail.  We took these photos during one of our stops.  

 






We never did gait and we only went 2½ miles.  But it was a very nice ride and both horses behaved quite well except at one point when we split them up, Rico got a little headstrong.  Another time when I didn’t turn the way which would take us home, Amiga stopped and refused to go any farther.  Each time, with encouragement, both complied.  

Once back to the barn, I did some things around the ranch like cleaning in the port-a-potty and watering some plants.  I also gave Amiga a Previcox.  


I got home at noon, ate lunch on the deck, read (finishing my book) and took a nap. 



I was at the gym from 2 to 4 and did 20 minutes of rowing and an hour of elliptical with my 10 pound weighted vest, then stretched. 

I went straight from the gym back to the ranch to do evening chores.  I didn’t dillydally and was home by 6pm.

Friday 8/29 - Just as I was backing out to go to the ranch, Joe left for Iowa City and the Villhauer reunion.  He had gambling stops planned on the way there and back. 

I took this (video) of the three Pasos coming in for breakfast, and was glad to see that neither Amiga nor Zorro looked lame.  





I sat back here at my computer when I got home and did some of my usual games I haven't played in a while.  I have to brag about my Wordle results.  

I got a call from one neighbor while eating lunch, that another neighbor's dog, Maggie (too or 2) had gotten lose from the pet sitter and they couldn't catch her.  Well this led to much excitement.

I went down the street with our Maggie, who Maggie 2 likes to play with, hoping that would help catch her.  The dog sitting company had called the police and animal control and there were two of each vehicles in addition to a four wheeler with a policeman in it, out looking for and trying to catch the dog.  Maggie 2 was scared to death and running for her life.  Maggie and I headed off in the direction that the escaped dog was last seen headed, and walked the one mile loop where Maggie 2 is usually walked.  There was no sign of her.

When I got back to Maggie 2's house, they had decided to all 'back down' so to speak, and the only people left at the house were the two ladies from the dog sitting organization.  They said that Terry (the owner who was gone on vacation) had told them they’d have a better chance of catching Maggie 2 if less people were around.

I went to the gym, knowing it would be closed Monday and got in an excellent workout.  After my shower there, when I was driving home, I saw Maggie 2 standing in the vacant lot next to her house, looking a bit confused and worried.  I talked to her through my open window And she didn’t run off.  

So I went home, grabbed Maggie, and walked back to where Maggie 2 was.  This is us, on a different walk, but I needed a filler photo.  I love the fuchsia flowers around the neighbors house.

When Maggie and I got near Maggie 2, she ran right up to us, but when I reached out to pet her, she shot out of range.  I tried talking to her, giving her treats, and playing with a ball in her back yard with Maggie.  She would get quite close at times, but every time I tried to grab her, she’d run off.  I spent time loving on Maggie and giving her treats and Maggie 2 really wanted in on the action.  At one point I even had Maggie 2 coming up to Maggie and I while we were in her garage.  But she still feared the pet sitter lady who was kind of hiding and watching from in the house.  

Maggie at her lookout station.

After well over 30 minutes of effort, I finally decided that Maggie 2 was not going to go in the house with the lady in there, so I nicely asked if she would be willing to leave for a few minutes and let me see what I could do on my own.  She thought that sounded like a good idea and as she drove out the drive, Maggie 2 barked a bit and then settled.

It took me probably less than five minutes after the pet sitter's car had disappeared down the street, to get Maggie 2 to come follow Maggie and I, right into the house through the front door.  She had really wanted to be back inside, but was afraid to go in with the pet sitter in there.  Animals just know when they are being stalked, but can't always distinguish kind objectives from predatory intent.