Party Hearty

Party Hearty - To engage in lively, unrestrained merriment; go to parties, celebrate in a very open, cheerful, enthusiastic, and energetic way.  

"Party hardy" also means to celebrate enthusiastically and without restraint, but often to excess.  "Hearty" relates to the heart and often means energetic, strong, or whole, while "hardy" relates to being tough and able to endure or continue in spite of exhaustion.  While "party hearty" is the older, more grammatically correct form, "party hardy" became popular.  Both versions can also be used to describe someone capable of partying frequently, for a long time, with great energy, and without holding back.

This week I just so happened to have three parties planned. 

Saturday 10/25 - This morning the deer were having a little party back in the creek and woods; romping and zooming around (video).

Today was the afternoon of our big pool party at the ranch, and I was so relieved to see that the weather was going to cooperate, with the rain holding off.  



Barry and Malissa arrived 45 minutes early and helped me a tremendous amount.  Barry got the corn hole set up and then ran a few errands with the gator collecting trash cans, chairs, steal cart, mounting block, etc.


Dave and Larry enjoying the afternoon sun.  It was mostly sunny, almost no breeze, and in the mid 60s.

As people arrived, they set up their lawn chairs and took their dish to share into the house.  Malissa had finished my decorating inside and was organizing the food bar.
  

We ended up with 31 guests and had three rows of parked cars.

 

 

Joe arrived and helped me move horses into the front pasture where we 'locked them in' so we could open gates to the lower paddock and back pasture.

Joe got the tractor and little hay wagon and I put Amiga and Zorro in their stalls and fed them and opened both gates to their paddock/field.  

Steve looks ready to roll.













I went out with the second group on the hay ride and gave info about our horses and property.  

I also re-opened or closed gates as we went, to give horses access to their usual fields. 

Once done with the hay ride we joined the others, who had started in on the food.  















Malissa had organized a soup and stew potluck, the perfect choice for a cool fall evening.

Barry getting started while Penny tastes a sampling of one of the soups.  



And later Barry selecting from the desert options.  

Many folks ate inside.

Barb and Steve rocking the country, cowboy guise.

With two leaves in the oak table, we were able to seat eight people in the sun room also.  

And several more congregated and ate outside. 

The Tennessee Volunteers were playing the Kentucky Wildcats so that was being watched by some.









Mostly there was just a lot of chattering happening.

Joe got the bonfire started.  



What a big, beautiful, happy group; congregating on a gorgeous fall evening; sharing food, drink, laughter, fun and stories.

After sunset, the air got cooler, but was still not that bad out.  Everybody had dressed appropriately.










The warm fire did draw us in closer around it. 

I used flash on these last two photos.

Sunday 10/26 - There's no better feeling than a barn full of hay going into winter.  It's enough to make you want to party.  Well our hay is in the shop, and it isn't full, but we have enough to get us through the end of February.  The hay guy told Joe there is plenty more when needed.   
 

I went out to the ranch after Church and lunch.  Karen and I had talked about going for a ride, but she lost motivation with the gloomy, rain threatening skies and I was busy cleaning up after the party. 

About the time I went out to muck the paddock it started drizzling, so my decision to maybe ride by myself was then made up.  I did notice a connecting wire for the electrobraid had been pulled loose, so got Joe on that job after he helped me move some heavy things back where they belonged.

Monday 10/27 - Maggie in the cat bed (Stevie's favorite old one) a few days ago.  The cold, damp air, with no sunshine, was enough to keep any of us in bed all day.  We could have a pajama party!  

This photo was also taken a few days ago when Maggie was 'bed hopping' like Goldilocks.  

Today, Maggie was in her Mancave bed.  
It rained all day.  I skipped morning chores because the horses didn't need fly masks and the large, outer chicken coop door could remain shut.  My only accomplishment was three hours at the gym, including a shower, and then Food City on the way home.  I also got the gas fireplace going for a first this season so Joe and I could sit near it while watching a movie.

Tuesday 10/28 - The view out my rain streaked window this morning.  It was cool and dreary, with patchy drizzle and cloudy skies persisting all day.  The temperature never got above the mid 50s and the occasional breeze made it feel colder.  But I was feeling blessed that we were finally getting rain and thankful it was nothing like Jamaica's predicament.  

I was out at the ranch shortly after Bonnie sent this photo from her morning chores.  I did more tiding up at the house and then met with Joanne.  I was thrilled and so thankful she still wants to be part of our 'group' even though Betty is leaving.  After a big shopping trip in town, I arrived home at dinner time.

Wednesday 10/29 - This was my day's Wordle debacle, disaster, fiasco... which made me 'glare-ing' mad. 😜
Today was colder, gloomier, windier and rainier than Tuesday, and it was a big disappointment that our evening's party would have to stay inside, with no bonfire.  

While completing her last chore shift before moving Dorado, Betty sent this photo of him with his two buddies, Rico and Cowboy.

I got to the gym early, and after three hours there, including a shower, I came home for lunch, a PBJ.


I packed up everything I would need for the party and went to the ranch.

I started in on chores as soon as I got there.

Rico continues to get anxious in his stall at feeding time.  Look at his dirty face.  I got a little wet and dirty myself doing chores in the rain.  After gathering dry firewood and putting Gloria in 'sick bay' I got cleaned up and changed for the party.  




We had a total of 19 people at the ranch for our 'Saddle Sister' party (some husbands joined us since Joe and our 'ranch hand' Dave were included).  

There was a great variety and selection of food, which we all enjoyed.

And we were able to get almost everybody seated around our two large tables.  







It was so fun seeing everyone, catching up on news & reminiscing about old times.  









Not only did we share our current experiences but there was some dreaming of the future and talk about the possibility of the FFG Stables ever re-opening.  

Those who were left after dinner (ten of us) ended up circled around the hearth in the living room enjoying the wood burning fire.  We continued talking non-stop.  I didn't get a photo of this unfortunately.










We were definitely having a great time because it looked like nobody wanted to go home.  But we broke up the fun about 8:45, gathered our left-overs, and headed to our respective homes.

Joe had left earlier to feed Maggie, but the cats were very excited to finally get their dinner.

Thursday 10/30 - 
Patty had morning chores and had slept at the ranch, partly because we'd had the fire in the fireplace, and it wasn't quite died down when the party ended last night.  She sent these photos of this morning's mountain view and fall colors.
 

It was another cold, gloomy, damp, breezy day, and a misty rain started back up before noon.  

I spent my morning working on our ranch business, mostly co-op details.  Once I had the new schedule and procedures printed, I went to The Center to get copies of all boarding, coggin's, and co-op paper work.  Then I hit the gym for an intense arm workout.  

I got to the ranch at 12:30, gave Amiga her Previcox, ate a quick lunch, and then helped Joe load grill, chairs, tables & cart onto the trailer, and back off at the garage for winter storage.  It is sad to see another nice outdoor season come to an end.

Joanne pulled in just as we finished unloading the trailer.  She was here to help me work with Rico, trying to settle and calm him while in the barn alone.  The cold crisp air, strong breeze, and noisy trees and leaves nearby did not help matters any.  


Joanne 'took the reins' so to speak (rope and halter) and did all the work with my nervous, anxious horse.  Jan arrived while we were working, and we talked through causes and solutions to Rico's anxiety.  Joanne made good progress with him, working for nearly an hour.  We wanted to end the training process on a good note and not 'un-do' our progress, so we feed Rico in the shed with Cowboy and Dorado.  He ate a much more relaxed meal for a change.  This would be Dorado's last dinner with his buddies.  We then discussed how we would incorporate Cash into the herd at meal time.

I headed up to feed Amiga and Zorro as the ladies headed out the drive.  Then I spent a great deal of time trying to catch Gloria.  When she is running, she looks normal, but sometimes when she walks she pitches to the left and kind of stumbles.  But man could she run fast.  Once I finally caught her, I gave her a good going over.  Other than being in a severe molt, she showed no signs of injury or illness.  I wondered if she'd had a mini stoke or something.  Back into isolation she went for the night.

Friday 10/31 - Happy Halloween!  My sister Cathy makes cards and I always get the cutest ones from her.  Here is this year's.  → 
And speaking of cute, check out this (video) of Wanda (The Wonder Cat) that Betty took a few days ago.


Before I was finished here at my computer, I got word that Betty had loaded Dorado on her trailer and was on her way to his new home, a full boarding barn in Jamestown. 

And then I got word that Cash was being loaded onto Polly's trailer and would be at the ranch in 45 minutes.  





I got to the ranch ten minutes before Jan and Polly.  Cowboy and Rico were checking out all the excitement as Polly parked the trailer for unloading.






Cash came off quietly but was quite sweaty from the anxiety of trailering.  






Once Cash was loose in the corral, there was much squealing, mostly by Rico, as he and Cowboy greeted Cash (video).  


Cash was quite anxious and did a lot of pacing and running around in the corral.


He was really having troubles settling down.  Reminds me so much of Rico.  



After awhile, Jan went in and did some groundwork with him and that really helped calm him.  









I had brought Amiga down, whom Cash really loves, in hopes a familiar friend would help calm Cash.  Then Jan brought him out and the two old friends grazed together for awhile.

After some time eating and relaxing on Cash's part, Jan turn him back out in the corral and I headed up the lane with Amiga.  Well Cowboy and Rico followed me and because all of the horses had left Cash and he couldn't really see them, he completely lost it again; hollering, pacing, and being upset.  So we decided to let Cash have access to the front pasture, but first put Rico and Cowboy in the paddock, not wanting the horses to mingle yet.  

Cash ran exuberantly around, looking for horses he could buddy-up with.  This (video) and then next photo shows Zorro and Amiga running down the fence line in pursuit of Cash as he trotted by. 

Jan and I eventually settled up at the house at the puzzle table, looking out at the field and watching Cash.  We were eating lunch when Joanne arrived and discussed anxiety in horses, causes and solutions.  

Joanne and I showed Jan the feeding process with A&Z and the chickens.  Then we all walked and talked through the best order of steps to take when feeding Cowboy and Rico in the back of the shed and how we would incorporate Cash into the mix.  

I had to scoot off before the other two, to get home, feed Maggie and the cats, shower, and put together a Halloween costume.  This is what I came up with.  I was ready for my third and last party for the week.  







Bill and Sherri picked me up and we stared out at Rumors, but the party was a real dud.  They had lost their liquor license so were only serving beer, which caused many party goers to turn around and head back out the door.  Also, the party started with Karaoke, resulting in a bunch of slow ballads = boring.  And the DJ had not showed up by 9:00 (and hour late) so we left.

We went to Plum Crazy to try it out, and are so glad we did.  The party was hopping.



Big R leaning into the photo.

Then a random party goer offered to take our photo.
  
Great music, lots of dancing, fun costumes, and a little too many beers ensued.  

It was after midnight before I got home, feeling maybe I had partied a little too hearty.  But no regrets, I'd had a lot of fun.