No Guarantee

We all know there is no guarantee in life.  There is no absolute certainty or promise of tomorrow.  These past few weeks, the reality of life's uncertainty has been all too tangible.  

Larry's passing in end of December was a shock, as was Mike's medical emergency last week.  
The lives of our pets and livestock also has no assurance.  We should take no one and nothing for granted.  


  






It is important to cherish the present, embrace the journey, and act with hope.  We should make the most of each moment, seize the day, and accept impermanence.  Try to find meaning and make memories in the unfolding, unpredictable course of life.

Saturday 1/10 - Rain continued over night and much of the day.  I had planned a day off from the ranch knowing it would be too crummy out.  









I don't know what is so endearing about cat toes, but I just love them.  Mama Styx has cute white paws.

I had plenty of time for a complete body workout at the gym, so did that.  I showered there and was envisioning a late lunch of the high protein bean & lentil soup I had made for dinner the night before... but got an urgent phone call as I was driving home.

Bonnie was at the ranch for chores and said that Rico was acting very strange.  He was trembling and somewhat agitated when she tried to look him over.  He wouldn't let her get too close to him and she wondered if he was colicing, had gotten cold from the rain, or both.

I grabbed my boots at home and went right out to the ranch.  Bonnie had dried Rico off some, and by the time I arrived he seemed much better, although still a little jumpy or agitated.  I dried him more and talked softly and reassuringly to calm him, and pretty soon, he settled down and seemed his normal self.  

Bonnie brought Rico warm mush for dinner (to help warm him if needed) and he ate it all up.  While chatting with her, she said that as she drove up, Wanda (the wonder cat) had jumped down from the roof of the shed where Rico had been standing.  We deduced that the cat leaping through the air had extremely terrified Rico, thus the trembling and agitated behavior. 
 

After feeding time I checked on Rico who had been eating hay.  He walked right over to me (video).  Phew, there are no guarantees, so I was quite relieved that it was nothing serious.  The Rico and Cash photos are from the video.  Notice they were fairly wet.  




I had planned to finish up storing Christmas decorations but ended up plopping down here at my computer with a cup of hot tea.  Right away I saw an e-mail from Cathy that her son Ben had to euthanize his cat (Bruce) today.  Bruce had appeared sick a few days ago and had a very low red blood count, and possible bone cancer.  He was not a good candidate for treatment because of cost and no guarantee it would work.
  




Since Bruce had gotten worse, Ben knew it was time, and did the humane thing.

I never did anything productive all day... there's just no guarantee that I'll amount to anything once I start working a puzzle.  Although, getting this much done accounts for something.

Sunday 1/11 - This photo is from a (video) of Ava helping out in the kitchen.  She is just so darn cute, grown-up, and helpful. 

It was much colder today, but at least it was sunny.  There was a substitute for our key board/organist at Church this morning because her husband had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor and he was going to have a biopsy to determine if it is cancerous.  Shoot, they are only in their early 40s... there is just no guarantee. 

I scooted home from church and then out to the ranch to give Cash his morning snack and supplements.  Joe had come so we could get a round bale out for the boys.  

And boy were they excited about more hay.  They had been following behind the tractor as Joe came across the dam, and then busted a move to go around him before I got this (video) going.  

I got these photos from the video to capture these boys in action.  Cash was definitely 'full of himself' as he lead the procession.  

The 'ya-hoo buck' and quick 'out of the starting block' propulsion is what tweaks their back and hind quarters.  Go easy boys.  There's no guarantee they won't hurt themselves while racing around.   

And of course the boys had to dig right in, eating hay, before we could get the feeder around the bale and the twine taken off of it.  Notice the sky, it was starting to cloud up again.  

Debra; her sister, partner, niece and three dogs were just leaving with a trailer load of things to take to her storage unit.  Joe and I had to get the guest bed box springs 'unstuck' from the door frame of the guest bedroom where they had tried to put it so they could move Debra's mattress and springs into her room.  



Once home, I rested in the sun with my fur babies, and then finally finished stowing away all of the rest of the Christmas decorations.  





Maggie is the best 'cat' dog ever, and Babe loves on her the most.  I feel so blessed to have all these pets, especially when they are happy, healthy and getting along with each other so well.

Monday 1/12 - While at the gym, I inquired about Lee, a trainer who had broken his back while doing squats there last spring.  Come to find out, during re-hab, he had another fracture and was then diagnosed with a rare degenerative bone disease.  He would have succumb to problems years ago had he not been an avid weight lifter.  Unfortunately, there is no guarantee even if we exercise, eat healthy, and get plenty of sleep.

Karen and I rode nearly three miles in 45° weather.

Tuesday 1/13 - We don't have anywhere to store the queen mattress and box springs from the ranch, and inquired with Habitat for Humanity, who will take them.  But because the mattress from the ranch is nicer than ours, we swapped them.  In the process, I decided to do a deep cleaning in our bedroom.  It took three loads of laundry to do three mattress covers, a set of sheets and some towels. 




I completely dusted everything; bed frame, all dressers, base boards, and even fan blades.  Unfortunately, while cleaning the 4th and final blade, it just snapped right off in my hand.  It is 50 year old plastic, so I guess no surprise since at this age, there is no guarantee.  





We had used the trailer to bring home the mattress and two club chairs that have been 'replaced' by Debra's two rocker/recliners.  The mattress went on our bed and the two chairs we put back up on our balcony.  When we returned to the ranch with our old mattress to be picked up by Habitat for Humanity, I stayed to go for a ride with Karen.  She and Jan arrived just after noon.

 

It was so good to see Jan and know that she (and Mike) were back home.  We brought Cash and Rico into the barn, leaving Cowboy by himself in the paddock.  He whinnies some but does very well on his own.  Jan gave Cash his snack and rode him around the barnyard bareback while I did extra grooming on Rico before tacking him up.

 







Karen got Cash tacked up and then we hit the trail.  We used to be able to get under this tree that fell over the trail last week, but no longer can because it must be slowly sliding down the tree it is hung up on.  So we navigated around it.

There is no guarantee the trails will be clear, especially after strong winds.  We had a nice, uneventful 3½ mile ride (except Rico spooked at two dogs).  It was a fairly pleasant winter day, with some sunshine, mild breeze, and 53° temperatures.

I did ranch chores and once home, got back to work after dinner; doing more cleaning, finishing up laundry, and making our bed.  Finally done, I got right into bed to read and then sleep on the newer, better mattress. 

Wednesday 1/14 - I love looking back through old photos.  It brings back so many great memories.  Here are a few of my wonderful Saddle Sisters at Juan Carlos and Britney's reception last August.  I miss Betty (seen far left with her husband) who left our barn the end of October, but am so thrilled to have Jan (seen far right with Mike).  

I spoke with Jan at the ranch today to hear more about the new 'development' with Mike.  They had found a mass in his brain and will now be doing a needle biopsy next week.

Joe and I had gone to the ranch at 9am to clear a tree from the drive and another from the trail.  We didn't quite finish on the trail because the chainsaw battery ran out of juice.  

After raking the whole trail in several areas where needed, I took Amiga for a ride.  As we headed out through the gate, she stopped dead in her tracks, head up, listening and watching.  

And then I too, also saw it.  A white truck (circled in blue) with two workers, one in an orange vest (circled in orange) and one in a lime green vest (circled in green).  The men were bent over doing something under the power lines.  Hum.

It was on the cool side at 45° and a fairly strong breeze.  But I enjoyed a nice little two mile ride on Amiga.  I took this (video) of us crossing the new trail obstacle - the tree that is now down on the trail but can be stepped over.  

The boys watching Amiga and I head down the trail.  
The rain started later, as light, intermittent, isolated drops as we were nearing home.  





Before turning Amiga into the barnyard, I steered her over to the power line to investigate.  The truck and men were gone but there was a bright pink sticky note on the ground where the truck had been parked.

I went to Food City in a steady rain on the way home from the ranch and then enjoyed a large, late lunch. 



While allowing my food to digest some, I worked on the jigsaw puzzle.  I almost completed it, but made myself stop and go to the gym.  I put in a good aerobic and leg workout.

I skipped dinner and had popcorn (no beer) while watching the movie Jay Kelly.

Thursday 1/15 - I met Patty and Polly at The Center at 9am to come up with a game plan for taking our next step in a possible meeting with the General Manager and a board member.  



Bill and Sherri




I went straight to the gym from The Center, and accomplished a great ab. and arm workout.  Once home I finished the puzzle and had a short nap.  


Jim and Linda



Then I was back at The Center from 4:50 - 7:10 for the concert/dance.  And these were the only photos I took all day.  



Sherri, Linda and I.  

 










In this photo is; Jake, an unknown fellow dancing lady, Micki, and Tamara.  A good time was had by all.  And I got a good leg workout and aerobic exercise with all the dancing.

Friday 1/16 - it was in the 20's but warmed to 36° by the time I went to the ranch to give Amiga her pill.  The heated water bucket was empty since the pond and large water tank were frozen, so I cleaned and added water.  



Zorro was quick to come over to get a drink.






I had a cup of tea and a cookie at the house and did a few things before heading into town.  




I ended up blowing most of my afternoon shopping.  I was looking for a good pair of walking shoes and some nice dress jeans to take on the cruise.  I absolutely hate trying on clothes, but at least I wasn’t shopping for swimsuits.  It could’ve been worse.

I stopped to take a photo of the Veterans & First Responders Memorial as I drove by it (here in the Glade) because the flags were so gallantly streaming in the wind, which I could (and did) so proudly hail.