No Destination

Sometimes it's just nice to go, without any destination in mind.  This can be beneficial because it removes pressure, fosters spontaneity, and allows you to enjoy the present moment, transforming a simple activity into a stress-relieving experience. Without a fixed schedule or goal, you gain total freedom, mental clarity, and the ability to discover new things, shifting focus from "reaching" to "experiencing."



However, planned approaches prioritize structure, efficiency, and goal setting; to minimize risk.  Balancing both is ideal: planning provides direction and reduces stress, whereas spontaneity fosters creativity, joy, and reduces burnout.  

I love riding without a destination in mind, no specific route, no training goals in mind, just being with my horse, enjoying God's creation.

"No Destination" appears to be a sentiment or theme often expressed by cowgirl Devin Conley, known as (Devinoutwest) on social media, reflecting a cowboy lifestyle focused on the journey, horsemanship, and freedom; emphasizing a slower, more intentional pace of life.
 

Saturday 3/14 - I was at Patty's by 8:15 to collect her rocks that she is having replaced by neater boarder blocks, using a landscape company.  I unloaded them here at home.  








Next I was off to the ranch to give Amiga her pill and do yard work.  The Pasos are not always in a close cluster, but are content with more space between them.  

Joe drug the front and side pastures yesterday and the back pasture this morning.  This is beneficial in early spring because it breaks up and spreads manure piles which didn't break down over the winter because of the cold.  It evenly distributes nutrients, reduces parasite loads by exposing larvae to sun and heat, reduces fly breeding sites, and minimizes uneven grazing caused by horses refusing to graze near waste.  And it helps tear up dead or rotting grass, allowing new spring growth to emerge without being smothered.

I worked in the flowerbed by the house for a bit and then drove the mower (pulling the full wagon of leaves and sticks) down to the barn.  Deana, a saddle sister from Wildwood whom we haven't seen in awhile, came to ride with Karen and I.  Jan and Mike stopped by while we were saddling up and even Joe came down to the barn to chat.  It was a nice gathering.  










The weather was ideal and a nice ride was thoroughly enjoyed by us three ladies.  We each took turns leading with every horse being willing but a bit lazy.  




Deana did great with Zorro and he was a very good boy for her.  

After we un-tacked and all had left, I headed up to the ranch house on the riding mower after dumping the load from the wagon.  Going up the lane, I saw this turtle crossing our driveway, headed towards the property under the power line next door.

It is some type of painted turtle.

Dave (who was with Bonnie doing chores) helped me with mower problems.  It kept stalling out.  The fuel filter needs changing.  

I totally finished cleaning up the front flower bed and Debra helped me pull weeds in the raised beds and trim bushes in the chicken yard.  

I fed the Pasos, who are very good about going into their correct spot for feeding.  Rico eats in the large shed, Amiga in the small shed, and Zorro in the alleyway between them.  





This series of photos was taken after I had let Rico out and opened the gate for Amiga.  Zorro is blocking the way to keep Rico from going into Amiga's shed.  

But  Zorro also makes it difficult for Amiga to come out.  In this last photo, she slipped past him as he positioned himself between her and Rico.  Rico goes in to clean up any food Amiga drops.
I fed the chickens and closed the coop before heading home and calling it a day.  Joe and I did watch two more hours of Virgin River.

  
Sunday 3/15 -  After Church, I scurried to get to the ranch to meet Patty at 11:15 to go for a ride.  It was winy and supposed to get worse, so we wanted to ride asp.  I had a definite time and destination, but God had a different plan for me.
A quarter mile after turning onto Chestnut Hill, I came to a stop for a dog in the road and quickly noticed another larger, pit-bull looking dog and a woman grabbing a small looking puppy at the edge of the road.  She was right across from Elizabeth’s house so I was thinking the puppy had gotten away from them.  I rolled down my window and asked if I could help.  The lady said she needed a ride just a little ways up the road; so she (Tamara) got in holding the puppy, with her purse over her shoulder.  I asked where did she need to go and she said "to my stuff I left up the road."  Below photo from internet, but similar to what we came to.  I looked at her haggled looking face (and cute puppy) in my rear view mirror and thought, oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into?    
 

This is where the story gets more complicated.  The story of the Good Samaritan (where true love involves merciful action over prejudice) was not in my mind at the time, I just acted out of compassion.  I won’t go into all the details, but this woman had dropped all her belongings a half mile up the road, in the field, and gone in pursuit of saving this young female dog (later to discover that was in 'heat') from the two, much larger male dogs that were 'attacking' her.  

This puppy was not Tamara's, but at the moment, it was all she was concerned about.  It is unclear as to how she ended up with all her stuff, walking down Chestnut Hill except that either the person giving her a ride 'dumped' her somewhere along the road or she feared for her safety and asked to get out of the truck.  We loaded all her belongings in the trunk and back seat of my car.  (I was thinking, how in the world could she carry all of this, and now with the puppy?)  As we drove towards town, she made some calls to people she knew, to get some help; but with no luck.  Only one person answered and I heard them say 'It's your problem, figure it out yourself.'  I let Patty know I would be late and ended up dropping Tamara off at The Dollar Store where she said she could get help (she had $80.00 and a phone card).



Tamara was a recovering meth addict who had walked out of a rehab center in Cookeville and was now basically homeless, and (Patty mentioned later) maybe even on the run.  She was trying to get to her mom's in Knoxville.

Seeing that Tamara really cared about the puppy, but had no business or way to care for it, I offered to take the puppy and find her a home.  Tamara's face lit up and she teared up again for the forth or fifth time since I'd picked her up.  I hugged her, wished her well, and said I'd pray for her.  And then I cried and prayed driving back to the ranch, arriving over a half hour late.  





I parked in the yard and got out with the puppy.  Patty had just come up from the barn and we examined the young dog.  The dog looked to be in heat and we pulled at least a dozen ticks off of her.  While we worked, I told Patty more of the story than I've told here.  

Patty had decided not to ride because it was getting windier.  But she was going to brush Zorro and work with him in the round pen a bit while I did a quick ride on Amiga.  I went down with the puppy in my car, and put her in a stall.    

Patty walked the horses down from the upper paddock and soon Debra joined us at the barn.  She helped brush both horses.  When I rode out on Amiga, it wasn't near as windy in the woods, until I turned around to head home.  The wind had been at my back on the way out.  

   


Amiga and I only went a mile.  She did very well.  Meanwhile, Rico ran the fence line and 'yelled' until we were out of site and he started yelling again when we neared home on the way back.

Patty and I saw that Debra was struggling with a reoccurring problem, but I decided to let Joe deal with it, since I had my own problem, this puppy, to deal with. 








Once home, I introduced the puppy to a collar, flexi-leash, and Maggie.  She liked Maggie but not the leash and collar.  

I ran to Food City for a few puppy supplies, and then Joe helped me apply topical flea/tick med on the puppy and all three cats.  (Maggie had gotten her chewable Bravecto the first of the month.)  I left the puppy in the garage so the meds could soak in for a bit.  She explored and then ended up laying down in Rose's bed.  I suspect the cat is forever gone, hopefully to a permanent inside home.  I fed the puppy in the garage.  She ate her dinner a little too fast and choked and coughed a few times.







After dinner, the puppy was introduced to a crate.  I suspect it may not have been a new experience.  She never barked or fussed about being in it, and quickly settled in for a nap.  She did growl at Monita when the cat came peeking and sniffing around.

The weather outside was deteriorating, so after a quick walk, we (Maggie, Puppy, and I) played in the garage.  The puppy was great at playing fetch, bringing the toy right back to me, but I had to work at teaching her to 'give' it back.  She and Maggie became friends very quickly and have a good time chasing after toys and each other out in the garage.  

This is a very sweet, calm, gentle and actually a bit timid puppy.  She reminds me very much of Maggie at this age.  

Joe and I watched two more hours of Virgin River.

Monday 3/16 - We had storms overnight, sometimes fairly strong (wind, rain, lightening, & thunder) but no tornadoes.  The puppy, whom Patty and I finally came up with a name for (Oreo Cookie = 'Cookie' for short) never made a peep all night.  There were no accidents in the crate but the white towel Cookie laid on had little red spots and several dead ticks on it.  Outside the temperature was falling more and more with each passing hour, so we (the two dogs and I) played in the garage (video) several times throughout the day.

 

It started snowing just as I was heading to the vet with Cookie for a chip reading.  None was found, so I have no quick way to get rid of her.  I was actually kind of relieved because whoever had her last did not take good care of her.  She was running out on busy Chestnut Hill road, in heat, and full of ticks. (Oh, and later worms in her stools were seen.)

It didn't take long for the snow to start accumulating.  










After walking the dogs in it, I went back out to take several photos.  


I love the beauty of all the snow covered trees.



The creek and pond were actually quite full from all the rain we'd had before it got cold.








The snowfall accumulation totaled a little over two inches by the time it stopped mid afternoon.

I was concerned for the flowers and the trees and shrubs that have started blooming already. 

The poor daffodils. 

My forsythia did not look happy either.  

I watched the snow fall from various viewing spots (windows), and took this (video).





Just yesterday I had the door to the porch open and the cats had been out there enjoying the spring weather and watching birds.  






Because of the road conditions, local schools and the FFG amenities had closed for the day.  I opted out of going to the gym, that actually stayed open.  

I sat here at my computer gazing upon the beauty of the snow.  I spent a good part of the afternoon researching efficacy of tick meds, heat cycles in dogs, how to find a home for an abandoned dog, and I contacted two dog rescue ladies for help, and several vet offices to find affordable spaying of a young dog in heat, to get in sooner than later.  



I think Cookie is between four and six months of age because she has lost all her baby teeth and chews on EVERYTHING.  Research said "The heaviest teething phase is 4-6 months; when canine teeth and premolars are replaced."  Also, Cookie weighs 19lbs and research said that dogs this size come into first heat between four and six months of age. 
Poker Joe was gone, it snowed a little more and temperatures plunged into the low 20s.  I continued garage play and short walk sessions with both dogs.

Tuesday 3/17 - Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

We had light, early morning snow flurries, but then the sun came out and started melting the snow and warming the air.  It reached a high of 35°.

I worked at my computer several different times during the day.  Babe beside my desk soaking up the warm sun rays.

I was finally able to find a reasonably priced spay/neuter clinic in Harriman that would take a puppy in heat, so scheduled the earliest possible appointment for March 26th.  They will do puppy shots, worming, etc.  




I had set up this baby gate to keep Cookie on the hardwood floors since I was unsure of her reliability of not peeing in the house (so far no accidents).  She had a little vaginal discharge and was still shedding a dead tick or two on the white towel overnight, but also lots of little red dots that I couldn't figure out what they were.  Possibly dead chiggers?  In addition, a few dead round worms had shown up in Cookie's poop.  





I set up my computer on the dinning table and kept an eye on Cookie.  She is a sweet dog, very cute and playful, but still an ornery puppy.  She started chewing on things, the rubber chair foot covers, corner of the china hutch, and our shoes in the laundry room.  A firm NO and she would stop, but then find something else to chew on rather than her toys.  Finally with the third scolding, I put her back in the crate.  




In preparation for my four day absence Thur-Sunday, I talked with Joe about the logistics for him with Cookie.  We decided to let her in the mancave, Joe (and Maggie's hangout).  He took this photo not too long after she had gone in there with him.  





Later in the day, Maggie and Babe enjoying the warming rays coming in the back windows (which face SW).

Joe and I continued with several dog walks and playing out in the garage.  I finally made it to the gym and then later we went together out to the ranch.  Joe helped me with chores and took care of a little 'rental' business.    

On a second 'trip' to the mancave, Cookie took off in hot pursuit of a cat that quickly got away.  A firm 'NO' stopped Cookie and then she picked up a cat toy and came back quite proud of herself.

Two more hours of Virgin River completed our day.

Wednesday 3/18 - Cookie's first poop of the day was full of dead round worms.  She has found her voice but quiets barking/growling when told a firm NO.  I noticed her vaginal discharge was now a lightish pink color, so maybe that's what I have been seeing on the bed towel.  It's another reason to keep her out of the main house.
Cookie has done great in her crate, but has a lot of puppy energy, so we did frequent play sessions to burn off some of the energy.  

Today's puppy time was similar to yesterday's.  Although it was warmer outside it still wasn't comfortable enough for outside play, so the garage was our playground.  




Cookie is learning to play fetch (video).  She is great at getting the ball and bringing it back... but not so good at the 'give.'
I burned off my energy at the gym, although I was not real energetic.  I hit Food City on the way home.  


I washed veggies and fruit for our road trip, and much of my day was spent doing laundry, organizing, and packing to go to Lexington KY for 'Road To The Horse' at the Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena.  Courtney, Patty, Joanne and I had a definite destination. 

Tonight's TV time was 90 minutes of Survivor.  There are some great new 'twists' this season, with the fans giving input.