Check Twice

Us forgetful seniors need to check twice and often we check a third time because we can't remember if we checked it already.  I read, if you check twice, more than once, it implies a level of paranoia... not necessarily, maybe it's just forgetfulness or short term memory loss.  

Equestrian people always check twice to make sure the gates are closed, the water spigot turned off, and the girth tight before getting into the saddle.  Tack and equipment should also be routinely inspected. And we all know the old adage, to measure twice before cutting. 






Some things just need to be double checked.  
Here is a helpful (list) of important ones.

Saturday 7/11 - World Horse Day.  Established by the United Nations, this international observance honors the profound contribution of horses to human civilization, spanning agriculture, transportation, modern sports, and therapy.  Not to be confused with National Day of the Horse, which is celebrated annually on December 13th in the United States.






Just as with horses, dogs have their day(s) too.  National Dog Day 8/26; World Dog Day 7/21;   National Mutt Day 7/31; and Take your dog to work day is the Friday after Father's Day.








After morning chores at the ranch, I dropped by Andy's to give him a late Birthday card and he and Micki flowers.  The flowers were intended to cheer up the room where Rita was bed-ridden, but now would be to cheer them up in the wake of her passing.
 

Driving past Druid on m way to the gym, I snapped a photo of the old parking lot being razed.  They have been spreading out a lot of the old bed-rock into the lower areas so the whole space will be more level.  
During my arm and ab workout, I discovered I had tweaked my back, lower latissimus dorsi.  I bet I did it yesterday while lifting feed bags in and out of my shopping cart and car.  There were three 50lb bags, two 35lb, one 16lb and a 20lb tub of cat litter.  
The workout and stretching did help my back. 

 
After a late lunch, I had Joe do some chainsaw work for me.  I had a big Redbud stump in the front bed and then tackled some of the tree branches that were on the oasis down back and blocking our drainage ditch.  After Joe did six or seven cuts, I did all the clearing, and continued work using my big loppers.  I didn't take any before photos and this one is actually from the other side of the mess, at the creek behind Allen's, looking towards the pond.

I got this (video) from Daniel.  Layla has started walking!

By 8pm I was in bed reading with my three kitties nearby.

I always end my day in prayer after I turn the lights out.  
My paramount and most urgent prayer has been for Dan and Vale's house to sell soon.
 

Sunday 7/12 - It was a gloomy, partly rainy morning, with the weather to stay overcast all day.  Mike (who opened at the pool) sent this photo of a cat that was there.  I later saw a video of it posted on Facebook.  

Shirley and I escaped getting rained on at church and I put in almost a full shift at the pool before rain actually moved back into the area.  I dropped by Andy's again on the way home.  

I was home earlier than usual, and so was Poker Joe.  We got hopeful news from Dan and Vale concerning the sale of their house.  They are in the negotiating process right now, with potential buyers.

Monday 7/13 -  Today's three photos are all from Joanne.  The first two she took yesterday morning when feeding for Bonnie, who has been out of town. 
Below, Amiga and Zorro grooming each other.  This socialization is so important for horses. 

We had a heavy downpour shortly after I got to the pool for work at 9:20.  The rain finally stopped about 10:30.  It was a slow morning, but just after noon, more folks started showing up.  The forecast had been for rain all day, but they kept bumping it back until later.  (I check the weather way more than twice a day.)  We never really got any rain, all day long.

Mirror Lake had been cancelled because of a power outage in the area and the weather forecast was still not good.  
I got home from pool work after 2:00 and didn't amount to anything the rest of the day.

While feeding tonight, Amiga and Rico went into the wrong shed/stall.  Joanne sent this photo saying, "Sometimes ya just gotta go with the flow."

Tuesday 7/14 - My Tuesday started at 3 AM.  Not an ideal time to be up but what can you do when you wake up and can’t get back to sleep?  I offered to do Patty‘s morning chores because I was gonna be at the Ranch to meet Joanne and Bonnie for a ride.  







These two photos are from this (video).  I love that the boys usually keep Amiga sandwiched between them.  I don't think it's because they are protecting her, it's that they feel safest near her.  

Jan had also been out to work on Cash‘s foot.  He’s had an abscess that just doesn't seem to be healing.  I should have offered to help her these past two weeks that she has been soaking and wrapping it regularly.  It is very difficult to do by yourself.  

A few quick photos before hitting the trail.  Bonnie on Zorro and Joanne on Rico.  

Joanne gave me this bareback pad that I tried.  I really like it.  Next time I'll move it farther forward on Amiga.  

I held Amiga back at one spot so the ladies could trot down the dirt road and back.  I was quite pleased that she didn't get all revved up, wanting to go with them.  


We three had an enjoyable ride, especially since it hadn't gotten too hot yet.

Our horses all did very well.



I turned Amiga back early so as not to over do it with her and to let Bonnie and Joanne continue a little longer and to do more 'trotting' (gaiting).

I was very tired by the time I got home before noon, had an early lunch, and went up to rest with the boys.  Sometimes they hound me for attention, but after this selfie I soon fell asleep.  I ended up taking a very deep-sleep nap for two hours.  





I was dragging on my way to the gym, but got revived as I did my arm workout.  Because I was short on time, I just did arms and didn’t even stretch out at the end.

From the gym I went straight to the ranch.  I got the chores done in record time.  Thankfully all the animals were cooperative and there were no problems. 

I rushed home, fed the dogs and cats, cleaned up as best I could in 15 minutes, and took the dogs on a walk.   
Micki picked me up and we went to Lake Tansi for the concert.  It poured while we were driving there and we wondered if it had been canceled.  Nope, and the rain stopped just as we parked and we had a wonderful night of food, music, and dancing.

Wednesday 7/15 - Rico had been 'kissing' Patty on the head just before this photo, while waiting his turn with the farrier.  All three Pasos were stalled while Cowboy and Rosco got new shoes.

Then while the A&Z got trimmed and Rico new shoes, I watched Patty and Jan help Bonnie try to figure out her new saddle and get it fitted on Rosco.  

It is a flex tree western saddle with a double D ring rigging system.  

Apparently there are several ways you can do the rigging, some easier than others.

  


After Chris was finished with the Pasos, he looked at Cash's abscessed hoof.  He gave Jan good news.  The abscess is healing well.  Cash is acting sore because the poultice wrap has kept the hoof soft and tender.  He instructed Jan to use the boots on Cash, no more wrapping, and the hoof will harden and not be so tender.  He also recommended light riding, which helps with circulation of blood to the hoof.  Jan got right to it.

Joe had come to the ranch for something and a little later left to go golf, leaving Cookie behind.  Once I was all done with farrier business and mucking, I loaded up Cookie and headed home.



She travels so well in the car, usually laying down to nap or just watching me while I drive.  These two photos were taken at a stop sign.  








I dropped Cookie off, went to the library to get a new book, and was soon back for lunch and to read on the porch.  A nap also occurred. 

  
This little dog sure knows how to get you to overlook her annoying behaviors.  For the most part, she is very good, but she does have to be watched for chewing on things other than her toys, and for having an occasional accident, which is usually poop.  She is still getting the hang of going 'potty' while on a leash.   

I did not have time or motivation for the gym, so took Cookie on a long walk.  Rather than a hike, I avoided the tall grass and woodland leaves, and went on the closed Druid golf course.  





Micki took this photo shortly before Cookie and I came along and scared the deer away.  I had to get a 'poop' bag from Micki because Cookie had made a second deposit near Micki's condo, which is on the course, and I had already used my first bag.
 

Cookie got a quick drink out of the pool that spills over as a waterfall in front of the 14th green.  

Here we are above the 14th tee box looking down the long (par 5) fairway.  





You can see the #14 waterfall just above and to the left of Cookies head in this zoomed photo.  You can also see that she was quite hot.  So was I.

Joe and I watched Law Abiding Citizen; a dark, action-thriller, that made it difficult to go right to sleep at bedtime.
   

Thursday 7/16 - There was no rain in the forecast until 4pm, but it was pouring rain (video) at 10:30am.  I was glad I hadn't gone for a morning ride, but opted to stay here at my computer and get caught up on this blog.

I did wash out my car, to get any stray glass, since the window had been replaced yesterday.  I put all my stuff back in it and drove it to the gym about 12:30.

I had to really push myself to get through my usual workout.  I started out slow, tired, and un-energetic... but picked up the pace, enthusiasm, and energy level as I went.  However, I did feel rather 'spent' by the time I got home.

Joe went to the ranch a little bit after I'd gone to do chores.  He worked at replacing a rotted board on the ground at the larger upper shed.  It goes across the opening to keep the shavings in and the gravel out.  

Once I had finished chores, we left the truck (which we no longer need since I have given Joe his car back).  I dropped Joe & Cookie off at home and ran to Food City.  It had rained while I was shopping.  I stopped to take this photo of the rainbow when coming home.

Friday 7/17 - Happy Birthday to my 62 years young sister Jean and my 69 years young brother John.  Yep,they were seven years apart, where as my sister Carol and I were only ten minutes apart.

I took this (video), which shows the Peruvian alpaca art work that covers this opening to a cat bed/box on the cat tree right by my desk.  And then this photo of Monita 'bathing' in there.

I didn't take any photos today, so these next four are ones my friend Linda Sue Hodges shared with me. 
 

When I walked the dogs at 6am, I knew outdoor activities would need to be limited.  The humidity was so high that the 79° temperature had me sweating. 
 
My pool shift was challenging for two reasons.  They had mowed the grass before I got there, and the grass had been wet as had the deck, tables, chairs, and lounges.  So there was wet grass stuck to everything.  It made the job of blowing off the deck impossible.  Wiping off tables and chairs was problematic because the grass was sticking to my cloth and coming off onto the deck and I had to keep shaking it out in the grass.  

After things dried, I tried sweeping and was more successful at removing grass clippings.

My second difficulty of the day was the weather.  We kept having thunder so I had to kick people out of the pool a few different times, and keep them out.  We actually only got a few sprinkles though.  
By the time I got off duty, the temperature was 84° but the feel like temperature was 91°.  I was thinking of floating in the pool with many of my fun pool peeps/customers, but no one was allowed in the water yet, due to thunder.  

I zoomed in on this photo so you can see the little fawn's tongue sticking out. 

On my way home from the pool, it started raining, and then we actually had thunderstorms most of the rest of the day.   

Joe was getting phone calls about our credit card, and after checking twice with our bank, discovered it was a scam/fraud.  





I thought this photo from Linda was a great way to end this week's blog.

Also this (poem) by Devin Dole... not only should we check twice... but also take care of things and leave it the way you found it... like gates closed and water spigots off.