Gettin' It Together

I need to keep organizing myself so I can function in a more effective way.  I want to "get my act together" so I can relax and better enjoy life.  Part of getting my &%#$ together included finishing organizing the house.  I needed to clean and return all the furnishings back to where they had been before the carpet cleaning.  I had more laundry to do, my suitcase to put back up on the top shelf of our closet, and taking down and putting away the rest of the Christmas/winter decorations and lights.

Joe and I have the trip to Costa Rica for Britney's wedding and the wedding reception here in FFG to arrange.  Betty and I were also planning horse camping trips and making reservations.  And I was trying to get the vet out to the ranch on a date six of us ladies are available. 

My boss had sent the pool schedule and I was glad to see I have Tue-Friday off (as requested) so Betty and I can go 'horse camping' during the week when campgrounds are less busy.  But then the thought of trying to juggle my pool, gym, and horse chore schedules was daunting.  There was also the transition of renters, from Charles' move out to Moe and Franky's posible move in, that also weighed on my mind.  I was ready to get so many things settled.

Saturday 3/1 - March came in like a lamb.  It was a lovely, sunny day; although a tad windy and getting worse by the end of the day.  At least the days continue to get longer with the sun not only setting later, but rising earlier. 

I was up before the sun, and yes, those are Christmas lights above Monita, that I still enjoy... but need to take down. 



Gettin' it together requires some thought, which seems to happen when I wake up too early, and then the thinking won't let me get back to sleep.  I was mulling over the concerns we have about renting to Moe, mostly because of her having a dog.  I was also planning the rearranging of furniture in the ranch house since Charles would be taking his couch, recliner, antique radio, lamps, table and chairs that we had made room for. 


I ended up needing some kind of force today and realize it came and went sort of.  I finally completed my Cruz blog and posted it, and then drug my butt to the gym.  I had the worst workout I can remember.  I just didn’t have it in me, maybe because I was so sleep deprived and the force wasn't with me.  Anyway, I didn't lift weights, but at least rowed and did the elliptical.  The quick stretch afterwards was beneficial, but should have been longer.
After a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch, I scrambled off to the ranch to meet Betty and Karen.   





I didn't take any photos of our ride, but it was a pretty good one, although it was very windy and I was a tad cold and Rico had three big spooks where he spun 180° and tried to runoff.  The 'force' was with me I suppose, because I managed to stay in the saddle every time, but I was not happy with Rico having these BIG spooks.  Karen had gone back to the barn early and Betty and I did another loop, bumping our horses up to a nice smooth gait and holding them there.  One of Rico's spooks happened at this faster speed.


Finished with our ride, as usual, Betty let Dorado eat grass in the upper barnyard area near the shop.  Typically I take Rico up to join them.  But today I put him in the round pen so I could finish up some things before leaving.  He went ballistic.  He couldn't see Dorado and wanted out of the round pen.  He was running, bashing into the panels, bucking, rearing, kicking, spinning, snorting and completely out of control.  He carried on like a mad man for over five minutes.


I was so worried that Rico had no concern for me that I didn’t even want to go into the pen to halter and lead him out.  I tried calming him from the outside, talking quietly, and trying to put my hands on him when he ran up to me and stopped at the panel.  He eventually slowed, came and stood by me breathing quite heavily, but his head was still high and his eyes buggy.  But I went in and haltered him.
Finally leading Rico towards Dorado, he was a little pushy and I tried to get him to back up a few times and connect with me, but he really was very focused on Dorado.  It concerns me that this very nice horse can have a flip side and seem like a crazed maniac.  We both certainly need to 'get it together' and rebond and better trust each other.

I collected trash from all cans around the Ranch, including Charles' and got tied up in a rather long conversation with him, so was there a little longer than I had wanted.  While I showered Joe ordered Domino’s Pizza.  We had dinner together and then watched the first episode of the new season of Suits LA.  It’s pretty different than the old Suits because there’s none of the same actors and actresses so I was having troubles warming to it.

Sunday 3/2 - I was up too early again, but got last week's blog finished and posted. 

There has been a black Tom cat coming around, fighting with Rose (chasing her off) and going under our screened in porch to eat her food (and mark his territory).  Every time I see him, I send Maggie out to chase him off.  Rose has figured out to just hold still while Maggie goes after the black cat, which always runs over behind our neighbor's house. 

Well today, shortly after Maggie had chased off the black Tom, a fox came down from the other side of the golf course and followed the drainage ditch up and then went behind Carole's, (do I no longer refer to it as Allen's since he has passed?) in the same direction as the cat had gone.  I hope all of this canine activity is enough to convince the Tom cat to move on. 





Joe and I were supposed to meet Moe out at the ranch early afternoon, but she texted me first thing in the morning, that she was too sick to make it... didn't want to share germs.  So, after church I went to Food City.  Once home, I was soon back in my loungers for the day.  The high was 45°, so I had no desire for outside activity. 



Notice in the above photo, that the living room is still quite bare.  The sun was beckoning me so I laid on the floor with my fur babies and read.  Before long, I was taking a nap, a substantial 90 minute siesta.  That's Mama Styx in the dog bed.

Poker Joe was gone, so after my furry friends and I ate, and Maggie did some Tom cat chasing, I worked here getting this week's blog started.

Monday 3/3 - I slept until 5:30!  It was 26° when I walked Maggie and I had the space heater on to warm up my office.  Babe was enjoying it.  Overnight, one of the cats had christened our newly cleaned carpet with throw up, so I took care of that right away. 

I hit the gym from 10-12:30, accomplishing a lot more than last time I was there.  Betty and I met at the ranch later than usual so Karen could join us on a ride. 




Karen was running late at a doctor's appointment, so did not join us.  Betty setting her riding app before we left, and then she took my photo. 







Just a ½ mile out on the trail, Rico pulled up lame during our warmup walk.  He was quite off.  I dismounted, picked his hoof, felt for any problems, and just didn't know.  I got back on to see how bad he felt.  His limping was pretty severe, but then he seemed to 'walk out of it' as we returned to the ranch.  I brought Amiga in and put Rico in Zorro's stall and saddled Zorro.  Karen arrived to feed just before Betty and I headed back out.  We ended up having a good ride, even though Rico was weighing heavily on my mind.  There was nothing to explain his lameness, except probably his crazy behavior in the round pen Saturday.  He likely tweaked something then, and it was feeling better but then got worse again out on the trail.

I bought Rico thinking he was NOT going to be prone to lameness issues so am discouraged and concerned.  I hope this is a rare occurrence.  Also, another big problem right now is that he is so buddy sour.  I don't want him hurting himself when he gets overly anxious when he can't see Dorado.

Zorro did great for me out on the trail, full of pep and very willing to go.  And he has a very nice smooth rack.  He probably went four miles.  One of the 'clocked' miles was on Rico and more distance was also covered by me walking around the barnyard between rides.

Joe and I started a new (British) crime, comedy, TV mystery series 'Death In Paradise.'  Later, after I'd gone to bed, Joe had to go out to the ranch to meet an overnighter (no horses or animals) that was just parking and hooking up to our electric down at the shop.

Tuesday 3/4 - I needed to get to the ranch to give Amiga a Previcox well in advance of her dinner so I skipped the gym.  After doing some housekeeping things and eating a big, early lunch, I headed to the ranch.

Amiga was out napping, with Cowboy on the lookout, but started to get up just as I snapped this photo. 






I brought Amiga in, gave her a Previcox, and then let her graze out in the barnyard near the shop.  Bonnie was coming to look at Rico so I got him and Dorado into the corral.  When I went to halter Rico, he played 'hard to get,' the first time ever he has not come up to me, and actually kept walking/jogging away.

Bonnie looked and felt all over Rico's right hoof and leg, comparing it to his left leg.  She thought maybe there was a soft spot on his hoof, but wasn't sure because he didn't react.  The only other more noticeable thing she found, was an abnormal bump or kind of bulge in his muscle on his butt over his right hip.  Hopefully that’s all it is and it's something that will heal quickly and not be a problem down the road.

Bonnie grabbed Cowboy and was grooming him, so I decided to do the same with Amiga while she was still eating out in the barnyard.  Boy, are they shedding a LOT.

I went up and fed Rico and Dorado, giving Amiga more time to digest the Previcox before getting the Osteo Max with her dinner.  The wind had picked up a lot more.  Charles came out to inform me that things at the new apartment haven't been moving as fast as he hoped, so he wouldn't be able to get in until Monday.  This meant he was unable to move out of the ranch until then.

Wanda helped me with chores down in the lower paddock.  She and Zorro are such characters.  

I got home at 5pm and heard news of an afternoon shooting in FFG, a police officer killing a man that first shot at him.  This shooting incident occurred on Peavine, east of Westchester.  Yikes!

The wind kept getting stronger and stronger holding at about 20 miles an hour with gusts up to 45 miles an hour during the evening. 

I had to drag Maggie out of our closet to go for her evening walk before bed and by morning I saw on the news that there were power outages all over (ours had been out a bit overnight) and there had been a wildfire caused by down electrical wires on St. George Place here in Fairfield Glade, just a half mile from our house.  Double yikes!  Thankfully the FFG Fire department had evacuated nearby houses, contained, and within 3 or 4 hours, put out the fire (video).

Wednesday 3/5 - The winds had died down somewhat, but started picking up again as the sun came up.  While I was reading news of the FFG shooting and wildfire (an estimate of only 8 to 10 acres burned), I also saw that there had been a larger wildfire west of Crossville. 








A pair of mallards (you can kind of see the drake) were down back enjoying some deer corn that the squirrels had already picked through. 

I got to the ranch just after 8:30 and started bringing in the horses.  Bonnie, Susan, and Betty arrived just after I had, and helped with the process.
Lameness update on Rico... the farrier used a hoof tester and found a soft, tender, sore spot near the toe of Rico's back, hind foot.  Likely a stone bruise.  So Rico now has a pad under his shoe and should be able to walk much more comfortably, and I can ride once this weather straightens out.  Yipee!

Rico horsing around waiting for the farrier to finish with Dorado.  He is a silly, six year old boy.

I cleaned up the stalls and barn after the farrier and everyone else left, then went up to the ranch house to water house plants and check on things.  The electricity was back on and there were only a few big branches down in the yard.  It had been a strong wind to knock these two Adirondack chairs over. 

I just left the chairs because the wind was still quite strong, and supposed to pick up more during the day.

I drove by the 'burned' (wildfire) area on my way home. 

I was cold and tired so had a big lunch and then a long nap.  I had slept hard and had troubles waking up, but finally made it to the gym.  I had a good workout and also a chance to get an up-date from Moe.  She had gotten another extension at the Avalon Center so the transition from renters; getting Charles moved out and probably Moe and Franky moved in, would wait until next week.
Joe and I watched episode two of Survivor.

Thursday 3/6 - It was 28° when I walked Maggie at 5am, and we'd had a dusting of snow making the side deck a tad slippery.

I finally got the living room and remainder of the house 'back together' with everything dusted and cleaned and in its proper place. 

I had a really good arm and ab workout at the gym. 

Patty picked me up just before 5pm and we met three other ladies at Dynasty Asian Restaurant for dinner.  Then we went to the Community Band concert, which was very enjoyable... they did songs from movies.

Friday 3/7 - Today's Wordle started bad, and then I wasted a tile with a 'P' in the same place on my third guess.  But I managed to luck out on my 4th guess.  

I went to the gym, just for an aerobic work, (100 minutes worth) doing rowing and elliptical.

I met up with Karen and Betty at the ranch, to go for a little ride.  Karen‘s toe is still healing from surgery so she has to be careful, Betty was trying out her new saddle, and I wanted to see how well Rico was doing with his padded shoe, so we planned a short, slow ride. 

We headed down Marmaduke to do one of our usual routes (video), but a huge tree was down on a small cross trail (connecting two cul-de-sacs) so we had to turn around and go back to pick up the loop on another road.

 

Rico felt a tad off, especially when going down hill.  He did okay, although did not want to pick up a slow gait.

I did feeding chores once back, and then spent some time at the ranch house, sitting and chatting with Charles.    

Poker Joe was gone, hoping to be at the game table when the Bad-Beat might occur, with the pot now at $55,000 (which will be shared in different proportions by all there when a bad-beat occurs). 

Easing Back In

It is never easy getting back into the usual routine after a vacation, but slowly easing back in helps.

Saturday 2/22 - At 8:30, we exited the Celebrity Equinox cruise ship that had been eased back in to dock at Port Cape Canaveral earlier this morning (internet photo).  We caught a bus to the Orlando airport which was 45 minutes away, got our bags checked, went through TSA and were at our gate by 11am.  Our flight was on time and uneventful.  Joe picked us and all our luggage up outside the Nashville airport and quickly drove us home.

Dorothy is right, there is NO PLACE like home.  I was so glad to be done traveling but not quite ready to ease back into my usual routine.  I was exhausted from travels and late night dancing the last seven nights. 

Joe went to poker and thankfully Karen had done cat care.  After feeding the dogs (Tango is with us while Dan's family is in Chicago) I walked them, got in my winter PJs, and downloaded cruise photos (the other four girl's and mine).  But I was too tired to do anything else, so read in bed for a short while before conking out.

Sunday 2/23 - Shirley and I had agreed we were too tired for Church, and I, in fact, stayed in my PJs all day long. 

My only two photos today were of these two canine characters.  Their laziness was exactly how I felt.  I walked the dogs at 4am because Tango had had an accident both nights Joe was in charge.  Later in the morning, I took a nap.

I spent time cleaning up the kitchen... it looked like a bachelor's pad with just Joe here all week.  I took care of a bunch of e-mails, reading and answering them and then started working on my cruise blog and also got this blog started.  I later took a long two hour nap in the afternoon.  I still had a lot to do to complete the cruise blog, and needed to unpack and do laundry.

Monday 2/24 - Tango had yet another accident (stained carpet in photo) overnight, even though I took the dog water bowl away at 6:30pm just before walking them both, and then Joe had walked them after poker at nearly 11pm.  By 6am when I got up, the deed had been done. 

Tango was also proving to be a challenge in other ways.  A couple of times I caught him stealing cat food in just seconds after I left the room thinking he was nearly asleep.

I blogged a few hours and then went to the gym.  I had gained three pounds during the cruise week, not bad.  My knees and hips were sore from dancing, so I went easy on them, but actually my arm strength had not decreased, although the usual pull-ups with the extra weight was not accomplished.   


I showered at the gym, hit Food City, unloaded groceries at home, grabbed a quick sandwich and was off to the ranch.

I fed the four horses from the lower paddock.  Planning to ride Amiga, I then set to the task of cleaning her up.  She had been in the pond so was wet and muddy, and had a scummy smell about her. 

I toiled for quite awhile, getting the dry dirt and a lot of shedding hair off of her.  She cleaned up some, except her sides and belly which were still wet. 
 


The cleaning job I did on Amiga was acceptable enough for riding her bareback.  I decided to throw on a saddle pad to help keep my jeans clean.  We went on a nice, slow relaxing ride since I was easing Amiga and I both back in to riding again (video).  She stayed at a calm quiet walk the entire time, notwithstanding the need to be reminded to just walk, as we headed back home and neared the barn.

I had taken the trail through the woods, but had to turn back because this big tree had fallen down and its branches were completely blocking the way. 

I got back to the ranch on Amiga, just in time for a planned meeting Charles had wanted with Joe and I.  His health has taken a 'turn for the worse' and since a subsidized housing unit was just opening up in Cookevlle (where his heart doctors are) he decided he needed to move there to be closer to them and take advantage of the lower cost housing.  He was very regretful and apologetic.  We accepted his termination of the rental contract and gave him our blessings.

Wanda loves Maggie.
I finished up chores in the upper paddock and scooted on home to feed cats and dog. 
Joe had stayed at the ranch to wait for, and take care of an overnighter who ended up being two hours late.  She was traveling with a horse, two goats, and two dogs.  And, it turned out she had to put the three ungulates in Zorro's stall because the goats went ballistic being left in the trailer without the horse.
Daniel picked up Tango just as I was going to bed. 

Tuesday 2/25 - It had been early to bed, and was way to early to rise, although I did take a predawn nap.  I  was so happy to be back to my woodland view and even my annoying cat Monita. 
By 9am, Joe and I were moving all 'movable' furniture off the carpet in preparation for the carpet cleaner, who arrived at 10:30.  Which was when I left for the ranch.





Rico was enjoying a nap in the sun when I arrived. 
I stripped the guest bed in the house and cleaned the bathroom and bedroom. 
Then I headed down to the barn to clean up in Zorro's stall.  I disinfected the two buckets and wiped down the metal gate.  Joe would do the mucking. 



As soon as Joe arrived, I helped him re-install a board that had popped off the coral fence (not because of the overnighter's horse, which was never put in the coral).  Then I headed out on the trail with big lopping shears in hand.  I cleared all the big branches from the downed tree, breaking off many and cutting several.  I also picked up a lot of sticks and branches from off the whole (almost ¾ mile long) trail. 

Karen was doing chores when I got back to the barn so I chatted with her and did some stuff around the barn yard.  Up at the house, I stretched an extra hose to the stock tank and filled it while Karen fed Rico and Dorado.  Then we sat and chatted while drinking a beer we had split (it was warm out and we had both gotten hot).  Besides, I was in no hurry to get home because the carpet needed until 8pm to dry. 

I finally loaded up Maggie and we got home close to 5:00 dinner time.  The carpet was indeed still wet.  And the dinning room and my office were a mess, filled with furniture from the living room, mancave, and bedroom.  I kept Maggie closed in the laundry room during dinner. 






I moved the dog to my office for the rest of the night.  She was a bit confused, but settled on her bed while I was here at my computer and eventually figured out this was her new hangout.  
Joe got home from poker just before I was fixin' to hit the hay, at 7pm.  I couldn't keep awake at my computer and then was too sleepy to read my book.

Wednesday 2/26 - Just a cowgirl on her horse, setting her riding app. before we headed out on a ride.

Before meeting Patty and Betty at the ranch to go for a ride, I went to the 8:30 FFG board meeting at The Center and then did mostly an aerobic workout at the gym. 






I like this photo and wanted to use it, but for some reason it appeared real bright and very yellowy.  The only way I could fix it (edit it) was to change it to a black and white and reduce the brightness.

The three of us ladies had a nice ride on a beautiful day (video).  We took the Lake Kirkstone loop, the road we're on below being part of the hiking trail. 


However, about 40 minutes into the ride, Zorro made up his mind to turn around and head home.  He was giving Patty so much attitude, spinning and throwing little bucks when she tried to turn him back around, that she decided to head home with him.  We escorted her part of the way because he was being such a stinker. 

Betty and I then turned back around and rode all the dirt roads in the the center of the Lake Kirkstone hiking loop.  By the time we got back, 2½ hours after leaving the ranch, we had gone 7.4 miles.  Betty and I were very pleased with the willingness and effort of our horses.  
We feed Rico and Dorado after un-tacking and let them graze in the barnyard for a little bit.  Then I took clean towels and sheets into the ranch house and made the guest bed, so it would be ready to go when needed. 

Poker Joe has been on a winning streak, so wasn't home when I arrived at 5:30 and went to bed at 8:30.

Thursday 2/27 - I was up at 1:30 and unable to get back to sleep.  I was thinking about Monique (Moe) a potential new lessee for the room at the ranch house.  She works at the gym but is living in a women's homeless shelter due to unfortunate circumstances mostly out of her control.  I learned of her 'predicament' the day after we had made the rental agreement with Charles.  So I inquired about her situation and found out she was still looking for suitable housing and that her 'stay' at the Avelon Center was up March 3rd (they have a one month limit to emergency shelter).  Moe has a border collie (makes renting difficult) that sleeps in her car at night (not allowed in the shelter) and goes to work with her every day.  My mind was mulling over the logistics of renting to Moe (and her dog) and whether this was a judicious choice.  Yet, I couldn't help but wonder if the timing of all this was an intervention from God and a sign to us, to help Moe out.

Anyway, I never did get back to sleep (although I tried napping on the couch before sunrise).  So I felt tired or “off” all day long.  I worked on my cruise blog much of the time, finally unpacked my suitcase and did two loads of laundry, and wiped down and cleaned some furnishings to put back out on the well dried carpet.  Photo of what my office still looked like.
  





I see all kinds of 'wild life' down back.  This guy comes every two or three weeks, with his border collie, and 'hunts' for golf balls.

I did finally get to the gym at 1:00, but my workout was kind of punkie.  And I also briefly talked with Moe while there, giving her a copy of our ranch rules and what the rental contract would be. 
 

Moe's excitement to have a place to live was contagious so it was hard to remind her that we hadn't yet totally decided on renting to her.  Joe needs to meet her and has several questions.  Plus, she hasn't even seen what the room she'd be renting (or even the house) looks like.

I had showered at the gym.  After an early dinner, when changing into my PJs, I found a tick (that had just bit me) under my sock on my leg.  WTHeck?  I wasn't even in the woods today, and had showered.  So packing tape will now be on the bathroom vanity until 'tick season' is over.  Ugh!  Also notice all the clear bags of toiletries and jewelry I still need to unpack.  I guess taking all week to unpack is my way of slowly easing back in to home life. 








I was falling asleep at my computer, so told Joe TV time had to happen early.  We started the two hour episode of season 48 of Survivor.  I was in bed with lights out by 9pm. 

Friday 2/28 - Wow, the last day of February! 
I dedicated all morning to working on my cruise blog.  I made great progress but still had a few more days to complete before I could get it posted.  I wanted to post it before this one so that they would be in order chronologically as they were read. 







By 11:30 I was getting lunch and soon out the door, headed for the ranch.  Today Judy joined Betty and I and it was such a pleasure to have her along.  I put her on Rico thinking I could turn back early with Zorro if needed. 

It was a pleasure riding with the best Cowgirl (Judy) I know.  Her knowledge and experience are tremendous.  I also always enjoy riding with Betty, my usual riding buddy, and one fun Cowgirl.  Actually, I love all the ladies at the ranch, and riding with them.

Judy gave me several good tips and pointers and was quicker to figure out Rico than I have been. 


The weather and horses were fantastic.
 

We did a lot of gaiting, and even Zorro kept up fine.  He did cop an attitude two times, but quickly calmed down for me.  We ended up going 3½ miles in about 90 minutes.  Betty shutting & locking the back gate. 




Once back I fed the four in the lower paddock.  Betty took care of Rico and Dorado, which helped speed things up for me and I got home by 3:30.

After evening chores, including dinner, I sat back at my computer to try to get more blogging done.  I am still not back into my usual routine and it hasn't been easy for me, but I'll get there.