Visitors.

Hello followers.

I'm enjoying having my son and husband here.  

I got up early on Sunday morning so I could get all the chores done before I went to my landlady's church to see her perform.   She and others do handbells and it was so very nice. 

What beautiful music to hear on a Sunday morning.   I hadn't been in  a church in many years so I was wondering what the sermon would be like. 

Don't tell my landlady but I think her pastor is a little unusual.  :)

He was telling the story of how Leopard got his spots.  He said that Ethiopian gave them to him..... and that's why black people's finger tips are white.   !!!!!!!!!!  What?!!!!!!!!
I was very close to laughing out loud when I heard the only black woman in the choir giggling in disbelief!   He was completely serious which only made it funnier.   Wow. 

I left after the sermon because I was afraid my family would be early.

They actually didn't arrive until around 2:30. 

After hugs, they told me how difficult it was traveling with our dog, C.C.    They said she slept "all" day in the car, then stayed up running around and barking all night in the hotel room.

My husband and son were relating to me how they were stupid when they made the decision not to bring coats with them.  They figured they were heading to a warm spot so only had light sweathers.

When they arrived at the hotel for the night in South Carolina they had to walk the dog and my son put every piece of clothing on that the both of them had and proceeded to freeze to death.   The wind was howling and that cold front moved down into Florida.  Last night it got down to 22 degrees.  My landlady said she hasn't seen that in many, many years.   Figures. 

I made spaghetti and meatballs with kale and spinach for dinner, then we played Pinochle.  I won.    :)

Already warming up today and everyone feels so much better.  The cold wind I endured during chores yesterday has given me a cold sore.   If I'm out in the winter weather I get many cold sores during the season.  I thought I'd be immune to them here.   Again, figures. 

I made the guys work today.  We picked poo, then loaded up all the debris I'd been gathering since I've been here and headed for the big dump.  Boy, that place is a big deal!  A really big operation.  I got charged to dump all that stuff so my landlady will help with that I'm sure. 
But it's done, and the farm looks so much better.

We had lunch late around 2:00 p.m. at Chili's, then headed home.   I drove by to show them Orange Lake.  It's dried up and very low and it's how I made my point that Florida is experiencing a drought.

Sat outside this evening with a glass of wine. Well, my husband and I did.  When we got home, our son went to take a nap.  (He stayed up late last night reading a book after we went to bed so he was tired.)

We're going to have breakfast for dinner tonight so I'll catch up with you all tomorrow.

Another busy day.

Hello all. 

After working out and drinking a shake this morning I got in my pickup and went into town.  I had errands to run.  I bought hay to supplement what I have.  Then I went to the farmers market to get some more of those wonderful tangerines.  The woman didn't have any so I bought some navel oranges from her.   The citrus here is wonderful.

Then it was off to Home Depot.  I had to buy an aerator for the bathroom faucet that was driving me crazy.  Water would splash everywhere..... now it's a nice even flow.   :)

A few other things, then it was off to the healthy market so I could stock up on groceries.  The total was around $200 but I'll be able to eat for over two weeks now.  All organic of course.  Actually, what made the bill so high is the purchase of probiotics and supplements that I was out of.   They can be quite pricey, but I assure you, they're worth it.  I truly believe it's one of the reasons I have no aches or pains at 56 years old.   I'd rather pay now to feel and be healthy than pay doctors later.  

After I got home and put away the groceries, I unloaded all the hay, gave the horses some, and then did my daily poop pick.   I also picked up all that discarded hay that my horses ruined. (Grrr...)
It's makes the paddock look better too.

Last night I used hay nets for the first time and they did make a huge difference.   Will and Lily actually had to eat ALL of the hay to empty the bag.  They couldn't just pick out the stuff they like. 

After the poop picking I chatted with my landlady and her daughter.   My landlady is one of the people involved in making the Pa-Rally thing here in Florida happen.  It takes the place of the old "Rendevous" the Parellis had.  It should be a really fun thing and I know I'll meet so many people. 
My husband and son will leave to go home next Saturday so I'll attend the Pa-Rally on Sunday and probably help to clean up on Monday.

After chatting I did more yard work (I got the front bed totally weeded and mulched), then put Will and Lily into their night-time paddock and called it a day.

It's funny.....not until I was putting the horses in for the evening did I realize that I didn't eat lunch today.  Hmmm..... how in the heck did that happen!??    I'm surprised I didn't get hungry as I've been limiting the amount of food I eat anyway. 
Strange. 

I was really hungry for dinner though...    :)

I also forgot to drink water today.  I'm so bad about that, but I'm trying to get better.   And I heard on TV that you can burn 500 more calories per week if you drink "cold" water.   So that's what I'm gonna do from now on.    :)

Going to bed early.   My bath felt really good and I want to get up early so off to slumber-land for me. 

I'm officially tired.

Well, as of tonight, I'm actually tired.  I did just as much as I usually do but for some reason, I just want to be still and go to bed.   Which I will do right after Gray's Anatomy. 

Will and Lily have been wasting hay.  Stepping and peeing on it instead of eating it.   So tonight, before I put them in their night-time paddock, I rigged up hay nets.   I tied them as high on the fence post as I could so that when they're empty they won't be dragging on the ground. 
I still worry in case they paw, but I'm a worry wart anyway.
We'll see how it goes. 

They're both losing weight, (me too, 12 pounds as of today),
and I'm a little worried that they're going to lose too much.
But when I check their hay supply in the middle of the day, they haven't eaten it all....they're out there trying to nibble of what little bit of grass there is. 
So I figure that they're just being picky.   If they get hungry darnit, they can finish their hay!

I spent the morning emptying out and cleaning my horse trailer...the dressing room part. (There's hay in the horse part.)  It was a chore, took about an hour and a half.   It's all ready in case my six-foot-four son wants a queen bed to sleep in instead of the smaller ones in my little mobile home. 

After that I completely reorganized my tack stall.  I got more stuff that I need in there now and it's tidy.  Well, half of it is...the other half is junk that needs to go to the dump.

After lunch, I cleaned up the soiled hay left by my horses. Ugh.
Then I went to go buy gas for the John Deere.

After that I did yard work until almost dark. 

Whew.   I guess  I know why I feel a little tired.   :)

Only two and a half days and my husband and son will be here.  Still have some floor cleaning and laundry to do in the house.  Hope I can get to it.

I'm enjoying your comments everyone....thank you. 

Off to watch my show, then hit the sack.

TaTa for now.

A successful day.

A typical day... the weather is a little cooler and the high today was only around 72 but it was beautiful. 

I had bills to pay this morning so after my workout and breakfast I got to it and got them posted and put into the mailbox before the mail lady got here.   I always know when she comes because I can hear her car from a mile away...hehe.  It's a really LOUD one!  

Then I filled the cart with poop and emptied it into the bin.  The landlady knew that I needed a gate for my yard so my husbands dog won't get out when they visit.   Last week I took her to buy one so today we took the old gate off and put the new one on.

Trying to put the old gate down at my place wasn't quite so easy.   With the tools I had I worked for about twenty minutes to get the old rusted nut off the screw that held the top bracket.  I didn't get frustrated because I know better but dang that thing was really stuck so I had to give in and take the gate next door where I knew those guys were still working on that trailer home. 
I felt really good because even though that guy had really big man tools...(okay don't let your mind go there!)....he couldn't get it off either!!!

We eventually used his electric grinder and sawed the screw in two.  Then I hammered the bracket off and back on again in the correct spot while the guy drove away to go find a different screw to fit it.  
Problem solved. 

I poked a couple holes in my fingers trying to wire some fencing to the gate so the dog can't get through. 
But I eventually got it all done.   Checked off the list.

I played with Will and Lily of course.   Lily was perfect today and when I tried something new, (lead by the hoof) she got it right away.  On all four legs.  And was happy about it.

Will was down right miffed about it compared to Lily.  I broke it down into the tiniest pieces and just had to just let him figure it out.   It took forever.  At first he tried kicking.  When that didn't work, he kept swinging his hind end around.  When that didn't work, he just held his ground and that didn't work either.  FINALLY, he put weight on that back foot.  I let go and told him he was right.   He licked and chewed and I just let him stand there.  I think he was sulking that he couldn't win the game.  After we stood there for a little while and he put his head down seemingly interested in the grass, I tried again.  He went back to kicking a little bit...then moving again, but not very much.   He moved back and I let the pressure go.   Same thing.....he seemed to be sulking.  We had to do this five times.  After he licked and chewed I tried again.  Finally he went right back and I praised him like crazy and we ended the session.

Who knows what he'll be like tomorrow, but I took him to a big green grassy area and let him graze so he was happy.

After I played with the horses I did yard work down at my little mobile home.   The new mulch I put in today looks so much better than the weeds.   :)

Having the wi-fi working here in the house is awesome isn't it?!!!

Off to watch Modern Family before I turn in.  

Rush, Rush, Rush!

Oh why did I make my goals so high, there's so much to get done before my husband visits.  This place is a nice place but it just needed a lot of tender care and now I want to do EVERYTHING so my husband will see how nice it is and maybe want to stay with me.   They'll be here on Sunday and I have so very much to do. 

For instance, I'm still working on the house.  I got the outside all pressure washed and the house is white again.  Looks totally awesome now.  I've started on the yard and that will take a while. There's all kinds of small limbs, twigs and buried around all that is little bits of trash and stuff that you don't see until you're right up on it. 

I had mountains of poop to pick up yesterday because the tire on the dump cart was flat for a couple of days.   I took both tires off and took them to go get repaired yesterday.    All the while I was waiting for the nice young man to do that, I kept thinking..."Here I am wasting time when I could be working." 

I know, I know,..how silly of me.

Will and Lily are looking great!  Finally down to regular horse size instead of being so fat.   I've lost weight too....ten pounds.
Will can canter around me in both directions and be happy about it.  That's awesome. 

But what's REALLY awesome is what happened on Saturday.
Jim Crew came and trimmed my horses.   For the last four years I've watched Will's hooves and legs bow and him start winging.  My own barefoot trimmer is a good guy, but nothing he did made a difference.  He kept saying that it's just the way that Will moves.
After Jim trimmed Will, the difference was astounding!  Will would actually stand with his leg straighter!  And he's had no pain or reaction from the trim whatsoever.   I literally almost cried.   Two more trims and Will will have straight legs and shoulders again.   I'm so very happy. 
I want to have Jim come to Virginia this summer to do a clinic.  I think everyone should know about this stuff!
And the icing on the cake is that he plays golf.  He plays at least twice a week, so we've made plans to play together.
So not only will my horsemanship improve this winter...so will my golf game!

Last Saturday I scoped out the golf course where the window guy gave me rounds of golf.  Turns out he's the head pro there.  So we've got tee times set for Valentines Day.  :)
Speaking of Valentines Day, while I was in town I also got a bikini wax and facial. (Both very much needed.)  I then bought Valentine cards and chocolates for my family.  So I'm all ready!

On Sunday I replaced a broken window pane on the mobile, cleaned the bedroom and spent an hour removing old cracked caulking from the bathroom tub.  I caulked it with new stuff the next day.

Today, since it's raining, I'm cleaning and scrubbing the bathroom top to bottom.  I did the other bathroom right after I got here.  Now, they're both good to go.  I also went to town for groceries, and bought some mulch for the weedy flower beds.  (I have to weed them first I know.)

Tomorrow, I'm going to build a drag to smooth the sand on the playground.  Since it's rained it won't be dusty when I do it.  Yay.
I'll also work again on the yard until I "get er done". 

I do want to mention something else that was so wonderful for me.  
Yesterday was a beautiful day.  I'd worked pretty hard and hadn't spent any undemanding time with the horses since I've been here.   I got Will first and gave him a good grooming.  He's losing hair so fast.  It's also itching and he's rubbing himself a little too much.   I put some cream on the places where he rubbed himself.  
Then we just took a walk... wherever he wanted to go and graze.  I sat in the grass and we just enjoyed each other's company.

After an hour it was Lily's turn.   I put Will in the playground and got Lily in the barn to groom her.   Will didn't like that he couldn't see her and went running up and down like a loon.  Because he doesn't ever get really right brained I just let him get the exercise.  Lily could care less.

After I groomed her, we just strolled along too.  She wanted to eat in one place.   I was standing beside zone three.  She's short enough that I could lean my weight on her back.  And I just left it there.   I was so very comfortable.  There was a very slight breeze kissing my face and she smelled so good.  Her hair is so soft. (This stuff I bought to wash them with is really great.)
Anyway, I was in heaven and it so very much reminded me of when I was a kid.   This is exactly what I'd do.   I realized that there was no one there to watch me, or come bother me, or tell me what to do.   I had all the time in the world and you just can't imagine how much it meant to me.  I felt like crying but I was too happy. 

This is what I hoped it would be like.  My dream is coming true.  I do love my husband so much but somehow, deep inside me, I knew I had to get away and be by myself somewhere.  Here, in my own little three month world, I can focus on just the here and now, not anything else.   It's what my mind and body needed.  And my horses needed it too of course....whether they thought so or not.  Hehe.

Lily is turning out to be so much more sensitive than I once thought.   Since I've been doing so much more with her than I ever have, she's revealing herself to me.  I "WAIT" for her all the time and she just can't believe it.  The bracing is going away little by little and the licking and chewing is happening faster and faster. 

Oh my, look how I've rambled.  Better get back to work.

I loved all your comments.  Wish there was a way I could respond to you individually.

Til next time... take care.

P.S.  You'll never guess where I'm writing to you... in my mobile home!  Yep, somehow I'm picking up the landlady's signal!   Shhhh...... don't tell.    :)    And here I thought it couldn't get any better...as long as this lasts I'll for sure post more often. 

Escape artist!

As you know I was sitting on the porch yesterday evening trying to catch up on the computer.    My landlady had just left for hand bell rehearsal when I heard a car....I thought she came back because she forgot something.   But it was her daughter delivering some hay.  I saw her put the car into
reverse and then went back to posting.   I looked up again just in time to see Will slowly walking past the yard and her car!!!!!!!   What the....!!!!!!!!

I left the computer and got out of the yard and to the entrance gate and got it closed before he discovered it.  My landlady's horses ran up to the fence so Will was busy with them.

I went to the gate of his paddock to get his halter and I saw that his gate was closed. Closed????  

I've pondered and pondered and can't figure out how he escaped.   I'd noticed him itching his butt on the gate but if he'd jumped it, I'd have heard it.   The gate only opens to the inside and there's a lot of sand I have to drag it through every time I open and shut it.   And a post keeps it from being opened to the outside. 
All I can think of is he must be magic.

Today was a work day and I'm pooped.  I picked up a ton of manure out of the playground today.  I'm making progress with that.  It's looking better and better, and I'm gaining more and more room to play with the horses without rolling my ankles on hard poop. 

After that I went to get gas for the JD, then proceeded to finish the pressure washing of my little house.   My arms are in constant use when I do that and they were about to fall off when I finally got done hours later so I didn't play with the horses.   I don't think I could've lifted a carrot stick. 

I did some mowing and picked up some leaves and such and called it a day.

This gal's pooped....a shower is going to feel great. 



I talked to Jim Crew, the guy from Healthy Stride today and he's going to come and trim my horses on Saturday if it's not raining. 
I'm going to be very interested to hear what he has to say about my guys.    Hope it doesn't rain or we'll have to reschedule.

Later gators.

Poop, Poop, and more Poop.

Haha, the John Deere riding mower went back into the shop last Thursday and I've been without it until today.  So I had all those days worth of manure to pick up. 

This morning I used my truck to go pick up a gate and some salt for my landlady.   She bought herself a new gate and is going to let me use the old bent one so I'll have a gate down there where my house is so my husbands dog won't be able to escape the yard. 

Then I picked....and picked ... and picked.   My arms are a little tired tonight. 
But I think that's only because yesterday I scrubbed and pressure washed the siding on the outside of my little house.  It was green and black and wow, what a difference.  It sparkles now. 

No horse time yesterday but today was great.  Lily's circling game was a little broken, but not for long.   She figured out that every time she broke gait or stopped she had to change direction and get outta Dodge.   Pretty soon she was circling nice and calmly.  Since I taught her to come get me on the pedestal I climbed aboard today after our play session.  I, of course, tested the driving game first and all was well.  I'm beginning to really love this little horse.  (Although I really should sell her.)

Well, it's a beautiful evening as I sit on my landlady's porch typing away, but it's time to put the horses into their night-time paddock and go take a much needed shower. 

Oh, I heard from my husband yesterday who is in southern Florida with his friend having a great time.

Nothing else to report.  Gosh, I think I'm a boring person. 
Maybe I should go back to the library and embarass myself again!