Funny Frankie

With the recent rain the grass has gotten very tall. Frankie won't walk through the tall grass to go to the bathroom. Maggie mowed the front yard today and made a trip through the backyard so he would go. He ran outside on the path and went to the fence and went right away. He was so relieved to be able to walk through the grass without it touching his belly. Funny little dog will jumpinto the water trough and roll in the dirt but doesn't want to walk through the tall, wet grass.

I'm in a weird mood

I'm feeling blue and melancholy tonight for no apparent reason. I feel like I"m bored, yet I have things to do...yet, I don't want to do them. I wasted a good riding weekend just sitting around. IT's not entirely true. I didn't waste it. I had Peter's family here today and that was great fun. They all came for lunch and Peter's brother's and wife's birthdays. I got to see my inlaws and I haven't seen them since Christmas. Maggie has gone back with her grandparents to Peter's brother's house, where she will spend the night hanging out with Peter's mom and getting to play with her almost 2 year old cousin tomorrow. Normally I really enjoy the alone time. Tonight I just feel odd. I had thought when they left to go to Nick's house (Peter's brother) I would go ride my horse, but I didn't. I was feeling comfortable in my chair and I played Sims 3, which is a complete waste of time, but was fun anyhow. Now I really wouldn't mind going out, but it's 8:20 and I have to work early tomorrow, so I won't go.

I was supposed to meet someone to camp tomorrow night and ride both tomorrow night and Tuesday morning, but she had to cancel. So, I was going to go ahead and go down tomorrow night and camp, but it seems strange to camp all alone with no one else around. I have enjoyed the rides I have gone on alone, but to go to a place and be completely alone just doesn't sound like fun. I think I have decided to sleep at home tomorrow night and get up at 4:30 and drive to Athens to ride. I may even put out a note to the NATRC list to see if anyone is free that wants to go. If I could find some other people to camp, then I'd go down, but going alone just doesn't feel right. I wish that Maggie could go with me, but she goes to her dad's on Tuesday and with her going to visit my mom in a few weeks, I don't want to take them away from each other.

I have been wanting to judge in STC/TTC and I'm finding out that people don't find me to be qualified right now. I have been trying to reinvent myself, but evidently I'm not quite there yet. Yesterday it really upset me, but now I've decided that I would just as soon ride and enjoy my horse for the rest of this year and see what a year of campaigning can do for me. I have already decided to ride open next year. Maggie wants to, but it may not be time for Dixie yet. We still have saddle issues to work out!

I did ride at the field last night with Maggie trying out my new Icelandic saddle. I don't think it's going to work on Liberty so well. IT's a Duett Bravo and it's billed as a trail saddle. It's too small for me, but I think it fit him OK. It also looks like it may work on Dixie, but Maggie wasn't sure she was crazy about the way it fit her. So, it will probably be up for sale. It's nice saddle and I got it for a good price, so I can probably resell it for the same money again.

Hot Fourth of July

Well, OK, duh, it's hot and it's July which makes it summer...

Our fourth started with a bang and some sparks that were NOT fireworks related. In the middle of the night we noticed the house was really, really quiet. The power was off. The dog was barking in Maggie's room. I got up (and was able to see without glasses or contacts thanks to Lasik Surgery) and found the neighbors on the front lawn and 2 firetrucks in the street lights flashing. The teen age boy next door told me they heard a pop and had sparks in the backyard so they called the fire department. Sounds like a transformer blew. I have no idea what time it was, but it was really, really dark. So, I'm guess 4am or before. I didn't go to bed till midnight, so I was pretty bleary eyed. I came in the house, which was thankfully still cool. Peter couldn't sleep anymore so he was up and down after 5. I finally got up at 7:45, Maggie was awake then so we ended up all getting up and going to breakfast.

Now, I'm home, getting ready to cook a brisket...which seems to be a great summer sort of thing to do. I'm getting the fire ready right now. I like the char the brisket and then bring it in, wrap it in foil and cook it in a sauce.

Last night I rode with my friend Amy Crane. It was great fun. We left about 6pm and rode until dark. It was much cooler than riding in the day time. It was good to ride as it got cooler instead of it getting hotter. The horses did great, until the deer started popping up. It was really fun until they got jumpy. We did get out into the lake and that was so pleasant. The horses were great and wanted to go in deeper, even though there were boats and wakes. I was so pleased how sensible they were. We did a little trotting and cantering to work on Amy's confidence. Her last horse bucked her off at the canter so she's working on her confidence to canter again.

So much to do, so little time

Cat's son was rushed to the ER yesterday. At first they thought that he had been given a drug called GHB, since he had many of the symptoms of this drug, but after he became coherent he remembered his day and he hadn't eaten or drunk anything that wasn't his own. They decided today it must have been heat stroke. They couldn't check for the drug as they said the ER lab didn't have the ability to test for it. It's a date rape drug and it's known as Liquid X or Liquid Ecstasy. It can sometimes be given along with a drink or candy and kids might not know it's been given to them.

Today is my "desk day" It's the day I run errands and pay bills. My bills are way backed up...so I guess that means next I will have no money once I pay them, but hey, that's why I work. I had the guy come to mow my field this am and that took a lot longer than it should have.

I got to play with Fiera for awhile when I was at the field. She was very ornery. I decided that I need to review some of my foal/yearling materials before I proceed. She has begun to kick out if you push her away and she's very pushy. I spent most of my time this morning working on the yoyo game to get her out of my space. She was a very quick study, but she became offended when I would ask her to leave my space and then try to reel her back in. Little goober wanted to stay away. Then I worked a little on circling and giving the hind quarters. This didn't go very well. She kept running into me forcing me to move my feet before starting her circle. Since I lose when I move my feet, and I lose if she plows me down, I think I will have to start here. I may call Jennifer up and have some lessons to get us started. Since she's just a yearling, I don't think I can work with her long at a time, but I'm definitely seeing some very obstinant characteristics. She's sticky and doesn't move...unless it's her idea. I did finally get her to move around me in a circle without plowing me down and I did get her to back away from me and face me, but I haven't really gotten her to yielding her hind quarters when I ask her to. But, I didn't want to make it too much work, so I let it go for the day when I got what I wanted a couple times.

I'm wondering if ground work with a yearling qualifies as aerobic exercise? She gave me a serious workout. She's really grown lately and I can see I need to spend more time teaching her to be more respectful. One of the things I have been doing today while I pay bills is listening to my Clinton Anderson DVD on Foals and Yearlings as a refresher course.

I have been sorting out papers on my desk, paying bills and feeling slightly depressed. I have money coming in, but it's not here yet...bills are due...it's just one of those things that happens from time to time.

I have been contemplating how much I enjoy being off work on Tuesday while Maggie is at her dad's. I would very much like to have a day to myself like this next year and not have to go to springtown. However, I also have a hard time turning down the $200/week of pay that I get from them. I'm just thinking at this point. I'm sure I won't give up the school.

I have been watching reruns of ER on TNT. I have been enjoying them, but think I might be getting tired of it. I don't have room on my DVR for other stuff anymore. I have seen them all before. I just wanted to watch through to get to the ones I hadn't seen.

Due to Maggie's horse having trouble with the heat, I think we're going to have to stay home this weekend. I dread having to cancel. I know the ride needs riders and we were really looking forward to going. I just don't want to risk Dixie's health putting her in a hot trailer to and from the ride. Maggie has another horse to borrow if the girth gall doesn't heal before the weekend (another reason not to go) and we decide to go riding.

Trace Trails

Maggie and I had the pleasure of riding the Trace Trails in Athens this weekend. I had been hearing about them from so many people and was eager to check them out as I think it would be a great site for a NATRC or STC/TTC ride in the next year or so. We went down on Saturday night late with Robin Timmons, who is an endurance rider. We rode out about 8 or so and came in after dark. Maggie said it freaked her out riding in the dark but I found I really liked it. Liberty was eager and forward and only spooked once at some unknown booger. We slept under the stars on our cots as it was too hot to sleep in the truck. The next morning we got up and rode before it got too hot. The trails are all sandy and pleasant. They have lots of ups and downs and are mainly in the trees. There are over 40 miles of marked trails at Trace. It was really great.

Unfortunately Dixie got overheated even though our pace was pretty slow. She began to pant and we walked in to give her a rest. We hosed, e-lyted and let her rest. She was always interested in food and her gums stayed moist and pink. Even after we hauled her home she was still panting. Her temp was also normal. Maggie was pretty worried about her as she has never done this before.

We're also still fighting girth gall issues. Maggie thought she's found a saddle they both liked but Dixie continues to gall.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with panting and it's causes. She was sweating and drinking and eating so we are puzzled.

Trouble with Heat

Maggie and I got to ride at the Trace Trails today in Athens, TX. We had a pleasant ride in spite of the heat, except that Dixie had trouble with the heat. Her heart rate was fine, her temperature was slightly high, but not too bad, but her breathing was out of control. We trotted/cantered a little, but not a lot. We mostly walked. She was eating and drinking well and acted normal, except for the panting. I haven't been able to figure out what the problem was since she didn't seem to actually be hot. She didn't sweat as much as Liberty, but she did sweat. She also got another girth gall from the English saddle Maggie has been using, so it's back to the saddle drawing board. I'm not sure what we will do about The Other Half ride next weekend. Dixie was still panting when she unloaded at home in spite of multiple hosings. She got right off the trailer and started eating. She never had any signs of stress. Her gums weren't injected and her skin didn't tent. She was a little better after a dose of electrolytes, but I am very puzzled.

Crazy Day off

Today was the big day to have my new lasik surgery checked out. I came out 20/20 and I was very pleased. I was going to run to the doctor and then the grocery store and then come home and do paperwork. Well, all good plans seem to have a failure built in :-( One of my friends who I hadn't seen in awhile asked me to breakfast. I hopped on that...still time to do my shopping, right? Then I remembered that today was my day to pick up my organic veggies, so I had to pick those up, and then I remembered that I needed toner for my printer, so I could write my notes when I came home, so I stopped off for that too. Then I went to the grocery store, which, with my new system took longer, but saved me a ton of money. I have got a car load of groceries for $168 using specials and coupons from The Grocery Game. I also picked up a few things so I'd have complete meals this week.

So, after all that, I unloaded groceries and repackaged the meat and prepped for dinner. Then I turned around and it was 5pm and I have yet to actually do any of my paperwork yet.

I'm finding that I really do need one day a week just for me. Whether I use it to do housework, or ride or (fill in the blank) I'm finding that it's really a good thing to have some "free" time.

Going to make supper now...didn't get to see the horses today as I had to stay out of the sun.