Horses!

 Another really good day! Yes, including the first time ever to ride an English saddle on another 19-year-old horse. Shooter is just a good little horse who was also patient with me. We got up to trotting around where the ground could actually be seen, but the grass was so high in that particular pasture that it might not have been safe to go at a canter, much less anything else. Mary said there was a pipe out there along the fence somewhere that needed to have a cement block on it so she could see it. The horse stumbled a few times, so it did not make me feel it was wise to trot in the higher grass. But it was still VERY enjoyable. Also, it was fun to visit with Mary. She taught me how to dismount from an English saddle. Reminded me of being a child lying across the horse's back and then sliding down. Think we will include the mounting block next time for the dismount! Would not want my weight to cause my ankles problems--or knees.

Mary is thinking of getting rid of her horses. Shooter belongs to a church group who uses him for the children who want to ride. But the person who gets him the rest of the year has to keep him healthy (seeing the vet) and hooves either trimmed or maybe shod. Then that person has to take him to the camp during the summer down to an area close to Waco. Anyway, a horse is a very expensive proposition. Even a "free" horse. Now to find someone whose horse needs the exercise yet is not a bronc! It really is not safe to ride alone or without someone around in case of problems, yet that is what a teenage Nancy used to do every day. Still, everyone knew me, and Mom knew where and when to expect me. And too, that teenager was very agile and impossibly, stupidly brave.

Michelle Malay came to visit for a good long visit today. We really enjoyed talking and messing with the dogs. She got to sit outside and listen to my silly hens talk and squawk. She brought them a head of lettuce which they totally consumed while we were sitting there. They are really go getters over veggies! They had already totally wiped out the stuff that Cindy Jones brought last night. Well, not the onions, but hey those peppers! 

Anyway, Michelle told me about some stuff that never occurred to me to even think about. We looked up the difference between the Medal of Honor which has to be given by Congress, and the Purple Heart which means the person was wounded or killed in action. Both require extreme valor and protection of fellow warriors. But now it makes sense why the medal of honor is given by the President since Congress has to deem the person worthy of the honor.

Do you know that half the fun of making "to do" lists is checking off the things that have been done. And then there are the decisions to make about whether or not their priority is movable: from number one to number none if it no longer matters. My list now includes figuring out how to put a faucet on the water tank: number one. The rest of the items are mainly muscle work--not that repotting the aloe vera takes that much muscle. Moving the concrete blocks is going to take time and muscle, however. Oh well. Who needs to exercise when things just need to be done!

Carol Thonton posted a picture of a barrel racing woman whose horse lost its saddle in mid run--girth shredded and the woman still holding the reins and sitting in the saddle BEHIND the horse in the air right at the base of its tail. Lord help us! Can't imagine that happening, but wondered if she was able to let go of the reins and if she was able to walk away from that mess. 

My spoiled rotten dogs had a fit when they saw Michelle's truck today. And they KNOW there are extra goodies lying around in sacks or in the treat jars. And don't even think that they are not going to beg! They are almost as spoiled as the hens! In fact, just spent five minutes trying to find whatever Sylvia said was under the couch--finally got down on hands and knees and really looked. Not a single thing under there that should appeal to dogs. Some dirt, but not any treats or pieces thereof. Whew! Talk about exercise. Get out the long pole to dig under couch. Give that up as a lost cause, and get out the long-handled duster thingy and sweep a few times, and then get down and do a downward dog yoga position just to satisfy a dog! 

Michelle brought some spinach-artichoke stuff that Landen bought that Joe laughed about. So guess what was for supper with whole wheat crackers tonight. Ummm. And there is another that is artichoke parmesan. That will be another meal tomorrow. Doesn't take much to make me happy. So glad that Joe thinks artichokes are bird food or something of that nature. When we were in Paris, they had tables of artichokes in the little store next to our hotel. Tried to get Jennifer interested in dumping one of our suitcases and filling it with artichokes to bring home. She just shook her head and laughed. Kinda like the day Lewis told me we could not fill a suitcase full of avocados when we were out in Ramona, CA. The man was GIVING them away, and we could only eat a few out there! Oh well.

Feast of Trumpets begins tonight in Israel. Remember thinking that Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) would be about a week away when that one came up. Then we always went somewhere after that for the Feast of Tabernacles. This year they have a Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem on October 4. It seems to me that we have read a scripture that says when everyone is saying, peace, peace, that the nations will go to war then. Well, as if that were anything new. Still, it would be wonderful if this world could get a break and find some peace now after this miserable year of sickness and sadness. But in time--in His time--this will happen.

Just in case you have not seen the link for the Legacy of Play for the playground to be sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs here in Wichita Falls, please try to vote for our park. You have to give your email address, and they will send you a message each day when you try to vote, so you have to use the code that is different each day. One city has about 17, 000 population, and they already have 16,000 votes! Those people are dedicated so they have number one in the list! I will try to put a link here for you. https://play.kiwanis.org/contestants/university-kiwanis-club/

If you know of anyone in the WF area who has a calm horse that needs a little exercise, let them know of the old lady who would love to take up riding again.

May each of you find joy in your lives. You are loved.

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