Sleeping single in a double bed--NOT

I love that Ziva is a cuddler. I brought her up on the bed when she was little, knowing that she would get bigger. So I guess I deserve the loss of space. And I'm not really complaining. It's kind of funny. Last night for instance, she woke me up because I think she got cold. She's not like Haley, who likes to be covered up. Instead she spoons (which I know Haley does, too--usually with her behind nearer to Lee's face than her face). Last night, instead of just spooning--kerthump against my back like normal--she plopped down ON my lower back! So I moved over, right? This is what my bed looked like after we both got up.

The covers are of course kicked off because I am hot already and then I have her hot body pressed up against me. She probably moves up so high because my feet are always moving in and out of the covers, keeping HER awake.

Sometimes I wake up and I am stretched across the bed width-wise and so is she.Good thing I am not very tall.

Sometimes Ursula is next to us, too. She gets cranky if I move around too much. I end up between the two of them or she comes and lays up by the pillows before Ziva can.

I go to bed early and I get up early. But needless to say, in between, there isn't as much sleep as one would think.

The grass isn't always greener somewhere else--sometimes it's pretty darn green right where you are!

It's that time of year again--tall grass and hungry horses. The fields are green and beckoning. Although the horses have been getting alfalfa as well as hay every day, twice a day--they are ready for the fresh stuff. The problem is, that just like those of us who overeat when something tastes yummy, they will overeat and founder. Shirley tells me this practically every day. :)

So we start out slow; we bring them down and let them eat for a half hour or so every evening. It's a chewing festival. They never even lift their heads to move from one clean square to the next potential spot. Although the prospect of running does not seem like a good idea to them while they are eating--we are pretty sure that once the "time's up" signal is given, they probably would not let us catch them; so we hold on to their lead ropes. Except for Brady who is free to wander where he wants--old age has it's benefits.

Because of my work schedule and the fact that there are five horses, sometimes someone has to wait a little bit longer for his turn. It was Jupiter on Sunday. Guess how that went! He was upset that he had been left and everyone else was eating grass. He threw a bucking fit and had Shirley hugging a tree. He is the fattest of everyone. I mean he's ROUND. Shirley christened him with a new name: Jimmy Dean. He is going to get even rounder once they come down off the hill. Lynn will have to trim more brush so we fit on the trail.

Barry is planning on bringing his horses over to the pasture as soon as we get our horses acclimated to the grass. Although no one is happy about them coming, we are eager to see Dusty. Barry said he is huge now. He plans to ride him a lot this year. I don't think Nancy intends to get on him until Barry has gotten all the "bucking" out of him; but even then, she is shorter than any of us and will need a ladder to get on.

I like this time of year for a few reasons: first of all, I like standing around with Jupes. I get to talk to him and rub on him while he eats. He probably can't hear me over all that chewing, but it feels nice to hang out with him. Secondly, it also means standing around with Lynn and Shirley. We laugh over the day's events. You know Lynn is full of weird people stories! Finally, the dogs have a ball. The grass is way over their heads and they look so funny running and jumping in it. They roll around and weave in and out of the horses. It's easy to see the pure joy in their faces.

This together time is short and will come to a close very soon. The horses will be out in the fields and won't need us for a bit. Thankfully, they like us well enough and know that sometimes we bear treats, so they come to the fence to say hello. But the days of hurrying from school to feed are almost over for awhile. Although I like that I can stay at school longer and accomplish a few more things--I will miss seeing everyone. It also means that Ziva, the ball dog, won't be romping with her best friend and will expect me to play even more ball! :)

As I look forward to tomorrow's ride--I send good thoughts to Alisa and her crew. Six more weeks in the brace, but no surgery--Yay! We will be planning rides into Stanshaw and other fun places in no time.

Hmmm. Who's this?

Happy birthday, Jupes!

I fell in love with his picture. And then I saw him and rode him and it was all over. 

"Just pay the lady."

Then we got him home and I realized how little he was--his chest was as skinny as Indy's!

But when we turned him loose and he ran away in fear, I called his name and he came running back to me. He stole my heart right then.

He knows the sound of a camera and how to pose and show off his good side for sure.Shirley calls him "Little Lord Fauntleroy". 

But when everyone else is complaining about their boring horses--I am not. For all his "perfectness" he is a pistol who keeps me on my toes. 

He's kind of a big scaredy cat, but loves to be in the lead and charge uphill. He's surefooted on the trail (except when he stumbles!).

Although it feels like much longer, we've been partners for five years now. He's filled out to be the perfect Morgan specimen--even if he's on the round side. :)

Happy 10th birthday, Jupiter! 

I look forward to many more years on the trail with you.

Don't read this if you're already sad

Saturday was a hang-out-with-other-friends-day for me, Shirley and Lynn rode without me. It gave them a chance to talk and be together like before I started riding every weekend with them. It was a hard week last week and I know it was good for Lynn to be ahorseback.

It is an ironic truth that as much as I love getting older (and getting closer to retirement), I hate that everyone else is aging, too. I want to have my cake and eat it, too. I have always been like that. Shirley did not have a good week. Her pills are off again. I do not understand the pharmaceutical industry. She was doing well, then the generic brand that she is forced to use because of insurance, changed its medicine and thus, sent her into a decline. We forget that she is in her 80s. She is so spry and does everything she has always done--she is timeless. But then, she isn't. I want her to stay where she is and just let us catch up.

And then there's Brady. He's still running up the hill and keeping everyone back behind him, but he's running much slower. He cannot turn quickly. His hips are awfully bony. He is starting to show his age more and more. We have had a mild winter. He might not have been able to take a harsher one. We had wind last week. Big wind. What if he can't move quick enough to miss being hit by branches or trees? She is worried he will get down and not be able to get back up. Lynn has already made the call to Dr. Branch.

Sunday was a glorious day--definitely not March weather. Lynn and Shirley waited and waited and for me to get out of church. I am so grateful. It was warm and comforting to be with them as we start a new week. Jupes was on his best behavior and everything went well. We did see two kids on motorcycles, but they went one way and we went another. People were out shooting and only Happy was upset and she was fine once we got over the crest of Hennessey and down the other side. Days like this balance out the heaviness of my heart with the blessings of being with people that I love. I am sure it is the same for all people fortunate enough ride horses. Being able to love deeply comes with being surrounded by beauty and love returned.

Rodeo-ing, helicopters, and rain

3-7-2015
Finally got to ride again--three new pairs of shoes--three rides. Sheesh. That makes them pretty expensive shoes!  As you know, Jupiter needs lots of wet blanket time. We rode up the Hennessey and he was pretty good. He had to stop and huff and puff a little, too, since he's a fatty. We were in back quite a bit and he hates to follow Buster. I have said it before, but I think Buster slows down and walks incredibly slow just to annoy Jupes. Anyway, he started twitching his tail and laying his ears back. I could feel him humping up and getting ready to explode, so I laced his behind with my reins. One it took him by surprise, two it made him madder. I spurred him, too. He behaved a for bit, then started in again. I think he wanted some green grass or something because we were in the front. Anyway, I laid into him again and turned  him in circles both ways. He behaved for the rest of the day. But dang it--I want him to behave and act like that!

I think this is the same day that I was a sissy girl and did not want to get my boots wet. The pond where we go all the time is the fullest I have ever seen it. I had jumped off to do something and Jupiter decided to walk out into the pond. I was pulling on his reins and yelling, "No!" But he kept going. When he got to the end of my reins, I lost him. I was trying to keep from going in and getting my boots wet. Or sinking into the muck! He went out a good ten feet. Lynn had to ride out and get him. She thought he might roll in the water!! Good grief.

3-15-2015
When we got back from riding, we all got shaken to the core when Lee walked up to meet us and said that Gordy called because Alisa fell off Keota and was being airlifted to Reno with a broken back. We knew she had been at a class in the arena that day.

Her story came out later:  Keota was loping along the arena. They had just gotten new sand. The instructor said something to Alisa, so she was turned back looking at her. Keota went into the deep sand and sunk to his knee. He stumbled forward and sort of jumped, trying to free his feet without falling. Somehow Alisa lost her balance and landed on the ground. Keota carefully and determinedly did not step on her; however, when her friends and the instructor ran over to see if she was okay, her legs started shaking. They knew instantly that her back had been injured and sent for the ambulance. The ambulance took her to the hospital where the doctor said he was afraid there was a chip of bone floating around in her spinal area. So off she went to Reno on her first helicopter ride. Unfortunately, strapped to a back board with duct tape, she did not get to enjoy the view.

Thankfully, everything was better than they first thought. She  has a fractured vertebrae, but did not require surgery and she will be able to ride again--although with a support brace to begin with. It was scary nevertheless.

3-26-2015
Last weekend, Lynn and I rode by ourselves up Hennessey. The pharmacist changed Shirley's heart medicine to another generic brand and she was not feeling good. We had an easy ride; however, Jupes has lost a shoe. He wore an EZ Boot with no issues. I guess he remembers it from a long time ago. His hoof is broken and Lynn said he probably won't be able to hold a shoe for a bit. He is definitely a boy who needs wet blankets--he was good and did not act up at all.

The weather today is incredible. It's supposed to almost 80 degrees for Pete's sake! I wish we were riding.

Another great weekend!

This is what happens when I get together with Lynn, Alisa, and Toni! It was lots of fun at the Bull and Gelding Sale. I almost got a free horse. :) Bobby Bodacious would have had a better home with us than his owner, that's for sure. But he might have been bored without cows to work. Although, Jupes would have been jealous and kept him on the run! I am willing to bet everyone slept better in their own beds last night--I know I did!