It's been awhile.
...but at least this time, I didn't give up, erase my blog, and then "start over" yet again.
I can think of a million excuses why I haven't been blogging.....
For one thing, Facebook is easier to just type a few words and be assured that my closest family and friends will read it (they don't do anything
except FB, for the most part).
and yet....
I hate Facebook.
I often find it filled with negativity, drama, people attacking each other in interest groups (over the most INSANELY, stupid things I might ad).... ...but, I stick to it because it's easy.
Blogging should be easy, but since I don't own a computer, I find it a bit more challenging to update than Facebook. When I start to write a post, what I'd like to be just a short snipet about my day generally turns into a novel. As a result, that novel ends up taking a LOT more time to write then what I had alotted for time to write in a day.
Well, I need to make more time to write -- because it sincerely is something that I enjoy.
So here goes another effort in redirecting my efforts away from the senseless drama of FB and more towards myself (i.e writing).
I won't promise posts as interesting as some of the other blogs I enjoy reading (which are quite a few), but I am going to try to share the ups and downs of my life again with anyone with a mind to read.
I will use this post as a brief catch up to where things are in the varies aspects of my world.
Griffin
Ahhh.....my old Standardbred boy....
He's still here and so far, doing well. His Cushings Disease seems to be under control at the moment and he seems healthy. He shed his winter coat this spring far
faster then he has in probably the last 7 or 8 years (which makes me wonder how long his Cushings went un-diagnosed). At the moment were are getting in 1 or 2 very small, walking only, rides per week. We hack around the arena a bit and the barnyard area. He is still asking to go towards the woods and still showing signs of frustration when we don't. I handwalk him down there occasionally, but he thinks we should ride there also.
I made a promise to him, that if he does well over the summer (and doesn't hurt himself AGAIN -- see previous posts), we could try a hack into the flatter sections of woods closest to the farm by this fall. As with everything else that we do, I have learned that everything is a day at a time. I count my blessings each and every day that he is with me and I don't have any expectations from one day to the next (and believe me that IS HARD to keep in mind). When it comes to my animal family, he truly is my number one priority. I'd really like to see him enjoy each and every day of his golden years that he has left. At 28years old, he as already lived a pretty good life and I want to keep giving that to him for as long as I possibly can. Next year will mark out 20th year together!!
Tex
The situation with my lease horse, Tex, has grown into something far bigger than I ever thought it would. Originally, I was only supposed to (part) lease Tex until June of this year (next month). His owner was leasing another horse (that she really wanted to buy), for the year and when
his owner was recovered from an injury she'd had -- she would start riding him again, and my friend would take Tex back as her sole, riding horse.
As things started to unfold, the friend's recovery did not go as rapidly as hoped and resulted in her questioning how well she would
ever be able to ride again. In addition to this, other factors in her life made her question just how much involvement she truly wanted to have with horses. Logically, she decided to sell her horse & trailer to MY friend (who wanted to buy him in the first place).
My friend, Vickie, now owns 3 horses. Dusty (her newest mount), Tex (my lease horse), and Apache (her retired CTR horse).
Vickie knows that I would buy Tex from her in a heartbeat.
If I could afford 2 horses.
...but I can't, and Griffin must come first.
So, Vickie very kindly offered for me to continue the lease as we have been for as long as I wanted (or could). She has stated that she is not interested in selling Tex (although she would offer him for sale to me at a later date, if I was interested....which I am).
At this point and time, I am moving on with what amounts to roughly a 3/4 lease on Tex. He is boarded at the same farm Griffin lives at and I have a horse to do longer rides and trail with. Vickie will use him for occasional rides/trips as a backup horse for friends as those situations come up (she already has a 2 week camp trip planned with another friend in October). I don't mind the sharing part, as I still must also make time for my old man.
I am very happy with this arrangement for a few reasons:
1)- I have a horse who is a SOLID trail horse that I can enjoy riding with friends....and even go out with alone. Tex is a laid back, more whoa than go sort and he is truly a dream to explore trails with.
While I have lots of experience riding in arenas, showing, and doing arena involved patterns (from my youth working with other people's show horses), I have very little experience as a trail rider. I love trail riding and no longer have even the slightest desire to go to a horse show. Ever.
2.)- Because is not actually my horse on paper, I don't have the anxiety I might have
trying to own owning 2 horses and dealing with funds for a major emergency should it come up (and that is not limited to just the two horses, but my personal life as well). I still plan to have as much involvment as possible and to care for Tex as though he were my own -- but in the back of my mind, I don't have to worry about hanging onto a horse should I not be able to afford it if something major popped up in my life or that of my own animals.
3.)- I have someone to go horse camping with!!
I can't stress enough that if you are ever going to lease a horse, doing so with someone who shares you interests (...and goals) really helps. Vickie is an incredibly experienced trail rider. She has done Competitive Trail, Trail Trials, ridden all over the state, and camped in the mountains.
...and she is willling to let this Chicken, Novice trail rider wanna be accompany her.
Not to spoil a future blog post.....BUT
Next weekend we are camping at Wildcat Mountain State Park. It will be a couple of fun filled days of campfires, riding, and more riding!! I have ALWAYS wanted to do this....and while there is a part of me that is saddened that it's not Griffin who will carry me on the trails -- I am excited to be able to have the opportunity to do it at all. I have a horse I know I can trust, who I've started to bond just a little, and a friend who has the experience and knows the ropes of it all!!.....
Simon & Lukus
My cats are doing quite well and have become an amazing part of my family at home. They are my biggest comfort when I am under the weather or feeling sad. They make me smile. They make me laugh. Every. Day. I find it hard to believe I've had them almost 4 years now!!
Lukus will be coming up on his 4th birthday at the end of the month....and like a crazy cat lady, anthropomorphic, mom, I want to do something special for him. I just dont' know quite what that will be yet.
Simon has turned into quite the lap cat and is nonstop with his purrrs (2 things that were definitely NOT a part of his personality when I got him). I am also thinking he will make his first camping debut with me possibly next month! Si loves being outside on his harness and he is certainly ready to be an adventure cat and test the camping waters!!
Camping
So far, I have 3 confirmed camping outings this summer and I'm currently working on a 4th. All of them are at nearby state parks with family with the exception of the horse outing with Vickie.
My little niece, Fiona (who is almost 3), has already developed an affinity for the outdoors. I have a feeling the future will hold MANY camp outings with her and my sister. She just received a new, made for her (in terms of safety) airbed, that she will be trying out on our June outing. She has quickly outgrown the Pack N Play and is now ready to take the next step learning to be an experienced camper!
Work
It's the same. Enough said (yes, I just had to include that).
...and that's about it -- I will try to keep updates coming as often as I can....and with the summer I have planned, maybe a good adventure story or two!!
Thanks for reading... :-)
