Long Winter’s Nap

A long winter’s nap is what Trouble does best. I got one in today, too. It’s been a busy winter, even after the holiday baking season was over. Bookwork that gets ignored screams for attention. Post-Christmas parties consume the weekends. 

 

And winter weather slows down our momentum. As it should. That’s one of the reasons we live in a four-season climate. We like our long-winter’s nap. It gives us time to recharge. Think about the season just past. And get excited about the season to come.

 

Or maybe just bury our heads in the curtains and nap a bit longer!

 

 

 

Sunday River Blessing

I almost skipped by paddle today. It was late by the time I got on the river. I had other things I wanted to do. But…….

Two weeks ago I was out on the river and noticed this quiet bird sitting on a dead tree on the shore.

Last week she was sitting patiently on her nest.

Today I was blessed with getting to watch both parents catch dragonflies and feed them to two hungry chicks! I’m glad the river called.

Purple Cone Flower

Slow Spring is Breaking

Spring has been slow in breaking this year. The surest sign it will truly come, to me, is a sunny daffodil bursting forth from the cold ground. This single intrepid blossom assures me spring is going to explode soon!

Waiting

‘Tis the season of waiting. Waiting for leaves to burst forth.

Waiting for for the daffodils and squills to brighten dreary spring days.

 

Waiting to meander up the river, away from cell phone service, questions, and answers.

Waiting for roads and fields to dry, foals to drop, hair to shed.

Waiting for answers. Waiting for Easter.

With all this waiting comes hope and the promise of something better.

To make it worth the wait is up to me!

Writer’s Block

I love writing this blog. You wouldn’t know it. It has been more than six months since I last posted here. Not that I haven’t tried. But I haven’t taken good photographs (or any for that matter!) And without pictures, this isn’t much of a blog.

I’ve decided that in my 55th year I will do more of what I love, whether I do it well or not!

And here are 4 things I love most! My knight in shining armor (or camo coveralls 🙂 ) , Elmo and Elroy, and my little mare, Bitsy.

I’ll spend a bit more time with my little mare.

I’ll let go of the need to be in charge all of the time and take time to smell the flowers. Even grow a few more for myself!

 

I will take more pictures, whether I do it well or not.

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When I am with those who are important to me, I will devote more attention to them.

And I’ll do my best to look on the sunny side!

So, this isn’t the best blog ever written. But it is a break in the writer’s block. The next one will be easier. And hopefully better. But it doesn’t really matter. Because I am doing what I love. And when you reach a ‘certain age’, that’s all that matters!

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

It was a day of rest today. A day we should be sleeping in, going to church, spending time with family. But, like farmers, we make hay when the sun shines. Or in our case, cover greenhouses when there is no wind!

Which, in North Dakota, is a rare occurrence!

So faithful friends come to our rescue yet again and give up their day of rest. And they lift from me the weight of worry about if the snow will fly before we are covered.

My chosen professions leave me few weekends without work commitments. This was one of them. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Summer’s beauty was put to rest. While tossing the old I speculated on next year’s bounty. Like my farmer father I have faith next season will be better than the last.

And to top the weekend off my little mare treated me to a nice brisk walk across the freshly harvested fields.

How blessed am I!

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Two weekends in a row of fun, friends and family! How lucky am I?!?

It was a weekend of learning……

Learning to build a swing from rope and firewood.

Learning to build a fire.

Fishing was good. If you like bullheads!

The girls giggled all the way down the river trying to catch minnows and splashing each other.

Giggling girls usually scare away wildlife but we saw a few feathery friends.

Corn on the cob, bonfires, fishing off the dock, home-made swings and digging for bones (a story for another day!). All things memories are made of!

 

 

Horses and Their Riders

 

This is what it is all about!

Last weekend we hosted our seventh (we think!) Kevin Vesey Equine Center horsemanship clinic. And it was the best yet!

 

Some of our riders are pretty serious about their horsemanship.

 

Some are just learning.

 

 

Family has more than one meaning at our clinics. Most of our riders are repeats; as in every clinic, almost every session! 🙂 We have sort of developed a special bond, knowing each other’s horses quirks as well as the rider’s habits.

Grandma Jean with Nora

Grandpa Larry with Emma

And we are family in the conventional sense of the word. Grandparents and grandkids ride together, learning from each other. And, believe me, it is not a one-way street!

And it’s not all about the riding. It’s actually more about the fellowship, at least to Mark and me.

It makes our hearts happy to have a yard full of trailers.

Fast or slow, seasoned rider or beginner, this is what it is all about. Riding in fellowship with those who feel the same way about horses and horseman. None of us is out to win the world show. We just want to get better at what we do and enjoy our fellow riders, from ages 6 to 66 (disclaimer: I really do not know the age of our oldest riders. Hope I haven’t offended anyone! 🙂 )

 

Thanks to all the riders, their families and Kevin and his family for making this weekend the best ever. And to Carrie and Chad and Karly and Tara and Johnna for making the work load a lot lighter. Can’t wait for the next one!

Counting my Blessings

I’ve been told I have a poor concept of time. It’s true. I am lousy at time management. There are only 24 hours in a day. Always have been. Always will be. Yet, I seem to think I can get 48 hours-worth done in a day.

I think I can tend my pretty flowers (these are not mine, but those of a fellow gardener who also packs too much into each day), ride my horse, clean my house, do my bookwork and plan the next event all without a hitch.

Then I pout and feel sorry for myself when I fall short.

But if only I would remember that floating down the river in June and July, while pleasant, is not nearly as rewarding as when the days get shorter, the evenings cooler. Then the young raccoons play hide and seek with me as they forage for their evening snack.

The water fowl tease me by dipping in and out of the water around me.

If only I would remember to count my blessings and remember that as the days get shorter, my time gets freer. As the days get shorter my list of blessings gets longer. I am blessed with a muddy river that brings me peace and solitude. A time away from the phone, the computer, the weeds, and my ever present clock.

Four-legged Fun!

Last weekend was the best! The QCS Ranch hosted the annual fall Kevin Vesey Equine Clinic. Twenty-five riders ranging from six to sixty years old, along with their four-legged BFFs, walked, trotted and loped through the weekend.

 

We learned basic skills for getting our horses to pay attention to us.

We pretended we were turning cows, barrels and doing spins. We worked on issues we have with our horses (or maybe issues they have with us!).

We were reminded how to look through a child’s eyes.

Sometimes we sat still and listened.

There was plenty of pondering.

Puppy love!

Learning is so much work!

Don’t forget the food!

But it really wasn’t about learning new horse skills. Or fixing problems. It was about spending time with old friends and making new ones. Being with people and critters with whom we share common interests. It was about breaking bread together, laughing together and resting together. For me, it was a wonderful break in the midst of a whirlwind of fall’s work and baking season. For me, it was the best weekend ever!