Sarah and Stanley

Sarah bringing in Stanley today

Sarah and Stanley

I watched something amazing happen today. Sarah and I took old Stanley the quarter horse out to graze on some new grass today. Sarah wanted to lead him so she started leading him from green spot to green spot. Then they moved down around to the back. I walked behind them thinking to myself that she is living my dream. When I was her age, I dreamed of having a horse or even just being around them, and there she went. Soon she had Stanley following her like a puppy. She jogged and he trotted right behind her being so careful not to step on her. She turned and he turned. She stops and he stops. I told her he has bonded with her. That horse was on her like velcro! I will have to bring the camera out this weekend and get a movie of her and Stanley.

Keeping busy

We have been keeping busy working and volunteering up at the stables. We have ridden a couple times but the horses are very barn sour and do not want to go out for rides. They would rather stay in the barn or be with their friends. Work for me has been stressful and Sarah has been sick and I missed some work. I go back this weekend. The weekends have been a nightmare with staffing. Not enough staff and everyone is shrieking at me about it. I wish I could go out and make some nurses and CNA's out of mud!
Signs of spring have begun here. I saw a couple squished skunks and the birds are starting to sing. There have been red-wing blackbirds back too. The males come first and start setting up territories. The females come later on. The snow is melting and buds are starting to form on the trees. A few more warm weeks and dandelions will start to grow! Here is one of the latest pictures from the farm. Enjoy! P.S. my hair looks very grey in this picture, its not. Just the sunlight I guess...

Horse leasing

Rich and I just recently began leasing a horse. We aren't stuck with one horse but the one we started on is a 30 + year old Quarter horse named Stanley. He is old, stubborn and safe as riding on a couch. Great for the kids to start on, but I hate getting into an argument with a horse. After we rode today and I was getting his blanket on, he reached over and tried to nip me. I guess its his way of saying "take that"! Here is Rich riding on Stan today.

Got to ride!

I got to ride a horse today, first time in a couple years at least! It only lasted about 10 minutes as the horse was not cooperating in the least. He is an old quarter horse. Over the age of 30 so it was like trying to get an old man to walk around the block a few times. Stanley wasn't having any of it today. He balked coming out of the pasture, he balked getting saddled, he balked walking down to the riding ring. He balked when I asked him to walk. He did however show enthusiasm when heading back to the gate and toward his owner! Here are a few pictures of Rich and I riding. Rich didn't get any kind of a ride as Stanley was thru after I rode. We are going to start leasing next month. Guess who we get to start on? Yup that is right.. good old Stanley! Guess its good to have a nice gentle, if stubborn, horse to learn on! Just to let other horse people, know I am not sawing on the horses mouth in the picture, he is very stubborn and I was trying to turn him around.

Warning: Venting post

I think I may be suffering from some depression or having a mid life crisis or something. I do take anxiety meds but I switched recently to a generic version of Lexapro and have really not been good. I don't feel anxious, I get very irritable and angry. I am just sick of everything. Sick of my job, sick of the kids, sick of my husband (gasp) sick of the weather, sick of chores, sick of these animals at the house. The list goes on. It is compounded by my inability to stay organized and be able to find things when I need them. I am a chronic "loser" of things. Most of these things are important. Like my Social security card. I lost my new one. Now I have to reapply. I misplace bills, paystubs, all kinds of things. All the time. If I need it I can guarantee I will not be able to find it. Right now I am not only missing my SS card I am missing this black leather zipper portfolio thing I used since the AirForce to hold my important documents. Missing. I swear I saw it in the car trunk not that long ago but husband says its not there. I can't find it in the bedroom. My bedroom by the way looks like something from an episode of Hoarders. I am not joking in any means. I have boxes of stuff covered with piles of clothes. I hate to throw things away. I have good intentions and put them in bags to donate but the bags sit there and then get ripped and then everything is all over the place again. I get so overwhelmed by all this crap that I just walk by it. I have tried getting organized, really I have, but it keeps coming back. I am a lazy person by nature and that is a big part of the problem. I'm not really looking for tips or advice. I am just venting. I feel sorry for my husband to have to live with me like this. He is the type that needs a lot of romance and I have zero interest in that. ZERO! Just the thought of having to have romance makes me feel like crying. After romance I am relieved, mostly because I know I can get away with not having to have romance for a couple more days. He also has to deal with my mood swings. Not pleasant. I am snappy and snarly. Mostly I just want to be left alone. Ok enough whining and moaning... Try to have a nice weekend. Probably just hung a big black cloud over yours.. LOL

Pioneer Woman cook book contest

A fellow blogger is giving away her copy of PW cooks! Go HERE to enter!