A Workout, Igor, and a Couple of Horses

I'm feeling a little better every day. I'm also really appreciative of all your get well wishes, cards, and gifts -- all that positive stuff really does help.   Today I returned to the gym for a workout -- a truncated one as per doctor's orders, but a good one nonetheless.  I did a half hour of cardio -- 20 minutes on the elliptical and 10 on a bike.  Got my heart rate up there and worked up a nice sweat.  It felt good.  I won't be doing weights for another couple of weeks, though.

My 'job' this week is to recuperate as best I can so we can go on our cruise that leaves next week for Nova Scotia.  We're excited and also hopeful that Igor, his category 5 self, and any hurricane siblings of his will leave us all alone.  I'm getting a prescription for scopolamine patches just in case.  I've also been watching the West Coast of Africa as it's been spitting out one system after another.  If I were to go back to school, I'd get another degree in meteorology or marine science -- or maybe both.

Youngest daughter has been at her new job for over a month now, and frankly she's happier than a pig in slop.  She's up to her schnutz in horses and loving it.  Saturday they participated in a fox hunt (foxhunts in this country are such that the fox is 'hunted', but left unscathed).  Here she is -- first alone and then with her new boss:  they're the ones on top. :)

 

A Little Whine, A Few Friends, and J-E-L-L-O!

It's pouring here -- we'd had no rain and high temps for almost a month and have made up for it in the past three days.  Last night we had T-storms that woke me from a sound sleep.  Believe me, that's a feat.  I'm a sound sleeper -- Richard would have to wake me to breast feed the infants!  The only exception to this is when one of them was sick.  A cough, a moan, a plaintive call would break through the deepest of sleeps in a flash.

Youngest daughter is moving a little deeper into horse country in a new job.  We're happy for her; she's doing what she loves. Can't ask for more than that.

Been a little under the weather this past week and living on chicken broth, Jello, and oyster crackers.  Diverticulitis hits every once in a while.  And as if the attack itself isn't enough to deal with, the medication is always 'fun'.  We were supposed to have left for Hilton Head this morning, but Richard had meetings and projects that interfered.  Probably best anyway.  Don't want to be in the car  for 11 hours with an iffy stomach.  Our trip to Washington State is still on, though.  We're going out to meet our San Diego friends in Seattle and then drive up to Dakota Creek Winery where we'll help with a Wine/Art Fest.  In addition I get to meet up with two really good blogger friends, Brad, from Kuboto Farm and Fiwa! How exciting is that!!

It's Always Something

Several years ago, my son and DIL bought a fixer-upper farmette nearby. They've been working diligently to get the house, yards, paddocks, and stables in good shape. By last week, the house and yard had been improved by about 50%, the barn/stable was looking really great, and their three pastures were green and lush -- about 250% improvement. With this hard work behind them and with a house/horse/dog/barn cat sitter engaged, they decided to take a much needed and totally deserved trip to Florida for a week. I don't think I've seen them this happy since the day of their wedding! They left last Sunday for Florida and we planned to pick them up this afternoon.

Last Sunday night, a neighbor from their street allowed his handicapped nephew to drive his van for the first time. Unfortunately, the young man lost control of the car, crashed through our son's gate and into their barn, taking out the front two stalls. Luckily, the driver was not injured and the horses had been put out to graze. The barn, however, is uninhabitable; the insurance adjuster is to come out this week. I feel badly for my son and DIL as they work so very hard. In good spirits and happy to be home, they seemed to take it all in stride. Here are a couple of photos I snapped after picking them up from the airport.


FYI -- My surgery on wrist #1 is this Thursday the 20th.

"Another Saturday Night and I Ain't Got Nobody"...and Going in for Upkeep and Maintenace

It was actually a sweet Saturday night. Our youngest, daughter Robyn, stopped in for dinner and discussion. We talked about horses (of course), the other animals in her life, work, and dished some dirt for a bit. After she left, Richard and I settled down in comfy clothes, he to his laptop, and me to my Harlan Coben. Burn Notice marathon playing in the background.

This week I will set up the first of two surgeries on my hands. There's a lot to be said for doing both carpal tunnel reliefs at the same time, but I'd really like to have one relatively able hand available. The bad news: after the second surgery is done, I won't be typing for at least two weeks. (After the first is done, I can still type with one hand, albeit slowly.) Cheryl and Richard have offered to help. I'll take them up on it to be sure. Will I suffer Blog Withdraw? YOU BETCHA'! But I'll deal with it.

Avoidance

I'm going to the gym -- at least I'm dressed and supposed to be there. I will when I finish this...maybe.
We had an exciting Christmas Day. Middle daughter is now engaged. Her fiance' took her dad and I aside on Christmas Eve and asked our permission and blessing. He said, "I love your daughter; she makes me want to be a better person." No plans, yet. I think she is still in shock.
I thought this might be a good time to introduce you to some other members of our family both two-legged and four-legged. Our son and DIL have a small farm with three dogs, four horses, and a herd of barn cats.


This is the whole brood minus the horses and Deuce (middle daughter's dog). Luke is an American bulldog; Lilly is a rescued wolfhound/Great Dane; Beau, on grand daughter's lap,(2 months old in this photo) is a harlequin Great Dane. Leon, in front of my son is our youngest's dog. Not sure of the breed; suffice to say he's big. All four are sweet, gentle, dogs.


Zoe (the cat) and Leon belong to our youngest and her husband.


Zoe has special talents.


Lola on her birthday.


Our youngest daughter (the one on top :)) teaches riding and trains Lola.


Our youngest was married last July. That's Leon, who was the ring-bearer, at her right.
Oh, something I thought you'd enjoy: our son's fire house does the Santa thing every year; they ride Santa around on one of the trucks, waving and yelling , "Ho, ho, ho." You know the drill. This year, the only firefighter who would put the suit on (evidently it needs to be laundered) is Jewish. So they're on the truck riding through the community, but Santa is yelling, "Shalom, mazel tov!" :)

I do believe it's time for me to go workout.