Fickle April

Still Not Riding

But, I am thinking about it.  My right knee is giving me some problems. I went to the doctor who said it's likely that something in the new components is pinching a little. Aside from scoping the knee-surgery--there's not much to do but wait it out. It is getting better so I am optimistic it will clear up.

Of course, if I were doing some worthwhile exercise, it might make a difference.

Riding is the exercise of choice, but the weather just can't seem to decide if it's really spring yet. We had a few nice days to tantalize us, and then it turned windy and cold again. It's not "knock your socks off " cold, but enough to put me off.

I did make a move in the right direction by poo picking the arena and I'll do that again in a day or so. After which I will drag the surface. Perhaps that will swing the tables of motivation in the right direction.

The amusing part of the poo picking was the Boys's efforts to "help" me. That consisted of each of them, at one time or another, standing nearly on top of me with his nose in my arm, completely blocking my efforts to scoop up the manure. I suspect the pockets of my sweatshirt smelled of horse treats, but I would rather like to think it was their attempt to show affection. Either way, I once again discovered that my horses just do not "shoo" away no matter how hard I flap my arms at them. They just stand there looking at me as if I've gone stark raving mad.

"Hey, Toby," Tucker says, "She's trying to fly again."

Toby replies, "Yeah, well, if she's gonna get off the ground, she's gonna have to lose some weight."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Chance says.

Well, OK. I just bought a new blender. I'm going to try to make some fruit smoothies. That'll show 'em.

I also intend to start up my swimming again. When hurricane Sandy hit, it threw everything off and I stopped going to the pool. Then, I was substitute teaching a lot and the pool was not open at any hours when I could use it.  I'm pretty sure it's back open after school hours again, so when I go in to teach--which I will next week--I can start to swim again.

On the home front, I have not been a total slug.  The local farm market and farm has an educational tour program for elementary students. The manager--a fellow teacher--asked me to design a packet of worksheets and activities for students and teachers to use in the classroom after the tour.  I've spent quite a bit of time creating the materials and I'm really happy with the results.  I hope they work out well.

And, I've taught Patrick O'Patticats how to play fetch! He was very possessively playing with a little stuffed mouse last night. This afternoon, when he started playing with it again, I took it from him and threw it down the hall. He chased after it and played with in the hallway. Eventually, he brought it back into the living room and when he did, I took it again and threw it. It did not take him long to figure out that if he brought the mouse back into the living room I would throw it again from him to chase.

He's not quite mastered actually bringing the mouse directly to me yet, but that will come. I am hoping I can get him to fetch something that bounces a bit more, such as a soft foam rubber ball, but for now, the mouse is just fine. He is a clever little fellow to figure all this out so quickly---or I am a fast learner myself. *G*

Cocopuff needs a bit of "rehab hugging" as she keeps running from me when I reach out to pet her. I am sure it's all related to my carting her off to be spayed. She was sore for quite a few days afterwards and lost some of her social connection to me. But I've won over every other cat I've owned, so  her "huggification" remedial work should be easy.

I have a lot to do!