Meanwhile Back at the Farm

No matter what happens life at the farm has it's own rhthym and pace. It makes it easy to gain perspective  and helps me to find my center again.

I had, optimistically, scheduled a lesson with Shanea on Monday. It wasn't my choice but it fit when she was coming and I figured it would be fine. But that night I woke up in the night unable to roll over- my back was so tight as to be seized.  The combination of lugging show stuff and Carmen's shenanigans had irritated my lower back.  I got up and took some ibuprofen and realized that a lesson would not be a good idea.  I sent a text cancelling (and explaining why) and Shanea was very understadning.

Guinness felt that that was the right choice.

you spent the whole weekend with the horse-beast.
It's my turn now. 

He was velcroed to me all day. And we had a good day- walking, and playing and getting belly rubs (well he had his belly rubbed).  Ed has been doing a brilliant job on the trail he cut. It's pretty well finsihed. We just need to let the dirt settle and be packed down and then he will use the chipper to cut up the trees he cut and put on the path. It's a short path but was a lot of work. I now have a circling option which will be great to add to the routine.

It's hard to believe that was brush and trees a couple weeks ago. the dogs enjoy walking on them too. This is a feeble attempt to show you the paths using MS Paint (pretty much not to scale):

the blue indicates paths I can take

There are a lot more woods to the left of the blue line where we will put more to do even a larger circle. Below the blue line is yet more woods but that will be more work so I want to go to the left first.

Our house is finally getting the siding replaced. This had been in the plan since we moved there. The guys are a father/son team and they are doing an amazing job. They are meticulous and clean up every day. so our yard/deck is in disarray but it will all be worth it.

Soon, all our buildings will match. The big question is what colour to paint the door. I am thinking of a burnt orange. Once the siding is done we can tackle the weed garden flower bed. I need to dig it up and start over. I think I want to do a climbing plant to the left of the door - maybe roses?

And Guinness and I completed Obedience 1. He's very smart and would be much further along- it's hard to find time with work, the farm and Carmen. But we do what we can and he catches on quickly.

smart dog is smart

I am still working on my take aways from the show and will probably do a blog post about it. But for now I'm going to ease up on the riding and enjoy some time just playing at home.