February continues to be its not-so-charming self. I wonder how many times on this blog I've written "I hate February"? Maybe it could be a drinking game. Lord knows it might help.
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| Not the only blogger to share this. |
The last time I rode was New Years eve. It's the longest riding 'draught' I've had due to winter. This year we never got the January thaw that gives the glimmer of hope. This past week we've had two storms that included significant freezing rain. The last one has Quaid's door locked in ice. So I've been taking him in and out through Carmen's stall. At least there's enough snow that the paddock is not ice and both are being very sensible.
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| On the plus side we could skate or have a curling match on my riding ring. |
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| suddenly we're the enemy. honestly, it's a little heartbreaking. |
But it's not all doom and gloom. Cordelia had her first birthday this month.
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| she's growing into a beautiful girl |
She's the nosiest dog I've ever known. Like whatever you're doing she's got to be right in there. Ed has been renovating our bathroom. We took out a tub surround and are putting in a soaker tub (yay! I can't wait). He also raised the floor to be even with the rest and put down flooring. It's going to be great. When he would start a power tool Cordelia wanted to be right there to see what he was doing.
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| Just a sec, I need to check this out. |
Soon we'll be heading south for our vacation. I'm looking forward to seeing family and hoping that it's just politicians that dislike Canadians. Either way, it might be our last trip to the U.S. for a while. Until the politicians can sort themselves out. I'm looking forward to the warmth.
Mostly though, I'm counting off the days until things start to thaw and I can start riding again. I've been keeping up with my fitness goals. I'm getting stronger and able to increase the free weights. I can hold a plank for 2 minutes. I'm hoping to get to 3 but we'll see. It also turns out I'm really enjoying the karate class. The instructor has been teaching us the beginner katas (sequences of movements, in case you didn't know. It's all new to me). Last week he said "don't get in your head and think too much. Just flow with it and it will be easier". Sound familiar? Turns out, once I did that it felt a lot easier. He also apologised for all the repetition of the katas and movements. Me, this is my jam. I'm well used to repeating movements with the aim of improving and learning. So while I can't ride, I still feel like I'm working towards positive changes in my riding.
What about you? Are you counting the days until spring (and mud)? Has winter been bad for you this year or relatively mild?
Please don’t think the US President represents all the US people! We the (sensible) people appreciate and respect our northern neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to hear it.
DeleteI second this, and am trying to make sure the politicians hear that we want them to sort their shit out.
DeleteTruly grateful for our African winters, which are honestly our best riding weather! It's fun when it snows every few years, but I don't think I could do it for months every year. You guys handle it with such aplomb
ReplyDeleteNot so much aplomb as resignation. But I do love our summers.
DeleteThis winter has just been relentless, I can’t even imagine how it is up in your neck of the woods! Cordelia is such a sweetie tho - what a bright spirit <3 I hope you have a lovely trip despite all the noise from certain corners….
ReplyDeleteRelentless is a good word. And thank you!
DeleteI feel you on the weather. Currently awful here and been awful for a couple of months. Know that a lot of us in the US did not vote for the current regime and are disgusted by the statements and policies advocated. A sad time for America and the world. Glad you are working out and making progress on other fronts, your riding will, I'm sure, show it this spring!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI hear you on current events, it makes me so sad for everyone. We ended up cancelling our US trip, sounds like our itinerary wouldn't have ended up working anyway due to the flight schedule to the US being scaled back. We actually had a month of winter this year and I love it. The last of the snow and ice should be gone tomorrow, back to rain and gloom for us :)
ReplyDeleteThe ice is so bad right now. Why can’t the weather just do what I want?
DeleteI don’t dislike you or Canadians! On the contrary, I cannot express how much I loathe my federal government right now. Please do not give up on us, Canada! —Erin in Illinois
ReplyDeleteThank you Erin. I’ve always enjoyed traveling to your country.
DeletePlease know, most of us did not vote for the madness that is occurring in the U.S- we are trying so hard to band together and somehow hang onto democracy-I live 90 miles from the Canadian Border and want to escape to Canada every day. My contribution to the resistance was changing my dogs call name at our agility trial last weekend to "Freedom" and yelling "Freedom is on the line" when I stepped to the course- my other dogs names are now "Rise Up!" and "BitemeElon!"- I quickly figured out who the MAGAS were at that trial-90% of the competitors loved it....I apologize for the U.S- it is a sad time for us-
ReplyDeleteYour dog names are hilarious.
DeleteOh believe me, most of down here in The Handmaid's Tale really do love our northern neighbors. The majority of us didn't vote for this clown in charge (This is a fact, unfortunately a lot of people either didn't vote or voted for someone outside of the two parties) and absolutely no one voted for the guy he's letting dismantle our government who is not even a US citizen...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I don't blame you for not wanting to come here. Many of us wish we could just pick up and leave.
Also winter is awful. Everything is ice here too and the horses have been stuck in since Sunday. I think Al is depressed over it. I know I am! Worst winter in years plus the state of our government... I've been thinking about taking up drinking.
It’s been a crappy winter. Spring is coming though. Hang on.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if you notice a difference while on your vacation. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteI still love all my Canadian friends :) I'm ready for snow season to end, which will just lead to mud season, but at least that will get us closer to decent riding weather. I've been so busy the last couple of summers with hiking, building stuff, and gardening that I've done hardly any riding. In fact, I'd have to search my FB to see if I rode at all last year. Skeeter's loving the time off, but I need to get back up on my horse.
ReplyDeleteI’m ready for mud. I want to get back in the saddle.
DeleteWe had a mild winter until recently, and what winter we did get is about to melt away.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your trip to Arizona! I think you’ll find the American people as welcoming as ever.
I’m hopeful that’s true. I’m looking forward to it.
DeleteI'll echo what many of the previous comments said- many of us in the United States are scared and horrified by what is happening. I live 15 minutes from the Canadian border in NW Washington, and our community relies on Canadians as shoppers. And I love to go up to Langley for Greenhawk and Indian food. We are still neighbors and friends despite the tangerine Palpatine in the white house.
ReplyDeleteOn the horse front, it's finally warming up here and I'm getting some rides in! (Thank goodness-because my mental health was going to sh@# with everything in the news).
Hang in there everyone!
February can bite me.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Cordelia <3
And I assure you that anyone here that is sane loves Canada and her residents and is outraged and depressed. I honestly wish I could become a Canadian. I've had enough and it has only been a month.