Time Away

Time away is always good. Always goes by too fast. Always is relaxing. Always able to catch up on sleep.

You always plan on accomplishing so much when you go away. You think you will have so much free time. How does it end up that you have less time?

And why, since you “plan” on getting some things done, do you take so much stuff to do or to read? Especially when it doesn’t get done! I am packing ½ the clothes next time! I promise!
I did read and write. I outlined 2 riding books. I read 2 romantic novels. I almost finished the Center Riding 2 Book and an Endurance Book.

I did not start my outline from the Centered Riding books. I did notice that I had started an outline from Book 1 on the computer already. But it’s not quite what I’m thinking about now so I’ll have to start over.

I sat and relaxed. I did read and blog and chatted. Sometimes I blogged and chatted to myself, but that is ok. I have thoughts that I just need to get down on paper. It’s important to me. It’s my life, and it’s about my hubby, my kids and grandkids, and my horses. I feel better when I write.

And I did talk through email with a blogger friend about horses and training. That was nice. I hope to begin daily training tips, etc once spring is here and I start riding again!

And I did read other’s blogs.

My daughter Sara, The Power of the Ride, writes from the heart. And she almost made me cry again, writing about JR. The only reason I didn’t cry was because I only read about ½ of what she wrote the first day, and read the rest the next day. She lets Pop and I know what Makenzie is doing through her writings and funny stories.

My daughter-in-law, Amber, The Messick Life, writes about being a stay at home mom and about 2 year old Caden. She loves to bake and always has me hungry with what goodies she is baking. She and hubby, Jacob, are preparing for their new arrival, coming in April.

I always read Tammy from Horsetrailriders. She always has fun stories. Or she’s on fire about something that is aggravating to her, and she picks really good topics to get fired up over.

I love my photography blog, Sunday Stills. I hope and strive to be able to take as many good photos as some of the contributors. I think I’ll take a photography class soon. And a self defense class, but that is another story for another day.

And through Sunday Stills, I read many of the daily blogs from many others. Lisa at Laughing Orca Ranch. Nuzzling Muzzles. Jonni at Trot on Hank. Sarah at Between You, Me, and the Fencepost. Rising Rainbow. And many others. I may not read you daily or weekly, but when I do, you brighten my day with your stories.

I also like reading Ree's stories at The Pioneer Woman. I sure wished I took more time and practice some of her recipes! And I love her photography, too.

Getting back to time away. Vacation was fun, and for the first time, I wanted to stay longer. Even though you always miss home, I will miss the sun and sand. And sun! And will definitely miss the stress-free environment. But I hope to continue that environment at home, and keep reminding my hubby to relax.

Vacation was a time of sunrises at 6:30 in the morning and sunsets at 6:30 in the late afternoons. Vacation was sun, and lounging by the pool.

Of walking the beach and listening to the ocean. Of the warmth you feel from the sand between your toes and the sun on your back. Of feeling the water (once you get used to it) splash against your legs.

This year, hubby and I continued exercising and it felt great to do that! The exercise room was awesome. The weight machines were wonderful. And I love the Stex walking machine. I love the walking and stepping motion, and as I walked and stepped, I made sure to work on my joints, keeping them in motion also.

And most days, we walked at least a mile on the beach. It felt like we went so much further, but we were walking through the mild ocean waves at the same time. But we continued that walking in the exercise room. After spending time on 4 of the weight machines, probably 15-20 minutes of weights, we walked 15 minutes on that step machine. It felt like an hour and I was huffing when we got done.

One thing I did was to walk backwards on the step walking machine. Tom say that I was going backwards the first day, and I realized I did that naturally, as that is the way your body should move when riding, and what I have been practicing over the last 1 ½ years. I started out front ways, but I always ended the stepping with 2-3 minutes of backward stepping. Front ways may tone up the thigh muscles, but backwards get your back of your legs!

We do miss home. We miss the kids and grandkids and horses and dogs. And probably the barn cats too. We had a play date with Caden the day after we got home. We’ll have to go see Makenzie soon so E-ma and Pop can see her swim!