Happy Valentines Day

Hubby and I went out to eat last night, which was nice.  We have never, or hardly ever, celebrate Valentine's Day.

We got a Valentine Card from Caden.  We liked what he told us in the card!

Play Time

 

Last week went fast.  I sat at the table with my leg wrapped in heat, trying to catch up on paperwork. 

Last Sun-Tue mornings, I could hardly walk.  So, thinking the worse, after talking with friends, I went to the Dr on Thursday, spending the afternoon, ALL afternoon (since I just walked in and they could see me after a short wait), to find out my calf is just badly bruised.  I knew that!  Can't wait to get the Dr bill to find out how much those words cost me.

By Friday, I was feeling very tired of sitting, so went to town.  Amber and the boys went shopping with me, and we went to Amigos for lunch.  Caden hadn't been to our place for a month to sleep over, since we were on vacation and then the first week back, we had a terrible snow storm.  He said he was excited to come to Namas and help Nama get boxes of new toys out.  These were the toys that have been packed aways since his daddy was about 8 or 10!  It was time for Caden to play with something more than the toddler toys.

When we were shopping, we helped to pick out a Valentine gift for Makenzie.  When we pulled into the garage at our house, he asked if Makenzie was here to play too!  (Makenzie, Caden really misses you, and so does Ema and Pop).  (Each of the kids couldn't say Grandma for awhile, and had their own versions, which they still use.

Caden has a twin bed to sleep in now, and I asked him if he was ready to sleep in "his and Makenzie's room".  He said yes, took his stuffed animals, and put them on "his" bed. He said "the other bed is Makenzie's.  When is she coming too?"  I hope this summer, I told him.

Pop came home from work soon after, we all bundled up to go outside and feed horses and dogs, and it was cold Friday late afternoon.  Caden and I stayed in the barn while Pop carried horse grain and fed horses for me.  The last thing I wanted to do was fall on my leg in the snow.

After supper, Pop helped to get down a box. Caden was so excited to find army men and trucks.  The next day, Caden helped me to get down a few more boxes off of the storage shelves.  We found dinosaurs and lots of miniature cars and trucks.  And we found more tractors and implements! I just didn't take pics of all the toys spread out on the carpet, so you will have to imagine the fun!

This box of an army building needs Pop's help to put together!  Caden can't wait to play with it and the army trucks!

Caden had lots of fun and couldn't wait to tell Mommy and Daddy what he played with.  Now if he would just sleep past 6 in the mornings!

Listen When Your Horse Talks

            Where did the week go?  I ended up not doing much, staying inside since last weekend’s snow storm, and this week in the teens and 20's. And I have been healing!  I ended up having a sore leg all week, after hurting it the previous week.

            I should have Listened to my horse. We have all heard this.  This is natural horsemanship.  “Read your horse”.  I read my horse last week.  I knew he was ansy.  And so were the other horses due to neighbors target shooting around us, even though that was at least ½ mile away.  I needed to “listen” to my horse” better.

            We all read our horses.  We know what ears pinned back means.  We know the “look” that dominant horse gives younger horses, and that they should move, and we know what happens when
they don’t move.

Almost 2 weeks ago, last Tuesday, I shouldn't have rushed Duke, as all the horses were a little goosey because people all around us were shooting. So I lunged him and got on him, but he was still goosey. I worked him in the outdoor arena for about 15 min then decided to take some P&V out of him and go down and up the terraces ONE time. We went down ok, but coming up, he stretched his neck out, turned quick and left out a gigantic buck and kick out. So I'm hanging 1/2 off the side, Duke stopped, and I figured I'd just finish dropping off.  I landed, I think I startled Duke and he jumped again, coming down on the very edge of my inside calf. I had to hold on to the reins, as he has only been gelded for 2 months, and I could not run the risk of him loose. It hurt, but I got up, Duke stood still and I walked him to the barn and put him away.

I did chores, Wed am woke up sore and I limped around. Wed I rode duke, and he was perfect.  I had good rides on him Wed-Fri!!! I lunged him a lot on Wed and he must have figured he better be good the rest of the week.

I was walking fine until last Sunday, when I could barely put weight on my leg first thing in the am. The previous 4 days, I had ice on it in the mornings, then wrapped it and went outside Wed thru Sat. Sun, I couldn’t stand on it, and I started some heat and wrapping it if I had to walk a lot. Today, I've sat on my butt all week and kept heat on it, wrapping it when Tom came home to help me feed at nights.

It's been a long time since I've had a horse bruise, and I guess I was due. Hubby said it was a good thing my legs are tanned or it would look ugly. Actually, I don't think the skin has started bruising there, only behind my knee and down at my ankle.

I finally went to the Dr on Thursday, since friends were concerned about the area having a blood clot.  After an ultrasound on the muscle, it just reviled a fluid filled area! Really? I knew that!

 This actully doesn't look so bad in the mornings, but by evenings, my leg is more swollen and feeling tight.

Now, Sunday, almost 2 weeks later, I am walking so much better than last Sunday.  The leg swelling has gone down a little.  The bruising is leaving my foot.  I’m walking fine but keeping a wrap on my leg when I go outside.  I wonder how long the swelling will last?

I’ve learned my lesson.  Next time, I’ll listen to my horse.

Beautiful Snow Pictures the Morning After

Friday night, the snow started. By Saturday morning, we had 9-12" on the railing.  We had a light misting snow in the morning and some wind.  By evening, some of the roads were drifting.  Our electric went out about 6 pm for 4 hours.  Luckily we had the heat back on before we went to bed.  This morning, the sun was shining bright.  The snow glistened on the tree branches.

The snow hung heavily on the pine trees.

I love how the tree line looked, as the morning sun rose.

I'm amazed that we only had about a half dozen large branches down.

But it sure was a beautiful winter morning.

Winter is Here

Our 6 weeks of winter has started!  We have 9" of snow on the railing. I think we got more, but the snow is wet and heavy. 

I have never seen snow this deep on small tree branches before.

I like this shot. It is not out of focus. 

Either it was misting a light snow or snow was being blown from the trees. 

I'm surprised we don't have more limbs down than we do.

I love snow in the pine trees!

Winter Wonderland this weekend!

We lost electric at 6 tonight.  3 hours later, I am seeing the electric trucks drive by, shining lights up at the lines, trying to see where the problem is.  I have seem them drive by 3 times in the last 15 minutes.  I hope that doesn't mean they don't know where the problem is.