New grass mower

New grass mower
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

A hurricane has paralyzed the southern states, driven gas prices sky high...Two weeks ago a tornado blasted through our county and nearly demolished one small town.
I put my mower away tonite and jiggled the gas can calculating how much I'd have to spend on filling it again.
Then I looked at the yard and thought, well I guess I can just use what mother nature has given me.
Save the money to put in the vehicle to get to work and groceries.
If it is affecting me in this manner, how is it affecting those with less than I?

I have food in my house, running water, electricity, and shelter.
Tonite there are many who do not.
I am truly lucky.

Small Towns...

Well dang it, the weekend is here and where did the week go?

My yard looks like an unruly shag carpet...been thinking with gas prices...turn a mule or donkey out?

I went through the small village of Viola yesterday, if you recall they were one of the towns hit by the vicious tornadoes in WI last Thursday. I was humbled by the damage done to this village of 300. Nary a tree left. 150 yr old brick buildings cracked as if by an earth quake. The village main street had all buildings marked with blue X's where the Distaster Team had searched each building and turned off utilities then marked the building.

The residential district is a 'blue tarp' district which is glaringly evident by the fact that this area which was shaded by magnificent trees...well is now a treeless area.

And what struck me the most, is the smiles on the folks on the street as they lifted a hand to wave.
And yesterday I was reminded of why I love to live in a small town.

Spirit.

Mr. Mule Waits

Mr. Mule Waits
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

The results of the pathology report came back today and I am so very happy! All results were negative, no cancer!

Oh happy day, the sun is shining!

As soon as I recover from surgery--which will be very soon, I'll be back in the saddle and on to my new adventure with Mr. Mule aka Badger.

Endurance riding.
Live to Ride, Ride to Live!

Been lacking...

Well I've pretty much ignored my blog for a while now. Haven't been taking pictures either like I usually do...been pretty pre-occupied by so many things going on. Worried about my health...
Last week I was gone for the whole weekend with a new girlfriend. We rode for two days. She with her Arab and me with my Mule. The company was wonderful, talking 'girl' talk was so enjoyable, I haven't had anyone like that in my life now for a long time.

Seems hubby is a bit jealous of it? Yep, I know time away from him. He was grumpy last nite when Glennie called and we talked for quite a while. Like I can't have a girlfriend? I wonder.

Well we'll see what the surgeon has to say tomorrow.

Behind every cloud...

silverlining
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

There is a silver lining. At least that is how the saying goes. I'm working on my fears and frustrations...putting it into riding for Endurance on my mule Badger and getting Sunshine ready for a show in two weeks.

Dive headlong into so much activity that I cannot think of this 'mass' that has invaded my every waking momment. August 18th cannot come too quickly for me. At nite I dream I'm dying...oh now that makes for a happy wake up doesn't it?

Why can't a person just shut off the damned brain for a while?

Ride...ride...find the silver lining behind that cloud.

The man I love...

Ride
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

This is the man I love doing what we love the most. Riding mules in rough country. Sunday we rode for about 7 hrs through Wildcat Mtn State Park. We laughed, saw an awesome buck, marveled at the cool breeze under the green canopy of leaves. Listened to the birds and a red tail hawk's cry.
I live for days like this. They are so dear to me...

Shhh....

Rainy day
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

I love this place where the rainwater falls into a little pond and continues down to our creek bottom. It is a place of solitude. The birds fly over head and scold me, after a while they settle down.
Then the skeeters find me and buzz.