Checking in....

Siera stretches her legs
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

It has been such a long time since I've had a blog entry. So many things have happened.

The day of the massacre at Virginia Tech found me waiting anxiously and watching the internet wondering about my nephew who goes there.

I learned something this week about our 'nieghborhood'. A farmer was seriously injured in a traffic accident and is still in the hospital. What I learned was that immediately phones around the ridge began to ring. Everyone who had a tractor, or farming knowledge had begun to offer help on this man's farm.
Today on my way to work, I saw that his fields had been worked. Yesterday I saw two tractors spreading manure. I knew the men on the tractors and they were my neighbors also.
Rural America. Good news does exist. People do care.

This is how it is supposed to work. We take care of each other.
Isn't that something?

Hair Cut?

A team
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

So the mule got one, when does the rider get his mane cut? Haha.

Nice cool evening spring ride. Yeah we took the Bay Boys for a tour of the hillsides looking for antler sheds from bucks. I found a cool skull, but no sheds. We just enjoyed the quiet outing. Super stress reliever, riding is so good for the mind.

I've been pretty lack here at my blog lately but school has kept me occupied and I've just been beat. My wrists hurt so much to type, even with braces on my fingers on the right hand go numb ... but I only have one test and one paper to do this week.

I can't wait to get out and enjoy the woods again.
Perhaps tomorrow during the predicted snow storm.

Easter weekend

Fungi Tree
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

Not really too much to report. I spent Good Friday at the orthopedic doctors office. I'm going to be dealing with a frozen shoulder on the right side this time around along with carpal tunnel in both wrists which may be controlled by braces. The right wrist has something unusual going on with it...the PA had to discuss that with the surgeon.

It was windy blustery cold yucky. I did go for a short hike in the woods but the med I was given to control pain [Ultram] made me a bit woozy and very very tired. But when I got over that ... it actually is the first time in over a year I have been without pain.
Wow.

PT starts on Tuesday. They are going to try and break the adhesions in the right shoulder so I can avoid surgery ...
I'm in the mood to buy a couple of shoulders and wrists!

Wow...

A Contrast of Life and Death
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

It has been so long since I've done a blog. Blame that on family situations, a surgery [not me], and schoolwork.
I've actually been out doing things whenever I've had a free momment, and then I look outside and suddenly it is becoming spring!
This morning a nasty gust of wind dropped a tree across the fence pretty much destroying it. No mules are out, I jury-rigged a fix over the downed tree and viola!

I'll need to put on a raincoat and go out and check fence lines after last night's storms...fierce winds and fierce rains. I have at least two little creeks running through my yard right now.

A day of beauty

Curves
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

After a very intense week of schoolwork I took a break and saddled Mr. Mule. I am SO glad that I took Badger as the snow was still knee deep. It was too soft to stay on top even with snow shoes.
Badger was such a good, if reluctant sport, as usual. He slogged his way through drifts that came to his chest and carried me with great care over a snow hidden terrain.
We spent 3 hours wandering the valley and woodlands. The snow mobiles raced through the same valley but they never saw us.
We headed up and into the hills following deer trails and by the time we ended up on Tigen road, Badger really had a workout.
This is a good thing as he and I are begining our training for our first 50 mile endurance race this year.
In a few weeks we will start a new training program.
I smile as I type this because I know of a certain son of mine that is training for an upcoming half marathon I believe. I think we both just love competition, although I've taken it to the equine world...
and he is doing it on his own power.
I did that once too, when I was his age!
;-)
Hope those ten miles worked out well son!
My workout was easier but probably much more fun!

How Sweet it IS!

The result
Originally uploaded by Xena~.

Homemade ice cream. Ever done it? Oh it is so much worth the wait and time put into it.
This should be a family 'must'. It really does take a coordinated effort to produce the ice cream.

What else to do with all the snow that we've recieved the past two weeks, but put it to work in helping us make ice cream. The snow is packed on the outside of the ice cream canister and mixed with salt as the machine churns...

The result is this fabulous REAL ice cream, made the way you like it!
Looks like I'll be learning how to do this from my mother in law. After all a grandma needs to be able to produce something extra special for the grandkids, right?

Snow, I like snow, really I do...

Like a hammer it has pounded us since Wednesday evening. Sleet, snow, ice, rain, back to snow again. And the fierce winds!
Wow.
I walked to the ridge twice today and once out to the tobacco shed. I walked through drifts that covered out road. Poor Morris, when he got off the road he was in above his head.
One the way back home my tracks had filled in with snow from the wind and the driving sleet like snow.
Beautiful but very treacherous. I did not risk the drive to work today. It was not a good idea.

Boy, it sure was pretty though.