gottawonder

Today I am grateful for:

Another short training shift at the library. I actually got to do more things that felt like real librarian work, and it felt quite natural.

Having a good riding lesson.

Coming home, and squeezing in a quick ride on my mare before dark. I cantered her around the pasture a few times, which is a triumph in two ways. One: I haven’t had a lot of confidence for the last couple of years, the fact that I had fun and wasn’t worried was a big deal. Two: this is the mare that foundered not this past winter, but the one before. I waited a long time before I rode her at all, and her old hoof is entirely replaced with new hoof now, and I finally felt like I could ride her a little more seriously.

Today I am grateful for:

My neighbour, who helped me charge the battery on my ride-on mower, and brought over the push mower we are buying off of him.

Cleaning for the family. Their big fuzzy dog looks so cute right now, he got a hair cut, but his head and tail are still fluffy, so he looks odd, but so sweet.

For getting some mowing done. It needed it already!

Today I am grateful for:

Another training day at the library. We went over a lot of just what doors to unlock, lights to switch on, and where things go.

Cleaning for my nieghbour, and having a good visit with him. He always makes me laugh.

Another good ride on my mare out in the pasture.

Today I am grateful for:

My first very short training shift at the library today.

A lovely nap.

A nice ride in the pasture on my other mare, that I don’t ride as much. I think the riding lessons are paying off, because I feel more secure and in control on this mare now, and she seems to be happier with me riding her now that I am better with my cues and not flapping all over the place on her. Some horses really need clear, calm leadership so they can relax.

Today I am grateful for:

My strong body. I did more yard work; moving a compost pile, putting mature compost on the garden, cleaning up the hay from around the goat pen. I need to be strong to get everything done.

A nice bath afterwards, to wash away the dirt.

Delicious food, to keep me powered up.

I’ve always known that keeping in good shape throughout life means that even when you are older, you can keep doing the things you love.

I knew a professor at college who was in his 60’s and spent the entire summer hiking in Alaska. Not putzing around. Hiking. He did a couple of hundred miles.

I just read this article:

http://fitbie.ca.msn.com/slideshow/10-people-over-70-who-are-fitter-you

I think it’s wonderful. Who wouldn’t rather be out riding their bike or working out in the gym than sitting in their recliner at 70 or 80? Lots of these people are in better shape than people half their age. Like me, for instance.

Do you have fitness goals for when you are 70? Or for next year?

Today I am grateful for:

Getting some yard work done. I planted my onions, cleaned out a flower bed, and planted some roots that I had stored over winter.

Spending some quality time with the horses and goats. Lots of petting.

A good pasture ride.

So, how well do you get along with your in-laws?

How well does your partner get along with your parents?

Do you freak out and try to clean the house for them?

Do you feel inadequate, or do you fight (Or, do you really love them?)?

Do they do anything that drives you nuts (or something that really endears them to you)?

Was it always like this, or was it different when you and your partner were first together?

I won’t even be here (I am going to go visit my family, my husband is staying here to look after the animals for me, and they are coming here to visit him).

I always panic when they want to visit (or when anyone does) because I never feel like my house is clean enough to have visitors.

I become hyper-aware of things like how worn out some of our stuff is (we don’t care, but I know other people do), how much dust and animal hair is all over the place, the baseboards are dirty, and so on.

My husband’s Mom is pretty tidy, and is also much more of a “decorator” than I am. Her rooms are co-ordinated, not very cluttered, and always clean (no pets, no kids, no craft hobbies). She has always lived to have a nice home.

She never says anything, but I feel like sometimes her comments hint that I should have higher standands. She’ll ask for something, like wine to go with the meal, and I won’t have any. Or for some cooking ingredient, etc. Maybe she deliberately finds ways to make me seem like a poor hostess. She will often go buy food to make supper, because I won’t ever have what she wants to eat. Then she takes over, and cooks for everyone, and starts telling me what to do, and so on. Like she’s automatically now is in charge of my house, because she’s here.

She will make little suggestions on how nice my house would look if I… or things I should do to make my husband’s life easier (her son, of course, deserves the best), and so on.

Is it clear yet how much I freak out when they visit?

Today I am grateful for:

Having a good day in town. My in-laws are coming to visit, and I’ve never really had a nice guest room. I decided to get a nice comforter set that would look good in that room, to spruce things up a little.

I’ve been cleaning out closets and setting aside things for my sister. I now have a good amount of stuff to send along, which helps with my decluttering goal.

For having a “Winners” store in our town. It may sound like a funny thing to be grateful for, but it has nice clothes, and good housewares stuff. Without it, we would mostly have Wal-mart. I can’t think of anywhere else in town to buy sheets or towels and decorating stuff.

Today I am grateful for:

The new farrier showed up today. She seemed to do a good job on the feet (time will tell) and she was very gentle with the mares. Some farriers are rough with the horses, and yell and smack them around if they don’t stand perfectly. Often, when that happens, the horse is too upset to do a good job.

A good riding lesson.

Getting some things around the house and yard done that really needed doing.

I went through the DVDs last night, and came up with a stack to be donated to the library.

I used to do this at the library where I used to work, too. I likely donated 20 or 30 DVDs there.

I’ve already donated five or six to this library, and I came up with 16 more. Sometimes you get a movie, and watch it once, and you just know you don’t need to see it again. Or, you’ve watched it a few times, but now it’s okay to let it go.

In either case, these are movies that have just sat here for the last couple of years, and they would do more good at the library.

Today I am grateful for:

Getting another big chore out of the way: getting all of the recycling that’s collected over the winter to the depot. I had an entire truck load.

Cleaning for my nieghbour and having a good visit.

My awesome dog, who hangs out with me in the truck, and follows me around the yard, and is generally about the best companion I could have.

If your house was clean and organised? If it already is, then I hate you.

What if your closet only had clothes that were nice, fit you, suited you, and were appropriate to your lifestyle?

What if they all fit neatly into your closet, without laying on the floor, or being so tightly packed that you can’t move them around to look at them?

What if your kitchen table and kitchen counters were clear, and all of your dishes fit neatly into your cupboard?

All of your tools were in good repair, organized, and easily accessed?

Your basement/attic/spare room wasn’t full of stored stuff?

What would you do with your space? How would it feel?

I have fantasies about this. My house is a LOT better than it was only a year or two ago. I’ve gotten rid of a lot. That’s the only thing that helps in a lasting way, is getting rid of things.

It’s easier to clean, easier to find things, and a nicer place to live.

I still have a ways to go, but it dawned on me that my husband’s parents want to visit, and it won’t be too bad to get the guest room ready.

I feel motivated to clear out more stuff. One day I would love to have a room that’s as clean as the one in the picture.

Do you have a clutter challenge? What do you need to work on?

I try to do this every season, as I put my winter clothes away and bring out summer clothes, and vice versa.

I always have a lot of clothes, some I haven’t worn in years. I seem to get rid of a lot of clothes, but then I go buy a few things….so it’s an endless cycle.

Whenever someone is coming to visit from home, or my husband is driving out, I try to get together a whole bunch of clothes and whatever I think my sister and her family can use. She has three girls, and they can always use some clothes.

Sometimes I am shocked at how much extra stuff I have, even though it seems like I also keep getting rid of things.

I was asked to do a class at the library to teach basic macrame. I brought a nearly new roll of plain hemp, and used up almost the whole thing!

I have so many rolls of plain hemp, and I was glad to use this one up.

I am also putting together a bunch of clothes, and some shoes and such that I just don’t need. I will send them to my family. I am also thinking of sending some extra sheets and pillows and so on. I try to do this whenever someone is visiting, or when my husband goes home with the car.

Today I am grateful for:

Cleaning for the family.

Getting all the loose ends tied up for the library. I am officially working there on a casual basis. A little nervous, but I’ll give it a shot.

Getting my Mother’s Day card in the mail, and getting it made in time. It turned out nicely.

Today I am grateful for:

Another gorgeous hot day. The frogs are singing, the birds are nesting, and I could even put the tortoise out in his pen. Yay!

Getting a few things done in town today with my husband, before he had to leave for work.

Getting to wear a skirt today!

My husband and I DID go biking yesterday. It was amazing. The paved walking/bike paths were dry and clear, and the gravel roads around the campground at the park down the road were good too.

I actually did about as long/vigorous a bike ride as I ever did last summer, but I did it right at the beginning of the season! I wasn’t tired, no soreness today, so I did very well. I think the snowshoeing helped me keep up my fitness this winter.

I also walked the dog down by the water, and then rode my mare when I got home that day.

I very active day.

Today I am grateful for:

An overall fantastic day. Very warm and summer-like. So welcome after weird, cold spring.

For a great time at the park with my husband. We went for a great bike ride, first one of the year for me. Then I walked with the dog while my husband went on a more challenging ride on his own.

A nice ride on my mare on the road.