Random

* My hands smell like cigarette smoke. I don't smoke, nor have I been near any smokers today. So why do my hands smell like that?

** The in-laws are coming over to our new house for only the 2nd (and a bit) time ever. We've lived there for 3 full months now. I wish that they were more comfortable coming by so that it doesn't have to be such a big deal. We had to do a cleaning blitz last night, and I also feel compelled to try and get them to stay for dinner.

*** I want to go riding. I want to go riding so badly that I'm avoiding my horse unless I can actually get on him. I don't want the craving to get any worse.

**** I think I'm ready for Spring now. Winter has been nice this year, snowy and pretty and wintry, but I'm ready for Spring. I feel excited for the year ahead.

***** My massage therapist has not called me back to rebook the appointment I called about first thing yesterday morning.

****** My sister bought her first apartment yesterday!!! WOOO-EEEEE!

*******I always have to come back to spell check....

Hey! Look over there!!

Ok, it was time to get that last post off the top of the page. No one needs to look at that for very long! So today I'm just going to mention a bunch of random items.

Random Item #1: Go Canada Go!!!!! I was fortunate enough to have Friday off work to watch our awesome Canadian boys win the World Junior U20 Hockey Championship for the THIRD year in a row. There is nothing that makes me feel emotional faster than watching an amazing athletic effort pay off. The celebratory pile-up on the goalie at the end of the game? Guaranteed to bring a tear to my eye. Congratulations boys!

Random Item #2: Our oldest horse, R., has been having a tough couple of weeks and there was a day or two there where we thought we were going to lose her to laminitis. But! She's feeling much better and our vet says she should make a full recovery - there was no rotation in her cannon bones, so once the inflammation is gone she should be fully sound again. Yay!

Random Item #3: My house is soooo boring! I put off doing any decorating after we moved in because it was so close to Christmas. I put away the Christmas decorations last week and now it is bare, blank, boring. No pictures on the walls, nothing. I don't even have many ideas for how I'm going to decorate, so I guess it's boring house for a while more.

Random Item #4: The Tragically Hip! This Week! Here, In town! A favorite of lots and lots of Canadians and I can't wait to see them again.

I seem to be out of randomness for now.

I wish I was there

Today I'm missing my horses. I was just looking at the pictures I have of them all around my computer and wishing that I was out there with them instead of in here. I love them at this time of year when they are all furry and fat. There's nothing more soothing in this world than when you stand in the crisp almost-winter air, with four horses breathing their sweet, hay scented breath at you. This is when they are best, when their funny personalities show, and they jostle around and beg for your attention.

Our four are so distinct too. The old chestnut mare, reserved and a bit standoffish, but she won't let you forget to give her some special attention too. Then there's our pushy little girl. In your face, graceful and beautiful... just like a teenager - look at me! Look at me! She should be at the awkward yearling stage, but this one hasn't had an awkward moment in her life. And our sweet, low man in the herd gelding. He's big and furry and just wants you to love him. He's just like a big teddy bear. Last and best, my big black, bossy man. He's never had a moment in his life where he hasn't known he was best. He's a star and I think he knows it. He has his sweet side too, when he snuffles your hair and put his head on your shoulder.

You never have these moments when you're focused on working and getting ready for showing. That's when they are all glossy and shiny and perfect and you're proud of their talent and their abilities and how hard they work for you.

But now, now is the time you love them just for being horses.

Cold!

I think that Fall is here. I know! I know... September 22 or whatever, but up until this weekend, it's kind of felt like Summer was really never going to end.

But, it finally did and it was perfect.

The air was crisp and cold, with that hint of wood smoke. The leaves were at the perfect stage, most of them still on the trees, but enough on the ground to make a wonderful yellow blanket on the trail. We were bundled up in our fleece and down and gloves and it was wonderful.

We rode for a couple hours. The horses were frisky, and you could see their breath puffing out in front of them. Never an ear dropped - it was cool enough and there was enough of a breeze that they were looking, looking, looking the whole time.

And the wine, oh, the wine. What better way to spend a day than riding a group of gorgeous horses and ending up at a winery for a tasting, and of course a buying, and then riding back home for a yummy fall dinner.

It just doesn't get better than this.