Archives for 2025

Friday, April 11, 2025 – Ride With Jo, Lunch With Helen, Rain

Hey Babe,
Think I had a bit too much wine last night, had a kind of rough night sleep. Was awake and reading when I heard the horses going at it this morning. I don't know what's been up with them lately, if they're just bored or what, but their bitey-face routine has become more violent, and they're going at each other butt to butt, kicking. I've been hearing the squealing, which didn't worry me too much, but I saw them kicking yesterday and didn't like that. Well, this morning, it was the worst, and Flash ended up lame. When I came out, he was laying down, which is not typical at this time of day, and I saw a bad scrape on his leg and he wouldn't put any weight on it when he got up. So, obviously, I couldn't ride him today! Not happy about this behavior, so Apollo is going back on the highline, hopefully Flash will stay away from him now. Anyway, did the usual morning chores, then started to get ready for a scheduled ride with Jo. Spent some time scraping off Apollo's winter coat before saddling him. Jo was kind enough to help me crudely trim his feet, we just took off the biggest overhanging chunks, which were huge since I haven't been riding him lately. We got out late, about 10:45, and it was a pretty slow ride (I think Apollo had a few bruises on him as well, though they weren't as obvious), and we got back just after noon, doing just about three miles. But it was good for Nikki, it was the spookiest part of the forest, and she managed to lead going over water a few times, though still not the deep spring. Helen was waiting for me when we got back, and we headed off to lunch a bit later, joining John the Goethe mechanic at his table, and had an enjoyable lunch. Tried to relax the rest of the day, got the horses fed moments before the first of a couple of rain fronts came through, and settled down for my usual evening. The rain finished just a bit before my usual hot tub time, and soon the moon was out, a beautiful night! Worked out perfectly. Of course, my knee is quietly screaming at me, so I'm headed to bed early. Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Thursday, April 10, 2025 – Truck Repair (Not Exactly) and PT Day

Hi Sweetie,
Sorry to say, but when I went to bed, my knee was screaming at me and I couldn't find a comfortable position to save my life. Finally had to take some ibuprofen, which I've been avoiding, as I'm determined not to jump on the painkiller train, but just couldn't see any way around it last night. Finally ended up with a good night sleep, didn't wake up until almost 9:00, did my chores, and some work on the computer, until I left to go to my 1:00 mechanic's appointment. The spent nearly the two whole hours and still hadn't come to a conclusion about why my AC is intermittent, so I had to make another appointment for next week, since they ran out of time. I managed to just make my PT appointment, where I was assigned yet another new therapist, who, despite claiming otherwise, had obviously not read my file, because the first thing she wanted to do was put me on the bike, which is, by far, the most painful exercise that I could do. After about halfway through the session, she mentioned partial knee replacement, which I rather tersely explained was done on my RIGHT knee four years ago, and had nothing to do with what was going on now. Grrrr! I'm not terribly happy with this particular therapy group, I obviously need to check out the others in town for my post-surgery therapy, because this group seems to just keep passing me off to someone else who I have to keep explaining things to. I don't understand why I can't have the same therapist, so they can actually see and progress (or not), all this changing in midstream is not helping! In the end, the session only lasted 30 minutes, so I left and went to Walmart for just a couple of items, filled up with fuel, and got back to Jo's (where I had left Lola for a doggie play date), and got home around 5:30. Had dinner, fed the horses, and settled down for the evening. All said and done, not a too productive day, but, whatever. Good night, my darlin'! Love you

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 – Worked on Driveway, PT Day

Hiya Darlin',
First thing this morning was a drive over for a laser treatment, and today it seemed to really maky my leg feel better. Got back and gave everyone breakfast, finished putting the last trash receptacle together, then decided, since my leg felt a little better, to do some overdue tractor work. Probably not the best decision, but this is why I don't generally like to take painkillers, because as soon as I start feeling better, I do stuff I probably shouldn't do. Anyway, I spent an hour or so moving gravel from the pile over to the curve in my parking area that has been too short for when I put my rig in, and it does look a lot better now. I may put a few more loads in on another day, but for now, it was good progress. Chatted with Rick a little, then headed off to my PT session at 2:00. It was a bit tougher today, and by the time I got home, I was seriously aching, so I settled down for a couple of movies and tried to relax the rest of the day. Had my usual evening hot tub and shower, hoping to get a good night sleep! Good night, baby! Love you!

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – Recovery Day

Hey Babe,
Well, not surprisingly, I overdid it a bit yesterday, so even with a Tiger Balm patch, my knee was really aching overnight, so I woke up a few times during the night. It seems to only way to do this is to have a work day, then a recovery day, then maybe another work day, alternating so that I don't make myself be in more pain than necessary. I called the surgeon's office, and after a discussion confirming that the surgeon will still be the same even if I go to the PA for my first consult, I managed to get an appointment in two weeks, rather than three and a half. Hopefully that will put me in line for surgery a little quicker, which is all I'm aiming for now! Spent the day on the computer, finally finished my taxes, did some other accounting, having mostly a quiet and restful day. My usual evening as well, so, off to bed nice and early! Love you, sweetie! Good night!

Monday, April 7, 2025 – Sanding, Painting, Trough Cleaning, Plaque Installation

Hi Sweetie,
My leg bothered me a bit overnight, I didn't put on one of Jo's Tiger patches last night like I did the previous night, don't know if that made the difference, but I did wake up with some leg pain several times. Laid in a bit, then got up and got busy. After chores and breakfast, I managed to rustle enough energy to get back to sanding and painting the trash receptacles, then finished off four of them by putting the hardware back on and putting them all together. After that I tackled the job of putting one of the Friends of Goethe plaques on the mounting block, which turned out to have a steep learning curve. The drill bit was a bit too small, and I ended up breaking off the head of one of the screws, even though I was doing it by hand, which I couldn't believe! I ended up with two holes that had broken screws in them, finally found a better drill bit size (after breaking one of those as well), and managed to use enough glue and to screw in the bottom two screws so that hopefully, that will be enough to keep it on. They're a lot smaller and flimsier than I expected, and were really designed more for just screwing onto a wood plaque to hang up somewhere, not really sturdy enough for concrete, but I'm sure I've learned a few secrets that will help for the remaining four. Anyway, while I was doing that job, a couple of riders came by and tried to get their horses to drink from the trough, but not surprisingly, they wouldn't because the trough was pretty nasty, so I decided to clean that out. Started draining with the usual skinny hose, then went and got the one Jo had donated, which is a really nice 5/8" or 3/4" wide, and it drained much faster. A quick clean-out, and the same hose refilled it nice and fast as well. All that kept me busy for most of the day, and by the end, I had to resort to crutches again, as walking really does aggravate my knee. Then, during the day, I got a text from someone I hadn't heard from since the early 80's, my 7th grade science teacher! For some unknown reason he wanted to track me down and his wife managed to find me. Well, he also came to visit me once I was an adult, and we hooked up for the weekend (I had always had a schoolgirl crush on him, after all!) and he reminded me that we went to a Yes! concert together, which frankly, I had forgotten. But then again, it had to be over forty years ago, so you can hardly blame me! We exchanged a few texts getting caught up (as much as one can in a few texts), and it was a real blast from the past, as they say. Incredible how technology had made the world so much smaller, and time so much more fluid. Anyway, read for awhile, then finally settled down for my usual evening. Glad I was able to check a couple of things off my list today! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Sunday, April 6, 2025 – Lazy Laundry Day

Hiya Darlin',
Had another good night sleep, did two loads of laundry, and little vacuuming, and otherwise, a lazy day. My knee is still about the same, though I can't say whether the Tiger Balm patch Jo gave me helped or not, maybe. I took a fall yesterday, tripping over a branch, and I think that didn't help things, but considering that, and riding yesterday, my knee wasn't worse, which is probably an improvement. Anyway, a lazy day, watched a bunch of movies back to back, had a nice dinner and evening, now the usual hot tub, shower and bed soon. Skipping the tea as I've had a few glasses of port and really want to get to bed early. Good night, baby! Love you!

Saturday, April 5, 2025 – Ride Day With Jo on Flash

Hey Babe,
A good night sleep, woke up before my alarm, did my usual stuff until Jo got here just after 10:00. I got Flash saddled up and we were off! I lengthened my left stirrup a bit, since that was causing me a bit of pain last time I rode, and the result was much better. I rarely had any pain, except the very occasional twist, and we even did a little trotting today. Once again we took mostly the blue trail and Nikki was much better with the puddles, and almost no hesitation on the big spring this time, so it seems Jo's making some progress with her. After trying an endless number of different bits, which Nikki chomped on so continuously she couldn't focus on anything else, Jo finally put a hackamore on her, and the difference is night and day! Nikki was much more relaxed today, and we all had a lovely ride. Of course, Flash would have like to go a lot faster a lot more often, but he was a good host and didn't fuss too much at the slower pace and only occasional trot. At least we had a nice ride, and my leg didn't hurt too much afterward! I even used our new mounting block for both getting on and getting off, using the off-side, and it worked well. After I put Flash away, Jo and I chatted for a bit before she left, then I took the rest of the day off, watching movies, icing my knee and generally relaxing. So, a good day! Splurge on a nice piece of top sirloin and had a pleasant evening before my usual hot tub and shower. Heading to bed shortly! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Friday, April 4, 2025 – Laser Treatment and Lunch With Helen

Hiya Sweetie,
Got up early with the alarm, fed Lola and myself breakfast, then headed over to Val's for another laser treatment on my knee. Not sure yet if it's helping, but it can't hurt! Came back, fed the horses, and had a quiet morning. Was thrilled to finally get an email from your little pension fund saying, at last, that they made the address change and could now submit the back pension and resume the monthly payments, It's been ten months! Incredible. I've been keeping an eye on the stock market, it's taken a huge hit with the implementation of a new tariff scheme by the Trump administration. Haven't quite lost the last two years growth, but it's not far off. I think everyone's overreacting, and that it will take some time to settle down, but it is a fundamental change in the economy, which I think is supposed to lead to a reduction or elimination of a federal income tax, which would be incredible! People have forgotten that the income tax was supposed to be temporary for war times, and not huge chunks every year to be wasted on projects that have no metric for success. Anyway, you'd be having a field day with all of this! Of course, the doomsday liberals are screaming the sky is fallling and calling Trump every name in the book, but I think the proof will be in the pudding, though it will take awhile. Our markets are very resilient and can withstand this, and build from it. I had lunch with Helen over at Willards, then relaxed the rest of the day, icing my knee and watching TV and reading. Planning on riding with Jo tomorrow, I hope my knee doesn't suffer too much from it! Settled down for my usual evening, heading to bed soon! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Thursday, April 3, 2025 – PT and Shopping

Hey Darlin',
Had a good night sleep, late getting up, read for a while, then checked the AC on the truck, which, miraculously worked when I switched it on, but only after I pulled the fuse a couple of times again. Weird. Stopped at Meg's to pick up the plaques and screws for the mounting block, then went to Ace to get the right size cement drill, which is tiny, as well as some construction adhesive. Got to PT and had a good session with a different therapist, then went shopping at Walmart and Winn-Dixie. Headed home, unpacked everything, had dinner, fed the horses, yada yada, yada, had my usual evening. Everything's pretty mundane these days, but I have to say, my knee felt a little better, though it's anyone's guess as to why at this point. Heading to bed early again, hopefully, after my hot tub, shower, and tea. Good night, babe! Love you!

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – Laser Treatment, Sanding, Painting, Water Compartment Cover

Hiya Babe,
Kept myself moving today, though it took some effort to talke myself into it! Got up early, had a quick breakfast, then drove over to Val's to have a laser treatment that Val had offered to me the other day. Can't say for sure, but my leg certainly did feel better for a couple of hours, though exactly why is hard to pinpoint, but I'll take any and all relief that I can get! Got back, fed the horses, then spent a few minutes looking at the AC in the truck again, and wouldn't you know? At first it didn't work, then, after taking out the fuse twice, it kicked in. Really frustrating having an intermittent problem like this! I took a break and read for awhile, then finally managed to drag myself up and get busy. I started by painting the bottoms of four receptacles, then I decided I had to put on the cover for the water compartment that I bought in case it didn't fit and I had to return it. Turned out to fit okay, except I had to cut the opening up a little. Didn't realize how close the screwholes were to the edge and ended up not having a place to screw into in a few places, so I had to put some Gorilla tape around it as a double brace. Glad to get that done, though. Then I decided to change the water filter, that was WAY overdue, then got out the sander that Rick had brought for me and sanded down a bunch of lids and stuff, and painted those as well. Put in a good five hours of work outside, in near 90 degree weather already. Glad I got a lot done, though, it's very frustrating to have so many jobs to do and not feeling like I can do them because of my knee. Can't just sit around like I have been doing! Anyway, finally settled down for the evening, going to try to get to bed early tonight, I feel like I need a good night sleep! Love you sweetie! Good night!