Archives for 2026

Hi Babe,
Got to bed last night at 11:00, slept until 3:00, and couldn't get back to sleep no matter what I did. Two hours later I finally got up and got the day started. Managed to get over to ride camp about a quarter past seven, got Nancy settled in, then started putting up the remaining signs as soon as they were ready. No big crises today, but quite a bit of entertainment watching folks trying to maneuver their trailers. One lady had enough sense to let me back hers in, which took it from a "who knows how long" job to two minutes. Too many folks not following the signs in the car parking area, but I moved a few around and I think it was easier to understand, though I still had a few diehards that ignored everything and parked in the middle of the "road." We'll see what it's like tomorrow, since I'm sure by now the word has gotten out that I don't mess around when it comes to parking! It was pretty warm today, but it's supposed to get hotter as the week goes on, and rain predictions keep popping in and out of the forecast, so who knows? Managed to gather enough information to figure out that everyone that's riding in the morning that was spending the night had arrived, or was soon to arrive and knew where they were going, to join friends, so I felt safe to leave around 8:00, at the same time as Chelle. Fed the horses, did some laundry so I would have fresh clothes, took a much appreciated hot tub, took a shower, made a half a cup of Sleepytime tea so it would be double strength and wouldn't take me long to drink so I could get to bed before 10:00, not to mention counteract the several glasses of wine I managed to slip in during the welcome party. Thanks to Art, who filled in for me at the gate on several occasions today, I was able to sneak away and get some food and drink. Since there were only a few AERC people not accounted for the 9:00 ride tomorrow, and I figured they were mostly day riders anyway, so coming in at 7:00 would be early enough, thank goodness. Was afraid I would have to come in at 5:00 a.m.! Won't be long out of bed tonight, not after 19 hours of being awake and on the move. Another 15.8K steps today, even though I did a lot of UTV driving. Thanks goodness I bought these New Balance shoes! I'm pretty sure I'd be a lot more sore if it weren't for them. Certainly getting stronger everyday at this rate. Anyway, heading to bed as soon as I finish my tea! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Hiya Sweetie,
Woke up extra earlier hoping to seem some glimmer of the blood moon lunar eclipse this morning, but it was nothing by foggy, so no astral view at all. Was over at the FITS site around 8:30, and immediately started working on putting signs up around the site, then grabbed Art and put signs down to the holding barn. Once the dew dried up, I was able to start painting all the sites, which didn't work too well with the white paint I was provided, but I got it done. One FEI rider was there right at noon, with Jo right behind. I spent most of the day finishing off some parking marking, and situated about half a dozen AERC trailers before I left for the day. Got called back once, but it was a misfire, finally getting back home a bit after 8:00. Poured a drink and went inside with Chelle and Carol for a bit, had a bowl of ice cream and some nuts, decided it was too late for a hot tub at this point. Shower and bed next! Over 17K steps today! Good night darlin'! Love you!

Hi Darlin',
What a day! Just as busy as I expected it would be, with the added knowledge from my new Garmin watch that I did over 14600 steps in the process! So grateful for my new New Balance shoes that arrived yesterday, I'm not sure I would have gotten through this day without them! Remember last year, I was crippled by the time I finished the day, so I was just as grateful for the new partial knee replacement! Got a lot done, got all the flags out, and a few fence posts and ribbons, so tomorrow is all about painting in the lines and putting up signs. Out host Larry paid me a great kindness by going out and buying a paint sprayer wheel so we wouldn't have to borrow one like we did last year, so that job should be fairly straightforward. Got great help from Walter, then Art arrived from Canada and helped out, too. Finally had to quit around 4:00. As I was leaving, I forgot my tailgate was open and a whole bunch of stuff fell out, so I had to return and pick all of that up. Got home a bit after 4:00, and immediately started working on revising the map based on the changes that were made today. Art came by around 5:30 to take Lola for a walk. I guess after being cooped up in a car for two days driving down from Canada, he needed to get his steps in! I fed him some ad hoc supper and shared a drink, then after he left, took my hot tub, showered, tried on my new caftan which arrived yesterday (fits perfect and is SO comfortable!), now I'm heading to bed nice and early. Another long but hopefully just as productive day tomorrow! Also hoping that Miss Lola doesn't wake my up in the middle of the night chewing on my Persian runner rug like last night. I don't know what got into here, but I was not happy at 2:00 in the morning finding THAT out! Leaving the door open tonight, hope she behaves better! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hey Babe,
Woke up even earlier (must be getting used to these early mornings!) got my chores and breakfast done, did a few odd jobs, then had a quiet afternoon in order to recharge my body battery for the upcoming busy week ahead! I sort of planned on walking, but wanted to wait for my new shoes, but they didn't arrive until later in the day. I also ordered a new pair of wipers for my truck, one was completely falling apart, so I replaced both of them. Settled down for a quiet evening, though I did have to send out some emails and messages about FITS. Just going out to have my hot tub, then shower and bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Woke up before my alarm and started working on my shoulder, for over 45 minutes. It always feels better after I work it, so I'm still hoping someday, somehow, it will finally fix itself. It rained a steady rain most of yesterday afternoon and evening, so everything was still damp this morning. Got my chores and breakfast done, then took Lola and Apollo for our two mile walk (can't wait to get my new walking shoes!), then afterwards, sat down for a few minutes only to nod off! Crazy! Finally got up and going again, spent pretty much the entire afternoon on the long overdue chore of washing and waxing my truck. I even went so far as to put on some tire black, which I can't remember doing in years! Finished it off by doing the windows inside and out. The rest of the interior still needs doing, but the outside looks great! At least until the first time I go down a dusty road... That took nearly all afternoon, and I was aching a bit by the time I was finished, which was just about time to feed Chelle's horses, have dinner, and feed my horses. Very grateful for the hot tub tonight, it worked wonders on my aching muscles. Settled down for the evening, off to bed soon! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hey Babe,
Pretty much a repeat of yesterday, worked on my shoulder, chores and breakfast, though today on my walk it was warm enough to wear my sandals, which are the only comfortable shoes I have for walking (at least until my New Balance shoes arrive on Sunday!), so I took both Lola and Apollo along today. I had walked him up and down the driveway yesterday and he seemed to not be lame, so I took him along today for the whole two miles. His toes are so short now it seems like he's almost walking entirely on his sole, which may or may not be a good thing. It's been so dry and his feet are so hard, it's difficult to say if it bothers him. He did seem to be walking easier and faster today, so I'm hoping the walking is doing him some good. Once we got back, I got on the computer and started working on the FITS ride, rearranging the ground map a bit, basing some changes on the notes I took after last year. So glad I wrote that stuff down, I'd never remember it! Watched President Trump's State Of The Union Address from a few days ago. Don't watch much news anymore, too depressing, but figured I should at least watch that to inform my own opinion. Not surprisingly, the opposition behaved disgracefully, like children in a sandbox, too immature to describe. So sad. Got my new Garmin watch today, it's like a FitBit but with a bit more stuff on it. Free from my Medicare Advantage program! Put it on for awhile just to see how it works, but it will take some time to figure it all out. Finally settled down to a nice steak dinner and my usual evening, including a hot tub. Heading to bed soon! Good night, my sweet! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Slept through to my alarm, worked on my shoulder, did my chores and breakfast, took a quick trip over to Val's to drop off the two Starlink systems that we'll be using next week. Came back and took Lola for our two mile walk, put all the blankets away that I had used to cover plants, since the forecast from hereon out is a definitive warming trend. No blankets for the horses after this! Went through my stack of mail, worked on adapting the netting system for the stall area (so far the one in the dining area has yet to be defeated by my Lola girl!), not sure it will work because I can't seem to drill a hole in the steel frame of the trailer, but if it doesn't work, I'll keep trying until I figure something out! Raided Chelle's refrigerator for most of the perishables (with her permission, of course!), then worked on Apollo's feet for a bit before walking him up to the end of the driveway and back, just to make sure he wasn't lame. He actually seemed to be moving a lot more comfortably, so I'm convinced the hoof trim made a huge difference. Tomorrow I plan on having him join us for our walk, I think he's ready. Finally settled down for the rest of the day with my usual routine, reading, a few more episodes of 12 Monkeys, took my hot tub, ready for bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Darlin',
Another good night sleep, another good session working on my shoulder, but no walk today. That's because we headed out early to do some shopping, but not until I had taken off all the blankets from both horses and plants, which all survived the overnight freeze. No much more of that this week, I'm happy to say! Headed up to Williston first, to pick up a prescription for Chelle and mail it to her in blizzardy Maine, then down to Dunnellon for fuel, mail checking, package dropping and shopping at Walmart and Winn-Dixie. Did my big monthly shop today before heading back home. Took awhile to unload and put stuff away, it was after 4:00 by the time I got done. Put the final hardware on my ladder, which took a little bit of creative drilling, but managed to finally finish that job, and put it firmly in place for future use. Not sure I ever want to take it down again! Did my afternoon chores as usual, and settled down for the evening, still bingeing on this fascinating Sci-Fi series 12 Monkeys. Took my hot tub and early shower, which is becoming my new routine, and splurges on a bourbon cocktail, which I haven't done in months, but am thoroughly enjoying! Hope I feel the same way in the morning! Anyway, off to bed shortly! Good night, baby! Love you!

Hey Babe,
Had a pretty relaxing day today, too cold to do much outside in the morning, but when the mercury finally reached 50 degrees, I bundled up in my long underwear and my Alaska parka and headed out with Lola for our walk. Like the song says, feeling stronger everyday! I decided not to take Apollo today, I want his feet to recover a bit from yesterday's trim, and also to do a little more work on them, but mostly because it was too darn cold today! I did soak his foot for a bit with Epsom salt, but I think his little abscess has already drained, so I'm not sure it helped much. Since temps are predicted anywhere from 27-32 degrees tonight, I covered all the plants and plumbing and put blankets on all the horses (actually, I had put them on my horses last night as well), so I've done all I can to combat the winter. Warming up tomorrow, so it seems I'll only have to do this for one night. Feeling sorry for all the folks up north, they're having a blizzard! So happy to be in Florida, since this cold snap will be gone in a day or so. Settled for the evening, braved the cold long enough to grab a hot tub (loving it!), watched some more of the 12 Monkeys series, off to bed soon! Good night, sweetie! Love you!