Getting a Leg Up, Running PB, Girls Weekend and Sundry News from the Farm

It's been awhile since I posted about life on the farm that doesn't involve the loss of Izzy.   I won't promise those moments of loss won't still find their way here.   I know that over the last 6 weeks I have had seemingly innocent, nothing moments bring me right back to that evening in the sand ring.   The latest being a trip to the grocery store.  I know, how crazy can a trip to the grocery store get?   I wandered past the reduced to clear fruit rack and thought, "Oh, I'll get those bananas for Izzy."   That was a frequent occurrence, as she loved bananas.   How the mind can play such harsh and malicious tricks on us when we think we are journeying into a new realm.

I took a week of vacation in October.  Fall is my favourite time of year.  I have always loved to ride in the cool, sunny days and venture through the woods with the smell of leaves underfoot.    On vacation I surrounded myself with the love of horsewomen.  I ventured to the Josh Nichol clinic that I was supposed to be attending with Izzy.  As difficult as it was to go to the clinic and sit in a place of longing for what was supposed to be and what was an opportunity missed; I needed the support of these wonderful friends to help me along this pilgrimage.   Everyone has been asking if I am getting a new horse, if I have ridden and in general, what my plans now are for the future.   I am still lost in my thoughts over the future.   I know the universe will give me the answers I need when I am open enough and ready to receive them.   However, on Oct 22nd, it was a beautiful sunny fall day.   It was time for me to remember why I ride horses in the first place.    I saddled Emma and thru my leg over a horse for the first time since I came off a horse in the worst of ways.   When something you loves with such connection dies beneath you and you can feel that through to your core...it changes you.  Throwing a leg over a horse was not something in my mind I could take lightly.    I felt so many things that sunny afternoon...but the thing that stuck with me as a walked with the sun on my face towards the woods from the back of the barn was the words from a dear friend.   Words that I knew in my hurting heart but needed to hear with the love they were expressed with.   Her words were, "The hurt came from the back of a horse but the healing will come from there too."    Thank you my friend...

Running

There has been a great deal of running in the last 6 weeks.   I had a PB on a 5K race.  Chip time of 22:49 and Second overall finisher.

Run to the Fair in Dorchester for another great finish.   Second in the female masters division.

Ran the stairs and the escarpment trail several times during my lunch.

Road2Hope 10k at the Hamilton waterfront.   Not a stellar fast race for me with a back of the pack start position but still managed a second place finish in my age group.   Love this trail as it's a staple running spot on my lunches.

This fall has been an exceptional race season with running partner Theresa.   So lucky to have her as part of my running journey.  To have shared so many races together gives me such wonderful memories.  Thank you Theresa for being on this fitness and racing journey together...xo.

Girls Weekend

I am so fortunate to still be close friends with 6 women I went to high school with.   Four of us have been together since grade 1!   These women are my sisters.   They have enriched my life, they have shared their lives with me.   We know some of the most intimate details about each other.   Together we have seen all the milestones that a group of 40+ year old women encounter.   We have shared sleepless nights; endless nights in deep conversations.   College nights in places our parents should never find out about!   We have weathered the test of time.   As true friends we have rose to the occasion.   I couldn't image my life without these women.  Love you all for your unique and individual strengths.   You have all blessed my life...I am so fortunate.

Girls weekend was at the farm.  :-)  What a fun adventure we had!  Even got up close and personal with Clark's chicken!   LOL

Here we are at my fav local hot spot, Twisted Lemon at the best table ever!   Love the chef's table.

AND because these women are truly the best ever…they prearranged a surprise baby shower for me!   As friends as close as they are to me…they know the reasons I have only fur kids and surprising me with this party was one of the most amazingly joyful and tearful moments of the weekend for me.

Stewy has a new blanket thanks to this crew of doting 'Aunts'.   xo love you Girls…to the moon and back.

Round Pen

The base footing is now complete!   We let the drainage stone settle for a season.   It's now ready for sand and the wood fencing.  Hurray...Stewy's new playpen will be ready to go when he is!

Operation Winter Warmth

30 boxes of wood stacked and ready to burn this winter.   30 more will likely still be needed to get us through the winter but this is half way there.

Trail Cam

Lots of action in the woods at the trail entrance and through the trail.

New Tree

After much love and desperate trying, I could not save the tri-colour birch that Reta gave me when we moved here.   It was dug out of the ground at least 3 times by Molly in the puppy years as she wolfed mouth fulls of soil that I had enriched with bone meal!!   Each time I would replant and pack the soil and water it and pray that it would make it through the trauma.   But even prayer couldn't save the beauty.   So the dead twig that it turned into after a freezing winter and relentlessly hot summer stayed planted all year as a solid reminder that this tree needed to be replaced.   On many occasions DH and I stopped at different garden centres but could never find one that held a candle to that lovely tree.   As a surprise, last month Reta and Bill replaced that tree with one even more beautiful.   It has been planted and guarded from dogs.   No more puppy phase so lets now pray it makes it through the winter and shares its glory next spring.

Food

Well...with no horse to ride on a regular basis at the moment....food has become a much more popular pass time.   The miles need to be clocked on my shoes now to counter balance the delicious meals and treats that have been pouring out of the kitchen.  UGH!!!

Jalapeno poppers made with peppers from my garden.

Stewy

He's growing like an obnoxious little weed!   He should have been named Shark, not Stuart!   He's super smooth and cute.   He glides in close and looks so curious and brave.   Then he grabs you when you least expect it!  And boy he's fast!

He's croup high right now but look how much he has grown!

Last but not least…

What would a blog post be without the mutts….love my fur babies!