Filling up time is hardly one of my normal challenges, but I found myself doing that yesterday and today. After all, when one follows a pretty strict morning routine and suddenly a major portion of that routine no longer exists, one has to fumble around a bit to fill the slot. I didn't fumble too long.
Yesterday, rather than going to the barn to feed my horses (who now reside temporarily in Spokane) and clean one stall before getting the morning papers, I locked the dogs in the garage and took off for a walk down South Center Valley Road. It actually felt a bit liberating because I normally don't have that option and because it was one of the first genuine days of spring.
Though Annie and her friends were still sleeping, I could feel electricity and expectation in the air for all of us. While listening to birds twitter and admiring the vast green expanse of Taylor's pasture, I thought about the Bloomies and their plans for the day---driving to Spokane, giggling over their Gomez Girls ensembles, running to do their best, celebrating with lunch at Cyrus O'Leary's Restaurant, driving back to Seattle and Missoula and collapsing into bed.
Annie wrote this morning and told me she won first place yesterday. I know that nobody read about it in the paper or saw television footage of her crossing the finish line, but she did get first----first place for runners with the last name of "Love." I think she's done that two years in a row, so if there are any Loves out there who'd like to give her a run for her money, ya'd better start conditioning. Rainier Girl is a force to contend with.
Here are the rest of her statistics for yesterday's performance:
Finish Time: 1:07:37
Overall Place: 4,667 out of 42,697
Ran with a pace of 9:03 per mile
The average pace for 29-year-olds was 14:25
Placed 111th among people the same age
Placed 149th among people from Seattle, WA
Placed 3,437th among people from the State of Washington
Placed 1st among people with the same last name
Placed 1,274th among females
Placed 39th out of 479 among 29-year-old females
It's my best time so far. Kelsi beat me by about 20 seconds or so. It was a nice day for the run.
*******
Overall Place: 4,667 out of 42,697
Ran with a pace of 9:03 per mile
The average pace for 29-year-olds was 14:25
Placed 111th among people the same age
Placed 149th among people from Seattle, WA
Placed 3,437th among people from the State of Washington
Placed 1st among people with the same last name
Placed 1,274th among females
Placed 39th out of 479 among 29-year-old females
It's my best time so far. Kelsi beat me by about 20 seconds or so. It was a nice day for the run.
*******
So, I'm figuring all expectations were met.
During my morning walk, I also thought about my day ahead with lawn and garden work. It turned out pretty well: three beds for plants cleaned out and replenished with 2006 decayed horse apples ; one filled with three cabbage plants from the greenhouse, the barnyard and one pasture dragged---i.e., a pull-behind harrow to break up the clods of manure, hay and old grass from the winter. I also finished my Appaloosa Journal story, washed off some of the white board fence, mowed a little lawn, spread wildflower seed around the place and thought about my horses all day. After all, it was the first day in more than 30 years without a horse on our place.
I wish that we could do with horses like we can with our kids---call them or send them an email to see how they're doing. I have to be patient, though, and wait a few days before calling Monte to see how they're behaving and to hear if Lily has kicked the side of the barn out yet. Just before we took them Saturday, Lefty mysteriously rubbed out another huge patch of hide from his neck. Little twit!
This morning, I'm slowly adjusting to the new routine but missing the horses. This time I took the dogs with me and walked through the woods. I noticed that Bill has done a fine job of tidying up areas out there with low hanging limbs removed, brush piles nicely organized and neat little stacks of wood here and there. The chickadees were also doing a fine job of scurrying around, searching for goodies among the pine needles. The walk out there, now that it's truly spring, is an invigorating way to start the day.
Unfortunately, sounds of country radio don't waft out that far; instead, the birds are singing their country songs. There are definitely a few Carrie Underwood's and Vince Gill's among the warblers, so I'll be okay.
More fun outdoor stuff today, so I'm gonna get going.
Before I do, however, I must acknowledge the passing of one of the great and grand ladies of Idaho: Louise Shadduck from Coeur d'Alene. She lived 92 phenomenal and amazing years. During that time, she touched thousands of people across Idaho, the country and the world with her genuine, down-to-earth friendliness and eternal zest to learn the facts, then tell the stories.
What a story teller she was, and what a great example of humanity! She wrote several books, and I'm guessing it would take multiple volumes for someone to chronicle her lifetime achievements.
RIP, Louise. I always admired and appreciated knowing you.
During my morning walk, I also thought about my day ahead with lawn and garden work. It turned out pretty well: three beds for plants cleaned out and replenished with 2006 decayed horse apples ; one filled with three cabbage plants from the greenhouse, the barnyard and one pasture dragged---i.e., a pull-behind harrow to break up the clods of manure, hay and old grass from the winter. I also finished my Appaloosa Journal story, washed off some of the white board fence, mowed a little lawn, spread wildflower seed around the place and thought about my horses all day. After all, it was the first day in more than 30 years without a horse on our place.
I wish that we could do with horses like we can with our kids---call them or send them an email to see how they're doing. I have to be patient, though, and wait a few days before calling Monte to see how they're behaving and to hear if Lily has kicked the side of the barn out yet. Just before we took them Saturday, Lefty mysteriously rubbed out another huge patch of hide from his neck. Little twit!
This morning, I'm slowly adjusting to the new routine but missing the horses. This time I took the dogs with me and walked through the woods. I noticed that Bill has done a fine job of tidying up areas out there with low hanging limbs removed, brush piles nicely organized and neat little stacks of wood here and there. The chickadees were also doing a fine job of scurrying around, searching for goodies among the pine needles. The walk out there, now that it's truly spring, is an invigorating way to start the day.
Unfortunately, sounds of country radio don't waft out that far; instead, the birds are singing their country songs. There are definitely a few Carrie Underwood's and Vince Gill's among the warblers, so I'll be okay.
More fun outdoor stuff today, so I'm gonna get going.
Before I do, however, I must acknowledge the passing of one of the great and grand ladies of Idaho: Louise Shadduck from Coeur d'Alene. She lived 92 phenomenal and amazing years. During that time, she touched thousands of people across Idaho, the country and the world with her genuine, down-to-earth friendliness and eternal zest to learn the facts, then tell the stories.
What a story teller she was, and what a great example of humanity! She wrote several books, and I'm guessing it would take multiple volumes for someone to chronicle her lifetime achievements.
RIP, Louise. I always admired and appreciated knowing you.
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