Easing the load

I've probably borrowed this one of my dad's favorite sayings before: 'Every little bit counts,' said the old lady as she peed in the ocean.

If I have used that tidbit of wisdom before on my blog, so be it. What value are well-oiled maxims if we don't revive them and use them once in a while?

And, that comment was definitely gliding through my head this morning as I walked from the barn to the house. Every day of late, every little bit HAS been counting, and the load is getting lighter literally, thanks to the long-awaited arrival of spring.

In the clothes category, the stocking cap and layer No. 4---the fleece jacket---have been put aside for the morning trip to feed the horses. Layer No. 5--the barn jacket--has now moved up to Layer No. 4. Soon, it may rise to Layer 3, and then to a closet hanger to reside for several months.

I'll be really happy when the mud dries up enough that I don't have to bend over, stick my index finger between my heel and the back of my boots to urge them on each morning. That's yet to come.

I was really excited to go to the barn this morning because last night I took a shovel with me to the barnyard and cleared away rocks and mud that have formed around the doors to each box stall. We don't use them during the winter because the build-up of snow falling from the roof locks them shut; instead, each horse is led to and from the barn.

This morning, the load lightened two ways. No leading, just opening three stall gates, and out to the barnyard they jumped---first, Lily, then Lefty, then Heather. Shutting the gates one by one, I enjoyed the ease of simply flinging overnight droppings out the openings into the barnyard. No big cart to load up, no concerns of how many cart trips the stall cleaning process would entail.

My mental load has diminished too. Taxes are done and sent off. Refund this year, no less. That hasn't happened in a while.

I'm caught up on all writing deadlines. That's a rarity. Being caught up lasts only so long, though. I spent several hours yesterday stapling a pile of handouts for a writing workshop this Saturday in Coeur d'Alene.

I've got most of my thoughts for the day on paper and in my brain, and my dear friend and former student Erica will be helping me out by sharing her writing experiences as a journalist.

So, I'm not even as nervous as usual for this presentation, knowing a fun and talented sidekick will help ease that load.

There's nothing so freeing as good weather for an outdoors lover. So, today will be spent outside as much as possible, and the work to be done---in my mind---is comparable to a good dessert---tightening fence wire weighted down by the winter, burning more dead grass, raking more lawn, hauling more fermented horse droppings to the garden.

On trips to town during the past few days, I haven't seen too many unhappy people. In fact, there's a glut of smiles as we all embrace a new spring and remember once again why we stick it out here.

Yup, every little bit counts, and it's definitely counting, by the hour, as our surroundings regenerate our vitality and enthusiasm about getting up every morning to greet whatever young life has appeared overnight and to say gentle but grateful good byes to the difficult season we have just survived.