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Yesterday's sunrise was too beautiful to pass up. This morning, as noted in the picture below, the last of a series of rain clouds was headed east. |
It's happening.
More green.
More blue.
Less smoke.
Thanks to another overnight rain, the earth looked more vibrant this morning than we've seen in some time.
Even though the Trestle Creek complex of fires is far from contained, we have enjoyed large segments of the day without smoky skies.
Slowly but surely, the blessings to our planet are once again unfolding.
It's been a rough go for too long in too many ways, but every new spear of green grass and every deep blue sky is making a positive difference.
And, the flower blooms are coming back from their dry, shriveled up state.
If we could just put in our request, I'm sure most of us would sign up for the 70-75-degree days with blue skies and a little occasional rain on the side.
Somehow it doesn't work that way, so when these days do come, they are a much-appreciated gifts.
On this Friday morning, I've got a little hitch in my getalong.
Suffered my first battle scar from CB.
He put me on the ground yesterday AND I wasn't even riding him.
I had planned to haul him over to my sisters' arena for our weekly ride. The goal is for CB to get used to me sitting on him and for me to get used to CB under saddle.
I immediately sensed that yesterday's experience might not go as well as the first when CB, like most saddle horses, showed a newfound ability to avoid work.
First time ever in that he tried to run away in the field when I began to put the halter on him.
Well, with lead rope draped over his back and with a constant reminder of "Whoa" as I ran alongside him, he crossed half the field before deciding to stop.
Halter on, we then walked to the barn area where I tied him to a fence post for grooming.
As I brushed, he whinnied a couple of times to his buddies but seemed content to stand still.
Then, out of nowhere, something set him off.
I have no idea what it was---but within an instant he lunged his entire body my way, connecting with my body, then driving the nail into the coffin by standing and scrunching my left food with his right front foot.
No words can explain the excruciating pain as that hoof with its metal shoe attached to the 1,000 pound horse landed directly on my big toe.
Reeling with pain and feeling the impact of his body against mine, I fell to the ground and immediately rolled away to avoid any more damage.
As usual, as I've learned in my old age, I simply lay there for a minute, mentally assessing from the shock of what had just happened how bad this was going to be.
When I looked over at CB, he seemed to be assessing too: what the h--- is she doing there on the ground?
Finally, concluding that it sure was bad, I pulled myself off the ground and stood up. As with past similar incidents with horse injuries, however, I wasted no time picking up the brush and finishing the grooming job, with extreme pain telling me with each step taken that the toe must be in pretty bad shape.
With horses, though, most folks will tell you that it's not wise to walk away, no matter how badly you hurt.
Determined that we were going to see this through, I loaded CB in the trailer, drove to my sisters, unloaded him and walked him to their barn with my left foot screaming with pain.
Long story short, we completed our second ride in the arean. CB did misbehave briefly but with a few stern words, decided it best to do what asked.
Heck, we even walked over a bridge twice.
As for the toe: the injury actually involves two toes and, yes, it's very colorful. I iced it several times yesterday, and it seems a bit better, even though I'm sure the healing will take a little time.
My sisters and I agreed that it was good to have a few challenges and to figure out how to work through them.
And, happily and painfully, I did.
Maybe by next week the toe injury will be a distant memory, and maybe by next week, CB will have figured out a few more tricks to try on Mom.
That's just how it is with young horses.
On another subject, I ran across a real estate story this morning. If anyone is interested in coming to God's Country and enjoy solitude in the midst of drop-dead beauty, maybe this piece of property is for you.
Finally, I met Vern this morning. He's a software engineer who lives in the neighborhood and likes to get away from his computer and go for runs.
Vern noted during our visit that he's lived here a while and has run our network of roads dozens of times but has never really met most of the neighbors.
So, for anyone in the neighborhood, if you see Vern, say hi and introduce yourself. He's a nice guy.
And, that's it for now.
Happy Friday.
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