REFRESH from the Sky, Etc.

 

Wet shoes, usually a pain, but yesterday, delightful!

I use a product called "Refresh."  

It helps my dry-eye syndrome. 

I can always tell when it's time or past time to squeeze a drop of the moisture into my left eye. 

The eye feels strained and uncomfortable and continues to feel that way until I pull out a a single plastic dispensor of Refresh, tip my head back and squeeze directly over my left eye.  

The very second the drop lands inside my eyelids, I feel a dramatic  and welcome sense of relief.

Well, yesterday afternoon, until a whole lot of drops of moisture came falling from the sky, the Earth had been feeling strained and uncomfortable for some time. 

Needless to say, the afternoon rain was Refresh at its best.

Overnight a whole lot more single doses of liquid teamed up to give us another needed break in the long, hot and dry summer. 

We may even get some more this afternoon, and it will be needed because another six days of "hot" are predicted, starting Wednesday.

For now, we'll all rejoice and revel in this gift from the heavens. 

Like my own experience when I've waited too long between doses of my packaged Refresh to soothe my dry eye, the misery has been intense.  

For today, at least, we can forget most of the discomfort and the consequences of our 2021 case of "dry earth." 

So, when life improves, we can spend more time accentuating the positive. 

In our family's case, we're all proud of our sister Laurie and her horse Pache.  The team, pictured below, took two regional championships in Western dressage yesterday at a show in the Portland suburb of Sherwood. 

Laurie hadn't shown Pache in two years, so to say she was thrilled with the results could be an understatement. 

While on the subject of horses, I was also thrilled yesterday when finally it was cool enough to spend some quality time with CB.  He turned 4 yesterday. 

The heat has stood in the way of my desire to do anything other than lead him to pasture since he came home from training two weeks ago. 

So, yesterday afternoon I was determined to spend some time working with him. I will not climb aboard until others are around to help if any problems occur.

So, yesterday involved time away from his buddies, which he didn't seem to mind.  He enjoyed his grooming session.  

I then saddled him up, took him to the round pen and lunged him.  Next, I practiced putting on his bridle with his new bit. Finally, I took him to an area of tall green grass and let him eat to his heart's content.  

In all cases, CB took everything in his stride, showing me once again first hand that he has the perfect temperament for his old-lady owner.  

I couldn't have been happier. 

We did experience one scary situation with the horses last night when Lefty choked on alfalfa pellets.

Not a pretty scene and not a lot one can do except for neck massage.  It took about half an hour for Lefty to finally work through his extreme discomfort. 

Big relief. 

In other good news, while watching the Olympics, Bill and I savored every bite of our dinner last night, which, except for the chicken, all came from the garden----new potatoes, carrots and beans and corn on the cob. 

Yum, and more to come. 

Happy Sunday from a revitalized and REFRESHed Lovestead.

No watering needed today!  Yay!