Movin' Along

 

Looks like we finally received a break in the weather, at least for this morning. 

While pulling my sled filled with hay flakes this morning, I actually looked down with my head lamp and quietly admired the glistening snow.

One can actually learn again to like snow, especially when it just glistens there on the ground without requiring any work.

This morning's early chores were comparatively easy.

  I did have to do a little heave ho to get the barn door open, but in the grand scheme of spreading out hay, leading horses to the hay, scooping up horse apples into tidy piles in each stall, dropping hay in each and pouring grain into buckets, that stubborn barn door was soon forgotten.  

Have I said before that little victories turn monumental in the annual battle of the elements?  When most of any chore episode goes smoothly, a triumphant feeling soon follows. 

Speaking of triumphs and horses and the grand scheme of things, my sister Laurie is feeling mighty fine this morning and maybe even giving Pache some extra grain. 

As you can see below, the Team Pache and Laurie won a distinguished national award for their Western dressage efforts this year. 

It's nice in the winter, where a formidable obstacle (without any advance pattern to study) meets you at every turn, to be reminded that "this too shall pass," and that good things happen in the good seasons to those who work hard all year. 

Congratulations, Laurie and Pache.

Definitely a "WOW" factor.  

 

And, so, after another day of continued snow, we can maybe enjoy a relatively normal routine without tractors or snow blowers or cuss words. 

I probably won't have an excuse to do much TV bingeing today. 

Somehow, on days like yesterday, the awful weather outside offers an excuse to just sit there on the couch next to a warm wood stove and surrounded by sleeping dogs and stare at the television set. 

Of course, nobody needs an excuse to watch two hours of fantastic ZAG action like what we saw in yesterday's game.  The ZAGS won by a score of 120-42.  

One would think that a blow-out would be boring. 

Not yesterday's.  When the ZAGS pulled away in scoring, bench players had the opportunity to show their talents for several minutes apiece. 

Gonzaga has a wonderful bench.  That means the second half of the season, when they play their WCC league games should be very entertaining. 

It's never fail for this team whose central goal in many local fans' minds is to get us through the winter. 

Our day yesterday was topped off with dinner brought to us by Willie and Debbie. OMG:  that Costco ravioli is good stuff.  Bill and I had our first taste last night, and it's for sure it won't be the last.

We also enjoyed the third Christmas gift exchange and some fun visiting. 

And, so today, all things festive will go by the wayside and we'll try to get back to a fairly normal routine. 

Happy Thursday. 

Some TBT's from the photo library . . .