I had not realized I had been in a bit of a late winter funk until I realized how long it has been since I have written on here. I have enjoyed spring’s arrival though did find myself a bit wary to accept that it was here. It seems like this past winter we would have cold spells then very warm weather then immediately after the warm weather we would have a snow storm with howling winds. Looking back over my photos of the past two years I found the flowers are blooming two to three weeks later this year. I have enjoyed the daffodils blooming and spring peeper frogs peeping.

Over the winter I acquired many books to read, many non fiction and some fiction. I really get a kick out of children’s fiction and young adult fiction. I’m currently reading Margaret Peterson Haddix The Missing Series. I find children and young adult fiction to be as entertaining and intelligent as most adult fiction books. And they can be a welcome distraction from all of life’s seriousness.

The osprey have returned again from South America. They have been hunting on the river and the ponds out front. The turkeys have been strutting with their feathers all spread. The Canada geese for the most part have gone home. Probably the best bird I saw recently was a pileated woodpecker.

I have recently returned to a job where I am caring for horses, chickens and sheep including ewes that are lambing. The lamb I included in the photo is a freckle face like me. I really like her. I’m getting the hang of being around sheep again. It was a bit overwhelming the first two weeks with many ewes lambing, some lambs had to be bottle fed. I’m much more comfortable caring for horses but getting better with the sheep.

The bottom two pictures are flashes from my past. The first one is of my very first horse trial at Olde Hope Farm in Earleviile MD. The horse Red and I finished second in dressage and second overall in our class. We jumped clean in cross country and stadium jumping. It was a lot of fun. Red knew far more than I did and showed me the ropes. I enjoyed it very much and have the utmost respect for eventers but my love lies in dressage.

The last photo is of me coaching a student of mine at a local show. I really love to teach and coach and really want to get back to riding again. I love teaching, helping riders and horses connect, relax, work together and be happy.

One thing making me happy these days besides my friends is the cat sitting next to me now. It is the neighbor’s cat who recently decided I was pretty cool to hang out with at night. She waits for me to get off work and then hangs with me for ten minutes to a couple of hours.
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of spring. Have a great Friday!! Thanks as always for reading.

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