tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348088709441376382024-03-12T16:45:06.147-07:00C-ing Spots AppaloosasJust trying to take it all as it comes...one day at a time.C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.comBlogger423125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-85358291765384818462022-03-10T11:20:00.000-08:002022-03-10T11:20:02.869-08:00Been a looonng time coming<p> Since June 2019 to be specific. Wow. Just wow. How did I ever??? </p><p>So many changes, and yet, so many things remain unchanged in my life. I'm still working at the veterinary clinic, it's been 22 years now. I'm still living on the same little homestead with hubby, our dogs and our horses. The number of horses is down to four...I still marvel at how different that feels, but time marches on. Our herd is aging; and I'm getting older too. </p><p>Signs of spring are everywhere and the promise of a new season is looming. How quickly our winter is passing. At the beginning, my intent was to enjoy the slower pace, find time to reflect, time to read and just take in all the quiet times I would experience at the fireside. There have been a few; but as is all too common in life, so much happens that we don't anticipate or plan for, that we busy ourselves in the day to day. Just keeping up and getting done, that which needs to be done, is all-consuming.</p><p>I will keep this post short and sweet, because as I said, there have been so many changes and perspective altering occurrences as to make my head spin with it all. To even begin sharing would be like an avalanche of emotion that I simply don't have the strength for right now. I have always found this blog to be a mental escape, a chartering of our lives and an outlet for the placing of thoughts onto paper. (so to speak) A respite and an outpouring of some ideas that float around in my head. Some things never change...</p><p>My hope is to continue to share, to document and to escape into the world of writing again. I've missed it. I've missed so many of you too. I do pray that you are all well and thriving, that your lives are blessed and comfortable, and that we may be able to reconnect. I make no promises, but the hope to continue is there, within my heart and the desire to share is real. Take care and be well my friends,</p><p>Until we meet again, Lorie @ Cingspots</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKvTAs9ZJFg_uhnsW_dp_rdJM1tLZvvDIJdTXV8urfrmtBaa09DMGYifOHfNSGy7FMtA-I4v-fcdRFppIbHbObp6Cn86ZgInypKDI_tA73yu9-PNZhCFWNz4KJ8r6UB08Se_6l6zmJnAIOEXV-qsZjeg7a9LCMiDeEPPYMW3qvINL_K6zBwPtMbCHv=s5312" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="5312" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKvTAs9ZJFg_uhnsW_dp_rdJM1tLZvvDIJdTXV8urfrmtBaa09DMGYifOHfNSGy7FMtA-I4v-fcdRFppIbHbObp6Cn86ZgInypKDI_tA73yu9-PNZhCFWNz4KJ8r6UB08Se_6l6zmJnAIOEXV-qsZjeg7a9LCMiDeEPPYMW3qvINL_K6zBwPtMbCHv=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-46663823761266699512019-06-18T13:55:00.001-07:002019-06-18T13:55:02.263-07:00Baby, take a chill pill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh yes, if you please! I'm dancing around that old familiar tree once again, but I just can't believe how fast the time goes. Too darned fast for me! Spring is all but a memory, already...and summer will begin in a couple of days. Summer with its' relentless heat, long days and warm nights. So much to love about this season. And so much not to love. Well, I guess just the heat and the excessive busy-ness. I feel like we've been on a merry-go-round of projects lately. And I'm tired. <br />
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I dream of a long, lazy weekend at the beach, cool ocean breezes blowing wispy, white linen curtains while I recline in comfort gazing out at the peaceful, blue ocean...can't you just see it? *sigh*<br />
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Back to reality Lorie. Yes, we've been busy. We've got our years' supply of hay stored in the barn and almost all the firewood we'll be needing for the cold winter ahead. Our little garden is growing and producing its' little heart out. Soon we'll begin the tearing down and re-building of, the horse shelter. The other horse shelter needs to have all the old dirt and rusting, long-ago buried wire removed and new gravel and sand brought in. That might take us awhile, but brother Steve is willing to lend a hand. <br />
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We have been on one group camping trip with our riding club at Mt. Adams horse camp. The weather was perfectly beautiful, the trip up and back was uneventful and we really enjoyed visiting with everyone and just relaxing. First camp-out in a couple of years for us, and it felt so good. Our plan is to complete the big tasks of the summer right out of the box, and hopefully leave us a good bit of summer and early fall to just enjoy the weekends. Camping, hiking with the dogs, day trips, horseback riding and bbq's with friends. Oh, and of course several trips to the beach! What kind of a summer doesn't include trips to the beach? <br />
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We've had another baby born in the family. A little boy, which makes a great-great grandson for my sister. Wow! And if I think of that another way, my niece Shelley is now a great grandmother. Oh my word!! How can that be?! That kind of makes my head hurt. And...our almost 43 year old son Justin is expecting another baby to be born anytime. In fact, today is Autumn's due date. So we'll have another baby too. Life just keeps going, which is exactly how it's supposed to work. Time marches on and life is continuously changing and evolving. In my grandmother's words to me as a child - "nothing in life is constant; except change". Oh how right she was. And how much I miss that dear, sweet woman who inspired so much wisdom in me as a girl and as a young woman. If only she could see how the family has changed. Maybe it's a blessing that she can't see all those changes, for they all certainly aren't for the better. Life is never dull.<br />
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Charlotte's birthday was yesterday. My sweet dog is now 4 years old and is quite the lady, a true momma's girl. Just like Annie was my girl. Charlotte is my girl. I remember after Annie died I knew in my heart that there was no way I could ever replace her. So, I didn't even try. But when the time came to look for another puppy, of course I looked at Labs and Golden Retrievers. But there were no puppies available anywhere that were affordable to us and I became disheartened. Maybe I was trying to find another "Annie". But one day while on our way home from a Costco trip, I whizzed by a "puppies 4 sale" sign. I drove around the corner and went up to the house to have a look. I was hopeful, but it was reserved hope. The young man who lived there told me they were Yellow Labs. Oh, be still my heart! I asked him how much the puppies were and he said they were asking $200.00...that was within our budget. I could hardly contain my excitement at my good fortune! I followed him through the house and into the back yard where the puppies were contained in a corner of the yard. There, before my eyes were 8 wriggling, jumping, chewing, playing puppies of every color and combination of colors and markings imaginable. But, not a Yellow Lab among them. He introduced me to Princess, momma to the brood of puppies. And yes, I did notice that among one or two other breeds, there was some yellow lab in her. Princess looked tired, but in her dark brown eyes, there was kindness and intelligence. She was a dear, sweet girl and she loved her puppies. I squatted down and asked her permission to have a look at her beautiful babies, and took the time to stroke her fur and tell her what a wonderful and beautiful girl she was. She gave me a little lick on my cheek. Permission granted. <br />
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I then turned my attention to the puppies clamoring at the fence for my attention. Truly, each puppy was an individual. From black, to black and white, to all shades of brown, brown and black, brown and white...and a particularly unusual black brindle with the loveliest face. I was so drawn to that one, and scooped her up and into my arms. She was quieter than some and gave me the most direct of gazes, and a little kiss like Princess had done. Ahh, I was hooked, and we left shortly thereafter with that puppy cradled in my arms. Well, <i>dangling</i> from my arms is a much more appropriate description, because she was all legs, with these humorously huge paws and the most serious little face. I held her all the way home and she slept with us and she never made a peep. Nor did she ever whine or cry like she missed her litter mates. She never had an accident in the house and was the easiest puppy to potty train that I can remember. Ruby was easy as well, but I remember the occasional accident. Not so with Charlotte. I just routinely asked her to step outside to "potty on the grass" and she did. She has become as deeply devoted to me as my dear, sweet Annie was. I believe that God chose her just for me. And as long as she was armed with plenty of toys to destroy, she never chewed anything that didn't belong to her. Until much later...and that is a story that will remain a secret until a later date and time. <br />
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Suffice it to say that the car I drove at the time was never, ever the same...<br />
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Happy Birthday Charlotte!!! <br />
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So, the yellow labs turned out to be mutts. Princess was a unique mystery of breeds, including some yellow lab and daddy was a pitbull. Charlotte wasn't anything like what I was looking for, but she turned out to be exactly what I didn't even know I was looking for and just what my heart needed. :)<br />
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Funny how that happens in life, isn't it?<br />
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I hope you're all ready for summer, cause ready or not, here it comes! Enjoy!<br />
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Oh, and I almost forgot about Eagle! We celebrated his 19th birthday on June 3...I've already had him for 8 years. Again. Wow!C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-30755174017933797322019-05-03T15:09:00.002-07:002019-05-03T15:09:23.107-07:00The merry, merry month of May!We are enjoying a phenomenal spring! Coolish nights and warm days, a little shower here and there, with bunches of sunshine and flowers. Green fields abound! May is one of my favorite months of the year. Specifically, I love May, June and October...I enjoy summer as well, but cannot tolerate the heat anymore. *sigh* I am soooo looking forward to about the next 6 months of pleasant weather and long days. Oh yes!<br />
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Haven't been on my horse since that one time over a month ago now. The dogs and I have been on a few walks in the park and around our fields at home. The hubby finally got our <strike>hayfield</strike> lawn mowed this week. Seriously, over a foot tall and oh, so lush in many spots. We have blisters to prove we did much raking. There just hasn't been any time lately. After my hub's shop closed for good, and the auction was held to sell off all the equipment; he was hired by a couple of other business owners to deliver and install some of that machinery. So, he's been working more than usual lately. Don't you just love it when God provides? :) It still feels like a precarious position to be in, but we're choosing not to worry and instead live in faith. Like my grandma used to say, "worryin' gives ya somethin' to do, but it gets ya nowhere". Truth. And I don't want to worry. I want to trust that we will be alright, just as we always have. One day at a time...<br />
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I did get that furniture rearranging project all finished. We are loving the new digs! It feels so much more spacious and open. Now if I only had a cushy new sectional to put into that new space we've got. Ahh, but for now the old leather couches will have to do. No worries that the dogs will do any harm, so there's that. <br />
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I've done a little flower planting in my front yard bed and it's looking so nice. I have plans for a corner of the yard that we've got nothing but grass growing. Grass is such a waste of space in my opinion. A little goes a long way. I prefer specific areas of interest much more. Little cozy spots to visit or a nook in the garden to place a couple of chairs and while away a nice afternoon. And flowers! I'd really like so many more flowers and shrubs for not only beauty, but scent. But those darned chickens! We are going to come to blows if they don't keep out of my flowers! :)<br />
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Our main challenge this year of gardening and home improvement will be the budget. We're going to have to really rein in the spending, search high and low for bargains (craigslist or garage sales perhaps) and prioritize those projects. Our two shelters for the horses each have a serious problem. One is completely falling apart. Kind of an issue, right? We need to tear it apart and hopefully, utilizing some of the lumber, rebuild it. <br />
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And the other one has rusted, broken wires poking up through the dirt floor from many years ago having been used as a dog kennel. They installed small square wire to prevent the dogs from digging out, and that wire has now rusted and is breaking. I can't trust that a horse won't suffer a puncture wound from that. So...we need to dig the floor out completely and add something like pea gravel or gravel covered with sand. We've had the entrance walled off for over a year now. <br />
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You see what I mean? There's always so many more projects than either expendable income or energy to go around. I get tired just thinking about it all. But...all we can do, is what we can do. And take it all, one day at a time. Otherwise, I'll make myself crazy. Since it's up to just the hubs and me, we may not accomplish half of what I've got on my mental list. We'll just have to see.<br />
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I attended our church's women's retreat the first week of April. I enjoyed it so much! It was just what the doctor ordered after a seemingly long winter of cold and day to day drudgery. The beach is my happy place for sure. Just smelling the ocean air, and feeling that refreshing breeze, and watching the mighty surf and hearing that rush of the waves is simply like heaven to me! I breathe easier and can just feel my entire body letting down. We rented a big, beautiful house and ate incredibly delicious food, enjoyed a wonderful speaker and enjoyed the best of fellowship. I love my church lady friends! It feels so good to be a part of what feels like extended family. It was just about perfect, I tell ya! I'm ready for another. :)<br />
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On a completely different note; yesterday I slam-dunked myself into the concrete in front of the clinic. To be totally honest, <i>Charlotte</i> (said with a sneer) caused me to body slam the concrete! It was lunchtime, I was helping the UPS guy carry in some boxes. They were lightweight, but I couldn't see, and in my normal, hurried fashion, turned around and headed purposefully towards the open door...BAM!! Charlotte crossed my path, I totally didn't see her and down I went. Oh my gosh, I hit so hard! It literally jarred my teeth and maybe my eyeballs just a little. The right knee suffered the most impact and I have a largish red, skinned spot through my jeans, a couple of scuffs and small bruises on my hands, but otherwise I'm as good as gold today. I put a little of my trusty Vitamin E oil on the skinned spot, and wallah! Right as rain! I'm apparently, a pretty tough old bird. :) So thankful because oh my, it could have been so much worse. And wouldn't I be cranky if I'd really lamed myself up at the beginning of the busy season! Banish the thought!<br />
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So, there's that silver lining again. Always look on the bright side and every once in a while - remind yourself to <i>slow down...</i><br />
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My dear, sweet momma used to tell me that all. the. time. *sigh*<br />
I miss her so very much. Mother's Day is next weekend. Call your mom! Send her a card or some flowers, or just go spend some time with her. She won't be here forever, and when she's gone, oh dear, you will miss her so much. Tell her that you love her and are SO thankful for her!<br />
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I love you momma. Happy Mother's Day!<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/R1UfDysJZmQ">https://youtu.be/R1UfDysJZmQ</a><br />
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Love this song! Click on the link and it will lead you to the video...this is the only way I know how to share.<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-8963059904020918212019-03-20T12:16:00.002-07:002019-03-20T12:16:54.210-07:00Spring and a birthday<br />
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Yeah, can you believe it? Winter is finished. And what a gentle and short-lived winter it was. We had enough variety and not overly wet or cold that I wasn't bothered at all by the usually dreariest season of all. The one that in years past has put me into a state of mild to moderate depression at times. Nope, didn't happen to me this year. I tried to focus my thoughts on appreciating the good about winter instead of wishing it were something or somehow different than it was. I even appreciated the quieter, slower pace of life spent indoors pursuing a more leisurely way of life. Whether that was what made it more tolerable, even enjoyable to me this year over the past will likely remain a mystery to me, but alas, perspective seems to be at the heart of so many things in life.<br />
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It's Ladde's birthday today. *sigh* How can it be that, that long-awaited, gangly colt could possibly be 23 years old today? A big, strong, handsome horse he became and an answer to our prayers. He is a source of so many blessings over these past years. I just can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that it's been so long since that early morning I found him atop that pile of rocks with Kadie standing guard over him. My beautiful girl became a momma and I had a project that would prove to be one of the most fulfilling of my life so far. He has taught me so much! And I will for all my days, be thankful for him in our lives. Happy birthday big, beautiful boy!!<br />
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I really wanted to do better about posting on my blog, but that hasn't been happening. Two and a half months have passed since I last wrote my thoughts down here. I find writing to be therapeutic and above all, a journal of sorts, for me to look back upon as years go by. It's a place to share what's going on in our lives, what we've been doing, or thinking about, projects we either want to pursue or have accomplished. It's a valuable tool for remembering when my memory fails me. <br />
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Writing is a source of sharing with the world how I feel, what my hopes and dreams are, a way of reaching out in hope that someone reading my words, might in some, small way, understand and feel a sense of camaraderie with another in a very different or faraway place. A simple pleasure or an important life experience made better by the sharing and mutual connection with others. I do believe that we're all more connected than we realize. <br />
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Sometimes this world can feel like a very lonely place. Everyone seems to be so busy, caught up in their own lives and there's never enough time for making real connections with people. I have deeply appreciated the people I've come to know through this blog, having felt a sincere kinship with others whom I would likely never have crossed paths with. Kindred spirits and heartfelt friendships that have softened the blows of hardship and made richer the blessings. I'm grateful for you all, for your comments and for your own thoughts that I've read on your blogs over the years. I spend a lot of time by myself, inside my own head and it does me a lot of good to share and hopefully be understood. I think that's important to all people, don't you? To be understood? <br />
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I think I'm starting to sound a bit melancholy, and maybe I am a bit. My husband received news that the part time job he's had since retiring will be ending soon. If we're fortunate, the paychecks will continue through the end of April. After that, I'm at a loss for how we'll continue to live and support our animals as we have been. I'm trying to be proactive, instead of reactive and be brutally honest about our finances and how we proceed from here. I can't lie, it's going to be almost impossible without some serious cuts. We've weathered many a storm over the years and have been blessed in times of trouble, so I try to remain faithful in this as well, remembering how we've been led in the past. Our lifestyle seems like a simple one, but in the months to come, I have a feeling I just might get a very good education in how much more simple it can, and will become. :) If you're of the praying type, we would really appreciate it if we could be remembered in your prayers. <br />
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On the upside, I'm a fairly optimistic sort with a stubborn streak a mile wide. I believe in the power of faith and in hard work. When I look back over the years and the trials we've come through, I'm a little amazed at what we've been able to accomplish. I know we didn't do this alone, and believe God will be at our sides, come what way. Our little home and our family of critters mean the world to us, and we'll do our very best (and most creative) to keep going and persevere. Sometimes, just the telling of the tale and sharing of the situation lightens the heart and helps build confidence, don't you agree? <br />
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If you've been following along over the years, you'll remember that I haven't ridden much at all the last couple of years. The reasons vary, but for the first time in almost a year, I rode my horse the other day. I got a wild hair, the sun was shining and it was a glorious day. I went out and spent a couple of hours with Eagle. He really seemed to enjoy the attention and was all warm and buttery soft after the grooming session, so I saddled him up and spent a little time working him freelance in the round pen. He did really well, a little rusty, but a fine job overall. I sat down for a little break in the sun and allowed Eagle his "time to soak" and ponder his feelings about what had just happened. He watched me with those soft, doe-like eyes of his; and before long, he moseyed on over to where I was sitting and very delicately rubbed his muzzle in my hair, on my shoulder and down my arm...as you can imagine, I was overcome with emotion that this gorgeous, magnificent beast would so willingly choose to be with me. *sigh* There just isn't anything like the affections of a horse to fill the heart and soul with such satisfaction and pure joy. I am so blessed to share my life with him! <br />
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Without any hesitation, I mounted up and rode for only about 15-20 minutes, but it was enough to reinforce my desire to ride again, and again, and continue to strive for confidence and relaxation atop this wonderful horse. I don't know if I will ever feel truly comfortable on him all the time. He is such a powerful animal and can intimidate me so very easily. I cannot explain it, or understand why, but that's the truth of it. I am however, eternally thankful to share my life with him, and learn from him, and build upon that relationship that grows deeper with each passing day. I wouldn't trade that for all the money in the world! <br />
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Happy Spring dear friends! May your days be filled with warm sunshine and gentle breezes enough to carry your troubles away...<br />
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until we meet again,<br />
Lorie @ Cingspots<br />
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C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-2264014381419132672019-01-18T11:59:00.004-08:002019-01-18T11:59:39.588-08:00Hazy days and lazy nights<br />
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Winter is rolling right along, and very polite so far this year. I like that. So many times in my life winter has got the best of me. I felt irritable, cooped up and just <i>hated </i>the rain and long nights - not to mention the mud. But this year has been easy, even feels <i>restorative. </i>Now there's a surprise. <br />
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I'm loving the variety of the briskly cold and dry (we've had many days of weather perfection), along with the occasional fog-engulfed or torrential downpours of the rain. It keeps us thoroughly entertained and just enough reasons to spend time indoors, getting cozy and domestic, just enjoying a slower pace. Maybe I've finally reached an age where I appreciate a valid reason to slow down and not have to be going at high speed all. the. time. Can anyone relate? If not always physically on the go, you spend time in your head feeling guilty that you're not being productive? I think I got that from my mom. She was a gung-ho kinda gal. I do like a feeling of accomplishment though. You know, a job well done and all that? <br />
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I've got plans to switch my furniture all around and just have everything feel different inside for a change. When I do that, hopefully it will give me even more incentive to clean out and donate. I'm still working on that. Haven't done badly, but there always seems to be more. In the nooks and crannies, in the closets, we (mostly me) still have way more clothing than <strike>we </strike> I need to hold onto. It's a process. Living with less seems freeing though, like taking a deep, cleansing breath of fresh air. More space - less clutter is my goal. If I don't use it routinely or wear it often, out it goes. Or part with the pieces I've worn to death and are ratty beyond repair...I've got a few of those too. <br />
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I'd really like to hire somebody to re-do the bathroom. I suppose we could do it, but it's not something I dream about either. Priorities are important too. We don't have much free time, so it's vital to make the most of it. Realize what's more important in life and forge on! :)<br />
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The horses are all doing well. Gettin' lazy and fat. Fuzzy too, and oh, did I forget muddy? Well, that too. But healthy and happy ponies they are. We're so blessed that our horses are aging pretty well.<br />
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Ladde has his cushings, and I can see changes from that, but his weight is pretty good, feet are in great shape and there's never anything amiss with his appetite. He and Missy's marriage is as most are - good days and bad days, but he's the boy, so there's that. Just sayin' He'll be 23 this year and he's not a kid anymore, but considering everything, he's doing great.<br />
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Shad is old and he's definitely starting to look like a bony, old man, but he's still playful sometimes and has a twinkle in his eye. He's always been a bottomless pit and could eat everything without gaining an ounce. You know, the metabolism we all wish we had? Yeah. <br />
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Missy's plump and sassy, but still lives with her navicular everyday. It sometimes pains me to watch her gimp around after a pasture-burning race with Eagle, but she manages just fine. And usually brings things upon herself. She's one tough little cookie. A sweeter mare to be around you'd be hard-pressed to find. I really love her. I've always loved mares though. They're opinionated, brave, loving, intelligent and disagreeable all at the same time. You gotta love that! :) <br />
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Harley is blind. He does absolutely great if not rattled in a tight space by some particular little female whom shall remain nameless...you can't help but admire his fortitude though. I've never met a human who could roll so well, with such a devastating blow. No self-pity, not one drop! <br />
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And Eagle is fine. Very pleased with his station in life. It's written all over his entire demeanor. Thank God he's so kind and fair. Fairness is HUGE with him. Maybe it's a Mustang thing. I love them all. They make our lives so much richer and give us a reason to get out in the fresh air and get some exercise where otherwise we'd be lazy and getting even fatter. <br />
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It's looking like we're going to need more hay. Ugh! I decided to cut back because we had some 1-2 year old stuff that we never got to, but a couple tons are likely going to be needed by the end of February I'd guess. Not bad, but a pain. First time in many years I've under-purchased on the hay supply. Firewood's doing great though. With the fairly mild temperatures, keeping the house warm is pretty easy. <br />
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Nothing of any real importance to share, but I've been so lax with writing in my blog that's it's troubling to me. I really enjoy being able to look back over events and remember everything that I might otherwise forget. My journaling is important and I want to do better with that. <br />
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Well that's about it for now! We are eternally grateful for what we have. We're blessed with more than we need and truly want for nothing we don't have. Who could ask for anything more? We're both healthy and doing fine, animals are good, our home is warm and dry, and thanks to a recent trip to Costco, the pantry and freezer's in good shape. We're ready for that long, cold season of no holidays and keeping our noses warm and to the indoor grindstone until another season rolls around. Winter is a blessing too. Especially now being older and truly learning to appreciate a kinder, gentler approach to life. I've got several books I'm anxious to read, recipes to give a "go" and that rearranging project I mentioned earlier awaiting my attention. And oh my goodness, Outlander! Have you been watching??? I just love that show! It took a little bit of a downturn for a while, and I was thinking all it was going to be was one tragedy after another, but this new season is proving to be wonderful, and oh so interesting! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching from the beginning or reading the books. Both are incredible and worthy of a winter afternoon or a few...<br />
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Winter on everyone! May you be warm and blessed.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lorie<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-69900731828496505962018-12-26T14:02:00.001-08:002018-12-26T14:08:38.557-08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another Christmas in the books. And another year coming to a close...seemingly faster than all the ones before. We stayed close to home this year, spent Christmas Eve at my sister's house and with family. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, watched the children open their presents and played a quick gift exchange game. Shortly thereafter everyone dissipated and headed for their own homes. Holidays are a fairly quick affair with my family these days. There are fewer of us, some gone and some choosing to spend the time with friends or their own families. I truly prefer it this way, as the older I become, the more differences I see and feel between us. Gone are the lighthearted days of our youth and the close-knit family that lives on in my memories. </div>
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We went to church on Sabbath and enjoyed a quiet, but beautifully spiritual celebration reflecting the reason for this holiday. Lovely old hymns were sung and we felt truly blessed for our church family and friends. We went home feeling peaceful and spent the remainder of the day listening to Christmas music and baking cookies. My husband and I both had a 4-day weekend off from work duties and it was enjoyed immensely. Since returning from our cruise, I've been nursing a cold and quiet time spent at home near the hearth was just what the doctor ordered. We spent some extra time in the barn with the horses. After cleaning the stalls and giving them fresh bedding and clean waters, we passed out Christmas goodies in the form of apples and carrots along with their rations of sweet hay and a little grain. I attempted to brush a few of the horses and rid them of some accumulated mud, but my energy levels deplete very quickly these days. The horses were quite satisfied with the attentions though, and seemed to appreciate every moment of personal time they received. This morning I noticed that all that mud has been re-deposited on their coats. *sigh* We've been experiencing grey, rainy days since our return, but our temps are fairly warm so we have that to be thankful for. Christmas eve day and Christmas day we had dry, beautifully warm sunshine. :)</div>
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I took these festive shots of our little downtown area. The town has new decorations and a lovely Christmas tree in the square, but there were so many people out and about that it made picture taking quite a chore. So, I was satisfied with these few and thought you might enjoy them. </div>
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Below are the chicken girls enjoying some over-baked Christmas cookies and the sunshine in the back yard. Seeing Penny's fluffy bottom always makes me smile. She seems to bring a sense of calm and camaraderie to our little flock. We enjoy watching them and the feeling of quietness that they bring to us. I am so glad we have them! </div>
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Who knew chickens could be so very entertaining!<br />
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We've been home from our cruise just over a week now. We had a very nice time and really enjoyed the getaway from our farm chores and care taking duties especially. To have absolutely no daily responsibilities is to live like kings and queens! Definitely not what we're accustomed to. The sunshine and warm tropical breezes were also a delight. I enjoyed swimming in the Caribbean ocean, a lot! It's so warm, you can just wade in and go for a swim. Not at all like our Pacific Ocean, which will always take your breath away. In all my days, except for wading on occasion, I don't recall ever actually swimming in the Pacific ocean...well, except for those days spent in Hawaii. The Caribbean is a quiet, gentle and warmly inviting ocean by comparison. And the color! The incredible blues, teals and greens are something to behold! That wonderful ocean and the quiet times spent out on deck on the ship are my most favorite memories. To quietly gaze out over that lovely ocean with the sun setting in the distance is just magical. Peaceful, calming and restorative all at once. And I was up early enough to enjoy a few sunrises as well. *sigh* I loved every minute of that special, quiet time. I did take a few pictures, but haven't uploaded them yet from my camera. When I do, I'll share them with you.<br />
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We did disembark at every port as well. On the day we visited Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Honduras the seas were a bit rough, the wind was up and there were several tropical downpours. No worries for us Oregonians. We had windbreakers which were water repellent, and just went out in it and got wet. It was so warm that the rain actually felt refreshing. We loved it! So many people either stayed on board the ship, or the other ships in port that day chose to not let their people off. I guess maybe they thought the sea was a bit rough for the tender boats? Not sure, but the ocean swells did not phase us at all. The short tender boat ride was a bit bouncy, but nothing we haven't experienced before here at home. We loved every minute of it!<br />
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Suffice it to say that we had a lovely cruise...the food was mostly delicious, the dining experiences were amazing, we met some wonderful people and enjoyed scintillating conversations, we enjoyed getting dressed up, enjoyed the ports, the beautiful ship, the ocean...the fantastic barbecued lobster tails we had on a tiny, little island off Belize and so much more. I'd love to do it again someday. But it felt so good to come home. Home to our dogs, our horses and our cozy, little home. There truly is no place like home.<br />
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I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, and I wish for you a healthy and happy new year, filled with wonder and adventure. You're never too old to experience life's adventures. Go out there and find yours!<br />
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Until next time, go find your joy...<br />
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Lorie and the gang at C-ing Spots.<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-72465593083920567902018-11-12T14:41:00.000-08:002018-11-12T14:41:34.576-08:00The art of randomnessI know I talk about the weather a lot here. I talk about the weather outside of this blog too. But, can I just say? Again. How absolutely beautiful our weather <i>this year</i> has been? Our summer was hot. Very hot actually; but hey, that's summer right? It's supposed to be hot. But last spring was perfect and our fall is perfect. We're still sleeping with our bedroom window open and we've had just a few fires in the wood stove to take the chill off the house. We've had a few frosts here and there, and the days have been spectacular! Simply fabulous in fact! Sweater and jeans days and a light jacket in the mornings only. *sigh*<br />
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We don't even have mud in the pasture yet! O. M. gosh...that's one for the record books.<br />
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I feel slightly guilty about exclaiming the virtues of our amazing weather when down south of us, so many people and animals have been displaced from their homes. Again. All I can do is keep those in distress in my prayers. And I have been doing that. Prayers for <i>all</i> in peril. It's utterly devastating and unimaginable to me how an entire town of roughly 27,000 people can completely disappear. But that's exactly what's happened in Paradise, California. So tragic! My sister's husband's sister and family live in Paradise - or did live in Paradise. Everything is gone. I've seen one picture of a house surrounded by devastation completely untouched. That particular house is owned by a relative of a lady who attends our church. Wrap your head around that if you can. If you have any doubt that God protects, I hope that convinces you. I pray that He sends rain to put those fires out. Soon.<br />
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It's 25 days and counting until we fly out to Miami for our cruise. It's gettin' real folks! I am so excited! The bags are packed, arrangements have been made for the care taking of our beloved animals; horses, dogs, cat and chickens. We've educated ourselves about the fine art of cruising, determined what is free and what is not free when onboard ship, decided on which excursions we'll be participating in, and which beaches we'll be lounging on...snorkeling the Mesoamerican reef and soaking up the rays. And yes, I do realize the sun is quite intense that far south, so we've plenty of sunblock and bronzer in tow. Cause I can only imagine how pasty white I'll be by December. Suntans just don't last long enough, do they? Oh, and lest I forget, where and for what we'll be shopping for! New flip flops are in my future! And since I lost the main diamond in my wedding ring over a year ago, I will be perusing the jewelry stores for a possible replacement. If they're more expensive than I am willing to spend, then I certainly am not resistant to another gem stone. My ring is gold, so no Turquoise. :( But there are so many other pretty colors to choose from!<br />
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And, since we're so close to Christmas I can use that as the perfect excuse to shop a little more. Hoping to find some unique and fun little items for family and friends. Okay, enough. But you get the gist - estoy emocionado, pero solo un poquito! :) Well of course I've been practicing my Spanish! It's been years since I've been anywhere to have the excuse to speak it. And I am soooo rusty! That old saying? If you don't use it, you lose it. So true.<br />
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We're getting so very close to my most favorite holiday of the year. Thanksgiving! I love that it's a day devoted entirely to being thankful for all that we've been blessed with. A time to express that gratitude to God for His infinite blessings and comfort. A time to sit down with family or friends and enjoy delicious food, have good conversations and laugh. Oh how good it is to laugh with people you love! There's no rush with Thanksgiving. It certainly hasn't been overly exploited by the retail industry to the point of obscenity, like Christmas has. It's all about the gathering, the enjoyment of simple pleasures and the people we love. The perfect day to tell those people in our lives, just how important they are to us, and how very thankful we are for the presence of them in our lives. *sigh* Thanksgiving is the ultimate feel good holiday!<br />
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Speaking of Christmas, I've been watching a fair amount of YouTube videos lately (where did you think I got my education on the fine art of cruising?) and happened upon a young French lady named Justine and oh my goodness, I just love her! She's inspirational, entertaining, educational (she's in the fashion design business), real, humble and oh, so French. I watched a video she did last Christmas on how her family celebrates Christmas in France. I actually cried tears of emotion and joy because those are the kinds of Christmases that I reminisce so fondly of, from my childhood. It's so vastly different than today; at least in my life it is. Christmas isn't spewed at you from all angles like it is here. It hasn't been transformed into a giant money-making excuse of a holiday and thrust upon the world in all its' gaudy glory in every retail establishment in October like it is here. It's quiet and respectful, traditional and spiritual. There's lots of beautiful, seasonal music with Christian inspiration and family traditions revolving around food, drink, music, beautiful decorations and yes, some gifts. I'm not anti-gift at Christmas. I just don't like what I refer to as the pre-Halloween "christmas crap" that I see displayed at big box stores and parents over-indulging already spoiled children with so much cheap junk. Gifts should be thoughtful and conservative. That's how I would want to raise my children anyway, not about expecting to get, but in the giving; in the choosing of the perfect gift for that someone special - and the heartfelt joy of the "giving". Maybe I need to at some point in my life, visit Europe at Christmas. A quiet, snowed-in holiday in the Swiss Alps or a little chateau in the south of France perhaps? Oh my...just dream a little dream with me, won't you?<br />
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Just in case I don't find the time to post before the holiday, I wish for you and your families a very, special old-time Thanksgiving. I hope you spend the day with those you love the most. May you enjoy good food, good conversations and lots of tear-inducing laughter.<br />
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May you be thankful for it all; and may you give thanks to the One responsible for all your blessings in this life.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
Lorie and all of us at C-ing Spots<br />
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Hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo...be well!<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-48554223010369592632018-10-23T12:08:00.001-07:002018-10-23T12:08:44.769-07:00Glorious Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've been experiencing what is in my humble opinion, perfectly glorious fall weather! It simply couldn't be much nicer. Brisk, grab a sweater mornings and evenings. Warm, peel off those sweater days and star studded night skies. Anyone for a camp fire? These are the perfect times for gathering and enjoying heartwarming friendships and hand-warming cups of coffee by the fireside. And soup. <br />
Can't you just smell the soup simmering away on the stove top? Oh my, yes! <br />
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Since we've experienced very little rainfall yet, our Autumn colors are something to behold. These pictures were from September on a walkabout with the dogs, and our scenes were much more end of summer like, as you can see from the brown, harvested clover field below. Perfect walking weather though. And our skies full of clouds is always a welcomed site.<br />
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The filberts (hazlenuts) have been harvested for another year. And yes, I did gather my coffee can of nuts for personal use. If you enjoy eating filberts, I highly recommend trying them in their raw, un-roasted form. That's the way I grew up eating them and is my favorite! Roasted they seem to take on a burnt flavor for me, and the actual nut flavor is better untouched and moist from freshness. Try it!<br />
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Since the nuts are gone, and before the rain begins, we can now freely enjoy riding the perimeter of the fields. Not that I've done that, but I'm still hoping to find the time. No, that particular situation hasn't changed. I've ridden very little this year and it saddens me. I just need to get my priorities straight and stop trying to accomplish so much in my limited free time. The trouble is, things don't get done if we don't persist. But...like I said, priorities. Life is short. <br />
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Charlotte has started not wanting to look at me when I have camera in hand. *sigh* I always remember Annie and how she'd pose for the camera. Strike a perfectly beautiful pose and wait patiently for me to snap away. :) My heart still breaks over her loss...if only do-overs were really possible. I know what I'd wish for. But as the song goes, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.<br />
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See those amazing clouds? Aren't they just lovely? Makes my heart sing with pleasure when we have such a view!<br />
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In such a short time, our fields have become so green. The moisture from the dew in the mornings is all it takes to make Oregon green again. These pictures show the end of summer, the ripeness of the earth after the harvest and what always seems like a season ready for a little rest and relaxation. I can relate. Our summer was so hot that it was difficult to want to do anything, so we're playing catch-up while we can to ready for wetter, colder days to come. There's never a shortage of projects, no rest for the wicked as my dad used to say. <br />
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This shot is so dark, but shows our little homestead below, the ramshackle horse shelter and our barn. The outbuildings are showing their age, but we're always so very thankful to have them. They give shelter to the animals and give us peace of mind knowing the animals are safely tucked inside on cold winters' nights.<br />
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As is usually the case, we've been storing firewood, cleaning and tidying the yard, clearing and putting to rest the garden and storing bedding for the horse's stalls. Hubby is burning our rather large debris pile today and we've made a dump run, which always feels good to me. Stored the camper and horse trailer for winter and have the barn full of hay. <br />
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We have a new chicken! Her name is Penny and she was given to me by Patsy, a friend and long-time client of ours at the clinic. Apparently her friend met a rather unfortunate demise and Patsy didn't want Penny to be alone. So...Merryleggs and Pecker have a newfound friend. Amazingly enough, despite being absolutely docile in nature and so very sweet (unlike our roadrunner-like chickens), Penny rules the roost. In a maternally, Aunt Bea-like way. She's never in a hurry to do anything or get anywhere, she is the quintessential barnyard hen, clucking softly and puttering here and there and everywhere. She is a Buff Orpington which originated in England and I just LOVE her! She has this beautiful, puffy bottom and is just adorable. She doesn't necessarily enjoy being caught, but once in my arms becomes relaxed and sweet, readily accepting pets. My kinda chicken.<br />
She's given us one egg, but I don't care if she ever lays another. She's home for good. <br />
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This is not our Penny, but this is exactly how she looks. <br />
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We're all doing very well and have nothing to really complain about. :) Always a good thing. The horses are growing fuzzy and fat, and life is good. Our wonderful neighbor used his tractor and manure spreader to completely dispense of our h u g e poop pile! Just amazing what equipment can do! My hubby will never, ever let me hear the end of it. *sigh* I understand, truly I do, but money just doesn't grow on trees...and tractors are expensive!<br />
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Speaking of money and the lack of it. We are taking a Caribbean cruise! We're so excited and now that every little detail has been arranged, or so we hope, we're trying to forget about it until we leave in December. In the nearly 36 years that I've known my guy, he has always wanted to go on a cruise. Well, his last birthday in September he turned 69. There's no time like the present, whether we can afford it or not. Honestly, I don't think we can afford not to. Life is quirky at best. We've got a little money in savings and we'll put some on our credit card. I simply don't care - we're going - God willing. :) I'm already packed. Yes, unbelievable isn't it? <br />
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That's how excited we are! <br />
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I truly hope that all of you are doing well, keeping yourselves busy and spreading kindness wherever you may go. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I'm sure we all have many reasons for which to give thanks. So go forth, be blessed and spread the love whenever you can!<br />
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Me and everybody else, here at Cingspots wish you peace...<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-51212085537741943282018-08-22T11:14:00.002-07:002018-08-22T11:14:30.060-07:00Hey guys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Will wonders never cease? </div>
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You'll get it when you read this post...</div>
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And so, without further adeau - a few snaps from our spring and summer, in no particular order. </div>
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p.s. I am all <i>that</i> and a slice of cheese!! *fist pump*</div>
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I know. It's been like forever - 4 months since I've posted. That might be the longest dry stretch I've ever gone. <br />
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Can I just complain a little? It's so dry here. And hot and smokey and dirty. This is the summer that I wish would just. go. away. already... can't believe I'm saying that. A respite from the heat, and a little rain would feel <i> really really </i>good right now. Remember that glorious spring I mentioned having? It was the precursor to the summer of staying inside. We have fires everywhere, all over the Pacific Northwest, from Canada down through Wash, Oreg and throughout Cali. So heart wrenching to watch so many beautiful forests burn. Not to mention the extreme hardships of the people fighting those fires. There's been loss of lives, both people and wildlife, homes lost and much pain and suffering. I can't even imagine how they do it, but they do. And this is the place I start feeling guilty for even complaining. *sigh* <br />
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The weather is certainly becoming more extreme; all over. Different stuff going on, but a commonality of extreme weather in all corners of the world. Interesting huh? Sad, but interesting. Weather can bring us all to our knees.<br />
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So, moving on ! We took our camper and drove to the beach Friday evening after work, on a total whim. SO glad we did! The weather was beautiful, maybe 70 with a stiff and cooling breeze that felt absolutely exhilarating after our air at home being so oppressive. We did a whole bunch of relaxing - walking on the beach with the dogs, feeling the surf rush over our toes, eating clam chowder and pizza, and naps. Did I mention naps? And good food? The dogs had a blast! They must have thought they'd died and gone to heaven. Nothing quite like a good romp on the beach. And Charlotte makes a perfect locomotive for climbing those sandy dunes. Dang that dog's gotten strong! Amazes me how strong she is. Very helpful. Sometimes...<br />
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I still haven't been riding. Talk about a dry spell! This one makes me sad. It seems like the longer I go without much more than the "necessities of care" with my horse, the less I miss it. I truly hate that! It makes me sad because my greatest joy in life comes from riding my horse and experiencing that bond, that trust and all those adventures. Remember that new saddle? Yeah, haven't even rode it yet. Eagle and I are both soft. Too darn soft. And yes, my boy's as gorgeous as ever! A little fat, but a stud muffin nonetheless. Just sayin' <br />
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We have 2 1/2 cords of firewood in a big ole pile outside the woodshed just waiting patiently to be stacked inside for the winter. We're picking up alfalfa for the old man Shad, this week. He needs those extra calories. Between his teeth and being a Thoroughbred, he's starting to look a little rough. Too thin for my preference, and he's gettin' pretty grey in the face these days. He's still spunky though, always has been and always will be, our most play-loving horse. It's always right there, just below the surface. :) I've always loved two things about Shad (I could name a few more than that about his annoying habits), his dare-deviling playful tendencies; and his kind, kind heart. That horse is just the kindest horse I've ever known. He loves little kids, and is the absolute "best in the world" babysitter for young horses that there could ever be and watches over and takes care of Harley like nobody's business. Eagle does too, but not like Shad does. When we lost Kadie I worried about what Harley would do. But it was a worry not worthy of my time because Shad just stepped right in where Kadie left off. Amazing thing, really. People who don't think there's love in a herd of horses, just don't have a clue. <br />
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Our big project of this summer has been our new tack room that my hubby and his brother built in our barn. It's so awesome!!! We've lived in our home for almost 24 years and we've never had a proper tack room. Well, now we do. I have lots of pictures that I'd love to share with you all. But you know me, technologically challenged. It's either me or this computer, but I just can't figure it out. It used to be such a simple process which leads me to believe that this computer has a problem. If it's me, maybe my husband can walk me through it one of these days. *sigh* So irritating! Blogs without pictures? Boring...<br />
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So anyway, we turned the first stall into the tack room. We have a corner wall cabinet for supplies and a between the rafters, medicine chest. My talented husband welded old horse shoes into the coolest wall hooks! He also took an old piece of ocean-weathered 2 x 6 and mounted it on more horse shoe brackets and put it on the wall. Perfect spot for our radio and the flashlight. We have 3 saddle racks, bridles that hang on the back wall with wood "rounds" that my hubby also made and a rocking chair and a small table. We even have the perfect spot for an electric fireplace for a warm-up spot come winter. I just need to find room for one more chair. The guys even poured a concrete floor so everything will be high and dry and mouse free. We insulated the walls to help keep out any dampness and will use one of those air-dryer desiccant holding containers so there'll be no more mold. That's why we have never been able to leave anything made of leather outside of our house throughout late fall, winter and most of spring. What a pain it is hauling everything horse-related inside our house, not to mention finding space. But we did it. But no more. :) Color me a happy gal! It's gonna be awesome.<br />
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Next up...a front porch. I know, I know. I'm never satisfied am I? You do know that it rains lots in Oregon don't you? <br />
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Seriously though...we've been eating lots and lots of fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, peaches, cucumbers, zucchini and tomatoes. Whew! Next up, pears and apples. They are absolutely delicious and I hope you're eating of summer's bountiful harvest of blessings too! We served up the very last of our neighbor's homegrown beef burger with a BBQ last week. How sad. We still have steaks and roasts, but our favorite has always been the ground beef. So much variety to be had. <br />
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Oh, and I attended the 40th reunion of our high school graduating class of '78...so much fun! Just wow. 40 years, seriously? Was really good to see some people I hadn't seen in all those years, and was especially good to see and spend some time with my best friend forever, Debra. Since the 3rd grade and it was truly like it could have been yesterday. Totally made me cry with emotion. *sigh* Love that girl-woman. And some that I've known since the first grade. Yes, really. Was just awesome. Time spent well is the greatest gift. Truly. The key is finding out how you want to spend your time. <br />
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Take care and enjoy the final month of summer. May it be cooler...or drier, or warmer, or quieter - whatever your wishes are for your neck of the woods. <br />
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Lorie and everyone at<br />
Cingspots<br />
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I did it! And it was SO easy. Really! :) From my phone...who knew?<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-62078903024106944302018-04-19T17:27:00.001-07:002018-04-19T17:31:17.160-07:00Welcome spring!Amidst all the rain we've been having this month, we have days like this...<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: sky, cloud, tree, plant, outdoor and nature" height="480" src="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/30727288_10104489742871283_8087050567962066944_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeEf5gCRSXAJk_8X9n6YoI-mbqucpJ7_uM5U7nHUIqIrlpnLU71C2s7UU-HLhNx_fp8ZLC8hc9cfe9kGFUGcEzAKFdFUbl9BSVCKafXsJMf07A&oh=cc6f10b5bf8a14cfe07955b900ce2536&oe=5B6EC5B1" width="640" /><br />
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And I have to admit that I'd be happy to have this weather about 6 months of the year. I enjoy all the seasons, for each one has its' beauty and its' unique joys...but this is just about perfect for me.<br />
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I got my new saddle. It's well used and has been lovingly cared for, obviously. I've only sat in it on the saddle stand, and still haven't tried it on Eagle. I think it will fit him just fine, it's wide in the gullet and is cut back in the flank area. It's a slick fork and has a Wade tree, which puts me in a completely different position for riding. I'm sure I'll enjoy that. It's going to take a while to adjust to the slick forks, for there's just nothing but the horn in the front, and the cantle is much higher, which will feel different going down hills. We'll see...<br />
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Sorry I've been absent for so long. Life has been about as busy as is usual, but I haven't felt the desire to sit and write about it. Life ebbs and flows and I just go with the flow.<br />
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I was fortunate to be able to attend a women's retreat at the beach last weekend. I had a 4-day weekend, which is rare for me. It was awesome! Wonderful ladies and fellowship, an engaging speaker, good food and amazingly stormy seas to admire. Lots of rain and wind, but I enjoyed a couple of leisurely walks along the ocean side and was completely drenched on the last one. It was absolutely fantastic! I think everyone thought I was crazy to be out walking in the rain, but it wasn't cold and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I got back, I had a nice soak in the hot tub and then sat in the sauna, and finished with a nice, warm shower. I haven't felt that relaxed in a good, long while as I enjoyed a hot cup of Chai tea in a cozy spot looking out over the ocean from the comfort of my room. *sigh*<br />
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My sweet hubby stayed home and made sure the horses and the dogs were well cared for in my absence. I couldn't have gone without him, and I certainly want to pay back his generosity. There are several vintage sailing ships in Newport this weekend, including the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean and the ship used in the Goonies movie. There are a couple others, but I forget the details. I'm sure my husband would enjoy that, and they offer both tours and adventure sails which are reasonably priced. That and a nice dinner out might be just the ticket!<br />
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I know that in many places around the country winter seems to be hanging on with its' icy grip. Around here it's been cooler than usual and very wet, but spring is in full bloom. Flowers are everywhere, the grass is startlingly green and growing fast, and the horses are shedding like crazy! Riding season has arrived, and I'm anxious to get back into it before the temps heat up too much for my comfort. Like I mentioned before, if the weather stays like this for a good, long while, I'll be a happy gal. Just a wee bit less of the water falling from the sky and it would be <i>perfect</i>!<br />
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Blessings and sunshine heading your way...<br />
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Lorie @ Cingspots<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: sky, flower, plant, cloud, grass, nature and outdoor" height="480" src="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/29662608_10104459137629433_8061610508276523957_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeGwJXu9s2OwTEqiYvP_tAGhH59JXtCnR1SlVtkf4wnlj-79UpdNPhzRiYF7xyrTZKzcQudcX66yGEx7gEMH8ZgLPO5tEPJGLjxTxfOEBPi-QQ&oh=b6f9ef80dca71b4f23365281ca9de721&oe=5B5917B3" width="640" /><br />
<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-9480823733053583992018-03-07T11:44:00.002-08:002018-03-07T11:44:31.387-08:00Seeing the tail end of winter...and am I ever glad to see it. I'm looking forward to warmer weather, longer days and spending more time outside. I noticed on my calendar that the arrival of spring is but two weeks from today.<br />
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Hallelujah!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Best Hot Springs Around the World that are Earth’s Greatest Gift to Mankind The most magical place Ive ever been ((nomad)) Pacific Northwest | Oregon | Cougar Hot Springs" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5b/26/5f/5b265f2341a1dc3036840b15deb2e54d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cougar Hot Springs - not my pic, but we soaked here a few years ago...lovely</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Honestly I can't say that this has been a terrible or even unusually long or cold winter. We've had some cold days, a wisp or two of a snow dusting, some beautiful sunshine and yes of course, plenty of rain. Better than some, worse than others, but nothing to complain about. But, I am <i>so</i> ready to get outside and enjoy outdoor pursuits! With the longer daylight hours, the dogs and I will resume our walking, and I am really looking forward to riding my horse again. I haven't ridden Eagle in over a year. I can hardly believe that myself, but it's the case. Last early spring he suffered the wire cut from an apparent tangle with the fence. The wound location was one that flexed and stretched with every step, making it a slow healing process. But it has healed and with no ill effects, and for that I am so grateful. My horse has had a very long vacation and we were just hitting our stride, or at least making good progress when it happened; so we'll just begin again. Hopefully it won't take very long for me to feel comfortable with him again. I just want to sit astride a horse and feel the wind in my face and enjoy that peaceful, easy feeling that only comes when I'm riding. *sigh*<br />
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I'm paying the last installment on my new saddle this month and we've got plans to take a weekend trip in April to pick it up. :) I can't wait to try it out! And I have to admit that I'm a bit apprehensive because I've never actually sat in it before. It's a 15-1/2" smooth seat with rounded forks, a higher cantle and very wide, angled stirrups. It looks super comfortable but I really have no idea. I just hope it sits as good as it looks. I've ridden in the same saddle since 1982 and I still love it. Entire different style saddle though. My old one is a Western Pleasure style with a built up swell and a suede seat. The new one, (new to me) is a Wade style tree, Ranch saddle with closer contact with the horse. That I know I will love. If I don't like it, I'll just resell it. But I'm hoping to love it! Oh, and I sure hope it fits my horse too! Such a risk taker right? :)<br />
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Remember I mentioned that we'd recently become aware of another granddaughter? Well...she and her mom came to visit with us a few weeks back. We spent several hours visiting and getting to know each other, looking through family photo albums and introducing them to our herd. They are wonderful people and it's very obvious to us that Anita has enjoyed a good life and has always been loved. Her mom said that she's a blessing, always has been. I really like her mom. She's a couple years older than I am and just last week retired from her job as a physician's assistant. She and her husband plan on selling their home in the next couple of years and building their dream home on an acre of land they have in Sunriver, Oregon...also our dream location area. We found that we actually have a fair amount in common and look forward to occasional get-togethers in the future. It was a great day and we really enjoyed getting acquainted. We feel blessed too. Such a gift!<br />
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As always, we remain busy with day to day obligations of work, care-taking, keeping the home fires burning and such. Life is never dull and although we dream of grander adventures, we feel grateful for everything and everyone in our lives. The horses are all doing well and we're looking forward to the mud drying up soon - and of riding! I so. want. to, ride. It's been way too long.<br />
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Hoping winter bids you all adieu sooner, rather than later. <br />
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Blessings from our neck of the woods, to yours!<br />
Lorie @ cingspots <br />
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<img alt="Mobile | Candidly Keri" height="640" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/53/21/73/53217387ac2a92c14a4ec5bed00df056.jpg" width="360" />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-82765451249803055792018-02-21T13:46:00.001-08:002018-02-21T13:46:05.068-08:00Always asking why, without ever seeing the obviousI'm sharing this blog post because it seems appropriate for now, again and for so many times in the past we've asked "why". I think we all, or most of us, already know the answer. We've been told times are going to become worse and worse, in fact, worse than has ever been in history. That's unimaginably bad. These things must take place. It's so simple, it's difficult for people to understand, or accept. These mimic my thoughts and so I'm sharing this message with you today. Hopefully it's food for thought, worth considering and worthy of making some changes. There's so much more that I could say, but this writer does a nice job of explaining what is painfully obvious to me. <br />
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<img alt=" " src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9e/6a/e2/9e6ae207f0b7ed8ddbcc4ce525b6fe3d.jpg" /><br />
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<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #7935a7; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
Is Satan Stealing Our Families?</h1>
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<time class="entry-time" datetime="2017-07-30T22:27:22+00:00" itemprop="datePublished" style="box-sizing: border-box;">July 30, 2017</time> by <span class="entry-author" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="entry-author-link" href="http://briegowen.com/author/brieann-rngmail-com/" itemprop="url" rel="author" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5ea735; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;">brieann.rn@gmail.com</a></span></div>
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This past year I read a book with my daughter called Little House in the Big Woods. You may be familiar with it. It’s the first book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and it began the popular Little House on the Prairie series. I don’t recall reading it before, and as I read it to my five year old, I think I enjoyed it even more than she did. Something about the way the family lived, it intrigued me. I love my internet tremendously, but the simplicity and closeness this family shared sounded really wonderful to me. The idea of working together for each other drew me into their little world. Many times as I read the pages aloud I yearned for such a time as the ones described.</div>
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I look around today and I wonder if we wouldn’t be better taking a step back in time where we could focus more on important matters, and less on trivial ones. I see the things around me that cause so much unneeded stress, and I truly believe that the principalities and powers of darkness wish to destroy what God has created. God favors families. He favors love, time together, and focus on cultivating those relationships. What I see today is in direct opposition of that, yet those things have developed slowly over time, so much so that we don’t even notice them deteriorating the fabric of family.</div>
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Our pre-teens and teenagers are so absorbed in their Snapchat and Instagram that they can’t even come up for air. Not that we notice. We’re buried in our Facebook newsfeed or hottest new game app.</div>
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The normalcy of public school education with its ever increasing curriculum demands are swallowed like good medicine. The school year gets longer, testing increases, and hours of homework creep into the family time. So children that already spend 8-9 hours away from home are spending their evening hours doing more projects, reports, and extra credit assignments.</div>
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Mom and dad are too exhausted to help much. They’re tired because they’re putting in more hours. Dual working parents are the majority. And while the cost of living has definitely increased over time, I wonder how much of our “necessities” are truly that? We work more to be able to buy more, yet we hardly have time to enjoy all our purchases. We save all year long for a week long vacation that leaves us exhausted and in need of a day off from our off days.</div>
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A lot of our hard-earned money is spent on activities. So. Many. Activities. We spend more time driving to activities, purchasing gear, costumes, and accessories for our activities, or working on our off days to raise funds for our activities. Activities where we watch other people teach, coach, and mentor our children. Is this the time together we’re craving? Makes you think.</div>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/briegowen.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_4742.jpg" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5ea735; font-weight: 300; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;"></a> <span style="font-size: 18px;">If you had to sit down and add up how much quality time you spend alone with your spouse, what would it be? What about your children? And not time doing and going. Just time. Is it less time than you spend on your weekly commute to work?</span></div>
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It makes you wonder if divorce is more prominent today because it’s become socially more acceptable, or could it be because we’re spending less time enjoying the company of our spouse? Would children get in less trouble if they had a present parent/parents available to guide them? They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I’m wondering if we’ve taken that too far. Now we just want the village to take care of them. And then when our children fall down and fail we can have teachers, coaches, and the church to blame for their demise.</div>
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This is hard stuff to think about. It’s taking everything we’ve called normal over the past few decades or more and realizing that it’s actually destroying the family unit. Our kids are playing ball 3-5 times a week until 10pm, and the parents are working 60 hours a week to keep designer duds on the kiddos lest they get bullied for wearing WalMart brand clothing. Everyone has a TV in their room, a cell phone in their pocket, and a brand new car in the drive-way yet none of that will go to Heaven with us. We’re working very hard providing material possessions for our children, when in all reality we should be on our knees with them leading them to a closer walk with Jesus. Eternal life is what we should want for our kids, not the best education money can buy. And while I’m all for giving them a bright future, I don’t want to give them the world if it forfeits their soul. When my grown children look back on life I want them to have memories of time well spent rather than spending all the time. I gotta work on this! I don’t have it all figured out either, but I’d like to think my eyes are open enough to see that Satan wishes to destroy us.</div>
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Satan wants us tired, worn thin, and stressed. He wants us in debt up to our eyeballs, and our health failing because we can’t sleep enough, eat right, or handle our stress effectively. He wants husbands and wives fighting over finances, disrespectful teens who learned how to treat their parents based off Nickelodeon sitcoms, and thousands of young children sexually abused by the adults we’re so quick to place our trust in. He wants us busy, but not productive. He wants our plates full, but our tank empty. He wants us looking to society for what’s best for our families, not God’s word as a lamp to our feet. He wants the family unit ripped apart, and many times I look around and see us letting him. We’re not even trying to take a stand.</div>
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I’d like to believe that it’s not too late. We can still fight to save our families. Perhaps it all comes down to stepping out in wisdom, courage, and truth for our family. In a world that’s so busy Keeping Up With the Kardashians, maybe it’s time to be a Little House on the Prairie. What do you think?<br />
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Blessings all,<br />
Lorie</div>
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C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-26323958583340955942018-02-07T17:37:00.002-08:002018-02-07T17:37:45.641-08:00You just never know<img alt=" " src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/77/89/52/7789521095a8f30f0569dccf753238f8.jpg" /><br />
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Life is full of unexpected happenings. Surprises when you least expect them. Some are extraordinary and life altering; others are just a welcome change to the routine. <br />
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We had a beautiful, warm weekend. Yes, the sun was shining! Oh my goodness, did it ever feel good! All of us, horses, dogs, cats, chickens and people alike turned our faces heavenward and just reveled in the warmth beaming down upon us. It was so nice. <br />
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Just what we needed to lift our spirits and remove some of the gloom that has been cloaking our world lately. The horses were dropping like flies. They ate breakfast and then were sprawled out all over the pasture, just basking in the warmth. It felt so much like spring, temps were in the 60's and I even saw a honeybee. The flowering tree in our back yard will be budding soon, as will the daphne bush by the deck. One of <b>the </b>most heavenly scents imaginable! I love to pick a bouquet and place the vase on my night stand...sweet dreams. :)<br />
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As I looked around I noticed signs of spring everywhere. Daffodils are pushed through the soil, tiny buds on many trees and the horses are starting to shed a bit. And the days are getting longer! It's no longer dark when I leave the clinic in the evening. Oh man, what a blessing. Just thinking that winters' end is near, makes me feel so much lighter. I know I can't complain, because we really haven't had much of a "winter", but the rains all through January just seemed to be never ending and even the horses seemed depressed. For whatever reason, this year I seem to be struggling with the endless grey skies, rain and mud. But, knowing the end is in sight helps me so much. <br />
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Another true surprise happened to us recently. Something so unexpected, but very cool. Shortly before Christmas I received a private message from someone I didn't know. She asked if I knew someone (name withheld for privacy), and I said yes, that's my husband's son. She said she was searching for long-lost relatives. Curious, I asked her if she thought she was somehow related to him. She said yes, he's my biological father. You could have knocked me down with a feather!<br />
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We had a fairly long correspondence that day and I got the feeling she was a very nice young lady. Apparently, unbeknownst to us, JP fathered a baby with a girl years ago when they were in high school. The infant was given up for adoption and she was raised within an hour of where we now live. What a small world, huh? Last year she graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Civil Engineering and now works for Oregon Dept. of Transportation in The Dalles, which is several hours from here in the Columbia Gorge area. I really enjoyed visiting with her and so did my hubby. He was even more excited than me, since this is another granddaughter he was unaware of. This Sunday, Anita and her dad are coming to our home for a visit. We're really looking forward to meeting her in person and the chance to get acquainted with her. As far as looks go, there's no doubt that JP is her biological father. She's the spitting image of him, same complexion, hair color, smile, everything. Pretty amazing huh? We're ready for all the questions she's likely to have, although we've already covered some of the basics earlier. We've got lots of pictures we can share, she's an active outdoorsy type, loves animals, has a dog and seems very down to earth. I'm sure we'll get along just fine. She used to be a horseback rider, took English riding lessons for years and loves to dance. In her spare time, she teaches Hip-hop dance and has several videos on You-Tube. <br />
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I'm actually a little bit nervous, but I'm sure that will pass as soon as she walks through the door. The dogs will assault her, we'll try to get them under control to no avail, and the ice will have been broken. As far as meeting our horses goes, the timing couldn't possibly be worse. They are shaggy, muddy and fat, but will welcome the attention from someone new. Ladde will do his best to give her kisses, and Eagle will work his wiles and seduce her just like he does all the ladies he meets. <br />
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<img alt="Eagle doing what he loves best" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c9/21/32/c921325b56be86c1e3a4c94af9a94c96.jpg" /><br />
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Should be an interesting day.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lorie @ CingspotsC-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-37681953026943399432018-02-02T13:17:00.002-08:002018-02-02T13:17:35.690-08:00A stitch in timeThat's what I keep telling myself. That loosely translates to, "this too shall pass". *sigh* <br />
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I'm pretty much over my cold, with just a bothersome occasional cough that produces a very small amount of hmmm, yuck. That works, hopefully without being too graphic for you sensitive ones. <br />
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However, my overall condition this winter seems to be genuine lackluster. I'm feeling tired, disinterested, cranky, and at times, bordering on having the outright blues. So many rainy days and so very much mud creates so much extra work, muddy paws, muck boots, difficulty dumping the poop wagon, on and on. I'll have to be careful or I'll pass my depression on to you. :) Sorry...<br />
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Seriously, not much going on really. Shad was off his feed for a short time, had a very foul odor coming from his mouth and generally looked like I felt. Maybe it's not just me after all. So, my vet came out and had a look in his mouth, we were thinking likely a bad tooth, or a gum pocket causing him discomfort. But when the speculum was just starting to open, he went straight up and there was a serious pain response, even with detomidine on board. Poor guy. From what the vet could see, it looked like a wound in the mucosa of the inside of his mouth, with hanging tissue, or maybe a tumor-like growth about 3/4" long with a white tip. ??? Who knows what it really is though. We're guessing here, you know the "practice" of medicine. A pressure smear was sent in for a cytology which didn't show anything abnormal, normal mouth bacteria and all that. Good news. So, we decided on a week of antibiotics and a small dose of banamine twice a day. Mainly we wanted him to eat. Being an old Thoroughbred (28 years this April), with the metabolism their breed is famous for, he drops weight very fast. He was also a bit dehydrated because his water consumption was down and we needed to keep his caloric intake high. No food, no energy to fight off whatever was ailing him. So far, so good. Last dose of both meds tonight. The bad smell seems to be gone, so it's cold turkey to see how he responds. While he's been medicated, his appetite has been great, we've been pouring the feed to him and that seems to be working. His energy levels have improved and he's much more bright-eyed and back to his old, but child-like, playful self. :) We're just hoping whatever the thing was, it's healed up and he maintains when drug free. We're hopeful, because there's really not much else to be done. Anesthetization would be too risky for the old man and we're just not willing to risk it. <br />
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This whole situation was reminiscent of what happened with Kadie, and had me worried. We let her get too weak and weren't able to get her eating again, which I think, was why she just quit. I wanted her to keep trying, but I could see it in her eyes. She was too tired. What a precious soul she was, but I know what a huge blessing she was to me. I'll probably miss her forever, but I wouldn't have changed a thing. When you love a good one, you just want forever. So, I'm hopeful we have a better outcome with my hubby's sweet boy. <br />
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I recently had a birthday. I'm 58 years old, and just keep wondering how that happened. I mean, it's gone so fast. I can't believe how close to 60 I am. And retirement. Good grief. <br />
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Can you hear it? That old Rolling Stones song, time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me...<br />
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My hubby took me out for brunch on my b-day. Yum! Was a nice day. I got to get up when I wanted to, enjoyed a leisurely morning and actually got to view a very brief sunrise, but a sunrise nonetheless. That was cool. Then the torrential rains began. January birthdays are usually best enjoyed from the comforts of the inside, preferably by the fireside. Like mine was, so I was a happy birthday girl. Man, I really am getting old. Sounds like a granny birthday for sure, doesn't it!? <br />
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My dogs are going stir crazy too. So much rain and mud, seriously curtails our walking adventures. Such a bummer, but sometimes you just gotta go for it, stop worrying about the muddy paws, and get outside anyway. Fresh air, exercise and wide open spaces help all of us so much! Then let the cleaning frenzy begin...and the depressed doggies suffering on the blankets. I'd switch places with them anytime. Yesterday morning, Ruby came running towards me when I was standing with my car door open. I thought she was running to me, but oh no, she jumped straight into my car, through and over the center console and onto the back seat! Oh my gosh, I could have killed her! Mud was everywhere! Had it been blood, you'd have thought it was a major (and totally gory) crime scene. Amazes me how many different places mud spots go in such a short amount of time...did I mention that my car has light grey interior? Yeah...what was I thinking?<br />
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Hubs and I were dreaming and scheming again the other day. We found this absolutely <i>perfect</i> home on 7 acres of gorgeous land with big, fir trees and pastures. The home was situated on top of a gentle rise overlooking the pastures and the Grand Ronde river down below and across the driveway. It was at the end of a dead end and very private private lane. This is the first place I've fallen in love with since years ago when we first started looking at properties in Central Oregon. I mean, the house was gorgeous, amazingly peaceful views from every window...sigh. But alas, there were 2 serious drawbacks. The rail line ran next to the private lane. The train goes through there several times daily, and just below that, was the 4-lane highway. Apparently, noise travels up. I just couldn't imagine living somewhere, that all that peaceful serenity is marred by constant noise. Nope. Not going there. We'll keep dreaming and scheming. If it's meant to be, we'll find that perfect place; and if not, we're pretty happy where we are. Always has been fun to dream though. <br />
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Gives us damp Oregonians something to do...<br />
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Blessings all.<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-32229387365384975122018-02-02T13:17:00.001-08:002018-02-02T13:17:05.121-08:00THE ROLLING STONES - time waits for no one<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i7O5Ony7Oa0" width="480"></iframe>C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-5254347861135062742018-01-11T10:44:00.001-08:002018-01-11T10:44:19.038-08:00All quiet on the homefront<img alt="The sun peeks through" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5f/c6/f3/5fc6f3fa742e14a6733bd21746bfbd31.jpg" /><br />
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And that's the only way I can handle it right now. I've been sick again. This cold hit me with a vengeance. So quickly and within 24 hours, I was flat on my back and could no nothing more than sleep. And sleep I did, all night, all the next day and all night again. Ventured forth, had a long soak in a hot tub of water and made it to work yesterday. I felt so much better than the previous day. Very weird. I've been sick more often in these past couple of months than I've been in the previous 5,6,7 ?? years? Not sure, but this is totally uncharacteristic for me. <br />
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I'm still not feeling anywhere near to normal. But to work I must go, I really have no choice. I'm just thankful that business this time of year is usually slow. If it weren't, I don't think I could manage. So I come in and do my best, but that's not saying much. I slept very little last night and am feeling exhausted today, and cranky. I don't do well without sleep. Good news is that I dropped 6 pounds in 2 days. YAY me! Probably water weight and will come back quickly, but hey, I'll take it. Gotta find that silver lining.<br />
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Weather wise we're very warm, 50's and oh, so very wet. Blustery winds, grey skies and too much water falling from the sky. Totally befitting my demeanor these days. I did spend about a half hour in the barn last evening schmoozing with the horses and trying to help with the chores. Mentally, I was renewed, refreshed and felt alive once again. Physically, it nearly killed me. I felt as weak as a kitten, legs and back aching. Like I'd been physically working hard all day long. Pitiful really. Just amazes me how quickly things can change. But, never fear. Like my momma always said, this too shall pass. Tomorrow is another day. I keep those words near to my heart. So very thankful for my dear husband who just takes everything on and nudges me back to bed to rest. In times like these, I don't know how I'd manage the caretaking of the horses without him. <br />
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So, now you see why I've been avoiding any new posting here. I'm rather glum these days. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. Actually thankful our weather matches my mood, for if the sun was smiling, I'd be seriously piqued. Something else my mom used to tell me, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all". Wise woman. So I do apologize for my lack of enlightenment and brevity, but life does sometimes throw us curve balls, does it not? <br />
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New year is here. There was a lot of negative, lots of anger, upheaval, political unrest, natural disasters and so very much suffering in this world. My heart is heavy thinking about it all. I know it has to be, but it's not easy seeing it, hearing of it. So much pain in the world. I can't help but hope for a better year ahead. May we all look up in times of trouble, put our faith at the forefront of our lives and glean that peace that surpasses all human understanding. That is my prayer for us all. <br />
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So looking ahead, I've given precious little thought to my chosen word for 2018. It instead, has chosen me. It's the only word that keeps popping into my mind and I can only take it as a sign. Shouldn't surprise me, not really. I'm a chatter box and need to learn to practice this more, and so I hopefully shall. <b><i>Listen</i></b>. That will be my mantra, my lesson for the coming days, and with God's help, I hope to practice the beautiful art of listening so much more than ever before. And not just with my ears, but especially with my heart. And that goes for all who enter my life, whether they be person or animal. Because Lord knows, I've still got a lot to learn. <br />
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"Be still, and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10<br />
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No worries. <br />
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My best wishes for you all in this coming new year 2018. May we all be blessed and therefore, bless.C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-19060187077316453692017-12-19T12:07:00.003-08:002017-12-19T12:07:41.401-08:00This Christmas season<img alt="photo+5+(1).JPG 609×922 pixels" height="640" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9c/09/95/9c099554a31fb49698483b516dd0e9fc.jpg" width="422" /><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Kadie in her winter woollies" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/75/9d/d7/759dd70ce6382a54ee819dcdbca49aa0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful Kadie. So hard to believe she's been gone a year already. *sigh*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As I sit and type, the rain is just coming down. It's windy, grey and altogether dreary...and wet. Very wet. The horses were fed in the barn this morning and it just might be the first time we open up those freshly laundered winter blankets. No, it's not cold. We blanket to try and keep them dry so they won't get chilled - and it definitely helps with keeping them cleaner. *sigh* I can just imagine how those clean blankets will look after today...oh well, that's what they're for right?<br />
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We've enjoyed the nicest of weather the last couple of weeks. It's been mostly blue skies, some nice clouds, cold (but not too cold) temperatures and beautiful sunshine. I've been loving it! All that's changed now, but they're predicting some very cold (for us) weather later this week. Overnight lows down to like 26F. We don't get that cold very often, but I'm grateful. We just leave the water in the barn trickling into the trough so the hose doesn't freeze up, and put the tank heater in the water so it's not unbearably cold for the horses to drink. I've found if the water's not freezing cold, they will drink more. And drinking in cold weather is key to keeping colic at bay. And lots of turn-out regardless of the weather. A healthy horse is a moving, eating and drinking machine...oh, and pooping. :)<br />
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We're less than a week away from Christmas Day. It's gone so fast. But then it always does. I've done a little shopping. Our gifts are modest, but hopefully something the recipient can use and will appreciate. Socks, slippers, new jeans, homemade cookies and candies and a new barn radio for my hubby. He'll like that. And those new socks, who doesn't love new socks? <br />
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We've certainly broke the new mixer in! Oh my, we've baked and baked some more. Plenty of goodies to share for neighbors, family and friends. I'm even going to bake some dog cookies this weekend and put them in the dogs' stockings. Yes, we all have stockings - even the horses. Who doesn't enjoy a special treat now and then? And that's what Christmas is for, spreading joy however you can. I truly believe that we just might get more joy from the giving to our critters than they do by the receiving and the devouring. :) But it's a toss-up.<br />
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We have our Christmas tree all decorated and brightly lit. It's close enough to our bedroom that at night when I'm in bed, I can smell the spicy green scent and it's so sweet! I love drifting off to sleep inhaling that scent. Makes for sweet dreams. I've decorated the new fireplace mantle with greens and holly, and a couple of white pillar candles. Simple, but festive. I'm still hoping to throw together a swag for the front door and I think I'll have enough leftover greens and holly to make at least one bouquet in a vase. I've dug out a few of my favorite decorations that I've got scattered throughout the house, but kept it pretty simple. Lots of pine cones in baskets and pretty bowls too, a nice seasonal touch and it costs nothing. I like to think that's how people of olden days did, used what was on hand and made the best of what they could find. It really is amazing how beautiful items of nature can be. Nobody comes close to God's artistry.<br />
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We went to our riding club Christmas party last weekend and had so much fun. It was a small affair, many of the members had other plans or just couldn't make it, but it was nice just the same. We played Balderdash, a guessing game of word meanings. We'd never played, but it was easy to learn and it was fun seeing meanings that everyone came up with. It's been so long since I'd played a simple game, I'd forgotten how much fun it can be with a group of friends. Maybe that's an idea for our family affair. Just might be the thing to liven up everybody and have a few laughs. Christmas music playing in the background...hmmm, might have to think about that. <br />
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As far as other news, there hasn't been much. I'm still struggling a bit with my cold. Yes, the same one. It's a long drawn out affair, but not all that bad really. We've been working and taking care of the horses every day, baking goodies when we have the time and just putting one foot in front of the other. This time of year, with such short daylight hours makes for long evenings. It's dark when we get home and we read or watch a little tv and usually go to bed much earlier than we do in the other seasons. Speaking of tv - we very recently got internet service in our home for the first time ever! I know, I know, we're a little slow. The only reason to get internet was we cut the cable. We were sick and tired of our cable bill going up and up and the amount and quality of the programs going down and down...continuously. So now, for $50 a month, we have Netflix, Starz, Roku, Food Network, OPB and many, many more that are free. The quality of picture is better too, and the internet is kind of handy as well. Where do you think we got some of those goodie recipes from? Anyway, it's doing a good job of entertaining us for now. And I get to binge watch Outlander!!! And Grey's Anatomy and some of the older shows that I used to enjoy but aren't on air anymore. I know I'm easily amused, but it's how we roll. It's the simple things. <br />
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Well my dear friends, I wish for you all, a very Merry Christmas and bunches of God's blessings in the upcoming new year too! May you enjoy the company of good friends and family, warm and cozy fires, good food and good health. And may your 4-legged family members be well, fat and sassy for the coming winter days, and also enjoy the blessings of their Creator. God is good...<br />
all the time!<br />
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Peace, love and joy from the whole gang at Cingspots!!<br />
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p.s. We have a few family members to welcome to our clan, but I'll save that news for another time. <br />
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<img alt="Family Love, Holiday Series, Artist Donna Green" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/6c/5c/1c/6c5c1c67c09b5bda27d2c65273fafbe1.jpg" />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-28271480770222616202017-12-04T13:59:00.002-08:002017-12-04T13:59:42.500-08:00Well...hello!<br />
<img alt=""Wood-House Christmas"- by Dona Gelsinger" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d2/e2/5f/d2e25f5eb290b0fa89a30a28041fadc4.jpg" /><br />
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Oh my, it's been 3 entire months since I've last posted here on my blog. It wasn't intentional, but there ya go! Time does have a way of getting away from me. <br />
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We've turned the page on the calendar to a bright and shiny new month. Can you believe it? December already; the last month of another year...wisp and it's almost gone! We've been getting into the spirit of the season - well, sort of. My niece gifted me with a KitchenAid mixer on Thanksgiving day. I was so surprised, and pleased! I've always wanted one, but just could never actually bring myself to forking over upwards of $250.00 for a mixer I feared would see such little use. This one is used, but works like a champ. These mixers have always been known to be workhorses. Indeed! Cookies, bread, pie crust are a breeze with this machine. We are loving it. I say "we", because I've yet to make use of it, but my hubby has been going bonkers with it. He made a chocolate cream pie yesterday and the buttery crust is just to die for! Delicious! He's also started the cookie making frenzy that we seem to fall prey to every single year about this time. We enjoy giving them out as little homemade gifts, and of course, we enjoy them too. <br />
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We hosted Thanksgiving this year and it was good and bad. Good, because we didn't have to go anywhere, really enjoyed having company in our home, which is fairly unusual for us. Bad, because I felt like I had such little time to actually visit with our guests. I was so busy playing hostess. Next time I'll make sure and have more of the work finished before everyone arrives and spend more time enjoying the people. I find that I'm so unaccustomed to having dinner parties, that I get nervous and feel pressured, which just takes so much of the joy out of the occasion. Next year, if we host, I hope to do better. Relax more, and maybe actually drink that glass of wine...<br />
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Despite the "nerves", the meal was delicious and there were beautiful moments of enjoying family. And it was so worth it, if nothing else, just to give my sister a break from always being host to everyone. <br />
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We enjoyed the most amazingly perfect fall weather. I simply could not have hoped for more. Even November wasn't bad. Yes, the rains have returned. Some days in abundance, but we continue to have breaks. Some days prove sunny and bright, and our temps are still mild. We have lots and lots of mud, the horses look disastrous, but all are hairy and bright. :) Maybe even merry, who knows? And as always, we're thankful for their good health and safety. Us too, fat and sassy, save for this blasted cold I've got. Me, who never gets sick! This year I seem to be making up for years' past, because this is my 3rd cold of the season. Not horrible, knock you to your knees colds, but still. They have all started the same way. A sore throat for 2 days, and then it goes into my head and chest. I'm in stage 2...should be investing in stock with the Kleenex company. <br />
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I've not had much time spent with the horses lately. Well, except for each evening during our chore time, that is. No riding, occasional grooming sessions and kisses and scratches for each one, every day. I ache to ride! Total and complete withdrawal symptoms for sure! Oh, and I just may be getting a new saddle! New to me anyway. It's a ranch style saddle with a Wade-type tree, smooth forks and a smooth seat and higher cantle than my current Western Pleasure show saddle that I've ridden in since 1981. I still love it, and will likely keep it, unless this saddle suits me perfectly, in which case, I will sell it. I've loved it all these years, but have always wanted a ranch saddle. Maybe that would be incentive for me to get my butt back in the saddle! Eagle doesn't mind though. Fat, fuzzy beast! He loves his life and I love him. All the horses are so fuzzy this year, except for Missy. She's a sleek little gal and I'm just so happy that they're all so happy and healthy. <br />
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Around home, the firewood's all neatly stacked in the wood shed and the barns' hay supply is holding nicely. I finally re-homed my old piano. Another local veterinarian took it for her daughter to learn to play on. Perfect, that's what I'd always hoped for. We sold our pellet stove and replaced it with an electric fireplace. It's beautiful and I love it, but it certainly doesn't heat nearly as well as the pellet stove did. Not even close. But, that's alright because our little wood stove in the kitchen does a good job. The fireplace is just for a touch of added warmth in the sitting area of our living room - and it's pretty. I'm looking forward to having a mantle to decorate for Christmas. Priorities you know?<br />
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Speaking of Christmas, we're planning on getting our tree this coming weekend, and doing a bit of decorating and of course, baking. As always, I'll make a wreath for the front door and hubby puts up a few outside lights. That's about it. Christmas for us is a simple affair, and we like it that way. We'll remember Christmases past and enjoy the people we love who are still with us. And as is always the case, give thanks for our many blessings, friends, family and beloved animals who grace our lives and give us so much joy. <br />
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Hope all is well with all of you!<br />
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Until next time, Lorie @ Cingspots.<br />
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I'll try not to be so long between posts next time. :)C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-2471121509129487742017-09-05T16:30:00.000-07:002017-09-05T16:35:03.447-07:00Where there's smoke, there's fireWeather-wise, this Labor Day weekend was just awful. Way too hot, too dry, too dusty and so very smokey. I'm officially over with summer. She can bow out gracefully and just go away. After the seemingly never ending rains of the Fall of 2016, Winter of 2017 and Spring through July of 2017, we've had so much heat. Relentless heat and so much smoke from so many forest fires raging all across the west. This latest one is the closest one yet to us. And dangerously close to one of our favorite horseback riding areas and camping spots. This fire is on the Oregon side of the Columbia river near Cascade Locks, a tiny town where fruit orchards abound. And then just last night, the fire jumped the mighty river and has raced west along the Washington side as well. The changes in the images on the evening news compared to the 11:00 news were quite scary. You see, the Gorge is known for strong winds that rush through the area in a Westerly direction, which is fanning the fires and causing them to rage uncontrollably. So much beautiful forested lands being ravaged by fire. So sad. And it was caused by careless teenagers shooting off illegal fireworks. Definitely old enough to know better.<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: night and outdoor" height="360" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21314340_10209269494043604_1832503673212327402_n.jpg?oh=eff70263e8ab1c451d1698bd5bf332ad&oe=5A5657E0" width="640" /><br />
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This is one of 2 bridges in the area where we frequently cross with our horse trailer when headed to Mt. Adams. <br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: cloud, sky, outdoor and nature" height="480" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21272449_10209269494803623_8443443491350736409_n.jpg?oh=26473fbd070fa9c987169eae0134b44b&oe=5A5CB748" width="640" /><br />
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This is the road on the Washington side. All the smoke from this fire is heading directly West into our little valley about 2 hours from here. Sitting out on the deck after dark last night it felt like it bugs, but it was ash falling. This morning my car was covered in ash from the fire. The last many weeks we've also been getting smoke from fires burning in Canada, and a HUGE fire burning on the Southern Oregon Coast. That one probably won't be contained or controlled until October into November when the rains return. The thought of all that pristine forest wilderness going up in flames just makes me sick. Yes, the forests will return. But not for many, many long years to come.<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: sky, outdoor and nature" height="360" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21317972_10209269495443639_1138173242218751448_n.jpg?oh=597f2ac1c51c5dc27f12b27dbe85b8b6&oe=5A1F36F3" width="640" /><br />
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The photographer is standing on the Oregon side of the Columbia River shooting the fire in Washington.<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: sky, night, tree, outdoor and nature" height="312" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21319157_10209270121819298_6524418506052162781_o.jpg?oh=e7cf007f909c5c79099d725ecebd6eb9&oe=5A131693" width="640" /><br />
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Beautiful picture, but oh so deadly and wicked...<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: night, sky, tree, outdoor and nature" height="427" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21314744_10209270122019303_6321284595073698675_n.jpg?oh=d6127fb6c383bb8cfce275108c9c8d15&oe=5A194B0F" width="640" /><br />
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This is another view of the Bridge of the gods shot from a wider angle.<br />
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I simply cannot imagine how the firefighters manage to work those long hours that they do, in those heavy and hot turnouts they have to wear, in this oppressive heat. God help them.<br />
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We pretty much laid low over the holiday weekend, opting to stay home and keep watch on our horses, who are as sick and tired of the heat and smoke as we are. Our house stays pretty cool, but there's nowhere to escape the heat for the horses. So, we hosed them all down several times. They love that. Then they turn all that pristine cleanliness into dirt baths. It must feel good because they all do it. At least Harley waits until he dries first. My hubby also has his misters going each and every afternoon for them. That helps.<br />
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We went to lunch with Steve and Chris to celebrate the husband's birthday too. Afterwards we enjoyed cake and ice cream. Even old farts gotta have cake! Yep, he's 68 this year. My oh my, where have the years gone? When we were pleasantly stuffed with sugar and carbs, we spent some much-needed time in the pool. I felt like a floating walrus...but at least a cool one. :)<br />
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Hope all the natural disasters make a hasty retreat soon. There's so many people across our country in need of your prayers and support. The only good I see coming out of this, is that our petty differences regarding politics have taken a back burner to what really matters in life. It's good to see people coming together to help one another. <br />
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That's my country! Those are my Americans...<br />
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Until next time, hope you all stay safe.<br />
Lorie @ Cingspots<br />
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-84592465633497502172017-08-23T15:18:00.002-07:002017-08-23T15:18:23.288-07:00Eclipse, like totally!<br />
<img height="533" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20915497_1687905081282355_384983835899208519_n.jpg?oh=05bfe8626591e6924c157421e47d9948&oe=5A2F81F6" width="640" /><br />
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Oh yes, we all oohed and ahhhed over the eclipse the other day! It really was quite spectacular. We were fortunate to be in the path of totality and didn't have to go further than our own back yards to witness the event. Well I had to venture off to work, but my hubs took the day off and spent the morning with me. All around here, people were otherwise engaged because I had 1 single phone call, all day long. Good thing I had the eclipse to keep me occupied, at least for a little while. I have no idea how many visitors we had in our little town, but there were plenty. When it was over, I left at noon to give my hubby a ride back home...1 hour and ten minutes later, I arrived back at the clinic. We live a total of 10 miles from here. First time in my life to see traffic at a stand still on all roads northbound and eastbound. <br />
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Now I know how Southern California folks feel...not cool.<br />
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I was so entertained watching, I failed to snap even one picture of the eclipse, so I'm sharing a few shots from others around our area. They obviously have better camera than I've got. :)<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: sky, ocean, bridge, outdoor and water" height="640" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20915511_10203347960375135_3385339962489282655_n.jpg?oh=2d683dad432131064f9564f3997d08e4&oe=5A5FD02E" width="426" /><br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: cloud, sky and outdoor" height="640" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20953380_1406709512760812_8531868172185595098_n.jpg?oh=498af34dd3dbfddb7d958161a095e98e&oe=5A158CEA" width="384" /><br />
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I particularly enjoyed the gradual dimming of the light and the cooling of the temperature. There were some cool shadows formed by foliage, but I couldn't find a good picture of any today. The shot below was taken using timed photography, but isn't it amazing? From beginning to totality, and then back to normal. So cool. I remember seeing a partial eclipse in grade school. We made viewing boxes with pinholes and went out on the playground to witness the event. That would have been in the late 60's to early 70's. What I absolutely <i>don't remember, </i>is the total eclipse they say we had in 1979...what's with that? I would have been 19 years old and either I was otherwise engaged, doing something of much more importance, or I just don't remember for what could possibly be, a variety of other reasons. I'll leave that to your imagination. <br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: sky, cloud, outdoor and nature" height="427" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20935162_1406653266099770_237914249899177005_o.jpg?oh=0fe24a435f9f94b0fbfdcb62672c818b&oe=5A27C016" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: night" height="426" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20933950_1406611066103990_898340649175310599_o.jpg?oh=290f4d6b06f1ea24976b29f7f2475f35&oe=5A176056" width="640" /><br />
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It was a pretty spectacular thing to see. I'm happy to share my day with you, and hope you get the chance to see a total eclipse someday too. <br />
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Total eclipse of the heart...<br />
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Sing it Bonnie! C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-68549763787308600912017-08-15T11:55:00.001-07:002017-08-15T11:55:47.569-07:00Sweet relief<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="My happy place" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/06/d1/d8/06d1d8ab31488b6b5dff62eab81f5b60.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my happy place</td></tr>
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We're finally getting a blessed respite from our 2 week long heat wave. Last weekend was pure bliss! Saturday was much cooler, in the upper 70's with some humidity, but so much more comfortable. And then on Saturday overnight, I was awakened to the sound of a gentle, but steady rainfall and a cool coastal breeze wafting through my window. Oh my, it was so refreshing. And then on Sunday morning, our skies were overcast and our temps were very cool, 60 ish. I actually dug out my slippers and warm bathrobe to wear while enjoying my morning coffee on the deck. Oh my, it was so sweet!<br />
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This week we're pretty much back to normal (whatever that is) with our highs in the upper 70's to mid 80's with no more rain in the forecast. My kind of summer weather. I'm no longer a lover of the heat, but I still enjoy plenty of sunshine and those amazing sky shows of clouds. The smoke, the humidity and the intense heat are just memories now, and I'm hoping it stays that way. <br />
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Last Sunday was my sister's birthday. She turned 76. For some reason, I thought she was going to be 78, but I was quickly corrected. :) She came of age in the 50's and was a bobby sox, dancin' girl. Pony tails, malt shops and compared to now, a time of innocence. I'll bet those were good times to grow up in. <br />
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I went through all of our horse's winter blankets last night. The cleaning lady will pick them all up tomorrow for cleaning and any needed repairs. We have 12 to send out and 2 that will be going to the trash. With only 5 horses, I'm pretty sure we're covered for winter blankets. Missy is the lucky girl because in her size we have an abundance. With Siri and Kadie gone, all those blankets are reserved for her. The boys are all bigger horses and they each have their own, with a couple extras for switching out. The exception to that is Ladde. He's so big, he only has 1 and it's a heavy type, so it has to be really cold and wet before we put it on him. I'm hoping to buy an extra one in his size that's lightweight, but waterproof. Most of the time that's all our horses ever really need. Protection from the rain. <br />
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I've got 2 cords of firewood on order and it should be delivered within a couple of weeks. With that and what we have on hand, we should be alright. If our funds hold out, I might order another one of oak later. If not, we'll have to make due with what we've got. Our chainsaw is toast and without buying another one, we really don't have an option of cutting our own. Once again, I realize just how thankful I am to have that wood stove. I love heating the house with wood, and it's always nice to know that all that warmth is already paid for. No fear of the electric bill. But speaking of electric, we're thinking of selling our pellet stove and replacing it with an electric fireplace. We only need it in the living room where we spend most of our evenings, and it looks fairly realistic and gives off enough warmth to make the room cozy and toasty. The pellet stove is 21 years old now, and we've replaced both of the fans once already, and those fans need to be replaced again. Between the two of them, that's almost $600, and added to that the price of about $200 per ton of pellets, it hardly seems like a good idea to keep it going. We can buy a new electric fireplace for about $600 and it would double as an entertainment center for our television. I could re-home my heavy and very large oak entertainment center and like my grandma used to say, "kill two birds with one stone". And I really like the idea of having a fireplace to decorate for Christmas. I've missed that. As always, no problems with spending our money.<br />
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We're working on estate planning. Yi yi yi - what a chore. There's so many tough questions to be answered and so many considerations that we've never really given much thought to. I just want it over and done with, so we can forget about it. Deciding who for what responsibility, and who gets what is very hard. Together, we have no children. My husband has two sons from a previous marriage and one, because of who he is, and what he's done, will be omitted from any inheritance. I know that sounds harsh, but it's just how we feel. We've worked hard all our lives and really want to enrich the lives of a few people we love and whom have also worked hard, and it just so happens that most are not family. We do plan on gifting our grandchildren with some money when they come of a certain age, and hopefully it will help give them a head start in whatever direction they choose to go. Of one thing I'm certain, I do not want to leave everything to chance. My parents had no will, no trust, nothing in place and it turned out to be a horrendous disaster. My one sister manipulated and connived our poor mother into gifting everything to her and forged her way into everything, and because of her selfish actions, Lilly nor I see her anymore. It was the worst experience of my life, and I just want to prevent anything like that from happening over our estate. Betrayal always cuts deep, but when it comes out of the blue, from someone you love and trusted, it's almost impossible to get past. I don't hate my sister. I still love her and likely always will, but life is hard enough without having someone like her in my life. I wish her well, and she is often in my prayers, but I have to admit that forgiving her is not easy. Forgiveness is a process and I'm always working towards that end. <br />
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Troy comes tomorrow night to give the horses their pedicures again. Our riding has been very limited this year, almost non-existent, and I'm hoping to wear those shoes off their little hooves before long. :) We want to finish up with a few projects in process and hopefully enjoy a few camping trips before the season is over. Time goes so fast, and we're always so busy and short of energy and time to accomplish everything we'd like to do. Wish I could just write the check, hire a professional and get the jobs done. But alas, that's not our life. We do the best we can, with what we have and try to remember to always be grateful for everything. *sigh*<br />
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Do I sound tired? Well, if so, it's because I am. We've been chopping blackberries by hand and hauling them to the burn pile, we've been trimming trees and fixing fences, making dump runs and generally just trying to clean up all over our property. After the overly wet fall and winter last year, the weeds and briars just went into hyper-growth. Right up there at the top of our dream list is a tractor. Oh my goodness, that would help SO much! But that's definitely not in the budget. My dad used to say, "you can wish in one hand and s*#t in the other, and see which one fills up quicker". Maybe a little crass, but there's a lot of truth there. We've always done everything with "Norwegian steam", and that's likely not going to change anytime soon. We did finish our brick patio though! The sewer guy comes Thursday to pump our septic tank, and then we can build the new steps. Oh my gosh, that will feel so good. One project down. Which leads to the next one, we really, really need to put a new coat of sealant on the deck. That one has to be done before fall rains return. I need to make a list and prioritize everything. And start saving money for a new roof...<br />
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Taking everything into consideration, we feel blessed. We're both healthy and strong, have incomes to support ourselves, have more than enough food, have a warm and cozy home to shelter us, have horses who enrich our lives immensely, have our dogs who love us unconditionally, have some loving family and friends and are smart enough to know when to throw our hats in the ring, and to take a break from all our worries and strife, and go have a little fun. Life is pretty good, and things could always be a whole lot worse, right?<br />
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Hope you're all enjoying these long, summer days doing what gives you joy and spending time with the people you love. Blessings,<br />
Lorie @ Cingspots<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="♥" height="640" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/27/03/b9/2703b9edb28ba9b7bc15a9d6e11f89a4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">notes to self</td></tr>
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<br />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-64333934517470656872017-08-08T14:45:00.001-07:002017-08-08T14:45:23.166-07:00I have hair!Well, you just know there's a story there. :) <br />
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It was either tell you a funny little story or tell you about our weather. And you know I'm a weather nut, so I can't help myself. We're still in that heatwave. Not the 100's, but the 90's. You'd think that would be better, but now it's overcast and humid. *sigh* Oh but wait, let's paint a clearer picture for you. We're hot, dry, dusty, smokey and humid now. Sheesh! No sense complainin' though, it's gonna be what it's gonna be. They're saying after this week we should start cooling back down - I sure hope so! <br />
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Our little visit with Kaylee has come and gone. I had so much fun with her! We got along very well, have lots in common and enjoyed our time a lot. We're looking forward to next summer already. We had plenty of time in the pool. That's our saving grace in this weather, for sure. Kaylee's a little water bug - that's what grandpa calls her - and I tend to agree. She's one of those kids that doesn't need anyone to amuse her, or provide her with constant entertainment. She's quite good at keeping herself busy and I love that about her. Did I mention that she talks a lot? Guess most kids do, we're just not used to it. But at least she has interesting things to say, she's quite the thinker and tells grandma all sorts of stories. <br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, outdoor" height="480" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20621827_2039794676034556_7834652912947357333_n.jpg?oh=bda4eedfeb0bae71bcfe706c3f2f4eed&oe=5A321433" width="640" /><br />
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Kaylee fell in love with Missy. And frankly, her love was reciprocated. Missy was an absolute angel! She couldn't possibly have been more perfect with her. I gave her a few ground handling instructions and we bathed 3 of the 5 horses the afternoon she got to our house. Was too hot to ride. The horses loved the attention and the cooling water. And Kaylee is a natural. She listens and follows instruction very well. Within a very short period of time, she was handling the horses like a little pro. A kid after grandma's own heart! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image may contain: horse, sky, cloud and outdoor" height="480" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20616813_2039802132700477_3511093926369063337_o.jpg?oh=245f0f12d56f8b26e998ba87cafdc143&oe=5A317E95" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bath time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image may contain: one or more people, people riding on horses, sky, horse, outdoor and nature" height="480" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20728113_10213004206482112_357492684868169092_n.jpg?oh=5970b446571bf228c927349135610250&oe=59EF7D70" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heading back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, sky, outdoor and nature" height="480" src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20664437_10213004206002100_9031483475326511076_n.jpg?oh=75693b2498d3256c5aaf0201c21a0576&oe=5A32D5CC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all smiles</td></tr>
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The next morning grandpa and Kaylee set out on a little ride around the orchard. They started out with Kaylee being ponied on Missy by grandpa and Ladde. But once they headed for home, Ladde got it in his head to be all jazzed up and he went into "Andalusian mode". He arches his neck, tucks his nose and does this high-stepping sort of dancing step that you commonly see in dressage horses or Andalusians. It's beautiful, but isn't exactly what you want to be dealing with while ponying a little girl who's never ridden before. So, grandpa makes the wise decision to give Kaylee the 2-minute riding lesson basics, and off they go. Kaylee handled Missy like a dream, walk and trot, beautifully! I was very proud of BOTH of them. :)<br />
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Afterwards Kaylee got her first real lesson in the corral. I gave her about a 30 minute lesson and the improvement she showed after such a short time was impressive. She's a natural. I had her walking, trotting, turning directions smoothly, down transitions, up transitions, halt and figure 8's. Even a nice, smooth back. Her biggest success came when she trusted me (and herself) enough to let go of the horn. Once she did that, her seat, her balance and her confidence soared. I can't tell you how pleased I was both with Kaylee, but also with Missy. Good girls!!<br />
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So like I've mentioned, it's hot. Lots of time was spent in the pool. One time we were floating around having a conversation about hair. Our chat eventually got around to body hair, you know, how some people are really hairy and others, not so much? Kaylee points out the hair on her legs. And how long that hair is. I was only sort of paying attention by this time. Did I mention that she talks a lot? Oh, ok...anyways, I open my eyes and lean up from my floating position to peak at Kaylee's legs. Good grief girl, you DO have long hair on your legs, I exclaim! We both crack up at this and then I mention that, that's even more hair than grandpa has on his legs. Now grandpa is clear over on the deck, and only seems to hear half of what you say to him at any given time, but must have been hearing clearly at this point in time, because he exclaims that "I have hair!!" Maybe you had to be there, but we both cracked up and started to laugh hysterically at this. You see, it wasn't actually meant to be overheard by grandpa in the first place. This was strictly a <i>private girl's conversation. </i>You know. Anyway much to grandpa's chagrin, Kaylee's already repeated this story several times and every time she and the listeners break into gales of laughter at grandpa's expense! Now that's a memory she'll be holding onto for a while. :) <br />
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We picked some blackberries and baked a pie. Yummy warm pie and ice cream, so good! We watched a movie each evening she was there and slept in both mornings. We made French toast with bacon for breakfast. Barbecued hot dogs, watermelon and cheese puffs were consumed. Yesterday we decided to head into town for lunch. Kaylee's choice - Taco Bell - and afterwards pedicures. It was Kaylee's first pedi and she loved it, and the massage chair. She got twilight purple with little white flowers on her big toes. :) When we got home, I painted her fingernails while she ate a popsicle. We had a good time. I feel like I really got to know my grandaughter a lot better. Next summer she wants to stay for a week. Sounds like a good plan to me. <br />
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Yesterday late afternoon Jenny (her mom) and her friend picked Kaylee up on their way to the beach. They're staying there for 3 gloriously cool days before heading home. School starts in about 3 weeks. Can you believe how fast the summer's flying by? Surely it isn't just me. The best part about summer, for me, has always been the memories to treasure during the dark days of winter. Those days when we can revisit the times spent in the sun, riding, camping, swimming, or whatever brings you joy, and builds that treasure trove of times to remember. <br />
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My hubby went through some of our old family photographs and gave them to Kaylee. In many cases, these were people that she'd only heard about but never seen. The family resemblances throughout the generations always astounds me. Genetics is a very powerful thing. <br />
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Anyway, that's our visit in a nutshell. We're back to work today and trying to avoid the all-consuming heat and humidity. I'm actually looking forward to next week when they say we just might get a rain shower. Aaahh, that would feel so nice. Feast or famine...<br />
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We're considering the possibility of a weekend-only camp out this week end. We'll see how things pan out, but it would be nice. We might just go to Flying M, which is close to home so we can buzz home daily to feed and water the horses. It's early, plans could easily change. C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-88328678398389309962017-08-03T11:07:00.000-07:002017-08-03T11:09:06.938-07:00Turn the page<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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August. Already. The summer is flying by and we're in the height of the season, the dog daze if you prefer. The kiddos will be heading back to school within a month or so, and for this sunshine loving gal, it's hard to fathom. Just slow down already!! I wish...<br />
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We're in the midst of a heatwave. Oh my stars, too hot! All this week it's been near or past the 100 degree mark. Yesterday on our deck, in the shade, registered 112. What's that about? Today promises to be another scorcher. The weather guy's predicting 106...oh boy. Thankfully, we have the pool. I cannot say enough good things about having a pool in the back yard. It's seriously worth its' weight in gold this time of year. I may not spend endless hours in it (some days, yes), but frequent dipping is highly recommended. :)<br />
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I only wish we had one for the horses. The dogs have theirs, we have ours, and the horses have an amazing mister that my brilliant and ever so handy, hubby created. They love it! Just the thing for a cooling reprieve from the relentless sun. <br />
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Speaking of the sun...about that upcoming total solar eclipse. Pretty cool huh? We're in the swath of totality and many visitors are expected to descend on our area for the viewing. Kind of puzzling actually. Interesting how many people are willing to go to so much expense and effort to look at something that only lasts a few minutes? But since we're here, I'm going to get a pair of those eclipse glasses and watch. I'll be working, so I'll just go outside and take it all in. I'm sure it will be pretty trippy having a bright, sunshiney day one minute, and complete darkness the next. <br />
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Our grand daughter Kaylee visits this coming weekend. I've got Monday off and we're looking forward to her visit. Since the weather is still expected to be quite hot, I'm sure we'll spend plenty of time in the pool. She's a horse lover so she's bringing her cowgirl boots so we can spend lots of horsey time too. Since she's just here for a few days, we've made no grand plans. We'll just hang out, maybe rent a movie, sleep in and fix a delicious breakfast and later pick some blackberries for a pie. Whatever we end up doing, I'm looking forward to it. <br />
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We still haven't gotten to go camping yet. I am really, really looking forward to that and hope in the very near future, to do just that. Horse camping, or non-horse camping - either way, we're ready. Last weekend we finished our brick patio and it turned out beautifully. Once we have our septic tank pumped, we can complete the project by building the new steps. It really made a nice addition to our back yard. And it's a perfect spot for our camp fire pit that we hardly ever use. <br />
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I've made arrangements for a couple loads of firewood to be delivered soon and our barns are full of hay. Just need to find a ton of alfalfa for Shad and that's that. I've also bought a quarter of a beef that will be ready towards the end of October. That will fill up our freezer for the winter. It always feels good to be ready for whatever may come. Spending extra money on those things now, will pay off later when we don't have to think about any of it. And hopefully, by getting this all accomplished early, will free up our time and enable us to enjoy the upcoming Fall season more. I have always thought of myself as a "summer girl", but I gotta admit that Fall really is my all-time favorite season of them all. To quote from one of my all-time favorite movies, "it really is a wonderful life". <br />
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Blessings all,<br />
Lorie @ cingspots<br />
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C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-91542589086433721152017-07-24T11:18:00.002-07:002017-07-24T11:18:15.432-07:00So many memoriesLiterally hundreds (or more) of memories over the course of our relationship. Some I remember and some I don't. Between the two of us, we've experienced a lot. The hubby and I have been married 33 years today. Wow. Just wow. It hasn't all been a bed of roses, but it's a journey that I wouldn't have wanted to miss. :) To celebrate, we're going out to dinner with Steve and Chris. I'm looking forward to it. <br />
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It's also been over a month since I've posted here on my blog. I do fall behind, don't I? Oh well, if I can remember what I've been up to, then it's all good. <br />
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I took a week of my vacation over the 4th of July. Actually, with the holiday and the weekends, I had 11 days off in a row. Sheer heaven. It felt so good to have time to myself! Loved it. I don't quite understand boredom because there's always so much to do. Whether work, maintenance or pure enjoyment, keeping myself busy is not a problem. What I really appreciate, is being able to work at my pace, and do what I want, when I want. What an incredible luxury. <br />
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The first eve of my stay-cay was spent at the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame steak BBQ. Was a treat for my hubby for sure. The steaks were big and thick, and grilled to perfection, with delicious sides, thick slices of chocolate cake for dessert and an open bar. They had artists displaying their work, and a silent auction after the Hall of Fame inductees were announced. I bid, but didn't get an amazing pencil drawing by Dirk Godby. We have a few prints of his, and enjoy his work so much. For the first time ever, a Brahma bull was given special honors and inducted into the pro rodeo hall of fame, first time for St. Paul anyway. His name was Rim Rock, or Red Rock - I forget - but he was the bull in the movie, 8 seconds, about Lane Frost's career and eventual death when he was gored from behind by a bull. Yeah, that bull. The guy who owned him was sitting next to me, and he talked a little bit about having owned him, and how he really was a good rodeo bull who wasn't the devil, like he was portrayed in the movie. The cowboy made a mistake by turning his back on a bull. And the bull did what bulls do. Tragic accident. <br />
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We went to the rodeo this year, and it was pretty good. The last time we went, my hubby and I both thought it was possibly the worst rodeo we'd ever been to, and didn't care if we went again or not. But this one we enjoyed. Nobody was hurt, beautiful horses, good cowboys and cowgirls, and it was a lovely summer (although hot) evening. We even stayed for the fireworks. <br />
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I spent some time lounging in the pool, soaking up the sunshine, reading and daydreaming. The dogs and I enjoyed several nice walks and I spent good, quality time with my horses. I even did a little shopping one day, which is something I rarely do. I'm an online shopper usually out of necessity, and I don't really enjoy spending my time inside a store. Seems like a waste of precious time, but I got a few tops that were on sale and was on my way to the beach for an overnight stay. :) What the heck, right? I picked up a bottle of my favorite wine, a few food items and headed on to Rockaway Beach. We had a partial ocean view, and a lovely veranda where I relaxed and watched the ocean and soaked in the sound of the crashing surf. The weather was absolute perfection, and I again, dreamed about that cottage on the ocean someday. Probably not, but it's fun to think about. Walking on the beach, and then finding that perfect, cozy spot to sit down and just be, is one of my favorite things. My dogs are the perfect companions and they spent their time digging holes, chewing driftwood sticks and napping. They too, seem to really come alive when we're on the beach. So invigorating, yet peaceful at the same time. *sigh* <br />
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I'm ready to go back. <br />
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We haven't been camping yet, and are looking forward to that (hopefully) coming up soon. Summers are so fleeting, and we try to cram so much into such a short season that it's easy to get overly busy, and then later wonder what we did that took up so much of our time. Always a fine line it seems. Finding that balance of working out of necessity, working on projects at home, and enjoying recreational pursuits, is a challenge. And no matter what else, we always hope for more time spent with (and on) our horses. Speaking of which, Eagle's wound is coming along nicely. It's scabbed over and is likely a 1/4" thick over what was, the center of the wound. It looks good and I see no harm in starting to ride him a little. That wasn't something I'd planned on for sure, a heckuva riding derailment! Oh well, I enjoyed caring for him, and our trust in each other is so much greater. Always a blessing, time spent with my horse. <br />
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Hope you're all enjoying your summer. Will try and catch up some more soon. Until then, be well and find that joy that's waiting for you!<br />
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LorieC-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534808870944137638.post-10210768852249526822017-06-16T11:53:00.002-07:002017-06-16T11:53:32.192-07:00Self-care and celebrationsRecognizing what's important in life is sometimes a challenge. When we're in the thick of it, you know, trying to get everything done, be everywhere on time, and be the best we can be...all the time; we get lost. And trying to find our way back to what's rejuvenating and nurturing and what really <i>matters</i> can be so hard. But we must! <br />
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I'm learning that if we don't care for ourselves and do those things that bring us joy and peace, we simply can't show kindness, compassion, patience and love to those around us. And if you're anything like me, it's always the easiest to bite the ones we love the most. Can you relate?<br />
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Seemingly regardless of how I <i>want </i>to be, I fall short and say something I regret. <br />
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<img alt="You don't always need to be getting stuff done. Sometimes it's perfectly okay, and absolutely necessary, to shut down, kick back, and do nothing. More" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c2/53/fc/c253fc4485017948bdf3e02bbb12fd74.jpg" /><br />
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Recognizing and celebrating milestones in life are so important. Whether it's a birthday, a holiday, a graduation, wedding or a retirement; those are big events for all of us. A marking of the passage of time, and an entering into a new phase of our lives. Socializing, laughing and being with the people we care about are one of those simple pleasures that we'll regret if we don't make time for them. <br />
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<i>Nobody is as busy as they think they are. </i>We can't always believe that voice in our heads - it lies to us sometimes...<br />
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Look at those two. Charlotte will be having a birthday tomorrow and silly as it may seem to some, we're going to celebrate and go for a walk in the woods or something similar enjoyed by dogs and people alike. It matters.<br />
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<img alt="Charlotte and Ruby" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ac/65/de/ac65de413cb0497f89fdfad4ff0cbb14.jpg" /><br />
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She's changed and grown up a lot since we brought her home. I'm SO glad we did! 2 years old - I can hardly believe it. She's maturing into a lovely, young lady...well, mostly. :) Perfection is highly overrated.<br />
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<img alt="Charlotte" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/dc/85/fd/dc85fd04559f7140032a382ab9fd570f.jpg" /><br />
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Just in case you haven't figured this one out yet? Dogs make life better. One of those gifts bestowed on us by our heavenly Creator. I'm sure of that. Wouldn't you say?<br />
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And this beautiful gal down here? She's turned 24 this year. She's been pretty sore lately, her soles are very thin and that navicular just doesn't improve with time. Aging isn't for the timid. But we all have those little aches that we live with. They don't have to stop us from enjoying life. That's what drugs are for. And special, expensive shoes. A girl's just gotta have her shoes! Missy got hers on a couple of days ago, and without a doubt, they help. They give her just enough lift in the heel to take off some of the pressure that pulls in the heel area, and some ground clearance from those hard lumps in our pasture doesn't hurt either. <br />
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I love this little mare. She's so ornery, she's cute! That's what living with 4 boys will do to a girl. <br />
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<img alt="Docs Windy Night aka "Little Miss"..." src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/66/03/ca/6603caade46559c5ad0d47d22401a7c5.jpg" /><br />
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Don't you wish big butts were as appreciated in women? <br />
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For me, time spent in quiet company with my horses is some of the best time spent in my life. No lie. And I'm not talking just about riding. Not even! One of my greatest, simple pleasures is just hangin out with the horses. They impart their quiet, contemplative way of appreciating the world to me, and I find it so much easier to breathe deeply and just be thankful for life and the beauty in the world. I am blessed by them and love to stand quietly in their presence and just be in awe of who they are. I cannot imagine life without a horse. They enrich everything I hold dear, immeasurably<br />
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<img alt="saddle" height="640" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/10/e8/8d/10e88d16a487eb876bce04cbf7b63ea4.jpg" width="426" /><br />
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I just had lunch with a very dear friend yesterday. We don't get a chance to visit very often, so this was so nice. We always make plans for riding together, but have yet to actually do it. Terry would like to go to Perrydale Trails and try the obstacles. I hope we can do it, would be great. Too often I put things off for way too many reasons and they're usually for silly chores around the house or for stuff that never, ever gets done anyway. Some things in life, like laundry and dishes, will never be done. Amen?<br />
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And my sis-in-law, Chris is now retired! Last day at work was yesterday for her, a legal secretary since graduating college, I simply can't imagine the transition she's going to go through. I wish many new and enjoyable adventures and interests that she'll now have time to do. It's kind of weird with several of my friends nearing retirement age, or a few long since past that time. Age doesn't mean anything to me, and hasn't since I was a kid. We may change on the outside, but inside we're really much the same. Kids at heart. We are planning on going out to dinner this weekend to celebrate and wish her well as she embarks on this new phase of her life. <br />
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My mom always told me not to wish my life away, and I try to keep that sentiment close to heart. However, I can't deny daydreams of my own retirement somewhere in the not so distant future. I look forward to more time to do what I want to do, but wonder how I'll react to the drastic change from working full time to cold turkey. Must be challenging, and so very different. I've never not worked full time. Seems like a gradual trend of working part time, then full on retirement would be easier on the human condition. We are creatures of habit after all...<br />
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I'm still tending to Eagle's wound each and every day. Progress is being made, the wound is granulated in and we keep it clean and moisturized with Derma-Gel. I started out with Mupiricin, switched to Vetericyn-VF for a time, and have since been using Derma-Gel wound ointment for a few weeks now. We apply only the occasional bandage now, but are mostly leaving the wound open to the air to form a scab. In a location of constant flexion and stretching, healing time is slowed. But healing is happening, and he remains sound, so we are so thankful. We've also enjoyed so much time just bonding. I feel his trust (and mine) growing with each and every day. *sigh* He's <i>such</i> a cool horse! How in the world did I ever get chosen, out of all the people in this world, to be the guardian of this amazing animal? I must be special, and know I'm blessed beyond measure!<br />
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Life is good! Never easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is...<br />
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Summer begins next week. Amazing. Bring on the adventures!<br />
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<img alt="~" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/8e/0d/c1/8e0dc1155e338bd16ca683587e77603e.jpg" />C-ingspotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com10