Monday, May 4, 2009

Where the heck did April go!?!? It was just here.

I spent more time cleaning to get ready for the party. The nice thing is since I will be house sitting it will stay cleaner longer.

I have found that I can be easily distracted from cleaning. Wyatt brings me a toy and we play on the steps for a while. Pix wants her belly rubbed, I am there for her.

Saturday, I knuckled down and got 'er done! Nothing like down to the wire. I definitely would rather have been riding. It was beautiful outside.

I was able to enjoy some of the day outside playing with the pups to tire them out so they would behave themselves during the party. Ya! Like that worked. What attention whores I have. Wy was demanding with his toy. Pixie was jumping up uninvited and then shinnying up to sneak kisses. How embarrassing!

My little shindig was a success. I gave MJ her b-day present early. I have been dying to give it to her - a huge poster of Captn' Jack. You should have seen her eyes sparkle.

I bought way too much chips and dips. They just didn't eat enough. I was needlessly worried about too much of the BBQ meatballs being left over. In my haste to pack to go to house sit I left them behind. I am hoping I put them in the fridge but have a sneaking suspicion they are on the counter.

Sunday, I had a nice ride on Josie. We worked in the updoor. She still has gate magnetic draw to her but it is getting better. I figured out her little head tilting evasion. Tempo and rhythm have gone out the window. She is better at the far end but any distractions cause her to need to gawk, assume a slight camel neck and slow down. I am working on pushing her through this. It is just Spring. We just need more mileage.

We are getting better at leg yield, she isn't speeding up so much. I decided to do our canter work indoors. I am able to canter from walk and trot now. We are getting most proficient.

I also want to mention I rode past the standards with pennants strung on them. They would lift and flap and then lower to the ground. Josie was a little worried about them but I had let her check them out while dismounted. With leg on and a hand scratching her withers we made it. What a good, brave girl.

Monday, the horses were put out on pasture for the first time. I would have loved to been there with my camera to get some footage of that.

Josie was so tired from all their running that she was napping while I was brushing and saddling her. Good day to ride in the updoor. The first phase of gnats have made their disgusting appearance. It won't be long until there are swarms. Must get back out on trail before they and the mosquitoes repopulate.

I must also mention that the Pixinator jumped out of the SUV on Sunday. What a naughty! There wasn't anything I could do except put her back in, tell her truck and release her. There was some ball playing going on that she felt she needed to be a part of. In her potential condition I don't believe it is a good idea for her to be jumping out of the back hatch window. Wyatt was sitting in the back looking out the window longingly. Look, I stayed in (ya, you were just too afraid to jump out). Good boy, Wy!

Josie had an interesting long slice across her butt on the right side. No idea how she did that but it was deep enough to get through the hair and first layer of skin. A little bloody but not bad. Also, note that her right hind is all good now.

I am on the fourth and final book of Twilight. OMG! I just don't want to put it down.