IMPROMPTU JOY









It's been awhile since I posted. My apologies. 

NaNoWriMo kept me busy in November writing Thor, the Mighty Friesian for Reality's Chance Rescue and Sanctuary. F*CK It, I'm 50! is in final revisions/editing stage, with an early 2022 publication date. Drafting, very early stages, of my memoir about my son have been in full swing, and another new project is in the works as well.

I've been busy! 

Life is stressful, but tonight I was gifted with a bright surprise. This evening I went outside for night feeds.  My old donkey was green faced and happy, while little Red (not so little, like a barrel with legs my sweet boy!) pouted because he always wants more.

Cinder finished her feed and I opened the back door of the hog barn which opens onto the middle pasture. I pulled a hay bale down from the top of the stack, swung around, and there was Cinder, half inside the doorway, dubbed the hobbit door due to its size. There stood my mare, chestnut head and shoulders leaning toward me, watching my every move. 

She backed when I asked so I could walk outside and throw the bale into the standing feeder. Whenever I put in a whole bale, I cut the twine and pull them away. Tonight, Cinder snorted and backed away from the zippy sound and movement. Rather than leave her with the fearful reaction, I used the blue twine to rub her down and then I had an idea.

Dusk is such a lovely time of day, especially when there's snow covering the manure and mud. It was perfect for an impromptu Liberty session. Swinging the twine to get her attention, I drew Cinder to me, and she responded immediately, walking right to me. Keeping her focus, I turned so I could walk forward but kept slightly turned her way. Cinder came right along, and as I sped up a bit she did, too. 

Once I was sure she was with me, I turned and stopped. Cinder's eyes were on me, and I raised my hands in front of me and asked, "Whoa." She stopped instantly, licking and chewing, and I was ecstatic! Pushing my luck, I repeated the whole process, this time moving up the hill and around the manure pile at a trot. Along came my little red mare, chasing right behind, shaking her mane as we moved together. Again, she stopped as soon as I asked, and again, licking and chewing.

None of this was planned. I didn't have my training tools. I didn't have a halter or lead. I was wearing Robbie's clunky old winter boots. It was getting dark. None of it mattered! 

My sweet Mustang was with me, gifted me with her focus, with her understanding. Pretty sure I'm going to be riding high (pun intended) off of this beautiful night until...until the next time! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's Just a Blue Hat

Image
...BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE! It's Robbie's blue hat, one of the few things I have of his. I wear it, and feel him with me when I need it most. I feel him watching over me, especially when I need it most. This morning, I readied to go out for chores, grabbed my quilted flannel shirt off the hook, and reached for the blue hat. I always hang it on the hook above the flannel. I grabbed for it without having to look, but no hat. Slight moment of panic, but this has happened before. It is exactly why I now ALWAYS hang it on the hook. Deep breath. Calm yourself, Kristine. My hand reaches into the deep front pocket of the flannel (second storage spot). Nothing. The other pocket is searched. Nada. Panic. "I can't find my blue hat!" Chad turns from where he is standing in the kitchen. He knows it is more than a knit cap that keeps my head warm in winter.  Frantic, I rush into our coatroom, searching the cubbies, the hanging jackets and coats, their pockets, even though I know
Read more

ONLY ONE MORE DAY

Image
     It's only one more day. One more day without him. One more day without his smile, his laughter, his dirty socks in the couch cushions, empty Dorito bags in the bathroom (yes, the bathroom).      Eight years ago my world was changed for all eternity. My sweet son, Robbie, gone.      I remember the moment I knew something was wrong. It was in the air as I walked up the steps. It was goosebumps on my skin as I stood in the doorway. There are so many things I remember but don't want to, and so many things I don't that I wish I could have back.      So now I have a new normal. Dreams sometimes bless me with his presence, younger or 16 year old versions, but never older. Last night I cried while watching a show, flashing ahead to future views of the characters' lives, children, laughter, playing, together. I will never know what he could have become. I will never hold his babies in my arms, snuggle them, kiss away their boo-boos.          In the week leading up t
Read more

Letting that Sh*t GO!

Image
Recently, a number of friends reached out to share a post written by a former friend and business acquaintance. Each person who brought it to my attention did so with the best of intentions. They were angry for me, wanting to protect me, and hoping to keep me aware in case of future, well, attacks is the best way to phrase it. Their love and caring was much appreciated. I should have simply left it there, but I made the mistake of reading the post anyway. As I read, my muscle memory brought me back into the feelings of sadness, betrayal, and disappointment that ultimately led me to disassociate from the author of the post. It would have been incredibly easy to fall back into a pit of negativity, to feed the desire to defend myself, or follow the urge to point out the falsehoods being revived. For a few minutes, I'll admit, these were all pulling my fingers toward the keys; but, as my heart raced and my blood pressure rose, I paused. Responding was not going to resolve the break or
Read more