Recent things
* Sun! The sun decided to grace the Nortwest with its presence lately. We might as well have given everyone a shot of Prozac, because that's how happy it's making people. Seriously. I hadn't realized how gloomy the office had been until I heard so much laughter in one day.
* Birds! I spent a good portion of today in the best chair in the house. From it I can see the suet feeder. I kept tapping at the window to chase off the starlings, in hope of getting something better. And I did. Two flickers showed up and did a very effective job of chasing off the starlings on their own from then on. (Seriously, would you want to mess with this beak?) I loved watching them. And now I know what that weird tapping noise I keep hearing is. Flickers like to tap on our gutters, apparently.
* Horses! Lately I've been able to manage twice-weekly lessons. The difference is amazing. Yesterday M. said that, if she'd walked in the barn and not seen my face, she would have never known me from a few months ago. The arena has mirrors now, and I'm really pleased that nearly every time I glance in them, I'm properly aligned. I'm having issues with my right heel, but I've even made some progress in that area. And I am no longer gripping with my thighs. Yahoo! Also, I was able to ride Monte. At the walk, on a lunge, but seriously, it made my week. He's so huge, and he feels really interesting under saddle. Different than any horse I've ever ridden. And, I fulfilled a dream of riding an Andalusian. OK, so he's half Andalusian, but I'll certainly count that. Diamond is a blast to ride. She's green, but she's easy-going and honest.
* Birds! I spent a good portion of today in the best chair in the house. From it I can see the suet feeder. I kept tapping at the window to chase off the starlings, in hope of getting something better. And I did. Two flickers showed up and did a very effective job of chasing off the starlings on their own from then on. (Seriously, would you want to mess with this beak?) I loved watching them. And now I know what that weird tapping noise I keep hearing is. Flickers like to tap on our gutters, apparently.
* Horses! Lately I've been able to manage twice-weekly lessons. The difference is amazing. Yesterday M. said that, if she'd walked in the barn and not seen my face, she would have never known me from a few months ago. The arena has mirrors now, and I'm really pleased that nearly every time I glance in them, I'm properly aligned. I'm having issues with my right heel, but I've even made some progress in that area. And I am no longer gripping with my thighs. Yahoo! Also, I was able to ride Monte. At the walk, on a lunge, but seriously, it made my week. He's so huge, and he feels really interesting under saddle. Different than any horse I've ever ridden. And, I fulfilled a dream of riding an Andalusian. OK, so he's half Andalusian, but I'll certainly count that. Diamond is a blast to ride. She's green, but she's easy-going and honest.