Rough Friday

It was a rough Friday morning. Carrie needed me to stay home, so I did. It made me a little anxious to use leave, but that's what it's there for. 

Besides, the priorities were easy enough to sort out: I want to work until I can retire, but I want to be married until I'm called home. 

I spent the morning supporting Carrie and doing physical labor. We went on errands to Lowe's and Walmart and enjoyed Arby's for lunch.

We had a visitor in the afternoon: Jenny! Carrie hired her to ride Samwise and Madison to get them back in shape. All of the horses have started to act like they think they're retired. Carrie would like to work them back into shape herself, but with her foot and knee she needed outside help to start the process.

It's good to see an old friend, too. The ladies horse nerded out.

Jenny took Sam into the arena first. The fence vexed Loki at first, but he found a way to slide in after!

Jenny worked Sam and Loki trotted after.

He'd run back when she got far enough away from where we were.

I sat in the corner with Carrie and practiced some photography.

Samwise and Loki were breathing hard by the time Jenny was done.

Maddy was next, but I did't get any pictures I felt like saving. I spent most of the time watching and talking with Carrie. Riding is not 'my thing,' but I'm thinking about learning more to help out.

We made some progress. There's still a lot going on and new challenges will always pop up, but we're still moving forward by God's grace!

Barn-Sitting

Jenny went out of town for the weekend and asked Carrie to barn-sit. Carrie was happy to oblige.

Nibs and Armour are pasture mates now. Carrie moved Nibs to Jenny's barn last Wednesday, so Carrie can see both her ponies in a single commute!

We handed Shane his DS when we showed up Saturday morning. "Play in the car while we move the horses," Carried said. He was happy to comply.

I handled Nibs, while Carrie led Armour and "Fred" (That's not his name, but Carrie says he's a Fred, so she calls him Fred! Who am I to argue?).

Once the three were in stalls and fed, Carrie and I went to feed the seven horses who stay out during the day. Carrie did all this with me along to chronicle. She dropped feed in eight buckets, so that the horses could shuffle and shift between them. "I don't get it, but the feed always tastes better in the next bucket!" She said.

Shane played with the dogs and then parked in the air conditioning while Carrie and I worked on the other chores.

I sneezed plenty. The barn is allergy central to me.....and no matter where I go cats seem to find me.

We made two trips every day: Morning and evening. I saw a big wolf spider hanging out with the dogs. Lots of horses equals lots of flies. Lots of flies equals spiders.

Shane got to muck out his first stall Saturday night. "Pretend it's a giant litter box and you've got the idea!"

"What if cats were the size of horses?" Shane asked.

Shane got in some trouble one day. He's not good about reacting and stopping on the first command. If anything, he wants to tell you why what he's doing is right and keep doing it. That doesn't work with Mommy when you're walking up to the pile of horse shit in sandals.

So I figured it was best to keep him out of sight or engaged with a task when in sight.

Shane shoveled bedding for me on Sunday.

Unfortunately, I had to dump it all out after he ran around the corner. We needed the wheelbarrow to shovel out the poop before we could drop fresh bedding in the stalls. Shane was none the wiser and I thanked him for being helpful.

Shane really did a decent job of entertaining himself. Shane played some DS, read books, played with the dogs, or watched the cats. There were no new scars or doctor trips earned.

Carrie got a big surprise when we were leaving one day. Shane pointed out a cat. "He's in hunting mode," Carrie said."

"What's he hunt?" Shane asked.

"Moles, mice," Carrie replied.

"Like the dead mouse I threw in the woods earlier!" Shane exclaimed.

I lost it. I cracked up. Carrie's eyes bugged out and I laughed even more.

You know Shane took a shower when we got home that time!

Pizza Night!

Carrie cooked up a personal pizza night! All the ingredients were laid out and everyone could make their pizza however they chose.

Not that Shane wanted anything other than cheese. It was still delicious.

Jenny partook. We played a round of Battle Kittens and then watched TV and digested.

It's been a while since Jenny has been over. She and Carrie have been through a lot of horse escapades together. The escapades have been fewer since Carrie moved Mira to Sonya's to foal out, but Carrie and Jenny didn't lose touch. 

Which was a good thing when Armour got bit. There's been some horse drama at the barn. One gelding is being evicted for causing trouble in the herd. He gave Armour a solid bite that put him out of riding commission (and gave us a vet bill, too). 

Carrie made the choice to switch Armour to Jenny's while he heals and the drama plays out.  Jenny's barn isn't a good fit for Nibs, but it does appear a better solution for Armour and Carrie. Carrie's enjoying spending more time with Jenny again!

I got pizza out of it. No complaints here!

Sleepy Sliding

Traffic stunk and Shane fell asleep in the car on the way to Jenny's. He was out. I laid him down on the hill by the car to let nature rouse him.

Carrie said, "You left our son where!?"

He was feigning sleep and trying not to smile when I came back.

Why were there? To unload a mattress. It happens more often when you're married to someone who works for a mattress company.

Carrie and I worked. Shane used the old mattress as a slide.

He kept the dogs amused.

Jenny Meets Avatar Shane

Jenny, Carrie, and crew had a stressful horse day, so Jenny visited for dinner.

Carrie introduced Shane to Aang, so the adults could talk and play Codenames.

He might have liked it.

A lot.

He practiced/showed off a lot of air-bending when the TV went off.

We may have created a monster.

At least Jenny was amused.

The ink was washable and it may have smeared a little here and there.

It's nice that it's not my fault.

It will be my fault when I instigate Carrie to redraw the tattoos at her parents' house. I can imagine Grandma's reaction as a tattooed Shane tries to punch, spin, and kick across their living room now....

Picnic

We had our first family picnic!

We didn't have to go far, either. We met Jenny and her dogs, Calvin and Berry, at the barn.

Jenny supplied the Finding Nemo blanket.

Carrie picked up sandwich fixings after work. Everyone ate well...

...but I think I need to talk to Shane about sharing.

The funniest moment was when Shane ate after the dogs.

Actually, there were a lot of funny moments.

Shane was a snert about "Sandwichs!? Yuck!" at first. He dropped to the ground and pretended he couldn't get up. I will neither confirm or deny that I'm the one who dropped ice down his pants. Shane bolted up, ran around, and worked up an appetite, so it worked out well.

His hugs were a little too high energy, though.

Shane and the dogs entertained each other.

I don't think Shane drank after the dogs....at least not that I saw (Maybe they're all drool bothers).

What's a trip to the barn without coming back dirty? Shane dove in the rock pile while the adults cleaned up. Calvin wanted Shane to throw the ball. The ball, however, kept being buried under rock slides.

TL;DR: 5/5 stars - Shane likes picnics, Carrie and Jenny like to talk horses, and I would laugh if someone dropped ice in Shane's pants again.