Shane's Riding Again

Office hours ended Friday and I poked my head out to see where my family was it. They weren't in the house, so where were they?

They were in the ring!

Carrie gave Shane a riding lesson!

I've been trying to encourage her to ride more and then she had Shane out there, too? Golden!

I only caught part of it, but I saw progress. Carrie let Shane ride on his own without a lunge line or hovering near him. He's developing his seat. I could tell he was posting in rhythm with Maddy's gait as she trotted along.

And he smiled! A lot!

Carrie wants Shane to enjoy horses, but I'm on record as saying I don't think Shane will enjoy them on their own merits. Shane's passion is people. I think he will enjoy horses because of Carrie spending time and energy on him while they're both in the barn. 

So seeing them ride together is a good thing. Shane needs to get outside more. I want to sign up for baseball again, but he's resisting. If he says, "I'd rather ride" I will hold him to it!

They went off on a trail walk and I went inside to make lunch and take care of more work.

Monday, Anne came by. She's a nearby neighbor. We can see her house through leafless trees.

She came to give Shane a riding lesson on Maddy!

I'd hoped we'd go by her place and maybe meet her kids, but logistically her coming to us made more sense. 

I told Shane to "be on his best behavior and maybe she'll want to introduce you to her kids" (You can see where my focus was on the lesson!).

Horses are Carrie's world, so I let her take the reigns with everything. That left me to write down some interesting quotes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Shane to Anne: I might have ginger-vitis! Shows his teeth.

Carrie: No, that's what your Mommy has.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anne to Shane while riding: Good boy!

Shane to Anne: She's a girl!

Anne: I was talking to you!

Shane: Oh.....Hey! Don't say good boy! I'm not a dog!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anne: Let's talk about your post.

Shane: Let's do it while I trot! (Which is where you post)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Shane was a chatterbox. It's well-intentioned, but borderline disrespectful at times. He says whatever comes to mind...and throws in occasional sound effects, too!

Shane rarely rides, but his legs seem stronger than in our early attempts. Or maybe it's just he complains less now that he knows he can do it.

Shane may be gaining his seat, but his hands need work. I could spot that a mile away with my small knowledge of the subject. It something that should come with more experience.

Maddy was mostly a saint, but she took advantage of Shane a few times. She liked to shorten turns and make a beeline right for Anne (who had treats).

Shane: I'm going to let her do her thing for a while.

Anne: What's that?

Shane: To walk to you.

We weren't the only spectators. Carrie spotted one of the local hawks at the far end of the arena.

I'm surprised I got as close as I did. I could have got some great footage with a real camera.

I hope that the lessons continue. I'd love to do it at once a week to establish a routine, but Carrie and Anne will work it out. Shane and I are really hoping she brings her kids at some point, too!

Horses and Barn Updates

There are three horses in this picture.

Abby's the one who's hard to see. She was zonked out.

All of the horses love the pastures. They want to stay out there as much as possible....and they're welcome to it!

Though I hope they won't leave too many skid marks from frolicking around. 

Big animals leave big ruts when they throw on the brakes.

Everypony staying out to pasture has significantly dropped the barn work load. Instead of changing out bales of hay in both feeders twice a day (and then picking up sticks), I'm doing it once or twice a week. There's less poop to scoop, because it's all off in the fields! We'll eventually need to drag the fields, but that requires gasoline instead of manpower.

It's a nice reprieve, because I've been doing horse chores solo most days. Carrie's been out of it. Her wrist is in a brace for two weeks and she's supposed to get an MRI on her knee whenever insurance approves it. To top it off, she got her flu shot and felt sick for several days thereafter.

I'd say the workload has dropped from around 3 hours a day to 1.5-2 hours. There's more I could do like string up the Christmas lights on the girls' side, clean out behind the shed, but I don't have the energy for it. Any time saved is used for Shane, school, and the house!

While Carrie's ability to do daily chores has waned, she has taken care of some other bits of business. She took both the mower and the gator to get their yearly services. 

Carrie's been trimming down her horse gear collection, too. She's driven out to Warrenton a couple of times to sell saddles and has gone through other gear. I know she gave Ellie Sam's old blankets as a Christmas gift, etc, etc. 

She's used some of the money earned to buy other things like a new blanket for Maddy. 

If the last saddle sells, she'll have earned enough to by an elliptical for the house  (She doesn't like to run on the treadmill as much as Shane and Loki do!).

Even though there's not much for him to scoop, I still make Shane come out some mornings. I'll have him stuff hay bags or something simple to force him to get fresh air. I like it when he runs around with Loki.

I try to train him on new tasks every now and then, too. The other day I was showing him how the water heater worked.

"There's usually and inlet and an outlet when it comes to water..."

I figure the more I can expose him to the better off he'll be in the long run. The better we'll be off, too, in case I ever get hurt or sick and need him to take over more. That's not in the plan, but an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.

Do I think Shane will want to grow up and have a farm? No.

Nana said something to Shane about getting married one day and he replied something like, "I don't think I want to get married. I might have a wife who makes me do lots of work and take care of lots of animals!"

If you remember the exact quote, Nana, I'll update that last bit!

Writing Update

Fiction writing has been a fun change of pace. Not that I've done much of it. 

I did a little writing at the beginning of the month to meet a deadline with my partner. I've done a little more writing late at night a couple of times, but I need to do be satisfied with what I have by our next deadline.

Writing is work. It takes energy. I think it's a worthwhile investment of energy, but it's not pure fun. 

I started working on catching up on the blog over the holiday weekend (MLKJ). At the time I'm writing this draft I've almost caught up. That feels good! 

I use my blog as many things:

• A communication device for those who want to stay involved in my life.
• A memory tool for remembering when and what happened.
• A way to process through things and organize my thoughts.
• A future parenting strategy....or at least I hope. It'd be nice for Shane to read some of this!

As for my fiction writing.....I don't know. At the moment, it's fun. It'd be neat to eventually get paid something, but I don't plan on quitting teaching. The goal is to write fiction on the side while it's meaningful to me. Hopefully, it's fun. Hopefully, I learn. Hopefully, I feel a connection with my partner and we both entertain each other through the process.

I've flirted with writing fiction before, but having a writing partner this time is what's made it doable.

With the blog, I know that people read it. I don't usually respond to comments (or have a lot), but I definitely read them (and delete the spam ones I notice!).

With my fiction, I've sent it out to a few people, but not everyone gets around to reading it. I want feedback so I can improve, but it feels like I'm asking for a favor. My end goal is to entertain so that people want to read what I write, but for now I'm a novice. Fiction tends to be longer and it's work to give someone feedback especially if people are already busy.

Which has made me think more about how I interact online. I've avoided clicking "Like" on Facebook posts, because I don't like how Facebook algorithms start only showing things that they think I'd click like on. Sometimes, it helps to see things I disagree with. Sometimes I learn something new and my stance shifts. Sometimes I see something that reinforces my own stance. 

I do the same on Youtube, but I've started to click like more there. Facebook is social media, but Youtube is a place where people create content and some make a living off it. If I want feedback for my writing, won't other content creators want feedback on their content? I've thought about leaving comments, as well, but I haven't crossed that bridge yet! I like a wide variety of things, so I don't want YouTube to narrow down the list of what they think I like too much. Maybe I can counter that by clicking like on a wide variety of things.

One day, I'll post up a chapter of something I've written here. Today is not that day. I'm not ready for the possibility Nana wouldn't download the file, post it on Facebook, and say "LOOK EVERYBODY AT WHAT MY BABY BOY HAS WRITTEN!" 

Nana is a natural motivator and encourager. She's not shy about it either, but right now, I am!

Virtual School - Calling home!

Every Thursday, peer tutors drop by my virtual classes. It's a routine and it works.

Provided kids are in class.

Some kids act like they want to fail. 

There are kids who refuse to work with a tutor even though they're failing ("I don't need help." "What do you mean, 'You don't need help?' You have an F.")

There are other kids who don't show up or leave the moment they think they'll have to do some work.

Normally, my rule of thumb is I do everything I can for the kids who care first. I won't leave behind a kid with questions to chase off after an idiot who's determined not to work.

But if there's not enough work to keep me busy, I got hunting.

Today, we had an extra tutor show up and there weren't enough students.

I hit mute, pulled out my phone, and started recruiting.

"Hi! I was calling, because _______ blank is not in class and we have extra tutors to help with makeup work."

I started with the kids who were borderline and I thought I could get a response. I kept at it until I had enough kids to keep me and all the tutors busy. I woke up some and talked to parents of others and cackled each time a student rejoined the class.

I hate to pull the parent card with teenagers I expect to start acting like their own adults, but I'll do it if I think the situation calls for it! Mwa ha ha!

Helping Hand

I'm not a cook, but I got called upon to dice sweet potatoes the other day.

My left forearm was sore afterward! I didn't think I was in shape, but I didn't think I was that out of shape.

Carrie commented some of it was my technique. I was holding the sweet potato with a death grip at odd angles instead of letting it rush flush. The knife was plenty sharp, but the way I cut made it more work, etc, etc.

I like to think I put my heart, soul, and health into it. I endured pain for my family's sake.

Carrie cooked everything up after I did my small part of the prep and I thought it turned out delicious.

The sweet potatoes were my favorite part.

"The sweet potatoes are my least favorite part," Shane said.

...

Kids.

Charging Up and Forward

Sunday, Shane and I were supposed to go and meet Dylan and Eli on the trail.

The car didn't start. 

Shane's light switch was in the 'on' position. The last time he was in the car was days ago and I hadn't driven anywhere since we went to NOVA...

While Carrie showed off Pockets, I found myself in the garage trying to remember how to charge a car battery. I couldn't find any baking soda, so I cleaned off corrosion manually.

It took a while to find the charger, too.

I noticed the negative connection was a bit loose when I hooked everything up. I let it charge for an hour and a half before I took the Subaru out for a test drive.

We missed out on the play date, but I hope that taught Shane a lesson about leaving lights on. It's not like I haven't lectured him on it before! 

I thought everything was fine and Carrie took the Subaru an appointment on Tuesday. She stopped at Wegmans on the way home and couldn't get the car started up again. I was in class and she'd taken the truck key with her (I've been saying "We need a spare"), so she called AAA (She'd left the card at home, so I had to find it). AAA said it would be a few hours, but thankfully the car started after Carrie waited a half hour or so.  

The car drove home without issue (and Carrie has ordered a spare key for the truck!). The Subaru was already scheduled for a service a few days later, so Carrie told the mechanics what happened. They couldn't recreate the issue, so I'm wondering if it's the loose connection I noticed. 

The car's driven fine since, so hopefully it was just a blip on the radar. If Shane and I hadn't tried to use it Sunday, Carrie would've missed her appointment on Tuesday. 

A side note: The appointment was with the orthopedist. Carrie's had a lot of wrist pain and is scheduled for an MRI next Monday. If insurance approves it, she'll get her knee scanned, too. They gave her knees cortisol steroid shots to help in the meantime. Carrie had another appointment Thursday with a different kind of doctor. She calls all of it "maintenance." It's all part of her attempts to address issues and get in better health.

We Have a Buyer!

In anticipation of selling, Carrie has started to ride Pockets more.

He's been on something of a break, so she wanted to give him a boot camp on manners.

I don't remember which days Carrie rode, but she hopped on at least 3 or 4 times over the course of the week.

It was well timed, because Sunday a Scottish woman named Jacqui came out to see Pockets. Carrie has been Facebook friends with Jacqui ever since she sold her a trailer a decade ago!

Gay came and helped out by riding and presenting Pockets. I watched some of the proceedings before I was charging a dead car battery (more on that later).

I checked on the ladies from time to time and saw them all out riding in a trio after an hour. Jacqui was on Pockets, Carrie was on Eddie, and Gay was on Maddie.

I took the Subaru on a test drive and found everyone riding the bridle trail as I approached the house. Carrie waved me on, so I kept driving! I turned around a few miles down the road and they were on the back trail, so I could come in safely.

Jacqui was interested. She'd always wanted a mule! Carrie was interested, too, because she's seen how Jacqui has treated her other equines over the years (Carrie is always interested in 'forever homes').

Monday, Jacqui came back with her trainer. I don't know the woman's name, but she was from Estonia and Carrie spoke highly of her.

I looked out from the window as I taught and saw some of the trainer riding. My first thoughts: Wow, she's riding Pockets hard. She looks like she's really pushing him.

I asked Carrie later and she said, "It was humbling. In one hour, she pushed Pockets to do things I haven't been able to. I thought I spoke mule, but she spoke mule."

The trainer had pushed Pockets on purpose to see what he knew and how he'd react under stress. Jacqui has had some ongoing health issues, so she needs a mount with the right attitude and training.

Pockets passed the attitude test with flying colors, but didn't know much beyond the basics. We definitely paid too much for him originally. 

So it was no surprise when Jacqui made a lower offer. It was more than the trainer thought Pockets was worth, but her heart was set on a mule and she liked Carrie. 

We accepted. 

Yes, it was lower than we'd hoped, but Carrie thought it was probably the best we could've got for a good home. If we can get a boarder to take Pockets' place, we'll recoup the difference in a few months. 

Jacqui won't be able to pick Pockets up until February, so he's hanging out with us in the meantime. He follows me around whenever I scoop his poop.

He'll lower his head and ask for ear rubs and loving. He doesn't care that I'm allergic.

He may not be the most trained mule in the world, but he loves people and attention. It didn't work out here, but I hope he'll be a fantastic friend for Jacqui and that everyone walks away happy with the deal. 

Regrets? I've got a few!

 Shane's Robblox character is mind-blowingly over the top. 

He bought the dragon wings, but most of the other stuff like the shirt, antlers, cat ears, and oh so many colors were free. 

If only he never discovered Roblox and most of the terrible content it calls "games..."

That's the kind of regret that's fun to joke about. Shane's character is of over-the-top hysterical, oh-so-Shane, and appropriate for his age. He just wants to pack in as much awesome as he can! So what if it overlaps and layers on top of other awesomeness!?

I regret that the hot dog buns I bought from Costco started to mold in the pantry before I noticed. It happened too fast!

I regret that the hose nozzle in the barn leaks like a sieve. There was probably water in it that froze and cracked it even though the pump was shut off.

Both of those are the kind of regrets that are easier to learn and move on from. I didn't think about removing hose nozzles before this one cracked. Lesson learned. I knew bread could mold, so I should have refrigerated it sooner. Learning refreshed.

I regret that I Carrie and I still haven't tried out the Buffy game. I bought it to earn free shipping on Pandemic Legacy. We were going to play it one night and she fell asleep. I had multiple chances to put it away, but I left it out until a cat knocked the whole box over. I sorted everything mostly back out, but it's sat on the floor of my room for a while now.

It's annoying to step over and I'll deal with it one day. It's really not important in the scheme of things. It could burn in a fire and my life would go on.

Kinda like the puzzle I wanted to do with Shane. I got him to start and could never get him to come back to it. He only wanted to do it if the whole family did it at once and I never forced it. I wanted it to be a fun, shared activity not a coerced one.

....so I really should pick it up. I regret not doing that earlier, because I certainly don't feel like doing it now!

I regret that Shane has taken nearly a year off from TKD. I'd hoped he go all the way to black. I wanted it to be a long-term commitment, confidence builder. Plus, I really liked the instructors and how they operated. I was happy to support their business.

However, It was a long drive from Scottsville and then the pandemic hit. If Shane showed an inkling of passion I could have bought pads and done home training, but it hasn't been there. We still may go back one day.

I sometimes regret writing political or current event posts. The truth is: I believe we live in a fallen world. I don't believe there is ANY government that will successfully legislate righteousness. I can point out things I think are faults and mention how I'd want things done differently, but that's talk. The Bible says not to judge and Love in action is what the world needs. 

I try to not fret over anything I don't have control over. Try is an important word there. I'm able to give a lot of it up to God, but sometimes I cling to a regret I should let go. That only leads to my loss of peace rather than any sort of change in the situation. It wasn't in my control to begin with!

The ideal would be to live life without regrets. The reality is they'll happen and it's important to learn, forgive, and fix what you can before moving on.

I often think in terms of Past, Present, and Future Mike.

Allow me to use the barn as an example.

When Present Mike is working in the barn, he can see what Past Mike did. Present Mike may grumble if Past Mike overlooked anything, but the best thing to do is make a mental note and learn from Past Mike's mistakes.

Present Mike needs to do the best job he can. One, a job well done can be an act of worship and, two, Present Mike doesn't know what sort of situation Future Mike may be facing. If Present Mike is lazy and passes the buck, Future Mike may be in a situation he can't handle everything! 

The past is passed and the future isn't promised, so the present is where we have to live.

Currently, Present Mike is writing this post, because he walked by the unassembled puzzle and cards one too many times as Past Mike. Instead of picking it up, he wrote and left the mess for Future Mike.

Go figure.

Landie Lou!

Hey Loki, who's that in our yard?

Shane noticed and he's running out!

Do you all want to go, too? 

Sorry, kitten. Only Loki's allowed!

Ellie and Landie were in Georgia over break. Ellie shifted her night to do chores to Wednesday. It worked well for me since I run a weekly night office hours to help students then. 

I ended up babysitting for a little bit before my office hours started, but that was easier than a full round of chores! I got some fun pictures in, too. Shane showed Landie his aquarium.

And they played fetch with Loki.

Landie put Loki's carrot in the cat tunnels where he couldn't reach it.

In retrospect, she found that she had trouble reaching it, too!

Shane helped out and they ran around merrily for a while.

By the time I came out of office hours, Landie had switched to pure electronics mode. 

The siren song of electronics affects all!

UPDATE: We haven't seen much of Landie since. She actually had surgery on the muscles around her eyes. They were too strong and sometimes would cause her eyes to pull outward (think "Opposite of cross-eyed"). We heard the surgery went well and she's recovering. Ellie will be dropping by next Wednesday for chores again to give her more time to spend with Landie as she recovers.