MAY 2023

Hey ELLEN, how is neighbor Pat's puppy doing in training school?

Pat's puppy is doing well, but he isn't in school yet. He went to the vet on Monday for "brain surgery". He is signed up for class, which will be a very good thing. Pat loves dogs soooo much, but he really doesn't know much about animal psychology. He sorta thinks they aren't very smart and doesn't expect much.
Yesterday, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and Pat tripped over him and fell, causing a big scrape on his arm.
He is a smart little dog and it only takes one time for him to learn things. When he can, he bolts out the door of their house and goes for a run around the neighborhood and is clever enough to not be caught. He got out, ran around; I got on the golf cart to try to keep track of him. He ran for a while, then decided it was time to go home and did. A couple of days ago, Pat brought him over on a leash and I gave him some cheese. My hope is that if he gets loose again, he'll come here first. Yesterday, after his crash and burn, Pat came over with Paolo. I gave him a bit of cheese. He well remembered he got it here before. Pat said that as soon as they left the house, he headed this way.
He's very young (11 months) so he needs some running time. There is a nice dog park not far from here so I hope Pat will take him there to get some exercise.

I just heard a bit more about Jamie. Our prayers are helping. The tests on the skin that was possibly cancer came back negative. They are waiting for genetic testing to see whether or not they will do chemo.
She has been strong and healthy up until now, so that should help with the recovery. As of last evening, she is starting to feel a lot better.

YAY JAMIE...............

ELLEN, are you having storms? SIL has had rain all day and occasionaly strong winds.

Today has been a nice day..........I went to Chili's restaurant. I don't like it much. so
I had salsa & chips and a coke..........yum yum.

It's really nice out right now.......about 70, sunny, breezy.........No, it's 80.

My friend in assisted living is progressing, she stood for 3 min, a long time for her.

I'm outside walking for shore distances 3-4 times a day.

Nell E is fine and such a pal to me.............

Nite nite.............

ELLEN:
Good news about Jamie!
The dog sounds cute, but I hope Pat gets him some training before one of them get hurt. Good idea about the cheese treat!


GRAYMARE:
I don't think I have been to a Chili's restaurant. Is it a Mexican style kind of like Taco Bell? I am glad your friend is doing better!


INDYAPP:
Do you ever get a chance to ride one of your horses these days? You sound so busy. It's hard to work in sometimes...


I am exhausted. I have been riding a fair amount all week, a lot of trotting on Areion. Today I did 5 miles on Ivan at Pandapas. My poor bod is screaming about this, the old hip/thigh muscle pain is back, and I am achy in general. Hopefully I will toughen up and get used to this. I can tell my breathing and strength is better after a year of incorrect heart meds keeping my breathing affected and harder to exercise. Hopefully my muscles will follow along with the strengthening. I have 15.7 miles with Areion for the Virtual Tevis Cup ride, so am behind about 10 miles for the time frame of the contest. Unfortunately, Ivan's miles don't count toward the Tevis numbers. I need to get to the point that I can take Areion on some trail rides and get more mileage in. I don't feel quite ready for that yet. Both Ivan and Areion have been very good....thankfully!

As of 11 PM, rain but no storms.

I want to wish EVERYONE a happy mothers' day before I get too sleepy. Today has been a very nice day
with calls from my friends and it makes me reflect on those I love.

Have a great evening everyone..............

Happy Mother's Day to all of your who have kids, both 2 legged and 4 legged.

Hope all the mothers out there had a Happy Mother's day!!



I rode Areion in the new saddle today. We did 2 miles in the arena. She was exceptionally good! This is the longest we have ridden since we started this Virtual Tevis Cup ride. No spooks, no refusals, no issues. The new saddle is very comfy for me, but we used an old girth that we had that may not be as comfy for Areion as it could be. Now that we know the size, I will order a new girth. We now have 17.5 miles added to the contest.

Ark, can you pony Areion from Ivan? That way all three of you would log some miles.

ELLEN, she can pony Ivan but she has to ride Aeion to qualify her points........but I think it's a great idea.

GO ARK.............

ELLEN:
GRAYMARE is right. I have to either ride or hand walk Areion, just like they do in the real Tevis Cup. Nothing Ivan does counts and he can't pony anyone. I might be able to pony Ivan from Areion, but right now I feel like I couldn't look after another thing while trying to ride Areion. It would be adding one more ball into my juggling act....

Rain all afternoon here today. I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so no riding. I don't have to go back to my local cardiologist for an entire year!!

Hey ARK, great news on your ticker...............

Ark, I know how good that feels to know you don't have to see the cardiologist.    Mine completely dismissed me, unless I need him.

Congrats to you too ELLEN............

5:10 P............

Strange rainstorm down the street............POURING AND WINDY. Then stops two doors down, not one drop here.

That's Arizona.............

We get rain and snow like that too. Sometimes there is a distinct line across the road where there is rain on one side and completely dry on the other. It's strange to see.
Something we get here at the lake are raging storms. Heavy rain. Very high wind that occasionally brings down a tree or two. Five minutes later it's all over and the sun is shining. That happens once or twice a year.

It rained off and on all day here with a nice lightning storm when we were down putting the horses to bed for the night. No riding for me. Still holding at 17.7 miles with Areion.

GRAYMARE:
I have seen rainstorms like the ones you described, where it rains hard in one spot and is dry a few feet away. It is strange.

ELLEN:
Congrats on escaping the cardiologists! I guess the Watchman is working for you, that's great! They wanted to put one in my heart, but really didn't have proof what was going on with my heart until I got the heart loop recorder. Turns out I didn't have aFib and the Watchman would not have helped. I don't take blood thinners, which turned out to be unneeded anyway. I have SVT. It took several years to get things right, but I think I am on the right track now. Whew! I still have to go to the regional cardiologist to have the loop recorder checked once a year. Not a problem!

Ark, I'm so glad they finally got things right for you. That would be a big relief.
The Watchman and the ablation are both working very well. I still have a little bit of high blood pressure but nothing that can't be managed with one pill a day, which is easy enough, and not expensive.

I'm off this afternoon to shop for a new TV - a BIG one. The one I have is 10 years old and beginning to show it's age. I'm meeting Friend Sherry for lunch and then we'll go attack Best Buy.

Waiting with baited breath to hear all about your new TV, ELLEN................with all the new types,
I'm sure you got a good one that is utilitarian and with lots of doo dads. Let us hear.................

Friend Sherry and I had a nice lunch and then went to Best Buy to see what kind of trouble I could get into. I had been looking online for a couple of weeks to see what I wanted, but I was also open to suggestions.
The salesman/kid was very good and listened. I wound up with a 75-inch Samsung, which is what I had planned on. Those big ones are rather fragile when laid on their backs for transport so I couldn't bring it home even though my car would have been big enough. Neighbors Kent and Cheryl and I are going on Friday, and taking their closed trailer so the box can stand upright for the trip home. We're going early so I'll buy them breakfast. I love my neighbors.
The picture quality of all the TVs they were displaying was fantastic. We were looking at a photo of leaves on one of them. Each and every vein on the leaves was shown very clearly.
When I get it up on the wall and working, I'll take a picture for you.
I have the best cousins ever. At Christmas, my cousins gave me a nice gift card for Best Buy. I'm a happy camper.

Congrats, ELLEN!
A new tv, what fun!


I rode Areion in the arena for 2.4 miles today. Well, actually we hand walked about a half mile of that. I like making sure Areion's marbles are lined up before I get on her. She did great, although was a bit lazy today. We now have 20.1 miles toward the Virtual Tevis Cup ride.

Good grief ELLEN, that will be nice. Your neighbors will probably hold Tuesday movie nights
at your house............Ha, a collection of great friends watching movies and eating popcorn.

ARK, every mile counts..........Sounds like Aerion has matured a bit.

Everyone have a great evening...........

It's a BIG box! My neighbors drove their Jeep, pulling a closed trailer to go get the new TV. It was all very efficient and done. We'll wait until this evening for Travis to help put it on the wall. It's about 70 pounds, so I won't be much help. My job will be to stay out of the way. LOL

Oh boy..........can't wait. It will seem like you have live horses in your house for the race tomorrow............

I got some good news today. Jamie's skin test came back negative. The lymph nodes were negative. The DNA test was negative. She will know June 6th whether she will have radiation and/or chemo. For now, all it good. Prayers are still answered.

Yay Jamie................you rock!!! We'll keep praying for more good news...............