Other Priorities

Has your house ever been so dirty that you were actually looking forward to cleaning it? If not, you are a far better housekeeper than I. This was the point at which I had arrived over my four-day New Year's weekend. No resolution about it, the place just hadn't been seriously cleaned in far longer than I care to admit. Well, when ambition strikes, I need to go with it. It's way too easy for me to blow stuff off. I did most of it Thursday and Friday, but left the worst until last.

My laundry room does double duty as home to all horsey products and tack except the saddles themselves. It is also the stopping place for a lot of dirt that would ordinarily get tracked through the rest of the house. Not only did I clean it, I reorganized it.

That was a job and a half, but it was nothing compared to my office/hobby room. Sweet Lord, have mercy. It took me all freakin' day yesterday. It was so dusty, I'm still stuffy and sneezing the morning after. It also involved not only cleaning, but reorganization, mostly of my hobby (dollhouse miniatures) stuff. I needed to put it up because I have other priorities — work, writing, horses — right now. I'll come back to minis one day; I always do. I donated 10+ years of craft magazines to the public library, and gained the entire top shelf in my closet for the effort. I can see the surface of not only my work table, but my desk. What a novel concept.

Mike didn't get home until late afternoon and asked why I was not out in the near-80°weather. Cuz I'm cleaning your house, turkey! He sat in the driveway with some brewskies, a cigar, and some classic rock and had a couple of nosey nosers in his business the whole time. They do love beer. At one point, doofy Jaz just stood there and licked Mike's whole head like a dog.


I'm cracking up! I didn't notice until just now that ole Jaz was (ahem) letting it all hang out. It was a good day to be a guy.

I sat down with them and Pokey came to visit me, but sadly, I had to chase him off. He approached me with his ears back (not pinned) and got really close — too close — to me without my permission. He was mouthy, but not in a gentle, curious or playful way. I tried to correct him gently and enjoy the moment, but he was being pushy. Mike doesn't get it. "He's trying to be sweet." No, he wasn't. He was being rude. He's been in one of those moods for a week or two now and I've had to be very assertive. I love being close to him, but it's not an option when he's being disrespectful. The price for such a lapse would be paid later, in the saddle.

I may have missed my opportunity to ride, because it's supposed to be windy and colder today. This is Texas, however, so we'll wait and see what the day brings.

Foggy Friday

Well, not any more. As it has gotten lighter and warmer, the fog has lifted to reveal a beautiful, cloudless day. I took some pix of the Boyz in the fog, and groomed them up a little. I took today off from work. I've been neglecting my home for too long, so my plan is to get some stuff done around the house today, then maybe ride tomorrow or Sunday or both.

Almost a pretty little grey horse, isn't he?
Looks like the cover photo for a book with "Avalon" in the title.

That's my finger at the bottom of the photo, telling them to back off.
I gave them each a carrot and suddenly they couldn't
seem to get close enough.

This would be a nice shot of his sweet little head
if it weren't for his tongue.

I seem to get quite a lot of this type shots these days.
Boyz being doofy Boyz.

Muley headed snotty pony.

Mike and I make fun of Pokey because that lower lip always sticks out
just a little and quivers slightly. It's quite endearing.

My handsome rockstar. This pic brings a tear to my eye.
It completely captures who he is.

Have a great day and don't forget to kiss your ponies.

It's New Year's Day

"Went down Camino Espinoza

Gonna get me a divorce
I'm gonna split with all my money
See that girl who loves a horse

It's New Year's Day here on the border
And it's always been this way
I never do the things I oughta
Think I'll stay, it's New year's Day"

— Charlie Robison ('New Year's Day' from his CD "Good Times")

When I was a kid in Pennsylvania, New Year's Day meant sauerkraut and pork with my grandmother's fabulous potato & bread dumplings. Oh man, I can still taste those dumplings, which we kids called "lead balls." I made them once and quickly learned why we only had them once or twice a year. Ricing potatoes is or was a messy, exhausting chore. I'm sure there's some fancy-schmancy electric gizmo now that does it, but I don't have one.

Here in Texas, one ensures good luck for the coming year by eating black-eyed peas. Black-eyes are an acquired taste, to be sure, as they have an earthiness about them, not unlike that of mushrooms or truffles. Traditionally, they are cooked with ham and served with cornbread, but we are departing a bit from tradition today and cooking them with onion and grilled Italian sausage, serving them with whole wheat tortillas. Although available dry, canned or frozen, since they are grown locally, I prefer to buy them fresh.

I'm taking no chances and am having myself a BIG ole' bowl. Maybe two. Y'all help yourselves to better luck in 2009. Yum.