When possible, I avoid taking medicines and over the counter drugs, preferring effective homeopathic remedies. But, there are times when one must put chemistry over principle and take a prescription in order to feel better.
It's been quite some time since I've had a sinus infection and I don't recall it feeling so terrible. Funny how our memory filters out pain and discomfort for us. Yet, this is what I have and I know there is only one way to rid oneself of that horrid illness and that is antibiotics. It's been a long month of restless sleep, occasional fever, earaches and headaches and overall blahness. I did nothing more than the strictest of minimum required and even passed on some of that. Needless to say, I got behind. In everything.
Today is day five on medication and I woke up feeling like I actually could participate in something with a somewhat clear head and with a renewed energy rather than working from dwindling reserves. Keeping in mind doctor's orders, "don't overdo it", I have done several changes of laundry, cleaned the kitchen and the floors, climbed on all fours into Pinkie's kennel and scrubbed it out, took out the trash and recycling and washed the trash can, done a little work work, caught up on poop scooping, scrubbed some water buckets, played endless fetch with the poodles who were so happy momma could once again fling that ball with some umph, hammered a loose flashing on the horse shelter, fixed a pesky part of the fencing that keeps coming down, watched the Bald Eagle new eaglet activity and the beginnings of the second egg hatching, talked to my mom, topped off with a few more miscellaneous items. And I still have a little left to give!
I'm going to start slowing down for the day as I might be coming close to the overdo limit. It's when your meds really kick in that you realize just how crappy you have been feeling.
Good health is on the horizon! May you be healthy as well.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
Compassion
"Let the ugliness of unkindness in others impel me to make myself beautiful with loving-kindness.
May harsh speech from my companions remind me to use sweet words always. If stones from evil minds are cast at me, let me send in return only missiles of goodwill.
As a jasmine vine sheds its flowers over the hands delivering ax blows at its roots, so, on all who act inimically toward me may I shower the blossoms of forgiveness."
~~~Paramahansa Yogananda
May harsh speech from my companions remind me to use sweet words always. If stones from evil minds are cast at me, let me send in return only missiles of goodwill.
As a jasmine vine sheds its flowers over the hands delivering ax blows at its roots, so, on all who act inimically toward me may I shower the blossoms of forgiveness."
~~~Paramahansa Yogananda
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Rhythm Is Gonna Getcha!
It wasn't a typical morning of chores, as I will soon reference, but I was out getting it done. Doing my best to stay present in the current task so I don't overlook something critical to the safety of my animals, the ring of the phone caught me off guard. The caller ID showed a long series of numbers with no dashes which I have come to recognize quickly as an international call.
"Hello!"
"Hello, Noelle? This is Michel from France."
It was a surreal moment in that I suddenly was being transported over the continent and an ocean to a memory of one of my visits to France. I didn't meet Michel in France, but his accented English and manner of speaking had me comfortably seated in a cafe in Brest.
Michel and his wife Danielle were here in Bend a few weeks ago. They discovered Maverick's and had come out dancing several of the nights they were in town. They are avid dancers in France. The minute I saw them take the first step in my lesson, I thought, "We need to talk." As it turns out, they come to this area every year for a month or so to ski, and now to dance.
Michel had called to get the names of the dances I had taught that night so they could start sharing them with their group. Considering I forgot to lock in the hens last night, I was hard pressed to remember what I taught in that lesson. I asked him if he remembered the first steps of any of the dances and he said, "Yes! Skate, skate." Say no more, that is Covered in Kisses. In that instant he couldn't remember the steps of the other two dances, but he said, "They will come to me as I have been practicing them. I will be in my garden and suddenly, I start dancing!"
Such kindred spirits. The romance of a garden in France with sweet tender blossoms, inspiring one to chasse over to the next planter pairs with wandering the dry lot with a manure cart and fork and breaking out in a triple step while avoiding the little hooves of circling goodles.
"Hello!"
"Hello, Noelle? This is Michel from France."
It was a surreal moment in that I suddenly was being transported over the continent and an ocean to a memory of one of my visits to France. I didn't meet Michel in France, but his accented English and manner of speaking had me comfortably seated in a cafe in Brest.
Michel and his wife Danielle were here in Bend a few weeks ago. They discovered Maverick's and had come out dancing several of the nights they were in town. They are avid dancers in France. The minute I saw them take the first step in my lesson, I thought, "We need to talk." As it turns out, they come to this area every year for a month or so to ski, and now to dance.
Michel had called to get the names of the dances I had taught that night so they could start sharing them with their group. Considering I forgot to lock in the hens last night, I was hard pressed to remember what I taught in that lesson. I asked him if he remembered the first steps of any of the dances and he said, "Yes! Skate, skate." Say no more, that is Covered in Kisses. In that instant he couldn't remember the steps of the other two dances, but he said, "They will come to me as I have been practicing them. I will be in my garden and suddenly, I start dancing!"
Such kindred spirits. The romance of a garden in France with sweet tender blossoms, inspiring one to chasse over to the next planter pairs with wandering the dry lot with a manure cart and fork and breaking out in a triple step while avoiding the little hooves of circling goodles.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Sunday Accomplishments
While repairing the perimeter fencing was high on the priority list, I'm not sure it was on my list for this day. Like most days around the ranch, what is on the list of things to do often gets replaced by what the ranch decides needs to be done.
That very generous snow storm we had a couple of weeks ago really did me in. Not only did I have to turn off my perimeter electric fence as the "hot" lines were buried in snow, I couldn't do anything about poop scooping with that much snow. Once the snow melted off, the rains came and the dry lot was a mud bog so scooping any poop was impossible because it would be more like scooping mud and besides, I couldn't pull the cart through the boot sucking quicksand!
As things have been drying out, I've started to catch up on 3 weeks of neglected poop management. For the past week, I've been keeping up with the daily output and grabbing up a bit more. Having the dry lot fully cleaned out again will take some more work.
Today, Bodie went chasing something out the back of the property, which is an odd place for anyone or anything to be, except the deer. When I went back to look, I noticed entire sections of the top line of my perimeter fence were down. This immediately interrupted my attempt at cleaning the dry lot. So, I took Shadow with me, gathered up a bunch of yellow baling twine strands and out we went. Shadow browsed as I tied twines together and started replacing the fence.
The top line is what the deer take down so I have already replaced a few sections with baling twine and have discovered its benefits: 1) super cheap because I already have it on hand; 2) recycling material; and 3) for the most part, the deer don't rip it. Rather than just replace the sections that had come down, I went around and replaced it all, converting the string to twine. It was a good time to check the electric lines of the fencing, clearing away any debris.
The hot lines had a few spots that needed to be adjusted. The snow had pulled on the lines, causing a couple to cross one another or touch the ground, thus causing unsteady current around the property. I set out to adjusting the lines, turning the fence back on, and walking around testing the lines. The goat pen is now hot again, for which I am grateful, you never know with those two. I found one spot that needs a different connection but that is for another day. At least 98% of my fence is hot again.
I went back to the dry lot and got one entire section of accumulated poop cleaned out. I dragged the water trough out and scrubbed that down for a clean refill. In between projects, I was switching out laundry. In one trip to the house, I managed to clean the guest bath shower. It had been driving me nuts. The guest bathroom had become my horse blanket dripping and drying station during those wet weeks of weather. The bath itself was a muddy mess and the floor had its share. Done.
One of my neighbors rode by on her bike and we managed to squeeze in an enjoyable five minute conversation. Earlier, another neighbor texted me that she wanted my coffee order and she came and delivered me a decaf latte! And all animals have been completely kissed, loved and given fruits and vegetables in addition to their breakfast.
There is still much to be done. I have to head out soon to teach a private lesson so that will break my stride, but I am quite satisfied with today's accomplishments.
That very generous snow storm we had a couple of weeks ago really did me in. Not only did I have to turn off my perimeter electric fence as the "hot" lines were buried in snow, I couldn't do anything about poop scooping with that much snow. Once the snow melted off, the rains came and the dry lot was a mud bog so scooping any poop was impossible because it would be more like scooping mud and besides, I couldn't pull the cart through the boot sucking quicksand!
As things have been drying out, I've started to catch up on 3 weeks of neglected poop management. For the past week, I've been keeping up with the daily output and grabbing up a bit more. Having the dry lot fully cleaned out again will take some more work.
Today, Bodie went chasing something out the back of the property, which is an odd place for anyone or anything to be, except the deer. When I went back to look, I noticed entire sections of the top line of my perimeter fence were down. This immediately interrupted my attempt at cleaning the dry lot. So, I took Shadow with me, gathered up a bunch of yellow baling twine strands and out we went. Shadow browsed as I tied twines together and started replacing the fence.
The top line is what the deer take down so I have already replaced a few sections with baling twine and have discovered its benefits: 1) super cheap because I already have it on hand; 2) recycling material; and 3) for the most part, the deer don't rip it. Rather than just replace the sections that had come down, I went around and replaced it all, converting the string to twine. It was a good time to check the electric lines of the fencing, clearing away any debris.
The hot lines had a few spots that needed to be adjusted. The snow had pulled on the lines, causing a couple to cross one another or touch the ground, thus causing unsteady current around the property. I set out to adjusting the lines, turning the fence back on, and walking around testing the lines. The goat pen is now hot again, for which I am grateful, you never know with those two. I found one spot that needs a different connection but that is for another day. At least 98% of my fence is hot again.
I went back to the dry lot and got one entire section of accumulated poop cleaned out. I dragged the water trough out and scrubbed that down for a clean refill. In between projects, I was switching out laundry. In one trip to the house, I managed to clean the guest bath shower. It had been driving me nuts. The guest bathroom had become my horse blanket dripping and drying station during those wet weeks of weather. The bath itself was a muddy mess and the floor had its share. Done.
One of my neighbors rode by on her bike and we managed to squeeze in an enjoyable five minute conversation. Earlier, another neighbor texted me that she wanted my coffee order and she came and delivered me a decaf latte! And all animals have been completely kissed, loved and given fruits and vegetables in addition to their breakfast.
There is still much to be done. I have to head out soon to teach a private lesson so that will break my stride, but I am quite satisfied with today's accomplishments.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
My Prayer for Today
My prayer for today is that we each recognize our own divine value and believe in that value without searching outward for validation, without comparing ourselves to others, without criticizing others in order to feel self worth.
May we be able to celebrate the successes of others with sincerity without questioning and counting our own successes.
May we relieve ourselves of fear, because without fear, hate has no place to breed.
May we be concerned with only our own truth, our own happiness, our own responsibility to this planet which is to love all.
May we find the power in taking responsibility for our own actions, reactions, choices and outcomes. When we embrace this power, we obtain a tranquility in our spirit. We realize anything is possible.
May we use this power to share compassion for others. For when we accept control of our own emotions, we will wish this calm for everyone.
May we find a moment to sit in silence and experience peace. May that moment become a minute and that minute become an hour.
May that hour become a way of life.
Namaste.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
12:22
A.M. That's what time it was when I opened the deck door to bid my sweet ones good night. We've been socked in by fog for over a week and then rain for the last two days. The moisture is welcomed, despite the muddy mess it creates in the dry lot.
The rain sheets the horses had on last night were soaked and so heavy when I traded them out this morning for a dry one. I debated about taking them off the horses this evening. My three weather references on my mobile phone all said cloudy to partly cloudy for the night. My years living in Central Oregon have taught me it's best to look out over those mountains and add my own forecast into the mix, and tonight it told me the rain was not done. Sure enough, just after dark it started to rain again. I could see the sky considering a clearing but with the anticipated winds, I have also learned it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to strong gusts.
I didn't anticipate this crystal clear sky we have now. If I weren't ready for bed, I would go down and take the rain sheets off the horses and let them bask in the stars. The night air isn't frozen yet so it is fragrant with moist earth and trees and a touch of sweet wet wool. It's fresh and alive. I smile.
Yes, I do write about the stars often. They are so magnificent and abundant it is hard not to be in complete awe. I realize that for much of my adult life, I have lived in places where the star appearance has been minimal, drowned out by urban lights. Only on vacations or trips out of town would I see what the night sky really could look like. So now, every night that I can see stars, I lose track of time just gazing. I smile.
With a wide open sky completely covered in stars, shooting stars are not uncommon. Those were things that I would see only if I drove out to "the country" from the city, put down a blanket and waited. And waited. And if one happened by, it was truly incredible. I still find it incredible but the drama is different. I know that with patience, sometimes just a tiny bit, I will be treated to a fiery tail traveling at a speed I cannot fathom. I smile.
So it is at this late hour, feeling blessed to have healthy animals, a roof over my head, food for all of us, wood burning in the stove, love of and for friends and family, talents to sustain me, good health and good humor that I look up into the powerful beyond and give my thanks.
And I smile.
The rain sheets the horses had on last night were soaked and so heavy when I traded them out this morning for a dry one. I debated about taking them off the horses this evening. My three weather references on my mobile phone all said cloudy to partly cloudy for the night. My years living in Central Oregon have taught me it's best to look out over those mountains and add my own forecast into the mix, and tonight it told me the rain was not done. Sure enough, just after dark it started to rain again. I could see the sky considering a clearing but with the anticipated winds, I have also learned it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to strong gusts.
I didn't anticipate this crystal clear sky we have now. If I weren't ready for bed, I would go down and take the rain sheets off the horses and let them bask in the stars. The night air isn't frozen yet so it is fragrant with moist earth and trees and a touch of sweet wet wool. It's fresh and alive. I smile.
Yes, I do write about the stars often. They are so magnificent and abundant it is hard not to be in complete awe. I realize that for much of my adult life, I have lived in places where the star appearance has been minimal, drowned out by urban lights. Only on vacations or trips out of town would I see what the night sky really could look like. So now, every night that I can see stars, I lose track of time just gazing. I smile.
With a wide open sky completely covered in stars, shooting stars are not uncommon. Those were things that I would see only if I drove out to "the country" from the city, put down a blanket and waited. And waited. And if one happened by, it was truly incredible. I still find it incredible but the drama is different. I know that with patience, sometimes just a tiny bit, I will be treated to a fiery tail traveling at a speed I cannot fathom. I smile.
So it is at this late hour, feeling blessed to have healthy animals, a roof over my head, food for all of us, wood burning in the stove, love of and for friends and family, talents to sustain me, good health and good humor that I look up into the powerful beyond and give my thanks.
And I smile.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Good Night Moon
As I do every night, I stepped out onto the deck to whisper down to the boys in the dry lot my wishes for a good night sleep, safety and good health. While much of the country is suffering frigid temperatures, it's 45 degrees here at midnight.
The patchy clouds are doing their best to obscure the waxing moon; determined, she'll have none of that. The storms from the Pacific Northwest are blowing across, committed to a duel with the Cascades; maybe they make it over the mountains to bring us moisture on the eastern side, maybe they don't.
Staring up to find the roadway of millions of stars called the Milky Way, I was mesmerized by the constellation Orion as it appeared to be drifting, detaching from its place high in the southern sky this time of night. The sky started rotating, twirling, floating. The satellites in orbit joined in the play, steadily moving in one direction while the billowy clouds moved opposite.
Unplugged.
The patchy clouds are doing their best to obscure the waxing moon; determined, she'll have none of that. The storms from the Pacific Northwest are blowing across, committed to a duel with the Cascades; maybe they make it over the mountains to bring us moisture on the eastern side, maybe they don't.
Staring up to find the roadway of millions of stars called the Milky Way, I was mesmerized by the constellation Orion as it appeared to be drifting, detaching from its place high in the southern sky this time of night. The sky started rotating, twirling, floating. The satellites in orbit joined in the play, steadily moving in one direction while the billowy clouds moved opposite.
Unplugged.
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