Of course, my "voice" will have to be heard online... I
don't think I'm ready for face to face yet 
I re-arranged the items on my dresser for the cats' comfort... looks
like Buddy is appreciative! 
thought you'd enjoy this 
I helped with yard work today... Bob decided blades would be better
for the weed eater, so he didn't have to replace the string so
often. It worked well for him when he used it a couple of weeks
ago... all he said when he turned me loose was "try not to
break the blades"... guess what? I think I'm going to be
demoted back to string...
Americans have Almost Entirely Forgotten Their History
This is soooo sad and a woeful view of the inadequacies of our school system where you learn enough to pass a test and don't actually need to retain knowledge... if history is even taught in any detail now
Seems to me that kids should at least be able to pass a citizenship test before being allowed to decide our country's future
Yesterday afternoon, I was hit with a wave of sadness out of nowhere… apparently for no reason… no immediately recognized triggers… seemingly completely random. It was very disturbing. Especially when Bob came home after I had a two hour nap to recover from the onslaught of tears and immediately asked “What’s wrong?”.
I was on the phone at the time, so couldn’t answer him right away, which almost brought on a new set of tears.
I no longer am burdened by the heavy sadness, but my anxiety level has been higher than usual today.
After much reflection, I think I know what triggered the emotional roller-coaster… I had shared a post that I thought had a valid point regarding the separation of children at the border. The comments I received were not that upsetting. However, the thoughts that later took over in my brain were.
It reminded me of a set of conversations I had a couple of months ago that triggered an emotional response that spiraled out-of-control and left me feeling quite fragile for several weeks. I have struggled with whether to share the experience or not, because it is very personal to me. Yet, it seems, for some illogical reason, important for my own healing to revisit the subject and share the thoughts I was faced with.
So, put your safety gear on and prepare to be dizzied by the swirling thoughts that my emotional self takes in an effort to regain balance. Read on: https://healinghorsetouch.com/reflective-moments/swirling-thoughts.html
As I was finishing a round of fb messenger, texting and phone calls
that came in rapid succession last night, Bob smiled at me and
dubbed me the: Insanity Avoidance Companion 
The greatest part is
that he understands the need for one (he's been there) and doesn't
mind sharing me
Recently, someone asked me what I took for my allergies. I recommended a common OTC because I do still need one from time to time… like when I use the weed-eater and get covered from head to toe with fresh grass clippings…
However, last time I took an allergy
pill, I counted how many I’ve used since I bought the box the first
part of May. Drum roll please… FIVE… I’ve only used five allergy
pills in the past ten weeks! Woo-hoo! 
When I started taking
VitalBiome from Plexus two years ago, I needed an allergy pill 3-4
times a week during the spring and summer months. This year, I can
walk back and forth through tall grass moving temporary fence for
the horses, stroll under pollinating trees, take a moment to enjoy
smelling the flowers (how I've missed being able to do that!), and
am even able to leave the windows open while the neighbors mow their
yards! 
Some people think I’m just trading one pill for another. Obviously, this little probiotic has not been a quick fix for me (and I still struggle under certain circumstances). However, I’d rather be giving my body the tools it needs to rebuild my health versus a daily “bandaid” while my health continually declines.
Best.
Trade. Ever! 
My "chauffeur" is out-of-town for a few days and Bob is on
call. So... unless I become overly anxious and need a late night
visit to the horses, it looks like I'm house bound
After Bob's typical work day ended, he was called to do a job that
no one else was able to do, which kept him out until nearly nine. In
the mean time, I received word from my youngest, who was working at
a store an hour away, that she was having stomach pain radiating up
through the chest area. An OTC was taken... symptoms got worse...
water was drank... symptoms worsened... food was tried... painful.
Before Bob got home from work, a friend picked up my youngest from work to head to the ER after the pain intensified to the point of being debilitating and nearly passing out. We met them there as soon as we were able.
Blood work, ultrasound, and CT scans were taken - ruling out infectious diseases, appendicitis, gallbladder stones, pancreatitis, anemia and any other impending life-threatening problems. Nothing.
3 pain medications and a
"GI cocktail" were given with little relief. Being
discharged with the suggestion that it may possibly be an ulcer. Oh,
what fun! 
We are all extremely tired after putting in a very long
22 hour day! We are so relieved that it was not life-threatening,
but now a tad concerned about how much the insurance may, or may
not, cover (having never used the company insurance for an ER
visit). 
After my youngest visited the ER for the mysterious, debilitating stomach pain, she decided it was time to start looking for a new job - despite loving the current one. Why?
A few months ago, a new
manager had taken over and has proven to be a nasty person. She -
treats the employees like peasants (four employees have quit for
this reason) - yells at them (one person quit his very first day
because she yelled at him for not knowing how to do stuff!) -
expects the employees to pick up her slack while she spends the day
on smoke break (she is a chain smoker) - refuses to take time for
communication (she is too busy to stop and listen and after hours is
her time) - does not follow company policy (including re-dating
expired product and using it! ) - blatantly tells lies.
My
recently-turned-21-year-old has been encouraging the other employees
to stand up for themselves and submit complaints and start a log
book to log when they do stuff (because the manager says they don't
do their jobs), but they are scared. Then, when my child complained
to another employee in confidence, guess who got reprimanded?
Of course, it IS detrimental to the team to speak poorly of management and the reprimand was just, but the statement was made that the manager had to have 100% full support and my child simply can not support this type of behavior - even if it means getting a lower paying job and, possibly, having to move away from home (sharing rent with a friend).
I'm very proud of my child's decision and how
she tried to stand up for others. Though, I must admit, I have
not enjoyed the disruption in our lives.
I was able to spend some time cleaning stalls at the barn yesterday. The mud problem continues this year, though it isn't as deep or vast as last year. Still... it is bad enough that I haven't been able to clean stalls in months (it's gross - I much prefer daily cleaning!).
The expense of fixing the problem is too great, so I'm working the
same plan as last year - waiting for a dry spell and filling in
holes with manure
The rubber mats I laid down last year worked
fairly well, but have sunk a bit in the mud. Yesterday, I dug one
out, moved it out of the way, and filled in the low spots. Then, I
moved into position to wrestle the mat back into place (some how, 60
lbs of slippery, flexible rubber seems a lot heavier!). I sank. The
mud nearly swallowed my boot and refused to let me go!
I spent
the next 15-20 minutes digging my boot out Of course, the shovel
was out of reach... at least I had my gloves on...
I had to pull
my foot out of my boot and sit on the filthy rubber mat in order to
move the mud (I'm not exactly agile and really was thankful to have
the mat to sit on ).
When Destiny saw me digging and pulling on
my boot, he did his best to help - he grabbed hold of my boot and
tried to yank it out 
The boot didn't budge, but I love that
horse! 
When Bob came to pick me up after work, I was too tired
and sore to have him help me move the mat back into place. Plus, I
wasn't about to risk either of us getting stuck in the mud again!
I'll have to dig that mat out and put it back eventually... or,
maybe I'll admit defeat and buy a new one instead.
So many trials and disappointments lately... but, God's grace
abounds and this is the song on my heart right now! My youngest
called a little bit ago... the car broke down on the interstate.
Thankfully, there was no collision and no one is hurt and there is a
friend near by. Guess Bob's weekend just filled up!
The weather this week has been perfect for me... partly cloudy, under 80, breezy enough to stay cool while working... aaah I've taken advantage of it too...
Friday - weeded all the tiny trees growing around the house and shed (there were hundreds!) and moved a collection of building materials away from the house to the shed.
Monday - cut down the bigger trees (under an inch diameter) around the house and shed and pruned back a tree that was preventing the shed door from opening.
Tuesday - fun at the barn.
Today - cut down
the grass in and around the dog pen... this is the worst chore for
me... 15 minutes of using the weed eater and my whole body vibrates
for hours
However, I'm thankful that I can enjoy yard work again.
One of these days, maybe I'll even learn how to operate the lawn
mower and see what mischief I could get into...
When my youngest was trying to figure out how to get to work for the
next few days with the car in need of repair, she suggested bringing
the motorcycle down to the city... I'm like... TAXI!
When I told
Bob the suggestion, he said: "Oh, hell, no!" I never
expected him to freak out worse than me!
I just want to say... it
is NOT our lack of confidence in her driving skill, but the traffic
in Sioux Falls is CRAZY (including a fatal accident from someone not
paying attention in a work zone just the day before).
Plus, the
little motorcycle has a tendency to rattle every bolt loose... one
day, now that the training period has gone well, we'll get a decent
one... in the mean time... no. No city driving.
Bob said he
normally would've taken yesterday off to go fix the car, but the
only other person in the area is off on vacation, so he has to stick
around here until the weekend. I just love it that his first
instinct is to use a personal day though!
A friend was able to
bring my youngest home yesterday morning to snag the truck, so she
does have wheels The same friend took a quick look under the hood
of the car and "the belt" is missing. Bob says this belt
runs the coolant pump, power steering pump, AC, and alternator...
pretty handy little thing! He said the good news is that it is a
relatively easy fix - as long as it didn't take anything else out
with it (which we'll find out tomorrow).
Bob asked, "Where's this picture going?" Facebook, of
course! Silly question
Here he is working on the car... in the
rain... during our second trip to the city to get it up and running.
The first day was terribly hot and Bob said he far preferred the
rain to the heat!
The first day, he changed the serpentine belt
in a matter of minutes, but the tensioner was obviously
malfunctioning, so the project had to be put on hold in order to
retrieve more parts and tools from home. Oh, the love and dedication
shown!
Last night, I dropped my glass of orange juice on my computer
keyboard and mouse. Thankfully, Bob, my Hero!!!, was able to rescue
them
Today, I have scorched my carrots and upended a bag of
chips onto the carpet (so glad I vacuumed!).
Several spots on Hwy 81 between Madison and Watertown have a lake on each side of the road and has had water on the road since the snow melted, but now it is completely impassable.