Monday mornings

I do not remember waking up tired as a kid. Is it a part of getting , yikes, older or is  it because we work too much? I know sometimes I try to cram too much in one day, but I really hate waking up and feeling tired. It seems that, that  should be a conundrum, that it should be impossible to not feel refreshed when you open your eyes. Now I look forward to my morning ritual of watching the sunrise, with a cup of joe, just so I can start the Me motor! It takes twenty minutes of quiet, contemplative time to want to get up and get going! Am I alone here or is this what millions of people feel like as they drive to work? Tired, kinda cranky.  This doesn't bode well for the universe. Oh well, moving on. It has gone back to being very hot again and I was amazed how quickly just one week of pleasant summer weather erased the lassitude of the prior killer heat. I was enjoying summer there for a moment. The college classes I signed up for are kicking my butt. I have not written "essays" for a deadline in thirty years- don't know how kids do this and do all the other stuff. I could not drink 10 beers and read a textbook, let alone get a ping pong ball in a teeny weeny cup- repeatedly. Gotta give 'em credit.

Falls coming

It is cool this morning. I love it . I am wrapped up in terrycloth watching a dark grey cloudy dawn just letting a teeny bit of pink and blue appear in distant horizon. It is halfway trying to rain, little spitballs. I wonder if that is good for my laptop!!. They are very little spitballs!  Bob, Michael's horse is nickering good morning, but nobody is answering. He is tired of being in paddock by barn alone. He is up here for his new shoes this morning, but he is wanting some company. Soon, Bob, soon. It would have been a perfect hunting morn, now I am definitely ready to get back in the saddle, it is calling my name. Those cool mornings and perfect moments when it feels awesome to be alive, galloping and just running around. You never feel any particular age when it is perfect hunting, you just feel good! In harmony with your horse and Mother Nature, neither one cares what you look like or what you think about, they are truly, simply into the moment. I watched a video on YouTube this morning, posted by a friend about Big Waves, really Big waves and Laird Hamilton. It was watching this man disappear down a 70 ft wall of water ( he is still living!) and feel a tiny spark of "I know what that moment of perfect harmony feels like". It is surrender and pure joy at the same time. It is laughing with pleasure at the feeling of being the wave ( or horse and land). Happy hunting.

Last days of summer

I can imagine that this is the beach as I sit and wait for the sun ball to appear. It just has- fiery, smoky, wonderful. If you ignore the hissing of cicadas and think waves lapping you could almost feel the sand. It is the same sun ball, same soft breeze, same quiet morning. I like to do it anyway. The big, old, black crows are not quite seagulls tho'. But there is a beautiful pink nimbus around the sun today. Don't know what it means but it is lovely. Almost 7 o'clock now, by the time the sun ball clears the trees and it has moved south. Where it notches the treeline as it rises changes everyday, this surprised me. I knew it moved but had never before really paid attention and actually seen the world's movement! Copernicus, or Euclid or Newton- one of the them would be proud as I give a nod to their early hypothesis of earth rotation. I realized I have kept this blog for a year now. It was last August 18th when my mini was rear-ended and I almost "bought the farm". Grateful for the blessing that kept me here and I have loved writing this daily look at my life. My daughter recently thanked me for the look into my life. She lives in California and I started it partially to tell her about the little stuff that we don't  really think is important enough to talk about in a phone call- but is the fabric of our lives! Like watching the sun come up every day and feeling the soul of one's life. Love you Sarah.

Dawn's witnesses

The sun is not breaching tree tops until 6:45 AM now and the mist seems to descend at the same moment. It looks really cool, as the clouds are lit from beneath in pink and gold, the mist covers the dark green tree line and softens everything. The dew is very heavy on grass. Actually this is very hard on horses hooves, they soften in the drenching moisture and then dry out during the day in the heat. Blacksmith's hate this time of year. One of my yearlings lost another shoe and I hate all those little nail holes right before the sale. They are looking good tho. I am  happy with the new supplement I am trying-flaxseed oil based. They are very shiny and the filly who was so sick this winter is also blooming from it. She too, has front shoes and I am riding her. I believe she is going to make a full recovery which is simply amazing. The babies are bouncing around the back field with their mom's! The foxhunters are getting antsy ( except Bob) with the cooler mornings . Life is good!

August

My birthday was Monday and I realize it somehow marks the beginning of Fall for me. This morning is grey and cooler, different bird song and the breeze smells fresher. It will still be hot later, it is only mid-August, but at 6AM today, it feels like change. I am enjoying the last few days with Will before he leaves for his junior year, lots of philosophical musings and listening to rapid, staccato, raunchy music. He actually raps! pretty well. Saw a stupid movie together last night, these are the simple things I miss when they are all gone. I am about to start an online university course, two actually- one an intro writing? class that apparently everyone must pay for and take ( rip-off) and another in the field of Emergency Management. I think I want that degree finally, not sure I can stay the course, but am taking the first step. Husband thinks I can, I'm not convinced but after many college years at many schools I am going to try to put it together. But who will hire an old person for a job??? anyway, hauling yearling Thoroughbreds around for a million years has prepared me for managing lots of emergencies- and I can't see doing That forever either. Choices, choices. Still going to write a pirate screenplay tho'- can't be worse than some of the stupid movies out. Knock on wood , yearlings are healthy and will get to sales. Four for next year and then we'll see what's next.

Auspicious beginnngs

We moved Will, my youngest son, down to Lexington, Va to his first off-campus house this weekend. Loaded the steam-cleaned horse trailer!! with couches, bed, dresser, etc and helped him into a lovely house in the woods. He is excited and proud of his new place. Auspicious beginning to junior year. I hope it is a good one. We ran into terrible traffic on the way home on 81, but when we finally , after miles of crawling traffic and rain , seemed to reach end of backup the only thing there was a beautiful double brilliant rainbow right beside the road. Everyone was taking a picture out of the car window- surprised we didn't all wreck. Good portent to an new year, for me and for him. Another birthday, I thought this was pretty "old"when I was in my teens , but like everyone says- "I don't feel that old". Must be all the hard work on the farm - I feel old somedays just not OLD. LOL

Cool breeze

It is cool and grey! It is such a welcome break from the heat this past week. Like the ocean after a hurricane ( or before) when the water is stormy and churned up and grey- the sky is cloudy and sweeping by. No sun ball today! We had some terrific storms yesterday and last night, it feels so good! Will and I went to Redskins training camp Wed morning and had a lot of fun. It was very hot just standing, watching. I cannot imagine working out in gear (even if warm weather UnderArmor!) in that humidity- we felt faint just watching. But it was very cool to see the players up close and personal. Donovan McNabb strolled out, to well-wishes , took a knee and I am sure said a prayer, probably like " Don't let me drop the ball in front of all these people". There were a ton of fans there. We stood beside two old guys, who knew everyone and could answer us when we wanted to know the new guys. Haynesworth was practising and that guy is huge. When the whole teams does drills it was like watching giants march. Kinda organized chaos, trying not to bump onto each other. Not to change subjects but I just saw and heard my first V-formation of Canada geese fly overhead!. Damn- fall is around the corner.

Sun Ball

The sun is coming up like a red-hot rubber ball this morning- no soft mist, no haze. It is a powerhouse in the treetops this morning. Going to be HOT! I 'm getting to chores right now and hound walking is going to be a bear this morning. At this very moment it is pleasant but this is what 6AM. Tomorrow Will and I are going to Redskins Park to training camp! You know you are a fan when you make your 20 yr old get up at 5AM to go watch football camp. The prep work on yearlings is suffering a little due to all these other fun things.

August morning mist

I am watching a light foggy morning mist descend towards the ground. Looks like Mother Nature just threw a soft white pashmina around herself. And I am listening to dueling owls. This is the second time I have heard these owls, they keep hooting back and forth, fairly loudly, as tho' in disagreement. Unusual morning. I suppose it is the beginning of a season change to Fall. And I watched football last night! I can't believe where the year has gone , but I love when football comes back. There is just something about watching good athletes and I think football players must be the closest to watching fabulous looking horses. Big, muscular, slightly bad-ass- I guess I understand the appeal of gladiators- just not sure why we like them. Do "warrior -types", whether animal or man represent protection or winning? Are we that competitive by basic human nature-maybe! Foggy mornings, football means foxhunting is around the corner. Whoopee - I am ready- after March I am ready to stop but by now, mid August I am ready to get back in the tack. My son and girlfriend were out last night , planning wedding. it is so cool and it is going to be so beautiful.

Home

Came home from Saratoga last night. It was a lovely break, away from the heat, routine and Saratoga was .. Saratoga! To all who go to Saratoga in August, you know , to those who don't , well it is a place you should see before you die. Old school and an era that is almost gone , except for Saratoga in August. Beautiful old hotels, gorgeous flowers everywhere, a family -friendly old fashioned race meet. We watched the turf breezes at 10AM yesterday morning before leaving with one of the clockers, an old friend. It was organized chaos for about 8 minutes while at least 16 horse came to work on the turf course at Oklahoma track. Saying " I got Baffert, you get Dutrow, behind Matz's. Two for Pletcher and here comes Zito. Did you get Hear Me Roar....etc. It was very fun and a bittersweet reminder of another time for two old exercise girls. We did go to say hello to Rachel Alexandra, because you don't often get to see royalty. Back home today , to Maryland humidity with a groan. Back to prepping the yearlings. Every time we go to Saratoga sales I come home with a renewed intention to make them shine!

Sunrise over 1000 islands

I am crossing back into The States this morning, driving over the Thousand Island Parkway, on my way to Saratoga Springs for the yearling sale. Sunrise over the little town of Gananoque reminded me of the coastal town of Beaufort, SC where we were in June. The air is much more refreshing, brisk even here. I have a sweatshirt on, but the sounds are the same. Snapping of stays on masts, shrill of seagulls, seaport sounds of boats being loaded for the day. This is a big vacation spot for the islands of the St. Lawrence. Happily for me they are so close to New York, that American money is interchangeable with Canadian. I pulled in about 9Pm because I didn't want to drive all night and I wanted to see sunrise over these islands. The desk clerk said they only had one room left, cash only because it was " in the very old part of Inn". After my quizzical look she said it wasn't up to hotel standards so they only rent for cash and if someone really wants it!!. Now, I am wondering if it is haunted or I am going to wake up to Jack Nicholson leering at me in the middle of the night . Yikes! Well, I slept fine but did wake up to a doozy of a dream all about drug kingpins and deals gone bad. Very weird!