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Fran on Doc

     Riding lessons continue, we have learned to make the horse move sideways to facilitate opening a gate, to back up, to pivot around a front leg.  Jim consistently is given the choice of Levi, shown below or Nemo, who I rode last week, they are large, tall horses and though Nemo is a good mount, I decided that an average size mount is better for me.  I started on Nippers, a round bellied paint, very good natured and easy to ride.  My third lesson was on Squirt, a bay, also good natured.  Today, I was given my choice of any of the three I had previously ridden or Doc, the flea bitten Gray.  Not literally flea bitten, just his coat has speckles of chestnut in it.  I learned that they are called Gray’s because their skin is black, their coat is white.  Doc was a bit more spirited and a fun ride.
     Today we were challenged with obstacles at a trot, poles laid on the ground, then divided into thirds with cones and barrels that we had to zigzag in and out at a trot.  Each horse has handled a bit differently, some requiring more reining, Doc liked control with your legs.  I feel fairly confident at this point, can get the horse in, saddled securely and bridled without assistance.  Walking and turning don’t bother me, trotting occasionally makes be feel a bit off balance, but I’m getting the hang of it.  I am actually more comfortable when we are asked to trot without stirrups than with them, I feel I have more control of the horse.
     I’m glad Jim talked me into lessons, though I’m not sure I’m ready to go out of the arena and on to a trail yet.

Jim on Levi, Fran on Doc

     I promised photos and Reanna, our instructor was happy to take them for us.
    

    
 I don’t know when Indian Summer is supposed to fall, but after several very cold, windy, wet weeks, this weekend has been delightful.  Today is warm enough for only a long sleeve T-shirt, the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful shade of blue.
     To take advantage of the delightful day, we took the pups to Pandapas Pond and took a two mile walk in the woods and around the pond.  We weren’t the only locals with that idea, as we saw families with dogs, horses and riders, cyclists all enjoying the day.
     Since we aren’t expecting freezing nights for a while, I removed the frost covers from the greens, just leaving the bug covers which will suffice in a light frost.  The cabbages and broccoli that I thought would not mature look like they might after all.  The other leafy greens look great and I think a mess of greens is on the menu tonight.  I also removed the solar charger that electrifies the fence to keep the deer out of the garden as there is nothing for them to eat that isn’t covered, so the charger will spend the winter in the garage out of the weather, hoping to extend it’s life by a few seasons.  The fence wire will remain in place, perhaps a deterrent to marauding critters.
     After chasing Ferdinand off yet again, we built a downfall fence across the path he uses coming up from the creek, a narrow, steep path between a near vertical hill and a fence.  Maybe this time we have foiled him until the neighbor has his fence repaired.  It also is the day that the tractor was moved back to the barn for winter storage.  It will come out occasionally to keep the mice out of the engine block and to run it once in a while, but its work usage for the year is done.
     The remainder of the week is supposed to be more seasonable temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s, with a couple of rainy days, but the weekend has been worth the discomfort to come.

     Though the next few days are going to tease us with warmth and sunshine, the past few weeks have reminded us that winter is headed our way.  Will it be mild and dry, cold and wet, frigid and snowy, that remains to be seen.
     Regardless of the level of winter that befalls us, most days require a jacket or coat, a scarf, hat and gloves.  The winter stash of these items has been dragged off the shelf, reminding us that hubby lost his leather gloves in the spring.  A trip to the mall just before Halloween to look for a new pair showed all of the Christmas decorations up, not just before Thanksgiving this year, before Halloween, but alas, though the decorations were up, the coats displayed, no leather gloves yet.  Apparently they are a Christmas gift item and haven’t been received as yet.  We left with a thin fleece pair with a leather palm for driving which will have to do him until the others come in.
     I was reminded that I have a scarf I started last winter to go with a hat I designed and knit last winter that I suppose I should finish.  One of my other hats I knit is lovely fall colored handspun yarn that I bought at a craft show several years ago and I made a silk scarf in one of the greens to go with it.  My favorite hat is yarn from Unplanned Peacock, a local friend who is an independent yarn dyer and she only made a couple of skeins in a lovely Ruby color.  She made a hat from one, I made a hat from the other.  She hasn’t been able to duplicate the depth of color again so that I can make a scarf.  Maybe someday when she dumps her leftover reds together at the end of a dyeing session, she will accidently hit on it again.
     When I started spinning and making yarn, I just put it aside and admired it.  My spinning friends convinced me that I should really be knitting it, so I found a scarf pattern, Chinook by Ali Green and knit the scarf and it just yelled my stepmom’s name.  The yarn was a creamy white and I dyed it peach, one of the colors she wears beautifully.  Now we don’t exchange gifts anymore, but her birthday is one day before mine and this year the rule will be cracked a bit and she will have a cozy warm scarf to wear on a winter’s day.

     Our Florida born grandkids are spending Thanksgiving with us in the mountains.  We are excited, especially as they will arrive on the 1st birthday of the youngest, our youngest grand.
     Over the years since her big brother, Aidan was born, nearly 6 years ago, I have made an annual sweater for him, all of which are being saved lovingly by our daughter for Nadia to wear also.  Nadia’s first sweater was a knit gown, with matching hat and socks all made from the same fingering weight yarn.
     Two years ago, I knit my first Wallaby by Cottage Creations for Aidan, Superman blue as he and our son in law are ardent Superman fans, and the wallaby is a hit.  Aidan and our oldest grandson think that is the best sweater design ever.  Last year, as he was outgrowing the previous one, another was requested, this one was Superman blue with red pocket and hood.  Unfortunately, I selected a yarn I had not previously used, advertised as worsted weight and I didn’t bother to check gauge.  The resulting sweater was really no larger than the previous year’s version though I knitted a size up.
     The grands will get this year’s sweaters when they arrive.  The yarn and colors for Nadia were picked out by our daughter when we visited them last summer, along with the yarn for Nadia’s Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween.  There is a great yarn shop in Sarasota that we enjoyed visiting.  Aidan’s was picked up locally at a cute little shop in the town of Floyd, about 40 minutes from us.

Nadia’s Hood is from Berroco Vintage, colorway is wine, the pattern is based on Capuchon by Tagil Purlmutter, a free download on Ravelry, though I seriously modifed it to make it Florida weight, you can see the modifications on my projects page on Ravelry.  That was knit on our drive back from that visit to Florida.

Nadia’s Birthday hooded cardi is also from Berroco Vintage, the teal is color 51104, the light blue is 5120, the cream is 5102 and the pattern is a melange of a pattern for a baby hoody from a friend, a bit of Ann Budd wisdom and my own modifications to work it the way I wanted it.  Both her sweater and Aidan’s have been my October and early November knitting.

Aidan’s Wallaby is from Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Quatro, the color is 1957, a tweedy mix of bues and greens.  It was knit on a size 8 to make it a bit lighter for Florida and was carefully measured this year to ensure that it should fit him.

Still on my needles and set aside are a pair of socks for me, a reknit of a shawl that our younger pup damaged, and a scarf of homespun to match a hat I designed last winter.  Still in my knitting que is a sweater requested by my daughter, who sent me a dark picture of her as a teen, wearing a black sweater that she would like duplicated.  I’m still thinking about that one, though I have bought the yarn.

   
    Today as always, I love my husband, for so many reasons; standing by me through good and bad times, being a good Dad to our kids, loving me for so many years together.
     I love our children for keeping me young and giving me gray hair, all of their antics growing up that at times made us wonder why we had kids and others filled our hearts with pride at their accomplishments.  And for bringinng 3 more kids to love in their partners and 5 beautiful grandchildren to love and continue to keep us young.
     I love our home in the mountains with the starkly changing seasons, a log home of our design and with the sweat and blood of family and friends in its construction.   The views changing with each season, the wildlife that provides entertainment to observe and amazement to our city visitors, and the millions of stars visible where there are no city lights to obscure them.
     My father, who taught me to be self sufficient and independent and who having grown up in an era of predjudice, taught us not to judge others by their differences.
     I am blessed to have two siblings and 4 cousins who keep in touch.
     I love the 2 silly pups that entertain with their wrestling and chasing and the unconditional love they offer.
     I am fortunate to be living in a country where I have a say in who will run our  government, have the freedom to dress as I wish, travel when I want, worship if I choose.

     We awoke early to the German Shepherd rattling around in the wire cage, looking out at the Mastiff, asleep by hubby’s side of the bed and wanting to be out.  It was only 6:45 and I didn’t want to rise yet, having had one of my nights when sleep was elusive and broken.  We had no milk in the house for coffee or cereal, nearly no coffee and no butter for toast, and again the sky was thick and gray.  The yard heavy with frost, having had a hard freeze last night.
     It seemed that the expedient route to the day, was to get up, go to the convenience center to dump the household trash, including one bag of mostly political flyers received over the past month, then on to vote.  As our landline phone is maintained only to have internet, we unplugged them to silence the multiple computer calls received each day.  Do they really think they help?  Then on into town to get a light breakfast and a light grocery run to replace the milk, coffee, and butter.
     I have avoided blogging about the election, have basically steered clear of posting about it on Facebook, have studiously not forwarded any of the emails of a political nature.  It is not because I am apolitical, I have strong feelings, and I feel we should all vote to do our part.  I feel that the election campaign procedure has become unnecessarily contentious, leaning more toward misinformation against each other rather than stating their own viewpoints.
     We have done our civic duty, stated our preference and have replugged the phone so that the few neighbors who prefer it can reach us for permission to hunt or walk on our property.  I actually look forward to days when the mailbox is empty, meaning no political mumbo jumbo to trash without reading.  Upon taking the trash down today, we see that now we can recycle mixed paper, so next election, at least the paper will be recycled instead of trashed.

     As I sit in my warm spot of sun at the breakfast table, I am watching a doe cavort in the hayfield on the south end of our property.  I don’t know if you have ever had this joyous opportunity, but they run back and forth, leaping into the air in great bounds.  Sometimes this is a solo activity, often it involves several.
     The sunny morning is a blessing, the first we have had in 11 days.  The afternoons have cleared a few times, but each morning as been thick and gray.  The deer population is being culled during this hunting season in the mountains and we will see fewer and fewer as they elude the hunters or are taken by the hunters, so it is a treat to see a daytime deer right now.  The doe tired or her running play, loped to the northwest corner of the field and bounded over the overgrown fence as though it wasn’t even there and graced me with her beauty as she walked nearer the house along the woods line before disappearing into the tall grass at the edges of the woods and then into the shadow of the woods.
     My thankfulness extents to having the vision to watch her at the distance she played.  To give you an idea of the distance, this is the back of our house from that field.

     As of today, the government considers me a senior citizen.  So many places have their own age cut off, AARP only requires you to be 50 to join their ranks.  My favorite local natural foods store doesn’t require a membership once you reach 60.  Hardee’s will give you senior drink prices at 60, Kroger requires yet another age to get their weekly senior discount and the movie theater requires age 65.  Social security age varies depending upon the year of your birth and whether you are taking early or regular social security.  Medicare is a set 65 unless you have a disability.  Before you start wishing me a happy birthday, I still have a few weeks to go, but Medicare starts on the first day of the month you turn 65, today I no longer have to cough up nearly $800 a month for my insurance.  Hubby’s supplement and Rx supplement and mine together do not come close to what I was paying for my insurance alone.
     One reason I returned to education after retiring the first time, was the cost of insurance for us.  When I retired the second time, I was already eligible for early social security to go with my retirement system funds, and hubby was already on Medicare, so I was only paying for me, only a couple hundred dollars less than it cost to insure hubby, youngest son, and me a few years ago.
     Most of the time, as I am digging in the garden, saddling and riding the horses at lessons, skiing or kayaking, I don’t feel like a senior citizen.  In fact, I continued buying a membership at the natural foods store for a full 3 years after I no longer had to do so.  Today, after 6 days of frigid cold, rain and then snow and flurries, gale force winds, I feel old.  Going out to the garden to again tie down the frost covers, walking out to the paddock to bring in Squirt, the bay I rode today, saddling and riding in the ring that is roofed, but has 4 huge open doors, one on each side, chilled me to the bone, reminding me that I have arthritis in my hands, wrists, shoulders, and knees.  Making me realize that I am no longer as young as I remember myself.  Now I understand why my Dad is bothered to realize that his eldest daughter is retired, graying of head, and now eligible for Medicare.  I hope I live as long and healthy as he has.

My Dad on the right, now 89 years young.

     Watching the coverage last night on the tube reminds us of how lucky we are.  Having spent my life, except for the past several years, living in a coastal city on the east coast, I have endured many hurricanes and north easters that have caused significant damage.  The home in which I was raised was on one of the coastal rivers and as it was being built in 1954 one of the biggest took out a row of pine trees right down across the foundation, while we watched the storm from our little house in a nearby town on another river.  After the house was completed, we watched many times as the water rose near the foundation.  My Dad nailed a wooden block on a tree we could see from the kitchen window, at the level the water would have to rise to enter the lowest level of our split level home, where his office, the utility room and a little room with shelves for canned goods and the freezer surrounded the garage.  The water never quite reached that magic number of feet, though it came within an inch in one storm and lapped on the sidewalk from the garage to the kitchen door.
     We watched as the Ash Wednesday North Easter took out many homes at the North End and Sandbridge and flood the ocean front streets with debris and sand.
     We watched as downtown Norfolk flooded and flood gates were installed.  We watched as Florida and New Orleans were struck and devastated.
     This storm in the mountains was right on the edge of the hurricane winds and the cold front winds that collided right along this ridge of mountains.  We had winds, not hurricane force, but wind gusts of 60-65 mph, we were lucky, no trees down that we can see from the house, the power stayed on providing us with heat, light and water.  We have a fireplace in the living room and a wood stove in the basement, so we could have kept the house moderately warm, but without power, we have no water as we draw water from an 800 foot well.  Perhaps when we built, we should have installed a generator that would at least keep the pump going and the freezer on, but we did not.
     We did have our first snow of the season, earlier than I have experienced since moving here, it did get cold, still is and the wind still blows, but more like it usually does here in this hollow.
     Perhaps as humanity, we shouldn’t build cities right hard on the coasts, in areas that are at or below sea level, but then we would build where there are tornados and earthquakes.  I hurt for those who have lost their homes and hope that they can rebuild and start anew.  We were indeed fortunate.

     This past weekend was SAFF, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival, held in a huge Agriculture arena in Ashville, N.C.  I have wanted to go to this for several years and always found a last minute reason that I could not.  A friend and I began discussing it late in the summer at a knitting group and there was lots of interest in going, but as it neared, it seemed that everyone found a reason they could not, except one friend.  She booked a room with two queen size beds, ah…, room for a roommate.
     Friday afternoon, we set off, splitting travel expenses, making it very doable for both of us.  Saturday morning only 30 or 40 minutes after the second day opening, we were parking in the huge lot, excited to explore.  This festival has two venues for vendors, one huge arena and a smaller building with a small show floor and a large attached pavillion that I expect can be set up with temporary stalls for animal shows, 5 barns, one of which was used for the animals that had been brought, and a building used for classes.  I was overwhelmed, yarn, fiber, books, spinning wheels, looms, spindles, notions, garments, whole fleece, food, WOW.  We wandered until we could wander no more, bought festival food, sat in the bleachers and vegged, watching the arena floor from above, going over our lists of where we wanted to return after checking out the other building of vendors.  After our break, we set off across the parking lot and visited all of those vendors as well.  Many vendors were spinning or weaving between customers, all willing to talk about their fibers, some with commercial products, most with fiber they grew or at least dyed.  Another break for a drink and some sit and knit time.  One of our local friends had her shop there and we waited until the show was over for the day at 5 o’clock and we all went out for Thai food and some visiting time.
     Sunday morning, we were back near opening time to explore some more, for my friend to buy two whole Icelandic fleece, me to try several spinning wheels as I really would like one that I can take to the Thursdays spinning group or to the spinning guild meetings.  We collected our purchases, packed up the car to head home.

     I managed not to buy the gorgeous felted hat that was $135 nor the spinning wheel that I decided will be my next wheel, but I did come home with a sack of spinning fiber to spin and knit into a hat or cowl, enough lovely red wool to knit a cardigan sweater for me and some lovely Raku buttons to put on it, a skein of sock yarn, a knitting needle in a size  I lacked but need to make my daughter’s sweater and a pattern.
     We drove home on the western edge of the building storm, arrived home tired, but safe before it got dark and had a great time.  Didn’t take a single class, watch any scheduled demonstrations or make it to the animal barn and still filled a day and a half at the festival.