Early-Winter Randomness

Last week was Manic Week. Dinner out with alfreda89 , and much good book talk and Book View talk and writer talk. Visit from the lady who belongs to Pooka's dad, who lives near Seattle, with much good horse talk. Much yardwork and barn work. Much Arranging to get moved over from Big Evil Bank to local credit union. First big winter storm of the season--half an inch of rain, always badly needed in these parts, and accompanying rounds of Blanket Brigade. Today was Me Go Thud Day. Much wrangling of blankets and rain sheets--more rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow--and I did a Mind Meld for SF Signal (comes out on Tuesday). But otherwise I was horizontal a lot.

Pooka is getting better. He's not holding his sore leg up weirdly when he walks any more. The cuts (all superficial) are solidly scabbed over. He's getting a blanket at night, both because it's brisk out there and because it keeps the torn muscles warm. He gets Imperious if I'm too slow to get it on him as the sun drops and the temperature drops with it.

I have been seriously frustrated about not riding enough. So am making a point of it, even if for just 15 minutes. Capria yesterday. Pandora today. Both out and about the property (if you've seen the trailer for HOUSE OF THE STAR, you've seen what we've been doing). Tomorrow we'll see what the weather and the footing are like. I have plenty of volunteers. Had to take some time to groom and handle Ephiny tonight after she grabbed the halter I had for Pandora and put it on herself. I can take a hint. Groundwork in saddle next. I'll be getting back on her within a week or two.

After all the fuss and disappointment, I wasn't so sorry to miss the Roundup after all--we had a wet, wild, windy night and it was a cold and raw morning. Pooka would Not have had a good time. He's having trouble enough dealing with cold, owies, and his personal private human riding EVERYBODY ELSE BUT HIM GODDAMMIT.

Now that it's abruptly winter--it was 80F on Friday and barely cracked 60 today--the cats are very, very, verrrrry friendly. I sit down and there's a pile. When they're not mobbing me, they're bouncing off walls. Even Hillary, now the elder statesman, has been reprising his youthful superhero act: The Flying Fluffball.

When we have Weather, we get spectacular cloud effects. Yesterday was one I'd never seen before.


That's muddy!Gabriella in the foreground.

And in closeup:



It looks rather like the prow of a dragon ship.

Then there was a familiar (and fitting) configuration--mares' tails!


This week I hope will be less crazed and more with the writing and the riding. I'm almost done with the Great Bank Transfer--hope to close my account ca. Wednesday. And there will be White Horse Yoga on Friday, for 11/11/11. Because. You know.