Friday, February 21

Today I am grateful for:

That the weather is so nice. It was about 4C today, above freezing. I know we'll likely have a bit more cold weather, but spring is coming now.

A group of people from the riding barn went out together for a trail ride. It was so much fun! We went down the road a ways, then crossed a deep ditch full of snow into an open field. We rode for about an hour in the snow, there were 12 of us, several were younger kids (won't they have something to tell their friends at school). At one point, we found a nice spot for everyone to trot/canter in a big circle, which was pretty cool with that many horses. Then some of them lined up and raced up a hill a few times. The horses were all really well-mannered, the weather was great for this time of year, and it was just all around a wonderful outing.

River really enjoyed himself. He was a champ going through the deeper snow, behaved himself and respected the other horses. He was really forward, and though we walked most of the time, his walk was springy and engaged, and his ears were forward the whole time. I'm sure he gets bored doing the same thing all the time, so this must have been nice for him.

It sounds like the bank is thinking about giving us the extension on our mortgage that we will need for the work we're doing on the house this summer. I don't like the idea of adding to the mortgage, but I know that's generally what people do when they have a big project like this. Otherwise it would take us five or six years of working as we had the cash at hand to pay for what we hope to do this summer (the addition, windows, siding). We don't have a guarantee yet, but it sounds better than it did a few weeks ago.

Thursday:

I am grateful for the change in the weather. It's pretty nice outside right now.

Going to the gym again. I seem to be less bored with it than I was when I tried going a few years ago. Maybe because I figured out how to use the television? It's nice to have somewhere else to go to get out of the house.

Watching a really engaging movie: "The Favourite". Wow. Such good acting.

Worked on a watercolor.

Wednesday:

Going to the barn, and lots of people were there. It was fun riding with a group of people, though it can get a little dangerous if people aren't watching where they're going. It was very social, and chatty. Just what I need right now. River felt quite forward in the canter, and was enjoying himself.

I did another version of an Octopus pen and watercolor wash painting, using the excellent Sakura waterproof pen I bought recently. My husband's room mate at work might want this one, we'll see. He expressed some interest in the other octopus I did, but I want to keep it. So, I did this one if he wants it.

These are some pictures from today's ride.