We Match

MEGAN: I got up at 6:00 and thought immediately of Annie. Today is her First Communion, and is one of the rare days when I wish I were home instead of here in New York. After getting dressed and making the bed I proceeded downstairs and got in the car to get breakfast. Heather and I went to a small, cute diner which very well could have been delicious. As I ordered my French toast I daydreamed about Flap Jack (a small breakfast place by my house) where my family and grandparents would enjoy a delicious breakfast after Mass, said by probably my favorite priest, Fr. Joe Krupp. While I waited for my meal I though about how nice it was that I would enjoy a great breakfast in New York just like my family in Michigan. Then it arrived. I was looking at a totally empty plate except for three limp, thick, square pieces of bread with gray, faded swirls of cinnamon across the top. Hmmm. Not quite the plate presentation of home- triangle pieces of thin, but not too crisp French toast with an orange slice all gently kissed with powdered sugar and a hot cup of maple syrup ready to pour… Well, I told myself, it could still be very good. I took my first bite and though of slightly improved Eggo French toast from the freezer. Internally sighing, my connection with breakfast in Michigan devastated, I finished my breakfast and went to the barn. After walking all the way to the indoor only to be told they were done, I then began the long trek back to the Hunter barn. I did Simba’s stall, water, and handwalked- kind of- and while he was grazing I felt all of his legs, only to discover that his left hind was quite swollen along the outside of his fetlock and cannon bone. Zero heat, just puffy. Wonderful- we match. After a few more minutes of grass I took him back to the barn and got on Charlie- which is much more difficult than it sounds. Without using, touching, or stirruping (like my new verb?) my left leg, I could ride. Not amazingly well, but ride. After Charlie and I went back to the barn, I hacked Simba over hills and through the woods a bit, cursing the yellow flies which pestered him to no end. After arriving back to the barn sweaty (after walking- that’s how hot it is) I bathed Simba and then went to get on Lucy. We hacked as well and I had a great time- she is such a nice, sweet girl. I would love to work with her sometime- I think that I could learn a lot. After a quick lunch and great run-in with Barb Stern (a sweet older lady who rides occasionally at the barn) I tacked Horse up, swept part of the aisle, and got on Horse- again, much more difficult than it may appear. The unfortunate part of being sore is that the exact part of my calf that is supposed to lie against the barrel of the horse is currently swollen, red, and tinted gray, blue, and purple. So, I get a pinch of how it must be to ride as a Para-Equestrian. Let’s just say I will greatly appreciate having my whole athletic self back! After warming Horse up I cleaned up in the Hunter Barn a bit, cleaned Simba’s girth, did laundry, and then unacked Horse and prepped another horse for turnout. After bathing Horse and putting all his tack away I headed over to help with bran mash- only to find we had 3 scoops, not 4. So, I cleaned in the Main Barn and did laundry and helped scoop grain for the next morning until it was time to go home. I stopped at the store for dinner supplies, walked home, and weeded the front flower bed and worked on the mulch pile for awhile. When the thunder and lightening came, I went in, showered, and made rice with peas and corn for dinner, as well as cookies for Heather and Lendon- Lendon is coming home tomorrow night and Heather’s birthday is tomorrow. After reading for the Festival and doing laundry I am all ready for bed. Ice is pretty much my favorite thing at the moment, by the way.

SIMBA: Mom sure is walking funny today. Kind of like a penguin, Ha, ha. Waddle waddle. No, I was really worried about her. She scared me yesterday. I am glad to see her this morning and appreciated not having to work except for walking forward up some hills. Tomorrow is Monday, so I get the day off. Ah, days without work are my favorite. Just grass, attention, and treats. What a nice thought to fall asleep to. Until tomorrow!