spring

The kids are out! It's a bittersweet reminder that life ends and life goes on. But I'll try to forget that for a while and simply enjoy watching the kids play.

lula

Last year Shuga and I went "Loping for Lula". It felt important to ride for her again today.

Lula waits for us to join her in heaven, but this world is darker without her brilliant light.

sisters

getting schooled

wishing

Apparently the kids have never seen a wishing fountain before. They were bummed that I didn't have any coins handy to demonstrate.

Naturally I fantasized about sliding on the ladder Belle-style while dreaming of far off places, magic spells, and a prince in disguise. (If you like it all that much, it's yours...)

the messes of early independence

wind crazy

a day in the life

Shuga understands how this gate thing works. What she doesn't understand is why I am wasting time taking a picture instead of immediately letting her out.

Meanwhile, the other horses prepare for a mini despooking clinic called "Walking Past the Scary Blue Tractor". You'd think by now they'd be pros, but you'd be very much mistaken.

ready to ride

Before:

After:

still mending

blast from the past

recovery

I have been horribly, awfully sick this week, so I have a little catching up to do. The thing started on Tuesday, continued through Wednesday, cleared up just enough to get back to work Thursday, and got so bad again today that I had to go home early.

I'm hoping to use the weekend to swing myself back into good health.

Here are the stand-out moments (when I was alert enough to remember pictures):

It's been ages since the arena was this rideable. A pity I was too sick to take advantage of that window of opportunity. It's been raining almost constantly ever since.

Soup for my sick self, and an apple for Shuga's Valentine.

Rain does not sit well with my sick body, I learned today. It's a lesson I won't hurry to forget.

My constant companion, bodyguard, and shadow. If Shuga was smaller, she'd be curled up on the other side of me. Both of them get a bit protective when they sense something's wrong.

spring is coming

Shuga has begun shedding, bringing hope to all who are tired of winter.

It's been a while since it's been warm enough to sit while she eats breakfast. This is also a welcome sign of spring's presence just around the corner - even if there is dense fog today.

Shuga is obviously impatient to start working regularly again. I love that she loves spending that time with me.

In other news, I didn't share the bonus picture from yesterday:

bored little girl

quiet evening

creative cleanup

And for a bonus, a picture of homeschooling last night:

under the weather

cold outside

just hangin'

chilly morning

home again

For the first time in 11 years, we have the Rockin' V back. This time it's a Ranger Station instead of the familiar Ranch.

Some of the old songs have been altered to fit the new theme better. But the important elements are all the same.

Being a part of this certainly makes the last original Budaroo very happy.

Now to train up the next generation of Budaroos...

family night