It's been a full day. In the morning, I tutored. I forget just how it came up, but I told the older boy about solar power and how you can set a fire with a magnifying glass. Oh, yes -- now I remember! One of his vocab words was "ignite." Well, then he wanted to know about solar energy, so tonight, I made up something for him to read, though Monday, I'll read to the older boy and the girl.
Then I met my friend Karen for lunch at a Japanese restaurant. It's been a while since I ate Japanese food, and I especially relished the thin slivers of fresh ginger. I don't know why -- maybe some deficiency that gets satisfied -- but I've always had a real appetite for fresh ginger. I love the flavor in food. I also used chopsticks, and it's been a while since I used them, so I practiced manipulating them, but my skill returned quickly.
Before tutoring, I went to Ithaca Agway to pick up some horsey gifts for Harriet. I got her Cowboy Magic conditioner and an Oster mane & tail comb/brush. That combo is what I like for grooming tails with the least hair loss. I'm probably more into grooming than the average horse person, and I wonder if Harriet even bothers. Well, what can I do? Maybe with the gifts, it'll inspire her to fuss over her horses. She said she doesn't ride anymore, so what's left but all the work? Though some people think grooming is just another form of work. To me, it's a heart-healing joy. I've heard people say this about cleaning stalls, and I don't get it, so I expect some horse owners can't see the joy in grooming, either.
Karen & I sat a while after eating to chat. She will
buy that mounting block that's been hanging over my head! I think she'll come up next Thurs. to get it, and then I'll treat her to lunch, since I forgot all about her birthday this year. I owe her one, since she didn't forget mine.
Then home to wrap Harriet's gifts. I just wrapped them in tissue paper and stuck them in a gift bag I had. No big deal, and I had some time left before meeting everyone for dinner.
I started getting the kids' lessons together for Monday, though of course, I didn't have time to finish before I left to meet Harriet, Deb, and Deb's mom and sister at a local restaurant. I got to talk to Deb about which horse might be the one to lease, and it looks like Dixie is the safest, though Deb was pushing Maija, who needs longing before you can ride, and it sounds like she gets sort of crazy on the longe. I don't know if I want to deal with that, even if she would be a better prospect for dressage. Baby is apparently too spirited. So it seems like I'll have another chestnut mare, who, in fact, was a former pasture mate of Penny's when I boarded her at Deb's. Dixie's one fault is that she takes exception to other horses near her, and even will kick if one gets too close. I wonder if that'll be a problem or if I can stop her from it somehow. So tomorrow morning, I'll go to the barn to try Dixie and maybe see what Maija is like on the longe line. I think Dixie will be the one, though. It's been months since I rode, and apparently Dixie is fat and out of shape, too, so we can get back into it together, taking it slow.
So after I ride tomorrow, you'll hear all about it -- unless I wind up in the hospital or something! I'm nervous. I've lost my confidence, and I have to rebuild it, but right now, it's not high. I trusted Penny, since we were such a pair, but a new horse is
alien territory.
