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More Fall

We’re having beautiful summer like temperatures at the moment. 80 and gorgeous (well except for the resurgence of mosquitoes). As always, I’ve been spending most of my time outdoors.

Midnight and I were out on a trail ride the other day. We stopped by a beautiful body of water.

I took a couple of pictures and then we proceeded on. A fox decided to run across the road, the horse in front of me spun around and Midnight decided to spin around as well. And me, well, let’s just say when Midnight jumped around I didn’t jump with him and I ended up plop in the road with a very sore bottom.

It wasn’t a big deal. Only my pride was hurt and my bones a little achy but this incident was a wake up call for me.

You cannot be a passenger on a horse, even a fantastic, well trained horse. And to ride, to really ride and not just sit in a saddle, you have to be physically fit. Oh, I can hike, I can lift 50 pound bags of grain and I can work in the garden for hours but the truth is I’ve lost ground in other important areas. Flexibility is one and core strength as well.

For a brief instant, I thought about not riding. Nah, that will never work for me. I adore riding, I adore Midnight and it’s up to me to bring my best self to the saddle. Instead, I’m starting a new fitness program and I’m going to be sharing my progress here. And although my routine will be geared to riding, there will be lots in there useful to those over 50 who are concerned about keeping their core strength. I hope you will think about joining me.

What to do while you’re nursing bruises and pride? Have a talk with Mountain Man? Here’s how that went:

“Mountain Man, I think my reaction times are slowing down. I don’t think I respond as quickly as I did when I was younger. What about you? Do you think you’re reaction times have slowed.”

Mountain Man responds, “No.”

“Really? You think you’re reaction time are the same?” (I know how to ask the same question 100 different ways.)

“Yes, they are the same.” I decide not to ask him 98 more times knowing what he’ll say.

But even when you’re making decisions and deciding to chart new courses, the scenery in Vermont demands attention. It’s an amazing time of year whether we’re out running errands

Or I’m walking around the pasture with the horses.

And every day the orange and reds become more vibrant and I don’t want to miss one second.

And even my little Nekkid Necks are changing with the seasons. From a dull colored chick, a vibrant young chicken is emerging.

And my peafowl are adapting fall colors as their own.

Yes, fall is my favorite time of year, unsurpassed visually here in Vermont. A season without compare. But one thing I do know I do not like fall when it pertains to coming unseated from the back of an 1,100 pound magnificent creature. That is one fall I vow to never repeat.

Thanks everyone for visiting us. May your falls be the kind that involve changes in trees and never involve landing on your bottom however padded it might be.