You ever have one of those days where you do all of the things? Today was that day.
First I went on a trail ride in the woods with friends at the stable where Gus the horse is kept. We meandered around and came out in one field and saw a feral hog, which hightailed it out of there. Jennifer reminded us to keep an eye out for the rest of the herd, or horde, or whatever collective nouns that hogs gather in, but we only saw the one piggy.
We walked through fields of wildflowers, sadly most of which was bastard cabbage, which is an invasive species, but pretty anyway. We rode through fields of gold. There were bluebonnets and promroses and daisies, too, and also some Indian blanket, and it was pretty spectacular. We all agreed that this is why we live in Texas, and we store up days like this for August, when it’s hotter than hell. “You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas,” quoth the general, and he wasn’t kidding.
The horses had a fine old time browsing on leaves every chance they could get, and we crossed streams and surged up hills, and my saddle and bridle are in the back of the Forester because man they are filthy. In a bit I will go sit on the deck and clean my tack.
So that was that. Then after cleaning Gus and washing him off and letting him graze and picking his stall and heading home, I also:
- did laundry
- cleaned the bathroom
- mowed the front and back yards
- swept the front walkway
I am achy but in a good way and I am sure I will be moving a little creakily tomorrow. But it feels so good to do all that, and move and ride and live in the world on a glorious day in Central Texas.
Gus at the end of a long ride.
6 Comments
A3 · April 13, 2014 at 6:05 pm
Sounds like a fantastic day! I drove to Austin and back this weekend to chaperone a Latin tournament, and even though I stayed on the big roads, I saw some gorgeous wildflowers. The temptation to stop and take photographs (the camera was in my car) or stop at a winery was strong, but I had to meet a timetable getting there and back.
Patrice Sarath · April 13, 2014 at 8:27 pm
If you went along 290, it’s just spectacular. This is one of the best years for wildflowers.
A3 · April 13, 2014 at 9:13 pm
290 on the way there. 71/I-10 on the way back to avoid a rodeo and Bluebonnet festival because I was trying to get a group of kids back to Houston for Prom. We made it.
J. Kathleen Cheney · April 14, 2014 at 3:57 am
Sounds like a good day ;o)
Z Husain · April 14, 2014 at 6:13 am
This is certainly a big year for wildflowers. Have you driven down 130? It’s a sea of blue on all sides. Not a blade of grass to be seen!
Patrice Sarath · April 14, 2014 at 6:32 am
It sounds wonderful. Also, closer in, Cameron/Dessau Rd is another spectacle of blue.