So the temperature dropped like it saw a cop

 So, the other day, ok Wed. and Thur the 9th and 10th it was SO nice and warm. Like in the 60sF and I was so enjoying it.  Played with my horses some, had out granddaughter Charli outside.  Got these selfies with my girl Ginger.  She was more interested in me scratching her ears to be really cooperative lol

It was so nice!   Then it decided that winter needed to show up and well, I'm not that happy about it.  Snowed some, cold and quite frankly, I'm already ready for spring.  

I'm also getting myself geared up to get this 10lbs Covid weight off my body.  So I'm going to get back into bullet journaling to help keep myself on track. Here's a style I'm trying out

Its simple and well that's ok.  I mainly want to use it for fitness/health.  We'll see if I like this style or it I move on

We also adopted a new kitty.   Our local Shelter had a Maine Coon calico, so a female, up for adoption and I got her.  She was almost painfully thin.  But in the 3 weeks we've had her, she's come out of her shell, started to put on weight and well,  started to become my kitty.   We named her Freya, cause I have pet named Thor, Loki, and Odin already.  Almost named her Hela, but she didn't feel like a goddess of death to me Here she is

Isn't she pretty!  Very fitting for being named after the Norse goddess of love, beauty and warfare. 

That's about all for today.  Have a good one!

I'm so over Covid

 No I've not had it. But I'm over it just being around. I'm over our federal and state government not doing much to slow down the spread.  Or seeming to care if people die, hospitals are overwhelmed, and nurses are leaving the profession, and not nearly enough are going to nursing school to replace those that have left, or sadly have died due to Covid.  Tired of getting daily updates on how many people have died, more than were killed during Pearl Harbor, and anniversary we remembered yesterday.  More than died during the 9/11 attacks.  And still, our government just doesn't seem to care.

This virus can just go away any time.  I'm so glad vaccinations are finally starting to be released.  Maybe by Easter I can have a family dinner with my whole family.  We didn't for Thanksgiving  We won't for Christmas.  My sister had her father in law die of Covid.   I've know a few other people who have died of Covid.  I'm just over it.  

I'm also over it being dark by 5pm.  And there are 2 weeks before it will even start to get better. 😕  Who decided that this time change thing was a good idea? Cause all it does is make me have to do chores in the dark and well, it kind of sucks, mucking out stalls when its getting very dark by 5pm.  

I've decided this winter I'm NOT going to be picking up any shifts at the hospital. I hate driving when there is a chance of bad weather. I've done that driving more than enough in my time as a nurse and well, if I don't have to, why should I?  I also don't want to dump all the horse chores off on my hubby.  I'm the one who really wanted a horse and somehow ended up with 4 lol. So I'm going to be the one out there mucking out stall, putting out water, hay and grain for them.  

So on Wed. cause we won't be babysitting my wonderful granddaughter, I'm going to be shopping for winter gear.   A nice heavy coat, some coveralls, a stocking hat, etc.  If I've got a good chance of having to be out there in below zero and I'm talking Fahrenheit, temperatures, I'm gonna be warm.  Or as warm as one can be.  Already have some long johns to wear under my clothes.  

Getting back into losing weight.  I've gained 10lbs since spring.  And mainly since late summer 😱

I bought jeans in late Sept/early Oct, I can't remember the exact timeline, and well I can't wear them cause of the weight gain.  SAD.  So time to at least get this 10lbs off.  Back lifting weights, and hitting the Peloton again.  And trying to get a few more steps in everyday.   I'm rereading the Beck Diet Solution and got a new workbook and I'm going to be starting that in a week or two.  I'm going to go slowly, and get each step down before moving on. Might take me all of 2021, but slow and get it stuck in my brain, will work better.  Here's a pic of what they look like 

In fact, since hubby and Charli, my wonderful granddaughter, are taking a nap I might get to reading a little bit.  I want to get this fat off my body!

Got a visit from the cutest triceratops ever!

 So, as you all know, it was Halloween yesterday.  We babysit Charli, our 14 month old granddaughter a half day on Sat so she was here from about 8am til around 1pm. 

Well, she came back in the late afternoon/early evening to "Trick or Treat"   She really doesn't know any tricks and I'm her grandma. I'd give her all the treats lol  I'm allowed, I'm her grandma.  And besides, mommy and daddy get a share in the loot too. 

But here is her picture.  She was a triceratops, as you might have guessed from the title 

Isn't that just the cutest little thing!  OMG!  She's so cute!  Gave her some candy, and a little to mommy and daddy then we went out to see the horses lol  Cause.

Bought a new microphone for my camera.  My old one,  a present from Cassie, my youngest daughter, died when we moved.  It probably just got rattled around to much in a box,  but it quit working.  I made a few videos without it, but the room is so echoy cause of the high ceilings I thought I probably needed a new mike.  So, I got one.  Made a quick 40 second video just to try it out and seems to be ok.

Speaking of videos, gonna make a couple tomorrow. I have a couple ideas to put out there in YouTube land.  Hope I get some views.

Been a lazy bum today.  Watched the NASCAR race today.  It was the next to last race of the season, and sets the 4 who are going for the championship. And both my favorite drivers are in the bid for the championship so that's an awesome thing!

Not to much else going on.  Just HAD to put my cute triceratops out there for all to see.  Cause she's just to cute!

Gonna try to grow out my hair

 For like the 87th time in 10 years lol.  Ok maybe not quite that many but I have tried to grow it out and don't get much past 2 months growth lol. 

This summer, I went for an asymmetrical bob,  something like this.

I got kinda close, but well, having hair that moves around in the wind, kinda sucks lol.  The long bangs really bothered me, so I cut it.  But only after several months of growth. My oldest, Cyndi, who is my hairstylist, and mother of the bestest grandbaby ever, wouldn't allow me to cut it from Feb til the end of Aug, and I made it until the end of Sept.   So I proved to myself I can grow out my hair, at least somewhat lol.

So now, I'm looking to try for something like this:

A nice bob with bangs.  I think I look good with bangs.  And it hides a couple wrinkles I have on my forehead.  Made a deal with Cyndi.  No cutting, except for clean up work, making sure split ends are trimmed, the length is even etc. for 6 months.  That's the end of April.  Then we'll see how it looks and if I can stand it.

Hoping to get some horseback riding in in the next couple weeks.  Been a couple cause its been cold, dreary, rainy, for a while, and well, I'm not into that lol.  But 50s and 60s with sunshine, sounds great for riding!

Also hoping to get Charli back outside to play.  She loves playing outside and quite frankly, so do I.  Gonna get a few indoor toys to put in our basement which is finished, for her to play with during the winter.  Gotta have something for her to burn off all that energy lol.  

About all for today.  Hope Halloween treats you well!

Back to making YouTube videos

My latest video 

Feels kinda good to be back at it again.   I wish I could get a HUGE increase in subs and viewership cause it would be nice to make a few bucks off my channel but it will be years at this point lol.   Its fun, so I'll keep doing it.

Winter is here.  I know its only October, but its 28 degrees, and there is a skiff of snow on the ground.  I don't like winter being here quite this early. but all I can do is complain about it.  Maybe all the complaining will help warm it up lol.  Gonna be warmer this week thank goodness.  I wanna go horseback riding, and well, I'm a wuss and won't be riding much in the cold.

Worked the other night.  It was an ok shift.  Got a little draggy after about 1am, cause my patients were pretty easy.   I mean I'm happy about that, but man it makes the night just last FOREVER when its like that.

Don't have much to say today.  Get out there and watch my videos 😝

Doing my part for Society!

 Iowa has early voting so, I voted.  Its done. My vote counts!  That way, if I get hit by a bus, or bucked off my horse, and can't vote on Nov 3, my vote is in, and it will count!

Then when I was done, I went to my local Hy-Vee and I got my flu shot!  Never could manage to get mine at work cause I either didn't work the days they were doing flu shots for us night shifters and I wasn't going to drive 50+ min one way just for a flu shot.  Not when I can go to the grocery store's pharmacy and get one.  So I did.

And hey everyone 

It really is the best way to prevent the flu.  And with Covid cases and hospitalizations going up, we don't need flu cases overwhelming the system

Now, I'm not that sore from my recent fall off my girl Ginger.  Oh, I'm sore and have a nice bruise on my inner left thigh, probably from the saddle horn as I went over.  But overall, its not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  I get a little stiff if I sit to much, but a few step in, and I'm moving pretty well.

Not much else to say today.  Also trying to edit my first YouTube video in forever.  OMG. Blogs and videos.  WTF!  😋

 

The ground is hard. Ask my rear end.

 So hubby and I are out riding 2 of our horses today.  He's on Butch I'm on Ginger.  It is a beautiful day, we're having fun.

There is a pond in the field where we are riding and we are trying to go across the dam side of it.

Ginger  has second thoughts.  She sees something in the trees off to the side. Probably a deer cause we saw lots of evidence of lots of deer out there.

 Well, I have Ron and Butch try to go first, Butch is older and doesn't spook easy while Ginger is young, and spooks like a 5 year old at a Haunted House lol

Welp she SPOOKED!  Took off, half running, half bucking  with me trying to control her and stay on, neither one happened.

The ground is hard.  Much harder at 50 than it was at 16 lol.  Knocked the breath out of me a little bit.  Ron and Butch got Ginger, and I did get back up on her and rode home.  My left upper glute is quite sore, but I'll live.  I think hitting our hot tub this evening sounds like an amazing thing. 

And I do think I'll pass on a workout tonight.  I think I just need to let my poor body rest up a little bit.

I did sign up for that Power Zone Challenge.  I just want to do one in full.  I'm going to try working out 5-6 days week.  3 spin classes 2-3 lifting workouts.    Unless Ginger does something else to me lol.

I think I'll leave you with this.

The worst thing about being on call is...

 Every time the phone makes any noise, not even  a ring, just any noise, I jump just a little.  I'm fairly sure I'll not get called in but still.  Shit can always hit the fan so I'm always ready to toss my scrubs on and go!

I've really been enjoying our new house. Esp. the sunsets.  Here's a couple examples

Sadly some of the best sunsets we've been having are due to the haze the smoke from all the fires out west have been putting out.

I think I'm going to pass on the Power Zone challenge for now. I'm just more into wanting to lift at least 3 days a week.  I've got this book I need to read

I want my muscles to GROW!   But to do that, I need to eat healthier, and lift heavier. I've been doing better with hitting my workouts.  And eating better is slowly getting there.   

I splurged on myself fitness wise and got these:

The Nike SuperRep cycle shoes.  Yes, I have my Fitbit on my ankle for my spin class lol.  If the Peloton instructors want to kill me with a spin class, I'm getting credit for the movement lol.  I've only done one spin class with them but they felt comfy.  I think I need to tweak the clip on the right shoe just a bit.  And then I really need to get my fitness planner ready for this next week.  I go Monday to Monday, so I do still have a little time.

Boy this blog is very picture heavy.  Hope you all don't mind.  I might try to put some riding pictures in next time.  Hope to get some horseback riding in this next week.

To join or not to join

 So as anyone who has been reading my blog for a while, and it will have to be a while cause I've not been blogging much for a year 😬, knows, I've got a Peloton bike and a Peloton treadmill.

I was doing pretty good with the bike, riding 2-3 times a week on a regular basis. I joined a Power Zone challenge early summer, was hitting my rides, then well,  something happened

Out riding my girl, picture for attention lol

But I was trying out a different saddle  One that doesn't really fit me.  I could barely touch my feet in the stirrups.  Anyway, we were galloping back and she tripped a little and out of the saddle I went.  That ground is SOOO much harder at 50 than it was when I was a teenager 😂

Spent over 2 weeks with a very sore tailbone and had to sit mainly switching hip to hip.  Couldn't sit on my bike cause it hurt.

Well, there is another Challenge and I'm thinking of trying it again.  I really want to increase my fitness level, and drop a few pounds cause you all can see that picture.  I need to drop a few pounds lol  It would be good for my hips, knees and feet, and I'm sure Ginger would appreciate less of me to carry lol

I've got a few more days to think about it.

Not much else going on.  Scheduled to work this Sat and I wish I could just go horse back riding lol.  Going to be a beautiful day and I've not gotten to ride much so I'd really like to get a long ride in.  It will be cold and crappy soon enough and I won't be riding much.  So I'd like to get as many rides in now as I can.  But nope I was an idiot and signed up to work.  I guess I thought chances are by mid October it might be cold and crappy, but nope warm and sunny.  Maybe I'll get put on call then we could ride on Sunday before bowling.

I'll have to update you all on my mini shopping trip to Des Moines and what I got. Maybe next time.

Later!

WOW Has it really been that long

 Things have really changed since I last posted.  We moved into our new house, fenced off about 3-4 acres of land and now have 4 horses.  Yep, 4 horses.

Nacho, a 10 year old Quarter horse palomino is on the left.  Then my girl Ginger, a 3 year old Quarter horse paint filly.  Butch is a 12 year old Quarter horse we got for my hubby, and last but NOT least, Mara, a 12 year old registered Arabian mare, we somehow got for FREE.  She's not broke to ride, but we're gonna get her broke and hopefully bred next spring.

My days are filled with them and this little girl 

Who is  "riding' my girl Ginger with me.  

She's my joy, Charli, now 13 months old.  We babysit her about 3-4 days a week.  She is so much fun to have around.

I'm still a makeup junkie but the pandemic sort of slowed me down.  I went 2 months basically not wearing any makeup this spring.  I'm wearing it more often now, but mainly cause I enjoy putting it on, and it makes me happy.    I'm more into skin care anymore, and really into Korean/Oriental skin care.  I know its made a difference in my skin.  

Look for reviews on what I like soon.

I really want to get this back up and going good again.  Been thinking I needed to get to writing on my blog again for about a month, but well I just spaced it off.  Feels good to be at it again

Tata for now!