Relative Something

Our Sunday was rather loosely planned, and ultimately, I wavered away from focusing on our priority of creating drainage channels around the paddocks. I did start the day on that project, but after cutting through sod outside the end of the small paddock, nearest the hay shed, I decided to wait until the work to replace our culvert gets done.

Did I mention the culvert here yet? We need to provide a way for water to drain beyond our new driveway loop, and a plastic culvert was buried beneath the gravel. Shortly after it was installed, I discovered it had collapsed and cracked open, filling with dirt. The contractor is switching to a metal culvert.

When that gets completed, I will feel more motivated to attempt to construct a final version of drainage waterway between the gravel of the driveway loop, and the first paddock.

Around the time I decided to take a break from the drainage ditch, our daughter, Elysa, arrived. After a little lunch, Cyndie wanted to take advantage of the extra hand, and Elysa’s knowledge and skill with horses, to take pairs of horses for another walk around our property. I claimed the role of gate handler.

Our little herd of four are quite the unit, and the two horses that get left behind during walks make a big fuss. After closing the gate, I hang around to offer calm confidence to the anxious horses. It is little consolation to them, and they fidget and call out until the horses out walking finally emerge into view again.

It was while we were completing this little exercise that my project shifted. I had been standing next to the round pen, and could see it deserved some attention, to continue working on getting it level. At the same time, Cyndie decided to pick up sticks, branches, and roots in that area, and also to rake up some of the dead grass piled from our previous cuttings, to use as a ground cover in some of the muddiest spots in the paddocks.

Elysa agreed to pitch in and help and we enjoyed some wonderful time together, laboring away. In no time at all, the afternoon disappeared on us and it became time to feed the horses. It is so wonderful to have an extra person available for these tasks, especially one who knows horses.

As I puttered with moving wheelbarrows through gates, and picking up rakes and pitch forks, I watched the actions of Cyndie and Elysa in the small paddock with all four horses. Cyndie realized she hadn’t finished picking up the manure in that paddock, so I brought two tools for the job, enabling them to double up on the task. A few minutes later, the horses came over for some attention, and Elysa dropped her scooper and obliged the group. She is smart about priorities.

I saw Legacy grip the handle of her scooper and pick it up. They reported that he was being mischievous with all their stuff. He certainly doesn’t hesitate to check things out.

We had a wonderful day of tending to whatever captured our attention, and it was a big bonus to be able to share it with our daughter. That can be a benefit that results from a day that is loosely planned.