Clean, Purge, and Start Over

Not from today, but very similar!

Ah, the feel of the warmer air and sunshine on my face....what a relief after the long stretch of cold, ice, and wind. Historically, January has not been my month. Holidays and a busy time have ended, days are short, and the prospect of getting out of my warm bed and heading out into the cold to work all day depresses me. All I really want to do is stay home, stay warm, and veg out on movies and the internet. :-) However, usually once February hits, all is right again. And this small stretch of warm weather has inspired us (Amie and I) to start cleaning. It's amazing what piles up over the winter, especially when there has been a layer of snow and ice over everything, making it impossible to clean the mini farm, pick the trail ride trail, and frozen hydrants won't allow you to get to the water. Over the last two days, we've thoroughly cleaned the mini-farm, hay barn, washed the truck and bobcat, tossed junk and trash, washed buckets and anything else that's needed it. Feels good, like you're getting your life back in order. I love to go through the house, clean it well, and throw away junk that's just weighing you down. I periodically feel the need to purge. I don't want to be weighed down with so many "things" and I don't like a cluttered feeling so every once in a while, it's time to just go through.

Unfortunately, one thing I really want to do now that the snow is melting off the roads is the one thing I can't do....run. I suffered two stress fractures to my 3rd and 4th metatarsals last year and am still not healed. Running is so cathartic for me and after a run, I feel like I can conquer the world. Using an elliptical machine does not produce nearly the same feeling, but at least I'm exercising. (I may have to go back since it's not getting better and it's driving me nuts!) But another release of mine is riding. Former awesome barn assistant Britt was needing a horse break from college so she came out and the two of us went for a ride through the pine forest/river trail. Always good to see old friends and even better to visit with them while atop a horse.

Funny things that have happened the last few days, courtesy of the kids.

Braydn to me (Monday): "Am I a bee or a bat?"
Me: "Um, a boy?"
Braydn: "No, I'm a beeeeee!" Random, I know.


Reagan at dinner last night as we were discussing the expiration date on the whipped cream (July). She was trying to figure out how far away July was from February. Finally, she turned to me and asked, "When does the whipped cream pass out again?" Pass out=Expiration. Awesomeness!


And lastly, this happened to me yesterday while cleaning the mini-farm. I kept hearing what sounded like an old style cell phone ring. First time I heard it, I thought one of the maintenance guys had just driven up but no, he was just passing by. Second time there was no one around and I started to look around the mini farm to see where the noise was coming from. Mind you, it only rang once each time. We broke for lunch as I told Amie about the strange noises. Obviously, it looked as though I was going crazy. For if anything had been in the mini farm, the battery would have surely died. Therefore, it couldn't have been in a bag of feed or bale of hay, all things which have been in there a while. And the door is locked all the time so we're the only ones there. After lunch, I walked back in and heard it one more time. Investigated it thoroughly, brought Amie in to help, but found nothing. Did not hear it today so.....who knows?

Time to watch Purdue dominate the second half, Duke to beat Virginia, and the new Survivor to premiere. Let's hope all go well.