Last night the wind howled and screeched around the house. The sound alternately jolted me awake and crept into my dreams; dreams of trying to finish a project at work but unable to get there due to roads being closed. I'm blaming the lack of sleep and worry on Brett. He's been gone this weekend. He wavered, unsure whether he should leave me with a storm coming in but I assured him I would be fine. He set up hay bales, topped of the horses' water, and checked on the chickens before climbing into his truck Friday and driving to Southern California.
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| Flash looks pretty clean here, right? |
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| Wrong. His entire body was caked in mud. |
And, I've been fine. Really. I'm a solitude loving person so the prospect of a quiet weekend suited me just fine. Kersey kept me company, when she wasn't laying on her bed by Brett's chair looking depressed. Kersey thumps her tail for me and rolls over for belly rubs, she enthusiastically greets all visitors, but her heart belongs to Brett. They spend all day, every day, together and it shows.
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| Oh, hey there, Pistol. You're looking nice and clean this morning. |
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| "Quit with the sweet talk and bring me some hay." |
The thing is, when Brett is here I don't worry about locking doors or the wind howling. I drop off to sleep quickly and the sounds of the wind barely register. I certainly don't worry. But, with Brett gone, I keep the doors locked, toss and turn before finally falling asleep and hear every little stupid noise.
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| "You could always give me a cookie, in the mean time." |
The wind was still blowing when I went to the barn to feed this morning. Lucy was rather impatient with me; first she started bucking in her stall, and then she raced outside. When I set her bucket of supplements in her stall she came cantering in and then did a sliding stop in her shavings.
While I was getting their breakfast together, and loading the hay cart, she was busy glaring at me. Clearly, I don't move fast enough for her.
I started something new with Tex yesterday, and continued it today. He's a bit shy and unsure about approaching me so he stands just outside my personal bubble, and then stretches his neck to get a cookie. On the one hand, I appreciate that he is respectful of my space. On the other, I want him be comfortable and come to me, all the way, when he's at liberty. Now, he has to touch me with his nose before he gets a cookie. He's getting it. This morning he walked up to me and touched his nose to the sleeve of my jacket. The first time was an accident; the second time he realized there might be a connection; and the third time he deliberately touched me and then twitched his lips in anticipation. I love how smart he is.
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| "If I stand here and stretch, I can maybe reach a cookie." |
Brett's on his way home. It's a long drive from here to Glendora where he attended a retirement dinner last night. Its also raining (did I mention that?) and windy, so he will take it slow and easy. He left at 7:30 this morning and I'm expecting him by 4pm. -- just in time to help with the evening chores.
I too lock the doors when Ed is away. I also find it colder so have to turn the heat up. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it seemed like I had a heck of a time keeping the house comfortably warm -- I went through a lot of wood. And, I wore an extra layer to bed.
DeleteIt sounds like you are still having crazy weather out there. Tonight it's not good all over the place. Hope all is well and that Brett is safely home now.
ReplyDeleteYes, he's home. He got here in time to relax a bit before chores -- and then a hail storm, with thunder and lightening, the likes of which I have never seen before. Talk about a show!
DeleteWonderful new "games" with Tex! He is such a smart guy!
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to see Lucy do that sliding stop! How exciting! hee hee!
I was a little worried that she was going to slide right into me. Silly girl!
DeleteI also don't do well when my husband is gone. He was gone for a week for a business conference and I barely got any sleep the whole time. He thought I was silly... I'm just glad I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely not the only one. I tell Brett that I'm fine, no worries, etc -- and then I can't sleep and hear strange noises. Why are there only ever strange noises when you're home alone?
DeleteI can relate. When my husband is gone I hear a lot of strange noises too and don't sleep well. It doesn't help that Ginger will bark at nothing(well maybe the deer outside) in the middle of the night. What does help is I put the house alarm on and sleep better.
ReplyDeleteTex is very smart and very sweet. Lucy seems impatient with the waitress service at the barn. Tell her to let her displeasure reflect in the tip! Pistol and Flash are very sweet too.
The service here is never up to Lucy's standards. That's why we call her princess Lucy.
DeleteTex has the sweetest expression, so happy he's coming along. Trust takes time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a common theme, when the husbands are away, the wives enjoy having home to ourselves, just don't sleep so well. You get used to that body in your bed. :)
Our cold spell has ended, snow is gone and we've had a few days of heavy rain, but yesterday and today we're having glorious sunshine and it's like 50 degrees outside. I love it!
We may get a bit more snow tonight and then it is sunny skies through the weekend -- reaching the 50s by Sunday. Yes!!
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