Taking time out - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Monday 22 August, 2011

by Rosemary at 11:56am in Anything goes 1 comment Comments closed

Since moving here in May 2010, we've been kept pretty busy. As well as the routine jobs in the garden, the house and with the livestock, we've been doing a lot of development - renovated one house, building another, constructing a vegetable garden and a fruit garden, fancing and draining plus a myriad of other small but important jobs. The planning also takes a lot of time - and even though it's not physically demanding, it can be hardwork. Sometimes, we can all get a bit frazzled. I'm probably worst of all at taking time out - eventually, I run into a metaphorical wall, have a hissy fit and sleep for twelve hours :-)

So I am trying to switch off a bit - and the best way of doing that, for me, is to spend time with my ponies. For others, it might be a trip to the shops or a bottle of wine, but for me, it's Smokey and Bugsy. Although I take good care of them (IMHO), if there's a lot on, spending time with them is the bit of the day that gets rearranged. Report card says "Must do better".

So yesterday, I rode Smokey in the field ( he was great) then up the road (not so great, big wuss). And I spent some time with Bugsy, getting him into his new bitless bridle and doing a wee bit longreining. Even better, I intend to do it again today :-)