A dog.... er.... Sheeps day

it is hot

which is usually fine with me

but

I am not at the lake

and

it was one of "those" days.

Millions of things to do

and no energy

and grumpy

and it wasn't just me

Luckily for me

it looks as though we might get a storm.

phew

Ellie is outside as I type this

getting chickens in the coop

and dogs in the barn

Penny is outside

mostly because that's what she does

but

she is supposed to be picking up toys

likely not going to happen.

Back

We have been home for a week or so

More so than a week

It's been nice to have my stuff

my bed...

PENNY'S bed....

It's been nice to see all the animals

With Lucy outa commission

Ellie has had to take over riding duties

much to her initial dismay

but it's been going rather well.

I had been planning on putting the girls

in riding lessons this fall

but

my expectations have gotten in the way

After doing some investigating

I will either have to 

1) pay an arm and a leg (more like two legs) to get them into lessons that are amazing

or

2) sacrifice quality horsemanship skills and still pay a fair amount.

It is important to me that the girls develop proper technical riding skills.

So

I decided to do my own lessons.

I had started before we moved

but

I got intimidated living around people

who have crazy horse skills.

but

I am outa options

because

I am opinionated

and maybe

the whole lesson thing

will change my opinionated attitude

but

so far so good.

My project this week has been putting together a little book.

A beginners "guide" to riding.

It has all the skills for basic horsemanship in it

with some games

etc.

Ellie and Lucy are already dying to play with it

so that's probably a good sign.

Anyways.

I start this week with other people's children....

The ponies are preparing themselves

they know something is askew since

I have been out every night with them

(some of them have begun to hate me)

(maybe it will make them love the kids more)

Old Habits are hard to Break

The first part of summer was vastly different than previous summers

but

as August came in

we got back into some of our old habits.

Lucy was the exception

what was supposed to take 4 weeks 

has turned into

7

so she coloured

and did stickers

and read books,

I hope that she doesn't feel like she

missed out on too much.

 Ellie and Penny in the water

Penny had a slow start 

but now I put her in a life jacket as soon as her eyes open!

Ellie started swimming WITHOUT

her life jacket.

A HUGE accomplishment for 

a daughter

who holds dearly

to any of her safety attachments.

the supervisors.

and my little fish.

Who just might be into synchronised swimming...

Besides stickers she did make it on her quad a few times.

thank goodness for dad's.

and this is where he spent most of his holidays.

cleaning the boat...

from the children to the dogs

he had a full time hobby.

I feel like....

I should say something.

So

I think

that i will say

that

we are doing

GREAT.

Summer finally feels a bit like summer.

Busy and crazy

and I found myself 

wishing

for fall.

For soup

and leaves

quiet time

and knitting.

but I will keep that between us

because

we only get 2 months of warm

so I will only partly 

look forward to those 

things

while 

enjoying the rest of the warmth

of August.