Week 30 - Germany

Week 30 – Germany

Monday morning was chilly and dull – summer seems to have left us temporarily. I got lots of encouragement from friends and family, and that made the day a really good day – Praise the Lord! Our boys had to keep their blankets on for their romp in the paddock, but they did not mind too much. After making sure that our boys were sorted out for the day, we were off to town – shopping yuck! Once we were done and loaded up, it was the cycle home – not to bad – there was very little wind. When we went to our boys in the afternoon, we were surprised to be met by the dogs and the cat, they were all waiting for their treats – they know exactly where we keep them, if they could get the box open I think they would.

Tuesday was a lovely day, it started out chilly, but by the time we were got to our boys it had warmed up quite a bit. On the way to our boys, we saw the little buck – reminded us of the “bokkies” in the “koppies” and our rides in amongst them – I miss those rides. After letting our boys streak around the paddock while we cleaned up, we put them back in their stables and headed home. After lunch we did some gardening – imagine me doing gardening – well we just really raked up leaves and tidied up – it was nice to do something constructive around the place. Kayla and I found a soccer ball in the garden, and played soccer for a while – it was really nice to just be outside and play. By the time the afternoon came, the skies got black again, and we thought we might get some rain on the way to the boys, but it never rained, it just threatened. After tucking the boys in for the night, and making sure they have enough grass we were on the way home again.

Wednesday was another chilly overcast day, so our boys got to stay tucked up for the day – no streaking! They did get to have their romp in the paddock, but they had to do it clothed. On our way to the boys, we decided to try another route, and it went right past the wind turbines – Wow!!!!! Are those things huge? Once we got our boys sorted out for the day, we were off back home, to hide away from the wind for the day. I managed to finish the book I was reading – The hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. What that poor lady went through during the war and how she carried on after the war, all in the name of Jesus – if I could only do a quarter of what she did for the Lord, I would be happy. I am still trying to figure out my path for Jesus – I am sure of one thing though it includes horses – Clydesdale's to be precise. The Lord would not have given me such a love for these majestic animals if I was not to have them in my life. I don’t know what my future holds, but I am sure the Lord will let me know when I need to know, in the meantime I need to be patient – not one of my strong suits, but I am working on it.

Thursday was pretty cold and windy, so once arriving at our boys they went out fully clothed again, no streaking in this weather. I have no idea what went on with Peri, but he was jumping around like a crazy horse, bucking, running, he was so alive, and it was so nice to watch him and Bailie play with each other. Once we were finished mucking their stables, the boys were tired of playing, and were waiting to come in, needless to say they were really dirty and needed a good groom. Once they were all clean and blanketed again, we were off to town to get some emergency supplies – it is a long weekend, so we are not sure when the shops will be open, so we got enough until Monday. At least we managed to get it all on our bikes – they do not carry too much, but we are getting really good at packing now! When we went to the boys in the afternoon, they had both finished their grass – very unusual, they normally only have half a hay net in the day – so they both were very happy in the paddock, and ate lots of food – Praise the Lord! Our boys are returning back to their normal selves.

Friday morning was chilly, but the sun was shining – by the time we got to our boys, it had warmed up quite a bit. So our boys were allowed to streak, they loved it. Once we had done their stables and were ready to bring them in, we thought we would let them have a run in the rest of the paddock and hope they never noticed that the fence was down – stupid mistake. Both boys found the gap and took off, with Bailie in the lead – across the farmers’ fields. I have never seen them run like that since we started our trip – not even in Mauritius on the race track. I should have been mad at them, but I was so happy to see them just running free again. Kayla and I had to follow through the plowed fields to catch them, which we did about a kilometer further – Man!!! Is it hard trying to run in those fields? Afterwards I felt really bad for running through the fields, but we had to catch our boys, I hope we did not do too much damage – hopefully we never disturbed any new seeds. Once our boys were caught we walked them to the road and back to their stables – needless to say we had all had some good exercise. When our boys were packed back in the stables munching on their grass, it hit me that so much could have gone wrong with that little stint of theirs, but Praise the Lord! He kept everyone from getting hurt. By the afternoon the wind was blowing really cold again, so when we got to the stables, we tucked the two runaways up nicely for the evening in their blankets. Once we got back home, it started raining, so we also tucked ourselves up with a good book for the evening.

Saturday morning the sun was out again, but it was only 3 degrees, and windy, but our boys still enjoyed being out, while we cleaned up and stocked up their stables. Both boys checked the fences to see if they could escape again, but we had the gaps tied up with string, so no escapes could happen. We wanted to work in the garden, but the wind just blew everything away, so I guess we will have to try another day. I then did some reading, quite a fascinating book about a girl who travels from Argentina to New York on horseback – what an achievement, but there were moments of tears too – on her part and on mine. My reading was interrupted when we had to go and sort out our boys for the night, (make sure they had grass, water and were warm enough). Once we got back after a really windy ride, it was back to the book. Then at about 11pm, we saw the most stunning pictures of the moon – it was amazing!!!!!

Sunday morning the sun was out, and although chilly, it was a lovely day. The cycle to our boys was actually really pleasant – very little wind. By the time we got to the boys, it had warmed up enough to let them out without any clothes on. They must have been really itchy, because they chewed on each other most of the time they were out. It looked so funny when they came in with all their hair “gobbed” in different directions. After everything was done we went back home for lunch. The afternoon cycle was a little windy, but really not bad. The sun was hiding behind the clouds most of the afternoon, but then at about 7pm it came out again. I am finding it really strange that the sun is still shining just before 8pm.