The Simple Woman's Daybook: June

I'm a bit late this month, but here goes:

Outside my window: it's sunny and bright.  The horses are milling about looking distracted, which is unusual.  Maybe it's the flies bothering them.

I am thinking: I am quite tired after a long hack yesterday but I have my lesson soon and I'm really looking forward to it.

I am thankful for: the farm at this time of year.  There's nowhere else I'd rather be.  In fact, it's true to say we haven't had a holiday for some years, unless we've taken the horses with us!  I'd be bored silly laying on a sandy beach.

I am wearing: black jods and a black T Shirt, but as we've had to bodily lift out the goslings this morning and carry two of them down to the pond so the other two would follow, I am now filthy and will have to get changed.  I am in love with the gossies.

I am reading:  'A Dying Light In Corduba' by Lindsey Davis.  This is, I think, the eighth or ninth book about Marcus Didius Falco.  He is a Roman informer (spy/detective).  This books are witty and clever and very historically accurate, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.  I plucked one off the shelf a couple of years ago and as I was reading it I was asking myself loads of questions (how did he meet Helena, for a start) and realised I'd stumbled on a series and was in fact on the 13th book, so I went back to the beginning and have been hooked on them ever since.

I am hoping/praying: for so many things at the moment.  Mr O has been having bad headaches after his fall from Zak last week.  He has been to the doctor who says he'd had concussion, which is like bruising of the brain and will take about six weeks to get better.  Missis is seriously contemplating selling Hugo (but has done nothing but ride him ever since she said it.)  Where will that leave us?

On my mind: I am taking Barnaby to a showing show on Sunday. It'll either be a complete disaster or a great success.  I am doing in-hand cob, ridden cob and senior equitation.  Hey-ho.

From the kitchen:  We have been following the principles of Slimming World as we don't have time to go to a group, but have a few cookbooks.  I have lost 10lb in the last three weeks and Mr O has lost 9lb.  We are thrilled, as you can imagine, and I think it was the eating healthily that got me through the illness so rapidly.  I have to remind my body that it is no longer winter, I am not mucking out, and that amount of pastry is obscene.  There is a lot of preparation of vegetables involved in the cooking (I hate onions!) but the actual cooking time is short, so it's still equivalent to shoving a pizza in the oven and waiting 50 minutes for it to cook, but the end result is so much better for us.

I am creating: cards to sell in church in September.  All the proceeds will go towards our scheme for helping the homeless in the local community.

I am hearing: Radio 2.  I love it. I have now included Simon Mayo in my repertoire, so I listen from 8am to about 6pm.

Noticing that: there is a definite split between the horses.  Barnaby and Zak were the best of friends, but now Barnaby seems to spend more time with Hugo, and Zak and Lyndy are going everywhere together.  I am thrilled for Lyndy as he was devastated at the loss of his best friend last year.  Barnaby and Hugo seem to have a love/hate relationship.  One minute they are mutually grooming (to the detriment of Hugo's mane!) the next minute Barnaby's ears are back and he's shooing Hugo away.  Oh dear.

Around the house: the usual chaos.  Life's too short to spend my entire life doing housework.  I have done the ironing, though, so huge pat on the back for me (and the yard is immaculate!)

One of my favourite things:  these are growing on a patch of wasteland near the manege:

I love them best growing in fields of wheat.  They seem to go on for months.

A Scripture thought: '...I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength...'   Philippians 4: 12-13

A few plans for the rest of the week:  More schooling for Barnaby in the double bridle, which I tried last week and was astonished at how well he went in it.  Then getting ready for the show on Sunday.  The weather forecast is good!

A picture thought:

These are both duck eggs, but on the right is the most enormous duck egg I've ever seen.  It was huge.  It filled my hand.  I was curious as to whether it would have a double yolk, so instead of boiling it I decided to make scrambled eggs, and sure enough, there were two yolks inside.  Fabulous.