SIGNS of Spring

  My how time flies. One week from today Kev, Kabootle (aka FuzzButt) and I will be heading back to Maine, hopefully to lovely warm weather with no early Spring snow storm, no ice, no mud. I know, I know, time to face reality. At least the spring in Aiken is in full bloom, literally. Kevin remarked yesterday how suddenly everything is flowering, not just bushes and flowers, but the trees. Look UP and flowers are everywhere. We have been taking late afternoon walks around our neighborhood, amazed at all the plants we don't recognize (i.e., remember) after spending 18+ years living in Florida. And the grass... up until the first heavy rains of a few weeks ago everything was brown, not anymore!  And to think we get to enjoy all of this again back home.

  

  Activities of the B-Eventing team post-Pine Top have wound to a trickle. Irish and I had two days after Pine Top to cram for the combined test at Sporting Days. It was a good outing for our first competition since August (before I broke the wrist). In a nutshell, Irish was a good boy in both tests, strong and forward, but seemed happy to be out competing again. We were second after dressage (33.7), a score that could have been lower had I re-read the test (one early trot-depart, and a halt at G instead of X).  Irish was quite strong in the show jumping. Major half-halts applied between fences accrued time faults, but he did come back into a "quality canter" before each fence and jumped clean. We finished 4th, happy and eager to work toward the next event.

  Today was supposed to be the third leg of the Aiken Triple Crown, the polo match. Mother Nature has decided otherwise and planned a day of strong thunderstorms, hail, high winds and a possible tornado.  If they hold the polo game tomorrow and we go, I'll put some pics in the next post.

Meanwhile, Babette and Lucy along with Bouncer, Dex, Oliver and Joey, are scheduled to leave for Massachusetts early (4 AM!) tomorrow morning. Then it will really be quiet at the barn. Irish ships with TJ on Wednesday!

Finally, speaking of SIGNS, Kev and I had quite a chuckle when we saw this one in town...

  We had fun attaching a meaning to it. Please keep your comments on the clean side!