Celebrating our wedding anniversary - on horseback

Yesterday was our 30th (!) anniversary. What better way to celebrate than hitting the trails with the boys? It made us all so happy - and grateful for what we have. 30 years ago we were a German and a French married in Kaysersberg, Alsace, and had the wedding dinner at L'Auberge de L'Ill in Illhaeusern, (a Michelin starred restaurant).

Fast forward to Michigan: Now we are two -still in love and happy- Americans with eight furry dependents. No problem to forgo dinner at a fancy restaurant: We had a lovely homecooked meal, champagne, and JP even ventured out in full gear (mask and gloves) to surprise me with red roses.

Chambord (on right) is obviously concerned about social distancing

Remy doesn't care about the six foot rule

Our friend and neighbor Ed was in his yard when we were on our way home.
 He took the great photos.

Snow and sunshine - and our orders, please

April in Michigan, where we go from snow and hail to sunshine and a spike in temps within a few hours. Key is to dress like an onion: Lots of layers. Or -if you are like me- just stick to the polar fleece. It'll get cold again before you know it.

Yesterday's snow left the outdoor arena soggy, but the trails should be fine by tomorrow. I spent today with various online classes. I also got exciting new material on physical therapy and rehab for horses from Germany. As I jokingly texted Andra: All that extra knowledge and nowhere to go! Eventually I will put it to good use, and in the meantime I can practice on the guys at home (sorry, JP and Ziggy, equines only!).

It's funny how the horses have their 'besties' and how they stick together 2 + 2. Saumur and Teddy, Remy and Chambord.

Saumur (26) and Teddy (ancient):

Two "dirty old men" (they love to roll in the mud) enjoying the sunshine

"We are here for our curb-side dinner pick up.

 Orders for Chambord and Remy, please"

I guess I'm like an Iguana - and Houston, we can feel ribs (again)

The good news is that today is my two week mark of being home - and I'm healthy. No virus has hitched a ride home with me.Yay!

OK, I admit it - snow flurries and howling winds are so not motivating me to ride in our outdoor arena. Yes, we are privileged to have the horses at home, at least we can see them every day and take care of them. So I'm not fretting about lost training time. We just have to be creative. Today I longed Remy, actually laughing at his airs above the ground (well, easy to laugh if I'm not sitting on him during his antics). I had our home made 'Liverpool' (a pool float) out and Remy very nonchalantly decided it's not worth the effort jumping it. He might as well just trot through it. So I piled some blocks on it, but it still didn't impress Remy. It took a few tries to convince him that he could jump the thing instead of just plowing through it.

Afterwards I took him on a long hand walk on the trails. Despite the high winds and creaking trees Remy was a good boy, neither deer nor turkeys fazed him - but the green grass did. It took some effort on my part to keep him from diving down for some snacks.

Remy has slimmed down in the last weeks two weeks at home. The rich hay in Florida, less turnout, and a lack of playmates had increased his waistline quite a bit, despite the training (sorry for pointing it out, buddy). Now Remy is back on grass hay, and while he works less he gets more exercise by playing with Chambord and being turned out all day with his friends. Houston, we can feel ribs again!

Not just Remy's, though, as JP points out. While I have more and better food and less 'turnout' in Michigan, I'm losing weight by shivering from the cold. Yes, low 40s is not THAT cold, but anything below 60F and I'm shivering. I'm like the Iguanas that fall out of the trees in Florida when it gets cold, they just stop to function and wait until it warms up again.

Equine Bodywork is pretty physical, and without any clients right now I need exercise as an outlet. Today for example I exceeded 10K on the trails. Taking care of the animals gives our days structure (a bit too much sometimes. Really guys, I can't sleep in even a few more minutes??) Ziggy, Saumur, Remy, Chambord, Teddy, Halle, Julius and Jerry all have their schedules and make sure we stick to them -- thanks, guys, for making us happy and keeping us out of trouble!

They have no issue with "stay at home" - and what are the options?

Michigan has the 3rd highest number of Covid cases in the nation, so Gov. Whitmer today has extended the stay-at-home order until end of April. No surprise, and hopefully this will stem the spread.

Remy and Chambord have no issue adhering to the stay-at-home order!

I ventured out for grocery shopping today, masked and gloved, of course. Busch's, one of the smaller stores, was quiet and the few customers kept their distance. Just such an unreal feeling. JP and I are used to make more frequent grocery runs as opposed to the once a month big shebang, but we have adapted. The routine now is to unpack everything in the sunroom, I disinfect each and every item with rubbing alcohol, and then we bring the items in the house.

While yesterday was a perfect day for a trail ride, today the Michigan April weather was in "pleine forme": Sunshine, followed by rain, followed by hail, topped with snow, and all that adorned with high winds. This plus a flooded riding arena gave the boys the day off to hang out on the large porch next to the barn, munching hay. 

Despite rain, hail, and snow: Our Osterglocken are ready to greet Easter!

Roz had send an email to her students to see if people were interested in remote lessons, i.e. via Face Time or another product. Unfortunately, it won't work for us, as we only have the (currently flooded) outdoor arena -that also features a tree in it-, and both JP and I are no tech geeks. With the stay at home order I can't hire someone to help either. 

Guess I will have to hire JP once the weather calms down. As I currently have no income I'm happy that he takes payment in the form of my German chocolate red wine cake. 

However, Roz better has a supply of Dramamine on hand before she watches the WhatsApp video.

A cozy place makes staying at home easy!

Some old and some new - nifty favorites

As I've been unpacking and storing things away from our Florida trip I thought about old and new favorites and tricks of the trade.

Old and nifty favorites:

• White Duck Tape with black Sharpie: Super to mark/label everything from buckets to blankets to halters … and then some
• Old fashioned thermometer: When Remy got sick I bought one of the fancy digital thermometers, only to find that I never seemed to get twice the same reading in a row. Enter the old fashioned thermometer, luckily not so old fashioned - nowadays they are Mercury free. Accurate reading, and they come with a hole at the end for easy string/clip adjustment
• Bell boots (with sheepskin top, I like Lemieux): Important for travel (that's the only leg protection Remy wore on his trips, as bandages can sag and shipping boots get too hot). Also important for turnout in Florida's sandy soil, were any scratch get lead to a nasty infection due to the flies

New and nifty favorites:

• Ice boots from Finntack / Horze. Easy, peasy - all in one, no inserts, easy to put on and they stay on. Also perfect to keep things cold on the way home (my drinks were still cold three days later in a trash bag, no cooler)
• Slobber Mash from Havens Horsefeed. When Remy was sick he lost his appetite, but started to eat again when introduced to the Slobber Mash. 

Just add water and you have a yummy feed that's easily digestible

• Assure Guard Gold from Arenus. Great product for horses with hind gut ulcers. Smells like licorice (I'm tempted to try) and Remy loves it. 
• Horse Hydrator. This one was a great discovery at the horse show. My stable neighbor had it installed at the water spigot and let us try it. It cleans the water, takes the smell out, so picky horses will drink unfamiliar water. I could see and smell the difference. One filter is good for about 2,000 gallons, easy to throw into a tack box, and at about $25 worth the money!

Nifty water filter

• Speaking of drinking: Yuengling Lager!  I first was a bit doubtful (Chinese beer?) due to the spelling, but then I figured out that someone probably tried to Americanize the German 'Juengling' (Young Man). How one letter can throw one off ...Yuengling is America's oldest brewery, founded by a German immigrant from Wuerttemberg (yay, home!), still in the family and run by four sisters. All that and it tastes great. What's not to love?

Adding to my favorites Rothaus, Warsteiner, and Pilsner Urquell - this hits the spot

And of course - old and new favorite:

The niftiest of favorites!

Getting used to the 'new normal' - and being grateful for nature

The last few days at home I spent unpacking, getting settled back in, and resting. The last months were quite physical in terms of training and horse care, not to mention the trip to Europe, the less than ideal living situation, and the drive home took a bit of a toll, too. So I definitely enjoyed the R&R, and, of course, getting spoiled by JP. This year I only lost five pounds in Florida, last year it was 10. Might I have been slacking off??

Now it's time to get used to our 'new normal', meaning staying at home and only going for the necessities to the grocery and feed stores. I am starting to miss a busy schedule, seeing our friends, and my clients. I had a lot of appointments scheduled, but of course, I did postpone all of them to May (or whenever it is safe again). I try not to worry about lost income, most of us are in the same boat, and it will get better eventually.

JP and I are so fortunate and grateful that we have the horses at home and beautiful trails behind the house. I much rather social distance with people, but not with our animals or nature! Today we enjoyed the sunshine and a lovely trail ride. The boys were happy to be out together, it's been months since we last hit the trails together. Remy remembered his favorite "bathroom spot", (why he waits to pee until we are almost home is beyond me). If he thought it was weird trading palm trees against bare trees he didn't let on. For him its way more important to have a) Chambord, b) Cooler weather, c) No flies (yet), d) Getting cookies after splashing through water.

I do feel for people that are stuck at home without much room to roam. Case in point: Mutti in Germany. She is basically confined to her apartment as she is in the high risk group (age). Luckily, her new furniture got delivered just in time, she had to 'hide' in the kitchen and was not allowed out until the workers left (Michael supervised), but now she is at least happy to have most of her furniture. Michael and Remy are only allowed to bring food to her door, but not to come in. Mutti doesn't 'do' computers, so her books, phone, and TV are her only entertainment. But as I told her: "You survived the war, you will survive this!" At least her food gets delivered in style:

Food for Mutti - Delivered by 'Emily*' (Remy's Rolls)

*The Spirit of Ecstasy, also called Emily, Silver Lady, or Flying Lady, was designed by Sykes, a graduate of London's Royal College of Art, and carries with it a story about secret passion between Montagu, second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu after 1905, a pioneer of the automobile movement, and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine from 1902, and the model for the emblem,Eleanor Velasco Thornton. (Wikipedia)