This is our boy. Our big-hearted, mellow, full-of-personality-appaloosa.
There are many things I adore about Bud. In fact, a while back I made a list of ten. It could easily be a list of one hundred. He’s just that lovable.
This particular photo isn’t great – blurry and taken from too far away with my point and shoot camera, but I chose it because it shows Bud in his self-appointed role as the “food lookout.”
Every day, he’s at the front of the line, waiting for me to bring his grain. Most days when I drive up, the first horse I see is Bud. Even from a distance, he stands out because of his spots.
He positions himself at the gate, so hopeful, so confident, and so ready to eat. He seems completely comfortable waiting for one of our vehicles approach. He just knows we’re coming.
And he’s right.
I can’t bear the image of him waiting at the gate and me not showing up. We’ve trained our horses to this routine, and now the responsibility is mine to carry through.
I’ve said it before, but I think it bears repeating. Animals help us to be better humans.
My relationship with Bud and Pepper has given a structure to my day. An unbreakable routine, that honestly I haven’t had since my son was a baby. Other than going to work every day (when I was doing that,) I’ve found a way to weasel out of most of the routines I’ve tried to establish.
The funny thing is that I love having this routine. Knowing when I feed the horses helps me plan the rest of my day. “No I can’t schedule that appointment at noon. It’s when I feed the horses.”
Now, I’m trying to apply that same adherence to routine to some of the other parts of my life. Things like exercise, house cleaning, grocery shopping etc.
Wish me luck!
If you had to say, would you describe yourself as routinized or a free spirit?
10 comments
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March 7, 2011 at 8:44 am
Laurel
Ha! I am the Queen of Routine! When I don’t have structure, I feel adrift in the Big Wide World…daily dog playtime does the same for me, Jean, only it’s not quite as demanding as yours. You’re amazing.
March 7, 2011 at 8:47 am
Jean McBride
I think I’d like to be the “Princess of Routine.” I don’t think I could ever attain Queen status. But you Laurel are a great role model.
March 7, 2011 at 10:07 am
Carolann
ROUTINE ROUTINE ROUTINE
I would have done great in the military.
And it’s the ONLY way to juggle many many balls. 🙂
March 8, 2011 at 5:47 am
Jean McBride
I’m workin’ on it girlfriend! Can’t really see you in the military though…
March 7, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Cricket McRae
Since I work at home and so does my guy, we have to create our own routine. Frankly, I wish we were better at it, but am grateful we’re able to alter our routines according to the season. I definitely agree that animals make us better humans, and our cats help shape our days. Thanks for sharing about Bud — he sounds like a big sweetie!
March 8, 2011 at 5:45 am
Jean McBride
I agree that working from home requires me to shape my own days. And sometimes I’m better at it than others. But I too love the freedom of working from home. And having cats shape our days is such a lovely phrase. Mija would agree.
March 7, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Tammy
I also work at home (and right now, my husband is unemployed, so he’s home too.) I try pretty hard to keep a good routine so that I actually get out of my pajamas for my work day! 🙂 But, I’m OK with a little “loosey-goosey” instead of hard, fast routine. (And yes, our cats keep us on a schedule too. They let us know if we’ve forgotten something that they want/need!)
March 8, 2011 at 5:46 am
Jean McBride
Cats are fabulous schedulers aren’t they? And Tammy, I sometimes work in my PJ’s too :-).
March 7, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Anne Wells
Both!!! Mother taught me early on that having schedules ,routines etc. made life a lot easier and more fun—-for us anyway. Being blessed with three boys the combination was a necessity. Over the years the combination saw me through some difficult times.
March 8, 2011 at 5:45 am
Jean McBride
Flexibility is such an important skill isn’t it?