Here i go...

Shrink time!

Giddyap!!

Horseback riding for Sam's 14th birthday!!

We had a great time riding this morning!  It's a beautiful fall day here, still warm but not too hot.  Drove out to this horse farm where they give lessons, trail rides, and board horses, too.    We got a quick lesson in the ring, then the 4 of us, (me, Sam & 2 guides) hit the trails around the property.  Up and down through tobacco and bean fields, past a pond and rushing streams, a few old deserted farmhouses, and all accompanied by 2 very lively, friendly dogs! 

 I loved these dogs!  They seemed to be in control of the whole operation; from being the first to welcome us at the barn, to trotting alongside of the owner's horse and then checking back on the rest of us in the line to make sure we were all coming along ok.  They were some kind of mutts, one had the shape of a corgi, but maybe they had some sheepdog in them, the way they were so good at "herding" us along.  They loved water, and stopped a couple times, once to lay on their bellies in a big mud puddle formed by a tractor tire in a harvested tobacco field, and then to jump in the pond to cool off.

ok, more about the horses!  I rode Gypsy, and Sam rode "Miss Tough", I think it was.  It had been years since I'd been in a saddle, but it didn't take long to relax and enjoy the swaying motion and to get my posture right so I could control the horse and keep myself from flapping up and down too much if she started to trot!  Heidi, I can see why you love riding so much!

Sam had a good experience, too.  She said she'd like to do it again sometime.  I'd love for her to take advantage of their volunteer program, where you can ride for free in exchange for working at the farm now and then, shoveling horse manure and stuff like that.  

Time to get busy and bake Sam's cake!!!  

love, jenner

Weekend survival kit

#espressodarkchocolatecaramelicecream
#whitezinfandel
#3000sqftaintbigenough
#comequickmonday
#solongdiet
#welcomebackbellyflab

Lean lunch

Now THAT'S a sandwich!
#sortalean&clean&green #sorryilovecarbsnotsorry
#moreleannewscomingsoononsisterblog
#waitforitlikewaitingforhalloween

smithfield

Hello, it's me again!  

Trying to get back into blogging after a bit of a hiatus, since this City Mouse moved her whole cat and caboodle out to the Country.  Still unpacking some boxes, figuring out how to organize things and adapt to life in That Area Near that Small Town No One's Ever Heard of so I just say "south of Raleigh".   So I'm just here today to record some more observations so far.  That's all this blog is anyhow, just a personal blog of my life, recording some events and moments along the way.  Nothing deep from the blue abyss of my soul.  No inspiring journeys in art or fitness, those are blogs, too, which I also plan to light up again.  But for now, just some more first impressions of this new planet called JoCo that I've landed in.  

Today I took another trip to Smithfield.  Had to get a library card so I can check out real books, but mostly, hopefully, e-books.  Reason is, I've learned, is that the old library here, and the whole town itself, can be described (by me) in one word: Depressing.  Yeah, I don't mean to sound snobbish or anything, but it seems that the further I travel east, the further things go downhill.  Homes look poorer.  Stores dirtier.  And the people all STARE at me like I"m some creature from outer space!  Maybe it's my imagination, but I definitely feel like I stand out in that town.  Went into one little thrift store (can't help it, I'm a diehard Junker!!) and immediately these 2 older frumpy ladies gawk at me, make some comment and turn back around, huddling together like they're whispering about me.  Paranoid?  Maybe.

Then I hit up a second thrift store, (ok, right, so maybe it's just the weird thrift store clientele to blame here..) and I overhear one woman say to another, "Who's that?" and the other: "I have no idea".  

LIke, what's the deal, am I wearing a sign that says something like, "I'm a stranger here, yes, I am a hoity-toity city b(*&(* from the Congested Area of Relocated Yankees and I think I'm better than you"?????

oh well, at least i got to look through this fun pile of old record albums.  

The ol' 33 rpm ones. 50 cents a pop!

And check this out, this dude is serenading the womenfolk on his accordian and the chicks are all like, swooning and getting all hot and  bothered for this weirdo.

ha!

                                      And that's about it.  The sights of small town America.

Walked by this Ava Gardner museum, which was by the library and not far from a Republican campaign center with big ugly TRUMP signs all over.  yuck. (even Ava looks pissed..)

Even the gyms leave a bit to be desired.

Sorry, but only one star for this town.  And that would be the collective merit of the outlet mall and the one Starbucks.  

Carry on wayward son. Nothing to see here.

Catch you back at the watering hole.  Gonna wrap up my hands sometime soon, get back to some boxing in our new "home gym", aka, the bonus room.

Home gym

Getting ready...stay tuned!

Post-swim lunch

That WAS a delish salad with rotisserie chicken, strawberries and praline pecans, but I ate it all up!  Also did a "virtual" kickboxing class in the bonus room before the icy plunge. Ah yes, I love these lingering summer days!!!