I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Maybe it’s the fact that I live in New England, but despite Christmas and the changing of the year, the middle of winter (there’s a reason why they call it the dead of winter) just doesn’t feel like a time to make changes.
Living as I do, microwave-free, with horses in shedrows on the hill, two stoves that keep us largely off the grid (but busy tending the fires), and garages that store everything but cars, winter’s everyday obligations fill the hours and keep us fit. It’s the worst time to cross things off my “to do” list, that personal perpetual calendar that most of us keep.
So I tend to make my annual resolutions after Labor Day. Perhaps it’s a misnomer to refer to them as resolutions at all, since they’re less about changing me than they are about deciding what can get done before it gets too cold to do it. I have more in common with a fat-cheeked squirrel right now than the tipsy and contemplative singing Auld Land Syne.
When I was young, my mother often told me to “gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” quoting Robert Herrick’s poem “To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time.” Of course, at the time she was giving those orders, the very last thing I was supposed to do was gather rosebuds as Herrick suggested, so I interpreted the phrase as a more romantic version of what squirrels are supposed to do with nuts.
This year, I’m trying to be reasonable in terms of how many nuts I can fit in my cheeks — or, rather, rosebuds in my apron. Part of that means prioritizing. Part of that means letting go of things that I thought I’d have accomplished by now. The most difficult part is acknowledging what I can actually accomplish before it gets too cold or too snowy or too burdensome to do more than the everyday, while hoping for an early spring.
There’s a chance that we’ll have a warm winter, like last year, and I’ll be able to get a task extension as easily as I get a tax extension. But I’m not counting on that.
Wondering what’s on my list?
Finish putting up the new hay barn. Fill it.
Finish the new stalls.
Mow everything.
Restore the footing in the sacrifice paddocks.
Strip and paint my two front doors.
Lest the nuts I collect go rancid or those rosebuds rot, I also have a list for the winter, all of which I can accomplish without putting on my gloves and a hat, and which is as extensive as it is entirely unreasonable. Just thinking about writing it down makes me laugh.
And that’s part of the reason I don’t do New Year’s resolutions.
Am I the only one making fall resolutions? If you’re doing the same thing, what’s on your list?
Elaine L said:
To quote part of a song “it’s so nice to have you back where you belong”. I would add one more thing to your list though: Get rid of the bears! Don’t make me start “packin” to the barn! :0)
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Katie said:
Oh yeah, the bears! I’m working on it.
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Carol said:
Ahhh….resolutions, “to do” lists…..efforts in futility for me. I make lists to help me remember the less obvious things I should do. For years now, I’ve known I simply have too much on my plate for any person to be able to complete, so I just try not to dwell on it. I make choices by considering what the best use of my time is (sometimes, I’ll admit there are those lovely days that I simply cannot skip riding, then I just bust my butt to get the ignored tasks done). Today, for example, after a heavy rain early this morning, I’ve decided to hit the barn to ride this evening. If I went out now, I’d have to trek a quarter mile thru heavy mud and wet grass (each way!) to get my gelding, whereas tonight he’ll be close to the barn (tho he may be muddier). And now I’m off to sort thru my desk, looking for my property tax statement,,,,,which is due tomorrow. I know it’s here somewhere……
P.S. It’s nice to see you back Katie….just last weekend while trailriding, my riding buddy and I were discussing the fact that we missed your blog.
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Katie said:
Practicality is the ideal solution for problems, and I have to congratulate you on your own practicality. I, too, now make lists primarily to help me remember things that would otherwise fall through the cracks. The other “lists” — like the one I outlined here — are usually in my head, but I think of them as “lists” because they involve weeding things out that would otherwise make my garden a mess…if you know what I mean.
Thanks for your “welcome back” wishes. I’m so glad that you and your friend enjoy my blog, and hope that you’ll find new posts to interest you this fall.
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smazourek said:
I don’t get the squirrel poster- I think I’m missing what “coke” is…
I am the penultimate procrastinator, resolutions and I don’t mix 😉
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Katie said:
Back of the envelope explanation of coke vs. anthracite coal:
Coke is produced from bituminous coal (below anthracite coal in rank) by heating to remove water. The high-carbon fuel produced burns with no smoke and is used when a particularly hot flame is needed (it’s used in metal processing).
Anthracite coal is the highest rank of coal, and commonly used in domestic coal stoves.
I imagine at the time the squirrel poster was produced, both coke and anthracite were commonly available for this use.
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Net said:
Twice I tried to respond, and twice my responses were eaten by my computer. Grrrr! That’s what I get for trying to use my work computer during lunch. I’ll re-type the points I remember now that I’m safely on the home computer!
I’m not big on goals as “start this” but rather as “continue on this path” or “change this path.” So I’ll work on continuing healing my back – turns out a back sprain takes months to heal, much to my frustration. I’ll work on continuing to rebuild my strength and my horse’s. Continue working on his adjustability (which has actually increased as he’s tried to adapt to my lack of adjustability!), continue improving sitting trot work, continue working on increased impulsion. And on…
However, there’s a start, too. While I was frustrated over not riding I decided to finally go with the gut reaction which had me following a certain filly since she was nursing. I had looked at many other horses and had a rough timeline when I wanted to get my next prospect to have coming up behind Tucson with her fitting at the very early parts of it. So I will start groundwork and developing a relationship with my birthday gift to myself:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/netg15/tags/emeraldice/
She gets here in October, so I want to finish reconfiguring our pens before then so Ellie has a nice big turnout off her stall. We were kind of helped in the progress of reconfiguring by a microburst ( http://phoenix.about.com/cs/weather/g/microburst.htm ) which basically tore the barn apart. Most of it is still useable, and no horses were so much as scratched. But looking out the window and seeing through multiple stalls and walls where they weren’t supposed to be was scary! So this fall I want to get some sort of hay storage which can hold at least half a truck of hay to save on purchasing hay, some sort of watertight tack room, groundwork going, and hopefully get my TB to multiple shows including at least one at second level. Then there are the clinics with specific trainers I think will really help me, and regular lessons with my trainer who I adore.
Really, my goals consist of continuing to enjoy – because despite setbacks, life is really, really good. And I’m lucky that I’m going to have two very talented horses in my barn!
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Katie said:
Hi Net! It’s great to hear from you again. Thanks for your persistence in the face of computer letdowns. I’m excited to hear about what’s going on with you, as I’m sure are other readers who follow your comments.
I’m sorry to hear that your back still isn’t right but I hope that you enjoy a full recovery soon. I empathize. It was days ago that I developed sciatic pain for the first time. Oh goody. At least I have a great doctor and I’m feeling better. But my broken back took so, so long to heal. Much longer than I was led to expect, which made it harder.
I love your filly! She’s positively gorgeous, with a great face and look in her eye and she looks like an amazing mover. Huge congratulations to you, and lucky her!
Thanks for the link to microburst. Now I really know what it is. How scary. But oddly convenient, it seems…
I’m right with you in terms of what my goals look like — which are usually to continue along the paths that are right for me. I do have horse goals rather than simply farm goals, and I try to combine the long view with lots of short-term goals. And I stay fluid. The goals I have for the horses never vary in terms of the big picture — which is to develop confidence and ability and help them learn how to be a pleasure for people to be around, in every way. It’s the day-to-day in which I need to be flexible. That’s not a goal for me, it’s life.
Your positive outlook and energy is inspiring. Thanks so much for bringing us up to date. I know I’m not alone in appreciating and enjoying hearing from you.
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