It’s been a a long few months without Ranchman John around. He’s still working at the Philadelphia Airport and we miss him. Not having him around has made us realize just how much he does to help around here. And without having any family nearby to offer their help, a lot of stuff that the kidlets or I can’t manage, gets put off and just doesn’t get done.
(Rising Moon. Photo taken from my bedroom balcony using my Canon PowerShot with zoom and flash)
But we’re managing well enough. Poor Ranchman John hasn’t found any affordable living arrangements and is still sleeping in his truck…….when it’s not too hot. Sometimes he’ll sleep in the airport or some friends, about an hour away, will invite him over to enjoy a home-cooked meal, a shower and a good night’s sleep in a real bed. So, really, the kidlets and I have nothing to complain about, except for wanting Ranchman John to come home soon so we can do stuff as a family again.
I’ll be 44 years old on September 4th and I’ve noticed as I get older, for a few days each month, right before Aunt Flo’s visit, I get cranky and irritable. For those of you who are that specific stage in your lives, is this a precursor to menopause?
(Wildflowers alongside the trail)
I’m not a crazy person ranting and raving when I get this way. I just need time alone and not too much pressure or stuff to do. Thankfully my kidlets are great and know to give me some space and to offer their help around the house if needed. They get along great with one another and are always willing to help and do the things I ask. They also love to spend time together doing fun stuff, especially exploring new places, hiking and going letterboxing.
(Moss on a pine tree)
I find that the best thing for me to do when I’m feeling cranky and irritable is to get outside and be surrounded by nature. When I was a young girl my family went camping a lot and I’d always head out to go hiking with my dog as soon as we were all settled in to our campsite. I don’t know where I get my wanderlust and hiking interests because neither of my parents ever went hiking with me. But I’m glad this is something I can share with my kidlets.
Being out in nature is one of the major reasons I like horseback trail riding, too. Enjoying wildlife, plants, animals and beautiful scenery from a horse’s back is the perfect way to spend a day and fills me with joy.
Letterboxing is also a terrific reason to get outside and explore new places, too. Solving the letterbox clues can be so satisfying, especially if there are some brain games involved. It can almost be as satisfying as finding the letterbox itself!
(Moss on a pine tree)
I also enjoy the creative side of letterboxing in finding an image for a stamp, hand-carving the stamp, preparing the letterbox, and then coming up with a place to hide the letterbox and creating the clues for other letterboxers to go out and find it.
The other day we packed up our letterboxing stuff and headed just a few miles down the road to place a letterbox and to enjoy some hiking. The sky was cloudy when we left, but it didn’t start raining until we were out on the trails.
It never rained hard and the gentle rain was actually nice to hike in because it cooled everything off and ensured that we had most of the trails to ourselves, except for a man walking three dogs and small group of mountain bikers. Hoof prints were also on the trails that we hiked and we kept hoping to see some horses and riders, but they must have went home when it began raining.
We hiked several miles and got wet and a little muddy, but the trails were sandy, mostly flat and easy to hike because we were hiking on and around a ridge in the mountains at 7,700 feet elevation. We had a lot of fun together and our time exploring the hiking trails really lifted my spirits.
I’m so grateful I’m strong enough to hike and ride horses again. Last year there were times I was so frustrated and sad because of my injured knee and not having the ability to walk. I would often dream of the day when I’d be able to hike with my kidlets, and maybe even ride a horse again. I had hoped that it would happen, but I wasn’t always so sure.
But I had to believe it would happen because I need these activities in my life to bring me joy and happiness.
When there are miles of beautiful trails to explore, new places to visit, letterboxes to find, exercise, fresh air and beautiful nature……how can anyone not feel better?
Do you enjoy hiking and/or trail riding, too? Do you find that being out in nature relieves your stress? Are your spirits lifted when you’re out hiking or riding your horse down the trail?
21 comments :
WOW Great pics, I can't believe the airline can't help with living arangements for employees from out of state, that SUCKS!! My stress relief comes from just grabbing my camera and taking a walk..:-)
Reading a good book is good for me! Also being with the horses is even better or weaving up in the barn by myself is good. I have been going through menapause now for over two years and I am 45. Not fun at all! I find myself sometimes wondering if I should of accomplished a lot more than I have. The only good thing is that I don't get my monthly all the time now, I am lucky if I get it every three months and sometimes it goes even longer than that before I get it. I sure feel for you not seeing John! I went down to the city last weekend because it had been two weeks since I had seen him. He will be home for the next two weekends then he will be gone for the next five but home for the Labor Day weekend. Take care and keep up the walks and riding. Wish I could be close and we could help each other. I sure have lots to get done and it is hard to decide what to get done while he is home.
Being with nature helps me to put life in perspective...you have seen my walks and know how it helps me center.
I can not imagine how Ranchman is doing this!!! You are a very lucky family, he's a keeper.
Hi Lisa I too love hiking and riding. Any riding!! It's always sure to lift my spirits. Unfortunately there is no where safe here in the city for me to hike =(
That picture of the moon.. how beautiful!
As a woman of "a certain age" I can tell you premenopause is no fun. My trip down that road started as you described. When the hot flashes started I headed in for some help.
When its really bad nothing works, really.
I hope Ranchman finds a way to be home again very soon.
It's sad that you have to be apart for your husband, and it must be hard for him too, especially in his situation. I hope he gets work closer to home soon.
Love the moss photos, they look like something from a science fiction film.
You have terrific children, and it's a blessing that they like to get out and enjoy nature with you.
OMGosh, love this post Lisa! I can completely identify & am slightly jealous of all the trails you get to enjoy close by.
I'm 41 & within the past year the pre arrival of "Aunt Flo" has been awful. For myself, I do believe it's beginning stages of pre-menopause. When I mention it to Dr's they say I'm "too young". But my Mom went into early meno in her mid to late 40s.
Getting outside in nature definitely helps me also. I cut back on obligations during that time & wear therma wraps under my clothes. Because honestly, sometimes it feels likes early stages of labor-the cramps.
We live in the burbs but dream of living in the country or woods. My immediate wilderness is my little garden, until we can get away to vacation. Where we always go camping/cabining in nature areas.
Yes, trail riding is the best when it comes with relaxing! That is why I got back into riding this year after a 13 year hiatus. My dream is to have my own horse to jump on & hit the trails early in the mornings & to watch the sunset. You are blessed to have your horses & surroundings.
If that is a sign of menopause, I have been re-meonpausal since 1974. Abstaining from sugar and lots of starchy food at theat time helps.
Whenever I am feeling down or stressed I go out to see the horses , often not to ride sometimes just to get a "horsey hug" or just spend time. They always bring me back to center.
Of course I love hiking and trail riding. I love to explore new places. The other night a friend and I went and explored an old abandoned tobacco factory...At night! It was super creepy.
You are wise to know what you need to be happy, and lucky (or smart?) to be where you can have it.
I used to disappear into the woods as a kid when I needed to escape or be pissed off, or just get some alone time. In fact, that's how I figured out what I wanted to do after graduating from college--sat on a log across a small gorge, while the dog sniffed around in the underbrush.
Whenever I get a chance for a walk in the woods, I feel like I've found a little piece of home.
I love doing stuff outside, riding, walking, hiking okay, but not so many near places to hike. I love the moss pics, they are really cool! I dont know how you manage with ranherman john gone so long, amazing, hopefully he finds somewhere to stay soon, sleeping in a truck is no fun.
When I go hiking all my troubles just disappear and all I think about is the woods and the trail and the things going on right around me.
I don't know how you take care of your place all by yourself! I get so frustrated at our little acreage, and it's only 3 acres. I can't keep after the blackberries and weeds fast enough, and before I know it they are taller than I am and I just don't physically have the strength to cut them all down!
Good luck, I hope John gets to come home soon.
Those are some stunning photos. I love the moss/lichen ones.
I can't even imagine trying to live with my husband away for a long period of time.There is so muich to keep up with on a piece of land, especially with animals.
Your children are lucky to have a mom who gets them outside enjoying nature. I've never letterboxed, but it sounds like fun. Getting out in nature helps me with stress.
Can't help you with the Aunt Flo issue. I agree with the getting out on horseback making a difference in your life.
When life throws you a loop in the future, and it will, remember how this loop turned out -- being able to hike and ride again. Don't let your emotions get you down. Emotions are real, but they can lie to you.
Great pictures.
Dan
I can really identify with your feelings. Today I got home from work, and all I could think about was getting out to the barn. I really wished I could have taken to the trails but there are none by the barn, and I have only ridden Corrie outside a few times. I really miss going for a long trail ride.
I'm sorry about your hubby, that's horrible that he has to sleep in his truck:( I also know how hard it can be with them being away having my own dh in the military in our early years of marriage.
We do a lot of hiking, nature walks, outdoor stuff (when the weather is somewhat decent) which always helps destress the kids and myself. I don't think we humanoids were created for being trapped indoors and sedentary.
Just BEING with my horses or even Heather's horses really relaxes me. After having to be "on" all day and play corporate politics games, being with them helps cleanse me of the phoniness. Riding or just being with them, horses are good for my soul.
Liss,
I am with you. My man has been gone and will be(though has housing) through next week. Army stuff takes him away. I am sad to hear of the conditions for John..that would stress me out, knowing of those conditions. A part of us suffers, when our men suffer. Hope that is over SOON for him!
Love your moon..that is gorgeous. Taking photo's has been an incredible stress relief(hidden surprise too) for me. Takes you into some creative location, in the soul of God. His beauty in creation,is like that for me. Riding into it..alone with my mare, is the another way..my favorite too.
My man is not enrolling in the next semester of college, towards nursing...so In will get some relationship times soon...it's been like a year or so!
Lovely friend...take care, sending (((HUGSS))) your way and sharing the birthday blues with you too...tomorrow is mine, and I am alone again for it!
I can sooooooooooo relate to everything in this post. : )
Yes, I turn into a cranky biatch about one week before Aunt Flo arrives, with my symptoms increasing the day before. I have always been this way, so maybe mine will get better with perimenopause??? A girl can wish, right? : )
Yes, hiking, horseback riding, and being with nature drastically reduces my stress level; although sometimes, having my kidlets with me keeps it up...lol!!!!
Hang in there Lisa!!!
It's also amazing how Flo affects the young. I can totally tell when she's about to arrive for my daughter. It's been eye opening--I can see myself in her now. :) Hope you feel better.
Any job leads closer to home? That has to be so hard.
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