Pony and Petey have moved....

www.ponyandpetey.blogspot.com

Hello??? Is anybody home??

Howdy! I just happened on a blog that got me to thinking...a way that I could blog every day and enjoy that again. I miss blogging...

Instead of giving a run-down of the day, I can post a picture from that day and just tell about that. The problem I have is that I LOVE detail and if I start telling ya'll about something, I CAN'T leave out a detail...and then it takes forever to write a blog and it's too much of a time commitment.

So maybe this way, I won't feel like I have to "tell everything" but can just tell a bit about whatever the picture is from. I'm gonna give it a try...wonder if anyone is still out there????

This is a test of the non-emergency Blogging-Pony System...if this had been a real emergency, I'd have been outside screaming instead of typing!

This is a test to see if Faithy is a good teacher and I'm a good learner = )

I've been wanting to talk to ya'll, my blog family (blogily?) for awhile now...got a real hankerin' to...just too many other things have been taking priority. Sorry folks'...I'll try real hard!!

http://www.houstonstriders.org/newsletter/2010_02.pdf

Here's the link to the February issue of Stridelines...that's our running club's newsletter, for those of you who are new here (Hi Helen!!)

Anyhow, John-boy put my marathon story on the cover so it'll be easy to find = )

Howdy all...how's everyone tonight? Yesterday was a VERY busy, physically tiring day and today has been the opposite...feels funny.

February is kind of a slow running month...marathon recovery, which doesn't really seem like it because I went back to running the Wednesday after the Sunday marathon... but I think the deep down recovery takes longer. The experts say one day of recovery for every mile you raced so that would mean almost a month to recover from a marathon.

So couple recovery with bad weather and maybe just a general taking it easy after the months of marathon training and it makes sense that February would be a slow running month.

But I'm REALLY enjoying running with my boys! I alternate running with Piper, then Dingo, then walking with Buddy, then it's Piper's turn again. Piper is up to 6 miles now, Dingo is up to 4.5 and Buddy does really well going 4 miles as long as we don't do more than a couple miles of slow jogging mixed in with the walking.

We've had an abnormally cold winter this year. The wood pile is almost gone! We've already started collecting wood for next winter but might have to resort to using the furnace if we keep having low temps.

I just got off the phone with Petey...he's in Anchorage, Alaska...and the temp there is the same as our temp here in Houston!! Some of the city saw snow today...I didn't see any here though.

My veggie garden is doing GREAT! I'm really close to being done with the whole reorganization/walkway paving job. I was also able to increase the growing space without increasing the overall size of the garden.

The 3 ft x 3 ft raised beds that I use assemble with just a peg in each corner and you can combine 2 or more beds together. Before, I had nine 3 x 3 beds and two 3 x 6 beds. Now I have two 3 x 9 beds and five 3 x 6 beds. A lot of walkway space has been consolidated which is why I have more growing space but not a bigger garden footprint.

The reason I have the 3 x 9 beds is because of the position of the 3-bin compost system. This will give Petey some extra room in his wood-cutting/splitting area.

And my new garden fence, OH MY!!! It's just FABULOUS!!! I'm SO glad to not have to deal with the old vinyl-covered wire fencing...I now have my dream wood picket fence = ))

Instead of fencing in 2 sides of the garden, it now runs from the back fence that surrounds our yard, straight over to the corner of the house...a 24 ft. span. It's three pre-made 8 ft panels, with one panel being the large gate...to make it easier to get the wood wagon, wheelbarrow, garden stuff in and out. It fences in more of the yard but it keeps the dogs out of the dangerous wood-cutting/splitting area too.

I just love the way it looks...so neat and "country". So nice to see it from inside the house...it makes the backyard look so much nicer. I can't wait to get the rest of the yard fixed up with the flowers and the stepping stones and have the grass growing green again. I'm waiting to post pics until then = )

Speaking of flowers, I got the front and side flower beds (front yard) weeded and most of the spring flowers planted. I still need a few more but it's looking neat again. We've had so much cold, rainy, nasty weather that my time to work out there keeping it up and looking nice has been limited.

I have a new scrapbook for 2010. I've had the album for several years but was saving it for something special. It's a Susan Branch...one of my favorite watercolor artists. Last year I discovered a Susan Branch scrapbook kit "book" at Sam's and knew it would be perfect!

The book came with 12 x 12 pages for the whole year, Susan's artwork printed, with space for pictures and journaling, for all the different seasons and holidays. I divided the pages out into months so I know how many photos I can use.

For January, I had space for 9 photos. I chose from the interesting things that we did during the month...no "themes" or anything like that...just whatever happened during the month.

I'll do the same for February and the rest of the year. It's like everything finally coming together...I have a cell phone that takes great digital pics & that I have with me all the time, I have a printer that prints wonderfully, I have a new computer that is SO easy to use and find the pics I want, and I have pages that make it so easy...not having to do a whole "layout" based on one event but being able to mix & match.

So I'm looking forward to having a completed scrapbook when the year is done = ) I also have another album style that I enjoy...not as easy to use as the pre-printed pages but fairly easy and it allows for more creativity in decorating the white pages with stickers. I'm looking forward to scrapbooking on a regular basis.

This year, more than any other, I seem to have alot of "look forward to" things in my life. Running with the dogs is a big one...not being so caught up in training and racing but just enjoying running myself and spending special time with my boys.

The vegetable garden's big changes...after I finish the reorganization and paving, Petey's going to build me a pergola over the whole thing. I already can see it in my mind and how I'm going to hang windchimes and baskets of flowers around the edges, maybe little white Christmas lights from the rafters...gonna be SO pretty!

I've wanted a Bosch mixer and Nutrimill grain mill for many, many years and I'm on the verge of being able to get those. I really miss the way we used to eat when I was being so careful with our nutrition.

Like I say on the right side of the blog, I like to cook from scratch as much as possible. I've gotten away from that since we moved to Houston and are so close to all the different grocery stores. The grain mill will do a much better job of grinding my own whole wheat flour and the mixer is top of the line for kneading dough and such.

And every year that I have a garden, I get closer and closer to my ideal of growing and preserving a year's worth of each kind of vegetable. I did it with broccoli last year. I did about 9 months of tomatoes. With the changes I'm making in the garden now, I'm hoping that will put me that much closer.

It all adds up to helping us eat nutritionally sound and that is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight, which is crucial for living an active lifestyle! I know I won't achieve perfection this year but each year I make progress gets me one step closer to the ideal = )

I REALLY want to make time to read my Bible...why is this so hard??? I'm not a sit-still kind of person...I've been thinking about downloading an audio Bible and listening to it while I run. But music is so much nicer = ( And even nicer than that is to talk to my boys as we run together.

I have Mammie's legacy that I want to continue...she read her Bible through every year. Petey's been doing it now for several years...I want to do it too! But wanting isn't enough...I MUST DO IT! I need to figure out a time and a place and a way that works well for me.

Speaking of time and place and way...I've discovered a way to keep in touch with my bestest chicky friend, Cretia! It had always been on my mind to write to her but I never sat down to hand-write a letter.

Then it dawned on me...why did it have to be handwritten??? I can type really fast and easily and I can make the font bigger so she can read it easily (Cretia is now 92 years young!!).

So now I can talk to her whenever I want...I can tell her all the things I've been wanting to tell her and ask her the questions and send her pictures and all sorts of neat stuff. She's called me several times in return and she's just as funny and fabulous as she always was!!!

I'm looking forward to the family reunion from my mom's side this summer. There are the usual favorite races to look forward to, also...Blue Bell Fun Run in Brenham... Beach to Bay Marathon Relay in Corpus...Race for the Pennant where we get tickets to an Astros game. The marathon warm-up series in the fall...haven't decided whether I'll do the marathon again or not. Yikes, this year's was an adventure...I'll have to tell ya'll about it sometime!

So lots of stuff to look forward to in 2010!

Anyhow, I guess that's enough for now...just felt like talking to ya'll awhile. What are YOU looking forward to in 2010???

I'm trying to keep from thinking about how sick to my stomach I'm feeling so I'm looking for things to distract myself. There was something I wanted to share with ya'll anyhow so figured a blog post might accomplish both.

I did my longest long run today in preparation for the marathon. I've always struggled with nausea after the longer runs and today's 20-miler is no different. I had a doctor tell me that it's from the waste by-products of burning fat as the primary fuel after the glycogen in the muscles is all used up. Whatever it's from, it's a big downside to running long distances!

Anyhow, I wanted to tell ya'll about an experience I had yesterday. A way that God comforted me that surprised me but shouldn't have. I'd also like to share it in a way that isn't offensive to any readers that don't believe in God...but in a way that will help them understand why this relationship is so precious to me.

I don't know if I can accomplish that but I feel led to type it out here so I'm gonna = )

So...I had a few things that were laying heavy on my heart yesterday morning. Well, they were in my head too...I couldn't stop thinking about them even though I tried to force myself. I'm sure most, if not all, of you have experienced that in your lives.

The way that I handled that when I was younger was to talk to someone...whoever was closest and happened to be available. More often than not, that would end badly...either with the person telling me I was wrong/dumb for feeling/thinking that way or the listener would take the other point of view or whatever.

I usually felt worse after sharing my burdens than before! As I got older (late 20's, I guess) I learned to be more choosy about who I bared my soul to...maybe a bit better results but still not great. Because sometimes you think you REALLY know someone and that they care for you only later to find out that the opposite is true.

I have a HORRIBLE track record in this area! Petey always told me that I trusted people too easily, too quickly before I'd gotten to REALLY know them and I needed to hold myself back in the relationship until the person had proved themselves trustworthy.

So then it came down to the point where I just shared my deepest feelings and thoughts with Petey. This has had the highest record of success (I define success as sharing my feelings, getting it off my chest, receiving comfort and understanding and possibly wisdom and practical application ideas, then being able to walk away and not be thinking about it all the time).

But occasionally, it still made things worse. Petey is wonderful for giving people the benefit of the doubt, second chances, extending grace and compassion. But that backfires on me when someone has truly hurt me and then Petey stands up for THEM and defends THEM instead of ME! hahaha

So lately, maybe in the past 2 or 3 years, I've taken to not sharing these things with anyone...just thinking about them and praying about them and processing them on my own. Sometimes reading in Proverbs because there is SO much daily living wisdom in that book, it's incredible!

But yesterday, I just wanted to talk to someone...to share the hurt so that it wouldn't be so heavy for me to carry around cause it was getting heavier by the minute and I could feel myself sinking lower and lower...on the verge of tears, which is pretty bad cause I'm not a crier...I HATE to cry!

There was NO ONE to talk to...either available or that I would've shared this with even if someone was available. I had a thought in my head "I need a true friend, a "bosom buddy"...someone I can trust.

And here's what I really want to share...another thought popped into my head. Not my own thought, but one that was said in a "manner" or "voice" that I've come to recognize as the Holy Spirit "speaking" to me..."there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother" Prov. 18:24

Whenever I "hear" this "voice" (it's not really a voice but it's words that I do hear and I know they're not my own! I can't explain it because I know God is not speaking new revelation but I also know that He knows me personally and loves me and wants to guide and direct me and the answers come to my questions, almost always verses from the Bible).

Ok, so anyhow, when I hear this voice, I enter into the conversation just like Jesus is right there with me. I answer back or ask a question and then stay still until I "hear" or sense or however you want to call it!! an answer or a direction or, alot of times, a conviction of some mistake or disobedience in me.

Sooooooo...I answer back "but God, I need to talk with a PERSON...I'm not sure that talking with You will help me". Can you hear just a bit of a whine in that? God is SO gracious and understanding with me...and infinitely patient! I deserve to be struck dead but I'm following the example of David in the Psalms...Pastor Tim calls it "dumping the truck".

So I answered God and I "heard" TRY ME...just give it a try...so I did. I poured my heart out to God, talking out loud, as if He were my best friend (which He is!!). And you know what? It WORKED.

My burden was lifted, I felt more at peace, I was convicted for losing focus on what matters to God. And then I had another thought...my own..."if people who don't believe in God or don't want a relationship with God could experience what I just experienced, they would understand why believers (Christians, Christ-followers, pick whatever term you use to describe someone who has put their faith in God through Jesus Christ) LOVE God and want to share that with the whole world!!

I want to share this with everyone I know! God is GREAT, He is amazing, He IS a Friend who sticks closer than a brother, He is interested and CAN help you with whatever you're going through, big or small.

He's not a crutch...He CARRIES all of me!! I depend on Him for everything...every breath I draw is because He wills it and when He doesn't will it, I will die.

But I don't share = ( I don't want people to hate me or avoid me or think I'm trying to ram my "religion" down their throats. I just want to share something wonderful, just like I'd share the information of a super-duper sale at a store where I know somebody would like to take advantage of a great deal.

I'm not rejecting anyone because they don't believe the way I do. God has given everyone the gift of free-will...you can choose to believe or not believe. I just want to state plainly that there are magnificent benefits to trusting Christ to save you and having a relationship with God because of that. Benefits that you can reap here on earth, in addition to eternity in Heaven.

And one of those benefits I experienced yesterday...a Friend who is always with me, will always say the right thing EVERY time, who speaks words of wisdom to me in a way that convicts but doesn't permanently damage me, who loves me unconditionally and ONLY wants the best for me, no matter if it looks like a very mean and hurtful thing from my point of view (that's where trust comes in!).

Ok, I've had my say...thanks for listening = ) I click on the Publish Post button with fear and trembling! hahaha

Awwwww...ya'll made me happy = ) Nice to know someone is still around!

Boy, I'm tired right now. I just posted on Facebook that I was going to go watch some TV but I'm too tired to even get out of the chair. Here are the stops I made while running errands:

1. went to folks' house to finish the leftover pizza for lunch

2. Kinko's to pick up the Stridelines newsletter...I mail that out for our running club

3. Costco for assorted goodies = )

4. Zales Outlet Store for assorted goodies = )))

5. Lil Wally's for food

6. folks' house again to drop off the things I'd picked up for mom while I was out

I took the dogs with me so at least I had company. We were sitting at a light next to a school bus filled with little kids. They were squealing and carrying on as little kids are wont to do. (Did I use that word correctly???)

I had the windows cracked for the boys and Dingo was interested in the sounds that were coming from the bus. He had his nose stuck out the window...one little girl noticed him and pretty soon the whole bus was yelling "hi doggie! look at me doggie!! what a cute doggie!!"

And Buddy was barking up a storm and Piper was trying to squeeze in next to Dingo so he could get his nose out the window...it was all very cute...noisy, but cute = )

I guess this would be a good place to rattle on about whatever...try to limit my FB status updates to just that...updates. Save the rabbit trails for here...the only people who really care are ya'll anyhow so I imagine you're the only ones who would let me rattle on and still like me.

Well, I'm thinking that maybe some of my "friends" on Facebook have hidden my status updates...they have too many friends and maybe I'm taking up too much space... hahahahahaha

I really like all my friends' updates...none of them are ever too boring or too detailed for me. I can zip through them quickly and even look at the picture albums or click on the links. It helps me to get to know the person better. If they like a particular link or picture or video or cartoon, it tells me something about them and that's always interesting.

There's a sad aspect to Facebook though...Petey's sister introduced us to it last summer but we didn't understand it's value...it's "neatness". We all created accounts and Paula created one for Mammie.

If only we'd known!!!! Mammie would've LOVED Facebook and being able to stay in touch with all her family so easily and thoroughly! She passed away before we realized the true benefit of FB = ((

Ah, life is full of regrets. The list gets longer every day I'm alive... On that note, can anyone tell me if Twitter has benefits over FB? Is it because you can send a text message to update? Maybe there's something about Twitter that I'm not "getting" and will discover too late that it really IS a way cool beans thing!

Ok, I think I have enough motivation to get up and move into the living room now. Ya'll be good!

Howdy! Just felt like updating for some reason. Except it's really late so I can't really update. And it's been a loooooong time so there's waaaaaaaay too much to cover. Besides, I REALLY don't think anyone is reading anymore anyhow...which is always sad...because I remember Mammie and I'm still not used to the idea of her being in Heaven.

Last Sunday was one year since she passed. While doing Christmas shopping, I'm reminded often that I won't be buying her anymore gifts...or making her a pack of homemade cards. She really liked the cards I made. I don't think I ever got to show her the photo cards I make now...with neat pics that Petey takes on his travels. {{{{{sigh}}}}}

I'd like to ask a favor...if you're reading this, PLEASE leave a comment to let me know that someone out there saw this post.

Petey, I know you'll see it since you have this marked as your home page = ) Oh yeah...now you can't tease me about the previous post anymore!!

The rest of you...if there is anyone...I'm kinda getting the itch to blog again so stay tuned! My new pc makes it so much easier to do stuff = ))