Trying New Things and Old

Surely has been a hot minute since I've posted last. 


The world is in a funk, and I think I have simply followed suit.  No fear, through, I'm working on me.


On July 4th, my father-in-law, Theodore Eugene Mattingly SR, passed peacefully in his sleep.  He was young, 66, but he had also been fighting since October 2019 against COPD issues that lead to pneumonia and then they found stage 4 lymphoma, and then because he was in a nursing home with lung issues, you know he got COVID-19.  Ted SR fought the good fight for as long as he could and I'd like to think he was simply ready to go home for good.


Ted SR's death hit a little harder on me than I though it would.  Perhaps it is because his son is also dying.  It was/ is difficult to see my husband's name having anything to do with death (thus the reason I keep adding a "SR" after my FIL's name). 


For those who have experienced the loss of a close loved one, you know that there is stuff to go through.  Now if that loved was a bit of hoarder, it makes that job a bit more difficult.  I wish we were closer to his home, I would be able to help more.  When we were there, however, we were able to grab a few things that meant a lot to Ted.  One of those was Ted SR's camera.  It is a starter DSLR Sony and a good place, in my very green photo taking skills, to start learning how to use one.


Personally, I think Ted SR would approve of the pictures because he loves nature.  Here are a few of my favorite ones.  All are not edited and photos in RAW format.  I just dropped them down in size to help upload faster.

Oliver, a rescue puppy who is now 8 months old. He is a great dane, mastiff, Shepherd, lab mix.

Battle, our almost 3 year old German Shepard.

Ted and Battle.  This is normal life.

Downy woodpecker on our feeders.  This was taken through our picture window.

America.

This beautiful young female cardinal showed up the day Ted SR passed away.  Her and her mate have been coming by every day since.

I wasn't so sure about this, but the more I look at it, the more I like it.

LOVE close up images of everyday things.

Quest, our cat on the prowl.

One of the Guinee's and Quest ready to pounce.

Sterling.  Through the window.  Ted took this one.

This dove shows up everyday, too. 

Cinnamon, our senior dog, my BFF.

Alyssa, getting ready to do a speed class on Hutch.

I couldn't use Ted SR's camera and NOT take a picture of a barn. They were one of his favorite things to photograph.

Fancy.  This is one of the sweetest horses I know.

Rolling in the dirt is a priority after being hosed off from the sweaty horse show.

Hutch is a magic roller... changes his color every time.

Willow, a sweet filly thankful the big horses are back.

And Alyssa, being Alyssa.

So, what's the old?  Me riding and showing.  I miss it.  It needs to happen more often.  A large part of me wants to take lessons again and give myself that gift, and yet I am afraid of the time away I will miss with Ted.  Then there is the whole time requirement and making a commitment to something I probably won't be able to keep.  Sigh.


In Alyssa language, FUCK CANCER!


God doesn't tell us when our time will come, just that our days are numbered.  Everyday a prayer is said for making it count.  For loving deeper.  Feeling fuller.  Heck, feeling at all.  In this new day, may we all be able to try something new and do something we love whether it means we take more the recommend dose of motrin in a 24 hour period or not.

Until next time.