Last year and maybe the year before I noted that spring was magical, what with the birds reappearing and the trees budding and the grass turning green. I also noted that I’d become aware of the smell of the cotton woods.

If it gets warmer, it will again be a magical spring. The weather was headed in that direction, but then it got cold. The birds haven’t been around – either they’re building nests, or they’ve headed south, where it’s warmer.

But for sure, winter is over.

In my head, I have many, many images of this day. It would take weeks to get it all on paper.

Winter’s being over, I just put on another layer and today did what needed to be done. I cleaned the goat pen. And I cleaned the chicken pen. I did the latter after dinner. I was cleaning the goat pen, pulling sheets of compressed bedding and poop up with my bare hands when Pete says “here” and handed me the pitchfork. I will never again make fun of his being tool using man. This is, after all, a gift he has, which is the ability to choose the right tool for the job. Big to little, little to big, he has got the knack.

Alys and Raudi on Siggi's Trail

After lunch, I took off for Grizzly Fitness, so as to watch the TaeKwon Do class. It was pretty amazing. Five students were taking their tests, all hoping to move up to the next level, which is indicated by a certain colored belt. The lowest are the white belt students. The highest are the black belt students – and there are seven levels of black belt.

I went because I wanted to get a sense of the big picture – mainly, what is further involved in this training. I also wanted to see particulars, for example, how one stands when practice sparring. I figured I’d learn a lot watching, and I did. But I also saw something unexpected. Those participating, five individuals, were all dedicated students. They did individual moves but also worked as a team. I didn’t see any missteps as they warmed up, did their preliminary exercises, did their advanced exercises, sparred, and broke boards and tiles.

The credit for all this has to go to their instructor, who they obviously respect. He has considerable class. He had put a vase of red roses on the instructor table – and before the testing began, gave each student a red rose, which they gave to their mothers who were sitting in the bleachers. I thought, repeatedly, this is the sort of teacher that they make movies about.

I came home and Pete suggested that we take the horses out on the trails. May 12 – duly noted. I rode Raudi and Pete rode Tyra. We were all glad to be back on Peach’s Loop and Siggi’s Trail. Pete had been out with the dogs prior to the ride, so there were no surprises. Tyra balked at a creek crossing. I walked Raudi across and held out my hand and Tyra then crossed. We then rewarded her copiously.

This is why our horses are such savvy trail horses.

Next: 132. 5/13/24: Near Magical