Many years ago, when we acquired Ryder, a horse pack guide, who was in on our taking her on, remarked that this was a dog that had won the lottery. The phrase stuck with us, and since we have worked hard to give Ryder a good life.

We have also used the phrase in thinking about our other animal’s care. For instance, I thought about this when letting the horses out of the trailer last week. I had wanted badly to continue our trip, but in the two days previously, it had occurred to me that they were ready for the trip to be over.

The three mares were ecstatic and have seemed quite happy since. Yes, they won the lottery.

The dogs – they got to run around free on trails for several days. Both Ryder and Shadow had also had enough travel time. They’ve since been content while on the home front. Yes, they won the lottery

The chickens – they were confined during our absence, but they do have a roomy coop and roost. I let them out of their pen the morning after we got back. I could tell they were glad to see me. One even let me pick her up. Yes, they won the lottery.

The goats -- tonight we went to Meg and Carl’s place and picked them up. They’d been well cared for, although they were the entire time in a small pen. The minute they saw me, they came over to the chain link fence and said hello. We took them back to the Tundra and loaded them into the back. Once at home, history repeated itself as they too were ecstatic to be home. They began grabbing bites of greenery here and there. I let them remain outside of their pen when we went to eat dinner.

I have renamed Swamp Thang. I am instead calling her Lilac. This is a common goat name, but it’s sticking, so this means that she’s okay with it.

Yes, the goats won the lottery.

We have a nice balance in terms of our animals in that we don’t have too many. And we take care of them all to the best of our ability.

I am breathing a sigh of relief because it appears as though it’s going to be a good hay year. We drove by our hay dealer’s place on the way to and from picking up Sassy and Lilac and saw baled hay in his outdoor shed.

Hay is our weak link. We needed this, a good year.

I sometimes think that I have won the lottery. I’m reluctant to move because we have good health care providers. Today I got in right away and saw Dr. Joe. He did some major adjustments to my hip and to my neck. He did not say what the problems might be, but when I asked he did say that the two issues were related.
‘
Most importantly, he told me, “keep moving,” so I went for a ride on Raudi. And tonight, I feel just fine.

Next: 174. 6/27/24: What’s Important?