It is not yet spring. I know this because it’s only late February, and is often the case here, there might still be some really nasty storms ahead. I’ve seen this before, and I’ll see this again. But, this is with the knowledge that now each and every day brings us one step closer to the real thing, spring. I tell you, it’s that clichéd notion of baby steps.

Today the sun shone brightly, all day long. I was restless in the morning because the room I was working in was flooded with light. I could even see the dog smut on the south facing windows. This was not the cold, brief, light of early winter, but rather the warm, lasting light of late winter.

I forced myself to work on my UA Press proposal well knowing that I didn’t have to hurry. I knew that there would be enough light available so that I’d be able to take the horses out on a later outing. The sun is no longer setting at 3:30 p.m. (Ugh). Rather, it’s now setting at 6:45 p.m. (Yay!). So I now have more related time on my hands.

I got out at about 2-ish. Pete had taken Jenna to the groomers, and Ryder accompanied them both on their trip to town, leaving me with Rainbow. So I decided to take her for a walk, while riding Mr. Tinni. The sun was shining, the air was warm, so all the animals were in a singularly good mood. Rainbow, Tinni,

and I had a very good time. We went quite a ways down the snowmachine trail and back, and then we did our regular trail loops. Tinni, age 24, and Rainbow, age 13, remained chipper and upbeat the entire time. And both had a decided bounce to their steps. I think we all shared the same sentiment, that the day’s ride was far too short.

I noticed upon my return that Pete was in the process of getting Signy, Hrimmi, and Raudi ready for their outing. We subsequently decided that he’d ride Raudi and I’d ride Signy. As it turned out, Signy was very energetic. She remained her usual polite and obliging self and didn’t bolt. But I who know this horse well knew that this was difficult for her. I assisted her in remaining calm by keeping my seat firm and my hands soft. Actually, this was more in theory than in practice.

Pete, who is now a far better rider than I will ever be, encouraged Raudi to keep up with Signy, and then discouraged her from racing downhill. Raudi is an Aries. I wonder if this has anything to do with this. I say that Pete’s a better horse person than I am because he accomplished in one lesson what I failed to accomplish in several. No matter, I’m just glad to have gotten an assist in working with the horse I often call “the wild child.”

Once on the home front, we put the horses away, and then I puttered around the pen some. I always do this. The difference now is that I don’t have to do this by headlight, as I had to do a month ago. In fact, I’m now only using the headlight once a day, which is late at night when I go out to do the final feeding.

So, indeed, things are looking up. The humans and animals all appear to be in fine form as spring approaches. Let’s hope that I’m not being too optimistic too soon. This would be incredibly disheartening.