I hope that next year I remember the particulars of this particular Memorial Day. I hope I remember to go back and look at this dispatch, because it was memorable.

It was mainly the weather that made it memorable. It was, in the morning and early afternoon, sunny and warm, temps in the high 50s˚ F.

I was disciplined. I got my BLBP files in order and I did a partial draft of my combined BLBP/ALP article. I don’t get the math part, Skye’s part, which is too bad.

There are differing types of equations – maybe he can go over quadratic and linear equations with me. If I had enough time, I would have figured out the differences. But what I lacked was time. Some, though, they just grasp this shit, but me, no.

I had my chance in high school – my life would have been different if I’d applied myself. I did not. Time now, to move on beyond regret.

I got outside after working for a while – I wasn’t going to miss out on this day. Pete rode Tyra and I rode Hrimmi, we did Tin Can and Siggi’s Trail. Yesterday he rode Tyra and I rode Raudi on Tin Can. So we now have our trails back in working order. Here and there are places (and Pete points them out) in which he cut the rounds in downed trees, so that we have a pathway.

I next went solo on Raudi, first doing what we call Pat and Ray’s trail. We went uphill and crossed the bridge that Vicki and I put in so many years ago. I remember our riding on Vicki’s four wheeler, with the bridge on the back – and Pat coming out onto her deck/porch and yelling at us, saying that we had no right being back there.

I think the bridge had been moved from where we originally put it. It looked solid, but I got off it, and just in case, I led Raudi across it.

Raudi was shuffley. She needs both to get into better shape and have a companion with her. Now’s the time to ride back there because the taller grass will be a distraction.

I also rode her on Siggi’s Trail. While we were out, the weather started to change. It got colder and the sky more overcast. I thought it would rain, but it did not.

I had a burst of energy when I got home and took advantage of it. I cleaned the goat enclosure and pen. Pete assisted me in tossing the soiled bedding over the fence with a pitch fork. Cleaning the pen was easier than the last time because I didn’t let it go as long. I always feel a sense of satisfaction after knowing that my animals are in clean environs.

After dinner, I went and picked fiddlehead ferns tops, which were in abundance by the Sybarite/Samovar intersection. I think ferns like cold weather. I wish I knew more about foraging for food. I ended up picking a bucketful.

Today did have intimations of being magical – and if it was warmer, it would have been. I did see a robin on the lawn by the gate. And I heard a few differing kinds of birds. But I haven’t seen the swallows yet or smelled the cottonwoods.

Next: 143. 5/26/26: The Season of Magical Thinking