Saturday I went to the Nalley’s farm in Burke County. I like Burke County a lot. And I love the Nalley’s. I rode out there with Ginny and little baby Ginna – who wasn’t much of a conversationalist and slept most of the way. Briscoe got to go too. She was very excited.
The boys were having a quail hunt and so there were horses and dogs and lots of fun stuff going on when we got there. After eating some yummy turkey chili, the hunt took off. Because lunch had taken so long and the hours left of daylight were waning, they decided to not take the horses out on the afternoon hunt. Martha Burton and I followed the hunt on a four wheeler for a while, which was a lot of fun. I like to watch all the dogs. They look like they are having so much fun. I want to come back as someone’s beloved bird dog in my next life. Not the kind that stays in one of those tall pens in the back yard. The kind that doubles as a house dog. Then Ivy called and Martha Burton and I abandoned the hunt and went back to the house.
Since the horses didn’t go on the hunt – they were just hanging around in the barn – obviously bored – Ivy and I decided that we should ride them. Which was lots and lots of fun. I haven’t been riding in a really long time, but I’ve always enjoyed horses. It was a beautiful day, not very cold, but the wind was blowing and the sun was setting, and the birds were chirping. It was past dusk and almost dark when we made it back to the road that leads to the house.
There are few things as enjoyable as riding a horse in the dark towards the twinkling lights of the barn and the house where grits and bourbon await. There was fried venison, fried dove, grilled pheasant and quail wrapped in bacon with jalapenos in the middle (make sure you chew it up and don’t swallow any shot!) asparagus, sugar snap peas, birthday cake, warm happy tired doggies, and a big fire. After my first piece of quail with jalapenos I couldn’t feel my lips and I could have breathed fire so I was a little more cautious after that. I guess I hadn’t had enough bourbon at that point.
But let me just say that this experience came with the price of being UNBELIEVABLY sore yesterday and today. I was fine most of yesterday, until about 4. Since then I have been almost as stiff and sore as I was after the half marathon. Maybe that is an exaggeration, but I’ve been known for my dramatic touch.
Happy Martin Luther King Day! I’m spending the day getting my life in order. Yay! Dang I’m sore.
the thin line between optimism and delusion... 