Getting on my feet.

I have to admit that it has been a rough few months. Getting used to working everyday full time, walking the dogs, and cooking dinner every (well almost every) night. I got sick more than once, had horrible allergies another week, hurt my ankle. Every week day driving through hell, sometime call commuter's traffic. All the whiling missing the country side, my horse, my goats, and longing for wide open spaces.

It hasn't been all bad. Actually it is starting to grow on me. There are things that love to do. Like walk to Caputo's This awesome little Italian grocery store that is a chain here in Chicago. They have the best selection of produce I have ever seen. Things that I have never even heard of. Yet it is only a few blocks away and easy to get to. I love it!



We have the trains going by, but I actually love them. I started falling in love with the trains when I was in WI and would take them down here to visit Mike. Riding on the train is nice way to get way. For one it gets you out of the damn traffic!






I also love the little park next to the house. Zoe loves to play ball there. We have a beautiful little neighborhood that we live in. People decorate for the holidays, they keep their lawn neat and trim. In one house is a nice little Hispanic family, next are some immigrants form Poland. Of course there is the family of Italian decent in another. Ethic groups are mixed in a nice melting pot.


So the long and short of this post is that I am getting use to this place. I think I am going to be able to call it home.

Rhythms and the dogs

The rhythm of life beats a bit quicker down here. Getting my body to dance to the music of the city is taking some time to adjust. I feel like I get up, walk the dogs, work, walk the dog, eat, walk the dogs and sleep. The circle of life I assume.

My mornings start right after I open my eyes. I used to stumble down the stairs and open the front door to let the dogs out. Now I actually have to put on clothes before I have had coffee and take the dogs out for a walk. The weather has been nice and our morning walks, although short, are fun. I like to see the city waking up.

M ask me if they were getting less exercise now. They are actually getting more now that we are going out at least three times a day.

We take at least 3 walks day so far, sometimes 4 on the weekends. Each walk is between 10-30 min. That is a lot more exercise for the dogs. Not to mention that it is all on a leash. Another new thing. My dogs know how to walk on a leash but are not the best leash walkers. Although Remmy is a no nonsense kind of walker, he just goes. Zoe is much more interested in all the new sights and smells.

The dogs are getting into the rhythm too. They had a hard time with when to potty. Remmy is learning how to ration his pee so he can mark everything, gotta love male dogs! They are learning that I leave in the morning and come back and night. We are all adjusting though, even M.

He is loving the dogs. He plays ball with Remmy, who is now his best friend. The dogs have also learned who the weak link is, lol. They know that if they beg from him they are much more likely to get a treat than from me. Oh poor M, hardly has a meal in peace!

Although life is quicker, the little things seem much bigger now.

Moving .. YUCK!

Today I "moved" to Chicago. I am not moving all at once. M and I are sharing his condo, not big enough for all my stuff and his. So I am just moving enough things in to make myself feel at home. Some blankets, pictures, house plants, and other things I "can't live without."

Before I left I had to take care of the animals that are still there, six goats and a miniature horse. Rocky my mini is going to a new home on Saturday. I was struck with what I am doing as I went to catch him. I was catching, not only him for the last time, but any horse for the foreseeable future. No longer, at my whim will I be able to go out to the pasture and play with my horses. No longer will I have to worry about caring for the pasture, make sure there is enough water or hay, do a check to make sure everyone is okay. No longer will I fix fences or just take a book out to read while the horses graze.

I made sure that everyone had enough hay and called M. This is just a moment in time he reminded me. Some day I might get some of that back. A piece of land, a place for a horse and some goats. This is just a moment in time.

Introduction

This blog is an off shot of my blog "Fearless Riding" There I chronicled my efforts to get over my fears of riding, but my life has taken a change and I now find myself living in Chicago.

I grew up in a western suburb of Chicago until I was 16. My adult life has been in small towns and the countryside of Wisconsin. Now my heart and a job are pulling me back to Illinois. Life with chickens, donkeys, goats, ponies, and horses are over; for now anyway. Life with a wonderful man and my two dachshunds begins.

I am making the move down tomorrow to start my life with my beau, M. On Monday I am starting my new job in the suburbs. I am making the move with my two dachshunds, Zoey and Remmy. Together my dogs and I will have to learn to adjust to our new environment devoid of cows, pastures, rows of corn, and tractors, yet full of trains, traffic, and local parks. Not to mention how M. will deal with the addition of a woman, dogs, and lots of house plants to his small condo.

Let the adventure begin!