Spring is always my time of promises:

I will weed/check the gardens every day

I will work the bees every week.

I will ride/work the horses on a regular basis.

Fall is when I assess my success.

Not so good with the garden this year.  I didn't feel like I had a good plan or a good start.  Some things are crowded and other things didn't survive.  I'm giving up on blueberries because I just can't get my clay based soil acidic enough to keep them alive.  Couple this with a hot, dry summer and I lost all of the blueberries that I had planted last year.  

I was pretty good with the bees and, after a bit of a tumultuous start with the weather (very cool, wet spring across the south and midwest slowed the production and shipment of bees) and losing a package immediately upon placing (I later replaced with a nuc) all 4 hives have made it through the summer and produced excess honey for harvesting.  Next, I will make sure they have a full deep and medium of honey and treat for mites then cross fingers that the upcoming winter is short.  

I have definitely increased my riding.  I've been wanting to average 3 rides a week and usually get at least 2 rides in.  Last week, we rode over 40 miles (at least 25 in one day) and the horse acted like he had done nothing.  We are ready for a limited distance ride this fall and, hopefully, some 50 mile rides next spring.  I am hoping to help a friend out through her first 100 mile ride later in the fall as well.  That will remind me of the work it takes to get a horse to 100 miles as well as keeping it happy and sound through the ride.  And it relieves her of the stress of dealing with a long ride and having to worry about the care of her horse in camp.  My plan is to do the Western States Trail Ride (aka the Tevis) in 2013.

There are a lot of changes in the wind.  Some good, some challenging.  All I can continue to do is work hard, be strong,  and continue to learn and grow.  Until next time....