This is supposed to model an “about us” page, but that’s not quite what’s coming out right now. This is more a standing update on where we all are currently, more or less. 

This is my second third fourth (I’ve now lost track) attempt at semi-regular blogging, so naturally the house is peaceful and contemplative so I can reach that Zen zone, tucked in my perfectly organized and quiet little Instagram ready nook of writing happiness. There’s a soft tinkle of the desktop waterfall, and the giant white super fluffy cat keeps my lap warm and also photogenic. A cozy cuppa tea sits on the desk, next to my artsy little journal that I use to record my every precious thought.

Are you still with me? Good, now to give you a window into the true scene: It’s the tail end of summer, 2024, and I’ve been back in the office like COVID never happened for over a year now. I have a full fledged, “puberty has hit with the force of a fully loaded, 6 diesel engine freight train” teenager slouching around. On any given day, I see beautiful, wonderful glimpses of the man he’ll be, with ride camps, working horses, walking the dogs, playing the trumpet, and my husband’s Midwestern brand of work ethic helping form him. On other days…folks weren’t lying when they told me teenage boys can be a bit goat like, and not the cute, jump all over you when you do yoga goats! 

My house husband has, after a decade of being attached to me, finally accepted I am a truly feral equestrian wife and keeps the house standing largely without my input. On the weekends I’m home, I usually end up picking a random chore to complete, something that’s nice to have done but doesn’t really affect the day to day functioning of the household. Like deep cleaning all the baseboards, scrubbing down the kitchen cabinets, or reorganizing and dusting my bookshelf. Meanwhile he’s taught the kid how to mow the lawn by himself, crawling up in the attic to install commercial grade internet, or teaching himself to build a whole ass table. 

The most dreaded words in our house are “What do you want for dinner?” This is also dictated by the child’s growth spurts. We’re either shoveling truly staggering amounts of food (usually chicken nuggets or bibimbap) into him, or he survives off tea and toast like a transplanted British child, no in between. We recently broke down and purchased an air fryer, which is doing more for our cooking than the InstaPot did. When I’m not avoiding The Question, I’m found at the barn annoying my horse by insisting on learning dressage or loading her up and hitting the road in search of new trails and old friends to explore with. 

The song quoted below helps explain where I got my motto and name of the blog from. I spent several sessions as a camp counselor, and this song has always stuck with me and uplifted me when I needed it most.

On the Loose

Have you ever seen the sunrise turn the sky completely red?
Have you slept beneath the moon and stars with a pine bough for your head?
Have you sat and talked with friends, though a word was never said?
Then you’re like me and you’ve been on the loose.

Chorus:
On the loose to climb a mountain,
On the loose where I am free.
On the loose to live my life,
The way I think my life should be.
For I’ve only got a moment,
And a whole world yet to see,
And I’ll be searching for tomorrow, on the loose.

There’s a trail that I’ll be hiking
Just to see where it might go.
Many places yet to visit,
Many people yet to know.
And in following my dreams,
I will live and I will grow,
On a trail that’s out there waiting, on the loose.

Chorus

So in search of love and laughter,
I’ll be travelling through this land.
Never sure of where I’m going,
For I haven’t any plans.
But in time when you are ready,
Come and join me, take my hand.
And together we’ll find life,
Out on the loose!