Polo Grounds

It would seem that Henrietta wasn't after our figs yesterday but was casing the joint to see if it was a reasonable place to bring her entire extended family. They all came up to our front door this morning and were just settling down on the porch and its railings when I frightened them off with my camera. In extras is a picture of them beating a not-so-hasty retreat. The ones on the railing across the driveway seemed to be the 'sentries' and about half the flock are adolescents. So far, only Henrietta has ventured over the deer fence and into the back. I would be less sanguine if the whole lot of them were marauding around back there....

We had to go to the bank to deposit the checks that Jim managed to liberate from the insurance company. It's a small branch within the Oakmont community, a sprawling retirement community a few miles down the highway from us. It's one of those places that has a lot of rules...you must be over 50 to live there,  what color you can paint your house and where you can hang your laundry (not outside). I have no interest in living in a place like that, but it turned out to be a rather interesting place to take a walk. Either there is no rule against having a dog, or a lot of people who don't live there find it a good place to walk their dogs, for there were lots of them.

We wandered around looking at small houses that all looked more or less the same on streets that seem to be devoid of trees, until we stumbled upon the Polo Ground and the adjoining Saddle Club, a big restaurant with a lot of outdoor tables and a discreet sign informing us that it was for 'members and guests only'. They were watering the massive lawn and it was immaculately maintained, which must mean that they do have matches there. There are stables and saddling areas and a parking lot for trailers with another sign with all the rules for its use. We only saw one horse. We didn't  linger as I had to get to my Pilates class downtown, but we might go back just to explore this large community complete with medical offices, two banks, two gas stations, a Catholic church, golf courses and a grocery store. 

Back in the real world, It was 'squat week' in Pilates. I despair of ever getting John to do squats properly, but if I could only figure out how to fit out our 'multi purpose room with a springboard, basically two vertical rows of hooks to which springs can be attached, I think I would have a chance. Or maybe he just needs Sherisse to explain it to him. What with various surgeries, I've done a ton of squats in my life but I was still pleased to be able to do sit-down-stand-up ones today for the first time since knee surgery. Small victories can be highly satisfying....