Bull by Bull

• Once the weather warmed up, I cut the elastic waistband off my long johns and sewed it — by hand — to a favorite wild rag, creating a less-than-perfect face mask.

• Since the only thermometer I own is a horse thermometer, I decided to rely on my sense of smell out at the barn as an indicator of whether I might have COVID-19. For me, there is just nothing like the smell of horses, goats and newly re-stacked hay to monitor how I’m holding up.

• I’m down to one horse and one goat out at the barn. We all three need cheering up these days so I took a drive out to the goat lady north of Redmond and picked out two, 2-month-old Nigerian dwarf kids, dehorned and castrated. I know Winkin’ and Riddle’s spirits will be raised just by watching their antics, as will be mine.

• Today I made the best decision I’ve made in weeks: I promised myself that I would only watch ONE take per day of the daily news. I haven’t felt this free since I last divorced. I am no longer afraid to spend more time outdoors and less time inside pretending I’m going to clean and pretending I’m OK.

• My heart goes out to everyone, the world over. My self-talk of late is very familiar. It’s the same thing I’ve always said to my horses when they needed calming, “It’s OK. You’re all right.”