C-ing Spots Appaloosas

Lifestyle changes

2012-01-26T16:13:00.000-08:00

These days it seems like there are just so many families and people in general who are struggling financially, and therefore having to make significant lifestyle changes. And, let's face it; most of us don't like change. I generally don't. We're in that same boat, that under-sized boat of struggling families.

Whoever "they" are, that commonly attest to the fact that our economy is improving, don't live in my neighborhood. The veterinary clinic where I work is struggling. Our clients don't seem to have extra funds lying around that they're willing to spend on the welfare of their animals, unless it's an emergency. We've seen our fair share of those.

The company that my husband works for is struggling. They are a granite and marble countertop business, and are tied very closely to the construction industry. We all know where that business currently resides. My husband as been on reduced hours for the last several years, and is showing no signs of improving any time soon. In an effort to downsize and reduce overhead, the building that they have been purchasing and running the business from has been sold. They have 6 months to relocate. They will lose their tenants that rent a portion of the building to run their business, and will have to begin paying rent to some other building owner. It makes no sense to me, but that's what they've decided is in their best interests. However, they're still claiming they have no funds to purchase stone (a vital component to running said business), reductions have been made in medical benefits to employees, my husband has had one pay increase in the roughly 10 years he's worked there, they're on a cash-only basis to most of their vendors, etc, etc, etc...taking all things into consideration, we're a little worried about the stability of his job. The owners of the company are very good at increasing their personal wealth, and seem to show very little interest in maintaining the health of their business. We have insider information because the owners of the business are my hubby's brother and his wife. A word of advice here...never, ever work with family. Tedious at best. Enough said.

In light of all things considered, without my hubby and myself being gainfully employed, we simply could not make it here, in our home, and support our animals. We could sell all our horses and live in a house in town for probably about the same payments we make on our home right now. That's not good enough. However, if we were able to sell our house and acreage and relocate to Central Oregon, the cost difference in homes and land would enable us to (hopefully) purchase a fairly equivalent home and land, still keep our horses and live practically debt free. My hubby could retire and collect his social security, and we could probably live a comparable lifestyle, and I would only work part time. That's a win-win for us. It probably looks better on paper and in our heads than reality, but you never know unless you try, right? The first step would be putting our home on the market, and then slowly as we can afford to do so, make some or all of the minor improvements to our home's interior that would make it sell easier. The main things we'd want to do is replace downstairs carpeting and new laminate (fake hardwood) in kitchen, dining, mudroom and laundry areas. I'd probably replace the main entry door too. Other than new interior paint, we probably wouldn't do anything else. If we were fortunate enough to get an offer before the improvements were finished, we could always offer a cash off deal for those improvements. That way, they could pick colors etc that they prefer...that would actually be my preference.

Anyway, it's a huge step for us. We've been seriously discussing the possibilities for a couple of weeks now.
I'm excited at the possibilities, but I'm also a bit reluctant to leave the community where we've lived for so long, the friends we've made here, both our families, our jobs, our church, and the numerous people we've known in the area for so many years. Simply put, it's unsettling to me and a bit daunting to even think about all the details involved. If it were just us, I'd make the move in a heartbeat...but there are the horses to consider. We absolutely do not want to live without our horses...nope, not an option. So, we're trying to consider all our options, and prayerfully trying to make the right decision. Ultimately, wherever we end up is in God's hands, not our own. We'll know it's a sound decision if the path is made clear for us...if not, we'll just try to remain faithful and put our trust in Him, and keep doing what we've been doing.

Living in central Oregon has been an almost lifelong dream for us. The climate is high desert, much drier, hotter summers (but dry heat), colder winters, and snow...lots of snow (which I'm totally unaccustomed to), but dry snow, there are lakes by the dozens, scenic rivers, snow skiing, bicycling, much better horseback riding options and more time throughout the year to enjoy them. Where we live in NW Oregon, it rains (a lot) 7-8 months out of most years, and that means mud and lots of it to deal with. We live for the summer time, but there are so many other duties that can only be done in the summer that we're so busy just trying to keep up, that we still don't have the time or energy to ride our horses as much as we'd like to. In a nutshell, we'd have more personal time, have less debt and a much more outdoor-friendly environment and easier to be active type lifestyle. It all sounds too wonderful to be true. I have this bad habit of idealizing scenarios in my mind, and rarely does reality measure up...but, I'm willing to take the chance. We only have this one life to live here on this planet, and only so much time in which to live.

Maybe it's a bit dramatic, but this line just popped into my head and it's straight out of one of my most favorite movies ever..."get busy living, or get busy dying". Thanks, Red! That's exactly how I feel!

If you're of the praying kind, I'd be abundantly grateful if you'd keep us in mind when you're saying your prayers...for we truly do, need all the help we can get.

Keeping the faith,
Lorie @ Cingspots

Back to normal

2011-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. I'm back at work today after having a 3-day weekend. It was a very simple affair for us, and I enjoyed it more than many Christmases that I can remember in recent years past. I think it may be that I had no expectations this year. None at all. That's quite different for me, as I consider myself "queen" of the expectations. I have a habit of visualizing the "perfect" holiday in my mind and then the reality of everything hits me and leaves me feeling very let down. However, that was not the case this year. Our festivities began a week ago with a day of walking around in downtown Portland, window shopping and viewing of Christmas lights. We met my husband's brothers and their wives at a little Italian restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful evening with them. The following night we attended the Nutcracker Suite Ballet. It was wonderful! I have wanted to see this ballet for many, many years, and I was not disappointed. The costumes were astounding, the music enchanting and the dancers divine. We loved it!

Last Friday evening after work, I stopped by our favorite Chinese restaurant and ordered take-out. It was amazing!! We ate out of the boxes in front of the television and it was a very nice evening. Sabbath morning we woke up early, and headed to church. Usually, I fuss and worry over what to wear because I have so very few "nice clothes". This morning however, I heard a friend's voice in my head..."I just go". So, after showering and having a cup of coffee, I threw on some black slacks, a sweater and a neck scarf and away we went. We listened to some beautiful Christmas music on the way and I was only a tad late for greeter duty. Afterwards we listened to the sermon, enjoyed singing and headed home. It was a beautiful day! Christmas Eve day had dawned bright and sunshiney - what a blessing! We grabbed a quick breakfast/lunch and preceded to make up cookie gift boxes for some friends. We spent the afternoon delivering cookies and visiting with some wonderful friends and got home in time to bring the horses into their stalls for the evening (wonderful hubby had taken care of stall duty earlier) and head to my sister's house for an evening with my family. The festivities of gift exchanging, the annual name draw gift exchange game and dinner were finished by the time we got there. My sister had arranged for an early afternoon rendezvous because a family member had to work Christmas eve and Christmas Day. So, we ate leftovers while visiting quietly around the kitchen table. This worked out perfectly for us. My family isn't exactly spiritual in any way, and Christmas doesn't seem like any other family get-together outside of the gift exchanging. We said our good-byes after a few hours and headed home via some country roads and took in some beautiful light displays on the way. The air was cold and crisp and the stars shone brightly. Peaceful and beautiful. I loved it. My hubby gave me his gift. It was a beautiful rain chain for our house. When it rains, the water cascades down the chain and is visually beautiful, and the sound of the water is enchanting...I love it! I gave him his annual gift of new socks and underwear, along with a few music CD's. Then we headed off to bed.

Christmas morning we slept in. We had nowhere to go. What a blessing!! We had coffee by the fire and then fed the horses in their stalls. They enjoyed their hay and some treats of carrots and oats. Back inside, we fixed a breakfast of french toast with homemade boysenberry/whipped butter compote and smoked ham. It was delicious!! We lounged around the house listening to music and noshing on cookies for most of the day. We were totally lazy and it felt wonderful! Later on in the afternoon we headed out to do the stall cleaning and listened to some beautiful Christmas music in the barn. It was peaceful and relaxing. After we finished the chores, we headed back inside where we enjoyed an afternoon nap. I woke up feeling luxuriously refreshed, enjoyed a nice warm bath and got dressed in (real clothes) for the first time that day. We went to the local theater and watched the movie War Horse. It was very well done, beautiful cinematography and I cried most of the way through it. It was just too barbaric, way too gruesome and just plain painful to watch for this horse lover. I spent a lot of time covering my eyes with my sweater and worried that I might need to leave. I left with a headache and even shed a few tears on the way home. The only saving grace of the movie for me, was the human kindness and compassion of some people throughout the story. Without that, it would have been a total wash. I liken this movie to "Schindler's List" (which I also couldn't watch), but with horses being abused and sacrificed instead. War is brutal business. When will we ever learn?

I had Monday off and that was our day to catch up on housework, laundry and chores in general around the house. It was overall a wonderful Christmas. I am thankful for my husband, our warm and cozy home, beautiful friends and family, our dogs and our horses, more food than we need, and jobs to support ourselves. Life is good. God is in heaven and all is well within our hearts. I'll probably always miss my mom and and my dad, especially around Christmas, but this one was peaceful and I was content; and for that too, I am so very thankful.

Blessings everyone, and may 2012 be a good year for all of us...

Lorie @ Cingspots

December dawns bright

2011-12-01T16:52:00.001-08:00

It's been cold, dry and sunny for the last several days here. In fact, it hasn't rained much since last Friday, I think it was. Otherwise, it's been dry and crisp, and the days that weren't sunny were foggy and grey, but dry! I'll be happy with any day that doesn't involve water coming down from the sky. Yep, this is my kinda weather! Love cold and crisp, but your coat on and do anything weather! Sure helps my attitude and outlook on life in general. I'm a sun loving kinda gal!!

So, the long Thanksgiving weekend was spent quietly around our house. Wednesday shortly before quitting time, I started to have a sore throat, which was quickly followed by a stuffy head...sigh, first cold I've had in a couple of years, maybe more. Anyway, Thanksgiving morning dawned sunshiney and I felt like crap. But, there were pies to bake and a turkey to be cooked. My hubby helped out a lot, he even made the pumpkin pies all on his own. And, they were good too!! Gotta love a man who can bake a pie. So, together we cooked our holiday feast and by mid-afternoon we enjoyed dinner together by the fire. It was cozy, quiet and very, very good. The remainder of our long, holiday weekend was spent at home laying low. We slept in, lounged around the house and took life easy. Since I wasn't feeling exactly "swell", the only thing I did accomplish was a few hand-dipped beeswax candles. Oh, the smell of warm beeswax is simply divine!! I've never made hand-dipped tapers before, but they turned out splendidly, albeit a little shorter than I would have liked. The problem with their length was in finding the perfect melting and dipping pot that was long enough, but not too big around as to require more beeswax than I ultimately had on hand. Oh well, they're still quite lovely and will smell heavenly when burned.

My wonderfully handy husband took care of all the horsey chores over the weekend so I could rest. What a sweetie! He also got my new kitchen sink installed! We did make a quick trip to Lowe's to pick out a new faucet. The sink is a huge improvement over our old one, which was sadly in need of being disposed of when we moved into our house some 17 years ago...no sense into rushing into things, right? Anyway, this sink is off-white porcelin over cast iron. It's a very heavy sink. It has one very deep basin on the left side and a smaller (but still deeper than the old sink) basin on the right side. The faucet is off-set and sits right of center. The new faucet is brushed nickel and is a very tall swan-neck style with a sprayer. I love having a sprayer again!! I'm a simple woman with simple needs, okay? It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. And my new sink, which looks perfect and very much the "farmhouse" sink, fits in perfectly with our kitchen style. I love it!! So, that was pretty much our Thanksgiving weekend in a nutshell. Nothing exciting, really; but it was spent at home staying warm and being grateful for our many, many blessings.

Last night my boss, his wife, their son, my hubby and I attended the "Cavalia" show in Portland. It was beautifully done, had amazingly well-trained and quiet horses, incredibly "fit" dancers and acrobats, and we had a wonderful time. The show was quite enjoyable. I have to admit that it wasn't exactly what I had expected, but it was very entertaining and was well done. I had envisioned more of an opera of sorts performed with horses, you know, telling a story I guess. Don't ask why I thought this, that's just what my mind had conjured up. Regardless, it was a nice evening and we loved the show. After all, there were horses, music, dancers, acrobats and all kinds of lights and imagery...what's not to like? I have no pictures to share because cameras with flash were not allowed, and my camera does not do well in low light conditions. Michelle took a few quick pics of the tent with us outside, so maybe I can get some from her.

I'm happy to report that after almost 2 weeks off from his schooling, Eagle had his first session this afternoon. My friend Kris, spent an hour or so with him this afternoon. She stopped by the clinic with a full report for me...I knew it had gone well because her smile was one of those beautiful ear-to-ear smiles that said all I needed to hear. She said he had done remarkably well, and had picked up right where we'd left off. She did ride him a little today as well, she even did some trotting, which Eagle was happy to do. I just couldn't be more pleased with his progress. Eagle is a very, very willing and sensible horse who really seems to enjoy his time spent with people. Our next session will be after work tomorrow. I will be there and can participate in this one. I'm so glad Kris is working with Eagle and helping me out with his schooling, because with the shortened daylight hours and the variable weather conditions, it has seriously curtailed my available time to be able to work with my horse. This is a win-win situation for all three of us. I'm really getting anxious to get onboard my boy and see how he feels...can't wait!!

Well, gotta run!! I'm headed for home to do horsey chores and wrangle up some dinner, and spend the evening with my hubby whose had the last couple of days off from work. Lucky dog!!

Christmas baking begins in earnest this weekend and shopping for that perfect tree!! It's time to deck the halls and join the chorus!!

Raining horses and cows!!!

2011-11-22T10:25:00.001-08:00

We've definitely gone beyond raining cats and dogs! It's virtually a torrential downpour today, and it began last night and hasn't let up, even for a nano second. The ditches are flooding, there's standing water in the fields and in our yard, and before long, the creeks and smaller rivers will be flooding their banks. Have I mentioned lately just how much I despise rain? No? Well, ok...I hate rain!!! I don't mind the occasional rain shower, or even a good gully-washer from time to time...but this is beyond ridiculous!

Texas? Believe me when I tell you that if I could, I would...send a lot of our rain down to ya'll I believe in sharing the wealth.

So, the horses are inside today. My hubby cleaned their stalls before going to work this morning and turned them out with their morning rations while he worked. They chose to huddle together with their butts to the onslaught of water and didn't even show any interest in their hay. That's almost unbelievable, even to me! But there they were, sappy little faces, heads hung low, butts to the weather and I couldn't take it. I put more hay in their stalls and called them back to the barn. Without any second thoughts, one by one, they wholeheartedly marched inside and went straight to their own stalls...and quietly began to eat. It's a balmy 58 degrees today. The weatherman says to expect rain and winds throughout the day, and for most of this week. Oh boy. There's some hope for a drier weekend, but that's a long way off. We'll see. I can only hope.

My boss is on vacation this week and it's been unbearably slow at the clinic. I've done everything that I can think to do, and now I'm going to start working on some projects for handmade Christmas gifts for family and friends. Like so many others, we've opted to check out of the holiday craziness. There will be no "black Friday" shopping for this gal...no siree!! Instead, I plan on staying home the day after Thanksgiving and work around the house. I'll probably spend some time with the horses, keep a fire burning in the hearth and continue with Christmas gift making. I might even indulge in an afternoon nap. That sounds quite lovely to me. You couldn't pay me to go out in a shopping mall, or heaven forbid, a Walmart!!! I shudder at the thought!! That's simply not the way I want to begin my Christmas season. No way. No how.

This Thanksgiving we're having a simple affair in our home. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade bread rolls and of course, there'll be pie. You simply cannot have a holiday without the pies! I'm baking an apple pie, a pumpkin pie and might possibly try my hand at a coconut cream. Mmmmm, that was my mom's favorite. I like it too, but if I were to pick a favorite kind of pie??? Well, I guess it would have to be either apple or marionberry. Any old kind of berry will do, really, but marion or boysenberry is simply to die for! I just love pie!! They're my most favorite dessert item ever!! My hubby's a cake man, but I'll take a pie any day.

I hope that however you choose to spend the Thanksgiving holiday, it will be done so in the spirit of thankfulness. For that, my friends, is what this holiday is all about. Being thankful and keeping in mind how we all are extremely blessed. Be mindful of that, and give thanks to our Heavenly Father whose made all our blessings possible. For as the Bible says..."all good things come from God". I believe that wholeheartedly. Blessings everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Lorie @ Cingspots

A day in the life of a porkchop...

2011-11-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

...or, if you prefer "pasture potato". Either way, you'll see what I mean. :)

I decided to take a few pics of the horses last weekend, you know, show them off in their winter woolies and all their unique stages of muddiness and such. These guys, they've got the life...lounge around all day, eat whenever they want, a little nap here and there...life is seriously rough. Wouldn't you agree?

This was going to be my attempt at a herd shot. When I first saw them, they were all lined up side by side dozing. I decided to run in the house and get my camera. When I came back, Ladde was pretty sure treats might be involved, so he decided to mosey on up and check it out. And of course, he brought Harley in tow. Missed my shot!

Here comes the Laddmonster now. In all his glory. Man, I love that horse!!

Harley's like; what did we walk up here for Ladde? Ever since we removed our wire cross-fencing, Harley hasn't had any mishaps that I'm aware of. He's gotten really good at keeping somebody (usually Kadie) very close. When the herd gets playful, he's careful to make sure he's in the middle of a wide open space before he bucks and gallops around in pretty little controlled circles. He's so cute when he plays!

Dude. Lllama Dude. We figured out the other day that Merlin must be getting close to 19 ish years old now. He certainly smells that old!! How long do llamas live anyways? Just kidding! We love the old fossil even if he does stink to high heaven...he's very entertaining to have around!

The resident "princess", Kadie showing off some rather un-princess-like behavior here... Notice how long her hair coat is, I've frequently wondered if she might possibly be developing Cushings disease because her hair coat is very long and she didn't completely shed out last summer. Other than that though, she has no other symptoms. My sweet girl is 27 years old now...oh how the years have flown by. If I could turn back the hands of time, I'd certainly do it with this horse. Yep, start back where I got her and do it all over again!

Kadie is usually Harley's first choice as his seeing-eye horse. He has incredibly good taste!! I'd pick her too! Sensible, trustworthy, intelligent and kind...all good traits to have in a leader. Good choice Harley!

I had a good laugh when I saw this picture of Eagle! He's definitely packed on a few pounds since coming to our house. The boy loves his groceries, and has officially picked up where Siri left off as the "clean-up" crew. Siri used to hold that position, she'd never leave the hay until every single morsel was gone. I see a lot of hill climbing in our future. :)

Although Shad still has a healthy dose of respect for Eagle, they're getting along much better these days. If ever there's a problem, it only exists in Shad's mind.

My handsome mustang is doing very well in his lessons. We've been trying to adhere to 3-4 times per week, usually an every other day routine. He's very, very smart and catches onto most things quickly. My friend that's been helping me with Eagle got on him twice last week. The first time she just sat on his back, but the last time she walked him around the round pen. He was quiet and willing. Now I'm sure he's never been ridden, he's just like a colt who has no understanding of why you're on his back. Primarily, we're focusing on groundwork exercises for now, but occasionally and gradually we'll start including more of riding as well. I want to keep his education on the slow and steady course, making sure he has a good, solid foundation and thorough understanding of each lesson before throwing too much at him. I'd rather be accused of going too slow, rather than going too fast. My mantra of late is, "there's always tomorrow". I'm very proud of his progress so far. The other thing I've noticed lately about Eagle is that he's becoming more and more affectionate. He's quite the "talker" too...always nickering in a quiet way. I like that. I just like this horse; what can I say? Apparently, I know a good horse when I see one. :)

Until next time...keep a leg on each side of the horse and your mind in the middle.

"Think"

Lorie @ Cingspots

A break from projects

2011-11-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

We've been going at the work projects so much lately that we decided to take a break last weekend and do nothing for a change. Well, I guess we were sort of busy, but we weren't working. We had a nice, quiet morning at home Saturday. We slept in and enjoyed coffee in front of the woodstove looking outside at the rain falling. Maybe it's because our summer seemed so short-lived this year and it didn't really stop raining until July, but I'm really resentful of the rain already. But, it is what it is. I can be thankful that we don't have frozen water troughs to deal with, or freezing pipes, or so many other weather-related issues that others' have to experience. That's what I need to keep repeating to myself. Anyway, after turning the horses out, giving them their morning hay ration, cleaning the stalls and putting the evening meal in their stalls, we were finished with the only chores that we had to do that day. I made some homemade spaghetti sauce and put it on the stove to simmer and baked an applesauce/spice cake for a friend's memorial service that we were attending later on that afternoon. It was a simple affair with family members and a few friends. We planted a tree along with the friend's ashes and created a small memorial in his honor. It was a nice way to say good-bye.

Afterwards we spent some time in the barn with the horses, then went inside and watched a little tv before heading off to bed fairly early. Wild people we are! But, it was a nice day and it felt good to relax and take life easy for a change.

Sunday, we got up fairly early and got the chores finished before heading out to Eugene to watch the Extreme Trail Challenge. This was a first for us, and I was quite surprised at how easy the courses actually were. There was nothing that most of us trailriders don't usually encounter while riding in the mountains. The big difference seemed to be, for the horses anyway, was that these obstacles were indoors and because of that, some of the horses were a little hesitant about something, that if outside, they would do without a second thought. The activity really seems to be catching on with people, and is something that can be enjoyed by all types of riders without a lot of expensive training, special tack or gear. However, it would be quite fun to have one of those obstacle courses at home; sure would be more interesting for the horses than a lot of ring riding. In fact, there are several clinicians specializing in this type of training now. There were a couple of them there, and one of the guys, Mark Bolender, does a lot of building these trail courses on private property for clients. Now there's another use for somebody who owns a lot of heavy equipment!

Some of our friends were there with their whole family riding some of their horses. I don't know how well they did overall because we left before it was over, but from what I saw, they did very well. Their horses were all amazingly quiet and confidently mastered most of the obstacles on the courses. I was very proud of how well they did. Some of the kids had to double up and share horses because Greg, the father, had brought his big boy, Ben; and when Ben goes along, their 6-horse trailer becomes a 4-horse trailer. Ben is a grey Percheron who stands 18.2 hands high. Ben is as sweet as a horse can possibly be...just don't give him a butterscotch candy and then expect not to be molested for more. :) In his former life, Ben was a Disneyland carriage horse, but he's a family horse now and is used primarily for trailriding.

Greg and Ben

An indoor creek crossing at the bottom of the waterfall.

This pretty little Arabian mare handled the balance beam with ease.

Big Ben making it look so easy...

When we got home, the navy bean soup I had cooking in the crockpot had the house smelling wonderfully. I baked some cornbread and we had supper before heading outside to bring the horses in for the night. In some ways, I wished we'd stayed home where I could have worked with Eagle and ridden Ladde because unlike Saturday, it didn't rain at all. Oh well, you can't do everything. There's just too many things to try and accomplish in a weekend. With the time change, horse lessons will become more of a challenge because it's dark before I get off work now. I hate that. I'm just not looking forward to winter at all this year.

Ladde helping with the pear picking.

Annie relaxing

Eagle sporting his "winter woolies"

Stall potatoes :)

Blessings everyone from Cingspots

Lost like a fart in the wind

2011-11-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

Well that's how it feels anyway. I'm pretty sure that's not the case, but still. I'm referring to our most recent working session...me and Eags. You remember, the wonderful horse I was bragging all over town about just the other day. Yeah. Well, the very next session sucked. Big time. He pretty much looked me in the eye and said, "I quit" and furthermore, you're not big enough to make me. Oh really?

Never one to back down from a challenge. Even though I probably should have. I pushed, and then I pushed a little harder. In the end, of what began as a pretty good lesson, I "made" Eagle do the lunging that he was, quite obviously sick and tired of, on that particular night anyway. And then I tried to get back some of that trust that I'd tromped on, and I tried in vain for just a little of that softness that we've experienced, you know, that soft "feel" that we strive for in our relationship with our horses. Yep. Blew it, big time! And that night, I couldn't sleep and it continued to bother me most of the day following. So....dug out my old Bill Dorrance book, True Horsemanship Through Feel. My go to horse bible. I got the affirmation that I so needed. I was wrong. Eagle was right. Crap, I hate it when my horses prove they're smarter than I am. I don't blame him one bit for quitting. Early on, I was using a variety of different things we were working on, and then somewhere along, I started just lunging him and lunging him until he was bored out of his skull, and obviously was telling me that he saw no reason to continue hammering away at something that he understood already. I think I got caught up a little by everybody asking me if, "I'd ridden my new horse yet?" I felt the peer pressure of hurrying up and getting on his back already. From the beginning, that is not what I wanted to do. I wanted to take the teaching of Eagle nice and slow. I wanted to build a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. I wanted him to look at me as someone worthy of being his equal and then eventually, maybe even the "leader" in the dance. I'd lost the "natural" in my horsemanship and bought into the "cram it down their throat, I'm the boss of you" mentality. That's NOT who I am and that's NOT the way I choose to work with my horses - any of them.

So, I gave him last night off. I did spend some quiet time with him. Brushing, petting, scratching and we had a very nice conversation, Eags and I. I asked him for another chance. I'd work real hard at treating him with respect and I agreed that he was perfectly correct in having an opinion about what and how we do things. We are after all, a team. Beginning again this evening after work, we're going to work on new things. I'm going to try and get his hindquarters moving over nicely and hopefully that will help loosen him up. Maybe do a little lateral flexion work, nice and soft backing and then maybe we'll head down the driveway and go for a little walk. We might even visit that old apple tree down at the end of the driveway. Whatever we end up doing, it's going to be nice and soft, I'll offer him a nice, quiet "feel" and see if he doesn't respond in kind. I have faith in this horse. He's very, very smart and he has a wonderful, sensible mind. Let's hope that I can only rise to the occasion.

Because if I can read horse body language at all...I'm pretty darned sure he gave me "the hoof" the other night. You dig? And another thing I'm pretty darned sure about, was that I totally deserved it.

I forgot to keep track, but I'd say we're maybe at: 4 steps forward - 1 step back. Something like that. Not bad. So, we'll just forget all about the other night and we'll keep striving towards "perfect" progress. You all probably realize by now that I have enormous respect for Ray Hunt. I also have enormous respect for Tom and Bill Dorrance and Joe Wolter and a few other amazing horsemen.
So, here's another one of those pretty infamous quotes from my favorite guy, Ray..."Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect". Words of wisdom my friends, words of wisdom.

Moving along @ Cingspots

Frosty Fall Mornings....brrrrrr and projects

2011-11-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

For the last week, we've had a good, heavy frost every single morning except for one. We had our first real frost a couple of weeks ago, but then it warmed up again for a couple of days and it rained a bit. I'm having to remember to go out and start my car at least 15 minutes prior to needing to leave for work to give my windshield time to de-thaw. Yep, genuine ice on the car. My car door was even frozen shut yesterday morning and it was a real chore to get inside to start the car. Even though it's been frosty and cold, we've been experiencing beautiful, blue skies for much of the past week. Heavy fog and freezing fog gives way to beautiful sunshine for the remainder of the day. I just can't complain about that. The horses are all looking exceptionally wooly and fat too. I guess I can't deny that fall's arrived with a vengeance.

The past three weekends hubby and I have been travelling up into the Trask Mountain area of the Cascade Mountain range and cutting firewood. So far, we've got about 3 cords and we'd like to get at least 1 more before we relax and consider ourselves finished with this project. The woodshed is filling up nicely and smells wonderful. I just love standing in there inhaling the lovely scent and admiring our handiwork, because seeing it all stacked up neat as a pin represents a whole lot of hard work. It gives me a genuine sense of satisfaction at a job well done. Spending time up in the mountains in the fresh air has been, for the most part anyway, a real pleasure. It gives one time to think and relax without having to deal with all the stresses and "should be's" when we're at home. I sure appreciate coming home, taking a warm shower and sitting in front of the woodstove afterwards. My body just doesn't quite react the same to hard, physical work like it used to. I tire a lot more easily and always have to remember to protect my back when lifting and twisting repetitively. And as always, I'm so thankful for my wonderful hardworking husband for all that he does. There are just so many things that he is physically able to do, that I am not. However, I have never been one of those wives who can sit at home while my husband is outside in the elements working so hard. I am there to help in any way that I possibly can. When we're finished, we both go inside and relax. Together.

I've been working with Eagle a lot more lately too, and I can report that he is doing amazingly well. He sure is one smart horse. In the past several weeks, which is when I started "regularly" working with him about 4 times per week, he has progressed very, very quickly. He now lunges both directions at walk, trot, canter and whoa, he's learning his voice commands as well, reverses (always turning inside) nicely when asked, and stands perfectly still and turning his head only, to face me until given a new directive. He leads "light as a feather", backs and is learning to give to pressure. He is willingly picking up his feet when asked, but occasionally gets a case of rigamortis in that left hind. Nobody's perfect. :) But, he's making progress. I've been saddling him and routinely sacking him out, and he's perfect in that department most of the time. I've even put the bridle on with a snaffle bit and he carries it like he's been doing it his whole life. I haven't gotten on him yet, but did put some weight in both stirrups and lean over his back the other night. He's a little apprehensive when I'm on the mounting block, but he's getting used to that as well. I'm just beginning to teach him to breakover in his hindquarters in a tight circle with just using body language. We still have plenty of groundwork to work on, but I'm pretty sure that we'll be riding him before too much longer. Slow and steady is my theory. Ray Hunt always said, "the slower you go, the faster you'll get there". I wholeheartedly believe that. Eagle is a gem, and I love seeing him progress, and his trust growing daily. I'm thinking of setting up a little obstacle course if the weather stays dry, which will help the lessons stay interesting to him. I just wish that daylight savings time wasn't almost upon us because it's going to be practically dark when I get home from work. Or, better yet, if I only had a lighted indoor arena the winter darkness wouldn't matter one bit...but, I digress. If only.

The following pics of Eagle were taken before I got him last summer on some of the packing trips he went on. Sometimes he actually packed things like oxygen and acetylene tanks for cutting those steel culverts they removed from the forest, and other times he just got to go along "naked" for the experience of going. Regardless of what he was wearing or packing, or where he was at; he always has the same expression and demeanor like he's been doing it all his life. What a good horse. :)

So, we've been busy as usual. I'm looking forward to winding these winter preparation projects down and actually being able to slow down a little...just in time for the holidays...oh joy. I'd love to rent a cozy little cabin somewhere in the woods, seclude ourselves up with a rip-roaring fire and hole-up until the craziness passes. *sigh* Doesn't that sound wonderful? A cabin in the wilderness, big old fireplace, comfy bed with one of those big, fluffy down comforters, little paned windows to watch the snow softly falling outside, walks outside in the fresh air, and when you get cold, come back inside for a mug of hot chocolate and a good book...or maybe a nap. Yeah. That's what I want for Christmas...

Blessings everyone,
Lorie @ Cingspots

I'm as proud as a peacock!!!

2011-09-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

We had our farrier appointment for the horses last night. We pulled shoes on Shad and the whole herd got their trims. I was a tiny bit apprehensive about Eagle's turn. So, when we still had two horses to do, we brought him in and put him front and center in Ladde's stall, where he could nosh on some hay and quietly observe. And observe, he did. Eagle is definitely a "watcher". I like that about him. I'm a firm believer that horses learn from watching our interactions with the other horses, seeing how they respond and such.

So, T started out with the front hooves. It's his habit to work on both front feet first, and then move to the hind ones. Eagle pulled his LF out of T's hands once. T picks it up again and moves on as if nothing happened. Front hooves done, and on to the back. T picks up right hind quietly, but confidently. Trims the hoof and all is well. On to the LH and Eagle staunchly does not want to pick up the foot, and has a mildly worried expression on his face. T asks us to let him have Eagle's lead and he does a few minutes of groundwork, backing, moving away from pressure and standing quietly while he runs his hands all over Eagle's back and hindquarters. This took a few minutes for Eagle to relax and let T pet his rump and hind legs, but he finally did. Then T quietly, but confidently asks for Eagle's foot again...slowly, but surely Eagle lifts his foot. T sets the foot down, gives Eagle a reassuring stroke or two. Eagle sighs and licks his lips. Again, slowly and confidently T requests that Eagle lift his foot. Eagle complies. T holds the foot a little longer this time before setting it back down and giving the reassuring little pet and soft-spoken "good boy's". Third time, T picks up his nippers and trims the foot. Eagle stands quietly and was fairly relaxed in his whole body. I'm so thrilled I could have kissed T !! Afterwards Eagle got to stand quietly while we chatted, he got an apple as a reward, and I removed his halter. He was still in the barn with us, but loose. He chose to stay with us and not go outside. Another very good sign. I gave Eagle his evening ration and he ate his hay, but continued to watch us instead of going outside. I think he was mulling over the lesson in his mind. And it was apparent that he was very pleased with himself. He knew he'd been a good boy and he felt good about it. According to my hubby, who fed the horses this morning, Eagle was still feeling confident and comfortable with himself this morning. :)

Judging from the rope burn scars on his right hind foot, somebody in his past wasn't so patient with him, which is even more amazing that he was so willing when he was treated with kindness and respect. My gut instincts are right on the money with this horse. He wants to please, he gets enjoyment when he understands your requests and he is one very smart horse. A true "diamond in the rough". I'm so thankful we got him! He is admired by everyone who meets him, and so far without exception, every person believes he will make a wonderful trail horse.

So, the plan this fall is that we will continue our groundwork in the round pen and look for a local horseman or horsewoman to work with us and aid us with their expertise. And then hopefully, if all goes well, we'll be riding by winter in a nearby inside arena. If everything doesn't go perfectly according to this outline, well then...we'll take things slower. However long it takes...but we'll get there. It's all about the journey, right? And, I have to admit that I'm enjoying this process of getting to know this horse immensely! He's a joy to be around and with every single day I see a layer of distrust peel away. That's what true horsemanship is all about!! The building of a trusting and long-standing relationship. It is not simply about riding. Not for me anyway.

In other areas, it's turning out to be a fairly busy week. Monday after work, we took our truck to the repair shop. Recently it's developed this rather unsafe "wandering" in the steering. It reminds me of older Fords we've had in the past. Loosey-goosey steering is something I hate. Last night after work was the horse's trimming/pedicure appointment. Tonight I'm visiting a barn about a half hour's time from our house where hubby and I will observe a "trainer" (I really hate that description), horsewoman work with a horse. Her prices seem a bit high, but I want to keep an open mind and observe her in action before I make a decision. Tomorrow night, we pick up our truck from the repair shop and go to a friend's house where we're picking some apples and some pears for making sauce for the freezer. Friday after work, we'll be picking up our first ton of stall bedding pellets for this season...in preparation for "stall cleaning 101" term 2011/2012...oh boy! And, I guess amongst everything else, I'll be making apple and pear sauce this weekend. Fall is always a very busy time of the year for us.

I found out from the Oregon State Dept. of Forestry that they'll begin selling woodcutting permits on October 12. They've doubled in price this year, from $10 to $20 for 3 cords, and they're limiting the number of overall permits that can be purchased by a single family from 5 to 3. It's still cheap wood, and I enjoy getting it, so I'm not complaining. They haven't revealed the location yet, but we're hoping it might be the same as last year. This area encompasses hundreds of thousands of acres of forestry lands and if it's too far to drive, it becomes cost-prohibitive if you have to drive for hours and spend big bucks in gas just to get to the wood cutting area, so...keeping our fingers crossed there. Judging by how cool it's getting at night, it won't be long before a fire in the woodstove's going to be necessary.

And, lest we not forget...we'll be needing to get about 4-5 more tons of grass hay to re-fill our barns for the winter. Our hay supply we put up last summer is looking a bit too small for my comfort. So, as you can see...we're busy. We're just hoping to be able to accomplish most everything before God forgets to turn the water off in Oregon. Again. *sigh*

Hope all your fall projects are going well. Has anybody else noticed how fuzzy the horses are getting already??? Ours sure are!! Let's just hope they're getting prepared, and they don't know something we don't know!! :~D

Blessings all!!
Lorie and the gang at Cingspots

Oh, as far as anniversaries go...yesterday marked the one year date since the all-too-soon demise of our beloved pup, Nellie. In some ways it seems like such a long time ago, and then again, I can't believe it's been a whole year. I still miss her. Rest in peace sweet girl. And next week, we will have had our sweet little Ruby for a whole year!! Now that's something to celebrate!! Yesterday was a much, much better day than last September 27th...all around! Amen!

Last day of summer 2011

2011-09-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Son-of-a-gun! Sure did seem to pass all too quickly. Aah well, fall can be such a lovely time of year. To me, it seems like the season of beginnings, instead of things winding down; which it really is I guess. My energy usually seems renewed with the cooling of the weather, and there's always so many projects that need to be completed before the great move indoors again. Fall is my favorite season to work. I love riding my horse in the fall, with the fallen leaves on the ground and the brisk temps which call for wearing of your favorite sweatshirt or cozy sweater. It's also the best time for picture taking. The light seems so soft and subtle, making photographs so warm and pretty. Being a squirrel at heart, I enjoy storing up for winter. Filling my pantry shelves is fun for me. I love the colors of everything sitting there awaiting my creativity later. Canning and preserving the summer harvest for the pantry or the freezer is both rewarding and kind of fun, if I don't try and do too much. I absolutely adore the look of a full barn, bursting at its' seam with beautiful and sweet-smelling hay for the horses. Can't deny, that's a culinary delight for the critters! And, getting outside in the woods and cutting firewood. There's just something so primally satisfying about being in the fresh air and gathering the winter's heating supply that it thrills my soul! Silly? Maybe, but I just love it.

But...before fall officially begins, we have this day to savor and enjoy. This, the final day of the summer of 2011. We'll never pass this way again, nope, not ever. So, enjoy it! Get outside and do most anything to commemorate the day! I've dressed for activity today. At lunchtime, the dogs and I are heading to the park for a walk. After work, I'm making a quick stop at the local farmer's market and picking up some fresh veggies for a quick and simple supper. Then, I'll head home to commence preserving that 20 lbs of tomatoes that have been waiting on me. I suppose we'll get 7 or 8 quarts of tomatoes for the pantry, and if there's any left after that - we'll slice em up and enjoy them fresh! There's nothing much better than a fresh-picked, sweet-tasting garden tomato!! Hmmhmm good!! Who know, maybe I'll fry up some bacon for a BLT. That's probably my most favorite sandwich ever! A treat for sure. :) What better way to say farewell to summer. Maybe a glass of fresh lemonade to wash it all down with...yep, that sounds good to me!

On another topic, after the Round 1 fight between Shad and Eagle the other day, and Eagle's 24 hour time out in the pasture all by his lonesome...hubby decided to forgive and give them another shot at friendship. I said my morning prayers for protection and peace, then drove out the driveway and left them to themselves. It's up to them now...

They have 5 acres at their disposal. They have apple trees, plum trees and blackberries to nosh on at will. They have two seperate pastures and two shelters to pick from. Not to mention, a whole bunch of randomly placed piles of fresh, green hay to keep them occupied. You would think that they could handle a little compatability with all those choices, wouldn't you? I'm sure hoping so. *fingers crossed*

Peace and blessings everyone, get out there and seize the day!! It's ready and waiting like a beautifully wrapped gift. In reality, each one of our days is exactly that, a gift from our Father, especially for us. I hope we all make the most of it, and enjoy this; the final day of summer.

Ready or not, here comes the fall...

Round 1 - Eagle by a landslide!!

2011-09-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yep, we had a fight last night. Big time. And the winner is...Eagle. Not a mark on him, not so much as a hair out of place...he sure is one scrappy little sucker. I'd call him "street wise", you know, like those kids who run the streets at all hours of the day or night. Ah-huh, like that - savvy?

Poor, poor, poor Shad. :( I could have cried for him, he was so traumatized by it all. You see, Shad's not a fighter. He's never had to be. Shad's a leader because he's got the right moves. All the bravado, but he's never had to back it up. Until now. I have no idea what took place. I hadn't even made it home from work yet, when my hubby called...pe'od that "my horse" had beat the crap out of his horse...um, ok. Anyway, whatever transpired must have just happened because the wounds were fresh. There's a perfect bloody hoof print on the side of Shad's side rump (few inches below the hip bone), a rather nasty 8-9" long scrape down the side of his ribcage (same side) and a brutal bite on his back on his other side. The bite is the one that's the most painful. The bite indicates that it was upfront and personal...not the rump to rump kicking match like the first time. Shad was so bewildered that he didn't even want to leave the safety of the shelter. He was trembling and nickering for his herdmates to come to him. But, Ladde was near Eagle across the pasture. Kadie was off by herself grazing. And Harley, well...clueless Harley was sniffing the bucket of the neighbor's tractor who was trying to move our manure pile for us. Good grief...I've said it before, but I'll say it again...it's a darn good thing that we know very little of what actually happens around there when we're gone. Thank God, because He apparently watches over our little herd for us while we're away. I'm very thankful for that. :)

Maybe the tractor being there somehow instigated something, however unlikely, but something happened. Guess we'll never know, but it sure would make things easier to understand if we knew. They've been together in the pasture everyday, all day long for over a week now. No apparent problems. And, now today Eagle is in the front pasture all by his lonesome. Having a little time-out. A time to ponder ones' thoughts, if you will. Maybe it was Shad's fault. But, my money's on Eagle. I'm thinking that's a pretty safe bet.

This weekend we're planning a camp-out with some friends. The first of the summer for us, even if the calendar says it's technically the first weekend of fall. We're not taking any horses. We have a friend who'll becoming over doing the feeding and the watering for us in our absence. I'm thinking we'll leave the horses separated while we're gone. I'd rather not have any surprises in store for us upon our return home. *sigh*

This same friend will use the opportunity to evaluate Eagle for us. The wife of this couple caretaking for us is a full-time horse trainer. She's been doing it for a number of years and is quite accomplished herself. I'm thinking that if I want to (hopefully) be riding Eagle next summer as my trail mount, it would be a good idea to have someone work with him for a couple of months, then throughout this coming winter, I'll be able to ride him a couple of times a week in the inside arena in preparation for next summer. If I don't get help, it will take me far too long to accomplish my goals of having a solid riding horse. And...truth told, I'm not nearly as brave a rider as I once was. I don't bounce quite as well as I used to. It's been many, many moons since I can recall a fall from a horse, and I'd rather not experience anything of the sort in my future. Get my drift?

That said - I'm going to be considering a few different trainers in the upcoming weeks and make my decision as to which one I feel the most comfortable with schooling my new boy. He's very, very sensitive. Even if he is scrappy. I want his trust to be handled with kid gloves. I want his schooling to be gentle, but with firm hands. Like Ray always said..."the slower you go, the quicker you'll get there". Amongst so many other sayings that I remember equally well; those are words of wisdom. And, I've taken them to heart.

Let's hope there is no Round 2...pretty, pretty please?

Blessings everyone,
Lorie @ Cingspots

Harvest weekend

2011-09-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

This is the final weekend of summer...now that's a sobering thought, isn't it? I love fall, but I'm pretty partial to summer too. It's always a little bit sad thinking that another beautiful and long-awaited summers' coming to a close. Oh well...whatcha gonna do? Go with the flow baby!!

So, my garden has surely been a disappointment to me this year. Firstly, I decided not to plant much. That's my fault. I planted 7 tomato plants and had numerous volunteers shoot up from last year. Having said that, last week I picked our very first ripe tomatoes. That's right. Hard to believe that, but it's true. I had 4 or 5 and one of those I threw out because it was mushy and tasted terrible. First time that's ever happened! I have some yellow cherry tomatoes that are ok tasting. I've had better. They're very low in acid and rather blah in taste...won't be planting that variety again. I have a Beefsteak, that's the plant that's given me a few ripe ones. They're nice in size and color, haven't eaten any yet, so that's still undecided. And then a friend gave me an heirloom variety called Brandywine. I have some tomatoes on the vines, but as of yet; no ripe tomatoes. Hmmm....mighty slow in ripening wouldn't ya say?

I have tomatillos, also given to me by my friend. I didn't even really know what a tomatillo was but...they're tasty little things. And there's bunches of those. I picked a smallish bowlful of those last night...making us some salsa verde tonight to put on our soft tacos with leftover barbecued pork tenderloin, some of those ripe beefsteak tomatoes, chopped onion, a little grated cheddar cheese, sour cream...yum! We have watermelon and cantelope (not from my garden) and homemade marionberry/wildblackberry pie that I made last night. The berries are homegrown...marions I planted and the wild blackberries; well, those just abound everywhere. I'm pretty sure I may have picked what may prove to be the last of the berries for this season...sigh...sad. But, we'll surely enjoy sinking our teeth into that pie later tonight. Hmmhhmm good!!

The only other thing planted in my garden is some flat-leafed parsley and that's growing gung-ho. So, you see it's not much of a garden this year. Hopefully the tomatoes will ripen and I'll dry those and stick the sun-dried tomatoes seasoned with sea salt and basil into freezer bags for use later on this winter. I'm picking up a few local tomatoes at a fruitstand on my way home tonight and have plans to dry up a batch this weekend. Makes wonderful additions to store-bought spaghetti sauce, throw in a few chopped mushrooms, bell pepper and black olives...yummy! Dresses up Prego and makes it your own!! Sshh...no one willl ever know!! :)

The pears from our trees in the backyard have been out-doing themselves this year. Me and the horses have been enjoying those, as well as the apples. Hubby and I will make a trip to a local orchard and pick a bunch of apples for making applesauce and apple pie filling for the freezer. We go through that in a heartbeat...tastes wonderful with homemade bisquits on a cold night. The only real difference between my applesauce and pie filling is more sugar in the filling and it's more chunky...but in a pinch, we eat it however we want to. I think I might pick up some pears and make some pearsauce and I want to make some plum jam for the freezer too. Sheesh! So many things I want to do!

I want to get some more hay before the weather turns rainy too. And, let's not forget the firewood. We have gotten none and I have no idea where we might get some, if we have to buy it. Last year we chopped our own through the Oregon Dept. of Forestry. $10 buys you a permit to cut 3 cords in 2 weeks, and you can buy up to 10 permits in a season. The season begins when they open up the forests after the fire danger has passed. That's usually sometime in October in Oregon. I love storing up stuff for the winter!! I'm a squirrel at heart! But, my hubby appreciates it, and so do our horses! We alll love to eat!!

So, unless my wonderful hubby has a few plans of his own; that's our weekend plans in a nutshell!! Hope everyone who's having weather-related issues gets some relief soon. There have been floods, fires, storms and all manner of tragedy in our country this year. May it finished soon.

Blessings everyone,
Lorie @ Cingspots

Time isn't honest

2011-09-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some thinking about time lately. I believe that time is different for different people. I don't really know how to explain that statement, but it just seems to be so. For me, I always feel like time eludes me somehow. There is never enough of it. And how very much time is like sand...in that, it slips through our fingers no matter how firmly we try to take hold of it, and grasp it in our hands. I'd like to keep it. Even if just for a tiny, little while and force it somehow, to slow down. Just a little.

Recently on tv, I along with a lot of other people watched or listened to programs about the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11/2001 tragedy. Remembering where you were, who you were with, how you felt and so on. So many emotions. So many lives lost. For me, being on the opposite coast, it was surreal. I was up getting ready for work. I remember talking to my mom on the telephone. I remember thinking...how can this be real? How could someone intentionally do something like this? And then finally as the reality sunk in, that evil knows no bounds. There were many common threads in what people remembered. But, one really struck me. And that was, that it was almost impossible to believe that it had actually been 10 years ago. 10 years? It certainly doesn't seem like that long. They were talking with children who hadn't even been alive then, children of parents who had died, and some who had never even met their mother or father. Wow...
The reality off just how quickly time slips by astounded me then, as it so often does.

I heard yesterday that a friend of mine lost her husband last Friday. He died of cancer. He had a brain tumor and had only been around 30 years old. Time wasn't very honest with him at all. I wondered that if he'd realized earlier in his life that he was only going to live for such a short time; would he have lived his life differently? Who knows...but it got me to thinking about all of us and how we go through our days doing the same things over and over. How our lives revolve around routine, and maybe in a small part, was why time seems to pass so quickly? If our lives were more varied, and we actually got to do more that we wanted to do, rather than what we had to do, if time would be more fully realized? Less taken for granted because of the mundane and the routine...I kind of think so.

Time is tricky. Time is complex. Time is so very short. There are so many things that I want to do, some that I've done and some things that I've never done yet. But, so much living that needs to be done, and so little time in which to do them. I remember that song by the Stones that says that time waits for no one, and it doesn't wait for me...

If each one of us could only realize just how valuable our time was, that it's really our most vulnerable commodity that we will ever have...would we, or could we be brave enough to use that time accordingly and give our time the respect that it deserves? And stop letting others take advantage of us by allowing them to waste our most precious gift that we'll ever have? It's something we all need to ask ourselves, or at least give some thought to.

What do you want to do? If there's something that you want to do, do it. If there's something that you need to say, you'd better say it, and if there's someone you want to be with, please don't wait. Do it.

I don't believe that time is honest, and it's certainly not fair. Time is different for different people, just like life is. But, I would like to learn to become more honest with myself and figure out what is really important to me and to my life, and start treating my time with more respect, and spending my time more wisely. Like I want and with only those people that I want to spend it with.

My cage lately feels a lot smaller than it used to.

Ho Hum...dog daze of summer

2011-09-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

Our weather and I are both quite melancholy. Yesterday and today has dawned grey and overcast, with some sun breaks in the afternoon yesterday. Very comfortable, do whatever you want kind of weather. I'm enjoying this for a change. I even left the fly masks off the horses for the first time in months. I'll probably regret it, but was feeling a tad lazy this morning and was running a bit behind schedule and still had to get gas in the car before heading to work. My boss has been on vacation this week and it's been boring and slow. Sure wish we could have closed the clinic during his absence, because my time most certainly could have been put to better use at home. Oh well, I'm resigned to doing what I can, when I can.

When I got home from work last night, the horses were all crammed like sardines into the one outside shelter...gasp!!! I'm thankful that my hubby discovered this and not me. I've been worried sick about Harley lately and this would have scared the bejeebers out of me. However, after a thorough body check of everyone, the only casualty of war that I could find was under Harley's mask, just below his right eye...a 1-1/2" long jagged cut that was most likely the cause of him bashing his head into something. A half of an inch higher and it would have been a direct hit on his eye. How many blows can his eyes take before something extreme happens??? Theoretical question - I do not want to find out the answer to this one...

I'm just thankful (again) that it wasn't more serious than it was. Besides Harley being slightly jumpy, everyone seemed calm and relaxed; including Eagle, who was pleased as punch to be in the thick of everyone.

Me - I'm an overly emotional wreck. I find myself crying at the drop of a hat. I'm as cranky as hell. I'll bite off anyone's head for a sideways glance. I'm happy one minute and feeling gloomy the next...someone just shoot me. I can't stand being with me - how in the world can anybody else put up with my moodiness??? Maybe part of my problems are caused by my age, 51 and menopausal...sucks. No hot flashes and most of the time, no problems sleeping, but the moodiness and sometimes outright aggression that I experience is seriously a problem. I deserve a good, hard slap - but I'd probably pounce on the poor offender like a she-cat protecting her litter. That's how I feel...like Clint Eastwood...make my day; just gimme a good (or otherwise) reason and I'll explode. I need drugs...or a vacation...or maybe just more time spent getting physical exercise outside wouldn't hurt. The fact that I feel like a caged animal here at work sure doesn't help matters any, if I were busy, at least I'd be occupied. Maybe I need to get laid? Any advice? Is there anybody out there who feels like I feel??? And if so...what do you do not to commit harikari??

Blah blah blah...I'm sorry to sound so pessimistic, but hell...I've just gotta put my thoughts down somewhere or I'll surely bust. I'm missing my mom and my dad. Take my advice, if yours are still alive - enjoy them, even if they annoy you, or call at precisely the wrong time, whatever...you will miss them once they're gone - I can guarantee it. My sister never, ever calls me. If she does, it's for a very specific reason; and that's somehow worse than if she didn't call at all. I should be totally honest here, she probably calls me once or twice a year (maybe), my other sister hasn't spoken to me since before my mom's funeral...and family, well ever since my mom died, it's like we don't even exist. That hurts because I've always loved and cared for my aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and so on, but...they likewise don't call, with the exception of Shelley, my niece who's closest in age to me. We speak semi-monthly ish, sometimes a little more. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I experience loneliness, feelings of isolation and moderate depression at times. Most of the times, I'm pretty good at keeping myself and my mind otherwise busy, which keeps these nasty, dark thoughts/feelings at bay. I am so thankful for my husband and my horses and dogs...without them, I would shrivel up and waste away, no doubt. People need people, we're definitely wired to be socially interactive creatures. We're happier when we're actively social; at least I think so. I am.

God, I sound so pathetic. So, I apologize to anyone or everyone who reads this blog and gets depressed. But, the original purpose of this blog was to use it as a journal, a way to chronicle our lives and a way to be able to look back at times and reminisce about events that I otherwise probably wouldn't remember. And, writing is therapeutic for me, it definitely helps me on days like these to put my thoughts down in written form...get my feelings out, and all that. It really does help. So, again hopefully I don't bum anybody else out, I'd hate for that to happen, and it's also not my intention to have people feel sorry for me. I hate that too. I do have many, many, many blessings in my life, and I (usually) daily try to actively count those blessings and give thanks to my Father for them...for life could sure as heck be a whole lot worse. I realize that and am very, very thankful for my life. Because, overall it is a wonderful life...it's mine, and I'm doing my best. Some days are just easier than other days.

See, I feel a little bit better already. I took a break at lunch time and went to Walmart (oh joy) and picked up some supplies that we needed at the clinic. The adorable little UPS driver just popped in and delivered some more supplies and chatted with me for a bit. So, I have freight to unload and put away, a few phone messages to reply to and autoclaving to be done...off to work I go.

Hope all of you are making the most of these final dog daze of summer. Autumn begins on September 23, which is just a little over a week away. There'll be frost on the pumpkin before we know it, chimney smoke wafting on the evening breeze and more time spent indoors when the darkness comes all too quickly. *sigh* Fall is my favorite time of the year, but I'm always a little bit saddened by the thought of another summer slipping away...hope we all have a little more time to enjoy the warmth of summer sunshine and friends or family or somebody, to make a few memories that will fill our dreams on cold, winters' nights.

Bye for now all,

Lorie @ Cingspots

Two steps forward, one step back

2011-09-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

So, for whatever reason lately, as in the past day or two, I've been in a funk. I was practically ecstatic about the progress the horses were making in their socialization, until last night. We've had Eagle for 1 month, and last night was the first time I really had to get after him. He was very aggressive to Harley and bit him in the butt when Harley was already walking away from him. That makes me so damned mad! Harley rarely does anything to provoke someone's anger, but he's always the first one to feel the brunt of their aggressions. Maybe it's because he's just so vulnerable to every single one of them, but it just causes me to see red. I absolutely will not tolerate aggression towards Harley, but especially when it's unwarranted.

The horses lately have been ravenous. All of our pasture grass is dead and brown. It resembles a scotch pad, except it's not green. The only graze is what they can get in the form of tree leaves. Our cool weather grasses are long gone and we haven't had any rain since the end of June, I think. So easy for me to lose track of time these days. Anyway, I was getting a bale of hay and everybody knew it. Ladde, Shad and Kadie were waiting in the front pasture where I disperse the piles...they know the routine. Eagle was nickering at me over the gate, watching me come down the barn aisle with the hay. And Harley, as usual, was just coming up towards the others wanting to bypass Eagle and head up to the front to wait with the others. Eagle did not like the idea of Harley walking past him, and gave him a pinned ears look in warning. Harley however, walked on, absolutely clueless. So Eagle lunged forward, scaring Harley into a retreat. Bewildered and afraid, he attempted to circle around and pass Eagle from behind. Eagle was having none of it, and lunged at Harley, causing him to spin around in fright and head away from the comfort of his herdmates, and just for good measure, Eagle bit Harley in the butt while he was retreating and left a nasty red toothmark in his butt. I lunged forward towards Eagle, bellowing my rage. Eagle did one of those drop and spread routines with a wide-eyed look, but held his ground. Harley, very cautiously proceeded forward between Eagle and me and trotted very quickly up towards the feeding pasture. My body language screamed volumnes to Eagle, who apparently read me like a book, because he didn't move a muscle until I had closed the gate trapping him in the corral alone. I dispersed the hay piles to all the horses and then came back and let Eagle come into the herd and eat. I'm not sure this was the best way to handle the situation, but it's what I did. I will not tolerate aggression towards Harley in any form, and I will not tolerate an aggressive horse at feeding time. Period. I think Eagle got the memo because he was very quiet and contrite throughout the remainder of the evening.

However, the entire situation was very upsetting to me. They had made such wonderful progress, and I had really hoped that Harley had found a friend and possibly even a protector. From now on, I will disperse the hay to everyone but Eagle, and then let him rejoin his herdmates. Maybe I was expecting too much, too soon. Then again, maybe the horses were just overly hungry. Whatever the reason, I surely hope the lesson remains intact with Eagle. Being with the herd is a privilege, and one that can be taken away with unsavory behavior.

On another topic, I am relieved that our upper 90's and even some triple digit temperatures have dropped significantly over the last couple of days. This morning was cool, overcast and we even experienced a light drizzle for an hour or so. It's quite refreshing and I'm welcoming it with open arms. I wore jeans today for the first time in months. While it's been so overly hot, I've not gotten very much accomplished, inside or outside. When that happens, I become agitated and quite cranky. I start to look around and see everything that needs to be done, and yet don't have the energy to do anything at all. I'm most definitely not ready for winter, but find myself looking forward to the refreshingly brisk mornings of fall, the changing of the seasons and looking forward to all the outside activities that I enjoy so much. Just hoping that we have a long, dry fall...not an early rainy season. Please Lord?

I'm considering finding someone who will come to our house and work with Eagle several times a week. Since I work full-time I really don't have the time, or the daylight hours to accomplish much myself. Eagle really seems to be a lovely horse, but he knows absolutely nothing. It's like having an 11 year old baby, but there's a stubborn streak that most young horses don't have. I don't want to rush his education, and find myself feeling more impatience with him than I want to have. I'm just unsure of where to begin. I know he wants to please, and my instincts tell me that he will make a remarkable trail horse. I just want to be patient, understanding, but firm with him. The challenge lies in finding someone in whom I can place my trust, and bring him along in the way I want him educated. I don't want him rushed, and I don't want him roughly handled in any way. I want someone who's quietly confident and very patient. I believe that the slower you go, the quicker you'll get there...I've seen it proven too many times not to believe it.

So many projects and so little time...the story of my life.

Blessings all,
Lorie @ Cingspots

That winning combination

2011-09-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

We have progress!! I am soooo happy I could just about bust!! I'm talking about our little herd of horses and the integration of our new horse, Eagle. Hubby and I were so pleased this morning with the progress that it's just humbling. There's really no better word to describe it...humbling. Horses never fail to amaze me, and in so many ways. They are amazing, amazing animals and I feel blessed to have them in my life - our lives. :)

For the past week or so, we've been ever so slowly introducing Eagle in a smallish pasture, one at a time, with one of his herdmates. Everybody except Harley - wasn't quite ready to go there, yet. Remember that I was torn with exactly how to approach this. So...when in doubt, go with your instincts. Start out with the top dog and the rest will/should be a cake walk.

We started with Shad and Eagle together in the corral and 3 piles of hay at morning feeding time. Refreshed from a long, cool nights' rest and hungry...perfect, right? It went swimmingly! There were a few sideways looks, a few cocked ears, and a few of those "hairy eyeball" moments; but neither horse was very interested in a retake of the kicking match that had taken place the week before. Enough time had passed that the lesson, apparently had lodged itself in their brains. Never underestimate the power of a little time to cement a lesson in ones' mind - equine or human...I'm just sayin'.

Eagle has that perfect, and apparently winning combination of complete and utter self-confidence mixed with just the right amount of humble respect. And with Shad, it worked like a charm. You don't worry me one bit, but I respect you and your authority...now, can we be friends? We left them together for a couple of hours and they sniffed, they switched hay piles, they walked around each other...and eventually, they even shared a few bites from the same pile. Hallelujah!!!! We have the beginning of a relationship and we couldn't be happier.

And, this morning - quite by chance, the gate was left open again...and again, Eagle spotted it almost immediately and proceeded to saunter with the confidence and grace of an Olympic athlete right into the middle of the herd and pick a pile and start eating. Kadie, the little old lady (Shad's little old lady to be exact) of the bunch, made a beeline to Eagle, ears pinned and put her nose on his and promply squealed loudly and strike out. Eagle responds by lifting his head out of harms' way...and then continued to eat his breakfast. Kadie stood there for a moment, and then went back to her hay as if nothing happened. Too funny. Shad merely watched, mildly interested, and resumed eating. This is too good to be true!

Now it's Harley's turn. Harley's the horse that's almost completely blind. Harley doesn't have a mean or aggressive bone in his body. He goes directly to Eagle and assumes the "groom me" position...Eagle continues to eat. Harley decides to share Eagle's hay. Eagle could care less. At this point, hubby and I are beyond speechless. We are quite honestly, stunned!

Ladde's quite another matter. Ladde also felt the "great guns" of Eagle's kicking prowess and remembers that little lesson all too well. He has a very healthy respect (possibly even a little fear) for Eagle and isn't quite so anxious to resume their acquaintance; but Ladde's also non-aggressive and with some time, he'll come around, of that, I have no doubt.

What really surprises me the most, is that Harley and Eagle seem to be forming the closest bond of friendship. I didn't expect that. In fact, I was the most worried on Harley's behalf. Go figure. No matter how well we think we may know our horses, and no matter how adept we may believe that our "reading skills" of equine behavior are...we are infants compared to horses reading one anothers' instinctual body language. *sigh* As long as I may live, my hat is off to the amazing horse.

So, to say that we are pleased with our, or I guess I should say, their progress thus far, is an understatement. We are infinitely pleased...and ever so thankful, and feeling abundantly blessed at this most recent turn of events.

I just keep telling myself to breathe...

it will all work out in its' own time. Not mine.

Blessings all,
Lorie @ Cingspots

Herd Integration and Socializing Challenges

2011-08-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Socializing within horse herds comes quite naturally. Horses are curious creatures. They enjoy sniffing noses with new acquaintances and getting to know one another...to a point. But, when you talk about integrating an outsider into an established and close-knit herd. Well, that's another can of worms entirely.

See this guy down below? That's Shad. Shad is our little herd's "lord and ruler". We call him the "herdmeister". Shad takes his job very seriously.

We've had the same horses at our little farm give or take a few that have passed away, for 14 years and in some cases, more. That results in a very, very tight little family unit. They have established a very consistent social heiarchy within that realm of personalities. Every single horse knows exactly where that individual stands. Shad's the boss. Period. He rules by intimidation and everyone accepts that without question. Even the neighbor horses, more or less, accept Shad's authority. Shad accepts his position of authority with grace for the most part. He hasn't had anyone ever challange his position, and the occasional newcomer has always ran away. Shad is, for the lack of a better explanation...quite animated and very dramatic in his body language. It's always sufficed. Always.

Until now. We've had Eagle for a little more than 2 weeks now. We haven't even tried to put all the horses together in the same pasture yet. Frankly, we're terrified to try this. For a few reasons. For one, Harley is almost completely blind now. He relies on mostly Katie to be his eyes, but he will stick close to both of the other horses periodically as well. Without knowing where his herdmates are at, Harley is uneasy and cannot relax until he's reunited with everyone. Siri used to call out when Harley yelled for his companions, thereby indicating where at least, she was at. So far, nobody else has stepped up and accepted the "town cryer" position for Harley since Siri's demise.

The other day, I accidentally left the gate open during feeding time...Eagle spotted the open gate and proceeded calmly and directly to where Kadie was eating. Kadie gave him her best "scally look", but Eagle was unimpressed and continued eating alongside Kadie. Kadie accepted and continued to eat. No big deal. Ladde could have cared less about Eagle. Ladde is all about the food, and was satisfied that he had his ration and all was well within his world. Harley was completely unaware that Eagle had joined the dinner table...

Shad however...did one of those comical "doubletakes" like..."what the????", and proceeded straight as an arrow to where Eagle was, all puffed up like a peacock, neck arched, spun around and presented his big, red butt and bellowed like a bucking bronc and began a kicking match on the intruder. Eagle responded in kind. Eagle was not impressed, nor was Eagle intimidated. At all. Eagle has great guns and gave whack for whack. I was in a state of sheer panic and grabbed the, now frightened Harley, and got him the heck out of there before he could get caught in the crossfire. Hubby comes running with the lunge whip and gets everybody's attention and breaks up the kicking match.

When the dust settles, Kadie's in the corner with Shad protecting her like armour. Ladde's in front of Shad, and Harley's running around in the corral wondering what the heck is going on? Eagle is standing calmly, butt facing the trio in the corner, about 20 feet away. Everybody's thinking things over, it seems. I walk up to Eagle, halter him and get him out of there before round 2 gets started.

Now, I'm still not sure whether what I did was the right thing to do, or not. I did not want anybody getting seriously hurt. I wanted to check everybody out and see if any damage had already been done. But...if we were'nt there to intervene, would that have been it? Or, would they have gone at it again? We'll never know for sure, but my bet's on round 2.

We've had the horses where they've been able to sniff and squeal and get acquainted for just over 2 weeks now, and we need and want to get Eagle integrated into the herd. That's quite obviously what Eagle wants. Shad, on the other hand, likes things the way they are - thank you very much! *sigh* What to do??? I know at some point, we are going to have to let them do what they will. I remember Ray Hunt telling me that "you have to go through it, to get past it". True, but scary at times. For me; this is one of those times because one well-placed kick could mean a broken bone. That, I don't want.

Does anyone have any experience dealing with a situation like this? What have you done when integrating a new horse into an established "equine family"? Do you remove the herd boss and let that horse work out things with the new guy first? Or, do you just let everybody out together at the same time?

I do know one thing for certain. Harley will have to be removed for his own protection. He cannot see to avoid a situation and would almost certainly get hurt. Kadie's an aged mare and doesn't move as quickly as she once did. Plus, she's as close to "married" as any horse possibly can be...and to Shad. It's his duty to protect Kadie at all costs. Even if there's nothing to protect her from - Shad sees things differently than we do. Like I said before, Shad takes his job very, very seriously...and he is the protector.

Ladde, undoubtedly will be the easiest. He's already had a squabble with Eagle and has learned that the powerful, even if smaller, Mustang has..."great guns". Ladde's butt shows Eagle's perfect hoof mark as a reminder. And, as second in command, Ladde will follow Shad's lead.

I'd definitely appreciate any advice that you can offer. Life's experiences can provide great insight and wisdom...we're open to any and all of your thoughts.

Blessings all,

Cingspots...Lorie

Sunny daze

2011-08-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

We'd been having a picture-perfect summer up until a couple of weeks ago...then it turned HOT!!! A pox upon all of you complainers about our mild summer... sure hope you're all happy now!! I've been wilting like an english rose. I used to love the heat, but simply cannot tolerate it anymore. I get light-headed, dizzy, feel exhausted and sometimes sick to my stomach if it's too warm. It's a problem. But...summer is fleeting, so I shan't complain anymore!! Fall's just around the corner and it'll be sweatshirt weather and frost on the pumpkin before ya know it. I love fall. It's my favorite time of year. Summer's pretty sweet too!!

So glad it's Friday. It's been the week from hell at work...so slow I think I may lose my mind! This translates to long days feeling like I'm a caged animal. Hate that!! Could be worse - I could not have a job to be bored at. Ok, I'll shut up about that. Anyway, the weekend is here and we're picking some peaches at a nearby farm (yum!!), organizing our camper for a possible upcoming camping trip (our first this summer) and attending a life-long friend's 50th birthday bash. Should be fun! And, according to our local weatherman, this might be the end of our record-setting heatwave. Next week it should be back down in the mid 70's and lower 80's. Now that's my kinda summer weather - perfection!!

My boy Harley with my girl Kadie. Harley will always groom on command. Must be nice huh? Harley would do anything for Kadie...he loves her. Kadie pretends this annoys her. :)

The adorable Annie having a good back scratch after her bath with the garden hose. She dislikes baths intensely, but you cannot keep this dog out of the water otherwise. Must be the soap...

My brother-in-law, my niece Kendall and her daughter, Lilly (on the left) and Faith, my other niece Rachelle's daughter. They recently celebrated their first birthdays. They're about a month apart in age. Pretty adorable babies huh?? They're polar opposites from each other.

Beautiful, naked babies in the pool...adorable!!

From the trail the dogs and I walked a couple of weeks ago in the Jefferson Wilderness. The trail was 2.3 miles up, up, up...I was a hot, tired gal and so were the pups. Fun walk and very peaceful though. We hiked into Pamelia Lake and the dogs had an energizing swim as their reward. I found a hat and used it as a bug swatter. Remember, "ask and ye shall receive".

Come on mom!!!! It's so cute how the dogs always come back and check on me...they probably walk triple the distance that I do. Ruby recently turned 1 year old...cannot believe that we've had her almost a year already. Again - time flys!! I cannot believe it.

This is Duncan...trail horse/packing horse extraordinaire sneaking through camp headed for the water bucket after hauling these steel culverts out from a "you slip - you die" trail. He is phenomenol!!! Call me a coward, but you will NEVER catch me on those kinds of trails ever again!! I like land on both sides of the trail - thank you very much!!

Kate, Duncan and Eagle arriving back in camp. Eagle got lucky and only had to haul the oxygen and acetylene tanks in one way. He's not quite as experienced as Duncan and those heavy, very cumbersome culverts might have been a wee bit too much for him to handle. Awesome experience for him though. This was the day we brought him home. He's been living the life of riley since arriving at our place.

Hope you all have a spendid weekend! Make the most of it because summer's waning...

Blessings to all,

Lorie

He's all mine...

2011-08-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

...or maybe I should have titled this post something like, Caution: May cause drooling. Ya, that's it! Because he's even more gorgeous than I'd remembered and HE'S ALL MINE!!! And, he's home with us at long last!!

The last several weeks I'd spent many an hour doubting my decision to get another horse. That's what I do. I hash and I re-hash. I toss and turn and can't sleep. One minute, I'm super excited and the next I'm crying because I'm unsure and doubting, doubting, questioning my every motive and chastising myself for being foolish. *sigh* I HATE being indecisive!!!

You see, over a year ago when I first laid eyes on this horse, I went ga-ga. Uh-huh...head-over-heels stupid ga-ga over this horse. You'd think I was a silly teenager or something. I spent an hour on the phone with Kate (his current owner) learning everything I possibly could about him. And, then I did what I'm so very good at doing...I started to question the soundness of getting another horse when we already had 5 horses and a llama to feed and to buy hay for, pay for farrier expenses, veterinary costs, bedding supplies and on and on and on...you know the story. Horses are expensive. Horses are a lot of work. My hubby and I are not spring chickens anymore. My hubby and I are both gainfully full-time employees outside the home, aka tired when we get home to second horse-caretaking job, not to mention property owners, home owners, fence builders and maintainers, landscapers, cooks and chief bottle-washers...*sigh* ...sheesh, I'm getting tired just thinking about all we have to do. And, I wonder why we never have any money. And...why we can never afford to take nice vacations etc etc etc...the list goes on and on and on... you get the drill.

Anyway, after a week or so of heart-wrenching doubting and questioning of myself and my motives; I made the phone call to Kate and told her of my decision to postpone acquiring another horse at that time. I tried to forget about said horse. I even did - for a little while. But...no matter how hard I tried, somehow I never quite could...

Months and months go by, over a year actually. Things change, life happens...old friends die. Our beloved and precious resident "little old lady" coliced unexpectedly and we now had only 4 horses in our humble little abode.

After the initial grieving process, a tiny little (guilt-ridden) feeling of relief began to creep in...maybe our hay supply we'd bought just might last through the winter for 4 horses. Just maybe we won't have to buy a few more tons to get us by, the farrier bill will be just a tad less every couple of months, less vaccines to buy, one less stall to clean...don't get me wrong, I was never relieved at Siri's death. Not for one single minute! But, the more practical side of my brain began to emerge.

And then, I remembered Eagle. And the Wild Horse Expo was coming up. I'd put that on my calendar hoping we'd be able to attend, months earlier. I sent an e-mail to Kate inquiring, if perchance, she just might be attending, and if so, was she bringing Eagle to the event??? All perfectly innocent questions, right??? RIGHT???

Kate responds with a resounding "YES"!! "I'll bring Eagle with you in mind!". My heart starts pounding wildly in my chest, I start getting all emotional like a ninny and...well, you know. Shit happens!!! I had hoped that once I met him in person, I'd see that he was just another horse. No big deal, horses come along every single day. Finally, I could get him out of my head (and out of my heart). End of story...

NOT!!

He looked me squarely in the eye and I melted like a cube of butter in the noonday sun.

God help me...I was a goner.

Can't explain it. I don't even try. For those people out there who have never fallen in love with a horse at first sight, you couldn't possibly understand. But, just maybe there are those of you out there who know exactly what I'm talking about. Some things in life you just can't explain. Some things in life don't have to make perfect sense. And some things are just bigger than we are.

*sigh*

I think we were destined to be together...cool, huh?

For the love of summer

2011-08-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, I doooo love summer and all that it entails. Long days, warm nights, sunshine, everything!! So, for once I don't have a lot to say and thought I'd just post a bunch of pictures taken over the last month of so. Our summer so far...

Homemade strawberry jam...YUM!!!

Swimming in the lake...................

Fishin' - even if it is just for pretend!!

Bathing and spending time with the horses just because you love them!!! This is my grandson David and our beautiful little mare "Kadie". She loves attention...don't most girls??

"Ladde" after just having his first bath of the summer and showing off those spots that otherwise go un-noticed unless he's all wet. I think he's beautiful...er, I mean handsome!!

Ya just gotta admire a gorgeous horsey butt!! This is Harley, doing what Harley loves best...

Herd shot...with the head herdmeister - "Shad"

Naps with an old friend - what's not to love about that!!??

My berry patch!! This is the first year I've got berries, and they're a little out of control...like so many other things in my garden. But those berries are delicious!!!

A super weekend breakfast made especially tasty with freshly homemade raspberry topping with berries just picked my my berry patch!!! Hmmmmm...

My gorgeous wild rose hedge that keeps growing bigger and better with each summer...I love it!!

Summer projects that are enjoyed for years to come...
Thank you honey!!

Making new friends...

And lastly, but forever at the tops of my loves list...another shot of Ladde feeling especially dashing after his bath. He knows he's gorgeous!! And, there's my beloved hubby trying to hide behind the Laddmonster!! Sorry, not a chance!! :)

Hope you're all enjoying your summer. We're off to Costco to buy some ribs and chicken breasts for a BBQ this weekend at our house with the family and a few friends. I'm gonna make a killer (I hope) boysenberry cobbler with some of the berries that I picked last night. Hmmm, served with homemade whipped cream/mascarpone cheese topping...oh my!!! Hope everybody's weekend is fun, relaxing and oh-so-tasty too!!!!

Smiles and tears

2011-07-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

It's always a mixture, isn't it? Life is never simple, nor is it dull. There are pleasures that bring the smiles, and there are the heartaches that cause the pain and the tears. I guess that's just the way it is. On this planet anyway. I do look forward to the day when we're living in heaven, on the new earth, where there will be no more sadness and no more tears. I look forward to seeing my mom and dad, my grandma, and the grandparents I was never fortunate enough to meet. And so many friends, relatives and animals whom I have loved dearly. Yes, I'm looking forward to that...very much.

But, until then...life goes on. I see that once again, I have been remiss in posting with any regularity on my blog. The days just seem to fly by, and I so easily lose track of the days. One after the other, they pass so quickly. This has been a lovely summer to me. I've heard so many people complain about our weather, the lack of sunshine and hot temperatures so common to so many other summers. But I've been enjoying our sunny, cooler than usual weather. Mostly, the days have been pleasant and warm, some grey and some rain. I can appreciate that. Especially when I watch the news and see what's been going on weather-wise in the majority of the country elsewhere. Temperatures in the hundreds, massive flooding, tornadoes and such? We are truly blessed here in the pacific northwest. We complain and we have absolutely no reason to do so. So, I for one, am very, very thankful for our summer. I just hope it sticks around for a good, long while.

Remember this girl? This is our old gal..."Frosted Siri L" She turned 29 years young on January 31, 2011
and this is our grandson David, who's 10 years old and loves Siri madly...

He'd spend all day long in the barn or hanging out with her in the pasture if he was able. Well, Dave came out and spent 10 days with us when we took some vacation time the end of June and the first part of July. We took a bunch of pictures of him and Siri spending time with each other. I'm so thankful that we got that time and those pictures, because our sweet old girl passed away on July 13, 2011. She was in good spirits when I turned her loose in the apple orchard pasture with the rest of the horses, and about 2 hours later, we had to have her euthanized for an apparent fatty lypoma that strangulated her small intestine. It was intensely painful and unbelievably fast. Here one moment, and gone the next. It certainly took us by surprise, and left us with no alternative than to say good-bye to our dear friend. We buried her near the apple tree the following day, along with so many other animal friends whom we've loved over the years. I'm so very thankful we were home and able to be with her when she needed us the most...so thankful for that. We're going to miss her, and her sassy attitude, and her worrisome nature over her herdmates. She was a treasure and we loved her. It was especially touching to see how each one of the horses personally said their good-byes to her. And some people don't believe that animals love one another and grieve over the loss of herdmates. I'm here to tell you that they do.

R.I.P. "Frosted Siri L" 1/31/82 - 7/13/11 Thanks for the memories!! It's been a pleasure and a blessing spending time with you!!

If you ever get the chance to read a little book titled the "Ghost Wind Stallion" , I'd recommend it highly. I forget who the author is, but it's narrated by an old Nez Perce Indian named George Long Grass. The story is about Siri's ancestors and a particular line of horses that were highly regarded by the Nez Perce Tribe. I read it, quite by accident, and was startled to discover that I was looking at Siri's lineage exactly duplicated. She had noble ancestry.

In more recent events, we attended the Central Oregon Wild Horse Expo at the Brasada Ranch last weekend near Prineville, Oregon. What beautiful country and what a gorgeous ranch! I'd move there in a New York minute!! It's considered high desert with beautiful mountain ranges all around. You can see Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, The 3 Sisters, Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, and Black Butte from beautifully green, lush pastures brimming with beef cattle and beautiful horses. My kind of country. Anyway, there was a wild horse adoption, vendors, demonstration of all kinds, a competitve trail ride, a horse show for wild bred Mustangs and clinics going on. Very entertaining! We had a blast!

Remember this guy??

This is "Eagle" - the Mustang that I saw a picture of on a friend's Facebook page over a year ago. I included him in a blog posting quite a while back. I admitted that I was enamored of him, and quite honestly have never been able to get him out of my mind completely since then.

Well...I found out that Kate (the FB friend) was going to be judging one of the trail courses at the wild horse expo, and...quite innocently enough asked her if she was perchance thinking of bringing Eagle along. And, she sent me an e-mail that stated that yes, she would bring Eagle with me in mind. My heart started beating madly...and guess what!!??

I met him, I got to spend time with him, and I got to show him in-hand at the expo!!!!

I'm quite madly head-over-heels, in love with this horse!!!!

Right from the first, if you'd have asked me just what exactly that it was that had me so smitten with this particular bay horse...I'd have probably said, "something in his eyes, his expression"...and that's still the case. I believe this horse is an old soul, a true gentleman and oh so very, very kind. I get all emotional and my eyes tear up just looking at him and being near him. I think he wants to please, feel safe, and be loved...and that's it.

I'm a goner.

And then I find out he's led a very sad life. He wasn't loved or valued at all. He's got whip marks on his body. Apparently, he was captured as a 2-3 year old in the Warm Springs Herd Management Area of central Oregon. He was adopted through BLM to someone in the Roseburg, Oregon area. Apparently, he was beaten, and it was savagely enough that at 11 years of age, the scars are still evident. Bloody hell!!!!! I can't even imagine...and as if that weren't enough; his owners were what Kate refers to as "dopers" who then sold him to the Winston Wildlife Safari to be used as cat meat. Wow...thankfully, someone with a kind heart at the safari made a phone call to someone in the Strawberry Mountain Horse Rescue and said they had a horse there, who was obviously too nice of a horse to be cut up and fed to the wild cats. That person came and picked Eagle up, and that's how he ended up with the Central Oregon Wild Horse Coallition and owned by my friend, Kate. Long story, short...before long, I will more than likely be the very proud new mom and forever caretaker of the magnificent "Eagle".

The beginning...

**happy dance***

:) Cingspots

You just never know where life will lead...

Sum sum summertime

2011-07-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

...and the livin' is easy...NOT!!!! Wow, have we been busy. I always dream of more downtime, less "to-do's" and more socializing, soaking and sipping. But - whatever - that's my life! I'm not complaining, well maybe a little. :) It's been almost a month since my last blog post, and there's more to update than I can possibly remember. I'll give it my best shot though...

My sis had eye surgery for the 3rd time and she's finally doing somewhat better. They say she may always have blurry vision in that eye, but will try corrective lenses and see if that helps. I'm just happy that she's not looking at more surgeries anytime soon.

Ruby got spayed on June 16th and all is back to normal. Big sigh of relief...I was quite worried about the surgery for some reason, and am thankful and relieved that she did well and is totally healed up. I took a day off work and spent the day in Salem. Just me and Annie puttering around, it was fun. We went (I went) shopping for a few new summer clothes, went to Costco and stocked up on some groceries, went to a huge park and had a very long walk and even went through the massive rose garden they had there. It was a beautiful day and I really luxuriated in having a day off work mid-week. Felt like a stolen day...loved it!! It would have been positively perfect had I not been worried about poor, little Ruby. But, I said my prayers for her protection and left it in God's hands. Always helps!!

My hubby and I took a week off from work the last week of June and over the 4th of July weekend. 10 days off in a row. Sounds like a long time, but it sure did go fast. We had our grandson, David the entire time. We are definitely not accustomed to having a child around for that length of time. Parts were enjoyable and parts were intolerable, but all-in-all, it went fairly well. I'm very glad that grandpa got to spend some quality time with his grandson. David loves being around the horses! He's an animal lover at heart, and that's wonderful and quite helpful being at our place. We have cats, dogs, horses and the llama. Dave got to ride Siri a few times, brush her and he loved that, so did Siri. We spent a day at the beach, went out for seafood dinner, had a long walk on the beach and gathered seashells. We spent another day at the lake, swimming and hiking. It was fun, but I found myself wishing we'd had a boat. There were soooo many people there and I missed the solitude that I remember from years past. So many more people moving to our part of the state. I don't blame them, it's a beautiful part of Oregon, but I prefer less crowds and less rules everywhere. *sigh* Guess I'm showing my age again... I bought 15 lbs of sliced, fresh strawberries and made a double batch of jam. YUM!! I put the rest in freezer containers for using later. $30.00 for washed, sliced berries is quite reasonable compared to the cost at the farm stands. Everything has gotten so expensive. But, we'll sure enjoy those berries come winter time.

We also bought some Windsor Cottage stones and built a 14' long x 30" wide raised flower bed in the front of our house. We made it about 16" tall, so it would be comfortable for sitting. It turned out really nice. I just bought a bunch of flowers for planting at the local garden store today. I just need to pick up a load of planting soil and I'll be all set for mass plantings. We still have enough stones to build a v-shaped raised garden bed on the other side of the house by the front door. That one should be a quicker, easier version compared to the big one. It's really going to add some pizazz to the landscape, and I can't wait to see the end results. My next idea is to put up some planter window boxes under some of the windows, but that's for another time.

We have our winter's supply of hay all neatly stored in the barn too. Our hay was delivered last week and it took us and 2 paid helpers, 2 evenings working to finish the job. We got about 12 tons total of new hay, and have about 2 tons left from last year. That's considerably less than the 20 tons we put into the barns last summer, but money was a bit tighter this year so we'll just feed as long as it lasts and worry about buying more later, if and when we run short. We more than likely will have to buy a few more tons, but I'm not going to worry about that now. Next big project will have to be the firewood for the winter...the work just never ends, does it?? Sometimes I envy those people who live in little homes in the suburbs...they just don't realize how easy they have it, but then again, I love living on our little farm in the country with all its' privacy and peaceful surroundings. Nothing in life is ever perfect...but it's our life and I really do love it, even if it is filled with work. I don't have to pay for a membership in a fancy athletic club to get exercise and that's a fact!

We had plans to go watch fireworks on the 4th of July and were in the car ready to go when our neighbors started shooting off big, loud roman candles and such...Harley freaked, started running and that was that. We parked the car in the middle of our very long driveway and watched the illegals going off all around us and felt a measure of relief at being able to keep a watch over our little herd as well as the neighbor's 30ish head of horses as well. What a gorgeous sight to see all the horses running together in one big herd...much more spectacular in my humble opinion than the greatest of the fireworks!! It's all about perspective, right? I just wish I'd have had my camera because I could have caught some fantastic shots. I'll try and remember that for next year.

I'm still riding Ladde and he's doing wonderfully. I'm feeling more and more comfortable on him with each and every ride. Lately, however our consistency's been off because of all the other projects we've had to deal with. The weather has cooled this week and it's lovely riding weather, so I'll probably have a nice evening ride tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

Harley had a flare-up of his uveitis lately. It was bi-lateral, but worse in his right (good) eye. I managed to quiet it down very quickly, but the damage was done. He now has cloudiness in about 1/3 to almost 1/2 of his right eye. Prior to this outbreak, the damage to his eye had been in the anterior, or back portion of his eyes; meaning that nothing was unusual looking about his eyes. Somehow the fact that he didn't look any different from a sighted horse was something I was thankful for, but now his eyes are starting to look more typical of a blind horse. It breaks my heart to think that he has so little vision left. I still cry over his situation, but bless his heart, he seems to be adjusting to his lot in life much better than I am. I just keep praying that God will watch over him and keep him safe. So far, so good. I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer and am so thankful for our many blessings in life. God is good.

Well, I've run on a lot longer than I'd meant to. I really should try to post more often so that I'm not trying to catch up on a whole month's worth of activities. I've got a bunch of pictures that I've taken, but never seem to take the time to download them onto a disk so that I can transfer them to this computer. Someday, maybe I'll advance to the 21st century! Ya think? One can always hope...

I hope you're all enjoying our wonderful summer...it was a long time coming. May we all savor and enjoy it while it's here!

Blessings and good-bye for now...
Cingspots aka Lorie

Quiet weekend

2011-06-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

We spent a fairly quiet, unassuming weekend mostly at home. We accomplished very little by our usual standards, but somedays are just meant for downtime, I guess. The weather was mostly overcast with a little rain Sunday afternoon. The days were not cold, but pleasant sweatshirt weather. Perfect for horseback riding or hiking.

Saturday morning we went to church and stayed for potluck lunch afterwards. I took the dogs for a little walk and spent some time in the barn watching the horses graze lazily in the pasture. For some reason, I had very little energy or ambition, so the dogs and I enjoyed a little nap. What a treat that was!!

Saturday evening, we ate a light supper and then I went to my sister's for a visit. We decided on an evening walk and of course, the dogs came along. It was nice to have some time to catch up with my sister. Even though she lives within 15 miles, we don't see each other very often. Very different lifestyles and a different set of values seems to keep some distance between us. I wish things were different between me and my family, but that's just the way it is. I did enjoy the time spent with her though, and stayed until 2:00 in the morning before I took my leave. I took my time coming home and enjoyed the lazy drive with no other traffic on the country roads between our homes. It was a beautiful night and it was so very peaceful and quiet.

Sunday morning I woke up to find my hubby in the bottom pasture mowing some blackberries that were trying to take over a portion of our grazing land. That's quite a chore to try and accomplish with our riding lawnmower/wannabe tractor, but he was making some headway. The dogs and I walked down the driveway to wave a morning hello. The sun was out, so I enjoyed my morning coffee in the sunshine of the barn and watched the horses eat their breakfast. Later, we went to the annual Derby Days Pancake breakfast at the local fire hall in town and spent some time visiting with some of our neighbors. It was a pretty good breakfast for $5 and the company was great, plus it's for a good cause. When we got home, my boss was there and had already got Shad out of the pasture, had him sedated and had diagnosed the problem with his knee. Pretty quick work! Shad has tendonitis with fluid and inflammation around the knee, more than likely a result of a strike from one of the neighbor's mares across the fence. With ultrasound-guided injection, he put some HA (hyaluronic acid) and steroid into the tendon sheath. He says that within a few days or so, the swelling should resolve and he should be fine. What a relief! That's much better than a torn tendon or a bone chip, and a fairly inexpensive fix. We just need to keep him quiet for a while and let the meds do their work.

Afterwards, I spent some time grooming and working Ladde again. He was such a good boy...gosh I love that horse! We're making progress, and with each session I feel a little more confident. Soon, I hope to take him on a few trail rides and see how we do in the woods. If I can remember to relax, I'll be fine. When we were finishing up in the barn, a decent little rain shower moved in and for the remainder of the evening, we had on-again, off-again showers. It sure feels more like April than mid-June, but compared to most of the country, we have nothing to complain about! We brought the horses into the barn for the night, not so much because of the rain, but it was a great excuse for Shad to be stalled and kept quiet overnight. They seemed to enjoy the warmth and the peacefulness of the barn too, and we left them contentedly munching their hay. I almost built a fire, but decided against it. I'd cooked a beef roast in the oven and we had that and some vegetable soup that my sis had sent home with me the night before. Hmm hmm, it sure tasted good! A perfect meal for a cool evening.

I was in bed by 10 pm and slept like a rock. What a wild woman I've become!! But, I feel rested and ready for my work week. Thursday is Ruby's day to be spayed. I need to have her in Salem by 7:30 am and can pick her up at 4:30 that afternoon. Rather than waste time and gas coming home or going to work, I've taken the day off and plan to spend the day in Salem. I'd hoped that my friend could spend the day with me, but she had already made plans. Oh well, Annie and I will amuse ourselves somehow. I'm looking forward to the free day, I just pray that all goes well with little Ruby's surgery. She's such a sweet little dog...we couldn't bear living our lives without her.

Blessings to all for a good week...

Rockstars!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've chilled out a bit since last night and earlier today because my lack of sleep is finally catching up to me.
You see...I had one of the most fantastic rides on my Ladde boy last night EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! He seriously is a total rockstar and I cannot tell you how proud of him that I am!! In fact, I'm so excited that I might surely pop a vein or something!!! :) I was totally amped up and could hardly sleep a wink all last night, and when I woke up, the feelings were still there in force. Yes. It was that good. That horse-o-mine is mighty, mighty fine!!!! God Bless him...all the way down to his precious little hooves. Okay, now that I've got you all dangerously close to puking, I'll pipe down...kay? Sorry, but I'm just a wee bit proud of the big brute tis all. He really was a gem. No, he wasn't a perfect angel. But, he was 100% there. With me, attentive and in tuned to my every little touch and request. He performed as well as any out of shape horse with hardly any riding (let alone work) in the last couple of years could be expected to do.

We worked on so many different things that my head is swimming. For pete's sake, I'm just a trailrider...I've never had any formal training to speak of. I just ride. I've been to quite a few natural horsemanship clinics, was blessed to have ridden with Ray Hunt 3 times, Tom Dorrance once, Brad Cameron twice...but nothing that even closely resembled dressage. I'm certainly not accustomed to thinking that much while I'm riding. The greatest blessing in thinking a lot while riding Ladde, for me, is that I'm way too busy to start fretting, or worrying about what he might or might not do. I was too busy to be scared. What a huge relief for me that was!!! I've turned into a "nervous nellie" in recent years, and I'm just uncertain as to why, or where this nervousness or fear is coming from. When I try to figure it out, I know now that it comes from a variety of places or reasons.

* Ladde is huge. Everything the horse does is big. And, it's intimidating to be riding an animal that is so incredibly powerful. I'm not accustomed to big, very forward moving horses. You Warmblood riders will understand this.
* I'm the only person who's done any training on this horse. Apparently, I am less than 100% confident in my abilities as a "horse trainer/teacher". Giving the horse his due here, this is certainly lower on my list of worries, though. This horse has a good, sensible mind.
* When Ladde was a 2-year old, he was neurologic for unknown reasons for about 7 months. We did a spinal tap for EPM and treated him with meds for that amount of time, but what my vet didn't bother ever telling me was that the spinal tap was negative. Assuming it wasn't EPM, we never did any other diagnostics to determine the cause of the neurologic symptoms. If you've ever witnessed a horse who is neurologic, you'll understand just how scary and serious this situation can be.
* I'm getting older, and I certainly have to admit to being a lot less physically fit or agile than I once was. I've gained a lot of weight over the years...this one reason plays a big role in my confidence as a rider. Physically, I'm rather top-heavy and have shorter legs than I would like...I question my abilities in sticking to the saddle in the event of a rather large "spook" event.
* I have hurt my back. It hurt a lot and it hurt for a rather long time. I hope to NEVER experience pain like that again. No, this was not the outcome of a riding accident, but I remember how much it hurt and I really don't want to get hurt again. (this is a big one)
* Riding Harley the last several years and having him become increasingly more spooky and unsure of himself and becoming increasingly less sure-footed did a number on my confidence as well. Now, I know the reason behind his actions...he was losing his eyesight. I, however, was completely clueless. Not for a single minute did that possibility ever cross my mind.
* Re-reading this list has confirmed that I'm a mental case. I have no concrete reason for my lack of confidence, except that I'm an old, fat, scardy cat. *sigh*
* But...I'm just stupid enough not to care enough to EVER give up riding or trying to improve!!!

Amen??

I gotta brag a little bit more about my other amazing "STAR" of a horse. Harley. He's going to be the official "spokeshorse" Appaloosa for a soon-to-be-published book by Linda Kuhlman. Yep, yep, yep. She and her husband came out to our house a couple of nights ago and shot a bunch of pictures for her upcoming video trailer for her next book. How cool is that!!?? My sweet, little ole Harley's going to be all over the internet...he's gonna be a star!!!! Of course, he's ALWAYS been a star in my eyes. It's about time the rest of the world came around. :)

Have a wonderful weekend...

Lorie at C-ing Spots Appaloosas

Lesson tonight - me and my studmuffin

2011-06-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ooh, I'm sooo excited!!! Bill's coming over tonight and me and the Laddmonster are having our first real lesson with the new trainer.....can't wait!! How I love having orders barked at me whilst I'm riding horseback. Any other time, I'm quite likely to tell you to "bite me" and just mind your own beeswax!! But, when I have respect and/or admiration at someone's abilities and am in the learning frame of mind...by all means - bark away!!

Lad's got his shoes on now, and I'm looking forward to riding some trails again. Haven't been trailriding since last fall, and that's just too long. My hubby had shoes put on his horse, Shad. First time in several years that he's planning on using Shad as his main rider...and guess what? Wouldn't you know that the big, red goosebury has a swollen knee? Dang nabbit all! It figures!! Good thing is, he's not lame on it. He's still thundering around the pasture, bucking and bossing everybody in his path. That's good. Then again, maybe he just doesn't have enough sense to realize he's got a bum leg. Who knows? I palpated his leg the other night, and he's got a little sensitivity to the pressure, there's a little heat and we've definitely got firm inflammation all around, but especially in the front. A few weeks back, I'd picked off a little (maybe an inch long) scrab from the front of his knee and there was a little pus. We cleaned it up, put some antibiotic ointment on it and it seemed fine. Maybe somebody got a well-placed hoof and that's the cause of the little cut and now this swelling? It's my best possible guess - either that, or he strained the ligaments during one of his dramatic acrobatic bucking/playing sessions he's so famous for! That's more like it!! Anyway, long story-short...the swelling's not going away. My boss is going to come out and put the U/S on it, and see what we can see. If nothing shows up, we'll have to shoot a couple of rads and see what that turns up. I'm pretty sure it's nothing serious, because the fact remains that the horse is not lame. If I watch him really, really closely; I can pick up on a slight favoring of the leg, and that's it. It's probably just going to need a little more time, but keeping him quiet is a real challange.

It's a gorgeous spring day here and I'm loving it!! Mid 70's and a nice, cool breeze. Supposed to be like this for the upcoming 5-7 more days. I like it. The dogs and I have been walking the 1-3/4 mile trail around the park at lunch time for a few weeks now. It feels so good to be outside in the fresh air again, and not get rained on. The mud's drying up nicely, and that's always a good thing. Will keep all of you in the eastern half of the country in our prayers. I can't even imagine extreme heat and humidity like what you're experiencing.

Blessings to all,
Cingspots

A Sampling of Summer

2011-06-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I do believe that this May has been the shortest ever! And, without a doubt, I know that it's been the coldest and the wettest on record...May is usually one of my most favorite months, and this one was no exception, but...I'm so pale! And my skin's gonna start wrinkling up like a prune unless I get some sunshine on this face (and legs) and soon!! You see, here in Orygone, we crinkle from all the excessive moisture in our atmosphere, not from overexposure to the sun's damaging rays... :~) Don't ya know?

But, guess what? This past weekend---we had summer!!! Hot dog!! Hot me!! Hot, hot, hot!! Oooh baby...I was sweatin' and a fannin' and a complainin' bout it bein' so dadburned hot...so soon!! I even filled up the kiddy pool for the pooches...and me!! Ah huh!! And it felt good!! Friday after work, we got the shoes on the horses. This year it's all about me and Ladde. And all about my hubby and his Shadman. Yep, we've had Shad since he was a 3-year old and he's now 19 years young...about time he got some use, wouldn't ya say?? I would be remiss right about now, if I didn't add a small request for prayers for the safety of my dear husband. You see - Shad's quite impressive in the art of "bucking". Ah huh...impressively so. But, he's a good boy. And, we have faith in him. We're gonna have fun, fun, fun riding those two this summer!! Yessiree!! I've been riding Ladde for close to 3 weeks now, and he's doing fabulously well!! I love that horse so much!! Me and Ladde are pards for sure!! We're going to be just fine. Once I find a way to climb aboard, that is. :) Ladde is perfect!!! And, I'm so very, very proud of that horse. I just can't tell you!! Anyway, bragging aside. So far, so good. I've been calm. I've been in control of my emotions. And, I've been in charge. And Ladde knows it...that's the key. When I'm not in charge...he immediately takes control, and that's not good. So, I just need to remember to breathe deeply, relax, sit deep...and ride. Piece a cake!

On Sabbath morning, the sunshine was out in full force. Since so far this spring, sunshine has been very short in supply...we opted to stay home from church and enjoy a leisurely morning at home on the deck. It was beautiful!! For a while. And then it got hot, and hotter and hotter. It was around 85 or so, and since we've been having temps in the 50's and 60's are a heat rush...we were sweatin' bullets. I'm not complaining though...even got a bit of color in my cheeks! :)

Saturday evening we loaded ourselves and our dogs in the truck and headed for the drive-in. Double feature and pizza. What could say summer more than that?? It was great!! Families and people were out in full force!! The smell of popcorn on the evening breeze and a sky full of stars...just beautiful! We got home about 2:30 in the morning!! A bit late for this early to bed kinda gal! Aah, it was fun though, sure felt like a summer's eve for a welcome change!!

Sunday morning dawned a bit overcast and rather balmy by comparison to Saturday, but it was warm and not raining so we weren't complaining a bit. We got our garden plants planted (finally!), the lawn mowed again, housework caught up (sort of) and even had time for an afternoon nap before heading out to do the grocery shopping. We barbecued hot dogs and had raw broccoli salad for dinner...oh, it's good to be looking forward to a few months of long, sunny days and warm nights! I'm soooo looking forward to this summer! There's so much that I want to do, and enjoy...I want to savor each and every possible moment!

Shortly after dinner we heard the rumbling sounds of thunder, and lightening strikes soon followed. The rain started in as well, so we headed out to bring the horses inside from the pasture. Harley practically ran to us when we called them, so apparently he thought coming into the barn was a pretty good idea too. A tiny bit of grain and a flake of hay was all it took to soothe and calm the mighty beasts...aaahh peace. I always sleep better on a stormy night when the horses are safely tucked inside their stalls too. So much for our summer weather. Spring sure seems more volatile in recent years than I remember...the times they are a changin'.

And here we are back to Monday. Back to work, or back to the grindstone as my dad used to say...rest in peace my sweet daddy and Happy Birthday too! June 3rd was my dad's birthday. He's been gone for almost 17 years now, but if he were still living, he would have turned 89 - wow! I can hardly believe it's been that long...and I still miss him every single day. Life's never the same when your mom and dad aren't around anymore. So, in closing...cherish your parents. You will miss them one day. I'm going home and I'm going to ride my horse. Best therapy in the whole, wide world. For me it is, anyway...

Blessings everyone,
Lorie

Oh, and in case you're wondering...today was back to normal. Well, a wee bit warmer than what our normal has been of late. Right around 70, warm and not raining. It's been a good day.

Oh, and...I can't believe I almost forgot!!! 33 years ago today, I graduated from high school!! Oh man, I cannot believe how old I'm getting to be!! Oh well, the alternative's much worse my friends!!! Rock on Class of '78!!! Rock on!!!

Always be thankful...

2011-05-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I complain too much. Sometimes I forget to always give thanks to my Lord for my many, many blessings. Sometimes I take blessings and people in my life for granted. Sometimes I need to have a good, swift kick in my behind.

Well, not today. Today, I am thankful for so many things. So many wonderful blessings. And, I'm going to profess quite loudly and quite publically right here, and right now how very beautifully blessed that I am and how much I appreciate the life that my Father in heaven has bestowed upon me. Life is good!

I was just thinking last night when I came from the barn, looking around at our yard, at our home, at our beautiful horses and the cozy little barn that protects them from the damp, cool spring evening that we were experiencing. I was suddenly struck with the overwhelming gratitude that I have a husband who loves me and works so very hard to keep our little piece of the world looking nice. He works so hard. He does so much. Whatever, however would I even attempt to keep up with everything that needs to be done? I sometimes feel overwhelmed with what I have to do, a full-time job, house cleaning, meal preparation, grocery shopping, bill paying, appointment making, organizing, feeding, stall cleaning, yard work, house maintenance, vehicle upkeep and on, and on, and on, and on...but that's just life, right? We wake up each morning and face each day with stuff that needs to be accomplished. And if it doesn't all get done?? Big deal - there's another day tomorrow. Like the Bible reminds us, don't worry about tomorrow because today's worries are enough for today. Sage advice. Just look upward and give thanks. Do what we can, and leave the rest for another day. The grass is always going to need mowing, there's always going to be housework to be done, laundry...well, that's never ending right? Just remember to be happy. Give thanks to God in heaven who provides us with our needs. No matter how bad of a day you may think you might have had...there is always a reason to be thankful and thoughtful of our blessings. Always.

Every morning before I rush off to work, I always take the time to drive down the driveway, do a final headcount of the horses and the llama. I then ask Jesus to watch over our little herd and to please protect them from all harm. Please, just keep them safe...it's always answered. When I get home each evening and their bright little faces are there nickering for their next meal...I try to remember to give thanks. I don't always remember. But, I am always thankful. Same goes for my husband. I pray for his safety and good health. I'm thankful each evening when he comes home...safe and sound. I'm blessed to have a good, steady job in these uncertain economic times. I'm thankful that my boss is a good man. He's kind-hearted and patient. I don't think he's ever raised his voice to me. I'm positive there've been many times he's wanted to. :) I'm thankful that in a small way, I get to work with horses and get paid for it. I get opportunities every single day to help people. It may only be a kind word, an encouraging bit of advice, or a reassuring, "I know how you feel", but I love how good it feels to be useful and be of some good to someone else. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful that we have enough money to support ourselves and do something occasionally that's purely for fun. I have more clothes and shoes than I need. I certainly have more food to eat than I need. All our animals are plump and well-fed as well. I'm blessed with amazing people in my life, beautiful friends and a loving family. I don't get to see my family as often as I'd like, but if I really want to talk to someone...there's always someone to reach out to. I may not ever have the body I've always dreamed of having, I probably won't ever look good in a swimming suit *sigh*...but oh well...my body has always accomodated me quite well. I'm healthy, I'm strong, and I can do most anything that I set my mind to doing...well, within reason anyway. For all these things, I am thankful.

I was so distressed while watching a little of the news last night. There is so much heartache in our world. So much strife and hardship for so many people. My prayers go out to so very many. That's about all I can do - offer up prayers and let God handle the details. I must always remember that He is in charge. Again, I am thankful for that. We all suffer hardship in our lives. But, no matter how difficult times may be or become...God leads His people through them. We probably don't get out of them because we learn and become stronger because of difficulties, tragedy, loss, pain, disappointment...whatever; but we're never alone. Nope, not ever. Look up and take comfort. He is always there.

So, in closing friends, readers, fellow human beings...don't wallow in your petty little problems of this life. Stop whining, stop complaining about every little thing in your life that you see as less than perfect. Shut up and give thanks for your many, many blessings.

May God forgive us our many shortcomings and grant us patience with one another.

If I've stepped on anybody's toes and you're taking this little reminder personally. Get over it. You probably needed to hear this today. :)

Have a good one...it is your choice you know.

We could all take a lesson in life from Annie...

Lorie aka cingspots

Good day sunshine!!!!!!!

2011-05-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe that it's been like, 7 weeks or so since I've done a blog posting!!! How time flies!!! Everything's been good...just quite busy, busy busy! And today, I am so very thankful for this most glorious spring day we're experiencing. The sun is shining, there's a gentle breeze blowing and just a few wispy, white clouds in an otherwise brilliantly blue sky...who could ask for anything more? Well...I could be on vacation somewhere soaking up the sun, reading a deliciously erotic novel and sipping a cool and frosty exotic drink but...let's stick to reality shall we? :)

Okay, I'll try to catch things up, even if only partially since my last post. No, I haven't been riding my horse yet. Only within the past week have I been doing regular grooming sessions and exercising Ladde in the round-pen and some on the lunge line; but he's such a good boy, he's doing splendidly. We've been working on engaging the hindquarters and lifting and building his back muscles whilst really reaching under himself with his hind legs. Maybe tonight, I'll saddle him up and do a little work under saddle. I'm having such fun. Last night was our first session working with a new trainer/horseman. He's an english rider himself; specializes in dressage and some jumping. Not exactly what I'm into, but good horsemanship is good horsemanship. I believe that a good classical dressage instructor might just be able to teach us some of the finer techniques of suppleness, collection and fine-tuning our gaits. And...he's an outdoor rider mostly, he likes to get out in the woods and enjoy nature while teaching. Now, that is right up my alley! He lives close by and I'm excited to be working with someone who has such an obvious love for his work.

Harley is doing very well too. He seems to be adjusting to his blindness issues more and more each day. I don't plan on riding him as my regular mount this summer, but I will probably ride him occasionally on flat land only. It seems a shame to leave such an able-bodied horse at home all the time, but I'm not quite ready to rely on him as my main trail mount until we're both more confident. He doesn't seem to mind staying home with the girls most of the time.

We've been doing a lot of yard work lately, trying to play catch up on all the mowing and trimming and weeding that has accumulated since last fall. And, with all the rain we've had this year...we're talking jungle control!! But, with persistence and a lot of aching muscles, we've gotten everything mostly under control again and the yard's looking much nicer. Next will be the raised garden beds and my flower beds by the deck. I've decided to go simple with the garden plans this year. I have 3 tomato plants, will plant 1 zuchini and a few other veggies, but I want to keep it very low maintenance this time. I want to enjoy the nice weather and don't want to be weeding when I could be riding or socializing instead. I'm planning on buying my usual 15 lb. bucket of washed, sliced strawberries to make about 3 batches of strawberry jam and put the rest in the freezer. I always can peaches...can't seem to live without those, and maybe some applesauce, but that's about it, other than frozen blackberries, raspberries and marionberries. Those are simple though, rinse and put in freezer containers for using later.

We discovered that our big horsetrailer suffered some water damage from a leaking roof over the winter. The insulation, ceiling panels and trim all have to be replaced, and the carpeting on the walls and floor are going to require a thorough steam cleaning and deodorizing to kill the mildew. And, obviously the roof leaks need to be repaired. *sigh* All-in-all, about $2800 in total damage. Thank God, we had it insured! We hope to take it to the repair shop very soon, so we'll have it back for summer camping season. We emptied out all our belongings, bedding, etc the other night and I have a mountain load of laundry to be done...fun. But, nothing was seriously damaged, just a little smelly from the accumulation of mildew. Nothing a little bleach and washing can't handle.

We re-painted our kitchen. Everything. Ceiling, walls, trim and cabinets. I even painted one of my hutches to match the cabinets. Also changed out all the hardware and hinges for new. I ordered new curtains for the kitchen, mudroom and the laundry room. Buttery yellow walls, creamy off-white trim and darkish tan on the cabinetry with black hardware. My curtains are plaid material in shades of cornflower blue, sage green and yellow on a creamy background with ticking stripes on the scalloped bottoms. So pretty and clean looking! A much needed cosmetic redo. My hubby got me a new kitchen sink too. It's white porcelin and has one side much larger than the other, and both sides are deeper than my old sink. I'm going to get a long goose-necked faucet and we're all set. One of these days, but down the road for sure...new laminate-wide plank flooring and stone countertops. We did the cheap stuff, but the expensive stuff's gonna have to wait! Oh well, I'm just happy with what we've got so far - it looks nice. Next on my list is re-painting the nook off the kitchen (woodstove room) and our bedroom. It's just amazing how a fresh coat of paint in a pretty color will spruce up a room. If we manage to get those two rooms done...who knows, maybe we'll tackle the living room. If I'm honest, these things will probably wait until summer's over, at least the living room for sure. Don't want to overwork the hubby. :)

Business at the vet clinic has finally gotten busier after a longgggggg winter of very little work. We're very thankful for this, sure hope the economy continues to improve. I'm sure there's a lot of folks out there who can commiserate with that sentiment! Hubby's still working reduced hours, but we're managing. With gas and food prices, and really everything being more expensive it seems...we'll probably be sticking closer to home this season, but no worries about that, because we live within range of a lot of wonderful outdoor recreational areas. And, I HATE to travel far with the horses and the big trailer, so...great excuse to stay closer to home.

I hope that all of you are enjoying spring, your horses, friends and families!!

Blessings and peace...

Cingspots aka Lorie

Too much juice!!!

2011-03-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

I saw the funniest thing on a local company's sign the other day! And believe me, it is undeniably true in these parts. It read - "Dust" is simply mud with all the juice squeezed out. Well, we have too much juice!! It has been raining every single day of March, and in torrents! Plus, it's been the coldest March on record according to the local weather guy. They're getting all worked up about us possibly breaking the 60 degree mark later this week. Good grief. I'm dying to try out my new walking tennies, but who knows when that'll be!! The dogs and I are going positively bonkers!! Stir crazy I tell ya!! Don't even get me started on what the horses think about this drippy, not even fit for duck weather!!

Rain sucks.

And dust with too much juice sucks even more.

We're going back into hibernation now...see you all when the sun comes out.

"sigh"

Little Frosted Siri L turned 29 years old recently...she don't look bad for an old gal, does she? Don't look at the shaggy hair coat, and don't look at the mud. Oh, and don't look at the sour expression. And for goodness sakes - do not look at the round belly! Just look at the "big picture" and nod in agreement...that's what we do.

We tell her she's beautiful. Every. Single. Day.

That's the way we flow around here.

Have a nice day. :)

A close encounter with a pasture booger

2011-03-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

True stories. You know those are the best kind, right?

So, you may or may not know about our weather patterns lately. First, we had several weeks of glorious sunshine and warmer-than-average temps in February. A blessing for sure, for us western Oregonians. But, I knew it couldn't last - it was after all, the dead of winter. Then, old man winter showed us he was still in charge shortly after Ground Hog's Day with a cold blast that lasted only for a few short days...we still had sunshine, but those warm days were history. And, for 3 or 4 days in a row now, (hello March) we've been having record-breaking, torrential rains and lots of wind...trees down, power outages and other such fun. So...long story, shorter - the horses have been cooped up in their stalls; and, they're NOT happy about it. At all.

Fast-forward to this morning. I go out to check on the horses in their stalls, make sure waters are alright, etc. Five sets of droopy, sadsack expressions work their wiles on me and against my better judgement, I give in and decide to put their blankets on and let them out for the day. It wasn't raining, and hadn't been since I'd been awake, the winds had died down to a blustery breeze and there was even some patches of blue sky overhead. What the heck, right?

So, I set to the task at hand. I blanket everybody up and decide on the rain sheet for Shad, since he's a warm-blooded fellow and tends to run a little hotter than the rest. No problemo - all set. Now, I decide to throw a little hay in the outside mangers in hopes that their bellies will win the battle over the woohooing that is bound to take place. Makes sense, right? Now is when Shad starts winding up - his patience is running a little thin, and he's quite tired of waiting around on slow old me. I hurry right along as best as I can in my muck boots walking in mud that's determined to suck me down to China. Seriously, the mud's about mid-ankle deep in a lot of places and it's good and sticky (plus, keep in mind that I'm still a bit gimpy since the dogs bowling me over last week). I'm hurrying as best as I can, is what I'm sayin'. All done - open up the big gate and use the longe-line to tie it back so the wind doesn't blow it closed on somebody halfway thru.

Of course, I let Shad out first; all the time telling him to go easy big fella, take it slowwwww, and be a gentleman...all the usual stuff that never works. *sigh* Out the stall Shad flies, only to screech to a halt at the gigantic puddle that's formed just outside the barn door...gingerly, he tippy-toes around the puddle and thru the sticky mud and out into the corral...sees the hay and starts munching. All is going according to my plan. Then, on to Ladde (who very briefly humps up and quivers in anticipation of longlast freedom, preparing to buck...and then sees the food), past Harley who's bucking in the middle of his stall now, out goes Kadie, on to Siri and finally Harley's turn. Everybody's out and eating. Big sigh of relief...you must be reminded at this point, that not only do I worry about the super slick and muddy conditions of our pasture, but also that Harley's blind and it scares the crap out of me to see him go thundering around at breakneck speed with his herdmates when HE CANNOT SEE ANYTHING!!! Big dork anyway.

So, I say a tiny little prayer of thanks and turn to head back inside, when all of a sudden...I hear it...the shrill, girly scream that Shad does deep inside his throat that means that all hell is about to break loose...and off he goes, at top speed out to the pasture where he proceeds to buck and jump and twist with unbridled joy at being free. The big, red, galook that should know better at 19 years of age is acting like a young, boisterous colt! I laugh out loud despite myself at his silly antics...the pure, unadulterated joy and love of his life makes me smile every time. Now, thankfully all the rest of the horses are casually looking at Shad and munching on their breakfast...no doubt thinking similar thoughts to my own. Briefly Shad stops to have a look at the rest of the herd, probably wondering why they're all such fuddy duddys and won't come and play; but then he resumes his playful theatrics for a little while more before settling down and contentedly munches some grass. Okay, alrighty then...whew, that was close! I chuckle nervously to myself as I turn to close the barn door and go have a quick check of the outside water tank before heading to the house to hit the shower and get ready for work.

Now, we have a simple barn design. There are 4, 12 x 12 stalls lining the 12 foot wide alley way down the center. It takes me maybe 2 minutes to walk the length and outside around the hay barn and check the tank. Just as I leave the barn, I hear a dull "thud", and under the gate comes (at about 90 miles per hour) Dutchie, our little barn cat with a look on her face like the devil himself's chasing her...I don't give it much thought - silly cats are always up to something - and head on out to check that water. Good, water's fine. Now, from my vantage point by the water tank, I can look across the small paddock, through the round pen and see the horses quietly munching their hay in the corral on the far side of the barn there. Everybody's peaceful...but, wait a minute - where is Shad's blanket?? That's odd. Oh no, what happened to his blanket? Quickly now, back around the hay barn, thru the horse barn, open the big slider on the far end to see everybody looking at me like...what? All is calm...all is bright...I'm starting to feel like I'm in a dream here or something. I quickly look around trying to ascess just how in the timespan of maybe 2 minutes, Shad managed to get from the pasture to where he was quietly munching hay right now, and lose his blanket??? What the...there's the blanket in a crumpled muddy heap under Harley's back feet and there's a whole lotta fresh mud splatters all over those fence boards over there by the gate...and...there's some very deep hoof marks right at the bottom edge of that gate there. Oh my word!!!! I must say; that horse is mighty quick - and he's apparently quite talented taboot, because I have no idea how in the world he accomplished what he did in record-setting time!! I don't think I wanna know. I retrieved the blanket (still in 1 piece) and quickly checked Shad over and headed to the house before anything else transpired that I seriously doubt I wanna know about.

I'm just very thankful that God watches over and protects our little herd of furry goofballs...and that I have absolutely no idea of what actually happens out there in that pasture while I'm at work every day. If I only knew, I'd be a nervous wreck and have a distinctive facial tick.

I'm pretty sure.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Look momma, it's snowing!!!

2011-02-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

That's what I felt like saying when I first climbed out of bed this morning and peered out my bedroom window...snow. Beautiful. White. Perfect. Snow. If only my mom were here to share this winters' morning with me - it really would have been perfect.

It always amazes my senses at how pristine and oh, how so very quiet the world seems after a snowfall. This was only the second time this winter that we've had snow, and it's so very pretty. It's real snow too, you know, powder. Not our usual, white rain. It won't last long, so I grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots off. Got some good ones of the dogs frolicing in the backyard too. Ruby needed to go out for "poddy on the grass", but when I opened the door for her - freeze frame - what the heck is this stuff?? It was so cute! Didn't take her long though, to figure out that this stuff is pretty darn cool!! And off she went...her and Annie both. Oh, to be a kid again, and to feel that excitement of a "snow day". Wouldn't it be grand!?

But, no snow days for this gal, so I grabbed a cup of coffee and enjoyed a few glorious moments in my rocker by the woodstove before heading for the shower and off to work. Have I mentioned lately how much I long to be able to spend some time without having to head out the door every single day of my life? Yes? - well okay then...

The drive to work was beautiful; but a bit dicey at best. This lunatic picked the worst possible spot on the highway to - sort of - pull off the road and have a little chat on his cell phone...on an incline and on a corner where those needing to get around him, had to pull into the oncoming lane just to try and see if there was traffic coming. Fortunately, for me, a truck pulled onto the roadway from a sidestreet in front of me, which let me know no traffic was coming and I was able to safely go around joker boy in his cute little car...grrrr...I gave him my best scally look as I drove by him. Then the guy pulls out and rides my bumper all the way into town. This, however did not bother me in the slightest because I have a very large and very heavy steel hitch protruding from the back end of my truck. I might have felt it a little, if he were to hit me...but, you can bet it wouldn't have done the front end of his cute little car any good at all. I pulled into a parking lot and allowed him (still chatting on his cell phone) to go around me, and from there I poked all the rest of the way to work. I didn't slip a tire, but was in 4-wheel drive and going very slowly all the way to the clinic. Why, I'm here - I have no idea - there was one call on the appointment book and the client called and is having the doc come to her house instead. *sigh* At least I'm collecting my pay, even if there's nothing to do...but you never know if something might come up. Life of the veterinarian, I guess.

I'm still a bit lame on my leg, but doing much better after the dogs plowed me over last Saturday while we were out on a walk...Ruby crouches down and awaiting the perfect moment for her attack...catapults herself towards Annie when she's not paying attention...Annie (purely out of self-preservation), wheels and runs in opposite direction of ensuing assault...forgets about mom existing, momentarily...and like a freight train, mows mom down like a summer lawn. You get the picture...the doc says give it a week or so, it should be much better...can you say Aflac???
Diagnosis: strain of the lateral collateral ligament of the right knee (LCL)...collect $150.00
Yay me!!! I gotta get something for my pain and suffering - am I right?

Anyway, the snow is melting as I type, and the sky is bright blue and the sun is shining. It could get even more entertaining around here if it re-freezes tonight. Who knows - maybe I'll get that snow day yet! Hope it's interesting wherever you are at!!

Blessings...cingspots

Take a walk on the wild side

2011-02-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

...or a ride - whatever. Cool shot huh? Talk about being bold! Don't you just wish that you could do that? It looks so fun to me...just like in Avatar where they had those dragon-birds that they rode. How cool would that be? Only in my dreams, I guess...

So, I don't know about anyone else, but I know I'm definitely not living the life I'd be living if money weren't an issue. Nope - not even close. Now, I'm not saying that I'm not happy and that I'm not thankful for so many blessings in my life, because I have much to be thankful for.

But, if I could only fantasize for a moment...

For starters there'd be the cabin in Central Oregon. I'm thinking along the Metolius River would be nice. And of course, it would have a few acres and a barn to keep the horses happy and lots of ponderosa pines and juniper for privacy. Nothing too fancy, but comfortable; and there would be air conditioning for those hot, summer days and a great big woodstove for cozy winter evenings. My big, country kitchen where lots of time is spent with family and friends. A big deck overlooking the river that faced the west for sunset viewing, a hot tub off in the corner with a lovely pergola overflowing with honeysuckle...hmmm, lovely sweet scent and a little shade.

We'd have the quaint little beachside cottage too, with it's sunny yellow kitchen where I'd have time to bake bread and cookies for the grandkids. For those times when we grew weary of all that heat and sunshine, and longed for a little cooler climate...foggy evenings listening to the rush of the surf and breathing deeply of the fresh, ocean air. There's nothing quite like sleeping near the ocean with the windows open - the roar of the ocean lulling you to deep and peaceful slumber with just a hint of campfire smoke on the breeze....aah, so nice. We'd enjoy leisurely walks along the shore, gazing at the ocean in all its' spendor and collecting treasures for the flower garden and the yard. Where exactly on the beach, I'm just not sure. I've always loved the beach at Tierra Del Mar, not too far from the towns, but far enough away from all the touristy hubbub to be quiet. I'd like a boat too, nothing too big or too fancy. Just a multi-functional boat that could be used for crabbing in the bay, or fishing on the nearby Nestucca River.

I'd wish for good health, and time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Time to go for robust hikes in the mountains, leisurely bicycle rides down winding, country roads stopping for lunch in some tiny little roadside cafe, or camping with the grandkids and teaching them about the beauty of God's creation and how much fun it is to tell ghost stories around the campfire on a starlit summer's night. And time to really enjoy having horses...going for a ride at the drop of a hat, taking dressage lessons and finally learning some finer techniques that I've always admired other people performing with their horses. Or, curling up in my favorite chair to enjoy a good book and feeling no guilt at falling asleep for an afternoon nap in the sunshine.

Oh, and let's not forget about travel. Oh, how I'd love to travel the world and all the exotic places that I've seen pictures of! I'd go to Australia and Switzerland, then maybe a Caribbean cruise to Jamaica. I'd travel to old Italy where I'd rent a loft and live as the locals...spending enough time there to really savor the lifestyle and the food and the customs of the people. And of course, throughout there'd be pictures and memories and stories to be told and retold.

And wouldn't it be grand to spend as much time as you'd want (of course) sailing in the Mediterranean, or the tropical islands of the Caribbean soaking up sunshine, swimming and snorkelling in the ocean and visiting all those glorious little ports of islands, poking about in quaint little shops and restaurants...sigh...I sure can dream with the best of 'em huh?

Always have been a dreamer...probably always will be. Maybe someday, some of my dreams just might come true. Then again, maybe not...who knows? But it can't hurt to dream, and see those beautiful places in my mind's eye. It's a lovely place to visit, even if only for a while...

But, like my friend told me recently...you got to be a cowgirl. Do you know how many of us always wanted to be a cowgirl?

She's right. I got to be a cowgirl. And it is positively grand!

And for that, I will be eternally grateful...for without horses in my life - well, I just don't even wanna go there.

My advice? Keep all your dreams alive...for you just never know where they might lead you.

Besides, what else are you gonna do on a dreary day in mid February while you're at work?

:) cingspots

Reporting from paradise...x

2011-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Ha gotcha!! You probably thought I meant from some tropical luxurious beachfront villa didn't ya??

Not today!! :) (insert snarkey grin here)

But...it is my little piece of paradise. We've been having glorious, spring-like weather!!!! I can hardly believe it myself - get this - I've been wearing my sunglasses for over a week now! And I've seen people kicked back in their cars with their sunroofs open soaking up the rays! Seriously - in February!! Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming!!

Never fear those of you who are turning green with envy...our rain is expected to be back this weekend, but only light rain is forecasted. I can dig it!! It is the middle of winter - right!?

So the point of this post today (besides gloating about our weather) is to post a few pics taken recently around our little piece of paradise.

God bless this horse!!! She simply has to be the sweetest horse ever!! My Kadie, aka "the sugar princess". Just look at that beautiful face...so blessed to share my life with her.

The amazingly gorgeous and kind-hearted...St. Annie...goddess and protector divine. She surely deserves our adoration! Love this dog - she's my loyal bestest friend and constant companion. Mercy, I just cannot say enough about how wonderful she is... Just look at her smug confidence. The girl knows she's beautiful!

My dearest friend Betty and I went a-walking the other day, and we spied this beautiful and unusual tree - a Madrone or maybe it's Medrone. I think it's lovely, but Betty says they"re quite common in these parts...who knew?

Our weathervane at sunrise...a gift from a very dear friend. It makes me smile.

Our beautiful little herd enjoying their breakfast at sunrise. Another reason to smile and offer thanks. I always feel blessed to watch over their care. Love that color!

My whacky, beloved honey during choretime...what a goofball! He makes me smile too.

My honey's big, red horse...Shad. He's the most playful and animated horse I've ever known. He's sure to bring a smile to all and he gets the award for the best buck around. Suckers what we used to call a sunfisher. Not an honest bucker, but twists and turns and shows his belly to the sun. You won't catch me riding him - I've seen how he can buck! I have to admit that he shows a fair amount of self-control when hubby's aboard though...just be prepared to bale if he starts to grit his teeth and his veins pop out. Then, look out!!

Our resident chunky monkey...Little Siri. She turned 29 years old last January 1st! She looks fantastic for her age. We've had her for 15 years now, and she's not been lame once ever, nor has she had an injury or been sick...one tough old broad!! Fantastic little trail horse too!!

Harley horse. He'll turn 14 this coming April...so hard to believe that he was the last of our babies. Time sure does fly! He took out a whole section of our corral this past week...must have mistaken it for the gateway. Thankfully though, he only got a couple of scrapes on his face, no other damage that I could find. Every morning before I leave home, I ask God to watch over our little herd and keep them all safe...with a special little prayer for Harley's safety.

Our very pretty Mt. Hood as seen from my car the other day.

I've been thinking about purchasing, if I can find something anyway, some sort of goggles or visors for Harley to wear when he's in the pasture on a daily basis. What a challenge! Seems that it's not very common to want to protect horses' eyes. But, I did find a couple and one of the links is below. Does anybody have any experience with horsey eye protection, or have any ideas where something might be purchased? I'd appreciate any information that you're willing to share. I found an Argentinian company that's called FoxPro...website is foxproline.com - they manufacture goggles of several types.

And the mounted policeman website below. Their's is more like a full-face visor/noseguard rather than a goggle. Neither type that I've found is cheap...but it they work, I'm willing to give them a try.

Riot Nose Guard & Visor Set - Nose Guard/ Visor - Mounted

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I expect most of you will be celebrating this coming weekend with your honeys...enjoy!!

Peace and Love to all...Cingspots

Hump Day reflections

2011-02-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

Yep, it sure is, Wednesday again. Already. My dad always called it Hump Day because you'd reached the middle of the week, and the rest was downhill from here. Funny what you remember from childhood, huh?

And, it's Ground Hog's Day too. Did you know that a ground hog is also commonly referred to as a "woodchuck"? Yep, yep, yep...surely is. I just learned that today. Maybe that old saying that "you learn something new everyday" is really true? Hmmm...something else to reflect upon...simple minds, you know how that goes. Anyway, I digress...so, if Puxatawney Phil would have been drug out of his hole and held up to display to the world here - he definitely would have seen his shadow. (For - believe it or not - we have gorgeous sunshine and blue skies!!!!!) Hence, 6 more weeks of winter for us. Oh boy. But, since they were wherever they were back east somewhere, and they're in the middle of a hellacious blizzard...no shadow was seen. Hence, an early spring. There's always a silver lining, right?

I have many, many times before said that even though we (or I should say I) protest wildly about our weather - that in reality, we have absolutely nothing to complain about. I should go crawling away with my tail tucked between my legs (so to speak) for my incessant complaining about our rain and our mud and our grey skies! But, I won't - because I'm too busy being positively giddy at our good fortune and blessings of sunshine!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you say hallelujah???? :)

Anyway, back to reflections on Humpday...it's cold outside, but I like it!! The horses are fuzzy and all poofy and fat-looking. The mud is frozen. Hot dog!! The sky is this delicious shade of blue that I'd all but forgotten, and my spirits are higher than they've been in weeks. Aahh, it feels good!! I'm sorry for all you midwest to easterners...really I am! I hope the storm blows over quickly and your lives can return to normal...but, don't hate me because I'm happy, oh so happy, that we have sunshine! I feel like Scrooge must have felt like when he woke up from that long night of remembering and fortelling only to realize that he hadn't missed his chance at a wonderful life after all! It just amazes me what a positive impact the sun showing up has on me...truly awe-inspiring. It really doesn't take much to make me happy. Note to self** Maybe you ought to think about moving to a more sunny climate** Hawaii, anyone??

I had errands to run over the noon hour, so no walks in the park today for the poochies and me. But, I let the windows down in the car and the dogs got to shove their heads out and let their tongues hang and their lips flap in the breeze. Talk about simple pleasures...you just gotta love dogs! Have you ever noticed how many people smile at the site of a dog's lips flapping in the wind? Check it out sometime - it'll make you smile too!

Last night when we brought the horses in from the pasture, I noticed that Harley had a bad eye. First time in months. It was all swollen and painful looking. Poor little guy! I knew from experience that I'd have no luck getting his ointment inside the affected eye, so I just gave him a dose of Banamine to help with the inflammation and pain. This morning it was a little bit better, but not enough, so I had to give him another dose. Maybe tonight it'll be better, at least enough to allow me to medicate the eye itself. Just sucks! I wish there was more that we could do to protect his eyes from further damage, but without penning him up - I don't know what that would be. I want him to have quality of life...not just life, and that means being with his herd. But, being with the herd also means that from time to time, something's gonna happen and I just don't know what else to do. I wish someone made a soft helmet-type apparatus with firm, see-through bubbles that would protect the eye from trauma. I think that somebody probably spooked or bullied him and in his reaction, he banged his head on something. I really have no idea, but this is my best guess. *sigh* Too bad they don't have a bubble suit to encase a 1300 pound horse inside of...couldn't possibly be that difficult, ya think? So, if you're of the praying type, would ya mind including my Harley boy in your prayers? We could sure use some help, and we'd appreciate it a whole bunch. :)

Happy Wednesday, Humpday, Groundhog's day everybody!!!!

Blessings from cingspots

I Shan't be Silent

2011-01-26T10:22:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday...for some perhaps, but not for me. Grey seems to be the color of the day, even the color of late...we haven't had much rain, so even though I protest, I shall be grateful. Looking out my window this morning, we have fog and grey again. Even at the height of day, we seem to be scarce of light and the days seem short. I do think I need to look into getting one of those lights to enhance ones' brain activity...one more thing to add to my list.

I have nothing at all to relay, but feel the need to reach out to others by way of this blog; put down my thoughts in hope that life goes on. I feel so isolated! I arise each morning and do the same thing each day...oh God, the drudgery of my existence on this bleak, January day is all but choking me! I want to DO something! I'm so sick of the nothing that I could simply scream!

I'm sorry if I sound depressing to others for that is not my intent, but if I don't portray how I feel, I really might implode or something...uuggghh. Since I have absolutely nothing better to do, and the dogs seem to be as completely bored as me, we'll be heading to the park again at noontime and going for a walk. I will park at the top of the hill since the park is closed to traffic, and walk for everything that I am worth. Quickly and with intent, looking straight ahead we will go, and God willing, I'll feel somewhat more at peace this afternoon, than this morning...this foggy, cold and grey midwinter's morning.

I will try to remember that life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and the responsibility to give something back by becoming more...

God help me...

I think that bears are some of the luckiest creatures on earth, for they simply sleep the winters away.

Remembering what made me smile this past year...

2011-01-21T11:07:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday...no big deal, but I decided to post just a few pictures of some of the reasons I had to smile in 2010. This certainly isn't all that I've had to smile about, but some that I'm blessed to remember.

My beach trip last summer with the dogs. Nellie's last time at the beach...I'm so thankful she had so much fun.

A trip to the lake with the dogs...Nellie was just about to step into the water here.

And after taking that step...gotta watch that first step! :)

One of the many spectacular sunsets I can watch from my front porch.

Sorry for the gross picture...but I'm thankful that I can no longer remember Kadie's vulva looking this gruesome. It's gone...totally gone. Another blessing and this still makes me smile.

Completing home improvement projects with the help of loving, wonderful family members. Thank you Steve and Chris!!! We love you guys!!!

Harley. This guy makes me smile every single day.

Babies. This is one of two, new babies we have been blessed with in our family. This adorable girl is Lilly, and she's my great-great niece. I have another great-great niece named Faith, but I don't have any pictures of her yet. They make me smile bigtime.

My 24 year old retired horse, Kadie. Best mountain horse in the world. I didn't realize just how spoiled I'd become by riding such a perfect horse...she makes me smile every single day too. I love this horse!!!

And Ladde - what can I say about the Laddmonster, other than he's perfect. Kadie's one and only baby...and a gift from God. *smile*

This guy and this dog...LOVE them!!!!!!!!!! I kinda think Annie loves daddy too...what do you think?

Nellie...she gave us such joy! The time was short, but it was precious.

St. Annie...the best friend anybody coule ever ask for. Color me blessed.

Friendship always makes me smile...

My little flower garden off the deck. Not only did they make me smile, but they were a constant source of heavenly scent. Nice.

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last year - there's something to smile about! I love my honey!!! We've done it all...for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; for better and for worse...and we continue on till death do us part...**fingers crossed** hoping that's a long time down the road. :)

This is how they'd greet me when I came home. Nellie and Annie...buds.

Our animal friends seem to come and go, sometimes way too soon, in our lives. Princess, the kitty in the background - here one day, gone the next...and Nellie, gone but not forgotten. I smile because they all make my life better.

Pretty "Princess" kitty...I like to think that she's living the high life somewhere enriching someone else's life right now.

Silliness makes me smile. Nellie and Annie.

A beautiful sunrise looking out across the familiar field next door. I will never tire of seeing this gorgeous view.

Looking out on the morning rain...

...I used to feel so uninspired, and when I knew I had to face another day, Lord it made me feel so tired...before the day I met you, life was so unkind, you're the key to my peace of mind...cause you make me feel like a natural woman...

Those are not my words, but words from a dearly beloved song. One of my favorites, and somehow today, on my 51st birthday, they seem even more fitting. I think of my husband and can smile, I think of our dogs and can smile, and I think of our beautiful horses...and smile.

Guess I can't deny the inevitable any longer - I am no longer a "girl"... somedays my insecurities still get the best of me, but only emotionally. Time marches on.

I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic this morning. Maybe because it's my birthday, another milestone, maybe because it's raining...more probably because I've been looking through some old pictures and remembering. Oh memories - they are so emotional for me, in so many ways. No matter how much I try, I'm really not very good at "living in the moment". That is something I regret, for it seems like I have always been that way...not very good at appreciating the simple, but profound joys in my life while they are happening. I am trying to change, but for me, change is not easy. Maybe that's something a lot of people are uncomfortable with.

I think that's one of the many, many reasons I love horses so very much - their ability to live only in the moment. I also believe that any horseman/woman worth their salt is one who's mastered this, at least when they're working with a horse...it's the only way to be. The horse deserves this, nothing less.

And maybe - just maybe, that's why I love being with horses so very much...it's the only time I'm truly in the moment.

Life is worth all the work it can be...

Here's to another year...may it be good. Oh, and God please, pretty please...help me to become wiser and not just another year older?

Back to reality

2011-01-18T16:32:00.000-08:00

No beautiful sunrise to report seeing this morning...only grey, bleak skies and more rain. God, how I hate rain. Yesterday was such a glorious gift! A perfectly beautiful, sunshiney day that came (to me anyway) as a complete surprise! It sure helps my psyche to get some sunshine into my brain, if only for a brief respite from the doldroms of winter. In celebration of the sunshine, the dogs and I spent the lunch hour walking in the park. It was a little challenging trying to keep the dogs out of the huge selection of puddles, but we managed. The rivers are swollen to flood capacity and the small wetlands in the center of the park more closely resembles a decent-sized lake, complete with geese...but we stayed on the pavement and had a nice walk. The dogs had fun despite my constant calls to keep them on dry land...aaahh, the joys of lab ownership. :)

Ruby had just had a bath on Sunday afternoon after I let her go hogwild in our pasture. Oh, how I wish I'd had my camera with me!! She was having so much fun racing around the pasture at top speed, through every puddle she could find, up and over the poop pile, chasing circles around the llama...running for the sheer joy of running! But, dear oh dear, what a mess she was afterwards. She was literally dripping mud and water - but her dark eyes sparkled with glee! I laughed with pure delight at the sight of her having so much fun...however could I resist? It sure helped make my job of removing the last of our cross fencing from our pasture in the pouring down rain a little more enjoyable. Annie wasn't having any part of it...she knows exactly what was going to happen to Ruby after her little forray into wild behavior. Funny how Annie loves water and swimming and all of that, but a bath...now that's a whole different story. Annie does not like baths - not one little bit. Go figure.

So, like I said - it's back to the reality of winter in Oregon. The news has been reporting many of the rivers at or above flood capacity, there's landslides in several locations around the area, especially at the beach; many roads look more like rivers than roads and several homes in areas near rivers are either flooded, or have slipped into the raging, swollen rivers and have become junk wood, plus there's a whole neighborhood of families cut off from civilization because their access road's been washed out and the bridge is now history...what fun. I'm certainly thankful that we don't live that close to a river or a creek, but I feel so sorry for those people that are losing everything.

I realize that there is no perfect place, but we're definitely getting more than our share of water in this part of the state this winter. If I hear the word drought from anyone...I simply cannot be responsible for my actions.

Maybe getting a boat might not be such a crazy idea.

Sure hope winter eases up on everybody soon...for all our sakes.

Hang in there everybody...spring's only a couple of months away.

Thankful this day...

2011-01-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

... for so many things. Thankful it's Friday. Oh yeah!!! I say that every week. Thankful that tomorrow is Sabbath...I'm ready to enter into rest. Thankful that we have absolutely no plans for this weekend (other than go to church), and that I get to spend some time at home...doing a little cleaning, a little laundry, sleep in and get up when I want to get up, maybe watch a movie of some sort...perhaps get a little creative and cook something special for my hubby, or bake something...who knows, the possibilities are endless. Well, the "inside the house" pursuits are endless anyways...but then again, taking a little walk with the poochies outside in the fresh air sounds delightful as well. I am positively giddy at all the possibilities!!! or...maybe at all the nothingness!!! I'm just giddy!!!

My sweet and most precious baby boy...Harley. Soooooo thankful for him!!
"Mr. Speck - Tac - ular" That's what Brad Cameron calls him...clinician and mule trainer from Montana...tis so true!

Is it suppertime yet? Cuz...we're kinda hungry and wuz just wonderin'... :) And - very, very, very thankful for these two mugs - my hubby's boy, Shad on the left and my big boy, Ladde (aka the grand eating machine) on the right.

Thankful for apple pie - yum! My momma made the best apple pie in the entire world - I'd guarantee that! This may not have been the prettiest apple pie I've ever baked, but it sure was tasty!!!

I'm thankful for sunrises. I'm thankful for our pastures. I'm thankful for snow...even if it is just a light smattering.

I'm thankful that God gave us the apple. Yummy and nutritious in its' own regard, but when peeled, sliced and mixed together with a little butter, a little sugar and some *wink* "secret" concoction of spices, turns into a heavenly divine treat used for making those wonderful apple pies! We went to an apple orchard one day and picked about 80# of apples and this is what I did with some of them...tucked them away in the freezer for quick and easy pie-making later.

I'm thankful for our woodbox. (thank you craigslist!) We keep it just outside the door on the deck for handy dandy access.

I'm ever so thankful for this winters' supply of firewood - oh yes indeedy, am I ever!! We went into the woods and cut and split our own this year. $10.00 at the local forest service office for the permit buys you 2 cords of wood. What a deal!! And...we had fun in the process - can't beat that with a stick!!

Oh yes, can't forget about these beauties!! Nothin' beats a garden fresh tomater, especially if it comes from your very own vegetable garden. This was the last of the season...so pretty.

I am eternally thankful for this guy. God broke the mold when he made this horse. And, I'll never, ever understand how I got picked, out of all the people in the whole, wide world to be this big brute's caretaker...I am truly blessed! My Ladde...

I am thankful to live in this beautiful little valley...I took this shot one afternoon when we were headed home from a woodcutting trip. The area where we went for the wood was about 35-45 minutes drive from home - not so many miles, but slow-going on the narrow and winding mountain roads.

My hubby - "head logger". I am so thankful to spend my life with him. He's almost as stubborn as me. :)

I'm thankful that, among many other things, my momma taught me how to make a "mean" pot of chili...yep, yep, yep - it's that good!

More of them maters... I'm thankful that I found a "killer deal" on my leather couch and matching loveseat at a garage sale...and that I'm a savy enough bargainer to get the seller to throw in this kitchen table for free!! That's right - I'm bad!!

I'm still thankful for this guy...and his ability to use a chainsaw...oh, thankful for the chainsaw too! Sure makes woodcuttin' easier!

Thankful to the United States Forrestry Department for having these tidy decks of logs right next to the road for our woodcutting enjoyment! Hubby calls this "pecker pole" logging! *wink* I, however, have no idea what he means by that...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone...

I'd like to introduce someone...

2011-01-12T15:53:00.001-08:00

This is Ruby. She's the newest member of our family. Ruby likes to watch tv...especially Animal Planet and even better, with dad holding her.

This is the first night we brought Ruby home. She was 7 weeks old and a bit opinionated - even then...not that you can tell from that sweet face.

Ruby enjoys chewing on things...lots of things.

I'm pretty sure that God had it planned for puppies and children to look totally adorable when they're sleeping...let's call that a "saving grace".

Ruby enjoys her naps. This is her favorite spot for a little siesta when we're out and about in the truck - at least it used to be...

Don't you think she sort of resembles a baby pig in this picture? I do. And, with her big, round belly and the way she grunts - you could almost mistake her for a baby pig at times. :)

What a sweet, angelic little face...I'm pretty sure that sugar wouldn't melt in her mouth she's sooooo sweet!

First trip to the park. She fussed and whimpered and complained the entire trip. She wanted me to carry her...uh huh, no way little missy, you can walk.

Annie...St. Annie, rather - teaching Ruby the ropes. Or, maybe more appropriately titled...the tall and the short of a matter. I love this picture.

As you can see, Ruby's growing up - and rather quickly it seems. My grandma used to say that little kids and puppies grow when they sleep.

Annie, the perfect dog...love o'my life, and my constant companion. She was pretty sure for a while there, that we had every intention of bringing about her demise when we brought Ruby home. Seriously though, we really should change her name to "St. Annie". She is deserving of that title.

Ruby sharing a wee bit of the sweet cream with daddy...Banana Split, I think. And, in case you're wondering - all our dogs are taught to eat with silverware. It simply wouldn't be fitting any other way!

Soaking up some warmth by the woodstove...

Sweet, innocent little Ruby.

Excuse me? You're sooooo lucky I can't talk!!

Uh oh...what's this??? Maybe there's another side to little, sweet and adorable Ruby after all.

What you talkin' about mom? Yep, yep yep...this is our Ruby...Rotten Ruby!

Well, I never!!! I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...does it look like it might possibly snow to you?

We love our rotten little Ruby!! And believe you me - she is rotten!!

If Annie could only talk...she could tell you such stories!!! :)

The guy I've been dreaming about

2011-01-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

A fine example of the male equine persuasion...

Get your minds out of the gutter!! Do you blame me for dreaming about him?

I've never actually met this horse. I know - how can a horse be the object of a persons' dreams and the subject of so many countless hours of thought when I've yet to touch his silken coat...but it's true. His name is Eagle. He's an untrained Mustang from the BLM Warm Springs HMA.

I've talked to Eagle's current owner/caretaker and she can't speak highly enough about him...she says that in her heart-of-hearts, she knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that Eagle will be a rock solid riding horse. And she knows Mustangs; and well, horses in general...she's been rescuing and adopting mustangs for many years, and she's a trainer/ranch hand and has been for most of her life. She does a lot of volunteer trail work on the Pacific Crest Trail, among others...and rides on trails you'd never catch this cowgirl on anymore.

This picture of Eagle was taken on one of those rides. This was his first ever pack trip, and he'd just decided that he was pretty sure they'd taken a wrong turn somewhere back down the mountain...and maybe he'd just take a little break if it was alright...

Pretty smart horse in my book. Plus, just look at his gaze...he's a heartbreaker, isn't he?

*sigh*

I think I'm a goner...

Do you think I'd be just plain numchuck nuts if I adopted a 10-year old untrained, only been mounted a few times genuine wild Oregon Mustang at my age???

Signed,

Sleepless in Yamhill

Into the future...

2011-01-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin into the future...it's another new year. 2011 - so hard to believe. I'll turn 51 this year and my hubby will turn 62. Damn. Where have the years gone? I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel, but when I look back into my archives of memory - 50 was old in anybody's book! I don't feel old. Well, I feel older certainly; but not old. But then again, some days after putting in a lot of hard work, I do feel old - at least my body does! That's life though, right? Seasons of ones' life...I'm feeling like it's probably the beginning of fall. Still plenty of time before winter. One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies..."get busy livin' or get busy dyin'" Yep! Words of wisdom and words I hope to keep in mind and put to good use. However, some days when it's slow at the clinic and there's nothing to do...but be here - I do feel like I'm wasting my life away. My mind rationalizes that almost anything that I could be doing with my time would be more valuable than sitting here and becoming vegetable-like. Don't get me wrong - I am thankful for my job. I am thankful that I have a job that provides an income which we need. I am thankful for so many things, but I'm also tired of coming to this clinic day in and day out and just "being here". I find that at times I am guilty of wishing my life away...longing for the days when I no longer have to "report for duty", punch somebody else's clock in order to provide money for my survival. I dream of the day when my time is my own. What a blessing that will be!! I just hope and pray that I'm not too old to enjoy that freedom, and that I still have the means and the energy to do all the things that I only daydream about so very often these days...

Oh well, like dear old dad used to say; "you can wish in one hand and *@#! in the other, and just see which one fills up quicker!" :) I loved my dad...miss him all the time...God Bless his resting soul!!

So on that note (ahem)...moving right along...I'm surprised as all get-out that I'm actually writing a post on my blog; it's been a long time! September 21st was my last post! A lot has happened since then and I'm not even going to try and catch up now.

Fall has come and gone, and we're in the winter time now. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are behind us again, and I for one am thankful for that. Thanksgiving was just hubby and me at home. Quiet, yummy meal, but a little lonely. We had ourselves a merry little Christmas, but it too, was very low-key. Christmas Eve we were home, taking care of the horses, cooking and delivering home-baked cookies to our neighbors and visiting. Christmas Eve dinner was spent at my sister's house. Christmas Day was Sabbath and we went to church and came home and enjoyed dinner, just the two of us. The friday before New Years we went shopping (fun!) and were in bed by 10...exciting huh? I enjoy the holidays, mostly...but for me, the holidays and winter are times for too many memories, remembering loved ones that are now gone, reminiscing about the good old days and noticing that by comparison, things don't seem quite as good anymore. My bad. I know that this is a dangerous and slippery slope, and one that I shouldn't entertain nearly as often as I do...but with all the rain and mud, and the shortened daylight hours and the lack of outdoor physical activity...my brain goes into decline and I suffer from (for a lack of a better word) depression. I don't like that word. I think it's highly overused, but it's at least somewhat truthful. Sads, the blues...whatever...I hate winter in northwest Oregon - always have and probably always will. Another daydream of mine is trying to figure out exactly where I would want to move to, if I could actually move. I spend a fair amount of time working on this, and I've come up with several options...someday, somehow I'm gonna do it...or die trying!

Overall, we're doing well. Our horses are all fat, healthy, fuzzy and happy. Annie is perfect (as always) and our new puppy, Ruby is turning into a lovely young lady...Annie might disagree, but it is happening! Nellie died on September 28th and that is a long, tragic and sad story that I don't wish to relive. Suffice it to say that we miss her, and I am looking forward to the day when I get to see her in heaven...as well as a whole bunch of other people and animals whom I have loved in my life!

My boss is giving me a satellite dish for a Christmas bonus. We don't actually have it installed yet, but soon. We just have basic cable service and don't have many choices in viewing, but hopefully that will improve. We don't have plans to pay for additional channels, but we are looking forward to at least some more options in free channels. The Adventist church alone has nine channels I think, and they have some pretty good ones. We're looking forward to those and also the many radio channels that we'll be able to listen to. The reception at our house is really bad and just having clear radio reception will be wonderful.

I'm hoping to begin my winter arena riding soon too. I'd like to alternate between riding Ladde and Harley, as they could both benefit greatly from the exercise. Harley's blindness has progressed rather quickly. He still has a little vision, but not much. I was very worried about his safety being turned out in the pasture with the herd for a while, but lately he seems to be adjusting and I have relaxed about him somewhat. I continue to pray for his safety every morning and so far, so good. We take it one day at a time...that's all I know to do.

Hoping you all are doing well and wishing the best to all my friends in this new year.

Keeping the faith...
Cingspots, aka Lorie

One of my pet peeves...(maybe one of many)

2010-09-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

If I'm being honest here, I really have quite a few pet peeves, but this one in particular is at the forefront of my mind this morning.

Last evening was our appointment with the farrier to have the horse's shoes pulled for the winter. So, everybody got their scheduled pedicures...simple, right?

Well, so it should seem. I brought Ladde in first because farrier "T" seemed a bit sullen-faced and cranky, and I thought - okay, get the big guy over with first before "T" gets any more tired. And...Ladde can occasionally be a little argumentative, and the way he plays this out is to minutely, but repeatedly, baby-tug his hind feet. After a while this becomes annoying and he needs a "slight attitude adjustment"...which I do, but I also have no problem with someone else (the farrier) giving him a good old-fashioned wollup. Then Ladde is a good boy and stands very quietly for his pedi. However...my farrier seems to think himself a chiro guy as well as hoof care expert; and believes that this is more of a pain issue rather than a behavioral one. And, maybe this is true in part, but if there's a physical cause I will hire a professional of my choosing to do the appropriate treatment. My horse - my decision - my money. That's how I see it. Now, I have asked "T" repeatedly (3 times to be exact) not to do any manipulation/chiropractic work on my horse. And, repeatedly (3 times to be exact) "T" has done what he chooses to do anyway - regardless of my wishes. This in my opinion is not respecting my wishes and therefore, pisses me off. A lot. So...last night I very vocally made my displeasure known.

So, now I have my farrier upset with me (last week it was my sister, who still isn't speaking to me) and who knows if he'll want to continue providing our horses with hoofcare. Of course, this incident happened at the beginning of the appointment and "T" did finish up with everybody after Ladde; and of course, I managed to smooth things over somewhat without budging on my principles. I also apologized for my rather direct comments, and mentioned that I could have used a little more tact and still made my point known...but at least now we have an understanding. Mutual respect is a very important matter and apparently can be a little bit of a delicate situation if not handled with kid gloves. Dually noted.

This morning I discussed the entire situation with my boss (the lameness expert vet), and with a few quick lessons on the equine anatomy, we've come to the conclusion that I've apparently overreacted a little. :) (insert big, sheepish grin here). My boss concluded that "T" was probably doing no actual harm on Ladde (which of course was my biggest fear), was possibly helping to stretch and relax his lumbar and leg muscles thereby making it a little bit easier to hold his leg up; but...was also not respectful of my wishes as the horse's owner. And that, was my main point of contention with the dadgummed horseshoer. So, with my anatomy lessons intact, I will probably in future take the time to warm Ladde up before his trims or shoeings, do a little stretch work and if deemed necessary, give the big brute a gram of bute to ensure both his comfort and the comfort of my farrier. *sigh*

Isn't life ever easy?

We humans are a delicate lot.

I'm just sayin'...

I know - I know - I promised that my next post would be all about the pictures and here I am running off at the mouth AGAIN! Well, hell - apparently I'm a liar as well as a mouthy old broad.

*sigh*

7 Days and Counting

2010-09-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? One more week and summer is over...the dog days of summer and it feels like fall's been here for a few weeks already. I'm not complaining - really I'm not - the coolish, sunny days are simply divine in my book. Absolutely perfect for doing almost anything! But...it's just kind of sad. Once again, another summer come and gone; and as usual, I'm feeling like we've done very little fun, summery stuff. You know, like horseback riding, camping, swimming, bar-b-ques with friends, lounging around in the sun sipping frosty, cool drinks...sigh...I simply cannot wait for when I can retire! I know, I know - I can almost hear my mother's voice echoing in my ear..."don't wish your life away" - "the older you get, the faster time goes" - blah, blah, blah...I just want to NOT have to work all the dadgummed time!! I long for days to myself where my time is not dictated by the clock, and I don't have to spend 50ish hours out of every single week somewhere I'd rather not be...just to earn a paycheck to pay my bills, to live and survive!!! Aaaghhh!!! I'm soooo tired of working for someone else to earn my living!! *sigh* Okay, I'm done...I think. I just long for a different life.

So, Labor Day weekend was spent in an emotional whirlwind. I wish it would have turned out differently, but like the saying goes..."it is what it is". We had plans to go to the state fair and take a road trip somewhere adventuresome and picturesque. That didn't happen. It's actually been long enough now that my memory's a bit hazy, but Friday and Friday night was not good - that I remember distinctly...the dogs and I spent a day at the lake, lounging and hiking, and the dogs had a blast swimming. I cannot swim in a lake where I have to walk in a foot of mud before entering and upon exiting the water. Simply cannot do it. Yuck! Lakes require rock bottoms, or better yet, a boat. But it was alright, and the dogs were over the top; so not a bad day overall. Home from there, only to head out again with the dogs...this time the destination was the beach. I had no plans, just started driving - west over highway 6 through the coast range mountains and when we reached Tillamook, I turned right and headed north, up the coast. We were very fortunate to find a room over a holiday weekend. God answers prayers. We had a partial ocean view, a lovely deck, king-sized bed, full kitchen and a fireplace. Not too bad. We walked on the beach until sundown, then headed back into town for a take-out pizza, icey cold Blue Moon complete with orange slices and movies on cable. Very nice. The next morning we took an early morning walk along the beach again, took a bunch of pictures and then headed back to our room for coffee and a shower. From there, we headed north up the coast to Seaside and then back home on highway 26. It was a gorgeous weekend at the beach! Mid 70's, beautiful blue skies and absolutely no wind. Perfect! Then on Labor Day, we labored. We stayed at home all day after a quick breakfast out, and got caught up on some projects around the house and yard.

Last weekend, we went and got some firewood and bought a new chainsaw. Now we have about 2 cords all neatly cut and stacked in our woodshed. Nice...how I love squirreling for winter!! I'm actually looking forward to getting a wood-cutting permit and getting out in the woods and chopping some more firewood. I feel like Paula Bunyan!!! However, I'm not the chopper - I'm the pitcher into the trucker. There's something very satisfying to my soul about storing for winter use. I do believe I have a little squirrel in me!

In other areas of winter preparation, we've been working on filling up the pantry with canned and dry goods, filling up the freezer with everything imaginable and making lists...yes, I am a list maker. My list includes everything that I can conjure up to make our lives easier throughout the long, cold, wet, fall and winter months. Such as...hiring our neighbor and his tractor to move our manure pile from last year so we can make room for this season. Making arrangements for at least 1 truckload of slag/gravel to spread around the areas where we park our vehicles and those spots that get a lot of foot traffic...anything to minimize mud is a good thing. :) My hubby has plans to build us a wood storage box - one that will hold a weeks' worth of firewood handy, just outside the door on the back deck, thereby minimizing treks back and forth across the soon-to-be muddy yard to the wood shed. I've seen his plans and it's going to be a great wood box! Like Martha would say...it's a good thing.

Also on the "to buy" list is a couple of tons of bedding pellets for the horse stalls and at least 1 ton of stove pellets for those nights when the woodstove isn't quite enough, or we're too tired to build a fire...whichever comes first. I still LOVE my pellet stove - it just wasn't quite enough to heat the entire house, and on those rare occasions when or if, there's a power outage. No power - no pellet stove. You know the drill.

And, if my list wasn't already long enough...I'm in the market for a new washing machine. My beloved 20 some year old Speed Queen finally died a few weeks back. I'm still in shock over it! I had so hoped she would last forever...but alas, she's a goner. So, to market to market I go!! The only major problem with this cotton-pickin' list is that it's a fair amount longer than our cash supply!! Isn't that always the way it is!!?? So...slowly, over time and with careful prioritization...we'll tackle things as best we can!!

The story of our lives!!!

As always, and with many, many blessings to each and every one of you dear friends, this is once again, Cingspots signing off for now...

p.s. next post will be all about the pictures - I promise!! :)

It's Alive!!!

2010-08-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

I mean...I'm alive!!! Believe it or not, it's been just over 3 months since I've posted anything on my blog. How the time does fly!! I know, I'm a broken record if nothing else. Anyhoooo, I can hardly believe it myself that so much time has passed. Guess I just didn't have much to say. You can all stop laughing now!!

My last post was talking about the wild and wacky spring weather we'd been having and thinking back, summer was certainly a long time in coming this year, and believe it or not - here it is only 4 weeks from today and it's the first day of Fall. Sheesh!! And I'm still waiting for my tomatoes to ripen. But, overall I've been loving this summer. It's been pleasant. We've had a few stints of wildly hot days, but generally it's been lovely. Not too hot, and not too cool. Mid 70's to 80ish and I'm a happy camper. I can't take the extremes anymore. I don't like it hot and I don't like it cold. My comfort level has shrunken (is that a word?) over the years, even if some other things haven't. But...I don't want to talk about that. Nope, not going there.

We've been busy. Imagine that!! I get tired of hearing myself say that. I long for leisurely days lounging around reading a book, sipping iced tea from a frosty, tall glass and daydreaming about ... oh well, just never mind what I daydream about. Anyway, you know...free time...what I continually long for and never seem to have any of.

Let's see...looking back several months we have taken a weeks' vacation. We started out in central Oregon, prepared to spend the week horseback riding and lounging around camp. Well, it started out nicely enough, but it was hot. Very, very hot. And I got heatstroke and after day 2 of being sick and not being able to ride, or eat, or go for walks, or even play in the creek (it was too cold!) - we headed for home...dropped off the horses, unloaded some stuff, took a little nap and set out for the beach. The beachside was perfect! Lower 70's, sunshiney with a beautiful little breeze. We camped at a place called Whalen Island where we napped, went for long walks, went out for dinners and browsed the quaint little shops. Much more to my liking!

We've also been repainting the exterior of our house. What a job that has turned out to be. We're still not completely finished, we have about 50% of the trim work left, but that's it. It started out with demossing the roof, then pressure washing the entire house, followed by taping off all the windows and doors, priming the entire house, painting the entire house with the base color, painting the eaves/peaks a second color and now followed by the trim. Good grief!! This will be the fourth weekend in a row and I have just about had enough!! We're also painting one of the two barns and the garden shed. It's looking great, but I hope to never have to do this job again. I'm getting too old to work this hard, but it would have been too expensive and unaffordable to pay someone else. So, hopefully soon I'll be posting some pictures of our newly painted and vastly improved house. Yippee!! Oh and I must not forget to thank Steve and Chris...my brother and sister-inlaw who have been a huge blessing - for without their help, we would not have been able to do this huge project. Thank you guys sooooo much!! We love you and owe you BIGTIME!!!!!! Of course, no one from my lovely side of the family lifted so much as a pinkie finger to help us. Sorry, I degress - but oh-so-true. I just hope they never ask me for help...because if they do...I can't be responsible for what comes out of my mouth. I'm just sayin'.

Let's see, what else have we been up to???? The usual stuff of yard work, house work, working full-time at the clinic, caring for the horses and of course, occasionally finding the time to go for a few trail rides and a couple of camp-outs with our wonderful riding club friends. They are a beautiful group of people who we consider much more like our family...they are truely blessings in our lives.

In regards to Harley, my main trail horse that's going blind. It's a mixed bag at best. I've had him out on a few trail rides and it's not going as effortlessly as I'd hoped. He seems to have just enough sight that a lot of what he can see, spooks him. And, if his trail partner gets more than a few feet away, he goes into full-blown panic mode. Not good. If Ladde farts, or stumbles and makes noise, Harley spooks. In the past, if and when Harley spooked, his habit was to wheel away and gallop off. He was very easy to regain control...I'd just one-rein him around and bring him back to earth - so to speak. But...now, he wants to wheel and run, but he knows he can't; and so he stands in one spot and trembles in fear. It's pretty pitiful. I'm working at encouraging him and gaining even more of his trust, but it's a project in-the-works and will take time. So, for now, we are limiting where we go, and who we ride with. I'm not sure how this story will end, but one thing is for sure - Harley's a keeper and he's not going anywhere. He may not end up being my main rider and then again, maybe we'll work it out together. Time will tell. But for now, we're going to focus on more arena riding this fall and winter and try to keep the faith.

Before long my squirreling nature will show in full-force again. You know, the gathering mentality. Our 20 tons of hay are safely tucked in the barns, but we still need to get 3 cords of wood for the winter, wood pellets for the pellet stove and of course, bedding for the horse stalls. And, I made strawberry jam which is in the freezer, and have strawberries frozen for future use, but still want to can peaches for the pantry. The peaches will be here this Friday, so if I can find the time, looks like I might be canning some peaches this weekend. Oh, and I've volunteered to be a greeter once a month at our church and this Sabbath, it's my turn...plus I'm on the "encouragement committee". I seriously think I need my head examined. As if I wasn't overly busy before...whatever was I thinking!!?? Pray for me, please??? Pretty, pretty please???

I am starting to depress myself, so I am going to shut up for now before I think of something else to add to my "to do" list. And, all I really want to do is run away and rent a little cottage in the mountains by a lake and waste away for a month or so...sounds simply divine, doesn't it? A girl needs to keep her dreams alive...for sanity's sake, if nothing else.

Love and blessings to all,

Cingspots

Heavens to Betsy... the weather!!!

2010-05-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Whatever have we done to have such horrendously volatile spring weather!!?? In the last several days, we've experienced warm temperatures and deliciously sweet sunshine, gentle, nurturing showers, delicate breezes...sleet, angry rainfall, hail, rainbows, stiff winds, more rain, some sunshine...torrential pelting rainfall, gale force whipping winds, a little more hail...back to aaahhhh beautiful sunshine...good grief, I'm afraid to ask what's next for fear I'll find out!!

But, it's certainly not boring!! Tomorrow (according to the calendar) charts the 2/3 mark through spring. Yep, summer's a mere month away - believe it or not. I've yet to complete my garden planting because we're still experiencing night-time frosts on occasion, and our horses are still on about an hour and a half of grass turn-out daily for fear they'll overdose on the lush springtime carbohydrate-rich pasture. They are decidedly unhappy about this unreasonable limiting of their free-choice munch time, but their bellies are proof to the contrary. Will they never be satisfied?? I fear not...spoiled critters!! Our last year's stockpile of hay is severely depleted...we have 3 or 4 bales left. I sure don't want to have to buy more before we get our once a year barnfull - and who knows when that will be with this uncooperative weather. Oh well, I have absolutely zero control over any of it, so que-sa-ra-sa-ra...whatever will be, will be!! You know the song, right? Sing it with me, kay? No!? Oh fine then!!

We've finally gotten the shoes on our horses but have yet to make it to the mountains for that first trail ride outing this year...call me crazy, but I prefer riding when there's little mud and sunshine on my shoulders. Ooh ooh, another song we could sing together...shall we? Can you tell I'm experiencing cabin fever? Hmmm? Oh well...soon, my pretties, veerrrrry soon...

Bye all,

One last thing...all season long, I've been saying it's gonna boil down to the only 2 possible competitors! And guess what!!?? I was right!!! That's right - Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze - ooh baby!! They are the best, and I can't possibly make up my mind as to who the winner should be!! And, I guess it doesn't really matter cuz they're both winners and they're both gonna go far!!! Yeah baby!!! In case there are some of you out there who are wondering what in the world I'm talking about? American Idol Season Finale next Tuesday...Crystal and Lee.........love that show!!

Cingspots over and out :)

Potpourri

2010-05-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

No, not the smelly kind - as in, a mixed up bunch of stuff. So, I'm at work today after having stayed home and taking a sick day yesterday. First sick day in, I can't even remember how long. Felt deliciously luxurious getting to stay home and sleep in for as long as I wanted to. The bummer was...I didn't feel well and that's about all I felt like doing. Funny how years and years later I still harbor guilty feelings about being "lazy" if I'm in bed during the daytime. I can still hear my mom's tiny voice in my head...isn't there something - anything better you could be doing besides laying in bed??? Will it ever go away and let me just learn how to relax?? Probably not. Anyway, I'm still not feeling very well, but I figured I may as well be at work collecting my pay instead of wasting my precious vacation time lazing around at home. Sick days are not a luxury I have, and I have no co-workers so I always feel guilty for taking a day off unscheduled. I hate that...feeling guilty is such a waste of emotion!

The horseshoer was out last evening and trimmed the girls and Shad, and we finally got shoes put on Ladde and Harley. Now I want to go riding!!! I want to go riding with just my hubby for a couple of times to see how Harley is going to be out and about with not much vision. I think if we stick to some wide, safer trails, he will probably be just fine. No super steeps and no drop-offs for us. We'll stick to the kiddy trails for a while and go from there.

Our horseback riding club has its' first scheduled camp-out coming up over Memorial Day weekend at Mt. Adams in Washington state. It's a beautiful location and has become one of our most favorite camping and riding locations. We're thinking that we may not be able to go because our truck is in serious need of new tires. I priced comprable tires to the ones we have now and they're almost $1300...ouch!! Amazing how expensive everything has gotten. We don't want to risk having a flat along the road somewhere with the horsetrailer in tow, so we'll see how things pan out, but it's not looking good. We were so looking forward to this camp-out too. Hopefully our lack of money won't prevent us from doing a lot of riding and camping this season. We may just have to stick close to home, but then we'll miss out on socializing with our friends and that's a big part of the enjoyment. Such a drag!! I wish this economy would make a turn towards improving and put lots of people back on track. Somehow, I just don't see that happening anytime real soon. I guess we'll just have to get used to staying much closer to home, at least for a little while.

Our weather is slowly becoming more spring-like. Most of the mud in our pastures has dried out and we're experiencing drier weather and more sunshine. The temps are still pretty cool, but I'm just happy the rain is decreasing. Hopefully before long, we can start planting our vegetable garden. We're staying pretty small this year, planting tomatoes, some salad greens and cucumbers and hopefully adding to our berry patch. We recently bought two more apple trees to add to the fruit orchard. We have peaches, cherries, pears and apples. Yum!! I don't want to go overboard, but fresh fruit in the summer is always a treat!

Hope all is well with everybody...blessings from cingspots!

If wishes were kisses

2010-04-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Monday again. Boy, weekends sure do fly! It's raining again and our sunshine which was around for at least part of the last couple of days has disappeared, and grey skies prevail. I read on someone's blog that they have a small peach on their tree and blossoms on their zuchini plants...well, they obviously don't live in the greater pacific northwest!! I can't even imagine such an early growing season - well, anything other than grass or weeds that is. Somehow, it just doesn't seem fair! (snarle)

We stuck fairly close to home the entire weekend. We didn't even go to church, but enjoyed a quiet Sabbath at home and just relaxed. It was nice. The house was cold enough that a fire in the woodstove felt mighty good, and once again we were thankful for our little stove. Our supply of wood is completely gone and we've been burning up old scrap lumber that we've stockpiled over the years. We're also completely out of pellets for the pellet stove. We're gonna be up a creek without a paddle if our weather doesn't warm up soon. I'd like to get our next winter's supply of wood soon if we can, just to be prepared and have one less thing to have to remember to do later. Like my hubby is always saying..."all it takes is money"...There are so many things on the "need to buy" list that it's disheartening, and that list just seems to keep on growing. Oh well, one day at a time, or maybe that should be, one thing at a time. Somedays I find myself wishing for not only more money, but more time and definitely, more energy. If there were only 2 of each of us, we'd make headway a whole lot quicker. Oh well, it's just not worth worrying over. I keep telling myself...worry about nothing - pray about everything. My new mantra.

Sunday was a work day for us. We tackled a long-overdue clean-up project that we've been putting off for a long time. It was one of those fenced-in, catch-all spots near one of the outside barns that was a real eyesore. With Harley's worsening vision, we thought it was the right time to get the job done. It looks so much better now. All the debris is in the back of our truck awaiting a trip to the dump and our burn pile has easily doubled in size. We also have the raised garden bed all cleaned up and ready to go, cleared the apple orchard pasture of the windfall from winter and got the lawn mowed and edged. We took an afternoon trip to Costco and stockpiled for the freezer and the pantry as well. The one area that was ignored was the house. As soon as the sun shows up, the inside is all but forgotten and we're outside playing catch-up. Like I've mentioned before, when both of us work 40 hours a week at an away from home job, have animals to be cared for daily and try desperately to honor the Sabbath...that leaves Sunday for the one day a week to try and accomplish everything that needs to get done. It ain't easy!

My list of warm weather projects keeps growing in size as well. Firstly, the winter's supply of hay needs to be paid for and promptly stored away in the barns. We're down to about 1-1/2 tons and hopefully, that will last until we get the new crop. I'm thinking 16 tons of local grass hay should do; and since that's about as much storage as we have available - that will just have to do. Firewood - I'd like to get/chop whatever about 3 cords and get 1, possibly 2 tons of pellets. I'd like to build 2 or 3 more raised garden beds - one for strawberries and the others for whatever we decide to plant. We'd like to replace the kitchen flooring and paint both the walls and the cabinets, and replace the sink. Of course, if we replace the kitchen flooring we want to include the mudroom, the nook where the woodstove is, and the laundry room. Matching flooring for this entire area would be a nice improvement. And, we need to repaint the exterior of our house, remove the moss from the roof and clean and restain the deck. I'm getting tired just thinking about all of it...never mind having to pay for it all. See what I mean? The list just never seems to ever get shorter, and there's never enough money to even get close to paying for it all. I guess I'm whining, but it seems discouraging at best.

In between all the projects and jobs that have to be done, we still need to enjoy some downtime as well. Remembering to take the time to be thankful for what we do have, realizing that it could always be so much worse, and enjoying the life that we have been blessed with is equally important. Not one of us knows how much time we have, or what will happen "tomorrow", so it's vital that we enjoy our lives, our families and our friends. And for those of us with horses...use and enjoy them when we can too. God knows we do enough laboring just to keep them, it's kinda nice to get to go riding every once in a while.

Some of the best things in life are the simple things...warm sunshine, sitting on the deck with someone you love, sipping a cool drink and listening to the music of nature on a summer evening, watching the dogs play, taking a nap, laughing with a good friend, taking a walk in the woods...so many things in life to savor...all I wish for is more time in which to enjoy it all.

If wishes were kisses, I'd be a pretty happy gal...

*sigh*

but then, kisses are pretty good too. :)

Blessings from cingspots

Life in the day

2010-04-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

I had no idea what to title this post. I changed it several times. But, it's not about anything really...just life. When we wake up each morning, we never really know what's going to take place. Could be monumental; could be incidental; could be exciting, or boring...but regardless of the day - life just happens...every single day...to each one of us. Opportunities abound, shit just happens. Most of the time I feel like I'm just along for the ride. I'm definitely not in control of anything; and on those rare days when I think I've got it all covered...it's all cool...tomorrow happens and shoves me right back in my place.

I just keep getting back up, and trying to keep moving forward. Ray Hunt told me once that "the energy's gotta go someplace...best to direct it forward, if you can". He really was a wise man, and definitely not just about horses.

You probably can't tell, but I'm an emotional mess today. Oh sure, I'm at work and functioning just fine. I could almost do this in my sleep. I'm good at it. The smile is there and I'm putting one foot in front of the other. Answering all the questions, helping out wherever I can...autopilot on. "check"

I watched a very well-made documentary film on OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) last night. To say it was disturbing is more than just an understatement. I wish every single person in the United States could watch this film. We all NEED to watch this film. We should. It's called "Food Inc." It's available for purchase online if anyone's interested. I wouldn't recommend viewing it with the kiddies...or before dinner...it just might ruin your appetite. But, nevertheless...you should watch it. Very enlightening stuff.

So, anyway I was out and about on our property the other day and shot a few pictures of the critters. Spring has sprung in all its' glory, and our little piece of reality is a very pretty place right now. The horses are shedding their winter woolies, enjoying their rolls in the mud and eating everything in sight. Life is always grand for the dogs...they spend their time playing, sleeping and begging. Hey, what's not to enjoy? Nellie's been growing leaps and bounds, and has outgrown her first baby collar. I don't think she'll be as big as Annie, but that's just fine. She idolizes Annie and that's okay too. She couldn't possibly have a more perfect mentor.

Ladde with spooky glowing eyes. :) He's as fat as a tick. I need to get started on his conditioning sooner, rather than later. Their shoes go on in early May, and I am more than ready to hit the trails. I cannot wait!

Harley horse. He sure doesn't have the look of a blind horse does he?

He still has some vision. This is his good eye, but there's a little vision in both. I am anxious to get him back out in the woods too. I'm still working on wrapping my mind around the fact that my best trailhorse is nearly blind, but we will work through it together. He trust me and that's what counts.

The infamous cushioned post that was probably instrumental in causing trauma to his left eye. He and Ladde were always playing "face wars" around this post and on several occasions, Harley's eye took direct hits. Aaah...hindsight.

Sorry for the dirty lens...the dogs at frantic play. The term, "whirling dervish" comes to mind. :)

Little Miss "Frosted Siri L" - she has always been so very opinionated. Hmmph!! I bet she wouldn't have been so incredibly rude, had she known she had grass stuck between her teeth!!

The perfect little angel horse...Kadie. THE best mountain horse - EVER!!! How I love this horse!!! She's 24 years old this year. Don't you just wish you could turn back the hands of time?

I sure do...

"The girls" My beautiful dogs and bestest friends anybody could wish for - Annie and Nellie.

Nellie adores Annie. And, I'm pretty sure you'd never get her to admit it; but...Annie's pretty fond of little Nells Bells too. And, that's a very good thing!

Life's pure pleasure for these two!

What a good pup!! She has been the easiest puppy I can ever remember training. She's a very smart little girl. She's about 6-1/2 months old now. She's gonna have a fun summer...I see swimming and camping and a whole bunch of new adventures in store for this little gal!

Sorry for the blurry pictures. Our neighbors finally burned down the big, old, red barn. It was a sad day, but I guess it needed to happen. Nothing lasts forever in this life.

Annie does not dislike cats. However, most of the time I think she would just appreciate them all leaving her alone. But, you know how that goes...they all love her! :) We all do!! *sigh* Whatever is a girl to do?

This is "Princess". I know, it's a ridiculous name, but I've always named the animals whatever pops into my head. What can I say? She's a princess!! Just look at those beautiful, blue eyes!!

Our shaggy little old lady of the herd. Siri is 28 years old now. She's actually shed out since I took this picture and is looking amazingly good for a mature woman of her years. You'd never guess her age if you saw her! Good genes.

This is Harley and Shad - not a great picture, but it does show how wet and muddy our pastures have been. They've dried out some since this was taken, and we're eternally grateful for that. But, spring in Oregon you never know what to expect!

Nellie, crazy puppy!!!!!

The seasonal creek near our house is a source of great joy for our dogs...however, there have been times when it's been a source of great distress for us - in the form of very muddy, swampy-smelling canines. Oh, the ups and downs of living in the country!!

Until next time, blessings everyone! May you enjoy peace and joy this spring!

Cingspots...over and out!

Holy Moly, my baby's 13 today!!!!!!!!

2010-04-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

As a yearling...this is the time in his life we referred to him as, "Harley 10 Hairs". His tail, mane and forelock did eventually grow back...just different. :)

He's always been my sweet boy.

He's always been such a loving little guy. We still call him our "little Harley". This is most likely because he and Ladde grew up pretty much like brothers, and Ladde has always been a "big boy". Everywhere we went, everyone without exception commented on how very big Ladde was. It's true...he's a true 17 hands, and weighs 1500-1600 pounds. Harley, by comparison at 15.3 and only 1300 pounds is small. It's all about perspective.

Harley giving brother-in-law, Steve a ride. He's very calm with rookies aboard.

Me and Harley riding in a Ray Hunt clinic several years ago.

Posing with Ray. Sheesh, notice how my flirty sister snuggles up to Ray? She's not a horse person, nor had she ever heard of Ray Hunt before today...some people!! :)

Our two beautiful baby boys all grown up. Harley and Ladde with my hubby in-between.

Harley and me at another clinic. This one was with Brad Cameron, the mule trainer. Awesome clinician!

This was taken summer before last while on vacation in LaPine, Oregon.

Whoowee!!! I can't believe that another birthday for my boy is here again. April 8, 1997 was the day my beautiful Harley horse was born. What a day...I remember it like it was yesterday...

Scooter's due date was in early March and we had just about given up on having a foal, or at least a healthy one. You see, Scooter was our beautiful mare that had chronic laminitis. We had struggled for years to keep her sound and had spent countless amounts of money and effort to keep her comfortable. I can count on one hand the number of times that I was fortunate enough to get to ride her, and she was a dreamboat to ride. She'd colicked on us one of those times while camping at Timothy Lake, and we were pretty sure we were gonna lose her. But, thank God we had Banamine in our med kit and preferred walking for endless hours instead of sleeping like all the other campers in the campground. Around and around we walked, most of the night...when the sun was beginning to rise through the trees, we finally felt like enough time had passed without Scoot having severe pain spasms that we could chance a few blessed hours of sleep. Thankfully, by morning Scooter seemed comfortable enough to travel and we headed for home. Crisis over.

Another time a few years later, Scoot was having another episode of laminitis and our vet tried a newer technique to increase the blood circulation in her feet. The procedure was called a venogram, and consisted of applying a tourniquet around the fetlock and using a butterfly valve, we injected dye and saline solution into the blood vessels of her front feet. Everything went smoothly and Scooter was a willing and agreeable patient. But, for whatever reason, that evening Scooter colicked again. Dr. Rick came out and this time we nearly did lose her. It was a very severe case of colic. Scoot was very painful and for some reason she started having muscle fascillitations (spelling?) and her potassium and other electrolyte numbers dropped off the chart. My vet was scared, and that scared me. We gave her several different pain meds and fluids for hours and stayed with her for most of the night. With many prayers and the constant work of my boss, we once again, pulled her through. Another crisis over. We were starting to think that our beautiful girl was cursed. Without getting very lengthy here, let's just suffice it to say that we started believing that our uphill battle with Scooter's soundness and health might be a losing proposition. She had foaled twice before we had gotten her. Our other horse Ladde, is sired by one of Scooter's foals. A beautiful stallion by the name of Sir Ladigo. Anyway, we wanted to breed her, in fact that is the main reason we had got her in the first place. So, once she had been doing well for a while, we found a stallion and had Scooter bred. I guess what I'm trying to relay is just how much we were dealing with where Scooter was concerned, and now her pregnancy was a full 31 days past due. Our nerves were like steel guitar strings.

My wonderfully creative hubby had devised a very clever way for us to "spy" on Scoot during her pregnancy. He had run telephone coax cable from our house out to the barn enabling us to pick up the tv remote and hit the "Scooter channel". At anytime of the day or night, we could gaze upon our beloved mare and see how she was doing. Without that, I seriously think we would have snapped.

So, one morning...April 8 to be exact...I wandered out of my bed all sleepy-eyed and hit the scooter channel. There she was, still pregnant. *yawn* I headed towards the shower. Whoa!! Wait a minute!! Something; I'm still not sure just what it was that caught my eye, but something made me snap awake and do a 360 and have another look. Yep, this was it - she was going down!!! I grabbed a jacket and jumped into my muck boots and flew like the wind out to the barn! I arrived just in time to see a tiny muzzle and two very tiny little hooves poking out from Scooter's vulva!! Thank you God, the presentation was normal!! I dropped to my knees, tears of joy streaming down my cheeks to witness the miracle of birth. Up until this time, I had never witnessed a birth of an animal of any kind; no kitten, no puppy, and certainly never a foal. To say I felt like a novice was quite the understatement. But, I whispered a quick prayer of gratitude and help on Scooty's behalf, and prepared to take it all in.

Within minutes there was the front half of the most gorgeous foal I'd ever seen exposed. I grabbed my knife and cut open the sack to expose his nose and carefully cleaned the mucus from his nostrils. I remember how his little eyes looked up at me and he blinked twice as if clearing his vision. He was absolutely precious!! Of course he was all wet, but his color was the most exquisite deep red, almost like a rich, liver chestnut...no signs of any white, and I couldn't have possibly cared less! He appreared fine and I was so filled with thankfulness. About this time is when you'd expect the mare to push the foal out completely and finish up. But, no...Scooter decided to take a little break and review her handiwork. She started this beautiful little maternal nickering that just brought me to tears all over again. She was cooing to her sweet baby and he answered her!! Just a tiny little nicker, barely audible but it was there all the same. It was still to this day, one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. Just lovely, and I felt blessed to be there with them, and I felt so honored that Scooty was so relaxed and comfortable with me being there at such a special time. Since little Harley was still half inside, there was no way for Scoot to do anything but look at and talk to, her foal. I kept waiting for Scooter to complete her job, but she and the foal seemed totally content to just lie there, momma softly talking to her baby and the foal looking around at his new surroundings. I kept smothering his precious little face with kisses and making sure there was no mucus in his mouth, nose or ears. Everything seemed perfectly normal, except for the fact that he wasn't completely out yet. What was going on??? About this time, I began to worry, thinking that this wasn't completely normal and maybe I should do something to help. This was in the pre-cell phone era and I wanted to call the vet and ask him if there was a need for concern, but I wasn't about to leave and miss a moment of this event. So, I just sat there with Scooter, now addressing my attentions on her. She appeared to be relaxed and totally content...wish I could say the same. After about 15 minutes of "time-out", Scooter gave one great big push and Harley was expelled. Whew! What a relief! Now what? I forgot to mention that Scooter had hardly stood on her feet for any length of time in the last 30-45 days of her pregnancy. The extra weight was a bit much for her laminitic feet and she layed down a lot. So, I cleaned up the foal for her, dipped his naval several times, dried him with a towel...and waited. Why wasn't he getting up? This was about the time I decided to make a mad dash for the house and call the vet. I wanted him there - now! I felt like something just wasn't quite right, and I was getting scared again! I made the call, vet's on his way, then called my hubby and gave him the good news. And, back out to the barn I went. Still no change there.

After the vet checked everyone out and reassured me that everything appeared fine, I waited almost 4 hours before Harley decided to stand up. He just made up his mind and stood up...a little wobbly at first, but no big deal. Sheesh!! Scooter was still lying down, but nickered to her foal to come over and he did. He obeyed like a little soldier, and for the first time they sniffed noses and got acquainted with one another. Reassured by everything, I went inside for a quick shower and a much-needed cup of coffee. Later, feeling much better I headed back out just in time to catch Harley nursing with gusto. Another relief. Scoot was lying down holding one hind leg back so the little guy could nurse, which he was with much vigor!! Camera now in-hand, I began shooting pictures for all I was worth. I will try to post some of these very soon so you can all see how very adorable he was. For the next several months, most of the time Harley nursed with momma lying down, and when she was feeling better and he had to re-learn how to nurse while standing, he used to stamp his feet and switch his little tail at the discomfort and inconvenience of it all at having to crick his little neck to get his meals. It was so funny!!

Scooter's registered name was "Mis Star of David", and we decided that given our foal's relaxed, laidback attitude towards life, coupled with the fact that he was so very slow to get started in life, the name "Harley" suited him just fine. So...Scooter had a Harley. We almost named him "Harley David's Son", but I was in a very Nez Perce Indian frame of mind and went with "Ahkunkenekoo" ahh-koon-kee-nee-koo...quite the mouthful huh?? It means, the land above...heaven. And, he was our little gift from heaven. But, he's always been Harley to us.

So, that's the story of the beginning of our wonderful relationship with our beautiful Harley horse...trail pony extraordinaire!!

Happy, happy Birthday sweet Harles...my little spunky!!!!

You're a teenager now!!

Blessings all...cingspots

Happy April Fool's Day!!

2010-04-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

...or, as it's been more appropriately termed..."All Fool's Day". :) To me, this somehow includes all of humankind and is much more politically correct. Wouldn't you agree?

Shame on me...sorry, couldn't resist!

Anyway, thought I'd better drop in here and chat for a bit. My last posting has been a couple of weeks or so ago. I know...I'm not doing very well here lately. I do, however read my favorites a lot more often than I've been updating my own blog. I love reading about what all my wonderful blog buddies are doing.

Seems lately my life has been in a bit of a standstill for some reason. I get up each morning and greet the day, head off to the clinic and put in my time there, come home and along with my hubby, take care of the horses and the cats, then head inside for a quick dinner. "yawn" See what I mean? Boring, huh? Since the news about Harley, seems like my energy level has dipped to an alltime low. I know it's a bit of depression hitting me, and I will overcome, but it's there all the same. I've actually been feeling more tired than depressed. For a while there, I was walking several times a week, had started swimming with a friend, well I did once anyway... :) , with hopes of doing it at least twice weekly, and riding twice weekly. For the last month, I've hunkered down and done a bunch of nothing, or at least it feels that way.

The rain certainly doesn't help. It's been raining torrents lately...lake backyardy is looking like a great hangout for the local duck and goose population...sigh...it's spring, or at least the calendar says so, however our weather since spring has sprung, is far worse than most of our winter was. Sound like I'm complaining? Uh-huh, I am. I am so sick of rain!!!!! And mud, and grey!!!! I want to go lay in the sun and feel the warmth deep inside my bones, and get a sunburn. Yeah, soak up a lot of sun and wear summer clothes and complain about how hot I am...and fan myself like a true Southern Belle. Not some wrinkly old prune drowning in all this dreary Oregon rain!!!!

Okay, that feels better! Just need to vent a little and get it all out. Like a big, loud belch! Admit it - it feels good sometimes.

Thanks for listening...

Blessings ya'll

Cingspots, over and out!

Oh, just thought of something. Quick update on my Harley horse. Last week, I took a day off work and took Harley to an ophthamologist for a thorough eye exam. Diagnosis is chronic uveitis (cause unknown), secondary cataracts in both eyes and mild to moderate glaucoma in both eyes. There is still some vision in both eyes, but not much in his left, more in his right. In human terms, he would be declared legally blind. He sees shapes, shadows and changes in light, but no distinction. This has probably been coming on for possibly several, if not many, years...at least he's had time to adjust. For which, I am eternally thankful. Me, however...I'm still trying to get used to the idea. Blindness would suck. But Harley's so much more resilient than I will probably ever be. I am thankful that he trusts me so much. In fact, I feel honored that he trusts me. I love my wonderful, gorgeous Harley horse!! I just pray that I don't let him down. I hope to ride him again on Sunday, for the first time since finding out about his vision. I will be both our eyes, and we'll be fine.

Sad Day

2010-03-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

I had this post all arranged about a wonderful weekend beach trip with a very dear friend of mine, pretty pictures and all...but I just don't feel like doing it today.

For a while now, I've been taking Harley to an indoor arena and riding him with a friend of mine and her horse. It's been going great and I've been enjoying this one-on-one time with my wonderful horse. We've been doing some bonding and building confidence in one another and getting physical exercise, and it's all been so very enjoyable.

I didn't get to go riding last Sunday morning because there was an unusual event take place during the morning feeding. My hubby and I were up pretty early, had a quick cup of coffee, then headed out to the barn to let the horses out into the corral where they could enjoy their breakfast in the sunshine. Nothing unusual...pretty much our morning routine, except on this particular morning, I was the one pushing the "roach coach" around dispensing the hay piles while my hubby released the horses from their stalls one by one. As is customary with our little herd, Shad (the thoroughbred) got out first and he came running and bucking out to the hay where he has a little taste and then, unable to contain his pure, unadulterated joy at his freedom, has to go gallywhomping off again being the silly goose that he is...normal stuff...however, when it was Harley's turn to come running out he came charging with a full head of steam straight at me. gulp...no time to react, except for a quick thought to dash behind the roach coach for cover...sounded like my best chance for protection at the time, except that when Harley got close enough for me to look straight in his eye, I knew he wasn't going to run over the top of me; he was instead going to go straight over the top of the roach coach full of hay...what the heck!? So, I quickly moved in the opposite direction and surely as if it had been his intent, Harley ran right over the top of the cart...as if it hadn't been there...as if he hadn't even seen it. Very strange...

So, I ran into the barn and grabbed his halter and lead to bring him back inside where I could survey the damage. He appeared to be okay but for a few minor scuffs and one small cut near his coronet band on a front foot. Good grief!! I say a quick prayer of thankfulness that he wasn't hurt and turn him back out for his breakfast. As I headed back out to finish depositing piles of hay and collect the roach coach, I realized I had left the gate open into a small paddock-sized grassy area which of course, Shad had spotted. Before I could get through the gate, Ladde and then Harley were all in the grassy area. I followed suit with the intention of flushing them back out into the corral where they belonged before heading back inside for another cup of coffee.

Now, the horses know before I say a thing that these are sweet, stolen bites of fresh, green grass and that they are going to be run out...so, without much prompting from me, one by one they run out. Harley was the last to leave, and he rounded the open gate with ease and proceded to run full-tilt out into the corral. Now, one thing I had failed to mention earlier; was that I had left the now nearly empty roach coach sitting right smack dab in the middle of the corral...well, Harley ran right into it again!! This time he flipped over and got his hind leg briefly entangled in the handle. Oh my word!!! I was in complete and total shock at what I had just witnessed and was so upset that he was hurt, I could barely think straight. What is going on!!?? First thing that crossed my mind, of course, was that he can't see!!

So, to make a long story somewhat shorter...last night my boss came out and did a full eye exam on Harley and he is indeed, losing his vision. Apparently, he has been losing his vision for a while now. How long, we will never know, but looking back over the last year or more...let's just say that a lot of questions in my mind have now been answered. So many occurances now seem so much more clear. I had occasionally wondered why my perfect little trail pony seemed to be so much spookier than he used to be; he used to be so much more sure-footed than he is nowadays...the list could go on and on and on, but you get the picture. I can remember quite a few times where the thought had crossed my mind...is he having trouble seeing? And then, as quickly as that nasty little thought entered my mind, I would dismiss it; certain that I was being paranoid, or it was just my overactive imagination...only now I know it wasn't. I can only say that I am so heartsick at the thought of my beloved Harley going blind. Oh how I wish it wasn't so!! He's only 12 years old, and he has so much life and energy, and he's just so healthy and vibrant!! It's such a hard diagnosis to accept, except somewhere deep inside...I already knew it.
I hate it!! One of the things I hate the most is feeling helpless, and right now I feel utterly and completely helpless. My boss took close-up pictures of Harley's eye and plans on sending them to some ophthalmologists that he knows, but told me not to get my hopes up. I know there are many advances in medicine in regards to the eye, but the prognosis is usually guarded at best. It probably doesn't help that he's an Appaloosa. Seems to be a pitfall of this beautiful breed of horse. I can only say that I feel so very, very sad about this. Not for me, but that my beautiful and cock-sure little horse may very well become blind and won't be able to see all the beauty that there is to see. I would appreciate your prayers for Harley.

I'm not nearly as confident of a rider as I used to be, and I'm trying to get over my feelings of fear and inadequacy, but this opens up a whole new host of challenges that we will need to overcome. I've never been a quitter, and I won't now, or ever, give up on Harley. A blind trail horse can be quite a challange, but if God's plan for Harley is to be blind, then we'll just have to get through it together and the best way we know how. Again, I humbly ask for all your prayers if you don't mind. We can use all the help we can get. I'm not the sort of person who can easily, or any other way for that matter, disgard an animal. They are family. Right or wrong, for better or for worse...we're in this for the longhaul.

Blessings all,
cingspots :(

St. Patrick's Day Really...it's March 17, 2010

2010-03-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

Silly blogger doesn't let you change dates. It is St. Patrick's Day which of course, means it's almost spring...yippee!! This coming Saturday, is the first day (technically) of spring and Ladde's birthday. Wow, I can hardly believe another spring/summer season is just around the corner. Time sure does fly!!

I don't want to think about anything serious today, so I'm doing a blog medley. A post of some good times spent last summer. Just cause I want to think about happy days and not anything else today.

Pies!!! Ooh yummy!! This tiny little restaurant on the way to the beach that serves the best breakfasts. And, they also serve pie. All kinds of pies. This is a picture of the morning's baking...hmmmm.

The beautiful, blue Pacific near Newport. Nye Beach specifically. A great place to spend some time.

My beautiful friend...Miss Betty. I love you my wonderful little friend. (she's gonna kill me for posting her picture here!) We had a good time on our little weenend outing to the beach.

An artsy fartsy shot through the weeds. :)

Depoe Bay...what a glorious summer day!!!!

Another one taken at Depoe Bay / the ocean side, of some cool looking caves...

A crazy artist painting with his back to the ocean...not a very good idea at all. Hasn't he heard of "sneaker waves"? Whoosh!! and he'd be gone in a nano-second!!

Taken from "the wall" in Depoe Bay.

Not the greatest picture, but...this is a grey whale!! We had no idea we'd be whale watching that afternoon. They are just gorgeous!! I love whales. Once, years ago, my friend, Diana and I did a 20 mile "walk for the whales" walkathon for Green Peace. I thought I was going to die, but I made it. Talk about sore feet though!!

Some boaters who spotted the whales too.

Don't you just love exploring tide pools? This one looked especially interesting, but I didn't climb down the rocks to check it out. Just picture taking this trip.

An old rusty ship anchor. Would look totally cool in the yard of a little beach cottage, don't you think?

The actual "bay" of Depoe Bay. Remember the movie with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel, Overboard? This is where they filmed part of that movie, only the snobby Goldie referred to it as "Elk Snout". Love that movie!!

This shot shows the actual channel that the ships have to pass through coming into Depoe Bay from the ocean. Very, very narrow. Another movie tidbit...remember Jack Nicholson in "One Flew over the cuckoo's nest"? This is where that boat outing scene was shot where they stole the boat and went deep sea fishing. Didn't know you were going to get educated today, did you?

Here's a cute little guy mooching fish from one of the local fishing shops.

Depoe Bay again...different shot. Gorgeous day at the beach!

I love this bench! Just a little resting spot for shopping-weary husbands, I guess...

I love how the sun shines off the water in this shot. Not sure what kind of ship this was, but it's no fishing boat...

Someone's artistic carving...kinda cool huh?

More tidepools!! These ones were right on the beach, and we did get to do a little exploring.

Guess that's it for the beach shots. Betty and I had a wonderful weekend at Nye Beach. We stayed at the "Sylvia Beach Hotel", which years ago was the number one destination for honeymooners staying on the Oregon Coast. It's a very old hotel. All the rooms are "author-themed". We stayed in the Ernest Hemingway room...feather bed, tropical decor and more masculine than feminine. They have rooms of many authors and have journals written in by their guests over the years. Very interesting reading material. They also have a full library in the top floor, with a help-yourself kitchen, fireplace and in the basement each morning they serve a full course breakfast - chef's choice. Delicious food! I hope to do it again one of these days. Now, lest I forget...when I returned home, I had a care package from Chelsi. Very cool stuff!! This is the card that she designed herself and a handmade dishrag. I love it Chelsi!!

This is a picture of the loot that Chelsi sent to me. The wine was very good, the chocolate I dug into immediately, and the syrup was divine!! We would definitely enjoy getting some more of that!! Thanks ever so much Chelsi!! If you haven't already, you've got to check her out...Adventures of a Horse-Crazed Mind. She's a very talented writer, horse-crazy gal, like most of us and she's a multi-faceted gal who hales from British Columbia, Canada. Not to mention, what a talented artist she is. Go check out her blog, you won't be sorry!

Well, that's enough picture posting for one day. Wishing everyone out there in Blogland a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!! May ya be havin' a green one fer me!!!

Blessings from cingspots.

Just wanted to say a quick, but genuinely heartfelt "thank you", to all of you who left such kind and loving comments on my last blog posting about my sweet, Harley horse. His body soreness and cuts are healing up nicely after his run-in with the hay wagon. As far as the blindness issue...we're just taking it one day at a time. Thanks again for all the cherished prayers and well-wishes that were sent our way!! You guys are the best!!

Simple Pleasures

2010-03-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about what makes you really happy? I mean; really happy?...deep down inside, the kind of quiet happiness that brings on that sensation of inner peace and contentment? The kind that makes you smile and sigh. The kind of peace that settles in your bones, and you just know in your heart that everything - no matter what happens - things are gonna be okay. Well, I have. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, what a wonderful feeling! And, being the weepy sort that I am, it just makes me cry. Tears of joy! My favorite emotion...

A few weeks ago now, my Saturday morning began in a bad way. I had slept in and had just wandered into the kitchen all sleepy-eyed and looking for a cup of coffee. My hubby, the eternally early riser, was chomping at the bit. And out of his mouth, all in a cranky rush, came the complaint that our pastures were in bad shape, the fences were a mess and we needed to rush right down to the local rental place and get a tractor so he could work today on our ever-growing manure pile. Huh? Doesn't he realize my brain isn't functioning clearly yet? And that it's not just Saturday morning, but it's Sabbath? The only day set aside out of the seven for rest? So...my hastily spoken, but not thoroughly thought through comment was something like...we don't have the money for renting a tractor. Apparently, the wrong thing to say. So, without going into the gory details, an argument ensued and hubby leaves the house in a huff and I'm left scratching my head and wondering what the heck just happened? Ever been in that predicament? Well, I'm there more often that I care to remember. I have this nasty little habit of opening my mouth and saying whatever comes to mind without ever pausing for a thought and then carefully choosing my words. One of my many flaws.

Anyway...suffice it to say that our day was spent in totally different ways. My hubby retreated to the barn to work off his anger and frustrations, and I opted to stay inside and relax. Sometimes space is a very good thing. I found myself sitting in my rocking chair in front of the woodstove, basking in not only the heat from the fire, but the warmth from the sunshine streaming in through the sliding glass door of our little kitchen nook. My favorite spot. While enjoying a hot cup of coffee and mulling over random thoughts, I decided to pray. I don't know how other people pray, but I just talk to God; usually not out loud, but in my mind I talk to a very dear friend, my Father...surely someone who loves me and knows me better than I know myself and most importantly, someone who understands me. Essentially, I was pouring out my heart, a fervent prayer for help, for compassion, for understanding and forgiveness. Feeling much more at peace, I realized just how much I have to be thankful for, and how I need to stop worrying so much about all the people I love so much. No matter what happens, God is in charge...I'm not. I have to learn to be at peace with myself and whatever surroundings I may be in at any given moment in time. Things will work out however they are supposed to, right or wrong, and without any intervention from me. I can pray for the people that I love and leave the rest. However, if I learn to control my tongue, I just might be able to change what I need to pray about...at least some of the time. Anybody feel like saying "Amen" right about now?

Having relieved myself of much angst and frustration, I resumed to sittin' and rockin' and contemplating the world...in short, I was "spacing out" and enjoying some much needed mental and physical rest. I decided to read for a little while and wanted to check out a few verses in the book of Revelations in my bible. I'd been listening to a sermon a few days before and wanted to have another look at something this pastor had been talking about. Believe it or not, I couldn't find the book of Revelation. I know, seriously, most of us know that this is the very last and final book of the Bible. Should be a piece of cake, right? One would think. Anyway, maybe it was mental fatigue, maybe it was old age and I was having a brain fart or something...I was totally flabberghasted and was seriously starting to wonder at my mental faculties...but all of a sudden, I had a thought pop into my head. Hebrews 4 and 5. Huh? Where the heck is Hebrews anyway? Divine intervention? Don't be silly, I chided myself...be careful what you pray for...for surely He does listen...for when I finally found the book of Hebrews and read chapters 4 and 5, I was in awe. At the perfect moment in time, I had the perfect message from God. An answer to my prayer? Without a doubt. I was so thankful, and so very truly humbled and so very reassured and comforted. I felt blessed. I felt loved. I felt understood and completely and fully at peace. At that perfect moment in time, I knew within my soul that God was then, and will always be, with me. Everything is as it should be and I felt the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders.

Prayers are heard, and many times our prayers are answered, but usually not when we think they ought to be, or how we think they should be. But on this perfect and beautiful sunshiney Sabbath morning there in my rocking chair...my fervent prayer was heard and answered almost immediately. I was so blessed and I wish I could keep that moment tucked away in my heart always, and be able to pull it out and admire it and remember it as freshly as if it just happened...for surely it was a gift to me from my Father in heaven and I want to cherish it always...lest I might forget. All this seems so very precious and highly personal, but I hope that maybe by reading my words you might be reassured and blessed as well. God is real and He does hear our prayers and our cries for help and He does surely love us.

Since that morning I've reread those chapters in Hebrews several times, and they remain beautiful, but for whatever reason on that day they were the perfect words for my heart. I don't understand why certain passages at certain times have such deep and profound meaning, and at other times they're seemingly less special...but there's so many things that I don't understand, and that's alright. I don't need to understand everything.

So in closing, I just want to say that I'm very thankful for the simple pleasures in life. A beautiful Sabbath morning, glorious sunshine, my rocking chair and our wonderful woodstove, my wonderful and highly entertaining menagerie of animals, my sometimes irritating husband who I love dearly and a good cup of coffee...with french vanilla creamer, of course.

:) Blessings everyone...

oh, and chocolate.

The "R" word...please!!!!!!!

2010-02-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

I just watched something on the news last night that just irritated me so much that I just have to spew!! So, here goes...this is ridiculous!! Oops, sorry another one of those pesky "r" words. Some people in this world apparently make it their lifelong pursuit of being offended at what somebody else says, does, wears, believes...etc.; the list could go on and on. Fine. But what really irritates me is when they try and infringe their beliefs on us, and force us to comply or become, "God forbid" politically incorrect.

The lastest in this barrage of naziism is in trying to restrict the general public at large into refraining from using the word, "retarded". I'm sorry, but whether you like it or not, the plain and simple truth is that some things in this world are without a doubt, RETARDED!! And, dare I say it, some people too are retarded. I am so terribly sorry if this offends you, but I guess you'll just have to put on your big girl panties and deal with it!!

Seriously people. We all need to just take a deep breath and get a grip because there are always going to be people who do things or say things that you might disagree with, and probably won't even like, but whatever! - that's what makes life so interesting is that everybody has their own opinions and likes and dislikes. Life is full of disappointments, and if you don't learn to deal with those pesky little disappointments, then chances are...you are going to have some serious problems along the way. Call me crazy but I think we all need to do a little growing up here.

I could name so many examples here, but I hopefully don't think I need to, just to make my point. I'll just bet that if each one of you thinks about it for just a minute or less, each and everyone of you could (and probably will) come up with your own example and our list would be very, very long.

I really do believe that it is okay, probably even good for us to have to deal with being a little bit offended every single day. Helps to keep us humble. And, if you're one of those individuals who makes it your life's pursuit to be "offended beyond endurance" at some of the silliest little things that people do or say...well then...by all means, join that group of busybodies and just try and get your little boy into the Girl Scouts. I'm sure your son will grow up to thank you someday.

And, if I've offended anyone out there and harmed your delicate sensibilities to the point of permanent scarring...I promise to try really hard to lose at least one nights' sleep over it.

Really, I will. :)

*sigh*

A lovely day in the neighborhood...

2010-02-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

Hi all! Just thought I'd better check in and drop a few lines. I've joined Facebook a few months ago and have found it to be very interesting. Perhaps that's why I've been neglecting my blog so...This afternoon I touched base with an old high school classmate and she had posted some pictures from our 30 year class reunion which was held the summer of 2008. I didn't go. I wish I would have gone now, after seeing these pictures. I suppose I had more than one reason, but I just couldn't muster the energy or whatever to go. Maybe it's my vanity, or maybe I'm just a coward. But, I really got a kick out of seeing pictures of some of my old high school classmates. And, what a shock to see how everyone's aged! Good grief!! I guess I needn't have been so worried about my appearance so much after all. Some looked great!...and some, well, some looked not so great. But it looked like I really missed out on something that probably would have been very enjoyable. I haven't gone to any of my high school reunions, but the next one I'm going to go, if at all possible.

So, I've been hauling Harley to a nearby indoor arena and have been riding a couple of times a week lately. He's been such a good boy, except for last Sunday!!! He was a complete BRAT!!! If I wasn't mistaken, I surely think that he meant to buck me off...little turd anyway. So, this old gal decided to dismount, save dignity and lunge his little spotted butt instead. He galloped full tilt yelling and digging in until he was frothy and dripping in sweat. For what, I have absolutely no idea except that my hubby had brought Ladde along! After 20 or so minutes of pure insanity, he came back to his senses and calmed down...somewhat. I then got back on and we walked for another 15-20 minutes and tried to just chill. Sheesh!! He had a bee in his bonnet for sure!! Oh well, it happens to the best of us from time to time, I guess. After his cooling out session and a quick brush, we loaded up and headed home. Thankfully it was a very warm day and it didn't bother him to be turned out in the pasture soaking wet. He galloped off, tail in the air, apparently none the worse for wear and rejoined his herdmates. I can take him alone and he's a perfect little gentleman. Bring Ladde...and his brain disengages and he becomes a raving lunatic!! Go figure!! Does anybody else have this particular problem, and if so...how do you overcome it? Maybe we just need to persist and eventually the problem will just cease to exist. I would love to have some input on this particular subject. They do seem to be joined at the brain and/or hip. Horses!! Such a fickle lot!!

Life is fairly bland right now. I just keep showing up at the clinic everyday, going home to chores each evening, going to bed and then rising to begin all over again. Monotony - pure and simple!! Winter can be so extremely tedious and boring sometimes. Our weather for the last month or more has been warmer than average, in fact, this is the third warmest January on record to date. And very, very wet. Yeeuck!! That means more than average amounts of mud to endure...what a complete drag!!

I wish it weren't so, but sometimes I feel like I live my life awaiting the warm spring and summer months...and they come and go so very quickly that I am surely wishing my life away. Just like my mom used to say I did, so many years ago...apparently I've been this way all my life it seems. *sigh* Life is too short to not enjoy the full set of seasons. Maybe I should start looking seriously at relocating to a more suitable climate. Where oh where do you think that might be? A perfect place I'm sure, exists only in my imagination. But drier ones would certainly suit my fancy just fine. Trouble is, I don't want it terribly hot either. I'm so difficult to please. Maybe I just need some ice cream. Ice cream always helps a troubled mind. My grandma told me so.

Blessings everyone,

Cingspots

Patience: "the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint". God help me...