Glory days

Oh my, spring has finally arrived and in all her glory!  This week has been, and continues to be ah-mazing and warm and just about perfect.

My goodness, how good it feels to turn my face upwards and feel the warmth of the sun...it has been way too long my friend.  So.  The dogs and I have (finally) resumed our walks in the park.  It's still a bit muddy and mushy in some places, but nothing we can't manage.  The dogs are loving it.  I am loving it.  Life is good.

The horses are shedding like mad.  Blankets are dismissed, thrown aside for the season and seriously, I think they can stand up on their own they're so dirty and smelly.  I must make sending them to the cleaning lady a priority so they lay ready and waiting until next year.  I always love getting that done and then I can totally forget about them until we pull them out of storage all freshly laundered and folded.  One less thing to remember later.  Trust me.  I need all the help I can get.

So, it's not a sure thing yet, but I just might be getting a new car.  *squee!!*  I've been driving my mom's old car for 10ish years now and although she's been a good and reliable car, she's a bit lacking. We've put a good bit of money into repairs of this and that over the last couple of years, and now my power steering fluid needs to be refilled weekly.  I fear to ask, what next?  Charlotte has destroyed the back seat and it will forever smell like the "doggy mobile".  My fault, I know.  Most people don't haul their dogs just about everywhere they go.  *sigh*  I'm certainly not complaining.  I felt blessed to get mom's car and have no payments and practically nothing in repairs until lately, and just drive it.  I've gotten spoiled in that regard.  Our truck too, has been paid for about 13 years now as well.  You can't say we don't get our money out of our vehicles - ha! In that time we've worked very diligently at reducing our overall debt.  And that feels so good!  But we would really like a car that is a bit nicer and has a few cushy options for a change.  We're not getting any younger and feel like we've earned a few perks from our automobiles.  Well, at least one anyway.  I can't say we're ready to go truck shopping anytime soon.

Heated seats.  Oh my!  I really, really, really have been hoping for heated seats for a long time now.  It feels sooooo good on my bum and especially my lower back.  Pure luxury!!  A sunroof with 1-button opening, leather, real wood trim...a stereo that actually works!  Be still my heart!!!  I can even listen to my CD's or my online playlist.  Good grief, you'd think I've been living in the dark ages, right?

It's not a for-sure thing yet, but as my dear old granny used to say - "pert near".  :)  I'm going to take it for a spin and a final inspection this Sunday...

I feel like a little girl waiting for Christmas or something.

Nothing newsworthy to report on the Eagle front yet.  I hope to observe my chosen trainer gal at work real soon.  She does lessons at a nearby barn Sunday mornings, and that would be perfect for me as well.  We'll see.  This weekend is already pretty full, so maybe next.

Ladde continues to improve.  His lowered weight is holding and other than still being quite hairy, is looking really good.  We have another appointment with the trimmer this coming Monday and I'm hoping that Troy cuts his toes back getting rid of some of the "seedy toe" that's developed recently.  I actually watched him trot across the pasture last night and he looked sound.  So thankful for that!  I'm starting to think that we'll be riding the Laddmonster this summer after all.  Nothing short of miraculous considering where he's come from.  I thank the Lord for it all, including giving us the energy and tenacity to persevere through all the painstaking nights of it all.  The new growth on his feet measures about 2-1/2 to 3" now, and looks healthy and tight.  God willing, this time next year it will be nothing but a memory.  Our big, bold and beautiful boy just turned 20 years old last Sunday and we're hoping to have him around for many, many more healthy, happy years to come!  What a wonderful journey it's been with this amazing horse so far!

Harley's 19th birthday is coming up on April 8th...wow, I can hardly believe how the years have flown by.  We choose to celebrate with healthy treats these days, instead of the carrot cake of years past.  We're all getting older and must watch what we eat a little more carefully, don't ya know? Harley is healthy, content and still the horse who will forever be hard to wake up in the mornings.

Kadie is doing amazingly well.  32 years young in May and still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.  She pretty much gets whatever she wants, diet-wise and anything else.  :)  She's earned that I think!

Shad continues to be the most playful and joyous horse we've ever had.  He tries, many times in vain, to stir the pot, and incite playful activity with his herdmates.  Occasionally, one or more will jump in and play with the goofball.  These are the times Shad lives for!  He just loves to play...and run...and buck...and shake that long, red mane of his!  And he is magnificent when he's in his glory.  I do believe he missed his calling as a beautiful and lofty dressage mount.  Oh well, life is perfect for no one but

Shad's life has come pretty darn close.  He is happy, and that's what matters.

Missy is our sassy little redhead.  She's feisty and determined and fierce.  She and Ladde remain "happily married", for the most part.  And despite having navicular disease, she's an overcomer and
enjoys life to the fullest.  What more could I ask?

And what can I say about Eagle?  He is a heartthrob - nothing less.  He continues to use his beautiful deep, dark brown eyes and adorable facial expressions and quiet nicker to enchant and woo all those who come within his presence.  He is a master and I'm a goner.  I absolutely am in love with this horse.  Well, truly I love each and every one, because each in their own unique way are beautiful, and we treasure our time with them.  Our lives are forever enriched by having spent time with them.  I exaggerate not.  We are rich, indeed.

We spent Easter afternoon with my family.  Dinner, conversation and time.  It was nice.  The sun shined, children played and I was reminded, once again, at the inevitable passing of time.  The circle of life.  After all this time, I am finally learning to stop the expectations and enjoy life for what it is.  Unexpected, and each day unfolding like a wonderful, new gift.  For truly, that's what it is.  Oh, if only I'd figured these things out while in my youth.  Que sa ra...

Life just is.  It unravels moment by moment and we never know what is to come.  Just relax, enjoy the ride and revel in the anticipation of new days ahead.  I'm still learning to appreciate the now.  The moment by moment lessons, blessings, disappointments and everything else that's involved.  Life can be messy, joyous, horrendous, sad - it's all part of the plan.

I read this the other day and it just resonated with me - "Whenever I think there's a problem, I decide there isn't one."  It's just life.

I love that.

Blessings everyone, and until next time...
Lorie @ Cingspots

Anticipation

It is always such fun to look forward to coming events.  Hoping for longer daylight hours, sunnier skies and drier weather has me looking forward and anticipating our spring and summer.  Oh, it will be so wonderful having warmth and sunshine back in our world!  I've done alright again this winter with my SADS, but I have to admit that I've grown weary of all the rain we're having.  And did we get it this past week in spades!  Don't ask me for measurements, but trust me when I say that it has been record-breaking wet!  

So done with it.  *sigh*  I'm not ready for hot weather where I lose all ambition and just want to lounge in the pool - no, not that yet - but mild, beautiful, warm spring.  I am ready to start riding again.  I haven't been on my horse since last fall.  Seriously, hate that I'm never able to keep up even a light riding schedule through the winter months, but I just don't seem to be able to do it.  Oh well, no sense beating myself up about it.  But I am gearing up and hoping this is the year when I really get going on Eags.  

Remember back in early January I decided on a chosen word for this year?  I chose courage, and elaborated by adding - "if not now, when?"  Well, up until now I really haven't had much opportunity to put that idea into action.  But that's going to change.  I've entered Eagle and I in a clinic with Joe Wolter the end of June.  There are only 5 riders total, and that will make for a very intimate riding experience with a wonderful clinician.  I've never ridden with Joe, but I did audit one of his clinics years ago.  I've always wanted the chance to ride, and I got it.  We've got some prep work to do before then, and I've got a plan of action that I'm hoping to get started on real soon.  I haven't got everything sorted out yet, but I may have found someone to start taking some lessons from, and only a couple of miles from home.  That would be a great opportunity for Eagle and me to improve our skills, conditioning and especially our relationship.  He trusts me and I know he feels good when he's with me.  Now, I need to feel that good when I ride him.  It's a mental thing with me.  That's where the lessons should help, a lot.  Courage...bring it on.

Anyway, that's my plan and by golly, I'm stickin' to it!

Is anyone else heartbroken that Downton Abbey is finished?  Oh my word, I hate that the show is over!  Quitting while you're on top is seriously overrated...*sniff* That was the thing I always looked forward to watching Sunday evening, the only thing.  Television these days is pathetically bad.  If you have a favorite series that you just wouldn't want to miss - please help me out.  Tell me, and maybe I can buy the series on DVD or something...I need my veg-out tele time!!  :)

Grey skies return

As in literally, not figuratively.  :)  We've had over a week (?) of glorious, spring-like weather.  I easily lose track!  It has been beautiful, and warm and so very welcome.  I still can't walk around the pastures without muck boots on, but it's significantly drier.  The horses have enjoyed the sunny days and warm temps as much, maybe more, than we have.  But alas, this afternoon our skies turned grey once again, and our old (tiresome) friend, Mr. Rain has returned.  *sigh*  And just in time for the weekend - wouldn't you know it?

Oh well, whatcha gonna do???  Stay inside, keep the home fires burning and eat apple pie!  Oh my!!
Sounds good doesn't it?  Maybe watch a movie or two, catch a nap, read a little...sounds pretty good to me.

Last weekend Jessie (our daughter from another mother), came over for coffee.  She's the one who lost her horse Lil Buck a few weeks back from a colic.  She's been burning the candle on both ends, tired from an overly busy school schedule and two part-time jobs.  She's in nursing school and has the two kiddos, her little farm and hard-working, understanding and supportive hubby.  That's a lot on one person's plate! We'd talked earlier and she sounded a bit down, so my thoughts were that she was in need of a little understanding conversation and a place to relax for a bit.  She is always welcome in our home.  She and her little girl, Kamryn visited until early afternoon.  We enjoyed a good, home-cooked breakfast, hot coffee, girl talk, and some time spent soaking up the sunshine on the back deck. We had a great visit, laughed at the antics of the dogs playing in the back yard and Kamryn let me use her as a guinea pig trying out all sorts of ways to fix her hair.  Such fun!   I really don't know how Jessie does it.  Even when I was her age, there was no way I could have tackled all that she is trying to handle.  And, news to me is that she's been suffering from a few physical ailments of her own.  For the last few years she's enjoyed being on a roller derby team.  Lots of fun, good exercise, but takes a toll on the body.  In one or more of her hard falls, she apparently encountered a slight concussion that's been wreaking a bit of havoc on her.  Headaches, difficulties sleeping, some memory lapses and her emotions were going haywire.  She got scared and finally sought some medical help.  Just knowing the physical source of so many anxieties is helpful.  At least now she doesn't need to think she's going crazy, and can get some help that's needed.  She's been told to slow down, take things easy and stop trying to do so much.  That's a tall order for this gal, but she knows she needs to cooperate to get better and see her goals come to fruition.  I wouldn't want to be in her shoes for anything!  Especially the nursing school part!

We got a new BBQ a while back, and the hubs got it put together the other day.  We've had burgers for one meal, and delicious, smoky chicken breasts and potato salad last night for dinner.  I could easily get used to having dinner ready when I get home from work!  And...bless his heart - last Tuesday he damp mopped all our floors and put a coat of wax/shine on the wood floors.  They look beautiful, all polished and clean.  Usually on the days when he's not working, he also has the horses' stalls all cleaned, waters filled and hay rations in their stalls when I get home.  I just get to do a little schmoozing, kisses all around and give them their little grain rations before tucking them in for the night.  Wow! I could really get used to this...I'm starting to feel rather spoiled.  :)

I was thinking about Annie earlier today, happened to look up at the calendar and realized that it's been one year ago today that I said my final good-bye to the best dog ever.  Oh, how I miss her.  I always felt so loved by her.  She was at my side wherever I would go, and kept her eyes on me at all times.  I think that she thought that was her job - to keep watch over me always.  She was such a blessing to me, and I loved her so much.  And I always knew, that if someone threatened me with harm, she would protect me with her life.  It never came up, but is something I always just knew in my gut.  I just can't hardly believe that she's been gone for a whole year.  Sometimes it feels like just yesterday she was here, and then at times it feels like so much time has passed.  I don't understand how I can feel both ways, but that's how it is.  I'm so happy that she was my dog.  I will forever feel blessed that she chose to love me, and she knew that I knew she loved me.  :)  We've had several wonderful dogs in our lives over the years, each one unique and cherished by us.  But Annie was my girl, and she chose me as her person.  What a gift.  She was worth every single bit of pain I've felt when I lost her.  If I could, I would re-live every single moment of it, all over again.  In a heartbeat.

But, it doesn't work that way.  Life goes on, and we find new dogs (or people) to love, and to enrich our lives.  I've always believed that they're gifts to us from God, who loves us and wants us to be happy and feel loved.  Animals know so much more about loving than we do.  They love completely, and unconditionally.  If we were only half as good as they are...

Speaking of new dogs, Charlotte is now a tiny bit taller than Ruby is.  She's quite slender and long-legged, but already a wee bit taller.  Poor Ruby, for her sake I wish Charlotte would have grew just a little bit slower.  She runs faster, jumps higher, plays rougher and generally keeps sweet Ruby on her toes.  Sometimes I wish that Ruby would just lay down the law, but she just doesn't have it in her, to be that forceful with the rowdy, rotten, overgrown and tireless puppy.  *sigh*  But they are fast friends, sleeping buddies, and share absolutely everything with one another.  But sometimes, those looks that Ruby gives me...my heart feels for her.  I just tell her that puppyhood doesn't last forever, and then I remind her of how very patient dear, sweet Annie was with her.

Ahh, kharma will bite you in the butt every time.

Until next time,
that's it for now at Cingspots

Life on a big, round ball

...moves along and never for a moment, ever slows down.  Not very poetic, but most appropriate.  Well, I think so anyway.  I live in constant amazement at the passing of time.  And how, with every passing year that time thing seems to move at an ever-increasing pace.  I sometimes feel like I'll wake up and be like 80 years old tomorrow.

As is common when I attend funerals, they bring forth many emotions that are usually kept deep beneath the surface.  My cousin died last week and it was a "celebration of life" accompanied by many pictures taken throughout his life, presented in movie form.  Very well done and enlightening on many levels.  Lots of family and friends, both known and unknown by me, were present.  But emotions aside, my overwhelming feeling was one of sadness that, although he was my cousin and I've seen him here and there throughout my life; I didn't know him.  I did not know him as a person. But his life seems to have been full.  He leaves a wife who obviously loved him and whom he deeply loved, 2 grown children and 6 grandchildren.  He was a decorated Army veteran, did 2 full terms of duty in Vietnam, was a drill Sargent for many years and then a medic and finally retired from the military.  As a civilian, he started a landscaping business, loved to camp and fish, and loved to grow vegetables in his garden.  Hmm, who knew?  Interesting to me how I can know someone my entire life, and never really know them.  Another argument in favor of real conversation, rather than shooting the breeze.

My take-away message is this:  life is very short, and death is sure.  Make the most of what time we're blessed with.  I wonder how many others' feel the way I do.  These milestones in our lives serve as reminders.

We've been given a break from our torrential rain the last several days.  Last Friday was overcast, but dry and cool.  And then Saturday morning dawned beautiful!  Clear, blue skies and full-on sunshine.  It was so incredibly warm!  Although I was home sick with a wicked head cold all weekend, our windows and doors were flung wide open to let in the fresh air and lively birdsong.  Oh my, it was just lovely.  Monday was even nicer, if you can imagine that.  Not sure what our high temps were for the day, but I spent time sitting outside on the deck for the first time since early last Fall and the sun felt so good on my face and shoulders.  Just heavenly!  Seems like we're always thrown a bone sometime in February with a false spring.  Likely, so we can tolerate more of winter's woes until sometime in April when spring officially gets going.  :)  Not that I should complain about our winter though - besides the rain, it's been another very mild winter season.  Not much of a winter at all really.  But when the sun comes out and the skies are so blue, everybody just seems to perk up and feel so happy.  Whatever ails ya, can be easily overcome!

We must be as boring as all get out because I really have nothing news-worthy to report of late.  Life just keeps on, chores and horses to be tended, house to be cleaned, working at the clinic everyday and dogs to be entertained.  I am happy to report that Miss Charlotte came through her surgery with flying colors!  According to her doctor though, she had a very traumatic day.  Barked all.  day.  long.  :( Poor, sweet baby!  She did not appreciate being left at all.  And since that day, she is suffering from what I believe is, separation anxiety.  Either that, or she's been possessed by some little dog devil who wants to chew things she's not supposed to be chewing!! *sigh*  My poor chair!  My poor car seat!  Oh dear...

This too shall pass...right?

And what's worse - she's just too darned cute to beat.  I am toast.

The farrier is due tonight.  Trims all around, and I'm happy to report that Ladde continues on the road to recovery.  Yay!!!  We've been cleaning his feet and painting his soles with hoof hardener 1-2 times a day for a couple of weeks now.  It's working.  His soles are tougher and since the weather has been nice, he's been on full turn-out with the herd.  Oh my, I cannot tell you how happy that makes him - and me!  I do believe I can finally see light at the end of this tunnel...and we had him re-tested last week.  Insulin, glucose, Leptin and ACTH (cortisol) levels are all within normal range!!!!!  I was so happy I kind of cried a little.  Oh, but they were happy, happy tears...

I have faith that our boy is back.  SO thankful (!)

Hope you have reasons to smile and give thanks too,
Lorie @ Cingspots

another sign of approaching spring - my daphne starting to bloom

Birthday eve

Today was good.  Today was fun.  Tomorrow's gonna be another one.

Dr. Seuss

I'm one of those odd ducks that doesn't mind birthdays.  In my family, growing up we never made a big fuss of birthdays.  I remember having one party when I was in grade school, but otherwise, there was usually a cake.  Don't remember too many gifts.  But the day in itself is the gift.  Oh sure, there's pitfalls to growing older, but overall it's a blessing.  The alternative's rather boring, so bring them on!
But holy moly, I'm going to be 56 - where has the time gone???  So many memories, so many adventures and so many that I've forgotten about (conveniently?)!!  Maybe...

Ladde continues on the road to recovery.  He's off all pain meds and has no bandages on his feet, and he's on turn-out with the crew weather-permitting.  Lately it's been a day out, a day in, a day out and so on.  Yes, we're still raining.  *sigh*  We sleep with our bedroom window open because temps are in the 50's and down comforters are so warm.  I'm sort of hoping for a cold snap, frozen mud and blue skies, but we'll see how that goes.

Charlotte is now 7 months old and is almost as tall as Ruby.  She's long-legged and very slender, but a tall girl.  She's going in for her spaying surgery this coming Tuesday.  I pray it goes well and her recovery is smooth-sailing.  She's a very active girl, so we're hoping for the best.

Rick (boss man) took some action shots of her the other day with his new lens.  So many of my pictures of Charlotte are just a blur, but apparently the new lens is meant to capture action shots.  Guess it works!  I haven't been posting many pics here lately because of being photo-uploading challenged.  And my phone lost all the pics I've taken since the first week of December.  grrrrrr!!  It seems to "think" that the chip has been unloaded, and needs to be reloaded, which of course, it hasn't.  And there's a procedure to follow when taking the chip out or there's a danger of losing photos!  Really!?  Problem with that is - I didn't remove it.  I really kind of hate technology.  Anyway, no sense in crying over spilled milk...they're gone.  So, I'm thankful to have these...

She's a fun little dog.  Very interactive, wants to be in your business all the time.  All the time.  She's a watcher too, and I like that.  Annie always kept her eye on me, and I've been missing that.  Ruby's more like an adolescent girl who needs her space. Very protective of "her" private space and all that.  Two very different personalities, both good.  Both loved and appreciated.  How much more boring would life be without dogs in it?

Guess I'll never know...

Our "daughter from another mother" Jessie, lost her horse Monday to an ulcerated intestine - basically an internal hernia.  We thought we were dealing with an impaction colic as he wasn't ever very painful.  Just mildly uncomfortable for several days, and we didn't think he'd pooped.  The first vet examined him, wasn't very concerned, announced his vitals were all good, and to just watch him.  24 hours later, same vet called out and this time he was stomach-tubed with mineral oil and water, left a tube of banamine and said to watch him.  Rectal exam revealed no distension and a spongy impaction which she thought would pass within 24 hours time.  That was Sunday afternoon.  By Monday morning he was so distended that a rectal exam couldn't even be performed.  Jessie took him to OSU where they did an exploratory surgery and found the problem.  Grave prognosis, so Lil Buck was euthanized on the table.  Sad day for all.

Appreciate those in your lives that you love.  None of us is guaranteed anything.

Take care and for all you fellow Oregonians...take care not to float away.

It's all about the weather

If I were ever to envision myself in a "career" that involves one of the sciences, I'd likely pick meteorology.  Yeah, I find everything about our weather systems, patterns, atmosphere and all, just fascinating.  So did my dad.  Chalk up another one for following in dad's footsteps, or at least his personality traits.  :)

Anyway, we had the most fantastic weather last weekend!  Brisk temps, bright blue skies, nothing more than a gentle, occasional breeze and it was warm.  Just about perfect I'd say!  So, in celebration of our glorious weather, hubs and I took the dogs and went on walks both days.  Just beautiful, and super duper exciting for the pent-up poochies.  We actually had to pull over near our destination and let them out in a grass field to run some of that energy off.  They were yipping, howling and just about to burst with the anticipation of it all.  Plus they were digging holes in my hubby's legs.  Fair trade-off I'd say.

Good thing we did get out and enjoy it because since then...the rain has returned.  And in spades!!!  Good grief, we've been getting it in buckets.  The lakes have returned to our back yard and our pastures, the horses have been in the barn for the last 2 days and we have so much mud that wearing anything other than knee-high muck boots would be a disastrous mistake.  *sigh*

Oh well, can't complain because nothing I say, or do will have any kind of an impact.  Just best to go with the flow and make the best of what is.  I'm getting better at this.  Really I am.

In other areas, remember that I'd mentioned having my car repaired to the tune of almost a thousand dollars?  Well, while driving it home I noticed that the brakes felt funny.  Or the lack of brakes to be more specific.  Yep, my car now has no brakes.  I can pump, pump, pump and get back a little, but with foot pressure, the pedal just slowly goes to the floor.  It is absolutely unsafe to drive.  So, without having had anything checked out yet, my best guess is that the master cylinder is kapoot.  Before doing anything, we'll take it somewhere and have the entire braking system checked out just to be sure.  No sense in replacing something just to find out that's not the problem, or the only problem.  But we're likely looking at another $300-$500 repair bill.  Again.  My old car's seen better days for sure, but she's paid for, was totaled, bought back for peanuts, and then I pocketed a couple thousand dollars and has overall been a reliable car for about 8 years now.  It was my mom's car and I didn't even buy it initially, so as you can see, I shouldn't complain.  But still.  I am kind of complaining.  As I said earlier regarding the weather; when it rains, it pours.

We've been fortunate that our temps so far this winter have been overall, quite mild.  I say this because we've been heating our home with only our little kitchen wood stove.  The reason for this, is that our fans on the living room pellet stove have gone belly up.  Yep.  Both of them at once.  This will be the second time that we've had to replace those fans, but considering we've had the pellet stove for about 20 years, I guess that's not too bad.  Based on what we paid last time, we're likely looking at $350-$400 to replace the pair of them.  Ka-ching!!!  Yeah.  That's why we work...

As far as some good news, Ladde is doing much better.  If he blew an abscess, I haven't been able to find one, but the last few days we haven't had to soak and we just change the poultice and pads every third day now.  So thankful for that!!!  He's been off pain meds for a couple of weeks (?) give or take, my memory grows fuzzy, but he seems to be doing very well overall.  I called our farrier and we're hoping to get him trimmed real soon.  It's pushing 9 weeks since his last trim and those toes have gotten quite long.  He isn't growing excess heel as some foundered horses tend to do, but the hoof itself appears healthy and has good growth.  I've put it off just a bit because of, well you know the story.  I just hope this is IT for a good, long while!!  He's had company in the barn lately, but we're really looking forward to getting back to normal and turning all the horses out in the daytime.

My stocked up bedding that I bought early last fall, which was supposed to take us all the way through the winter, is almost gone.  Now I'm just hoping it lasts until the first of February when our local farm store has their big "farm days" winter sale, and hopefully puts those bedding pellets on a reduced price again.  I gotta catch a break somewhere, right?  :)  The hay supply is holding quite well though - so count blessings where and when we can.  As my granny used to say, "it could always be worse".  Truth.

Until next time my friends, stay warm, give thanks and God bless us.  Every one.

Lorie @ Cingspots

Moving right along

Again, it's been almost 3 weeks since I've posted.  Guess I just don't have much to say.  Some of you can stop laughing right about now...

Anyhoo, Christmas Eve was a delight.  I prepared a delicious dinner after having had the house to myself all day long.  I love those days!  Talk about a gift.  :)  One of my daughter's from another mother called out of the blue, and asked if we were going to be home.  She had a little something for us, and could they swing by?  I said of course, do you have any plans for Christmas Eve?  No was her reply.  So I invited Josh, Jessie and their two kiddos to dinner.  We enjoyed the evening so much more than we would have, had it just been the two of us.  Again.  It really was a beautiful evening. We ate, we talked, we laughed, we went out and fed carrots to the horses and it was great.  I even wrangled up some gifts and goodies were unwrapped.  Then afterwards, when the house was again all peaceful and quiet - we watched a very old version of A Christmas Carol.  Very nice.

Christmas afternoon we went to my sister's house.  It was the usual, same ole, same ole and I left there feeling a bit sad, disappointed and feeling like it was nothing special.  I say this every year, but I just don't want to spend next Christmas there.  *sigh*  I love my family, but I really don't like my family.  Sad huh?

The highlight of the evening, for me though, was getting to meet my great-great niece, Catori for the first time ever!  She was born on my birthday and will be turning 4 years old this coming January 21st.  She is adorable, doesn't speak, is extremely tiny for her age, and totally sweet!  I would take her on in a New York minute!!!  I won't even get into the details about her sad little life, but suffice it to say that it is not good.  Mother, and I use that term, very loosely, is a druggie, homeless, jobless and God only knows what all.  She has given up her other two children and lost another baby last year.  Forgive me  for saying so, but that was most likely, a blessing.  Catori doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of having a decent life.  I do not exaggerate.  Anyway, her mother dropped her off via an unlatched window before my niece's household was awake and left her.  No word, no note, nothing.  So, grandma has her for now and is also raising the middle child.  It's a sad, sad situation.  Like I said, I would take her and raise her if given the chance.  I've lightly gotten into this discussion with my niece (her grandmother), with not much of a response.  So, I leave it up to God.  I don't have any other choice in the matter.  It would be a drastic change to my life (our lives) having a little girl full-time, but never having had children of my own, I would do my best if given the chance.  She deserves so much more than what she's already endured.  I can't even imagine what her life's been like.  I don't really want to know.

In other areas of our life, Ladde was doing fairly well for a couple of weeks, but we're back to soaking and poulticing his front feet again.  *sigh*  He's already doing better, but without pads, he is sore, sore, sore.  Abscesses are a part of life for a horse that's foundered, but this is a bit excessive, at least in my experience.  I'm about to scream and I cannot even imagine how poor Ladde's feeling.  He is, as usual taking everything in stride.  He's been stalled more in the past 3 months than he has in his cumulative life so far.  And he just handles it with grace.  Such a trooper.

Our lives lately have revolved around working at our jobs, keeping the home fires burning, taking care of the horses and trying to get outside in the fresh air as often as we can.  Winter is a time of cabin fever if we're not careful, and that doesn't bode well for me, especially.  Our weather has been pretty good overall, ever since the monsoons of December stopped anyway.  Wettest December ever on record.  Christmas day was cold and we had sunshine.  Another gift.  Since then we've had some freezing temps and sunshine, some rain and last couple of days, cool and foggy.  We're supposed to get cold again and be dry for a week or so.  That's my favorite.

I'm happy the holidays are behind us for another year.  I enjoyed everything more this past season than I have in years, but it always feels good to go back to normal again.  I was even a little saddened to take the tree down.  I really loved our Christmas tree this year, for some reason.  I finally got my all white lights and it was just so peaceful and soothing to gaze upon.  Now it's in the backyard sporting bird seed and bread crumbs for the birds.  We're still getting pleasure from that little tree.

Anyway, dinner out with friends this weekend and nothing else on tap.  We're just playing it by ear.  Hope all is well with all of you.

As for resolutions, that's not something I've ever really done.  I like to pick a word that speaks to my heart, and keep it near and dear for as long as it's seems appropriate to do so.  Without thinking about it much, a word has been rattling around in my head for a while.  It seems fitting for some things I would like to accomplish in my future, so here goes..."courage".  That's my word and that's what I'd like to exhibit more of in the coming years.  If not now, when?

Courage

If you would, please wish me luck and send up a prayer on our behalf.  For several reasons.

Happy New Year to you all!