Spring is getting closer?

This flower is so pretty and yet it scared the bejeebers out of us. It just kept growing taller and taller to the point I was afraid it would just fall over! Then finally a couple days ago it popped open and it is so beautiful. I love flowers and plants.

Klaus continued his quest to cut down dead trees and was finally able to cut down this one dead tree that had been hanging ominously over the footpath to the creek and pasture fence. So he closed off the back pasture so my ever helpful horses were out of the way, took down the fence wire and chop-chop it went down. But where did it fall? Right smack on top of a fence post driving it down into the ground. Sigh! But it needed to come down. With all the wind we have had lately and a big snow on the way it was best to just get it done. He chopped up what fell, which was mostly sawdust anyway and put a match to it and WHOOSH! that bad boy is gone.

The boys were kind enough to pose with another quilt I had just finished for my niece in Ohio. I hope she'll like it. Meins pulled it off the gate but I was able to rescue it before it landed in a fresh pile of manure. Silly horse!

We so enjoyed the sunshine today and while they stood snoozing and sunbathing I gave them a good brushing. I had lots and lots of white hairs all over me. Does that mean we are shedding??? Hope, hope! Spring will come early? Or was I just removing already scruffy whites? Sigh! I really hope it's a sign that that mangy rodent was wrong and Spring really is just around the corner!!!!!!

Fix the fence.............again

Spent some time outside with the boys for awhile and while walking the fence line discovered a bottom corner clip had broken leaving the bottom wire hanging. I don't think the boys did it this time. More than likely it may have been cracked from the car crash incident and this constant cold just weakened it even more. Of course I had my entourage. hehe! Maybe I should teach them to fix the fence too!

Paha tried to help me fill the water tank by pulling the hose out of the tank and creating a bit of an ice rink around the tank. The salt just won't work when the temps are this cold so I pulled some straw from the shed and lay that down for now.

(with a shaking head) Paha, Paha, Paha.........you are so silly!

Public Enemy #1--Cancer

Seems to me that cancer picks the kindest, sweetest people we know to do it's dirty work. I know that isn't true but when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer the grim images are the first thing to pop into your head. My sister-in-law was just diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian cancer. My first reaction was "are you kidding me?" She is the sweetest person I have ever known. Never a harsh word to anyone, always working, helpful, sincere and a beautiful singing voice, animal lover, mom and the patience of a saint to love my brother. (Sorry Don!)

I guess what I am trying to say that right now I am mad at God for allowing this to happen to her. She already has diabetes for all her life which has caused eye problems. Many, many laser surgeries, couple years ago a kidney stone that required surgery. She was recently diagnosed with Pleurisy and now this. Yet, with surgery coming in the next week she is very optimistic and in great spirits despite the pain.

I have always hated when, not feeling well, only to have someone say that someone has it worse than me so buck up. There is no reason why a normal person cannot feel bad, angry, depressed cry.........it's just part of the process. Getting over it is when you win.

I believe your attitude and how you handle the situation makes a big difference in the outcome. Most of the time. Sometimes it's just out of your hands.

So to my readers, please keep Shari Pachinger and her family in your hearts and prayers and lend a hand when you can. She deserves it.

#1 Goal this year!

I would really like to have Paha trained to drive. I believe my husband and I would enjoy doing this together.
He already line drives so I am going to look into some clinics and maybe take lessons at Odyssy Training stables. I have the time. The money will be the issue. But I want to go for it just the same.
Goal #2 I believe Paha would look awesome pulling a cart in the "Celebration of the Horse" parade in Sept.
Will keep you posted!

Trying not to prove my BOGs work but, well, I broke through some muck ice halfway to my knee. Only the top of my sock got muddy. My foot and ankle stayed dry and warm AND the boot stayed on my foot when pulling it out of the muck!

Trying my best

Just when I can get the boys back into work the weather changes it's mind. There is ice everywhere. I tried throwing down salt here and there but it is just ridiculous. The driveway is a solid sheet of ice and that is where I need to walk to get to the round pen.

Klaus cleaned out the run-in shed for me and had an audience of 2. As soon as he was done, Paha backed in and left a deposit. He has also been cutting down dead Ash trees and Poplars and Cottonwoods. He was stacking the branches to burn later on but, of course, Meins and Paha believe the stack is for them and quickly spread all the branches out looking for the perfect one to chew up.

So today I will try to get the log pile out of the pasture because they are spreading that around too. The hubbs has been working all through the winter when time, and weather allows, to clean up the yard and give us plenty of firewood.

I did get my Bogs and am loving them. With my left ankle being fused it's very hard for me to wear tall boots. I am so glad for shorty boots and with the stretchy uppers of the Bogs I have no problem getting them on and off and they really keep my feet warm and dry. So I give Bogs 2 thumbs up!

So what have I been doing while the weather has not been nice? Quilts of course! Working on something special for an 80+ young friend and made a mini quilt for another with the scraps. I would love to do a quilt for the Appaloosa Museum. Mmmmmmmmmm, I need to think of something clever for that! The creative juices are already working!

2010 Happy New Year!

OK 2009 is done and over with. It's time to look ahead to what this year will bring us. Hopefully it will be all good. Hubby is dealing with some health issues right now and I am proud of him for finally getting checked out and finding the problem and fixing it.

I'm not angry with him any more because it's a tough thing to admit when things don't feel quite right. So, we are on the right track and hope these issues will become nothing but a bad memory.

The ground is a bit icy right now but as soon as I can see where it will be safe to go I am going to start long lining Paha and get up on Meins and venture outside the round pen. Meins will take me anywhere I want to go, I have to learn to trust him and show him I can be the leader on his back as well as the ground. Paha is going back and forth between being a youngster with a 2 second attention span to really trying to listen to me. I give these two horses, my husband,my trainer, her assistant, and the breeder a huge debt of gratitude for putting up with my fumbling around. Whoever would have thought these animals could be so forgiving.

I don't do resolutions anymore. Have not done so for years. I usually have a list of "GOALS" I want to accomplish the coming year. Realistic goals, things I can actually go after and accomplish and not always on my own. My friends and family were a big part of getting 18 of my 22 goals complete.

2010 may start out a bit shaky for some of us, but knowing there is always a hand willing to help..........I believe it will be a good year after all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

These are a few of my favorite things..............

Christmas comes but once a year and people race around looking for the "perfect" gift and in all honesty, become disillusioned with what Christmas is all about. These last few days, weeks actually, I kind of have looked back on the year and truly am surprised at myself, at what really gives me joy and happiness. My husband, my home, my horses, dogs and cat. The myriad of people who were acquaintances that are now friends, true friends I can count on should we need help or to have stop by to chat. The kind of people you would do anything for. My family, although far away, I try to keep in contact with and was able to get together with a few times this year.

Christmas isn't about presents, it's about presence. A joyful horse nickering in the morning, an acknowledgement that they will soon be fed. Having them home, to watch them grow, mature, play, fight, snooze, ride and train. Watching my husband hard at work keeping the woods clear of dead trees and keeping our firewood at the ready, and constantly throwing Sammy's red ball. The sight and sound of the Chickadees impatiently waiting for the seeds to fill the feeders, often sitting on the feeder as it's filled! The first flowers in Spring, the green of Summer, the wild array of color in the Fall, to the fluffy white blanket of Winter tucked around us. These are the gifts I hold near and dear to me. I may not say it often enough or even seem not to notice, but I am truly, truly blessed in this life and am humbled at the magnitude of all those around me who call me their friend, mom, wife, aunt, daughter and sister.

Christmas is about giving of yourself and of others accepting what you offer. What can be more precious and loving than that?

Blessings to all my family, friends and animals, you are MY true presence.