Thursday 13 {Link-up}

Still in the throes of gratitude for a tremendous weekend at Buck's clinic, I was inspired by a link posted on Mel's blog and I wanted to join in on her Thursday 13.

So I am going to link-up with her and thank her for prompting me to consider the things that I am grateful for.





13 things I am thankful for.

1. Travis It just doesn't get any better than love. He continues to amaze me. His sense of humor and sharp wit are offset by kindness and understanding. He listens to my ramblings of horsemanship discovery and doesn't judge me (or tell me I am crazy). He makes sure I am safe with vehicle and trailer maintenance. He is creative with building, inventions, and saving money while putting his own labor into the things that we have. It's not expected, but he just does it. It's this ingenuity that has put us in a house that I am grateful for on a daily basis. It's one of those things that is a secret inside a marriage that everyone on the outside cannot see. We both work at it and I appreciate that it's not a one-way street.

2. Health This is never, ever to be taken for granted. While I am not saying there is a connection, in the years since becoming pescatarian (fish occasionally makes it into my vegetarian diet), my migraines have been reduced to once or twice a year, and I now have a gastrointestinal tract that functions properly every day. It's amazing how grateful you can become when it appears that you have self-healed.

3. Whole Foods Fruits, vegetables, legumes. These superfoods (locally grown or bought preferred) can do wonders for your health and can offset the damage of processed foods.

4. Friends This includes those near and far, those I speak with every day and those in touch once a year.

5. Horses They have shown me more about myself than I can ever explain.

6. Family Including immediate, extended, and in-laws. Everyone in my life has a part in enhancing it.

7. Freedom The news reminds me how thankful I am that I was born in this country and that there are people who fight for our freedom, whether or not I agree with what the government has them fighting against.

8. Simple Pleasures Coffee. Bobby pins. Nail polish. Sunscreen. Mascara. Tall socks. Dragonflies. Music (which can also be a profound pleasure). Sleep. Jaeger's early morning "spinnies" and Quincy's woof for breakfast. Peechu's drive-bys.

9. Things that are Free Air. Taking a deep breath. Meditation. Contemplation. Reflection. The wind in the trees. Rain. Running. Feet and legs that carry me, arms and hands that feel and hold, organs that function without me telling them, eyesight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.

10. Work I am grateful that I am able bodied to do a job in which I get paid. I also have bartered work: websites in exchange for horsemanship clinics and the saddle of my dreams. Videos in exchange for a lifetime worth of education. The work involved in keeping horses. The beautiful, endless work that needs to be done to create a good horse.

11. Acceptance This includes accepting myself and replacing my doubts and insecurities with trust and self-worth. I am working on accepting the things I cannot change. Even when I want something wonderful for someone else, it is not my place.

12. Balance Both physically and mentally. Finding the good in moderation. It's not perfect, but I am working at it.

13. Learning I have tremendous gratitude for being able to learn and for having a mindset to be open to what life can teach me.

Buck up

I'm home from Buck's clinic with a lot of homework. An official clinic report can be found by clicking on my horsemanship blog.

Monica on Bullet, Me with Drifter, Buck with Gidget, and Kathy on Junior

I think Travis is happy I am home so he doesn't have to throw hay in the mornings. 

While I was gone, Travis dragged my arena. Who else has a spouse who does that? Do you have any big chores that need to be done and then you get home from a trip and it's done without you even asking. I wouldn't have asked him because it's just something that I take care of when I can and it's horse related. But I am tremendously grateful that he did.

As always, thanks for reading...

Two more sleeps

It's coming... One of the main events that I plan for each year....

Last night, Travis helped move Drifter's bit to a beautiful headstall that I've never used (a dab of loctite on Chicago screws and silver conchos).....

After two more sleeps, I am heading back to Arizona for Buck's clinic!

Rain slicker, saddle blanket, helmet, bridle, tack bucket, and lariat are spread across our living room. Sunscreen, iPod, glittery pink nail polish (for Sis), and Levis and Ariats are lined up and luggage-bound. Kathy is coming by to pick up a couple of bales of hay and we are loading the trailer tonight. On Thursday morning, Drifter and I will be joining Kathy bringing Junior and her 5-year-old granddaughter Sis; and Monica bringing Bullet, her husband Anthony and 4-year-old daughter Hannah. Meeting us there are Moo and Hen. Last year during Buck's clinic, Moo stayed back to support "Team Kidney". Now, nearly a year later post-transplant, Hen will be joining Moo in Arizona to audit Buck's clinic.

In case you haven't read or heard about my experience last year, I blogged about it in: A Case of Circles. This event continues to mystify me. To say that it has changed me is an understatement.

I am tremendously grateful to have the opportunity to ride my fourth year with Buck. Post-documentary, Buck's entire 2012 schedule is completely full. Paul has informed me that at least one of the days, there are over 200 spectators pre-registered. It used to be that 50 might have been the most spectators on a given day at a previous clinic. Last year, when pressed by a student, Buck promised to still be "doing his day job" even after the dust settled and the curious spectators and star-seekers shrug off their differences and go back to using stud chains and lunge lines and lunge whips on their horses. He reminded us that he knew the movie The Horse Whisperer would end up in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart and indicated that has no disillusions that notoriety can be brief. He's here for the horse...no matter who comes to see him.

I will be updating my horsemanship blog over the weekend.

"If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected

Decide what to be and go be it."

- The Avett Brothers "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise"

Thank you, Travis, for taking care of the rest of the "kids" while I am gone...and for supporting me as I follow my dream in learning to become the best horsewoman I can possibly be.
I hope you know how truly grateful I am.Thank you thank you thank you...

Adventures in Lompoc

It was nice to take my first day off work in 2012 to spend the weekend with Travis. We drove up to Lompoc on Thursday night to spend the weekend with Travis's aunt Marty and Uncle Benny. We got to their place around 11 on Thursday night and visited shortly before turning in. Tee time would come early on Friday morning. Their home is on the golf course, so I knew where Travis would be when the sun was up.

I got up around 9:30 and decided to go for a run on the beach. I had read online that there is a little known trail on Vandenberg AFB, accessible from Lompoc. As I drove down the road, I passed several ranches growing broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables; a NASA building; and miles of razor wire fence.

But when I got to my destination, the road was closed due to flooding.

Surf Beach was a mile south, so I turned around and headed that direction. I was surprised to see a wide open parking lot at an Amtrak station. Crashing waves called me to cross the train tracks and take a short walk to the shore.

I left my shoes behind and ran along the surf. I don't think I ever realized how truly hard it is to run on the beach, but now I have a whole new appreciation for those who do it. I didn't want to leave because it was perfect there...and I was all alone...but I didn't have my suit or a towel, so after appreciating the salty air and the enveloping roar of the waves, I headed back to town.

Travis had returned from his morning round and was already ready to get back out on the oak tree-lined course.

Benny's daughter Sherry brought her precious son, Jason, over to meet us. What a doll he is! Keep him and Sherry in your thoughts and prayers, as he is having surgery next week and will be fitted with prosthetic feet within a couple of weeks.

We went out Friday night to hear Benny's band play at the Radisson in Santa Maria. I took some pictures, but they turned out a little dark, but the room was hopping with an eclectic mix of cowboys, a plethora of ethnic backgrounds, stumbling drunk cougars, and dance floor junkies. It was a fun people-watching night and we even got Marty to come out with us for a set.

The next morning, I headed back to the beach. I read a book called "The Magic" and had a few enlightening moments in the chilly sand. In a nutshell, the book reminds us all that we should be grateful every day. Again, I was alone on the beach. Except for a seagull who was hoping I had more than Hot Tamales candy to share with him.

I wanted to stay out there all day, but I returned to town to walk the golf course with Travis. He had shot a 78 in the morning! The course is a par 72. Of course, he was very excited about that.

Travis thinks this hole should be the course's signature with its lofty tee box overlooking the fairway

I wanted to go to some wineries and Travis went with me...but unfortunately, I didn't call Melville Winery and they closed at 4. So I convinced him to come out to my favorite spot for the weekend.

the sky is grey the sand is grey and the ocean is grey. - Ani Difranco

I never knew sand dollars were purple when they're alive.

That evening, we stayed up with Marty. Benny had another gig, so Travis, Marty and I watched a movie and looked through photo albums. The next morning, Marty shared several more albums and it was a beautiful insight into the past of the Miller family. I got to see Pat's horse Click that she has told me about throughout the years...Boppa's bomber photos...and baby pictures of Mellany.

I took pictures of pictures and thought this was a great one to share of Nonny and Boppa, back in their heyday.

I love this picture

Fence Update

I was so tired from the Pasadena half marathon, it took me two weeks to post another update. And speaking of running, I have to give a shout-out to my friend, Melissa, who just completed her first 5k. This amazing  mommy of two (and prolific blogger, and cuppycake baker) got out there for a great cause and has already signed up for her second one. I can't even express how proud I am of her. Mel, you better be careful...it's kindof addicting!

Before golf and horsebackriding, Travis and I got up early on Sunday morning to finish putting up sections of fence. We still have two small sections on the west entry return, but Travis has to build one more section and needs the piece he already built to use as a template.

Holes to fill

We had three more eight footers and two five footers to put in before the sun warmed the frozen earth into a mud bog. But we didn't work fast enough and ended up working in the mud anyway. I think it was worth it, though, because it looks awesome!

Cutting to fit

Looks nice? Let us know what you think! My farrier is going to provide us with some draft horse sized horseshoes to put in the openings. 

Once we were finished for the morning, Travis headed down the hill with some buddies to golf and I hauled Drifter over to ride with Kathy. Two more weeks until we are off to Arizona for Buck's clinic! Yay!! Which reminds me, if you haven't seen Buck, you should check it out. It's still streaming on Netflix.