Better late than never?

I've been a little behind in my updates. Maybe a couple of weeks behind, actually.

If you hadn't checked out my horsemanship blog, you may not know that Travis went riding with me a couple of weeks ago.

Yes, it's true...

I had to sign an agreement in order to get him to go with me, but I am glad I did. It was nice to see Travis on Jake and he seemed to enjoy himself. If you ask Travis, he might tell you Jake tried to kill him a couple of times but because of his amazing catlike reflexes and superhuman athleticism, he was able to get things back under control. I think Jake was just testing the rookie and got schooled. It was good for both of them! And it made me happy!


I was able to get down to Temecula to hang out with Hans and Samantha a couple of weeks ago. We went to the mall and I got Samantha a couple of new bathing suits and an outfit. Then we went to the park with some yummy Farmer Boys' fried zucchini and sat in the shade while Samantha ran around and played. She is really pretty brave...tries things on her own and holds her ground when the big kids go blowing past her up the ladder to the slide.

Hans begging Johann (great name!) and Samantha not to run him over

They didn't know where he ran off to...

Samantha peeking around the corner for her daddy

She is a kewpie and I love her little voice when she says "think you, unt su-sanne" and when I asked if she wanted to hear Hannah Montana or Party Rock, she answered "potty rock". And when we saw a Tom & Jerry shirt at Old Navy, she said "Your favorite, daddy!"

It's been great getting to see her grow up. She seems so independent and doesn't get too worked up about much. She and Hans gave me a bag full of Robins Eggs from Easter and I learned a good trick from her. You can shove them in your cheeks so you can get more in your hands.

Caddies can wear shorts

A foot of fresh snow feel in Big Bear this past weekend, but we got to miss the white stuff because Travis played in a charity golf tournament in Palm Springs at the Classic Club Golf Course in Palm Desert.

While he and John were golfing, Candace and I hit the outlets in Cabazon and got some great deals at Under Armor, Cabi and Volcom. After shopping, Candace and I went to the clubhouse and watched the awards in which it was revealed that:

Travis's team took 1st place in the Charity Tournament.

So on Saturday night, we went to Kobe Restaurant in Rancho Mirage. No, not Kobe beef. It's kind of like Benihana except more tasty and more pricey.

I don't think any of you readers will ever realize how big of a deal it is that we went to Kobe. It's Japanese food. Travis went there. And he LIKED it. He really enjoyed the teppan chef. It was awesome! 2012 has been a big year for us. Travis has ventured out of his food comfort zone twice. Himalayan food and Japanese teppan have now been added to the list of acceptable places to eat! Yay!

Travis and John got up Sunday morning to golf in La Quinta. I was half asleep when Travis left the bedroom and I overheard a conversation that went something like:

John: Pants? it's going to be like a hundred, dude.

Travis: If I am going to be on The Tour, I'm going to have to get used to wearing pants.

John: Caddies can wear shorts.

Travis: Then you can caddy for me in shorts!

How is it that guys are so quick witted and can insult each other and make it sound funny, not bitchy?

Despite John sending this picture to us:

Travis won a couple of "skins"...I still don't understand why they call it that...and we met the guys at Las Consuelas Nuevas for a late lunch.

Finally, we met up with Mellany and Mark for some Cold Stone ice cream before leaving warm weather for not-so-warm weather back on the mountain.

Tuesday Two-fer

In light of a new entry on my horsemanship blog, I thought I could use this opportunity to update this one as well.

That's for you, Jason. Speaking of Jason, now that I've linked up with your blog, is there any chance you can share on your blog how the Moab trip was?!

This weekend is Trevor's birthday. Travis has a charity golf tournament in Palm Springs. Snow is in the forecast here. Bummer...

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