A Little Horseplay..the Best Way to Enjoy a Summer Day

Life gets busy... funny to say that, actually.  After all, time doesn't change.  A minute is a minute.  But, somehow these never changing minutes get away from me.  In a sentence, I drove 1,800 miles to the north country of Minnesota, flew back 1,800 miles to Phoenix to visit my grand-baby, my kids and my Buddy, attended my 35th high school class reunion, attended a funeral, flew approximately 7,000 miles to Scotland and back.  Whew! And it's only June 30th.  

Camdyn at Pelatas Betty's 

Anne, Patti, Me and Michele
35th Class Reunion

 
 

This brings me to the present moment.  

A calm morning, promising to be warm and muggy, with a chance for storms tonight.  

I've been digging around to find a nicer summer place for Buddy.

It won't happen this summer, but perhaps for next summer.  

There are a couple options for me at the moment, but neither is confirmed positively.

I just feel so bad for Buddy in the brutal heat in Phoenix this summer.  The past few days have been 113 degrees and getting a tad more humid, I've heard.  My trainer, says the temps in the barn have been in the 130 degree range and she's moved the horses out into the horse motel for now.. which is basically covered parking for horses.

I ordered this new fly mask for Buddy.. I like that I can see his eyes through this one.  

He could see out of the other one too, but I couldn't see his his eyes. 

I miss my riding lessons with Buddy and I hope he is doing well with his training during the summer.  My trainer has been working on getting him to be softer and more responsive with less input.  

My training over the summer is reading a lot of books on horses.  Books on their physical conformation, their mindset, their intuitive abilities, fitness for me when I get back and the most promising-- 

 I am getting the opportunity to 

hang out at one of the boarding prospects for Buddy's new home next summer and commune with their horses and groom them with brushing and whatever else needs to be done.

Keeping busy is key to managing my longing for my family.

Until next time....

P.S.

I huge thank you to everyone who

pays Buddy a visit 

and

gives carrots for his treats!!

I really appreciate this 

gesture

more than you know!!

A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli

"I BE A BUD"

I am the proud owner of an American Paint Horse!

I bought my "Buddy" on Friday the 13th.

I still can't believe I bought a horse--I never thought I'd be a horse owner.

I never thought I'd ride horses again, before beginning lessons 

with 

Smurf. 

This is Buddy with his previous owner doing his jumping.  He didn't like to jump

higher that two feet and the young owner was looking for

a horse more likely to jump higher for

her competitions.

My instructor thinks I'll be jumping with Buddy one day.

I don't know about that, 

but I guess anything is possible.

I'm currently working on ground work

which is a form of 

Dressage. 

This is the area I want to work in for now, because it will teach 

me how a horse moves and how to communicate with him with

minimal movement.

Buddy

Friday the 13th with my new Buddy.

Big Golden Brown Eyes

Poor boy needs a fly mask--I've ordered one for him, but sure hope it gets here soon.

I visited him today and his right eye was tearing a lot from the flies.

This is Buddy the day I met him and rode him the first time.  

He was pretty excited to go in the 

turnout and see his pal Sparkles.

Buddy

I think he's a bit under weight and my aim is to plump him up by next fall.

Oh, and to grow his mane out.  It's like a crew cut and I want it long and flowing.

He is such a sweet horse.

I was trotting with him at my last lesson and occasionally I would lose my balance and he would go to a walk

until I got myself back in balance. 

I brought him an apple today and he loved every morsel of it.

Here's Buddy in his stall..just peeking out the door.

I am anxiously awaiting my order for my saddle,

bridle, harness, lead and of course some horsey treats.

Blackberry Vanilla Treats

Smurf

Anyone who knows me well, knows I have been a horse lover since I was a shy kid in Junior High School.  I read every Walter Farley book out there--The Black Stallion, The Black Stallion Revolts, The Black Stallion and the Girl (I imagined I was the girl) and so many more.  I read the books by Marguerite Henry--Misty of Chincoteague, Stormy, Misty's Foal...  I drew pictures of horses and knew their mannerisms and anatomy.  

I would beg to stay at KOA campgrounds as a kid--the ones with horse stables of course. I would just hang out by the round pens and breathe in all I could--even the not so pretty smells.  I never owned a pair of cowboy boots, nor a cowboy hat, but I had the western shirt and jeans.  I would get to sign up for the follow-the-leader trail rides in places like Montana and Idaho... this short joy ride would keep me satisfied for another year until we'd go on a family camping trip again and do the trail rides.  I begged my parents to let me get a horse--which prompted amused questions from them about where would I keep the horse and how would I feed it? etc. All things that I figured would work themselves out once I got the horse.  

We had some neighbors about a mile away who had some horses.. not sure if they were actual horses or ponies, but we decided to ride them one summer's day.  Having only done the well trained shuffle of the old trail horses, I wasn't quite prepared for the ride I got on one of the neighbor's horses.  I don't even recall if we had parental supervision--probably not.  I mounted "my" horse--I could dream couldn't I?  She decided I wasn't what she wanted on her back and took off and headed straight for a tree branch.  She saw it, I did not.  The next thing I knew I was on the ground with a big lump on my forehead that quickly turned into a purplish egg.  

Once I was "grown up" I lost sight of my love for horses.  We would occasionally go on trail rides when visitors were here in Arizona, but I never experienced real horseback riding.  As I got older, I started developing some fears about horses.  I decided I didn't really want to ride anymore, because I was afraid I'd fall off and break some part of my body.  I could admire them from afar.  

Then, along came a special young lady in my son's life, who re-introduced me to my love of horses.  She invited me to tag along with her to the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and shared her vast knowledge of horses with me while we watched the different events.  We went through various stables and visited these beautiful Arabians-- I was nervous about getting too close and gave them plenty of room.

I started thinking about riding lessons.  It came from something Melissa said about many "older" riders enjoy competing and begin riding later in life.  It  just so happens there is a horse facility across the street from us.  I called.  I boldly asked about lessons and signed up for one 60 minute lesson for the following Friday.  You see,  I've been facing some of my recently acquired fears and I'm reminded to do this every day as I pass by my refrigerator where a magnet says:  do one thing every day that scares you~Eleanor Roosevelt.  

Friday came and I fidgeted all morning until I walked the two blocks to my lesson. After introducing myself,  I flat out told the instructor I was green and nervous.  A trainer's favorite kind of student, I bet. Ha!  She seemed more nervous to have me as a student, than I was of the horse.  I filled out forms and signed them--basically ridding them of any liability if this horse decided to run me into a tree.  I was then introduced to Smurf.   Smurf is my  teacher.  A German Warmblood.  He is going to show me more about myself than I've ever thought possible.  I learned how to groom him.  I learned he didn't like to be petted, but he ended up nuzzling me and licked my hand.  He wasn't so finicky after all.   I learned I wouldn't automatically be kicked if I walked behind him--as long as I stayed close to his hind end.  I learned how to saddle him and lead him to the round pen.... did you know that if you look back at the horse while leading, they will stop?  Always keep your eyes where you want the horse to go.  Never knew that.  As I was waiting to bring Smurf out of the stable, I had a sudden urge to walk out and say I couldn't do it.. it was a brief thought and I refused it.  I learned how to mount the horse, not from a stepping block, but from the fence.  Hahaha.. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but he was patient with me.  I was instructed  on how to walk, stop and turn Smurf.  We took time to get to know each other and by the end, he was doing my bidding.  I slid off my trusty steed--like they do in the movies--and walked him back to the stable and did the whole grooming routine again--including lifting his mighty hooves and cleaning out the rocks and debris that collected.

I left the barn and felt something I haven't felt my entire life.  I am learning to trust.  I am learning to listen with my eyes and speak with my hands.  A n d, I'm signed up for more lessons!  I'm so excited.  

Thank you Smurf.

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Intercalary Day

Happy Intercalary Day!

A Quick History Lesson

The Egyptians were the first to come up with the idea of adding a leap day once every four years to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year.

Read more: Leap Year 101 – Next, When, List, Days, Calendar, Years, Calculation, Last, Rules — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/spot/leapyear2.html#ixzz1nmVdmMvh

I'll take an extra day, thanks.  One more day to get it right, right?  But the reality is, we have a certain number of days and there isn't a calendar out there able to change that fact.  Still, it's fun to consider.

Look at your life now. 

Are you living the life of your dreams?

If you have one year left to live, what would you do?

If you have one month left to live, what would you do?

If you have one week left to live, what would you do?

If you have one day left to live, what would you do?

If you have an hour left to live, what would you do?

If you have one minute left to live, what would you do?

If not now when?….begin,think,decide, act, change.

Life wont wait…………. only you do.

-borrowed from Jack Kruse

After

And so, I've cleaned my creative space.

Okay, it's not perfect and by no means ready for Better Homes and Garden.

But I can do my thing in here 

and be very happy 

in the not-so-cluttered

space.

See that sewing machine?  I have plans to set that up 

and sew some things.

And behind the closed armoire?

I have my art supplies of paint, ink, pens, paint, beads,

papers and inspirational books.

I can't have it too tidy, how could I possibly be 

creative in a neat environment?

Work on One Thing

I subscribe to The Happiness Project.  Gretchen Rubin always has something for me to ponder and utilize in my life.  In this moment.  Today I checked out her blog on Commandments.  This is a good one for me.  The eleven commandments are more for writing, but I think they can be used in other ways too, as does Ms. Rubin.  

Here's my variation on the 11 commandments:

1.  This is the same... Work on one thing at a time until finished.  This means my den/hobby area.

2. Start no more new projects, add nothing new to the mess I already have.  (This one will prove challenging for me.. I'm forever delving into something new.. I wonder if it's an unintentional way to avoid what needs to be done?)

3. Keep this one the same.... Don't be nervous, etc.

4. Work for a certain amount of time without getting distracted and stop only when it's time to.

5.  I can't create until I've worked on organizing my space.

6. Tweek the creative space every day until it's just the way I like it.

7. Take breaks and listen to something profoundly inspiring.

8. I'll keep focused on the end result which will bring me happiness.  I'm positive. I am.

9. Keep it the same.

10. Forget the other projects you wish to do, focus on the one thing that is current and that's the creative space you wish to have.

11. Organize first!!  All other endeavors will be that much sweeter after the work is done.

❧

Henry Miller's Commandments, from Henry Miller on Writing:

1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to “Black Spring.”
3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
5. When you can’t create you can work.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it–but go back to it the next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

My Creative Space 

Before

It's been the "catch-all" for all things without a home.

I've been working all day (and starving) with finding homes for

all the homeless accumulations!

I've lit a candle--a Jo Malone Orange Blossom Candle--in the room and put on some

music such as Bublé and songs from the Big Band era.

Currently I am updating this day of organizing with a blog post and sipping a cup

of hot lemonade tea.

Now, back to the Creative Space.....Stay tuned for the finalé.

Less is More

This is quite an interesting idea and if nothing else, it's interesting viewing.

To briefly sum it up, it asks the question:  if you were to edit your life, what would you leave out?

As a blogger, I am obsessively writing and editing my words and pictures, and the idea of going further and editing my life is intriguing to me.  This leaves me to wonder if I can start with editing one room at a time and perhaps weave this editing throughout my entire life.  

It would be unrealistic for me to live in a dwelling under 500 square feet, but seriously wouldn't it be cozy and sweet?  Wouldn't it be lovely to have a personal space edited just the way you like it?

I have a bit of editing to do, today.

I ought to get started!

Have a fantastic and productive day.