Everyone has a Battle to Fight.........

I've neglected my blog for a while now... Comanche' is still in New Mexico, while I've been here in Phoenix, trying to find a place that I want to work on a permanent sort of basis, rather than agency shift to shift work.  So, I'd kind of run out of things to say... for the moment...  But, a situation has come to mind that makes me want to address it.    I belong to an online site that is for singles who ride horses...  We often get to know people there thru the chatroom, and become true friends in the sense that while we may never meet in person, we do learn about each other's personalities and lives as we type our thoughts into the confines of computer chat.   Many of us have related critical life experiences in there...and we support one another to the best of our abilities.  Distance is a factor that cannot be ignored, but emotional support goes a very long way,and knowing you have friends who care, makes a big difference to all of us.   One of our members has a daughter who has had health issues and subsequent surgeries, back to back...  Currently, she's in a coma, and  we are all praying for her to come out of this well.   Its difficult to know how to support someone who is in this sort of situation, but we do our best to encourage prayer from everyone.  We do know that our God is mighty and able to do miracles.  We are hoping for the best outcome for this....  I believe that prayer warriors are effective, even if they do not know the patient.  So, I humbly ask for any prayers for this young mother ... She is in a dire situation..... We all need prayers from others at some point in our lives........ so, I pray that you also will support her in prayer...  She goes by the nickname Neener...  

Rest in Peace, Gold Dust...............

One of my friends at home in Tennessee...Kathy, lost her palomino, about a week or so ago.  She'd known for about two years that the day was fast approaching, that her trusted horse was getting older..and more tired.  She said that she'd gone out to the pasture..and all the other horses came up for their dinner, but, not her old friend.  She found her, waiting..............    She held  her old friend's head as the vet gave her the shot...... and spoke softly to her..as Dust closed her eyes.........    Its so hard for any of us, who love our animals so much, whether its a dog or a cat, or our horse...... to lose them.  It shatters our hearts..... and, those to whom an animal is only an animal...quickly forgotten or ignored... cannot understand our sincere feelings of loss.  These animals have become part of us, part of our souls... and remain always in their corner of our hearts.  They give unselfishly to us...and make us better people.  We owe them for creating a love in us that is deep and sustaining.... they complete us and open our hearts to compassion and grace.... so that we can go out into the harsh world we sometimes live in....... and then, we come home to this deep well of love, that lets us relax, and soften once more...in their presence.  They teach us how to love.... and, Love is where they return..... Love never ends...

Sometimes...Your Friends are Totally Crazy!!!...and, its so much FUN!!!

Yesterday, I went for lunch out in Apache Junction, at a cowboy restaurant/bar... to meet up with some friends that I'd been talking to for the past couple of years online, at Equestriansingles.  ES has been around for 10 years now, and while most of us that belong to that website, and chatroom may never meet face to face, its really a lot of fun to finally do it.  You feel instantly as if you've known these people for years, and in a way, you have, because you've been a part of their lives... revealed in their comments in the chatroom...yet, they are total strangers that you could pass on the street and not recognize them.  But I had a blast yesterday, at this cowboy restaurant,  where people come in dressed in jeans and western shirts and jackets and of course, their trusty riding boots.  They actually have a lot of folks who come to this little jewel, in the desert, called "Filly's"..  where the food is good, even though its simple fixin's..  and, they ride their horses up to the place through the arroyos and cactus of the public lands. The horses all are "parked" at the back of the restaurant, and can be watched through the windows that show the face of the Superstition Mountains....where the "Lost Dutchman" mine is supposed to be ...hidden from view and discovery...    The Mountain face...is a work of art, many curves and deep grooved areas that call to the artist in me, and in fact, I had to take a few pics on my cellphone  as I drove up the road, following my friend, Wind-in-her-hair...... who in another life, is named Becky.  I had such a blast!... we met up with about 10 other people and had a good meal while the band played country music, and folks danced in the front area.  Its not a big place, but usually the outdoor patio is where most wind up ... but, as Phoenix is experiencing a cold snap, everyone opted to stay indoors.  We had a wonderful time, laughing like hyenas....and, we hadn't even been drinking anything other than coca cola... LOL.. I'm not much of a "drinker" anyway. I don't care for wine, other than a really sweet sangria, and ameretto sours are my only real alcohol that I like. Beer is only for cooking a good pot roast, in my view... my paternal grandmother used to say, when offered a beer, was, " No thank you, put it back in the horse".... LOL..  I kind of feel the same.. course, I'm not a coffee drinker either, unless its Kool-aide coffee... lots of sugar, and then, more sugar,...and lots of flavored cream...LOL..  My friends, Jamie, Becky and I, sat and watched a cowboy rush into the bathroom... apparently, he didn't take time to notice, he barged into the female restroom, and not the men's side.  Or, maybe he didn't know the difference between a filly and a colt.  LOL... but it gave US a good belly laugh when he came face to face with a female heading into the "filly" door, just as he was heading out!!!... I kind of think he was a bit embarrassed....LOL......it just tickled our funny bone, to say the least!...    Happy Trails Y'all........and hope you will have a  wonderful new year!!!!...

Christmas for Cowboys

QUEEN - Thank God It's Christmas

Cave Creek Frontier Town!!!

Just north of Phoenix is the little town of Cave Creek.   It was established in 1870.  Its still small town...rural, with lots of horses around... it tends to be a little more comfortable temperature wise, than Phoenix, due to its lack of too much concrete.   I went there yesterday, and wound up in the midst of a Harley get together, with so many motorcycles, it looked like a showroom floor!!!.......  But, rather than behaving badly, these bikers were well-behaved, and orderly.  Apparently, this happens most weekends there.  Its a good ride, apparently, and there's several places that the riders group and refresh themselves.  Its good business for the town....  My focus, however, was an art fair, where I met up with a woman by the name of Crystal Carol, who makes beautiful paintings of horses, both modern and prehistoric, or primitive Indian style renderings on leather, fur-backed skins.  I was so impressed by the paintings.... Crystal has a gallery called SpiritHorseGallery.com and, you can contact her at spirithorsegallery@yahoo.com, if you would like to buy some of her fantastic art.  I bought a medicine horse painting from her, myself and if I'd had more cash to spend on myself, I'd have loved to buy one of the skins.... I also would have gotten one of the cave dwelling paintings of horses.... just beautiful.... and she usually puts spotted horses in many of her artwork.... and you know me, I can't seem to resist SPOTS!!!!  ... I didn't have my camera with me or I'd show you some of her artwork here.  But cruise her website... You won't be sorry you did!................... 

Phoenix Rising.......

Well...I've been here for about nine weeks now.  I've been trying to learn my way around in Phoenix...at least on the west side... north end of the city.  I am gradually learning a little more about how to find my way around in a small area of about 3 streets.  I try to get out and drive around on days I have no work...and scout out the roads that connect to get me places quicker.  I hate the traffic here.  Its a constant battle to get through the sluggish freeway tangles.  I think the city grew larger than their road control plans... there should have been more freeways and not just a few loops.  When an accident happens...which is very frequently... all the traffic comes to a standstill.   And, you can't get off to get anywhere else if you have only one way to get to your destination.  I'm hoping to find a job out on the edges of town... so I miss all the traffic and concrete.  And, where I will be able to stable Comanche' and get to her quickly.  So, say prayers I find this....  I've been working hospice lately, and have met some really nice people... but, I am still searching for a permanent place to work...and hopefully, on a dayshift.  I am so not a night person.... but at the moment... I have to grit my teeth and try to stay awake all night.  I makes my head ache!!!........  My Comanche' girl has been being very good for Goody, our barn lady.  She tells me that Comanche' talks to her everyday.... LOL... she's trying to talk her into more peppermints, no doubt..!...