Working my fingers to the Bone.....

Well... it is very good to have income coming in....but, its time consuming, too.  LOL... so, while I'd rather be a woman to the manor born... and independently wealthy,  ......its not happening here, folks!........   I've been trying to scope out a place for me to find a house to lease, and a new barn for  Comanche'.  First, I will have her transported to be with me, once I do know what area I want to live in....and, then, I'll do what it takes to get a house close by.  I think I've found one that has good grass hay, and a place to ride into the desert, but I don't like that there's no pasture to run in... and that means she would be trapped in a small corral all day and night...unless I can arrange for her to be turned out some each day.  I'm anxiously awaiting her arrival but I have to take care of the details........  Stay tuned!!!..........  Happy TRAILS!!!!

Finding a Soft Spot to Land...............

Well...that title certainly brings images to a rider's mind....that don't seem to occur to a non rider.   I've only fallen off one horse in my entire life..........and, yes, you guessed it.... It was off Comanche'.  Now, it really wasn't her fault.  I was on a bareback pad, and I'd not changed out the Chicago screws to ties ....so when I pulled back on my reins...here it came...and I was unbalanced ...not having expected this to happen.  ( Note to self: be prepared from now on)  ... well..it scared the wholly stuffing out of me... and, as I landed...nearly under Comanche's belly...I was terrified I'd be stomped.  But no, my girl was absolutely stock still, and she looked down to say, what are you doing DOWN THERE?????........ I think she was truly surprised.... so, the point of this post is....be prepared for anything!...No horse is truly bomb-proof... and, come to think of it.....neither are we... !    Happy Trails, Y'all!!!...

Missing my Mare.....

I've been waiting to bring Comanche' here to Arizona from New Mexico until I have a better idea of where I will be located in the area.  I'm still looking for just the right spot.  But I may see if I can bring her over to the barn I've found near Cave Creek.  Its a fairly good size with a nice arena and round pen and also desert access to ride for miles... that's a big plus... and plenty of people around to ride with it seems.  So, stay tuned!.. Happy Trails until then!.....

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