SNOW

It is cold and snowy. For a Texas girl that is exciting (for a few days). I love watching it fall softly, quietly to the ground. I love the untouched sparkling white blanket that covers everything. However, I don't like driving in it and I don't like that it makes me have cabin fever. Even with Tia 10 months in foal I want to take some relaxing rides around the farm. She has been moved to the foaling barn. It has been between 8 to 32 degrees so my toes, hands and nose are freezing. Don't mean to complain but hurry up springtime. Longer days of daylight and warm sunshine sound heavenly.

Vida settles in to her new home

We have had Vida for two weeks today. She has settled in nicely and comes to the gate when she sees me. I have been getting on her bareback every afternoon but I can't get her to move. It will be nice when we get her to a barn where I have a place to train, right now I am using the aisle of a barn with an asphalt floor. Not the safest place but she has been very calm and cooperative. Loves to be scratched and will close her eyes when I am on her. Hopefully we will make progress when we get to a barn.

The weather outside is frightful!

When it is cold outside I want to stay inside and curl up by the fire. Going to the farm gets me outside and moving around. I hopped on Vida's back Saturday and rode her up and down the barn aisle. I was in the cooking mood and made tortilla soup, ginger snaps and raspberry thumbprint cookies this weekend. I am going to take some to the guys on the farm, they cleaned my stalls in freezing weather. I also got out my paint set that Ronnie gave me for Christmas and tried my hand at painting Lilli Lou. It still needs some work but I think it's good to take a break and come back with fresh eyes. We will see how it progresses.

2010 Begins with Vida

It is cold here in Kentucky-currently 10. The snow is beautiful. I'll get some pictures posted soon. The horses love it. I turned Indira out this morning and she ran and rolled in the snow. I have a new addition, Jan. 1 Ronnie and I adopted a rescue horse. She's a 9 yr old Quarter Horse mare. She had been starved then seized by the sheriff and then was head for slaughter. She is so kind and sweet. We have named her Vida (means life) and she now has a new life with us. I don't know if she is broke to ride but I have been working with her in the barn everyday and today I got on her bareback. She just stood there and turned her head around to look at me. Not a mean bone in her body. It is kind of like discovering buried treasure to work with her and see what she knows. I am excited to see what lies ahead.

Thanksgiving with Holly

Giving thanks for family & friends and great food/wine to share it with. We spent our Thanksgiving in Washington D.C. with my sister and her family. The menu was superb, rack of lamb, beef tenderloin, turkey, etc. Bart and Paige brought a great wine (Jordan, if I remember correctly).

Kentucky Diehard Endurance Ride

Tia and I enjoyed a glorious ride at Shakertown today. We completed 20 miles in 4 hours. We got lost (twice) but it was still a great ride. We started at 8 a.m. with temps. in the low 30's (ice on my trailer handle this morning) the horses were ready to go but Tia was a calm pleasure to ride. We took our time and started at the back of the group. I enjoyed the blue sky, sunshine and gorgeous scenery. There was fog that morning and as we rode over the crest of a hill you could see the Quaker houses in the distance and the fog in the valleys. It was just heavenly. We galloped beside the rock fences that Kentucky is famous for, crossed many creeks and saw a waterfall, 4 deer, hawks, etc. Trail riding is my favorite activity to do with my horse. I sing to her (when no one is near enough to hear me) and she rides with bells around her neck. I am filled a deep satisfying joy when we are enjoying the day together. She had great scores from the vets and I even had a lady ask if she could take a picture of her because she thought she was so pretty. She is 7 1/2 months pregnant and in great shape. Ronnie came with me and we camped overnight. We had a great supper at the lodge Friday night. He got a little worried when I was late getting into camp but he said 75% of the people were complaining of getting lost too. I am glad he comes along - he built a fire in his camp wok and we enjoyed looking at the stars.

Walk at Work

Fall is breathtaking in Kentucky. I woke up tired this morning and took a walk with Mary at lunch. It got the blood pumping and I'm awake now. This is the road to my office and we walk 2 miles almost everyday to the front gate and back. In Texas I never saw the bright colors of fall.
Kentucky has beautiful sunsets too. I will walk with Rhonda this evening and go another 6 miles. Total of 8 miles walked today. Good thing since I am drinking a Dr. Pepper (empty calories).