A Plethora of Updates....

I love the word plethora. It sounds so... anatomical when really it's anything but....it's like a word in disguise...

*blank stare*

So I have a spattering of updates for you. Where to start?

First....

That big move I told you about? It's not happening.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing. The reason why we're staying put is because my DB has an amazing business opportunity that will hopefully equate to more horsey $$ for me (That is how I measure our finances- by how much expendable horse dollars it creates:). But most importantly this new job has inspired him and filled his mind and heart with a new verve for life... it's piqued his innate creativity and rekindled his passion for business.

You know that expression, "If Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy?" well... the truth is that goes both ways. "If Daddy aint happy, aint nobody happy either!" He's happier and so am I.

Second...

I've put on a bunch of weight. Weight I could ill afford to gain. Two months. For two whole months (since my sisters accident) I've been pretty much sittin' on my derriere and eating like I aint got nothin' to loose. My Buddha belly would but Buddha to shame. I just have to get my bodatiously bubbly butt moving again and get ready for summer. I plan on starting immediately... just as soon as the weather clears... next month some time.

Third...

Horses. Where are the horses? I have not taken a lesson or gone for a ride in two months. Why? Well my mind was filled with little else but my sister's health for the entire month of March. The month of April I found I had regressed back into the Great Depression of 09! I only realized just how depressed I was in 09 after I'd come out the other side. I swore to myself I wouldnt get back to that state. But the stress of our disastrous trip, facing a move, and trying to reorganize (pretty much) my entire life (and feeling ill equipt to do so) brought on a new dose of the blues. I plan on hitchin' up my big girl panties and getting out of this hump immediately.... just as soon as the weather clears... next month sometime.

Forth....

A new plan. I need to make a new plan!!! *she says like the manically stressed White Rabbit in Alice In Wonderland* I need to figure out a new work plan! School Plan! Horse Plan! Life Plan! Travel Plan! Dog Plan! A new plan! I need a new plan!!! I plan on starting a new plan immediately....next month sometime...when the weather clears.

Fifth....

I went to the Brooks n Dunn Last Rodeo concert last night! It was awesome! In case you didnt know these guys are parting ways at the end of this tour! I cant begin to understand why but I guess they have their reasons. Boot Scoot n Boogie, Cowgirls Dont Cry, Rock My World Little Country Girl, Believe, My Maria... these guys have so many classics it's not even funny. We had a great night. Oh and did I mention that while DB was in the washroom a couple of cops came in to use the facilities and discovered a couple... copulating in one of the stalls? The cops forced open the door and the fornicating freaks tumbled out all in a tangle.

That was the highlight of DB's night! Let me tell you!

Sixth...

Hawky-dog has my number. So last month I spent $518 on a half dozen x-rays in an effort to diagnose Hawk's mystery lameness...to no good effect. The mystery lameness remained a mystery. The vet recommended $600 pulse therapy. I decided that I'd rather spend $24 on a weeks worth of anti-inflammatory drugs just to give him some immediate relief and then go from there. One week and $24 later...he was sound. He still has a bad day now and then but nothing even close to how bad he was. I hope he'll continues to improve.

Seventh...

Hmmm... you know... I think that's all I got! And you wont believe it but the weather actually is clearing! I swear! When I wrote "when the weather clears... next month sometime" the windows were speckled with raindrops, the wind was howling and the sky was leaden gray. As I finish this post the rain has stopped. The wind has calmed and I see a patch of blue on the horizon. I think it's a sign. Dont believe me? See for yourself!!!

Time to get movin'.

ABBYS FILLY !!!!!

WHIZEROO

Red Dun Filly born April 25th, 2010

Sire: Jumping Jack Whiz (Topsail Whiz x MS Maggie Jac by Hollywood Jac 86)

Dam: Roosters Abby (Gallo Del Cielo (Rooster) x Rosie O Shorty by Rosie O Llama)

All photos property of Marcy McBride

For those who might not know, this filly is out of my mare (Abby) who I have on a breeding lease to McBrides Quarter Horses. As such Whizeroo belongs to McBrides. I am, nonetheless, immensely proud of the quality of filly Abby produced and wish to kingdom come and back that I could have her for my own:)

(click for link to McBrides Quarter Horses)

Andrea the computer-human-wannabe

(Picture that tries to evoke an inner zen-like-peace!)

Yesterday afternoon I was on hold with my cell phone provider.

Despite my best effort, I wasn't actually able to speak to a human being.

Wanna know what pisses me off even more than a ten minute wait time and disinterested service (*snort*) provider?

Andrea.

Andrea, the computer human wanna-be.

Andrea says: "Hi! My name is Andrea. I'll be helping you today. Can I start by getting your birth date?"

And I say, "No, your name is NOT Andrea because you're a computer!" (And then I say my birth date.)

Andrea: "I'm sorry but I didn't hear that. Please try again."

Chelsi: "Shocking! And here I thought inanimate objects couldn't "hear" at all!" (hits zero repeatedly)

Andrea: "Would you like to hear the options again?"

Chelsi: "OPERATOR!!" (now gripping the cell with white knuckles.)

Andrea: "It seems I'm having trouble understanding you. Let's start over. Can I begin with your birth date?"

Chelsi: "Understanding me? Understanding me! You're not an f-ing human, Andrea! Get over it! And let me speak to a freakin OPERATOR!" (Blood pressure spikes)

Andrea: "I'm sorry I'm having trouble understanding you. Let's start over. Can I begin with your birth date?"

Chelsi: (now trying to be polite... as if this makes a difference to an inanimate computer program.) "Can I PLEASE speak to an OPERATOR!!!"

Andrea: "You're password has been reset. Can I help you with anything else today?"

Chelsi: (bangs head repeatedly on counter) "Bloody &*#ing &$^#n&^ucker computer-animated-human-wannabe-*#$%

Andrea: "Thank you for calling."

(train running over river.)

Three Picture Thursday- Love it or Hate it.

I havent decided if I love or hate the above photo. Please feel free to love it or hate it with me.



Wet Fields and Corn Stalks.


Wishing I had the above for PW's "green" photo contest.

I know the above picture makes it four pictures instead of three... but "Four Picture Thursday" just didnt have the same ring to it.

I ♥ Hawky-dog

(note: Hawky would never growl at his sister! Bitty is biting his whiskers:)

The View From Poppie's Beer Drinking Spot

The Arab Stink Eye!

Have you ever been given the 'stink eye' by an ol'Arabian gelding?

Well let me tell you, I sure have!

Would you think any less of me if I told you that this look...


I find a little scary?

... this is the look that says, "Back off Buddy! I ain't buyin' what you're sellin' so go peddle em' apples someplace else, or else... !!!"

But ever so often I come across that grumpy horse with the laid back ears and fierce stink eye and I get to thinkin' that maybe... just maybe it's all one big bluff...

And so I tentatively... oh-so-slowly reach out a trembling hand....I inch slowly towards his gnarly forelock... my fingers itching for the first soft touch of his silken coat.... but then I pause...there is that look again...

And I think to myself that maybe it isnt a bluff after all.

And so I tentatively, oh-so-slowly extract my hand from that ol' geldings reach....

And thank my lucky stars that it's still intact.

DB's first love- Tabasco

From the time I first met DB it was apparent he had one true first love- Tabasco. Since that time I've come to embrace that lowly bottle of fiery orange sauce and even took to carrying a small bottle in my purse in case of emergency...

Emergency you say with doubt! Oh, but it is! Imagine the moment when some poor waitress must tell DB that their restaurant is *gasp* out of Tabasco!!! Or even worse! That they would inexplicably not carry it!??! Just picture DB's insolent expression of incomprehensibility. But wait... it gets even worse! Imagine when that waitress offers him some *cue scary music* other brand! Cant you just see DB's horrified expression... the incredulous way he spits out the words, "Franks Red Hot Sauce" and then turns his head to shudder with disgust.

Tabasco is an absolute necessity on eggs, hash browns, all meats, burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and virtually every other food (except things sweet) that DB eats.

And so concludes the story of DB's first love, Tabasco and so completes this collection of Sunday Stills.

Cue the "Awww"s... It's a Kitten...

I'd like you all to meet Tony...

Unfortunately, Tony is not my kitten.

Though I'd happily make him my kitten if his Momma would be so kind as to turn her back for just a moment while I slip him in my pocket and sneak out the door....

This face is just too cute to resist....

You know who else is cute?

Tony's big brother Diesel the Beagle....

That little itty bitty spot about mid-way down the trail would be Diesel. He accompanied Hawkydog, his Mom and I on a hike this afternoon.

Diesel may be little but that little dog is a mighty fierce walker....

But then so is this guy....

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Speaking of Eye's I Love and Ladybugs!

This dog... he's got my heart for now and forever.

In our home, all creatures great and small are welcome...

....well almost all creatures.... I dont usually welcome insects.... however, I've never quite been able to bring myself to kill a ladybug... unless you count sucking them up with the vacuum (but I like to think that they dont really die when I do that)....

Even LuLu doesn't seem to know what to make of them...

Here is LuLu sniffing out a ladybug....



Here is the ladybug sniffing out LuLu....

(Note Pingu watching (from the Kleenex box) in the background.)

When you find a ladybug in your house do you sweep it up and toss it out the door, leave it alone or *gasp* kill it?

**No ladybugs were harmed in the making of this post**

Tuesday on the Bayou

A picture I took last week of the bayou (we call it estuary) in my hometown.... this reminds me of one of my favorite songs, written by George Jones and Meryl Haggard, that I first heard sung by Alan Jackson... the first lines read...

"Wish I were down
On some blue bayou...
bamboo cane stuck in the sand
but the road I'm on
dont seem to go there
so I'll just dream and keep on being
the way I am"

Head Case

(Pictures from my hike with my sister yesterday)

I'm a freakin' head case. A crazy horse person! This blog is aptly named "horse crazed mind"... though maybe it should read "crazed horse mind"... only that doesn't sound nearly as good:)

So... that impossible to find leasing situation? Not so impossible after all. In fact, two days ago I was offered the chance to ride a beautiful, sweet, great minded, well trained (English jumper) mare at a really nice (indoor) facility, not 20 minutes from home by a lady I know takes amazing care of her horses and is a warm, friendly and (bless her heart) even sane!

Not a single fly in the ointment except one...

Leasing is not the right option for me.

I heard you sigh! I know, I know! Hear me out...

It was not until that such an ideal situation came along that I realized I had inadvertently created the same situation for myself as I had so carefully crafted for my mare Abby.

You see, in 2008 Abby and I both worked damn hard in a training program. We both came a long way in learning the fine art of reining. A lot of money... (that is an understatement) was spent getting her and I to the point where our old bad habits were broken down and replaced with new, supple, and better ways of riding.

In New Years of 09 I sent Abby out on a two year breeding lease. I did so because I could no longer afford to keep her (or I) in training and I felt it was better to have her sit unused (from a riding perspective) than to bring her home and have her used casually where she could potentially loose her training and redevelop those old bad habits. I was so focused on my horse that I never stopped to recognize that the same could be said of me... not until a year later (and a year away from horses) - when I was offered the chance to ride a well trained English horse- did I think of all the time, effort and money I put into MY OWN training and how perhaps the year away from riding was a saving grace... allowing me, like Abby, to preserve the foundation I put on my self and avoid the casually and subconscious relearning of bad habits that can develop through casual riding.

I am going to go back to reining lessons. I will need a tune up, to be sure... but I hope that once I regain my strength and co-ordination, once the proverbial dust has been blown off my mind, I will find that most of what I learned in 08 will be there, in tact and ready to be built upon.

Now, at this time I cant go back to my trainer, Kari, no matter how much I love her. It takes an hour and half one way to get to her barn and the gas, plus cost of lesson would come out to about $75 a lesson. WAY out of my budget. I'm going to look local and see if I cant book a lesson for this week! I have some reservations about the style, ethics, and training methods of a new instructor... but still, I'm really excited to get started again!

Blasted Blooming Bloody Buds of April

I am cursing the flowers.

The F'in buds of April. The bloody green grass and friggin' bloomin' blasted cherry blossoms. Bastards!

LOL

Sorry, I had a little outburst.

Every year... without fail... from about April till the end of June, you will catch me scowling fiercely at anything that blooms... you may hear me natter something unintelligible... a string of profanity as I eyeball an offending flower, tree or lawnmower....

Yesterday, I tried to ignore the throb between my eye brows.... The congestion in my nose.... My itchy eyes and lack of energy... I moved about the house sluggishly... trying to deny the obvious...

It is here.

Cursed. Seasonal. Allergies.

Excuse me while I cry. *wipes tear from cheek*

And please excuse me if for the next month or two I become ornery (or more ornery than usual, I should say). And if I swear occasionally for no good reason. Oh... and if I dont post much because I am too busy running around town with a chain saw and a box of kleenex cutting down every stand of Cottonwood, Alder, Rhododendrons, or Cherry trees like some long haired, red eyed, snot nosed logger gone postal!

Sorry. I'll be back sometime in July.

Till then, my friends. *aaaaachhhoooo*

The Darling Buds of April

A low gray cloud, blown in by some bitter wind,
came to fill the valley around my home,
to turn loose a rain so cold,
it bit and nipped at the earth
and boiled the air into a steamy fog
before giving way to flakes of heavy wet snow.

A darkness, so rich it painted the sky a solemn gray at dawn,
lay weightily over the hearts and souls of the men belows its harbor...
Sinking those who bore the black waters of winter, who had tread towards the light in hope that the lion might not smother the lamb.

Going to bed one steely black night,
with no promise of a brighter morn,
they arose to find a new warm wind had driven the dark over the mountains
and brought to rise a gentle pink sunrise- the promise of a fine day.

This morning, the sun shone down,
laying its golden touch on each and every tender bud,
setting alight the new green grass and filling the air with the smells and sounds of Spring.

The darling buds of April....

Photos and Poem by Chelsi