Thursday, May 27, 2010
Bzzzzzzz
I am a bee today. Busy, busy, busy. Busy, but happy, with friends in my hive and dancing. Lots of dancing.
Where Has the Time Gone?
My baby.
My itty bitty wittle baby.
All grown up and graduating.
*sniff*
Even sent me a graduation announcement, which I received today.
And I feel proud. And sad. And worried. And amazed. And wondering. And nostalgic.
And really, really old.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Home Again
I went home today. Not home as in "Idaho", though. Home as in "Pony Barn".
The number of staff present at the ranch swells every day, and with only a few weeks until the Summer Season is in full sway, it was time to reopen the pony barn. The ponies and other critters haven't arrived yet, so I spent the morning moving water troughs out of storage, cleaning helmets, and soaping saddles.
When I got dressed, I stuffed my mp3 player into my pocket so that I could have some music while I worked. But when I sat down to polish the tack and turned the music on, it made me feel strangely out of sorts.
So I turned it off and listened to the natural music that always surrounds me at the pony barn: birds of every feather sang a varied chorus as they flew above my head. The sun-bleached branches of the dead windbreak trees gave voice to the wind. Muffled, echo-y voices from the tent and maintenance crews drifted by me.
I turned my face up towards the sun and let it warm my eyelids. The breeze busily braided the tips of my hair. A hummingbird buzzed inches from my nose and nearly gave me a heart attack.
Already, I am sad to think of leaving this place in August. I know it does no one any good to dread an inevitable future, but this is my home--more so than any place ever has been before. And silly as it might make me look, I am going to savor every moment. Every wind-whisper. Every melodic Oriole.
And I will let the sun burn the memory of this place into my skin until I am as brown as the locals. For someday, someday I will be one of them.
The number of staff present at the ranch swells every day, and with only a few weeks until the Summer Season is in full sway, it was time to reopen the pony barn. The ponies and other critters haven't arrived yet, so I spent the morning moving water troughs out of storage, cleaning helmets, and soaping saddles.
When I got dressed, I stuffed my mp3 player into my pocket so that I could have some music while I worked. But when I sat down to polish the tack and turned the music on, it made me feel strangely out of sorts.
So I turned it off and listened to the natural music that always surrounds me at the pony barn: birds of every feather sang a varied chorus as they flew above my head. The sun-bleached branches of the dead windbreak trees gave voice to the wind. Muffled, echo-y voices from the tent and maintenance crews drifted by me.
I turned my face up towards the sun and let it warm my eyelids. The breeze busily braided the tips of my hair. A hummingbird buzzed inches from my nose and nearly gave me a heart attack.
Already, I am sad to think of leaving this place in August. I know it does no one any good to dread an inevitable future, but this is my home--more so than any place ever has been before. And silly as it might make me look, I am going to savor every moment. Every wind-whisper. Every melodic Oriole.
And I will let the sun burn the memory of this place into my skin until I am as brown as the locals. For someday, someday I will be one of them.
Sad Day
I knew it was Thursday.
But it didn't feel like Thursday.
I told myself many times that it was Thursday.
But it didn't feel like Thursday.
I did typical always-do-this-on-Thursday things for a Thursday.
But it didn't feel like Thursday.
However....
I have had this
background,
swimming around,
two days running,
occasionally rearing it's mean face
headache.
So if I haven't felt
quite up to snuff myself,
then it should be
no surprise
That it didn't feel like Thursday.
Still....
Sad day--very sad day--when
It doesn't feel like a Thursday.
Arg.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Down in the Valley, Valley So Low
I am sighing again, but this time it is with sighs of happy, happy, happy exhaustion.
This afternoon, I went riding with Mom and her friend Jill. We trailered the horses up towards Silver City (one of my favorite places ever) and rode down a trail called "The Crossings"--and I learned how apt the name is when we crossed the river 55 times! We counted. Well, we lost count at one point because there were so many, but there were at least 55 crossings.
I wish I had taken my camera so I could show you how incredible it was. I fully intended to take it, but when Mom warned me that I might get pretty wet, I decided against it. So just imagine this: the river flowed lazily through a valley flanked on both sides by towers of red, iron-rich metamorphosed basalt, where birds wheeled about on updrafts and swept in and out of caves high above our heads. We passed through "Willow Tunnel", a path just wide enough for our horses and barely tall enough for horses with riders. The water was blue and green with algae, with red rocks beneath the surface. Flecks of golden mica shimmered in the sunlight. Rio the dog would run, dripping, from the water to the sandy banks, where she would roll, and return to the river disguised as some dog-sized sand monster. What a life for a dog--she grinned happily, tongue lolling as she trotted beside the horses and flushed water birds.
The best part of the ride, though, was when we let the horses run up a steep hill and found ourselves facing a long, flat dirt road. I was in the lead, and just as I was about to pull my horse back to a walk, Jill passed me on the right and issued an unspoken challenge to race. I didn't even have to ask Mo. He happily lit the afterburners and we tore after Jill and her bay gelding, the wind so loud in our ears that I could hardly hear myself laughing. I have galloped before, but only in short bursts. We ran like this for what seemed an eternity, and even the horses were disappointed when we finally had to stop them before we reached a ranch gate. Once through, Mo begged me to let him run again, and it almost broke my heart to keep him at a walk. "You need to save your energy, big guy," I told him. When you ride with Jill, you never know how steep the next hill will be.
Like the hill that nearly killed me. It wasn't so steep as others I have ridden, but the footing was loose, sandy soil that shifted under every hoof. We literally had to go down sideways, creating our own switchbacks on the unstable mountain side. I would have been thrilled if I hadn't been so worried about my saddle, which had mysteriously loosened (I checked it twice before I mounted!) and was busy inching its way towards poor Mo's head! As I saw my life flash before my eyes, I thought, "Well, it's a good thing I went through the Temple this week!"
But I made it out alive and happy, and I will live to ride again another day.
These, then, are the things that I live for.
This afternoon, I went riding with Mom and her friend Jill. We trailered the horses up towards Silver City (one of my favorite places ever) and rode down a trail called "The Crossings"--and I learned how apt the name is when we crossed the river 55 times! We counted. Well, we lost count at one point because there were so many, but there were at least 55 crossings.
I wish I had taken my camera so I could show you how incredible it was. I fully intended to take it, but when Mom warned me that I might get pretty wet, I decided against it. So just imagine this: the river flowed lazily through a valley flanked on both sides by towers of red, iron-rich metamorphosed basalt, where birds wheeled about on updrafts and swept in and out of caves high above our heads. We passed through "Willow Tunnel", a path just wide enough for our horses and barely tall enough for horses with riders. The water was blue and green with algae, with red rocks beneath the surface. Flecks of golden mica shimmered in the sunlight. Rio the dog would run, dripping, from the water to the sandy banks, where she would roll, and return to the river disguised as some dog-sized sand monster. What a life for a dog--she grinned happily, tongue lolling as she trotted beside the horses and flushed water birds.
The best part of the ride, though, was when we let the horses run up a steep hill and found ourselves facing a long, flat dirt road. I was in the lead, and just as I was about to pull my horse back to a walk, Jill passed me on the right and issued an unspoken challenge to race. I didn't even have to ask Mo. He happily lit the afterburners and we tore after Jill and her bay gelding, the wind so loud in our ears that I could hardly hear myself laughing. I have galloped before, but only in short bursts. We ran like this for what seemed an eternity, and even the horses were disappointed when we finally had to stop them before we reached a ranch gate. Once through, Mo begged me to let him run again, and it almost broke my heart to keep him at a walk. "You need to save your energy, big guy," I told him. When you ride with Jill, you never know how steep the next hill will be.
Like the hill that nearly killed me. It wasn't so steep as others I have ridden, but the footing was loose, sandy soil that shifted under every hoof. We literally had to go down sideways, creating our own switchbacks on the unstable mountain side. I would have been thrilled if I hadn't been so worried about my saddle, which had mysteriously loosened (I checked it twice before I mounted!) and was busy inching its way towards poor Mo's head! As I saw my life flash before my eyes, I thought, "Well, it's a good thing I went through the Temple this week!"
But I made it out alive and happy, and I will live to ride again another day.
These, then, are the things that I live for.
Happy Thursday Birthdays!
Thursday not only celebrates awesome things, but it celebrates awesome people. My Thursday today was utterly joyous in celebrating two birthdays of two awesome people. These two people in the last year have come to be very great friends. They entered my life exactly when I needed them--and oh how I needed them! They have blessed me so much, and I don't want to imagine what the last year would have been like without them. I love each one.
So how wonderful and fitting to celebrate on a Thursday the blessing of two amazing people entering this world.
Happy Thursday Birthdays to "Peanut Lover" and "Madame President."
The Journey to See Kay
Our adventurous heroine, Jaclyn, began her journey in the lovely Salt Lake Valley.
After a long flight, Mount Hood suddenly appeared in the passenger window.
But her trip was far from over. Cheri Kay got lost and took Jaclyn on a detour through Vancouver, Washington. She also stopped on a bridge.
On her return to Oregon, Jaclyn happened upon a older ladies ice skating class.
Proof that she really did make it to Oregon.
Before arriving at their final destination, Cheri Kay and Jaclyn visited the temple.
Jaclyn liked the flowers.
And the temple.
The end.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sigh
–verb (used without object)
Source: http://www.dictionary.com/
1.to let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief.–verb (used with object)\
2.to yearn or long; pine.
3.to make a sound suggesting a sigh: sighing wind.
4.to express or utter with a sigh.–noun
5.to lament with sighing.
6.the act or sound of sighing.—Related forms
sigher, noun--Used in a sentence: Jess sighed for many reasons.
outsigh, verb (used with object)
un·sigh·ing, adjective
Source: http://www.dictionary.com/
Love. Twuue Love.
I know I said you were the only one Shad, but can't a girl have three true loves? You know I've always had a thing for your type. And well, I just can't resist. The other two are sooooo cute. Just see for yourself:
I know, look at those eyes!
Yeah, stinking cute.
So Shadow, although your Shih Tzu face is irresistible, get ready to welcome these two handsome Australian Shepherd, Border Collie brothers into the family! I am so excited! Thursdays really are the bringers of wonderful news!
Cheer-up Shaddy, I'll always have a special place for you.
"I like smiling. Smiling's my favorite."
If you chance to meet a [not-so-happy-event-on-the-supposed-to-be-amazing-Thursday]
Do not let it stay!
Simply [do a whole bunch of wahoo-isn't-this-fantastic!?! things]
And smile that [not-so-happy-event-on-the-supposed-to-be-amazing-Thursday] away!
No one likes a [not-so-happy-event-on-the-supposed-to-be-amazing-Thursday]
Change it for a smile.
Make the world a better place
By [doing a whole bunch of wahoo-isn't-this-fantastic!?! things] all the while.
And it really works.
Amen.
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