Thursday, May 20, 2010
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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