Palms

Coconuts, Mangos, Iguanas, Bananas, Tequila, Cruise Ships, Lightening, Sunburn, Music, Food, Agave

Jet Skis, Jungle, Muddy Rivers, Parachutes, Silver, Snakes, Mountains, Opulence, Movie Sets, Buses

Statues, Bandares Bay, T-shirt Shops, Talavera Tile, Ice Cream, Multi-lingual, Lichi Nuts, Fruit Stands

Mexican Highway, Mountainous Road, Jungle Canopy, Tour Buses, Water, Water, Water, Water, Wet Socks, Toll Roads, 1600 Miles

Wha'd I miss?

Summer Sunrise

These summer sunrises aren't nearly as dramatic as the colorful winter ones. And once the sun peaks over the hill I have to lean around my big lamp and hide from the eye-blinding rays. Sunrise down here is around 5:30, and sunset is close to 7:30.
We are driving down to Puerto Vallarta this weekend for a week of laziness and civilization. I'll try to capture interesting shots of stuff we don't see around here.

Hot Summer Swim

Since it's really summer now, here is what is going on in our neighborhood. Most Mexicans love their seashore as much as a Tarheel. Enjoy the swim.

Moving Along

My friend is having her 60th birthday today. She is not allowing celebration because today is also a sad day. It was her mother's birthday as well, and mother passed away last December. So it is the first birthday they don't get to have each other. I made a card that says, Happy Summer Day and got her this vase and cut flowers just to liven up the mood.

Meanwhile, Floyd wanted to help me set up the flowers and insisted he stick his nose right in the arrangement. A week ago today we had to put his best buddy, Chester, to sleep. It broke our hearts into a million pieces to lose our Staff Sargent who told us when to get up, eat lunch, serve dinner, and go to bed. Everyday for Chester was a strict schedule of ins and outs and ups and downs. Now we have to go about our days rather lost. But, the fact that Floyd thought he should help with the flowers made me feel better that someone would take up the organization of our little family.

Desk Space

Pony Girl in all her cuteness tagged whoever to post a picture of their spot where they read blogs and otherwise spend too many hours/day. I decided to be honest and not clean up the mess I live around. This picture shows my personality pretty much as you see it. Slightly tilted lampshade and lots of important objects surrounding my very beloved black MacBook. A favorite Lindt Stymeist Button Mug. A big bottle of water. An external hard-drive. Several books including "All The Pretty Horses" that I have in line to read, and a California map book. A pair of scissors. Les Choristes DVD. A telephone. My lovely pink cell phone attached to a charger. A pair of tweezers. A used piece of dental floss. Pens. You don't see the very large surge protector, that includes a voltage regulator so my computer is Protected, behind the chair.

ABC's

Ami tagged me to tell these very interesting facts about me. There might be a quiz later so stay awake and take notes.

A. Attached or Single-I'm married and have been forever

B. Best friend- Sue. She's been my friend since even before I met my husband!

C. Cake or Pie- YES. ok ok, cake I guess.

D. Day of Choice- Thursday, it's right before Friday!

E. Essential item- Tweezers

F. Flavor of Ice Cream- Butter Pecan

G. Gummy bears or Worms- Gummy bears, but I love sour worms

H. Hometown- Atherton

I. Indulgences- My horse

J. January or July- July

K. Kids- 2

L. Last movie I saw in a theatre- Made of Honor (not so bad)

M. This one was missing so let's make one up...Magic Kingdom or Sea
World- Sea World

N. Number of siblings- 2

O. Oranges or Apples- Apples

P. Phobias or Fears- Heights, or falling

Q. Quote- "...bite off the nose to spite the face"

R. Reasons to smile- A really nice deli sandwich

S. Season- Spring

T. Tag-(only if you want to) Pony Girl and Mud Ranch

U. Unknown fact about me- I have seen Milli Vanilli in concert

V. Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals- Meat Eater

W. Worst Habit- Leaving the dishes until morning

X. X-Rays or Ultrasounds- X-rays

Y. Your favorite food- Pasta

Z. Zodiac- Aries

Royal Poinciana

That's the tree that shades my front patio. I finally found the real name of it after several years of calling it just Beauty. Maybe that's the same species that is called a Flame Tree in Africa.

More Monster Lessons

Yesterday we finally worked on walking across the dreaded tarp. I've been meaning to do this little task for, oh, about a year. I finally found the moon and stars in a row and remembered to take a tarp out to the barn along with the other important tool, the handy lunge line.

First I put the bundled up tarp in the arena with her loose so she had the opportunity to smell and taste it. Don't you love it when they cock their head to get a good look at any monster lurking under the object? Then, just holding the end of the lunge line loosely I drug the tarp to the position in which to work. Since it was breezy I needed to find a few small rocks to weigh it down on the corners. With all systems 'go' we petted and relaxed and discussed what I had on my mind. I stood next to the tarp and sent her off on a little circle. She locked her brakes as soon as she realized there was no place to go other than over the monster. Stop and think. Then, back the other way. Screeching brakes again. Slowly and softly we did this several times before I got her head and neck across in the left direction. A few more slow semi-circles and she gritted her teeth and barely stepped on the demon. We stood and contemplated whether she might lose that hoof or not and then she walked directly onto the middle of it and took a mouthful to be sure it was dead. Her very best human friend, Larry, had walked up to the rail in the middle of all this torture so after she bit the beast a few times and then let out her long held breath we walked over to receive a treat from him. A brief recess then we went back to work a little more on the right side but she was much more cautious that way. Her Ying and Yang weren't in agreement that this monster should be trusted. We went back to Ying and finished on a high note. Another day we will deal with Yang.

Bella's Belly
That Felt So Good

Teddy

I loved him. I had hope that he would continue to show how talented ponies (or small horses) can be. He was a shining star.
He had to be put down due to an awful fall that tore tendons in a back leg. It happened on his way into the barn as he was rushing in. A simple slip and now this incredible pony is gone.

The View

I got to go bye-bye in a plane this morning. It was quite lovely seeing the town from above.

Desert Blooms


Saguaro Cacti are blooming all over California and Arizona. They are so beautiful and dramatic. (I didn't take this picture but found it online to show you what I've been rubber-necking for all the way back down into Mexico.)


This little cactus in my California garden heard me say I was leaving and rushed it's blossom to open before I left. I woke up before dawn and looked right out at it.


And then I got home to Mexico and found the sun rising way far north over an energetic bay.

Spa Day

Yep. We get our nails done in Mexico, too. At least some of us do.

Road Trip

That's not my picture. But take away the clouds and it could be.

We were up in California at our abandoned home where new tile had just been installed. I spent days and days on my knees cleaning and organizing my furniture back to where it should be. Oh, and dust! So much dust. It all had to be scrapped and blown off of everything. Hey, I found out you can use the air can for your keyboard to blow dust off everything. That does put it back into the air, however, and then it will settle somewhere else. But for little nooks you can't get to the air can is perfect.

Back down here gas prices are steady at around $2.60something and the stores aren't short on rice.

I have yet another trip back up in a few weeks to check out the new carpet we ordered for the bedrooms. I just wish I could make it on one tank of gas.

Teddy Bear Cactus

These cute little sparkly spines jump right off the cactus and right onto the wandering horses walking by. Most of these little desert horses just live with the spines until they can flick them off with a tail or someone else's tail. My little band doesn't seem to pick them up very often, but on occasion we find a "pear" hanging off a lower leg. Anything besides a human hand will do as removal equipment. Shoes, rocks, ropes, whatever is handy and nearby is used. And they usually come off in one nice piece with nothing left behind.

Bella must have backed right into a "bush" because she came home with several spines coming out of her hock. It was simple to remove them and a day later all was still normal. Bella gets a thorough going over every time she comes in from the desert. I use Swat on any and all marks and scratches so the flies don't continually bother her. As you know, she is ENTITLED. Mochie, the old gelding, and the others watch in wonder at what I'm doing to her. Brushing burrs out of her tail, checking to see her eyes are clean, putting Swat under her belly, cleaning her boobs, picking her hooves. It's all questionable to them. And then there's the bucket of happiness.

Alright. I can't put this off any longer. It's been working it's way steadily, one second at a time, 'til it's right here ready to smack me in the face. I'm turning 60 the day after manana.

WORK IT GIRL

What happened to the buckskin in this filly?
Bella was in the largest paddock yesterday when I arrived to give her the much beloved bucket of happiness. The horses kind of play musical chairs in this small family farm and they get to go into whatever paddock is nearest when they come in from their daily desert freedom. As I took my time entering, turning to latch the gate, and then facing her she was doing her best imitation of a very mean mare. Ears back, shaking her mane from side to side, but not approaching me. I shook my finger down around my waist and she backed up about 4 feet. More tap dances and more finger wagging and I had her a good 8 feet back. Then, happiness was produced for the smartest little girl in the world.
I love her throat-latch.

I got some.
So?
I'm always excited to find some new candy.
Why?
Cause I really like fresh candy.

I grew up with this guy's mother. We rode at the same stable and we went to the same schools forever. McLain has surpassed both of his parents horsemanship which is saying alot. Especially his dad.
This video was just pointed out to me from another buddy who we rode with.

Since I'm so lame (listening to too many boys lately) and I have no "me" time I'll post a recent forwarded email that entertained me for a few minutes.

1. People who don't take care of their own horses will be the first ones to tell you how to care for yours.
2. You should never buy a cheap girth!
3. A handsome horse that's badly behaved will become a lot less attractive in about 15 min.
4. People who think they have nothing more to learn about riding hit the ground the hardest.
5. Children and ponies are natural allies and often have identical dispositions.
6. The richest horse people often look the poorest.
7. The closeness of a horse is one of the sweetest smells in the world.
8. A solitary ride through the bush is more beneficial than six months with the best psychiatrist.
9. The worse a person rides, the more likely they are going to blame it on the horse.
10. The best thing about going to the barn first thing in the morning is that horses don't care how you look.
11. If a dealer insists a horse is worth twice what he's asking he's usually worth half that much.
12. The best way to appreciate how another person rides is to get on their horse.
13. I can recognize another horse person no matter what town, city, state, county or country I visit.
14. You can never have too many hoof picks.
15. It is not wise to argue with something that outweighs you by 1,000 pounds
16. I'd rather have a horse with a perfect mind then a perfect head.
17. Eight hours is too long to be in the saddle!
18. If you think you have left the water on in the barn you have; if you think you have closed the pasture gate you haven't.
19. When someone asks you if you like their horse always say yes :)
20. The happiest people I know own horses, dogs, cats and at least one deranged goat.
21. If you're looking for the perfect horse you will never own one.
22. Owning a horse can either make a marriage or break it.
23. I'd rather lose my lipstick then my curb chain.
24. You shouldn't talk about your first place ribbon to someone that came in second.
25. If someone says that horse has a little buck, it has a BIG buck.
26. If we need rain, schedule a horse show or trail ride.
27. I've never warmed up to someone that didn't want a walk down to the stables to see the horses.
28. A clean stable and a sparkling horse are among life's great pleasures.
29. Even given-away horses can be too expensive. Especially give-away horses.
30. No matter how badly behaved you are, your horse always gives you a second chance.
31. A more expensive horse doesn't make a better one.
32. I can't stand to have an empty stable.
33. Losing a horse can break your heart, but it will have been worth it.

Bella's 3rd Birthday
It's today and I'm not there to spoil her with a big yummy bucket of pellets and carrots. I'll probably get home by Easter day and then I can lavish her with gifts.

Movie Reviews

While I was up in Oregon and Barbie was recuperating we got to rent and watch movies. I'm always way behind in current movies so a trip to the rental store is always like my eyes are bigger than my stomach. So many to see, so little time.

Here is our list and our opinions:

• Death at a Funeral-two thumbs up, comedy
• Secret Life of Words-two big thumbs up, drama
• Michael Clayton-two thumbs up, drama
• Elizabeth The Golden Age-two thumbs up, drama
• Copying Beethoven-two thumbs down, we only watched 20 minutes, couldn't take any more
• Once-two big thumbs up, musical
• Kinky Boots-two thumbs up, comedy/drama
• The Darjeeling Express-two big thumbs up, comedy/drama
• Goya's Ghost-two thumbs down, but we did watch the whole thing, drama
• Evening-two thumbs sideways, disappointing drama with a good cast
• 3:10 to Yuma-thumbs up, drama (Russell Crow appears to be able to really ride)
• Juno (in the theatre)-two thumbs way up, quirky drama

If I was forced with threats of no dessert to pick my favorite movie I would probably say, "The Secret Life of Words." It was so painful, well acted and written. Not a light movie.
We enjoyed the music so much in Once and Juno that we downloaded both soundtracks from iTunes.

See that little fog bank out there? It enveloped us this morning, but is now receding. Kind of like my foggy little brain.
I returned home yesterday from my nursing duties in Oregon. I wish I had another week or two to stay with my sister but my husband was done with being a bachelor and I had my plane ticket in hand. That rotator cuff surgery business is tough and it is a long recovery. Being one armed for weeks on end is no good. I did make sure Barbie could open her own wine bottles and feed the cat before I left. Oh, and you know that barn coat I took along? It certainly came in handy to wrap Barbie in after the surgery. She wore it like a cocoon for days until we were able to unhook and unwrap her little stapled wounds. Luckily she has fluffy Venus to keep her warm with me gone along with my coat. I wish I could have just brought them both back home with me.
By the way, I haven't been in Oregon in the winter/spring in quite some time. It is so beautiful!

Oregon in Late February
I'm up in Oregon tending to my sister Barbie who had rotator cuff surgery on Monday. This is not fun for her, but is an interesting change of pace for me. I'm loving the green, wet, cool, fresh, clean, blooming, quiet, restful, healthy, natural, organic, available, thoughtful lifestyle that surrounds us. I can breathe and think deeply as I walk. And I can walk almost everywhere.

Here's an old picture of Holly and me when we were both teenagers. I posted this before and wrote a little entry about our relationship here.

Busy little Mudranch tagged me to post an old photo and I'm afraid that is the only one I have other than the photo of me on my stick-horse I use as my icon. Sorry to be so repetitive. I actually love that picture and I certainly did love that horse.

Floyd

Cats seem to know things that are only in our minds. This boy acts like he already knows I'm leaving for a few weeks and is becoming more and more clingy. He's the fur-ball who has to get into my suitcase and be sure I have some of him to take along. I could use his whole coat since I'll be up in Oregon. I only have sweatshirts and sweaters down here, OH, but wait, I do have one barn coat. Think I should wash it? Maybe Floyd could give it a good licking.

Ponying Bella In The Desert

It was wonderful and satisfying to lead Bella with her mother. There was no fighting the halter or pulling away. She came along like she had done it many times before. She's such a smart girl. She and her mother both got a little grain and turned out when we got back to the ranch.

Yes, and happy Valentine's Day to you too, Sunrise. You are a couple of days premature.

Always working on new material.

I especially like to ask for backing up both before and after a little lunging session. I have gotten her to back through the in/out gate now and she never tries to rush out. She must be anticipating having to turn around and back out. I don't have tons of confidence in myself as a real horse trainer but so far she is willing to work with what I ask. Someone mentioned bridling a horse and tying their head to the side OVERNIGHT to get them bending properly. Oh my. Makes me want to throw up. Can you spell torture? Bella bends with very slight pressure and I have even got her to come around by just tapping her side. Working poco a poco is much better for both of us. Anyway, she's coming along and I'm crazy about her.

I'm An Earth Rat

so happy New Year.

February's Desktop Picture

These are sequential pictures from this morning. I peaked over my right shoulder as I was reading MiKael's blog this morning and found the possibility of something picture worthy unfolding out there. The first one was the clue that if I was patient for 5 minutes I might get some copper-colored water as the sky brightened. This also reminds me that the sun is definitely marching north.
Yeah for Groundhog Day!

Someone named Jim came out to the barn the other day. I wasn't there. Jim was looking for a horse to buy and came out to see Doris and Frankie. Once Diane got him out by the horses he pointed to Bella and asked about her. Wait a minute. She's mine. Don't even look at her. Diane explained she had sold Bella over a year ago. But he wouldn't let it go at that. Is that Molly's horse? (Uh huh. Who is this Jim anyway?) Well, I want a flashy one like that. (Not in your lifetime, Buddy.)

Being out in the desert overnight with the rest of the herd was exhausting. Even with her loverman, McCoy, outside the gate she needed to catch a couple of winks.



She certainly has a straight nose and heavy muzzle. Must be the Andalusian traits.
This might have been the perfect time to saddle her and do a little starter stuff. Sadly I didn't have the saddle and anyway hated to interrupt her beauty sleep.

7 Things I'd Like To Accomplish in 2008 and/or Boring Things About Me

Tracey at Mustang Diaries tagged me :) :(
A nice thing about this tag is that Tracey got tagged by Mudranch which made me go check out her blog. That was a nice find!

1. I'd really like to take this basic Spanish I've picked up and turn it into full sentences that don't sound like David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day."
2. I'd like to keep up the exercise I forced myself to continue through the holidays. I'm sure I haven't lost any weight but doing these last 8 weeks of Pilates has really started me on the road to better strength.
3. I'd like to continue my slow training of Bella and probably get on her back sometime this Spring.
4. I'd like to read more. Books that is. I have my blogs to keep me warm but there are so many books in my pile that are screaming my name.
5. I'd like to travel a little. Last summer I had a great road trip up into Oregon. I passed places I'd like to go back to. And, yes, it has to do with wineries. But North Carolina relatives need visiting, too.
6. I'd like to spend more time in my almost abandoned house in CA.
7. I'd like to keep taking my vitamins. I'll be 60 in a few short months and am so very lucky to continue to be healthy enough to be looking forward to these things above.
   

I just cannot make myself tag 7 people after I did it in the previous post. But all/both of my readers know they are tagged.