Ok.  So after a long hiatus, I am going to go back to writing this blog.  Maybe one day it will create a short story or a following but who knows.  It might not, but its a way for me to write and practice my typing. 

We now live in Kenai and are enjoying the tranquility that has come with it.  We just bought a piece of property that we are going to build a shop, house and barn on.  Pita and her new buddy will enjoy themselves!!!

Missy will be the perfect barn dog and will hopefully help to train our new puppy.  When we get it, we've talked about it a couple times.  D.O.G. is eight and probably by the end of the summer will be well versed to help train a puppy.

Charlie and I have acquired some sourdough starter and I am feeding it now and hope to have a loaf of bread in the oven tomorrow.  :-)

While I sit on the couch with my laptop on my lap, Missy has decided to lay on half of it.  Sometimes I swear she's an 8.3 pound cat. 

Spring is Sprung

Well Spring is here in Alaska.  It's breakup season.  So actually its not spring but its the time of the year when the snow melts and everything is nasty.  Belle and I go to the barn, come home and we both go take a shower!
Wet horse/dog is something to be smelled for sure!!!

Bought a new blanket for next year at the tack swap last weekend, started yoga for the month and signed up for the Rother clinic in May.  Thinking about doing the Larry Sanchez clinic in June at the Quarter Horse show.  I'm the manager!!  Woo Hoo!!!

Going to move Pita into town end of April and hopefully start a summer of more riding and time with my horse!!!  Less driving for sure!

Working on a book about the Carroll/Caton sisters in America in the 1800s.  The author does a good job of bringing these amazing women to life and even tying in the other things that are going along in Europe: for example, Napolean and Romantisim, Wellington and bankruptcy.

Had an AHA! moment during the book discussing bankrupty and American thought in the begining of our country.  It was a social disaster to be bankrupt in America, where in Europe it was an accepted thing.  American's lost social standing and became scorned if you went bankrupt.  What our founding fathers would think of us now!

Trying to lose weight, start plants, keep the house clean, dogs walked and my sanity.

So far.... so good.  It's breakup.  The snow is disappearing....

Slowly, but surely....

Update on Winter Goals.....

Well.... Belle is walking better and that is about it.

I am still at page 82 in Tolstoy... I did however read a good account of Catherine II life.

Went to Hawaii and am starting a book on Hawaiian Royalty that I bought at the Bishop Museum. 

Finally got my sewing machine into to get cleaned and hopefully get the tension back so I can continue my sewing rampage.

I've decided to TRY to be a minimalist.  I don't know if it will work but the optimum word here is try!

More pictures soon!

D.O.G.'s first blind!

I have a retreiver in the making!  Last night after I got home, D.O.G. was giving me fits and wanted to go outside.  So I grabbed his outside bumper and threw it across the street.  Over the fence to Lake Hood.  When he hit the fence and saw that he couldn't get the bumper he gave a wine.  Soo...

I treked, no coat or cleats, around the corner (off lead of course) with him to retrieve the bumper.  I told him to go find his toy and walked along the street.  He swept the area and came back to me.  We moved farther down the street and I told him again to go find his toy.  Off he went and lo and behold!  He found the bumper!!! 

He came running back to me with it and we turned around to walk home, bumper proudly in his mouth at the heel position.

Last winter we went and did a little bit of retrieving work and last night really got me thinking about doing some more.  Just for fun of course...  But wouldn't be cool to have a Mutt with a Jr Hunt Test Title!!!

My sewing machine and I are argueing on tension and bobbins.  I guess I don't sew enough to fix it.  Hopefully Reihl Sew and Vac can fix it!  I've got stuff to make for Christmas! 

Winter Resolutions!

I decided to create some winter resolutions.  I think if I post them and try to stick with them I will hopfully have a good winter and get some things accomplished.

This is what I have come up with so far...

1.  Walk the dogs more, morning and night!
2. Read Anna Karenina by Tolstoy.  So far I am up to page 20...
3. Finish my quilt
4.  Spend some time with Charlie out of the house!

So far two morning walks this week!  :-)

Some Pictures from August

Here's a couple of pictures from this fall.  The first weekend of August to be exact in Fairbanks, AK.  This first one is of my horse P.I.T.A. and my honey Charlie.  He's holding her riegn and making sure she isn't afraid of his hat.  It's a very good picture taken by my friend Don who came with his wife to see what a horse show was like. 

The one below is a great one of Terry and P.I.T.A.  She has a nice soft look and Terry told her she had to be a good pony.  We won a second and a third in our trail class after he said that.  Of course he left, she spooked and we got disqualified from Western Pleasure.  Oh well.  I still think this photo is powerful and shows the bond that is instant between humans and horses.

Dog on the Mend

In case any of you don't know I spent Saturday the 19th of this month in the Pet Emergenery Clinic after Belle ate a bone that did agree with her stomach.  The bone was by Pur Luv and we found them at Pet Smart.  Within 12 hours she could not keep any food down and her stomach was so full of gas that it was causing her intestines to bunch in the back of her body. She had surgery for over two hours with a bill totally a little over $3,700.00.  After a week of recouperation and a bunch of rice, chicken and turkey she is now keeping dog food down and feeling better.  I have to keep her quiet the rest of the week and no stairs.  Not a problem since they are not allowed upstairs.  Dog free allergy zone!  But I slept on the couch most of last week in order to be with her.  Charlie was able to spend a day with her too and she really loved that! 

Belle has 21 staples that will be coming out next weekend.  She'll roll over for bellie rubs and is loving having a lunch! 

Cuation to all my dog owning friends.  The vets told me that they see this type of impaction with Greenie Dog Treats as well as now with the Pur Luv Bones.  Just watch your dog and know that even if you think it is ok, it might not be. 

Wish me luck on keeping her quiet this week and D.O.G. exercised!

I know its dark, but this is Belle's stomach last Monday when she first came home. 

Now its much whiter and healing beautifully.  However her whole belly area is shaved.

Love you girl!