Saturday, August 18, 2012

A Week of Firsts

Badge of Honor!


I don't know why...
but this seems to be a badge of honor for Mary.
Ever since she noticed Miss Kim's badge of honor, from riding Meloso.
Mary has always been proud of the ones she earned ...
but never one from Phoenix.

Oh Yeah!


This week was the first time that Mary has ever ridden Phoenix, bareback.
Wow...
you would have thought she won the Lottery!
She was in heaven.

We have had him over a year now 
and this has been something that she has wanted to do for a very long time and thought that he wouldn't let her!

He didn't mind one little bit.
I think if she is happy...
he is happy!

Now it is part of her cool down.
What a great way to help her with her balance... 
I had to chuckle when she told me that her thighs were sore.
Go girl...
there will be no stopping you now.

Scrub a Dub


He is feeling so much more comfortable at the wash stalls now.
Kelly showed Mary a gentle way to wash 
his neck and face without him 
having a meltdown.
He has never really enjoyed standing still for his baths.
Making it a wet unpleasant time for both Phoenix and Mary.

But, this week Mary has been washing up by his ears, cheeks and crest by herself 
without Phoenix all over the place.
 And you know what...
I think he may even be enjoying it a little.

A Lesson for Bayli


While my niece Bayli was visiting us.
I had to do a little detective work.
She wasn't real hip to hanging at the barn with Mary or riding Phoenix.
So after a little digging I discovered that she felt a little intimidated by Phoenix's size.
I also found out that she had only been on a horse a couple times and didn't feel comfortable being around horses.
I also think that she thought that Mary's riding accident was because Phoenix was mean.

Well we fixed that wagon as soon as we had all the pieces.

We got her signed up for a lesson on a bomb proof horse.
What a sweet ole gal Rosie is!

What a Smile


Before her lesson she kept saying...
"I only want to walk"
I tried to tell her not to limit herself saying what she wouldn't do...
she should leave herself open to endless possibilities.

And ya know what?
She spent the majority of that lesson 
TROTTING!

I was so cool to watch her light up on that horse.
However, I don't know if her parents will ever forgive me.

She says she wants to start taking lessons now.

Right of Passage



I am sure every woman can remember the first time they shaved their legs.
I know I do.
I was with my cousin Tolli,
visiting her in Virginia Beach.
It was a tale of the 

Country Mouse and the City Mouse

by one of my ALL TIME favorite illustrators
Richard Scarry



I remember calling my mom and pleading to let me PLEASE shave my legs.
To my absolute delight, she said yes.
So, my more mature, worldly cousin gave me a lesson in the art of shaving.

It seemed only fitting 
to allow Mary to shave for the first time while her cousin was here.
I figured it would be a much more memorable experience than 
doing it with her Mom ...
who rarely, if ever shaves.

(Hey... it is something she wants to do.  I don't like it but I felt it would be wrong to deny her.   Just like the pink princess phase she went through.   She is free to decide how she manicures her body.  It is part of becoming a teenager.  I am just glad that she still respects me enough to ask my permission first.)

They had an afternoon of giggling in the bathroom, followed by primping and
then an evening of Go Kart Racing, Surf n Spoon and Nags Head Woods.

It think it was  a great way for the girls to spend their last night together before we had to take Bayli back to meet her Dad.

Who needs an Ipod


When ya have knitting?

Yeah, right Mom!

Ok... well then you decide, 
an ipod for Christmas 
or new BLING for Phoenix?

You can get back to me on that one.
Awwww...


I am so glad that these two got to spend some quality time together this year.
It has been too long!
I sure am going to miss this little lady.
She will be leaving to go back to her Mom's in a week...
all the way across the continent,
to Spokane, Washington.
I know that she will be happy to see all her friends and her Mom again, but we sure are going to miss her over here on the east coast.

Through the Tunnel



So up the coast and inland we went to meet my brother 
halfway.
Did you know that there is a web site just for finding meeting places that are
"Halfway"?  

A Subway in Toano, Virginia was the halfway mark for us.
And in honor of Bayli...
Mary and I had our new favorite 
Veggie Melt Sub...

When Your Down, Saddle Up


In order to help wash the Bayli Blues away...
Mary did the only thing that makes her
feel better.
She saddled up and went for a ride.

Another New Friend


Mary is really adjusting to the new move.
There is so much to love.
And both Mary and Phoenix are so much more relaxed.
She has been trotting and even cantering some out in the fields with the girls.

Would someone please pinch me... 
then please explain to me why it took me so long to pay less and get more?

I suppose this is just another opportunity 
to reaffirm that we need every experience 
on this journey we call life
to arrive exactly where we are
at this very moment.


Flatwork


She has been slow and steady getting back to where she feels comfortable in the saddle again.
She is back in the riding arena again. 
She loves her flatwork ...
most kids wanna push it as fast and hard as they can,
but not Mary.
I suppose that is why she is drawn to dressage. 

But for the heck of it...

why not try a few

Crossrails


Ok...
Not too bad for shaking the cob webs out.

But, what happened here?
To much Olympics?

A Vaulting Dismount


Oh Mary!
You really know how to make your Mom's heart pump.
The first time he took you over this jump, I think 
it got your heart pumping.
Nothing like going over the crossrails, huh?

But this time...
Shaba do!
Girl... I am too old for that kind of excitement.

But I have to give you a 10 for sticking that landing.
Way to land on your feet!

Softball Clinic


Mary finished another week of sports clinic at 

They are starting up a new sports program at their school that is inclusive to all children wanting to play sports.  
Pooling kids from two counties regardless if they attend public, private or home schools.
Even though it has been exhausting, it is really exciting to be part of this.

One more clinic to go...
Golf!

More Patches


No more machine washing.  
It will be hand-washing only from now on.

Another Baby Step



Well, I still have not given that juicer a work out yet
but I did reach out to an old friend last week.

"I put my hand in yours, and together we can do what we never could do alone!"

I have made a few healthy improvements.
Nothing necessarily blog worthy.
I am simply moving in a forward direction.
"Progress not Perfection"

Feelings...


How can you see this and not just feel all warm and fuzzy?

This is why
I am really kind of sad right now.
Mary just called and told me 
"It's Done!"
All the kittens are now officially gone.

Mary and her dad just took the rest of the kittens that we couldn't find homes for to the SPCA.
I feel like the worst person on the planet.
Logically, I KNOW...
it was the right thing to do.
But, I am just sad that I was not able to find them all good homes.
And angry ... with myself 
for not getting the Momma cats spayed before having these kittens.

Ugggh...
I am having pangs of regret and sadness.
The thought of them just being locked in cages and not being able to play makes me so sad.
Double Ugggh...
Mary just got home and is now bawling...
while Momma cat Tigger calls for her kittens.
PLEASE
pray for me!
I pray that I will not be overcome with regret and resentment 
that I continue on a path of forward movement 
and that I may once again have some control over my life.

And while I am out gathering the prayers ...
I also ask that we keep our 
Barn manager, and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
She was kicked in the back by one of the stalled horses, Thursday and then had surgery yesterday.
The last update was that she is doing well and has movement in her toes and they are hopeful for a full recovery.
It will however be a lengthy recovery.

I am grateful for every chance I have to be present in the moment.
It is easy to get caught up in what may 
or may not ever be,
that we forget to look down and see where are feet are at that very moment.
Only for that moment to slip through your hands and be gone.

2 comments:

Susan said...

Wow, that barn where the horse is now looks like a really nice place, looks like everyone is happy!

The greengourd said...

Yes Maaahm... Everyone is HAPPY!