Many Blessings on this New Year's Eve!

Today is New Year's Eve. Tomorrow will be a new decade, 2010! So, I woke up and went to the stable to visit the herd. They were all happy and well and ready to enjoy a new year. I felt very reflective because this year is Renny's second new year and I remember last year very clearly when he was a little guy running around the arena with Sedona, Teawa, B and Lily. He was a happy naughty little fellow. And now this year, he has his herd of boys. This morning the girls both wanted to come into the barn with me for some love and treats. I put them in the indoor arena and they rolled luxuriously in the dark dirt and then bucked, snorted, and ran around like little girlish nut jobs! I love those girls so. I put aloe on Violet's hooves, including the coronet. She still has some heat in the right front hoof, but we are moving in the right direction. My farrier really did a poor job on all three of my horses' frogs this time, so I am going to have to be more direct in my requests. What else? Well, I was feeling a little melancholy at the barn this morning because I keep remembering all of my time with Renny. I remember singing to him before he was born, worrying after him and his mother, seeing his birth, showing him off to the vet on his first day of life, playing soccer with him, and playing loving loving loving him. And now he is such a good sweet intelligent boy who is willing to work! He has such a good work ethic. So, this year I have to focus on training him well, caring for him, figuring out supplements to make him shiny and beautiful and selling him at the pony auction in August. I just can't imagine having him leave me this coming year. But the way I look at it, the soft part of my heart which loves loves loves him needs to rely on the harder part which wants his happiness and is willing to part with him to help him find a family with children to love on him. We'll see what happens in 2010. Much love to you all, much much love from me and the herd and all my other animal companions!

Violet's Carrots

So, this summer, I planted carrots from seed, and let me tell you that was very satisfying. As soon as you picked them, they smelled and looked great. And my herd loved them. It was so fun to serve them up and use my little knife that I had bought from the flea market to make chomp-sized pieces. But the best part is that Violet was bonkers about the greens. She would get everyone's greens and just chew them with a look of greedy bliss on her face. I am definitely planning more carrots next year!

Violet So Beautiful

Here's a photo from the Christmas party when Carissa rode Violet for the first time. My horses have been at St. George for a full month now and they love it, just love it. They are happy, calm and sensible. But poor Violet had a little setback. This past Saturday, she was trimmed too short on her hooves and had too much frog removed, so she's had four days of warm hooves and is on bute. Another farrier took a look and said that it really was simply a hoof problem and would have to just grow out. So, Violet is on vacation for a few weeks so that her frogs have a chance to grow back and she gets a bit more length. This has been so very upsetting for me -- no hoof, no horse is a big saying of mine, my primary saying about horses. So, I know that I will just be lots and lots more careful whenever my horses have their feet done. And I'm bummed that I'm missing out on riding just as I arrive at this great new stable! But I want Violet's complete recovery, so she's going to have rest out in the pastures in the cold snow and then wonderful food and fragrant hay!

And this gives me time to work with Renny. And, my goodness, he has been a great boy the past few days! He is giving to pressure on his hocks, puts up with ropes around his body, trots off in hand beside me, goes over ground poles and cavaletti, stops politely, let's me use clippers on his muzzle and bridle path. He's just the most sweet smart sensible boy who is trying very hard to learn his tasks. Plus what's funny and cute is that twice now, while he's been on his line, he's laid in the dirt and had a luxurious happy pony roll while he's been with Grandma. And he's adorable when we free lunge him in the arena. He jets around like a rock star with his tail high and streaming and his mane flowing and his head high! And I am busily shopping for his first bit, bridle and girth. I just love, love, love my herd of beauties. They are sweet, intelligent, and kind!

Merry Christmas from one of my Happy Little Men!

Namaste.

Renny Tests His Limits

Okayt , so I am writing this on August 30th and Renny had a very busy week. Barbie called to tell me that he had been exceptionally naughty and jerked away from her and ran over her to get to the barn. He knew he was in trouble, so he stopped to eat
grass right outside the barn. For his naughtiness, he got spanked and then tied up for half an hour. I was upset to get that news. Then on Saturday, I had him and his mom out in the indoor ring while I was driving Violet. When we came back from our breezy, cool beautiful drive, Renny was in the aisleway, chomping hay and trying to look casual. He had figured out how to open the gate and his mom was right behind him, wondering whether she could test her luck. It was an excitingmoment with Renny clearly free, Violet harnessed to her deluxe cart, and Hailee wondering! So, anyway, I've decided to officially put him in training starting November 1st when he is 1 1/2 years old. I think he is wonderful. He is incredibly well-behaved and talented for his age 15 months. I know he's going to be a smart, quick study!

Shady Okra

I am writing this entry on August 30th, on a beautiful, cool, sunlit Sunday with my critters, relaxing and joyful. And let me tell you what I've learned over the past few days: fried okra in polenta with crystal hot sauce is to die for. The okra I planted from seed and it fries up so cheerful and happy and yummy. It just looks great in the pan and tastes wonderful. Okra is a blessing!

Happy Violet and Carissa

Okay, so this is a photo which was taken on the December 20th Christmas party. This photo made me happy because Violet was relaxed and happy to be with Carissa. And she has been Carissa's buddy ever since. She got to participate in a slumber party with all the wild girls of St. George and was pampered and groomed and photoed and loved. And then on the 26th, I had my farrier come and he cut her too short. So, my poor tender Violet has spent two days now tip toeing around on her hot front hooves. I am giving her bute and hoping for the best. She is too tender to ride right now. I am grateful to be at St. George because tonight I was talking to a pack of four girls and we were playing with my herd and I turned around and Meghan and Carissa had Violet's head in their arms and Vi's eyes were closed in bliss as they stroked her cheeks. Violet loves St. George. And then, because it was my birthday, we chased Renny around the arena and he jetted around like the handsome handsome boy he is with his tail streaming out high behind him as a strawberry blonde and his head high and nostrils flared! So, at the close of my birthday today, I feel a little torn -- I am so thrilled and happy with how cool St. George is and how lucky and happy my horses are -- and I am pretty upset and rattled that my beautiful Violet was cut short and aggressively on her frogs and hooves. I want her to be out of pain and to have her hoof grow back well. Beautiful beautiful loving gorgeaus funny goofy thoroughbred girl, my darling blessing!

My Girls Waiting to Open Presents!

Here are my girls, waiting to open their Christmas presents. They were so excited. Little Clara got a Dora the Explorer backpack "pack pack" and was so delighted to pack everything she owned into it. Do you see what Emma is sitting on? It's a pair of cuddle duds. One Christmas, she and I slept in the same room and she woke up and grabbed my cuddle duds and made them into her safety blanket. She wore that pair out, so her mom had to buy her a new pair. And when she gets tuckered out or overdone, she wraps them on her head and ties it with a bow under her chin -- kind of like Nora Charles with her headache ice pack! Cool girls! Totally cool Berg girls.

Zelia the Guard Dog

Here's a picture of my beloved Zelia sitting by the chicken coop, looking at me with love. She is the best dog on the face of the earth. Happy Birthday to me! Namaste.

Merry Christmas from My Little Man!

Here's my little Stephen, enjoying a relaxing holiday with his auntie, Grams and Gramps. I just got back from the stable where my herd is playing outdoors in the falling snow. Violet participated in a slumber party last night and was pampered and painted and groomed and had photos taken of her. The photos made me laugh because you could see my girl looking just silly with happiness at all the attention -- comfortable, relaxed and happy happy happy! And now I am at home watching the birds dance in the snow, getting some seeds -- I am seeing chickadees, cardinals, a woodpecker, and finches. And this morning when I went to feed Ellie and Reptilicus, I saw a hawk in their yard. Anyway, I love my human and animal families. Namaste.

Moulin Rouge

I planted these Moulin Rouge sunflowers which are my favorite because of their chocolate and red colors. And the finches just love, love, love, love them. I am writing this message from home, visiting my sick father. And I long for my sunflowers and birds and squirrels and chickens and horses and cats and students and strolls and BW3 and my life. And I long long long long for my dad's recovery.

Merry Christmas, Off to the Pageant!

I just arrived home today after a wonderful but whirlwind Christmas adventure at Elena's. Here's a photo of my nieces and nephew moments before we left for church. The services were a wonderful singing pageant and my Emma sang and danced beautifully. Today I came home and settled my animals and went to the stable to meet my farrier. Rick and I had a nice conversation and I chatted with many St. George friends, including C and K. C rode Violet and it was just wonderful to see Miss V happy and moving forward and light and joyful. C rode her "on the buckle" and you could just see my red girl's contentment. She even jumped some combinations and then got pampered and groomed by her two talented new friends. Violet is really loving her new life, I can just see it all over her! She is happy happy happy with her friends and life and job!!!

Thelma and Louise

Happy rocking young girls! Namaste.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Many blessings to you in the coming year!