What makes you smile? This is my weekly smile hosted by my blogging friend Trent! Thank you Trent as I just Love everyone’s Smile!
Can you believe it is October? These weeks just fly by and it is time for a weekly smile. This week I am making great progress on my granny square quilt or blanket. I will share a photo of all the squares I made, and then the next photo will be 6 rows completed or stitched together. I have six more rows to go for a total of 12 rows. Then I will crochet a nice border, still deciding on what to stitch around the border. This just makes me smile the progress I am making! 😀 😀 😀
I have shared this photo before, but I thought it would be fun to see the before and after! I’m Loving how this is coming together! I am so excited!
Huge smiles from me as I stitch away to get this completed! I will share one more photo of what I want to make for grand baby number 2 coming in March! I can’t wait to get stitching! 😀
Sweet dreams little one! 😀
Yes, the sweet dreams is what I will make and I like the cute sheep too. All the patterns in the book are great. I am not sure what all I will make as I can make booties and a little hat or cap. I have 2 nieces that are having babies next year and they are due around the same time so if this blanket stitches together quickly then maybe I will make them all one for their babies! We will see.
I am enjoying this week. Starting next week I have an employee out on vacation for 2 weeks. I will be working extra days to help cover so I am not sure how much free time I will have to not only crochet but write my blog posts. I am hoping to keep up, but if I skip a week here or there it will be because I am just too tired. Working night shift and then working 6 nights a week can really wear one down, so we will see how it goes.
I LOVE sharing my smile, it is a simple thing to do and I hope you enjoyed smiling with me. What made you smile this week? It can be something simple, maybe the sun shining on your face or the wind blowing through your hair? 😀 I know being outside when I am not working on my projects always makes me smile.
My weekly smile this week goes to my huge furry friends who make me smile everyday I see them. To anyone who reads my blog it won’t be a surprise that I am talking about my horses. Yes, I talk about them a ton, blog about them as often as I can and take a million photos of them because I just can’t help myself. I sometimes try and change things up and share other things which are important to me, which I think is okay since this blog is about My Life, but it’s also about my Horse Stories. I won’t stray for long away from my pretty ponies! Whenever I am feeling down or sad, it never fails when I am at the barn they ALWAYS pick me up and make me smile! 😀 And of course, I look forward to my daily visits when I am happy too! ❤
My beautiful bay roan, Miss Chloe! She melts my heart! ❤
What I noticed today is how beautiful their coats are as summer is waning, and fall is on it’s way. They will soon be growing their winter coats and I am thankful Chloe does not grow a very long winter coat at all, but Zack turns into a fuzzy bear! I plan on clipping his coat to make it easier to groom him and keep him exercised. Her beauty just makes me smile!
This is my handsome boy Zack. His coat is still nice and short and he is nice and clean! ❤
As they were lose running around I noticed their shine. My photos didn’t capture the shine as much as in person, especially Zack as a grey horse doesn’t glisten like darker colors. He is doing really well, a very happy boy and I am totally enjoying him this summer. He is a funny horse, lots of personality and of course Chloe has personality too. They are both so different since she is a mare and he a gelding, it is fun to see how different they are. Zack loves to chew on things and always tries to nip or bite. He knows not to bite us humans, but still sometimes tries. Chloe is much better and does not have that oral fixation. Its a guy thing for most geldings.
Horses being horses! This makes me so HAPPY! They LOVE to groom each other! ❤
I Love how they groom each other. I’ve written and talked often about the herd dynamics. Chloe is an alpha mare, totally in charge of the herd even if it is only 2 or 3 horses (I often turn out my girlfriends horse with these 2 which I did today but I didn’t take a photo of Gracie). Chloe is definitely the boss lady, is totally in charge and makes sure the herd stays safe! She is as solid as they come, and brings much calm and bravery to the herd. I can’t express how much I love this horse and she and I have mutual respect for each other. It is the most AMAZING bond between human and horse, hard to describe but we are so connected her understanding me and vice versa.
I can say that Zack and I are more bonded then when I first got him and he has learned with Chloe’s help that our group is a wonderful thing and his confidence is growing. But he still gets scared of things on the trail and his fear and flight brain sometimes jumps out but Chloe and I can keep him in check and in control. He’s fun, different and keeps me always thinking about how horses think and feel. They are all different with different personalities.
Thanks for visiting my #weeklysmile! This is hosted by a blogging friend Trent. I think it is so fun to share what makes us smile! What made you smile? Your comments are always welcome and I hope you have an amazing week.
My weekly smile goes to my husband, Dave. He has been working so hard this last week (actually the last few weeks) going through his Mom’s apartment to get ready for her move to our house. You see, his Mom is 89 and will be turning 90 this coming October. She has dementia and unfortunately is in decline as she approaches 90. She can’t care for herself like her feisty self once could as she is as independent a woman that I have ever known. As the months have gone by, she has needed every day care and after researching assisted living (VERY expensive) we made the decision to have her move into our home. Bless his heart, he has made our guest room into her room hanging family photos and putting familiar items in the room to make her feel at home. ❤
Martha’s (Mom) new room, our guest room. ❤He will hang more photos, but these photos were all at her apartment. Her family photos!
We want her to feel welcome and at home. She has not lived with anyone in probably 52 years as my hubby moved out when he was 18 and joined the Air Force. She was already living by herself at that point and to my knowledge she has not lived with anyone since that time. That is A LOT OF YEARS by yourself! I can’t imagine as I have NEVER lived alone and I am 58 years old. So this will definitely be an adventure of sorts figuring out all of us under one roof. She has pretty bad short term memory loss, so this will be interesting having her here 24/7. I know I am going on so, but that’s just because it is one thing to have a relative move in which I have no problem with, it’s more her care and what all will be involved with her. She has a doctor’s appointment first week of September, so we will be getting any extra care we need if we need to hire help to come to the house. We will see how this all goes…. CRAZY days! I feel like saying, what next??
This will now be our guest room, which is a nice area in our sun room. Bed is ready for guests!
Thank you hubby for making a new guest room in our back sun room. It is totally enclosed of course, and even has doors to close it all off for guests. My daughter often comes to stay with us so we wanted to make sure she has a nice place to sleep. Anyone else who wants to visit is more than welcome, we always make it work and I am hoping make everyone feel at home. I know my hubby makes every effort to make one happy, he just makes me SMILE! 😀
My Kiity LOVES sleeping in the sun room, because it is sunny back there!
I turned around after I took the photo of the bed and found my kitty sleeping. She woke up enough for this photo, meowed at me, I wonder what she said? she is getting old, my cute little kitty. But she always makes me smile. A double smile for today, haha, for my kitty and my hubby! What makes you smile? I really wanted to share a smile this week and this is close to my heart and my husband has been working so hard with this move. I LOVE him so much and he brings a huge giant smile to my face.
So this happened 35 years ago today, on this date August 19, on a Sunday afternoon!
I know it is not the best photo and as much as I love photography, I never got my wedding photos enlarged and framed. I am so bad, and I am very unconventional. I did not do what I should have done and printed up photos of our wedding. I have a wedding photo-album packed away somewhere, its too long ago to worry about it now. I can’t believe it has been 35 years! I say this all the time, how does time fly by so fast? I do not know all the ages of my readers and I think some are young and for those of you who are really young (for me really young is in your 20’s, and you think you have a million years ahead of you!) BEWARE; in the blink of an eye – you wonder what happened to the last 35 years. BUT they have been absolutely WONDERFUL YEARS! The good, the bad and the ugly, we have seen it all. I wonder what is next? What adventures will we be experiencing? it is fun to wonder! 😀
I walked into my kitchen to a surprise when I got home from work, I wonder what it is?WOW! Jade Anniversary plate and Jade whale tail earrings and a beautiful, wonderful loving card from my hubby. He is such a sweetheart! ❤ ❤ ❤We don’t share photos of ourselves very often. I asked him if I can share. I figure this kind of thing doesn’t happen every day, wow, 35 years!
We had a wonderful breakfast this morning and I took the opportunity to take a few photos to share on this special day. I wanted to say that the last 35 years have been amazing. We brought into this world 3 beautiful children who are all grown up and on their own. I talk a lot about my family so I won’t go into detail here, but they bring us much joy. We are having a blast being grandparents, oh my, I did not know how much joy this would bring to our lives. And we have had ups and downs, as any couple does, it hasn’t always been easy but we have made it through it all together. Here are a few more photos. They were fun to take, even though selfies are my nemesis. 😀 😀 😀
Selfies are not easy, and he wanted the hats to show up better. We are hat people!! Haha, Now you can see his hat and mine too! He didn’t want me to use this photo but I really like it! ❤Haha, hiding my little double chin. It sucks getting old, things can start to sag!
My husband has a very small digital footprint and so I told him I was going to blog today about our Anniversary. He was totally fine with this and with sharing our selfies. Isn’t he adorable? Okay, he’s a little scruffy looking but I am okay with the facial hair. He comes and goes with it, but the last time he was with a mustache only earlier this year, he told me he just got so sick and tired of shaving that he was going to grow out his beard again. Whatever you like dear! I Love him so….
My Anniversary card to my hubby, and YES! isn’t it just the best with the horses on it! He is the Love of my life. The most understanding hubby a horse crazy girl could ask for, I am truly blessed.
I can remember when I was 18 years old thinking how old 30 was. Oh dear, I am double that and will be 60 next year in 2020. I do not feel that old, I think its the new 60! I do get sore feet from work, and my joints in my hands ache a bit more than they use too. My goodness, it can’t be because I am getting old. Haha, they say you are as old as you feel, only sometimes I think, darn it all… I guess I am getting old.
I wanted to get my hubby something for our Anniversary something I am really, really terrible at because I never know what to buy for him and he texted me this ~ “Ha… don’t need to get me anything. I have you and that’sperfect!!” ~ I end with this as isn’t this the most sweetest thing anyone could ever say to someone, he melts my heart. I love him to the moon and back again.
First I have to thank all our Veterans who have sacrificed with their lives as we honor all of those this Memorial Day. We are a military family, my husband was in the Air Force and my daughter is a Captain in the Air Force. My Dad was a Captain in the Army many years ago, rest in peace Dad. ❤ My heart goes out to all who serve or have served as it is a sacrifice that you would not know unless you have experienced. It is a Memorial Day too for all our fallen horses, too many to count in past wars throughout the ages.
Switching gears here, I was able to get out on the trails and I wanted to share some photo’s. I work night shift and so I have mornings free to ride with my friends at the stables. I do have this holiday off so I get to sleep tonight after a 5 day stretch. I usually have my week broken up with days off after a couple of days of work. My days off are all over the place, but it all works for me with my horses. 😀 😀 😀
My ride on Saturday in between rain storms. Gracie looking at something on the trail today. It was a pretty morning, so cool at 60 degrees!Heading down 6th street in Norco today. It was too cold and windy yesterday to ride! Haha, I can’t believe I am writing this at the end of May which is usually in the 80‘s! 😀
We have been having so much weather it is great! I am wondering if Summer is coming? I’m thinking that with the climate these days, maybe we will have a cooler Summer. I would not mind that at all! I have had a nice weekend even though I had to work. Enjoying my horses and being able to trail ride is always something near and dear to my heart so I am so grateful that I can fit this into my busy schedule!
Miss Chloe after our trail ride. She is such a veteran, with tons of trail miles and is a very steady mount! ❤
I had every intention of riding Zack today, but since I worked last night and then after my ride on Chloe I was feeling rather tired. So I decided to work him in the round pen and then gave him a proper grooming. I plan on riding him tomorrow. I am thinking a better plan of riding is riding one of them one day and the other the next as I usually end up biting off more than I can chew, as it were. I always set lofty goals, and then as the hours tick by my body is saying, nope. You need to stop and get some rest! ;D
We are really bonding and he had a nice little workout in the round pen! Silly boy, he really stretches his head sideways for a treat. I could take so many photos of these cute horses! I guess I already do! HAHA! ❤
What ever your plans may be I hope each and every one of you has a WONDERFUL Memorial Day. I know it’s true meaning is for our fallen heros, we shall never forget. EVER!
I can’t believe it’s May! My how the weeks fly by and I keep meaning to write every week and the time slips by and I am so busy I’m finding it difficult to fit everything into my days. My motto for this month is to STAY STRONG! I need to keep centered, and not let my thoughts stray to far to the future for as everyone knows the future is hard to see. No matter how hard we try, and I was raised with the attitude that you can do anything you set your mind too, it isn’t always that easy to get to your goals – if you have set goals. How do you handle crazy busy days? do you stop and give yourself a break? Stop and smell the roses? Stop and rest and regroup your thoughts?
I need to regroup my thoughts, reorganize them and start having smaller goals. What I mean is to set goals for my days off. Then when I conquer one goal, move to the next and so on and so forth because I find myself not accomplishing anything, thinking too far into the future, feeling sad about the future not coming to fruition. Like I can make changes instantly, NOT, it takes planning and I am finding myself feeling sorry for myself and not moving forward. I’m finding myself in stagnation.Ugh, a terrible feeling! How do you stay focused, on track and moving forward? Or is it just me, overwhelmed and trying to find my path? Hmm… Writing this is helping me focus! 😀
My daughter’s guinea pig Rey, I am babysitting her piggy’s and they are adorable!This is Jin, and she is a bit more shy and so beautiful with her curly coat! Up close! I love their squeaks! Hi girl! I see you as she is looking for more pea flakes! ❤
As I am sitting here writing this I am realizing that I have lost focus because I am putting others before me and worrying about these others has got me lost. I am talking about my grown children. I LOVE THEM so much that I want to live and be near all of them (which is impossible) and of course I want to be 100% available (which is impossible). I work a full-time job and of course have my own responsibilities and so how can I be available 100% of the time? It’s so crazy that I have gotten into this rut because I need to move forward and not be stagnant. I am realizing that I am there for my children and I am putting incredibly silly demands on my time! Oh dear, I need to realize there is only so much I can do, and only so many places I can be and still be HAPPY! AND that’s all I want for my children is HAPPINESS! ❤ ❤ ❤
How can you not SMILE at his handsome face! ADORABLE! 😀
STAYING STRONG is so important as I know how important my role as a mother, wife, co-worker and friend to others can be and I think setting smarter shorter achievable goals are not only more realistic but doable. I am going to try and cook more (I work crazy hours and so I don’t make dinners like I use to but I can use the crock pot and or plan and freeze meals to make life easier. Just takes planning). I need to plan and be more in the moment not only for my animals but my loved ones as well. I CAN DO THIS! My am I in a funk, haven’t felt this way in a long time. Holy smokes, maybe it’s just my age, I think they sometimes call this mid-life crisis?? Haha, maybe that’s what I am experiencing. I wouldn’t be surprised! I feel like I want to make a LIFE CHANGE, But how? Life is challenging, hard, fun, and I have always loved life to it’s fullest! I feel like I’m drowning a bit. My head is above water though and am feeling better by the minute!
It’s BIRTHDAY month for my son Harrison and is wife Amber! Here is Harrison from last year as he takes a selfie with Chloe, Alice is on her, I miss them so….
I am hoping to set a goal to write each week. I sometimes overthink this process, get overwhelmed and so I don’t write anything. I also want to focus on my house and it’s needs. Who likes housework? Not me, but I shouldn’t be so neglectful. Not that we live in a pig sty, haha, even though I now have piggy’s in my family room, but I can do more and help out more. I did rake the backyard last week to help my husband, so I am doing more each week. I don’t want to apologize for my blog post. I don’t feel like my sunny self, but it’s coming back I promise. But I am human, and want to be real. I don’t want anyone to think my life is perfect, far from it and I know sometimes reading things that may be sad isn’t fun, but I don’t think this is that sad just not my bubbly self. I’ll be back, and you know I LOVE my life, my family and all of you that take the time to read my posts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ❤
