Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Looking back

Well now that Christmas has passed ,and New Years is fast approaching ,it seems time to do "A year in review post " Which I will do , but first I have to go back a little further.
In 1999, I was doing things a little differently than I am now . I still lived here, and had horses, and cared for cattle ,but my work and social life was vastly different . I was single , working at 2 1/2 jobs. By that I  mean I worked at a group home part time , caring for seniors, and also was in the same job contracted to work 3 nights a week with a palliative patient , a lovely , and far to young man dying of a terrible and  much feared virus .Yes ,I am talking about HIV/AIDS, and as much education as there is out there , the disease and the victims of it still suffer immensely from fear induced wrath and negativity . In addition to that I had started a small business I opened a Consignment craft store ,called "Allsorts Crafts and Curiosities "
I was kind of a busy girl!
I was dating here and there, but nothing serious , had a great group of friends , and was essentially settled into a pretty good life of a single 30 something gal.
Then September came along , and after a double shift  at work and a half day in the store I attended a birthday party for a friend . Where I was introduced to Martin .

Well you have all read the story of how we met , and if you haven't I will find you the link later, but that was the start of some big changes . By December we were seeing each other fairly steady , and I had also sold a partnership in my store . As 2000/2001 came along the changes started to happen very quickly . I moved the store to a new location . The palliative care position ended and I started yet another job with the local Health authority , as a Mental Health Aide . And by December had sold my part of the store  I was engaged to be married . Also had started working as a Home support aid fro the region . 2001 was a year of new beginnings and huge change. Oddly ,I who hates change , just took it all in stride and loved almost every minute of it !!!
A friend  gave me a Crystal butterfly at the time , with the quote "Go butterfly go! " remarking on the metamorphosis she was seeing in me and my life !
So why have I told you all this?
Well I mentioned I am not a big fan of change, and yet  changes happened again ten years later!
Maybe not as drastic, but I sure had to "come out of my shell" Over the last 2 years, I have attended , and presented at displays in very large trade shows (THE MANE EVENT ) Which certainly required me to step out of my comfort zone and actually speak to strangers . Also as you may have noticed I have been writing Poetry . Well at first I wasn't prepared to share any of it , but slowly with  a lot of encouragement from family friends, and this wonderful blogging community , I started to share it . And Low and behold , I began to spread my wings further! first publishing it here on the blog, and then taking a huge leap and having the book published!
Telling Tails , became a reality ,and you have never seen such an excited girl as me the day I received my "Authors copy " in the mail!
So we are back to the present . I have more to talk about over this "Year in Review " But that is the "back story "
It has been quite a year, good times , sad  times , and everything in between!
till later
Stay Safe and Warm

12 comments:

Shirley said...

And a darn nice book it is, too.

Ami said...

You're amazing.
:)

Prairie Ridge Performance Horses said...

A fantastic change for sure, but one that has resulted in an awesome book, ( when is the next one due??) and a beautiful person, your butterfly wings are almost complete!!
You GO girl!!!

Anonymous said...

All amazing things you've experienced and accomplished . . . and there's more to come! Happy New Year to you and yours!

Leah Fry said...

Makes you kind of excited to see what 2012 will bring, doesn't it? Happy New Year.

Nicole said...

umm..... I think you've left me hanging... I want more! And I'm still a little envious of the published book... I want to write a book some day but I suck at poetry! :)

Linda said...

Great post (and great idea for a post).....I'm looking forward to hearing more too!

GoLightly said...

I second Ami's comment.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Soar with the eagles sweetie!!! Good for you. I have a feelin' that 2012 is gonna be a great year for ya.

Congratulations!

God bless and have a fantastic day!!! :o)

C-ingspots said...

Wonderful, can't wait! Your Christmas sounds perfectly lovely too! Wonderful blessings! Loved your poem from a couple of posts back...LOVED it!! You have accomplished a lot and there's more where that came from honey!! Life is good when we choose to view it that way...love and blessings for a wonderful 2012.

Oh, and your rearing horse...awesome!! Give that guy a big ole smooch from me, k??

Crystal said...

It sure has been a good year for you and you are amazing, i think there is more wonderful stuff to come in the future. I love the book too and meeting you at the mane event, that was soo awesome.

Looks like you had a great Christmas too with all your family present. I like Pheonix rearing for you, perfect :)

sally said...

Happy New Year and yay!!!! for positive changes