Where I have been

Sorry folks I have been busy since I got home and struggling to get the pictures loaded, finally gave up , and some are out of order , but they are here! 

Those who know me well, know that the only place I am as comfortable and free as I am on or with a horse , is in the water.

So it only stands to reason , I would vacation  near the water.The warm sun and the palm trees , sure don't hurt either ! 

So Martin , I , His sister Connie, and hubby Mike , all went off to Playa Del Carmen . This year though we took a couple special guests! 

Niece Deanna , and her friend Karly 

(Me  touring  Escaret)

We went to a park, (Escaret ) where we swam a river cavern,about and hour of floating/swimming through tunnels in a salt water river , just amazing !

Took me some time but I got this shot of the dolphins 

Karly , investigating a shell on the beach

The girls ! They had a blast 

Mike , and Dee, looking off to sea 

 Miss Dee

 While there , we celebrated Dee's Birthday at a lobster dinner 

as you can see the staff prepared a special dessert for her(must have known she is my niece , with the "Appy  Birthday ")

 Of course she had to try the resort special a "Pie Eye"

 back to Escaret

Big  cats in the park 

(secured beyond a 6 ft rock wall and a 20 ft gorge , gotta say when the Panther started grumbling  that didn't look like a wide enough gap. He had to be 9 feet long !)

 off to a quieter area , the butterfly garden

 a slightly wilted butterfly here, it was HOT and after a hour swim and 2 hours of walking I was a bit pooped

 Brighter butterflies here 

 more beautiful creatures 

 Sea turtles sanctuary

 And yes even in Mexico I can find a horse show! 

I took so many photos it was hard to pick which to load , but this and the post above gives you a nice sampling I think. We had a wonderful time, but it is always nice to come home . We will hopefully begin  the march for spring together! Stay safe and warm my friends! I missed you


And BTW , yes I did dance  with my darlin'

There is nothing like coming home!

Thanks everyone for the warm wishes !

We had a wonderful time away , but as the title says, there is truly nothing like coming home!

Especially when you get this kind of welcome !

I  have a lot of catching up to do but for now I will leave you with a little preview of our trip , just a few pics of where we were 

Dance with your darlin

When you all read this , I will be hopefully lying in the sun with my darlin' Enjoying a warm and sunny Valentines day . I actually wrote this on Tuesday Feb 07 while waiting to pick Martin up at the airport from work. The sky was clear and the moon so full and bright .

Dance with your darlin'

Dance with your darlin'

Out under a star

A romance not found in

A nightclub or bar

Let the moon shine 

Under wide open skies 

The light of the stars reflect 

Love in your eyes

Laugh dance and twirl 

One another around 

Just you two together 

Alone with the sound 

Of nature’s sweet music

And the love you have found 

Once in a while 

Wherever you are 

Dance with your darlin'

Out under a star

Have a wonderful, warm and safe Valentine

Kicking off the traces

Wheeee!!!!!!!

Quinn(FV Quicken the Wind) giving a little demo on how I feel about things! 

Martin and I are heading out for a little vacation, to the land of sun sea, and sombreros! 

we are blessed to be able to do this once a year , as we have wonderful family and friends who will step up and watch things here for us . Honorary niece  Angela(DVM 2012 soon to be Dr Angela Oakley DVM ) will be staying here, and my BIL Marc will also be taking care of things with her.

Without folks like this , we really could not get a way . Having livestock is a huge commitment and one I don't complain about or regret , but it also means you can't just pack up and take off at will. 

  Thanks  in advance Angela , and Marc , I soo  appreciate this ! 

This trip we are also joined by the beautiful Miss Deanna (my niece ) I am looking forward to this as she has never been and is super excited . I wish I could take all my nieces and nephews with me  one day, now that would be a party! 

Anyhow , stay safe and warm  my friends , see you in a week! 

A Dandy update

Dandy is doing very well, Breanna shared a few more pics with me today .
Saw this and thought  two things,
 1) so proud of my boy! he is a wonderful testament to the kind of horses I raise
2) wish this gal lived closer , I could use someone as  good as her to help get a few others going . That girl has the stuff!

How do you like him now? I think he is wonderful (kinda always did) 

Stay warm and safe 

Why you should always carry a camera here

Otherwise 

the adorable 

might 

 overwhelm you 

 and you  could 

Miss it completely 

Stay safe and warm

Steady as she goes

So here we are already well into February. Things are going fairly well here, the stock seems to be maintaining, and we really cannot complain about the weather . Feels like spring is fast upon us.I have even heard reports of Pussy Willows!!

Not sure about that around here but maybe soon

On the other hand , anything is possible! 

In January, I posted about a resolution of sorts. Not so much a diet , but a plan to eat better , and exercise , and get to feeling a bit more like myself. Well in point of fact it is a diet, I have been following Weight watchers online and in the last month and a bit  have lost 9lbs. It feels slow, but I think I am doing OK. After all I didn`t gain it all overnight either. Anyone who has struggled with weight knows how incredibly frustrating it can be. Overall I feel like it has gone pretty well, haven`t tripped and fallen face first into a buffet or a cheesecake...yet.

But I also haven`t made it to the pool. Between work and weather, and getting hurt earlier in the month I just haven`t gotten it done. But I will.

For whatever reason, I was feeling a little blue and defeated yesterday about things and seriously considered drowning my sorrows in a large cheeseburger and fries . I didn’t but I sure though about it. I looked at little miss “Whoa Dammit” and a couple others and wondered if I really have the stuff anymore to work with them .Achy sore , chubby , and arthritic, and frankly feeling my age a bit . So I did what I always do , I went for a walk , filled water tanks, and took out mineral , by the time I got back in the house ,I noticed something. I wasn`t limping, my back and hip didn’t hurt! After lifting the pails and hose reel I actually felt pretty OK. 

Don`t get me wrong, I still have bad days , but Yesterday was a good one . 

somehow this was left out of the post; I coached Special Olympics  several years ago. and the joy we found in watching our teams succeed at theirs goal was truly outstanding .They gave no quarter , and just dug deep to be the very best they could be each day, and although I was Coach" I believe they taught me more that I could have dreamed 

Which of course led me to go find this video  Standing outside the Fire    (tissue warning) I was reminded, a) how much I love this song ,and b)we can live or we can push our limits, and take chances , and Really live .In doing this we may get a few more bumps and dings along the way , but it is worth it in the end .

So let me quote the Special Olympics Athletes Prayer  for you , and  for me to be reminded 

“Let me win 

But if I cannot win 

Let me be brave in the attempt”

So as we march for spring I wish you all the success in your goals, and will keep slogging away at mine . And may we each get there! Anything is possible! 

Saturday sillies

Another beautiful warm day, seems the critters are feeling a little spring in their step

and acting a little silly

 Feeling good! 

Because Phoenix gets bored and ruins my  tank cleaning mop every time he can get his teeth on one , I bought him a rope toy to see if it would occupy him.

It seems to be working

Then there is , the ever lovable , Johnny! 

 Who are you calling chubby???

Stay safe and warm everyone! 

For Janice, and all the "wild ones! "

This post is as the title says, for Janice, and for all of us who have a streak of "wild child " in us. The picture above while it looks quite peaceful, is Phoenix, and we all know he has a streak of "something"

For the wild ones 

Before we hurt, 

Before we were scared

When we took life flat out 

Just because we were dared 

Jumped into the water 

Not thinking disaster

The current was strong 

And we just swam faster 

The horses we rode, 

The stories we told

The chances worth taking 

We were fearless and bold

Up till the wee hours

Always home late

Chores done at six

At work by eight! 

So why did we stop

Did we really get smarter? 

Or was keeping that pace , 

Just getting harder?

Now don't you worry  

She is still there inside

A little bit tired

But she hasn't died

Once in a while 

If the timing is right 

She’ll  howl at the moon

 And dance through the night

So here’s to the wild ones 

Wherever they are

I’ll drink a toast to us

Out under the stars! 

Stay warm and safe 

Winston, and Skeeter Wednesday

By request

 So in the last post Reddunappy asked for photos of the stallions  from the contest . So my friend, here you go .

First up 

 Wind Walker Cactus 

Pedigree here 

sire of ,   

 FV Jazz Time ,FV Spun To Gold, FV Just as Quick(Justus) FV Sparks Image ,FV Catch a Dream 

FV A Shocking Comet , FV Quicken the Wind 

(not all shown)

Next up, is 

Fern Valley's Phoenix 

Pedigree here 

Not the best shots of him , looks like somebody needs a glamour day and photo shoot 

 2011 was  his first season , breeding only one mare .

Very excited to see what he and Jewel produce!

There you go.

Stay safe and warm!

Book or a calender?

So I wrote down all of the names from the contest blog and drew 2 . The reason I only drew 2 was that Shirley , was very close in her answer only off on one horse, so I figure she kinda wins something anyway .
The answers were;
Jazz,bred to Cactus
Peps X Cactus
and
 Jewel bred to the Phoenix
So the names were all thrown into my lucky Kenny Chesney  ball cap and


drum roll please



Jeni!
and
 Ami!

You  have the choice of receiving a Fern Valley Calender, or signed copy of Telling tails . Shirley ,I can offer you a calender or a surprise gift as you already have the book.

Congrats to all , and thanks for trying everyone .

So email me please at fernvalleyappaloosas@hotmail.ca ,and give me your mailing address and your choice of gift !

Meanwhile stay safe and warm!

Proof readers?

I have spent the last few days gathering and organizing my photos and poems for  my second book. It is finally ready I think! The hardest part seems to have been the organizing and the writing about myself ! Funny the poems came so easily !

After feeling for most of yesterday and the day before, like,I don't know enough about me to write  the "about me" portion of my new book, This is what I came up with late last evening . 

“If it is possible, I will do it .If it is impossible, it will take me a little longer Author unknown

I read this quote several years ago. And it spoke to me in its simplicity, and clear determination. This phrase defines the people in my life who were and are my heroes and the people I am proud to call family.

From my great grandfather William Horricks who settled on  the old homestead near Edmonton and proceeded to build a life with his family, to my Grandfather George Horricks , who with his brother Charlie built and established Horricks Dairy, a formidable entity in its own right  from 1927 to 1977.

Initially delivering milk to customers with horse and wagon, then in later years more modern modes.  George served on the board of directors and as president of the Alberta Dairy Pool. Charlie, a blacksmith, of note, as he had only one arm as a result of a motor vehicle accident, and George, who also due to injury, had lost his hand, were two of the most able and capable men I have ever known! Teaching me that nothing is impossible, it just takes some “figuring”.

The farm continued with the growing partnership of George and his sons. Bud (Milton) Bill and Ron. They worked not only in the dairy, but in a large commercial cattle operation as well as grain farming.

This is where I grew up, and found my enduring love of animals and the land. And where I learned a work ethic, about family, loyalty and love.

The first “real job “I held was at the age of 10 washing bottles and delivering milk on the farm. I was so proud of the checks I received from Grandpa!

The bottles I delivered were plain, but the original Horricks Dairy bottles looked like this.

The Label Read

Horricks Dairy

“Natural Milk, Naturally the best”

A phrase coined by my grandfather.

My love of literature, and knowledge came also from My Granddad Blaine; he was an avid reader and shared his love of literature with us all. Again not one to let adversity slow him down, he returned to High school at the age of 42 completed his Grade 12 Matriculation!

I have kept the lessons of these heroes close to my heart, all of my life. At the age of 18 I moved away from the family farm to start my life on the ranch near Onoway. Caring for the stock and attending college to study Animal Health Technology. My path changed, as they often do and I found a career in Health care, working first with adult survivors of Brain injury , then later as I expanded my knowledge in health care as a Home support aid and finally as a Mental Health aide , providing support to individuals in my community .

Through all of this I have maintained a breeding operation of the beautiful Appaloosas horses I adore ,as well raising beef cattle ,first with my dad, and now with my husband Martin , whose support and encouragement  for my writing has been outstanding .

My poetry is written, always from the heart, and about the life I live here at Fern Valley. About and for the wonderful people and animals who have been part of my life.

Any thoughts ?

Stay safe and warm 
edited to add
I did take photos of the bottles with milk in them for the book on your suggestions, and Yes I admit it, I am a "comma criminal"