Sun, Storm, Saddles, Survival

Sunrise the other morning, before the wild and windy "end of the world" that dawns this morning. I had one more day of sun to ride but was too busy and fighting the last of my ever-nagging cold, so just grabbed a few pony pics along the way. My Sheza-brat is 20 months old! Hard to believe this big red monkey is the little pale thing we helped deliver on a cool April night last year.

It got COLD and there were fun rings of ice to play with in every bucket. I busted this group of characters playing with the ice seen here at Joey's feet, but of course after gazing at me innocently they pretended to be terrified of all things ice and scattered--for at least 10 seconds.

 The next morning dawned with rain forecast, but instead we just got lots of very cool clouds. I had lots of errands to run and squeezed in a workout on my way to meet riding buddy N for a horse-less lunch in town. She lives in higher elevations and was facing black ice to trailer down for riding, so we decided on a more sedate catch up session over some hot food.

She gave me the most thoughtful bucket of goodies for Christmas--and the buckets they came in are AWESOME, too! Those flexi unbreakable colored types, I am already using the 2 she gave me and must get more in every color! The handles and flexible material make it possible to carry a heavy, sloppy mash in one hand without ending up wearing it, simply amazing. She also gave me this great leather cuff that has a quote near and dear to my heart on it, a quote my mom has reminded me of often--perhaps had to remind HERSELF of often, in the face of my wild young smart assed self!

In case you can't read it, it says "Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History"

p.s. the letters in my tattoo are my mom/granny/siblings initials, if you're wondering

When I got home from my road trip I discovered the seat of my Eurolight was molding, so I soaped and conditioned it and promptly stashed both Specialized saddles in the house. And now, my kind of interior decorating:  3 tier saddle rack in my Woman Cave/office to keep my saddles snug and warm! The Christmas lights on the stand are horsey shaped! :-)

Finally, this wild and stormy morning, December 21st 2012, was the much feared/ridiculed end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. As with Y2K and every other overblown prediction of doom, a favorite quote of my Grandfather's came to mind.

"If you're born to drown, you'll never hang"

Simple right? That little sentence has kept me striding boldly forward for years now. Sure you could die any day you drive your car, or halter your horse, or get on an airplane. But if it's not your way or time to go, it's not your way or time. And if it is, well shit, it is! So sally forth bravely, friends, and enjoy December 22nd and the year to come and have a Very Merry Christmas.