February 17, 2008 We went to the barn early today even through it was Sunday. A client brought her family to see her horse and ride. She is delighted at the progress he had made.

January 27, 2008 What a beautiful day! The weather has warmed and the chill was gone by noon. We went to the barn early due to training horses coming in. We also had a plan to move the 2007 foals to a pasture with Sorrlie for his special brand of teenage behaviour modification. All the horses were allow to play and hop around in the sunshine for awhile. Being stalled can be boring and everyone needs a change sometimes.  The new horses are all 2 year olds and the barn in filling up fast. Still have a few spots. This show year will be exciting due to the number of club members that are now clients. Bret and I survived the illnesses and are back to normal. Prefect time for new horses.

January 10, 2008 Goodness, where does the time fly off to? Bret and I have been very ill this holiday season. I haven't been to work since last year. Hopefully I can stop coughing long enough to sound well enough to go back to work. One good thing came out of my being home. I was given a kitten that was very sick and probably wouldn't have lived much past last week. He smelled terrible, things were dripping out of his bum that were not pleasant. With the help of a very kind and wonderful vet (I called him Friday night at a dinner party to discuss bowels) I was given instructions that saved Sherman's life.  Now he is a terror, but cute.

The three 2006 horses are riding extremely well. We had them evaluated and they are right on track. Bret is very proud of them but deep down hopes he'll be riding them this show season. In order to put them in the Schmersal Reining program, we hope to either sell them or take partnerships. We can't handle the expenses ourselves. They may be good enough but that alone doesn't mean they have a place in the program.  Money is always an issue of concern. We'll see what happens when it happens.

I'm riding Bullet (at least I was before I got so sick). We are trying to understand each other. I've riden over the years but not like this and not for almost 20 years. This stallion has buttons and moves I've never experienced before. It is as if I've never riden before. Bullet is a tolerent soul but takes a foot for every inch of slack given. He is smart and figures out the rider fast. He doesn't cheat you but allows you to cheat yourself. I'm learning what and how he is supposed to do things and getting him to do them on small moves. Look for us in 2008 in the Walk Trot and maybe Ranch Pleasure, it's time for me to show off Bret's training skills.

October 19, 2007 Well it's time to update! The show season is over and the horses have shown well. People noticed them and that was the reason for spending the money and time. Yes, it was very fun and the club members are exceptional people to be around. The training is just begining to break even so we are hopeful next year will see a steady increase. Bret is taking 2 year-olds (long yearlings) for schooling right now.

Which brings me to something I've put off anouncing. I haven't updated where I work. I began working in the office at Schmersal Reining Horses, a world-class reining horse training facility, in late June. The people are great and every day brings a new task. I enjoy it and feel very comfortable.  Hopefully this connection to another side of the horse industry will be fruitful. Our horses are bred similar to many of the horses being trained. We will see in February if the one of three young horses have the right stuff to make a reiner. I have to say I appreciate Craig and Ginger Schmersal for their honesty. If a horse doesn't have it they tell a customer. The trainers are awesome in their handling and whatever a horse gets in the way of instruction is never a loss, they will be better horses for the experience.

On October 22, I will have the big 50 birthday. Hmm, that number kindof excites me.  I remember thinking that 50 was old. I may look it but I don't feel "old". Thinking on the past, I wish I still had the goverment retirement in my future but the stress would have shorten my life by 10-15 years so the trade out is worth while.  I have one regret for the first 50 years. It's something I can do still just need to force myself to find the time. I want to paint. I have a talent and have really only begun to oil paint in the past. I'm inspired by a friend in England, Gillian. She picked up art after becoming disable. I love her work as she has such freedom in her style. I just ordered a new digital camera so I really have no excuse. I need to get in touch with  Larry Hancock for some of his wondrful bird pictures. What a cliche', an old lady painting birds and flowers! Love it!

June 2, 2007 We have lost Heart's baby. One afternoon, a week ago, they were together and the next morning the filly was gone. Heart was bothered but not searching. She seems needy and stayed closer to the other mares than she ever did before. We looked and found nothing. Never heard anything either. It's a mystery. Heart wasn't bred back this year and will go to the barn for conditioning. Bret wants me to ride but I'm not sure I want to. I use to ride and loved it. He wants me to did it. I'll enjoy it, so you'll probably see this chunky lady on an old gray mare at the September and October shows.

May 12, 2007 Yesterday was my first day of substitute teaching. It was fun. The kids were great and only tried me a couple times. Someone in every class recognized me. That was rewarding and set the mood of the rest of the hour. I have taught or visited with hundreds if not thousands of children over the years while working at the Nature Center or doing programs in the schools and other places. I love to teach. Getting my certification is the right thing to do. I'll miss the Lifestyle center but it wasn't a long term job anyway. I enjoy hard work and love the way I feel. I learned a lot about my health and will continue to speak positive and encouraging to anyone that will listen about their wonderful lifesaving program!

May 6, 2007 Because of my busy schedule, I was occupied the last two weeks. Not being able to train horses (or be trained) in general lead 'um', wasn't a pretty sight at the April 28-29 OkFQHR show at Shawnee. I think Bret said it best when he said it was trial by fire and I crashed and burned. The horses (Foxy, Sam and Kiwi) were awarded first, second and third  (respectively) in halter so it was a successful show. The In-hand trail was not even mildly a try. Foxy refused to lead, or trot, among other things. I however, had more training done to me at the show then ever at the barn. I told Bret to speak nice to me or I wouldn't listen. He's a good teacher and I really learned. Having a spouse as a teacher has problems. Why do men "talk" louder when they have someone's total attention? I love the man but I need to get him a hearing aid or ear plugs for me

Heart had her baby, a beautiful dun filly. We have named her Cindy Mulder. This is in honor of a couple of Cindys I know who are beautiful, sweet and extremely curious. Yes, if you reading this Miss Cindy I mean you. 

I've decided to get my certification to teach. The test is in June and the possibilities as local. I think as a teacher it would replace the loss of people contact I miss so much after leaving the National Park Service. Also I think I will be able to teach where ever we end up.

On a sad note...James (Jim) McGiboney died last week (the owner of the lease ranch). Jim had the brightest and clearest blue eyes. He was smart and funny and a joy to be around. What a nice and interesting man. What a loss to his family and wife. He will be missed by all. Instead of flowers, Bret and I sent 5 lbs of brownies. We figured they had enough flowers. When we visited them at their home we were served brownies. So in honor of the good times and fond memories we hope they enjoyed their brownies. I know 5 lbs is a lot of brownies but they have several grandchildren and great grandchildren with sweet teeth!

April 22, 2007 What a month! It breeze by but was very full. I was allowed to go through the program at the Lifestyle Center. Wow! Never I have I been through such a comprehensive medical examination. I'm healthier now and 10 pounds lighter. I though my diabetes was under control at 120 but now it runs 100 and I feel so much better.

Bret has been the lone horse person. I have not been to the barn 2 days out of the week. I'll show the yearlings in halter but still thinking about in hand trail. We just haven't had the time to train on them. Bullet is doing very well in reining training. Becky is proud of him and hasn't kicked him out yet. Hopefully there will be more horse coming Becky's way so she'll get financial gain for her talent and hard work.

Spring is here and I so want to plant flowers and fix up the house. The dogs will dig up anything I plant so I guess I'll put out the pots. As much as I like my job I really want to stay home and nest. I've wanted to paint and finish the inside as well as clean up the outside. There are not enough hours in the days! The OkFQHR newsletter deadline is tomorrow. It'll be a long night!

March 18, 2007 I'm so excited about the barn we rented. It is really nice and perfect for our training program. Bret is training outside horses and needed a place to work several horses. It'll give us a way to get the horses ready to show. The barn is OTOE's barn located in Sulphur, OK. They people, who rented it to us, have been abused by other rents and don't want uninvited visitors. We respect that and will honor their requests. Great people, proud of the history of the place. I'm putting up a page on training and will include a history of OTOE and his barn.

March 11, 2007 The OkFQHR newsletter has gone to print! Now I can get to the pressing issues of planning flower beds (how to make them dog proof) and designing a web page for selling the family farm at Noble.  The fillies, Kiwi and Foxy, and the newly gelded Sam (I'm hoping for a major personality change) all need to be haltered and lead every day. We are busy. Bret has yet to fix me a practice area so I can start the in-hand trail training. Kiwi is pressing her luck with a pecking order more up attempt. I had to growl and bite at her (what a show a middle-aged lady with wild hair can put on - yep I'm tough!). She backed down and I am now above her in status! The small things that means so much in the human/horse world tangle.

Oh! I priced Border Collie pups is Scotland and dropped my teeth! I thought, $1200 to $1500 for a puppy and that's not getting it shipped here!!!! I think I need to find a pregnant female that can ride in my lap on the return trip. What a fool am I!!! The conversion rate was reversed, the dogs are $500 to $950. I have faith, it'll happen, I'll get a pup from Scotland so I can raise and train top dogs.  The whole thing is making me rethink the plan. I think I can really do this. Save the money up and go get a grown dog that is already trained. I really just want to go to visit my buds, Sharon, Duane and Paul. They'll find me a dog before next year.

We finally had a rain last night. The wheat should start to come on now! The mares are waiting for Bullet. March 15 is the day of breeding when we put him on wheat with his harem. We received a very nice mare from Moore Blue Skies Ranch to breed to Bullet. She will be the only outside mare we'll breed to this year.

February 28, 2007 Last night the dogs stewed up a skunk. I had to leave the bedroom and go to the living room. It burned my lungs. I think the cedar pollen is also weighing me down. I have had a headache for days. Sinuses are wonderful when a person can select the stink! Have almost completed the OKFQHR Jan/Feb newsletter. Still waiting on a few more items to be collected and emailed. Hopefully next issue will be less information or in a bite size chunk. As any good product, it takes several to assist in the gathering of news and stats.

WE HAVE A NEW FOAL!! Just returned from the mare pasture and saw another pink baby, a colt. Even as young as he is, he's showing a rowdy side. Very calm but more curious about his surroundings than the other two foals. He sniffs everything. We'll call him Rowdy Mulder. He looks like his full sister Sandy and has the same coloring at birth. She was a palomino with no trim.

February 24, 2007  Today I went to see the new colt. He's another pinkish foal that could be a dun or palomino. Really a good looking foal. Named him Scott in honor of my new Scottish friends. I hope they enjoyed seeing the horses Thursday. We went to the trainer's on the way to Ardmore. They petted Bullet and we drove by the mare pasture.

February 23, 2007  What a completely fulfilling day! I picked up my new friends at LCA and began the southern Oklahoma tour! Having been a park ranger for so many years, I know how to lead a tour. We explored the National Park and I taught them the geology of the Arbuckle Mountains. I included the history of the Chickasaw Indians and other cultural points of interest. We drove to Turner Falls and looked at the core of the mountains on I-35. At Norman we spent 3-4 hours in the Sam Noble Natural History Museum. I hadn't been there since it was completed and I knew several of the deep secretes of many exhibits. We had fun and they learned a lot about Oklahoma. We ended up at CrossRoad's Mall in OKC. Paul and Duane found Heeleys for their children and I got my watch fixed. What an experience. Three people that were interesting, smart, caring and willing to share their time with me. I asked a lot of questions and they seemed to never tire of answering! I have always been drawn to Scotland because of family history. I have seriously considered going there as an adventure. Now I have dear friends and many a reason to go. When they start the Diabetes Management Program at Roundelwood Resort and Spa they may need a short term chef! Aww, twist my arm! 

February 22, 2007  I have met so many wonderful and interesting people while working at the Lifestyle Center of America (LCA). Today, I was truly entertained by three wonderful people from Scotland. After they completed their mission of fact finding at the center we went SHOPPING!! We drove to Ardmore to find gifts and cheap stuff at the local thrift shops and surplus warehouses. HAD a blast! We tickled the underbelly of small town America! While I was getting an oil change at the supercenter Wal-Mart, we walked across the parking lot to belly bustin' good food at Ryan's. I think we entertained the wait staff as much as four distinct accents could.