It's Snowing Again!

 
 
   
It seems to me that everything looks better in the country, especially snow.  The land looks fresh and clean.

 As soon as I awoke this morning I  looked out the bedroom window to see if it was snowing. It wasn't, so I let Rufus out, made the coffee, let Rufus back in and settled down at the computer with my coffee to check  the weather. Before I could pull it up, the snow had arrived. By the time I gulped the coffee, dressed (bringing my long johns out once again)  and headed out to the barn, it was coming down so thick I felt as if I were in a blizzard-- huge flakes swirling in the stiff wind- it had completely coated the seat of the golf cart under the carport in just those few minutes!  The hungry cats were walking down the drive to meet me halfway (they obviously don't know that cats do not like to get wet) and escort me to the barn. Bochica and Moe were patiently waiting for their breakfast under the barn overhang . By the time I poured the cat's food and grained the horses, the ground was covered. I gave the horses hay, filled the water trough and headed back to the house to settle in with a second cup of coffee and watch the snow. It's fascinating--first everything was covered, then it began melting. It is alternating between fine flakes and large cottony ones. They seem to float and swirl in the wind, much like bubbles on a summer day. I was hoping for it to stick and transform my place to a winter wonderland as it did a couple of weeks ago (the bottom picture).  Watching the flakes float about  seems to bring a peaceful feeling on this cold winter day. The trees have a sliver of snow on the branches reminding me of paintings .Soon  I'll bundle up and turn the horses out to the big pasture, so they can walk out to the far corner and tell the mares down the road "good morning."

What a gift to live in the country!






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Bochica

Bochica Tejas Santo

I truly believe both  serendipity and synchronicity played a role in Bochica coming into my life. The story begins about 13 years ago in Puerto Rico. My husband and I  were on a reward trip there from his company, to be the last before he retired. We were staying in a wonderful resort. The entertainment one night was a man riding this magnificent little chestnut horse-the horse was highstepping across a cobblestone courtyard, and the man's hat was not even moving. I was entranced, and asked what breed of horse this was. I was told that it was a Paso Fino
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Unfortunately, my husband became ill on that trip and when we returned home, things progressively got worse. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that was the beginning of the most terrible year of my life, watching day by day as the man I loved wasted away. At that time we lived in Georgia and were planning to retire on the Guadalupe River in Texas. After a long hospital stay,  much  treatment and a lot of thought, we decided to go ahead and build our dream house, hoping that he could spend a little time in it. Alas, it was not to be. We moved to Texas a month before the house was to be finished and rented a little cabin nearby. We had been in Texas two days when I had to rush him to the ER in the middle of the night. He went by ambulance to San Antonio that night. The next day the Dr. did exploratory surgery and informed me that the cancer was widespread. He died a month later. I moved into our home two weeks later with my two standard poodles. It was a trying time to say the least. The only people I knew there were my builder and the realtor.

Well, although still in shock, I decided to carry on and invited his grandchildren to visit during the summer. I took them to nearby dude ranches in Bandera. And fell in love with horses all over again. I told one of the ranglers that  I had always wanted to ride an Arabian and he suggested that I try a Paso Fino. Synchronicity? Well, I looked around and could not find one, but did find an Arabian to ride. I didn't like the breed after all.

Fast forward three years--by that time I had moved from the river-to Sun City-I was very unhappy and just floundering. My son had moved to Colombia and wanted me to come visit. I thought it was too dangerous at first, but he convinced me to come by telling me that he had met a man who bred Paso Finos and had one I could ride. Hmm, synchronicity at work? Well, to make a long story short, I went, rode a Paso Fino and fell in love with the breed. What a smooth ride-no bouncing! I came home, and much to my family's surprise (and dismay to some), I bought  Bochica. . I fell in love with his picture on a breeder's web site. After two visits, I bought him and moved him to a boarding facility. Boy, was my knowledge about horses about to be broadened! I thought I was a good rider and understood horses, but lo and behold, I had purchased a high strung, spooky and probably abused horse. I was to learn that Paso Finos are very different from Quarter Horses. To be fair, the sellers did tell me this in so many words, but I didn't understand those words. :-)
I credit Bochica with literally giving me life again.(But that's another story) Now I had a focus-training him. We've come a long way in these 7 years. I now have had Bochica at home with me for 5 years and they have been filled with lots of hard work, lots of lessons, training and reading and most of all, working with this little horse almost every day. I love to ride him-it's a fun ride. He is still spooky and I've taken a few spills, but in my old age :-) have become very careful. Yesterday I rode him after us being idle for the winter. He was a dream!

Remind me to tell you about Bochica, the snake and me! And Moe, the companion horse! Stay tuned!

Rufus and the Ice Chips

My animals are a great source of joy in my life. Windows run along the entire front of my house, and  I placed my computer desk in front of a window in my living area. I often glance outside while I am working and watch all the animals.  One cold winter day this year I looked out and saw the funniest sight. There are no gutters on my house and  the puddles in the drip line had frozen. Rufus, my puppy, had cracked the ice when he walked over them and  was eating the ice chips Then, to my astonishment,  he started  furiously digging a hole. He was actually carrying the ice chips to the hole and burying them. I guess he thought they were treats! He carefully covered them up by pushing the dirt over them with his nose. I wonder what he thought when he dug them up later and found nothing. :-)
I just cannot bring myself to discipline him for digging holes--it is too much fun to wonder what he will bury next!

Stay tuned for the story of Rufus, Bochica and the umbrella.

Serendipity and Synchronicity

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When One Door Closes, Another One Opens
- Sometimes the trick is to get brave enough to squeeze through the opening  and see what awaits you on the other side -
The door may be a large one or at times, it may be a small one like the little one here. The small adventures can be just as rewarding as the large ones.
With this blog I will share with you the past and ongoing adventures of my life--life adjusting to being a single woman,  living in the country with my animals, traveling to foreign countries, starting a new business, etc. and how serendipity and synchronicity  have played a major part in my life Each door I have walked through (or been pushed through) has led me to a new adventure in life-I plan to keep having these adventures forever!!

Rufus

When I began thinking of getting another dog (it had been about 2 years since my last beloved dog died), I decided I wanted a small dog, a female, and one that didn't shed. Instead, I have Rufus, who is growing like a weed and sheds copious amounts of hair even though I brush him often. Rufus  seems a funny name for a dog-I'm not sure if I had ever even heard the name Rufus, but when I adopted this puppy from the local shelter, the name just seemed to come to me and fit him perfectly.I first fell in love with Rufus at the vet's office. I then visited him  at the shelter, and even though the woman who runs the shelter suggested I get an older dog, I  just could not resist him.  (I obviously forgot how puppies can be.) When I brought Rufus home, he was terrified of everything in the house and everyone except me. Having Rufus has definitely been a great and funny adventure! The first night I had him, I settled down with him on the sofa and turned on the TV. He bolted over the back of the sofa and would have run for his life, except that he was afraid to go into another room without me. He finally came back to sit with me, and after a while, was glued to the TV. Now he loves it--every night he whines for me to sit on the sofa and watch it with him. Then he goes to sleep. Yikes--he has turned me, a dedicated non-TV person into a couch potato for a few hours every night!!

Stay tuned for the story of  Rufus and the ice chips!