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Choices

Dec 112008
 

“Just because I can do many things well does not mean I should be doing many things – even those I do well.”

I found this quote on Matt Moran’s blog.

I do a lot. Most of the time, it’s too much. I work full time. I usually have a few volunteer things going on. I have a husband and two children. I have horses (down to two now, which make things a bit easier). I also try to do some artwork in there somewhere… This list means that something gives, and one part of my life doesn’t get the attention that it needs. My husband would say that it is cooking.

Matt’s post made me think of a skill of mine that I have, at times resisted. I gave in several years ago and am now trying to get out of again. That is – working with data all the time. That’s what I do at my day job. And it’s starting to wear on me, mentally, physically and spiritually. Yes, I am good at it. I am responsible, detail oriented, thorough and capable. It makes people think to give me more things to do…

I took a break from outside work, when my son was born. I vowed that I would not go back when he was young. I had done that with my daughter and it was hard. She was one and a half years old when I started working full time in a finance job. After my son was born, I knew I wanted something different.

So I went back to school and finished my degree in Fine Art. Fine Art programs do not help you actually make a living with Art though. I tried, but lacked the marketing skills at the time. In the end, I am now back doing something I do well, data, and getting into the nitty gritty of business processes.

Where I will end up? Who knows right now. It’s good to remember that just because you do something well, does not mean that you have to do it.

What do you do just because you do it well, but not necessarily by choice? How would you have it be different?

From the past…

Dec 012008
 

Technology, how it has changed. My grandmother was born in 1912, during the Mexican Revolution. At the time, her father, my great grandfather, Federico Stallforth, was being held for ransom by Pancho Villa. The Stallforth brothers owned gold and silver mines in Chihuahua. My great grandmother was sent out of the country and my grandmother was born in El Paso, TX. The ransom was paid and my great grandfather lived on to leave this memento …


(Yes, he’s lighting a cigarette.)

My grandmother lived into her eighties. I used to wonder at the changes that she saw in her life, public air travel, transatlantic phone lines, computers, the internet… What changes will my children see in their lifetime?

And now this bit of my great grandfather comes alive on youtube. Thank you, Mary.

About Warrior’s Shadow Lady

Nov 292008
 

SMR 3109 – HOA 1535
(Prairie Warrior x Slatey Lady)
2001 Spanish Mustang Mare. 14 hands.
Bay dun with two white coronets and ermine spots

Click for Pedigree

The Watcher

The Watcher

Shanti has very nice movement, showing gait quality suitable for dressage with a positive DAP trot and nice rounded canter. She also has the potential for trail riding and endurance, being bold and self assured. She has no soundness issues and has straight legs and excellent feet.

Her sire, Prairie Warrior, is a bay roan overo stallion out of Paha Sungilasa and Special Warrior. Warrior’s lines include Chato, Esperanza, Cochise, Doby, Sioux Chief and Blue Corn. Shanti’s dam, Slatey Lady, is a grulla, who’s bloodlines include Jack Slade, Annie Oakley, Narragansett, Andaluz, Lonesome and Shoshoni.

Shanti has the bloodlines to make a great broodmare for any Spanish Mustang program. Or with the proper handling and a sensitive trainer, she could be a nice saddle horse. She will need an experienced trainer and is not for the novice owner. She is not suited to be kept as an only horse.

Shanti (now Lakota) is now owned by D and John Nolan and lives in southern California.

Vinnie is settling in

Nov 122008
 

I hung out with Vin tonight in the indoor and did a bit of free work with him; simple stuff like moving him around at a distance, turn, stop, stand, come to me, keep his attention on me; that sort of thing. I had rolled a plastic barrel out into the arena earlier to give him something to think about. With rewards of neck scratches, he picked up on rolling the barrel with his head in just a couple of minutes. In the end he rolled it all the way back to the corner where it lives. And I got a lot more ears up time than we’ve had so far. He’s a smart one! I can see that the early work I did with him was worthwhile. He may make a trick pony yet.

Checking me out at about a month old...

Checking me out at about a month old...


Pedestal work at 5 months old.

Pedestal work at 5 months old.

And this was at 4 days.

And this was at 4 days. Lily is doing a good job supervising the situation...

He does a great pooky lip (like the photo below) when I find his itchy spots and he stretches his neck down, instead of up, like Paisano does. I like that. :)

Paisano playing with my camera strap when he was 3.

Paisano playing with my camera strap when he was 3.

Vinnie is pretty smelly and has scabs and stuff hiding under his hair. If it is at all warm on Saturday, he is getting a bath! I know my coat ended up in the laundry tonight… If he is presentable enough on Saturday, I may even post a picture!

Sir Vincent

Nov 042008
 

It was absolutely pouring here today. Storm drains clogged, streets flooded, can’t walk anywhere and stay at all dry. It was already getting dark when I left work. Yes, I was counting down the time until I could leave! I collected Vinnie from the 10 acre hay pasture, in the dark. The batteries on my headlamp are dying so, it was very hard to see him. I found him in his favorite spot at the far end of the pasture. While he didn’t come when I called, he did let me catch him without moving a foot. We went into the indoor and he promptly rolled, and rolled, and rolled! Since he was already soaked, he ended up caked in sand… So he looked even more scruffy, as several boarders asked about him… “What do you use a horse like that for?” “Do you ride him? He’s so small.” “Is he a baby?” No, he is a Swan in Training. lol!

I’ve decided to spring for a little extra board and put him in a stall. He will get breakfast and dinner and be dry and toasty at night. He’ll get turnout or play time in the arena and handling by me. After a few weeks, I might try him next to Paisano again and bring Lily into the stall instead. Then I can ride her more easily. Getting to the barn at 5 in the dark and pouring rain doesn’t inspire me much to riding, when I have to groom in a leaky, lean to open to the wind and walk through the rain to the indoor.

Oops! There I go whining. ;) Really, it is WONDERFUL to have Sir Vincent home and Paisano’s future settled!

Building dreams… that’s what we are up to.

Here is a shot of my son leading AR Cirro, both in step yesterday. Hargobind had come out and held Vinnie while I trimmed him and generally helped out. I see a future pair here…

Hargobind showing Sir Vincent the big pasture

Hargobind showing Sir Vincent the bit pasture

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