This photo is from last year, but it does capture a bit of what last night’s ride was like. Though we came back in near full dark. I have flashers and a reflective safety vest to wear, so were were okay for the short bit we had to ride on the road. It was a fabulous evening! Lily moved out and rated back down with ease. We mostly trotted with a bit of rocking chair canter thrown in. The air was crisp and became chilling on the last stretch. I was grinning throughout the day at work today just thinking about it. Horse therapy is the best!

So that is one think I am thankful for. More importantly, I’ve been thinking a lot about lately the wonderful children I share my life with. I feel so very fortunate to be their parent. And I look forward to when they both return from their adventures out in the wide world.

Gurunam is in South America for her study abroad. Here is a recent blog post with photos from her visit to Iguazu Falls. Look it up. It seems like a fantastic place! Apparently, when Eleanor Roosevelt visited, she said, “Poor Niagara!”

Photo courtesy of Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa

My trip to India this fall was another experience for me to grateful for. There is much to say about that. I am still considering what I would like to write about it. On a pracitcal level, it was very nice to get to know the staff and see the school grounds. I found that India had not changed all that much since my visits back in the ’80′s. Yes, people have cell phones and there are a few more cars, but much still remians the same.

I love this time of year when the light turns to gold and the temperatures start to drop. And even the darkness that falls early. It is a time of reflection.

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

Today’s Thankful Thursday is a book review.

I took this sweet little book into the backyard on this balmy Thursday evening, stretched out in my favorite chair and read it straight through. I know that I could have bought the Kindle version and read it on my laptop, but I like a the physicality of a book. There is something so very satisfying to me in turning pages and feeling the paper stock chosen by the printer. It is more personal than reading words made of pixels and light.

This quick little read is chock full of excellent and sometimes surprising ideas. They are presented in a story about a business and one entrepreneur’s journey, but are really about so much else. There was much about the author that I could relate to, the enjoyment in solitude and learning new things, the self sufficiency. I have worked as an employee in various businesses by now. I’ve seen it from that side well enough. I’ve tried a couple on my own, but rather feebly. I may be time for me to see it from the other side soon, and in a more inventive way that I have tried in the past.

I am passing it on to both my children. I will be sure that they read it and we will spend time discussing it as well. And I will be checking out more of the books put out by The Domino Project.

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

This morning the sunlight hit my dining room curtains in a way that made them glow. My photos didn’t really capture it unfortunately. The way that our house is situated doesn’t allow a lot of direct sunlight. While this does keep it quite cool in the summer, it also means that sights like this are rare. I enjoyed the few moments before the sun moved farther up into the sky and rays no longer came inside.

What is less rare is this wonderful yogurt that my husband makes. I know how to make it, but he’s usually the one taking the action to actually do it. I love it when it comes out solid like this, with a bit of whey around the edges, like custard. It’s very tasty and makes a great breakfast with some ground flax and maple syrup. We also had some with our subzee and roti last night. Yumm!!

I am glad that what started as a weekly post a few years ago has become a much more regular practice for me. When I started my Thankful Thursday posts, I was going through a bit of depression. It was really helpful for me to gain perspective and see how much wonder there really was in my life. I suppose part of it could have been me coming close to middle age. I’ll be turning 50 in just over 3 years. Maybe it was my children growing up and finding their own way in the world. Either way, my posts helped me. And I’m grateful that they are less needed, just welcomed. Enjoy finding gratitude always, not just on Thursdays!

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

Homage (work in progress)

This painting here is an exploration in using acrylics. I don’t think that it’s finished yet. This was a first pass. The contour of the hill came from my memory. Without thinking of it, the shape is very similar to Mt. Pisgah. I see it nearly daily while driving towards the freeway and work. It’s often shrouded in fog or clouds and sometimes lit from behind by the rising sun. It’s very often a spectacular and breathtaking view. I guess it’s burned into my visual imagery.

More about my painting exploration can be found on my art blog.

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

I am grateful for the persistence of friends & family to keep pushing me to achieve my dreams. Part of that is my sharing my dreams with them. I’ve been keeping some ideas to myself more of late. When the idea has been more fully formed, it is worth sharing. That process helps me to be more clear about exactly what those dreams are. And even though I am looking to the future, I am grateful that I can be satisfied in the moment as well.

The images here are from a walk in the large, empty parking lot at work. I like to do this on breaks. It clears my mind and I always see something interesting. I was struck yesterday, in the overcast light, with the ability of these plants to keep growing wherever they could find purchase. I can appreciate that. Much as the owner would like his empty lot to be ‘weed’ free, the plants are tenacious enough to take hold and persevere. I found a lesson in that yesterday.

My favorite image from the group

How:

Etheric sunset clouds taken while riding Lily last week

My life is really quite perfect. I have nothing to complain about.

Why is it that we are so quick to see any small difficulty in our lives? And why is it so much easier and socially acceptable to share gripes and complaints than successes and joy? Are we afraid to make those around us feel bad by comparison? Will it feel like bragging?

All I have is this moment. I can think about the past and the future, but they are not what I have right now.

If I’m not okay with the now, what have I got?

How:

I guess that this is officially a Thankful Thursday post, even though it is going out on Friday, as I am SO grateful for this ride today.

Who's that Perfect Mare?

She had gotten in the habit of taking short, choppy strides before she went totally lame. I could not get her to go on the bit. Any attempt at contact sent her head in the air and rushing or skittering crookedly sideways. So the riding that I did do last winter was loose reined, trail rides. I had hoped to get her okay with contact again at some point.

Then she went lame and it was all on hold. For a while, I thought it could be permanently on hold.

It is possible that the way I was riding her contributed to her lameness. I had been riding her in a jaquima meant for Paso Finos and was asking her to gait. The jaquima does lift her head. She goes very lightly in it and on a loose rein seemed fine. I don’t think that this was the primary cause of her lameness, but it might have been a factor. I do believe that she had an injury of some sort. If it really was an avulsion fracture or a ligament injury, I really don’t know. The summer of rest certainly helped her. The supplements she’s been taking have helped her. We are currently using Ligand-3 from Foxden Equine. I wet a week’s worth with olive oil and add it to her feed. She gobbles it right up.

The turning point seemed to be her recent treatment from Ferronato Shen. I had heard very good things from a friend about the work she did. Her evaluation and massage session with Lily turned up a very tight back as her primary issue. I won’t go into more detail than that on my blog. Needless to say, I believe that Ferronato was correct. Now I rub down her back after every ride and am very conscious of how I ride and handle Lily.

Since I’ve started riding her again, it is in a french link snaffle that fits and a new to me Ortho-Flex saddle. The difference lately is really good. She reaches out in her stride. We had gotten up to a couple of miles of walking.

Leg yield on the way home. Not so easy to do with one hand on the reins and one taking the photo.

After stretching her legs like that, I asked for light contact, her neck arched right up and she gave it to me. We did some circles, spiraling in and out and leg yield. Her head would pop up, but she would come back when asked. It was lovely and even better than years ago, when I rode her Training Level.

It really has been two years since Lily and I have done any work in earnest. I leased her out for the first half of 2008. I had too many horses at the time and she was the most trained and easiest to find a leaser for. When she came back, I bred her to Paisano. Then she went to Tired Dog Ranch to foal out. There were a few rides here and there. I could tell each time that something was off. There were mild resistances from Lily. Though she would do what I asked, it was not with the willing, happy attitude of the past. It was really just a feeling more than anything I could put words to. I guess it’s not a bad thing that her physical issues came to head this year. Whatever it was, it seems to have worked it’s way out and we are on the other side.

So now, I have a second chance to begin again, training Lily. I have learned so much in these two years and I look forward to having the chance to apply it. It is like a new world for me. To have Lily back and sound again is a gift beyond measure.

(And, by the way, the “Wah!” title is not a cry, but the Wah! of bliss.)

How:

So I upgraded my theme … and lost my customization in the process. No time to fix it just now, as I am headed out soon for Lily’s follow up ultrasound. She’s feeling pretty good, trots out sound for now, but her hind suspensory branches are sore on palpation.

It’s been a quiet month. Hay was picked up and stacked, so my storage space is bursting. I sampled twenty bales and have sent that off for testing. Lily started to gain weight on the new hay and just eat herself silly, so I’ve had to start rationing it. She was getting free choice, but when she ate through more than half a fifty pound bale a day, I had to draw the line! She now gets about 3-4 flakes per meal in smaller pillow nets I made out of the same hockey barrier netting that I’ve used before. I am putting them in a small water trough, though I still have to retrieve them from the weeds. It does take her a bit longer to eat when they are on the ground, than hanging, so that’s good.

It appears that my trailer has sold. Yay! The next task is to clean up my truck (and find the paperwork that’s lost in my house somewhere.) and put it up for sale. I have downsized and am VERY happy with the change. I love my new (to me) 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel). I am shifting it over to biodiesel slowly, as I don’t know if it’s ever run it before. The first day I drove to work, I got 25 mpg. And eventually, I plan to look for a used Brenderup trailer to pull with it. Jeep only made these with a diesel engine for two years. I wish that more cars came with this option. I really like being able to run my car on a fuel that is mostly non-petroleum based.

This is a year of many changes and I am riding the wave along with you all. I am sure that there will be more to come as the days go by. Stay tuned for updates to the look of my blog this weekend. I’ll get it back in shape soon!

So my short list of things to be grateful for this week:
Lily is feeling good!
New wheels!
Trailer sold!
Great weather!
Yay!

Yes, there have been trials as well this week, but the good things really do outweigh the not so good.

How:

Ah, Blueberries!

I found this post today, that I started nearly a year ago. The text in green is all that I had written, next to the photo of my harvest. Yesterday, I was doing the very same thing. Gardens make us see that life comes full circle with the flow of the seasons.

I don’t like the heat. I tend to stay inside if I can. This afternoon, I found myself out in the sun harvesting blueberries instead. There is nothing quite like fresh berries eaten off the bush. This year’s early crop is on the tart side, but the berries are large and plump. We have two bushes fruiting now, one is the largest and oldest. It was here when we moved in, maybe twelve years ago. We were so impressed with it’s lovely, red, fall foliage that more bushes were added the following year. We have added four more blueberry bushes this spring with more to be planted. At the end of this season, we will have one whole end of backyard edged in them.

The other bush that is bearing early, is the smallest and new this year. Our yard has quite a few different varieties, so we have a long season to pick berries from small, sweet ones to larger, juicy ones. I like them all!

Lately, I’ve been more and more grateful for simple things, like picking blueberries in the yard; leaning on Lily’s back, closing my eyes and just breathing with her; sharing moments with my family and friends; and smelling my freshly opened oil paints.

I’ve been absent from my blog lately, as changes are afoot in my life. It is a year for shifts and mine seems to be moving right ahead. There may be a change coming in my web space, as I move to being less involved with my horses and more with my artwork. Stay tuned – I’ll let you all know what’s up, when I have it more figured out.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

I loved the message of this talk by Steven Tomlinson. When he asked for advice at the age of 28, about how to choose between the three things he loved, he got the answer, “Don’t discard. Find a way to keep all three of these things in the mix.” I’ll leave you with this as I found very inspiring. It made me look at issues in my life with a new perspective.

How:

“Horses should be trained in such a way that they not only love their riders, but look forward to the time they are with them.” Xenophon, 400 BC

I know I feel similarly about my horses. I visited with Lily and Vinnie this evening. Now that I am home, I miss them already. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have two such wondrous beings to share my journey this time around. I can only hope that they look forward to our time together as much as I do.

How:

When considered the coming year, these two words came to me. Then I thought about what they mean to me and how I may shift to accommodate them. I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions. What really set me to look at this was my recent back injury, not the just the change in calendars.

Clarity – It’s about knowing what is important. Injuring my back has really made me look at my health and lifestyle. I had settled into patterns that, while not horrible, were not the most healthy for me. Things like staying up late surfing the net. Watching too much TV on hulu.com, eating late in the day, not exercising; that sort of stuff. I am much more clear now about where I need to make changes and am starting to do that. Now that I am nearing fifty, staying fit has to be more of priority.

Simplicity – This is about getting back to my core beliefs. What are my motivations for the doing the things I do? What is important to me, not just day to day, but for my lifetime?

Every few years, I make The List. I put it in Excel with columns for what, why, benefits to me, my family and others, do I do it out of obligation, duty, or pleasure, and how much time it takes. I put down everything I spend time doing, from the basics like eating and sleeping to things like work, volunteer activities, etc. Then I can look at where things are out of balance. Does something need to be culled? Or do I need to do more of this or that? It helps me see clearly why I am involved with what I do. I can explore my motivations, both good, bad and in between. I can better explain to my family and friends, when that needs to be done. And I can make intelligent choices based on sound reasoning.

Going through this exercise doesn’t mean that I don’t keep some things just because they are fun! That reason goes in the Why column and is vitally important!

What came up to change now…

Doesn’t that list look awfully familiar? Isn’t most people’s list around the New Year very much the same? I guess it just shows that most of us humans have similar challenges.

A few solutions I’m trying…

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Silkscreen Print © 2009 Simrat Khalsa

I’ve been researching all this week, educating myself about spinal anatomy. This involved looking at MRI images (mine and other’s), reading blogs and websites and googling terms that are in my MRI report. Things like Degenerative Disk Disease, hypertrophic endplate changes, annular tear, bilateral foraminal regions. And I’ll say that I now understand much more about this very important part of my body.

Our disks are made up of the nucleus pulposus, the shock absorbing “jelly-like” center of the disk, contained by the annulas, a fibrous outer layer (much thicker than I imagined). These structures must stay hydrated through movement. Without maintaining this hydration, they slowly become thinner, eventually loosing their shock absorbing, elastic qualities. As they thin, the openings in the spinal column for the nerves becomes narrower. Without the ability to absorb shock, arthritic changes may develop in the spine as well. Tears and bulges in the annulus also occur as elasticity is lost. While drinking adequate water is vital to maintain these “small hydraulic shock absorbers”, movement is vital to get that fluid to where it is needed. Another vital thing that I learned, is that the vertebral disks rehydrate at night during your sleep! Another reason to get a full night’s rest.

Basically, I have a few disks at the base of my spine that are drying up. The lowest one is already degenerated. The one above is bulging and the one above that has a tear in the annulus. It all makes quite a bit of sense to me now. All the years that I have been sitting at a desk at work must have contributed to this, along with my slacking on my sadhana and yoga practice. Well, it’s time for me to get back in gear. Pun intended!

All during my reading, I kept remembering the many hours of lectures and yoga classes I sat though with the Siri Singh Sahib (aka Yogi Bhajan). He talked about how a practicing Kundalini Yoga would create a healthy, flexible spine and how important that was; that it would keep us young. I wish that my twenty something self had listened a little better! I was thinking about it more on the level of raising my consciousness, not merely keeping my body healthy. I suppose that’s one of the follies of youth; thinking that you are indestructible. It’s not too late for me now, twenty years later. I know that I can heal myself. Time will tell if I follow through and do the day to day work. I fully intend to, but I now that follow through is not always my strong suit. It may be challenging for me.

Please join me over this next year to see how I manage. I’ll be starting in on some basic spinal exercises and will post what I’m working on as I go, along with my results. I welcome your support. Feel free to keep my on track! Maybe I’ll actually start to teach. I did get certified as a Kundalini Yoga instructor many years ago. It’s one of the many hidden talents I haven’t really used yet…

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Today, a day late …. I am grateful that I have not succumbed to my usual winter dark moods. Despite my back issues, my spirit remains buoyant. It’s quite wonderful to actually enjoy these dark days. Instead of cursing at the lack of light and the cloudy skies, I see their innate resplendence. This entire winter, I have been amazed at the transcendent beauty of the air around me.

Yesterday, I renewed my AERC membership and added Vinnie to the roster. He is young yet, but if he gets enough conditioning next year, I may consider taking him in his first 25 mile ride in October. He will have reached the 48 month age eligibility in August. I won’t push him. but if he does turn out to be in shape and ready, we will plan for the Foothils ride on October 16th.

I also rejoined PNER (Pacific NW Endurance Rides). I am on the PNER email list and also PNERgaited list. I may get to the PNER convention too, so figured it was worth supporting my local organization. Lily and I plan to make it to one or two Limited Distance rides in the spring and summer.

Maybe my sunny disposition is due to the fun of planning for next year’s outings. My horse activities are shifting from the NW Expo and dressage schooling shows to trail riding and endurance rides. I hope to throw in some driving training for Vinnie and a parade as well. It is nice to settle into working with my two horses. I’ve had a few years of more horse numbers, different ones moving through my hands, thinking of all the possibilites of breeding, etc. It was maybe too many possibilities to consider. So it is nice to scale back and have more focus. And also to just think about doing what’s fun!

As the year draws to a close, I am thankful for all that has come before and all the opportunities that the future holds.

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

The road onwards ... © 2009, Simrat Khaslsa

By waiting to post my Thankful Thursday this week, I am able to share this with you. A guest blogger on The Pony Expression has asked a group of excellent questions. The pertinent one for me is… How do we maintain gratitude? At first, when new experiences of consciousness are felt, there is a rush of wonderment and it’s not too hard to be grateful for that. But what about when these come daily and become more part of the norm? That for me, is the challenge and one of the reasons that I started Thankful Thursday almost a year ago, January 15th.

As things have progressed for me, my challenge is not becoming complacent and taking my awareness for granted. You know how wonderful the flush of excitement is when you have a realization or an incredible meditative experience or other epiphany? What then happens when these come daily and the moments of wonder start to become connected into a continuous stream?

I want to share a second post from The Pony Expression, by my friend, Susan. I think that many of us now are being called to offer a space of healing to others. For some, like me, who are not already in a healing profession … we have to figure out what form that will take. For me, will it be a formal modality or just holding a space for others to find their way? Or will I manifest my vision to train horses as my contribution to conscious life? I don’t know yet…

I started Thankful Thursday nearly a year ago specifically to retain that wonder and to acknowledge it. I want to thank all those who have joined me on this journey. It is inspiring and also humbling to see this blossoming and expanding outwards.

Thank you all.

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Lily and I playing around in 2006.

And I will certainly be happy to have my girl back. It’s been wonderful to have her at Tired Dog Ranch and I’m thrilled that Rita will have such an excellent home. But … I will never send Lily to another person as long as I am alive and able. I really look forward to rebuilding our partnership together.

Romina, Sally, Amy Jo, me & Megan

I’ve been feeling change coming for a long time. Now there is an undercurrent flowing, and a charged atmosphere along with it. We are on the cusp of this shift. I came across this article and found it very helpful in validating quite a lot of things for me. Maybe it will for you too…

Astrologer Maurice Fernandez on the coming changes

While there will be challenges, I also see incredible opportunities. Breaking down and rebuilding give us the chance to recreate anew.

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Getting the Idea

We had a great day last Friday. I helped out with vet work there. Multiple horses had teeth done, little Luis was gelded and then I worked with Rita on halter training. I also got in a short, fun ride on my Lily mare.

I am very thankful that I have these wonderful horses to play with; That I have great friends to share them with; And that we are headed out for another Cowgirl Campout this weekend, this time at Megan’s place.

The best one I got right now of last night's ride...

The ride before that, I worked him a bit around the pastures. He has a great trot. I ended up taking him down the road and met up with a lady from my new barn. I also met Laura, who lives across the street. She was on her 2 year old, …another green bean. We rode the local gravel roads until after dark. What fun! Vinnie was a champ. He really likes to move out.

I’m starting to think that if I can find a part leaser for Lily, who wants to trail ride at Pisgah … that I might be able to afford to keep them both. It’s hard to think about selling Vinnie. I’m just going to hold that thought and see what comes of it. Plans right now are to bring Lily home sometime in November. And THAT I’m thankful for as well.

How:

Amy Jo & Cornelius on Saturday

Romina & Sky on Sunday

Megan & Diamond on Saturday

Me & Paisano on Sunday

Me & Paisano on Saturday, just before finding a nest of ground bees!

I am thrilled to have found a wonderful group of women to ride with. A weekend get together had been in the works for quite some time and it finally happened last month. Amy Jo arranged for us to meet up with Megan and Romina for a weekend of riding and visiting. We all stayed at Romina’s and rode two days in really wonderful settings.

Saturday, we rode out from Romina’s around dormant cropland, through huge open fields and around acres of Christmas trees. The views were incredible and expansive. I felt like I could see the curve of the earth fall away around me.

Paisano did well, riding with the two mares and one gelding. We had ridden together before, but in the more familiar setting of Tired Dog Ranch. On our arrival, we tried Paisano in a pasture with Cornelius and Diamond. After maybe twenty minutes of sparring with no one really settling down, I moved Paisano to a small paddock out back. He was totally fine hanging out on his own, so there he stayed for the weekend. He enjoyed riding out with them, but sharing living space was not quite so cozy.

After a wonderful dinner Saturday evening, provided by Romina, and very nice, restful sleep, we trailered to Silver Falls State Park for our Sunday ride. Even at noon, it was jacket temperature under the trees. We unloaded, tacked up and headed out for a loop of about eight miles. The only disappointment to the day was finding out that none of the horse trails go by any of the falls so prominently displayed on the park website.

The scenery was beautiful none the less. There had been some rain, which made the trails slick in some areas. At one point, we all dismounted and led our horses. Paisano was wearing his Easyboot Bares. They don’t have the greatest traction, so he was practically skiing through the slick clay. He took it all pretty calmly. I was just glad that I was not astride! I will look forward to returning in the dry summer months.

It’s a real treat to ride in new and interesting locations. This sort of experience is why I have been wanting the freedom of having my own, well trained, easy going horses. The last few years of green horses, organizing and gathering gear, trailer, etc. have all been worth it, as we are here! Now that’s something to be thankful for!

How:

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

Silver Falls photo courtesy of billtex48 (Bill and Mavis) at Flickr.

How: