A Year in Photo - Day 250

Someone went to the dog park today, do you think he had fun? :)

"May my heart be brave, my mind fierce, and my spirit free." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 249

Yet another evening surprise present delivery. I'm so spoiled!!

"Sometimes you meet a person and you just click - you're comfortable
with them, like you've known them your whole life, and you don't
have to pretend to be anyone or anything." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 248

I think my smile pretty much says is all...riding Revere today made my heart sing and filled my soul.

"Horses change lives. They give our young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls. They give us hope!" -Toni Robinson

A Year in Photo - Day 247

Another great night volunteering at Inn from the Cold, makes me count my blessings. All the little things I take for granted, the roof over my head, being able to go get something from the fridge or turn the lights out and go to sleep when I want to. Being able to live how I want and do things how and when I want, without constantly being surrounded by others, I'm so thankful.

"Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in
elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the
kind of community you want to live in." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 246

As I've mentioned before, full moon's really affect my mental wellness, even a few days before or a few days after. Saturday was a full moon and I did okay, but I made up for it on Sunday. I went out to feed the horses and was feeling great, until I started to do some running around afterwards. After a couple of stops, including a Starbucks run where the guy in front of me stopped at least 4 ft. from the car in front of him, preventing me from reaching the speaker by about a foot, the errands were cut short to protect public safety...

"The ancients realized that everything on our planet depends on & is affected
by the natural rhythms of our Moon." -Hibiscus Moon

A Year in Photo - Day 245

I can't believe this little fart is 1 already! I remember driving down to Washington with my sister to pick him up, she was vibrating with excitement, and I have to admit, I was super excited to meet my little nephew. He makes us laugh all the time and is the best thing that's happened to my sister. Happy Birthday Arn-Diddle! ©

"Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling
an emptiness we didn't know we had." -Thom Jones

A Year in Photo - Day 244

Friday night, beer time. Ooo, and check out my nails :)

"If you are always trying to be normal you'll never know
how amazing you can be." -Maya Angelou

A Year in Photo - Day 243

I woke up and Steve told me I had been coughing all night. Solution? Spend the day drinking tea - Cocomint Cream, Glitter & Gold and Apple Custard. Yum-o!! 

"A cup of tea solves everything." -Verónica Algaba

A Year in Photo - Day 242

I've had sensitive skin my whole life and I've just never found something that worked for me. But thanks to a good friend who works at Lush, I discovered their skin care line and I'm in love! It smells amazing, is a fraction of the cost and it  works! Rocking the fresh face mask, Catastrophe Cosmetic. I love it when you find something that makes you feel so good. ©

"Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses, 'cause we were born this way." -Lady Gaga

A Year in Photo - Day 241

Ivan got sick....and then we did when we got the bill. Turns out the fuel pump on Steve's car costs more than most cars. Soooo......Anyone looking for a babysitter? Or someone to do barn work? :)

"A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure." -Henry Kissinger

A Year in Photo - Day 240

Today's adventure can't be explained with just one photo. I was at the farm and I went in to fill the rooster and turkey feed. I closed the door behind me, like I have done many times, so they wouldn't get out and the chickens wouldn't get in. I dumped the feed in and went to leave, but the door wouldn't open, it was....locked?!?

After several attempts I messaged Kristi but she was downtown at an appointment. She said I couldn't lock myself in and that it must just be stuck, but try as I might, I couldn't get the door to open. So I called Steve, who was about to go for lunch, to come to my rescue (his poor co-worker got to hear the full extent of the rooster calls while we were on the phone).

While I was waiting for Steve to arrive, I spent my time fending off this one little rooster. The smallest one of course, a bad case of Little Man Syndrome, kept coming at me trying cock fight. Thankfully I had the empty grain bag for protection; no joke, he may have been little but his spurs are huge! I took a photo of him and told Kristi he is the first one that needs to go, not that I have any say in that but I told him too :) Rocky even tried to come to rescue me but he too was unsuccessful. 

Finally, after about half hour or so of being in the pen, Steve arrived and freed me. I had him take a photo of the door before he opened it and sure enough, I managed to lock the door just by closing it.

They say it's Blue Monday today but I got one heck of a laugh! Only I could lock myself in a turkey/rooster pen, when nobody was on the property, and spend my time inside fending off a rooster with an empty grain bag!

Minding my own business, just feeding the roosters and turkeys. 

Double, triple, quadruple checking...yep, it's locked.

Locked in on the barn side.

Locked in on the farm side.

Little Man Syndrome!

He's here! Rocky showing Steve the way to the prisoner. 

Yep, I actually managed to lock this by just closing the door from the inside. 
Now that's talent!

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"Always find a reason to laugh. It may not add years to your life but will surely 
add life to your years." -Anonymous

A Year in Photo -- Day 239

Watching someone you care about struggle is so difficult; I hope that one day they will be able to see the light and create a new reality for themselves.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Plato

A Year in Photo - Day 238

I went out for a walk with Steve and Sig tonight, hoping to return to the house cured. Most of the walk was spent with me trailing behind because Sig was on a mission and wouldn't wait for my slow, sick ass.

With all the fresh snow it was beautiful out. I snapped this picture after I caught up to Steve and Sig; I love how we're all 3 going in different directions, haha. Although I didn't return cured, it was nice to get out of the house and get some fresh air.

"Of this be sure: you do not find the happy life...you make it." -Thomas S. Monson

A Year in Photo - Day 237

Stocked up with everything I need for yet another sick day. I'm about done with this!

"There are people who would love to have your bad days." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 236

Sig never ceases to make me laugh. Knowing that he won't let me have the heating pad, I propped it up against the back rest while it preheated (yes, I have to preheat it for him), while I made my breakfast, so I could at least have a bit of heat on my sore back. I returned to find he had knocked it down and stole it back. Such a funny little dude.

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." -E.E. Cummings

A Year in Photo - Day 235

The last of my Boxing Day online shopping has arrived! And just in time because I'm sick, again. Admittedly, I'm totally addicted to David's Tea, but if there's something that can keep me from putting food in my mouth when I'm not hungry, soothe the soul on a stressful day or give me a pick me up, this is it!

"If you are cold, tea will warm you;
If you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited it will calm you."
-William Ewart Gladstone

A Year in Photo - Day 234

I did it! I made it through my first day at the gym. It felt really good but I might not be able to move my upper body tomorrow...

"You need to be content with small steps. That's all life is. Small steps that you take every day so when you look back down the road it all adds up and you know you covered some distance. It took me a long time to accept that, but it's true.
You need to have patience." -Katie Kacvinsky

 

A Year in Photo - Day 233

If you haven't had Mexican vanilla, you haven't lived! Thank God for friends who travel to Mexico and replenish my stash!

"A true friend is someone who thinks you're a good egg! Even though they know you're slightly cracked! -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 232

I spent the evening volunteering at Inn from the Cold and it was so great. I leave there feel like I get more than I've given. The expressions of gratitude are constant and I really feel like I've made a difference. Lots of laughs, some conflict resolution but such a great night.

"See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see." -Dr. Wayne Dyer

A Year in Photo - Day 231

When you feel like drinking but choose to have a cup of tea instead.

"Sometimes you have to do what's best for you and your life,
not what's best for everybody else." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 230

I made a big leap of faith and joined a gym, again. My sister has raved about The Women's Place since she joined, and I've heard really great things about it. I went to check it out and signed up on the spot, it felt right. But I can't help but have some negative thoughts....."here we go again"..."you're not going to go"...."you will fail"...."you will quit" and so on.

BUT I'm telling those voices to shut up, that I am strong, committed and driven to get stronger to give myself the best shot possible at realizing my dream of becoming a trimmer. Watch out world, I'm going to do this.

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -Martin Luther King

A Year in Photo - Day 229

We had a very special friend come to visit, so special that I couldn't tell Sig until hours before she arrived. This is why!

"True friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's about being separated
and nothing changes." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Day 228

Another great day at the farm today. Mickey needed lots of love and attention while I was filling his water. He gave me lots of horse kisses in return though. Such a ham but so good for my soul :)

"Some horses will test you, some will teach you, and
some will bring out the best in you." -Unknown

A Year in Photo - Days 224-227

Sooooo.....I got a little behind with posting the photos daily photos (I have been taking them daily), so I'm going to do one big catch up post instead of individual posts.

Day 224

I had such a fun day at Mary's clinic, playing in the snow with Tulsa. This was the first time Tulsa and I worked together and she has taught me so much already.

Day 225

Sig really likes popcorn, A LOT!

Day 226

A BEAUTIFUL evening at the farm during the snowstorm. It was snowing so hard and was so peaceful; I am so lucky to be able to go there.

Day 227

My co-pilot :) Although he looks really sad he was actually really happy because we had just left the vet (he's fine).

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"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone. We take photos to recall  - with greater vibrancy - those experiences that have shaped and made us. We take photos to bridge distance and shorten time, to lend legacy to the little things and life to the forgotten." -Katie Thurmes

A Year in Photo - Day 223

Spent a great New Years Day doing some shopping with Steve and finished it off playing some games and drinking coffee :)

Ditch the resolutions.
To resolve means to find a solution to a problem.
You are not a problem.
The way you showed up for your life the past year
was necessary for your growth.
Now is time to reflect. To learn
To create an intention, a positive call to shift,
a spark of magic + manifestation
rooted in self-love
and backed with action.
-Unknown