Today, I am grateful for...

• the sun in between hail/rain storms
• that Teri's daughter Elise got into the International magnet school
• that I was able to give Teri a hug on her first day back to school
• that my daughter stayed on her horse over big jumps during her lesson
• that there is still some of the Brown Sugar Pound Cake that I made leftover from yesterday
• that my gray hair is temporarily gone
• my trip to Borders where I got two new books, a stack of cool Mother's Day cards for my loved ones, and an iced caramel coffee
• reading the wisdom of Randy Pausch in his new book "The Last Lecture"

The little things really matter.

Off and Running... and a Birthday Greeting

What a crazy week it will be. Can't wait for next Monday ;)

Just spent the morning doing paperwork for Pony Club events, paying bills, walking with Shauna and getting a few groceries. Whew... there goes my morning!

This afternoon we need to run to Newberg to exchange something at the farm store there, then head to the barn. Hope the rain stays away so Nat can ride outside.

Tomorrow it is back to the dentist, walking with Shauna, and then some shopping with Nat. She has outgrown all of her summer clothes and shoes. Will definitely need summer clothes for our trip to Vegas in a couple of weeks. Boy will we stick out like sore thumbs in Vegas... we will be the white pasty Oregonians in town ;) At the end of the trip, we will be the red sunburned Oregonians in town... LOL.

The rest of the week is a blur of appointments and commitments. I also have some fun stuff to look forward to (coffee w/friends!).

This weekend we will be gone to a Prep Clinic for Pony Club. It is an all-weekend clinic to prepare Natalie and Memo for their next rating (C1). I hope Miss Memo behaves herself.

And a huge shout out to my friend Sam... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAM!!!

I have known Sam since college. We were sorority sisters. We have been the best of friends ever since. So glad the she is a Pacific Northwesterner now! Love having her so close so we can spend more time together. Sam is a super-duper mom and all-around great person. She is always there to help people out and I am so proud that she is my friend. We have had so many fun times together (too many to list!!) ... crazy times in college (toga!), trips to San Francisco and Santa Barbara, spa days, spring break at the beach with our kiddos, hikes in the forest (remember the suspension bridge?), birthday parties, eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas (our favorite!!), and many a night in the hot tub talking until all hours of the night!

Love you, Sam! Can't wait for our next adventure together!! Thank you for always being there for me... in good times and bad. You have always been a true friend. Happiest of birthdays to you, my dear friend!!

Alleluia!

The sun is shining! It's a miracle!

I'm wearing flip flops and capri pants!

And I slept in until 9:30am!! Unreal! Poor Nat was up at 7:00 because her room was so bright! Guess I better get her some curtains to cover her blinds.

Nat had a good day at the barn yesterday. They enjoyed their gallop up the big hill, and Memo got to munch on some green grass. Yum.

Jim took this pic awhile back but it shows the hill and how fun it is:

Can't tell you what it does for my mood to see the sun. It has been a looooong winter.

Keep your fingers crossed for my biz... got an inquiry from a midwest Quarter Horse group that wants to use my brushes for awards for a show!!!

Happy Spring... finally!! I wonder how long it will last.

Almost forgot... Recipe for the Week

Caramel Apple Pork Chops

4 boneless pork chops 

vegetable oil 

2 tablespoons packed brown 

sugar 

salt and pepper to taste 

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

2 tablespoons butter 

2 medium tart red apples, cored 

and sliced into ½” wedges 

3 tablespoons chopped pecans 

(optional) 

Heat skillet over medium-high heat.  Brush chops 

lightly with oil and cook for 5-6 minutes, turning 

occasionally, until evenly browned and cooked 

through.  Remove; keep warm.  In a small bowl, 

combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon and 

nutmeg.  Add butter to skillet; stir in brown sugar 

mixture and apples.  Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes 

or just until apples are tender.  Uncover and cook 

another minute until the sauce thickens slightly.  

Spoon sauce and apples over the chops.  Sprinkle 

with pecans if desired. 

I like to serve these with a wild rice mix and steamed asparagus with parmesan.

Happy Friday!!

 

On the home stretch?

I woke up at 6:09am and it was light out! Kinda surprised me. I was afraid that I had overslept! The good thing is that it made me realize that we are on the home stretch to finish up the school year. Bring on the long days of summer... especially when it feels so much like winter here.

Oregon summers are the best. Usually not too hot... and the days are soooo long! It stays light until 9:30-10:00 at night! I am so ready.

Things have improved here. I haven't dropped anything lately ;)

Natalie was invited to represent her school in the district science fair. It just cracks me up that she goes to an art school and her favorite classes are science and math. I think they are finally teaching things to her in a way that is fun for her. And don't get me wrong... she loves all of the art classes too. She has photography this semester and she rocks! Definitely takes after her dad, and loves all the techie details of it. Yesterday, she needed some motion pics so she and Elise set up a free jump session for Memo. Really cool! Can't wait to see the pics. She also has drawing and has an "A" in that class... from the teacher that does not give "A"'s!! I love her school, and I am so proud of her.

I just got the results from my last dr. visit. My mammogram came back okay, and my blood work is all normal. My cholesterol has dropped almost 50 pts. since last time I had it done (almost 2 years ago). I'm guessing all this walking and healthy eating are paying off. Go me. If only I could get rid of that last 10 pounds now. Just can't stay away from the cheese and chocolate all the time ;)

Off for a walk, and then coffee with my friend Darcie. I'm sure we will head to the barn after school too.  Have a good day everyone!!

My week so far...

Yesterday I spilled my nonfat sugar-free mocha all over the inside of my car. I had taken two sips out of it. Nice.

Today I dropped a jar of salsa all over my fridge and kitchen floor. Glass and tomatoes everywhere. Way to go. Remember the post about my clean kitchen... not so much anymore.

I'm now going to open a bottle of wine... hope I don't drop it. Sheesh.

Mellow Monday... I hope

We had a nice, quiet weekend. I needed that.

Nat had pony club on Friday. Jim got some fabulous pics. Check 'em out here. It sure was cold, but everyone had a good time. It felt so good to sit and laugh with my friends.

Jim had barn duty on Saturday, and took Nat up for a make up lesson. Janice is going to the Rolex 3-Day Event in Kentucky!! Lucky girl! But back to Saturday... it was snowing at the barn!!! Unreal! I ended up hiding out at home, making tortilla soup and Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler! That cobbler recipe is definitely a keeper!! 

Sunday I got a wild hair to scrub the base boards in my kitchen. WTH was I thinking? I'm so sore today!! I also scrubbed the floors and got most of the cupboard doors wiped off (not a fan of my white cupboards). Now to tackle cleaning out the pantry and fridge... yuck.

Today I have to get allergy shots, get groceries, and take Nat to the dentist after school. Exciting stuff ;)

Here's to a mellow Monday and week ahead. Hugs to you all.

Thank you...

Thanks so much for all of the emails and phone calls regarding Teri. Her husband Rick passed away on Tuesday. It is all so very sad. I went to his Prayer Vigil last night, and the funeral today. So many people loved him, and he will be greatly missed.

Please continue to keep Teri and Elise in your thoughts and prayers. I can't imagine the pain they are in.

Prayers Please

Please send your prayers and thoughts to my dear friend Teri and her family. They have suffered a tragic loss. 

Love you, Teri. I'm here for anything and everything. I just cannot find the words to tell you how sorry I am. My heart is breaking. Please know that I am here for you, no matter what. I treasure your friendship so very much.

This Week's Easy Meal Idea

Philly Steak Sandwiches

Cut up some steak really thin and cook in a frying pan until just brown.  Remove from pan and keep warm.  Throw a package of sliced fresh mushrooms, some chopped onion and chopped green pepper in the pan and cook for a few minutes.  Add the meat back to the pan and add some mozzarella or pepper jack cheese to the top to melt.  Serve on toasted sandwich rolls.  Tip: you can buy bags of frozen onion and frozen green peppers to make life easier. Natalie likes this French Dip style with au jus to dip her sandwich. Try using a can of French Onion soup for the au jus.

This would be good served with a salad of some kind... green, fruit, pasta... whatever sounds good. You could also use chicken instead of steak.

Trying to get back in my routine since coming home. So much to catch up on... laundry is just no fun :(

I walked this morning... I kept feeling the urge to run! So I did!! I ended up doing some intervals. I was going up a huge hill too!! I liked running downhill much better. If I'm going to keep this up, I'm going to have to get some better shoes. I could really feel my ankles and knees... they were NOT happy ;) Missed my walking buddy though... hope you feel better soon, Shauna!!

Starting to see some orders come in again... so relieved!! That was a long stretch since the holidays! My last one was from 5th Ave. in NYC! Kinda cool. My national ad hit so I'm hoping for a spurt in orders... pretty please!!! I have horse shows coming up to pay for ;)

I'm Home

What a great weekend! I drove up to Sam's house on Friday afternoon, leaving Nat at the barn to deal with Memo and the horsey dentist. I made pretty good time... I seemed to miss most of the yucky Friday traffic.

Sam and I went to part of Parker's baseball game. He is a phenomenal catcher, and an amazing hitter! I was so impressed. Just like old times watching baseball... lots of memories of Drew's ball-playing days.

We all went out for Mexican food and MARGARITAS! MMM! Much needed and enjoyed. Sam and I had our usual gab-fest in her hot tub under the stars. It was a gorgeous night! What a relaxing and fun day/night.

On Saturday we headed up to Silverdale for a scrapbooking retreat. It was held at a really great hotel right on the water. Not only did we scrapbook like crazy, we took time for a walk along the waterfront and had a glass of wine by the bonfire at night. Just what I needed!

I ended up completing Natalie's entire elementary school album! 27 pages!! I also did a surprise album for someone... 25 - 8x8 pages! I was jammin'. I haven't scrapped like that in ages!! I had spent a lot of time organizing everything and it really paid off.

The sad part... my sister was supposed to drive up on Saturday morning with her friend Stacey. Heidi ended up getting so sick! They missed out on all of the fun. Hope you feel better soon, Heidi.

Decided to head home before the rain got worse, and before dark. So glad to be home safe and sound, and to see my family.

A huge thanks to Sam. I had a GREAT weekend!!! Love ya, Sam!!

In the Crockpot...

Greek Chicken Pitas

Throw in the crockpot:

frozen chicken tenders (I get the big bags at Trader Joe's or Costco)

a little bit of water or chicken broth (1/2 c.?)

a squeeze of lemon juice

sprinkle w/lemon pepper and oregano

Cook until done (cooks pretty fast for me... even on low). Drain off any liquid. Shred with two forks.

Serve in pita or flat bread with hummus (I like the spicy kind), sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and feta cheese. Sometimes I also make a sauce out of nonfat plain yogurt and diced cukes too (tzatziki sauce).

I usually make rice and a Greek salad to go with it. For the salad, I cut up a tomato, a cuke, a bell pepper and some green onions. Add about a tablespoon each of lemon juice and olive oil and toss. Add kalamata olives and feta to the top. I especially like the tomato/basil feta... adds more flavor.

This is just an easy weeknight meal... nothing fancy. Pretty tasty and healthy though.

Quick Hello/Update

Happy Birthday to Teri. Kimberly, Shauna and I surprised her at her school this morning. We brought decorations, flowers, fraps, balloons and cookies! Her students did not know it was her birthday. They were excited to sing to her, and to get cookies! It was fun!

After that, Shauna and I walked about 4 miles! Up and down hills. It really pushed us! I feel really good right now! Love that!

Nat and I get haircuts after school. I'm still deciding how to get my hair done. Do I embrace my crazy curls or keep straightening them? Hmmm. I feel like maybe I want "wash and wear" hair for spring/summer. Big decisions ;)

Looking forward to my upcoming weekend. I'm headed to see Sam in Gig Harbor, then we are going to a scrapbook retreat in Silverdale. My sister Heidi and her friend Stacy will be joining us. Nat has off school on Friday and Monday so that will be a much needed break for her. I'm sure she and daddy will have a fun weekend together.

Sooooooo much to do before I can be footloose and fancy-free this weekend. Wish me luck!!

The Good, The Bad and The UGLY!

We (barely) survived the first show of the year. Whew. Glad to be home and warm and showered :) Next up... a glass of wine.

The Good:

Natalie braided her own horse both mornings!! How cool is that?? Saved us lots of dough. She did a GREAT job. Memo just stood there quiet as could be... she is all about the spa treatments.

Memo and Nat both looked ADORABLE! Doesn't Memo just have the sweetest little face ever?

She came out of the ring with smiles.

Her geometry was great.

She got an 8 on one of her free walks... 8's rock.

She got some 7's on halts! Not bad for the wiggly little Memo girl.

The show ran on time. Ride times were right on schedule. That is wicked cool.

Natalie showed a lot of integrity and character through adversity (see The Ugly).

It was fun to hang with Elise, and to have the greatest cheering section ever: Robanne, Hayley, Cassie, Lori and Sarah! Thanks guys! You are the best.

The Bad:

Memo bucked in two of her rounds. Bucking is not the best thing in the dressage ring ;)

It rained. Again. Will it ever end???

It was cold. Again. Will it ever end??

The Ugly:

The judge accused Natalie of whipping her horse! WTH??? When was that?? Nat sure as heck doesn't remember that. This happened in both of the rounds when Memo bucked. I can assure you that Natalie did not whip her horse. She is the most passive little girl about getting after her horse... she only gets after her when her trainers tell her to. Unreal. We decided that Nat would not carry her whip during her last round... and guess what? Memo still acted the same. We also decided that the judge either needs glasses or was on some powerful hallucinating- causing drugs.

Natalie received her lowest-ever scores. WTH again??? We heard from many people that the judge does not like Arabians. Um... this was an ARABIAN show!!! She much preferred the cross breeds... it was obvious the entire show.

White breeches. Who the heck decided it was a good idea to wear WHITE breeches while riding a horse?? Not a lot of common sense there ;) Gotta love dressage!

Early mornings. In the dark and cold. Nothing good ever came of an early, dark cold morning when I'm not asleep in my warm bed ;)

Jim just poked his head in the door... says that Nat is crashed in the truck :) It is 2:47PM. Poor kiddo. A little Mozart and she was out like a light. Sweet horsey dreams, Nat Nat. You rock, girlfriend.

More pics to come soon!! Jim rocks too :) What a good horsey dad.

Hayley said that she would tip me if I was ever her groom. Hopefully that means I was a good horsey momma too :)

Update: Check out Jim's photo website for more pics (link on the left side).

Flashback Friday

I got this idea from my friend Katie! I thought since my 13-year-old daughter has a horse show this weekend, it would be fun to take a ride down memory lane. My horse-crazy little girl has been riding since she was 6!! Here is a blast from the past:

Natalie with Tucker. Age 6.

Natalie at Farm Camp. Age 6.

Natalie's first blue ribbon ever. On Bucky. Age 6.

Natalie and Mattie. Age 7.

Natalie's first Championship. With Rockwell. Age 7.

Natalie and Mattie. First "A" rated show. Age 8.

So many more pictures I could add here. Nat has been on so many horses and ponies though the years! It has been quite the adventure. I've loved every minute of watching her (except for the falling off part!!). She is so lucky to know her passion in life at such a young age. I am so proud of her accomplishments and perseverance!! She has become quite the horsewoman... and I'm so glad that she finally has a horse of her own to love and grow with.

Nat's ride times have changed slightly, so please email or call me if you need them. Wish her luck!!

Happy April Fools Day

A shout out to Kaelin... happy birthday!! Hope you have the happiest birthday ever!!

I always think of my Grandma Smith on April 1st too... it was her birthday. What an amazing lady she was. I miss her so much, and think of her everyday.

We were going to give Memo a bath today, but it is just too dang cold. Nat has an ortho appt. after school then we get to come home! Gotta love that... will be the calm before the storm. So much to do before the horse show.

Here are Nat's ride times for this weekend:

Saturday: 10:09AM and 11:05AM

Sunday: 9:33AM and 11:59AM

Check out the DevonWood site for directions. It is a VERY cool place. Not far away either... just outside of Sherwood.

Can't think of any exciting pranks to pull on my family. One year I served sushi to Natalie for dinner... she used to hate sushi and cried!! Kinda killed my desire to do April Fool's jokes ;) Oh well.

Off to Trader Joes... I love that place!! Have a great day!