Nationals in Pictures

On the road trip to Idaho. Nat and Elise with their sippy cups of hot cocoa ;)

Hanging out in the stall relaxing from our long journey:

True Love:

Idaho Horse Park Arena:

All three girls hanging out eating lunch. Memo preferred her hay to Sonic slushes and cheeseburgers. Although she was big on apple juice this trip!! When taking a horse to a new place, it is good to flavor their water so they drink plenty of it.

Taking a break for some fun mini golf at a cool place called Boondocks. We also rode the go-carts and played arcade games.
Going all zen at the Thai restaurant:
The gangsta braider. Nat is really getting good at this whole braiding thing. Maybe she can pay her way through college braiding horses :)

Last minute wiping off the boots before going in for a round. They look gorgeous!!

Meeting our sweet niece, Grace. She is going to be a horsey-girl, I just know it.

A photo session after all the classes were done. 

What a cool place for a horse show. We'll be back in two years!! Can't wait!

I will post the link to the jumping pics when they are up. Jim wasn't allowed to have his big camera in the arena. They threatened a $1000 fine and being escorted off the premises for any lens over 2". What a crock. The photographer did get a few good shots so hopefully we will have those soon.

There's No Place Like Home

Whew. We made it!! What a relief. You should have seen Memo when she got off the trailer... she was neighing and nickering like crazy! So happy to be back to the barn she knows and loves, and so thrilled to see all of her old buddies. Once she got into her paddock, she rolled around on the ground, ate lots of grass and drank lots of water. What a good pony girl.

We had a good drive home. Had some issues with lights on the truck and trailer, so we decided to wait until dawn to head out. The girls crashed out in the backseat and got a few more hours of sleep. Jim was a great driver and took good care of us :) I tried to doze but didn't have much luck. I was very happy to find a Dutch Bros. Coffee in La Grande, OR! Hit the spot and helped cure my headache.

What a great trip we had. Nat had the "best time of her life". So thrilled she had a great time. She was so proud of her Memo girl... and she should be so proud of herself. That girl has so much talent and determination. Couldn't be any more proud of her. We are all going to start saving our pennies so we can go again in two years!

We have so many people to thank for this trip. So hard to know where to start. A huge thanks going out to the Winter family for letting us borrow their truck and trailer. Gave us so much peace of mind having Diana along for the trip there, and loved having that big diesel truck for going over the Blue Mountains. 

Elise... what a great trainer, friend, and adopted daughter. She is a blessing in our lives and we love her to pieces. So much fun to have around and such a caring and helpful person. You rock, Elise!!

A huge thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Dukes, and to Uncle Jason, Aunt Marie and Gracie for driving all the way to Idaho from Las Vegas to be a part of Nat's cheering section. It meant the world to us all that they could be there. It was so fun to share in Gracie's first horse show... can't wait 'til she rides her first pony :)

Big hugs and thanks going out to Shauna for taking care of my sweet Ginger bunny. That just meant so much to me, as you know how much I love my dear bun. You are the busiest person I know and you still make time to help others. Thanks, Shauna.

And a HUGE thanks to all of you who made donations to Natalie, or gave her jobs to earn money for her trip. You are all so thoughtful and generous! I cannot even believe how blessed we are to have such amazing friends and family. Thanks from the bottom of my heart!!

Will try to post photos tomorrow. What an adventure we had! Just amazing! Thanks again to you all. We are so grateful to be home safe and sound, and to have had this experience together.

Time to Head Home

Natalie and Memo had great classes today. Both of them were relaxed and calm for their Hunter Hack classes... except for one little buck right in front of the judge ;) Silly Memo. She is so spunky ;)

There were 15 and 16 entries in her classes. The bummer part since there were not 20 entries or over they only picked a Top 8 instead of a Top 10. Nat placed 9th... no ribbons again.

Her last class was the best. No issues on the flat work and the jumping round rocked. They looked so relaxed and happy. We really have no clue why they were not in the Top 8. Very disappointing.

No junior riders placed again today :( And guess who won all the classes today... the New Jersey dude :( Sheesh.

Natalie was really proud of her rounds today, and handled herself with so much grace. So stinkin' proud of her. She was really riding with the big boys (and girls!) this show. What a trooper. I really think she was robbed in her last round!!

Tonight we will be packing up the truck and trailer, and also going to the Mini Prix and Parade of Champions. We are all exhausted and in awe that it is over.

Elise is an amazing trainer and mentor for Natalie. It has been an honor to have her along this week as Nat's adopted big sister :)

Here's to no drama on the trip home. I'll check in again when we get home, and post some pics of the trip too.

Just know that in 2 years when Nationals come back to Idaho we will be there again! Nat will knock 'em out then :) 

Arabian Working Hunter Results

Our day started at 4:20AM. Ugh!! Too early!!

Jim took Nat and Elise to the barn so they could feed and braid Memo. I caught a few more minutes of sleep, and then we had showers and headed back to the barn by 6:30. Nat and Memo did their schooling round right about 7:00AM. They had one refusal at a jump with lots of purple flowers on it, but the rest of the round looked good. The jumps range from 2'6" to 2'9".

Nat and Memo had plenty of time to go back to the barn when they were done before the start of the classes. They were ready to go for the 8:30 start time, but when they returned to the arena the warm ups were still going! They were really, really behind schedule. They had to wait quite a long time to go. Memo was pretty annoyed. They went in right at the beginning once the classes started. And guess what... Memo still didn't like those purple flowers :( She refused again. The rest of the round was great though. Purple is just not her color I guess. Her second round went lots better, but still knocked a rail down. Otherwise, it was really nice.

The competition was pretty fierce. Lots of gorgeous horses and mostly adult riders. Unfortunately, Nat and Memo did not make the top 10 and were not called back for the flat class. Nat was pretty bummed out, but handled it gracefully. Not one junior rider was called back :( 

There is a male rider (early 20's maybe?) here from New Jersey who is still considered "Amateur" even though he wins everything! He literally does! Open and amateur classes. And he also wins the reserve championships since he is always riding at least 2 different horses in each class. We have watched him win every single class in the Hunters!! All categories. And the annoying part, is that he won two of the championships today on a horse that looked lame to us. Whatever!! He has been national champion in some of the classes 5 years running. Time to move up the pros, mister!!

Nat is hoping that tomorrow goes better. She is new to the Hunter Hack world, but I know she will do great. Memo's half sister was in the Top 10 for Half-Arabian Hunter Hack this afternoon! So cool!

Jim's parents, brother, sister-in-law and our new niece made it in on Thursday night. So nice to have them here to help us cheer on Team Memo :)

We are cooling off in the room, the girls are getting showers, and tonight we will all go out for Italian and some good wine!! We don't have to be at the barn until 7:30 tomorrow. That will be nice :) Nat should ride either late morning or early afternoon. Then the fun begins... packing the truck and trailer up for the trip home on Sunday. That will be another early morning and long day. Can't even believe how this week has flown by.

Eventful Morning

Elise had a schooling round early this morning. We left the room at 6:00AM! Memo was fed, tacked up and ready to go by 7:00.

Had some drama though. Elise had called her jump in the warm up ring. Another rider lost control of her horse and slammed into Elise and Memo. Elise was knocked off of Memo!! Luckily the footing was soft (and muddy!!). We knew something had happened when they walked into the arena... Elise was covered in mud. Memo was very shaken up and was a nervous wreck during her schooling round. By the end, Memo seemed calmer and didn't refuse the jumps.

Felt so bad for them. So glad that Elise is okay... Memo too. We will have to do some relaxing schooling out in the warm sun this afternoon to calm her down.

I had visions of that happening with Natalie with all of her show clothes on! Ugh. I'm so glad that I didn't see it happen or it would be replaying it in my head.

Tomorrow will be the big day... Nat's first rides. Hope they go well. Tonight Jim's family will be here. It will be wonderful to meet little Gracie, my new niece. We are excited to take her to her first horse show :)

Another Idaho Update

Things are good here. Nat and Memo have had great schooling the last couple days. Memo just loves being here.

We changed rooms and are so grateful. Lots more room. Nat is on a rollaway and Elise is on a hide-a-bed but so good that they each have their own beds. We have a little kitchen so we stopped off to get some groceries for breakfast. Nice to have some healthy food! We have been lucky to get some great meals so far but feel like we are over-eating. Luckily we walk a ton at the Horse Park.

The alarm is set for 5:30AM. Elise has a training round at 7:00AM. We are on Mountain time here so we are really off our schedule. We are hoping to come back to the room for naps when we are done :)

About to lose power on the laptop so I better sign off. Nighty night!!

We Made It!

Had a very uneventful trip to Idaho. Whew... no drama ;) 

Idaho Horse Park is a fabulous, huge venue. We are just taking it all in and doing LOTS of walking. Memo has settled in beautifully. She is drinking her water, eating lots of grain and hay, and is feeling quite cozy. She really loves to be a show pony.

Today they did some schooling (in the big event center!). Elise got on her first and worked out the sillies. Nat got on and did a great job. Must say that once again, Memo was the sane one when compared with other Arabians. There are some really CRAZY horses (and riders!) out there. I was absolutely appalled to see riders without helmets and one lady even had sneakers on!! WTH?? Cannot even tell you how many times I was holding my breath watching some of the riders jump. Just downright scary. Oh, well. Just makes Nat and Memo look all that better.

Our hotel room is uber-small. Kind of disappointed in that, but it is clean and quiet with a killer high powered shower so that is good I guess. It is in a good location, close to great restaurants and coffee shops.

We are off to goof off for awhile... maybe a movie or mini-golf. Margaritas and Mexican food are also on the agenda.

Just wanted to give you all a quick update. Will post again soon I hope!!

Idaho or Bust

The truck and trailer are mostly packed. Just need to throw in a few bags, the hay, and the horse and we are off.

We are hoping for "wheels up" at 5:00AM!! It will be a short night, but hopefully will pay off by getting through Portland before rush hour and getting to Idaho at a decent time to get all settled.

Had a great weekend with all of my TCC scrapbooking friends. Lots of good conversation and laughs. What a great bunch of gals.

Too tired to write much more. Guess I should get to sleep!!

We will have the laptop along so will check in when I can.

On the home stretch...

So glad that it is Friday! Nat's last day of school for awhile. She has been contacting each of her teachers to get make-up work. So far, only a few teachers have gotten things together for her. Kind of frustrating but I'm sure she will be fine.

We will be spending lots of time at the barn this weekend. Memo will need to be ridden and get a bath. Natalie and Elise will be packing up food and hay tomorrow. Sunday we will be packing up the truck and trailer. My list is a mile long... hope it all fits!! It is one thing to get our family packed up for a week, but adding a horse to the mix is crazy!

Natalie and her friend Zoe worked for hours last night on a project for Social Studies. They will have to get together again on Saturday night. I sure hope they are able to finish up before we leave.

Monday will be here before we know it. We are shooting to leave at 5:00AM to miss traffic through Portland. 

Gotta run and start another crazy day.

Mid-Week Update

It was a blast having Annie and Ben here!! A friend dropped them off at the barn on Monday on their way back from the beach. They were able to catch Nat's lesson and meet Memo, then we headed to our place. My parents, Heidi and her family joined us for dinner. We all pitched in to make a yummy Mexican dinner. When we were dishing up dessert and Annie was looking through the basket of different teas, she said "I need herbal tea since I am PREGNANT!!" How cool is that??!! We are so thrilled for them and know that they will be the BEST parents!! They spent the night at our house, and the next day it was fun visiting with them and then going out for Thai food for lunch. It is always so hard to say good-bye. We always miss them terribly. Guess we will have to plan a trip to Colorado for next spring/summer to meet the new baby!!

Nat and Memo have continued to work hard. This week she will have four lessons, as well as a Pony Club mounted meeting at DevonWood. Just can't believe we leave on Monday!! So much to do yet!! You should see my list... scary!

This weekend will be a treat since a bunch of my scrapbook friends will be coming into town from all over the country. We don't really have any scrapbooking planned, just time to hang out and play tourist. I hope to be able to fit in as much time as possible with them. I am taking a bunch of my scrapbook stuff to the garage sale at Life's A Scrapbook in Sherwood this weekend! Lots of good deals, folks! Shauna and Laura will have stuff there too.

Off to start my crazy day... hoping for some R&R in Idaho.

CSA this week

This week we will have summer squash, cucumbers, hot peppers, eggplant, melon, fresh beans, apples and/or bartlett pears, and onions. I thought this was week 13, but they claim it is 14. Lost count somehow. Only 4 boxes left :(

Here is what I fixed for meals last week:

Spaghetti/salad/bread

Tacos/fruit

Fried Rice/Gyoza/fruit

Chicken Fingers/oven "fried" zucchini/fruit

Fajitas/chips and bean dip

Homemade Pizza

Cheeseburgers/oven fries/fruit

Lots-o-comfort food. Everything was homemade except for the spaghetti sauce and gyoza. They were from Trader Joe's. It was a crazy week, and didn't have much time for anything extravagant.

This week I will be using what I can out of the fridge and freezer, and of course from the CSA box. Don't want to spend a bunch on groceries right before we leave.

Off to get Nat and then to the barn!! Can't wait to see Annie and Ben tonight!!

This rocks!

Is this Tina Fey or Sarah Palin? I sure can't tell a difference!! LOL

Check it out!

So cool...

Please watch the video on Cathy Z's blog.

It put a smile on my face!!

Happy Saturday! Go play!!

Date Night!

Nat is spending the night at her friend Cassie's house. Their friend Madie will also be there. I'm sure it will be horsey, fun-filled night for them.

I'm finally getting around to making fajitas for dinner with the yummy CSA peppers and onions, and then Jim and I will catch a movie. We have tickets to see Burn After Reading. It looks kinda goofy but pretty darn funny. And it has George Clooney and Brad Pitt!! I'm a big Frances McDormand fan too. Looking forward to a fun and relaxing night.

This weekend will be lots of prep for our trip to Idaho, as well as cleaning the house for company. ANNIE is coming on Monday!! Woo Hoo!! She and Ben are home from Okinawa, and are currently looking for jobs in Colorado. Here's a blast from the past (2003!!):

Annie graduating from Pacific University:

Annie's wedding shower:

Annie and Ben's wedding (Annie's sister Rachel in the pic):

Annie is like a member of our family. We have missed her and Ben terribly!! So good to have them back in the states :)

Never Forget

I remember this day 7 years ago as one of the worst. Still can't even fathom that it happened. My friend, Laura, wrote a very touching post that was such a powerful tribute. Thanks, Laura.

I pray that nothing like that ever happens in our country again.

Just got back from a walk and coffee with Shauna. Another gorgeous morning here. LOVE this time of year. And being with that girl just cheers me up. Thanks, Shauna!!

Yesterday, I had a "poor me" day. Not sure why, just in a bad mood I guess. I had to get allergy shots. Ick. I tried to do some very minimal "retail therapy" but not sure it really helped me out... just made me feel guilty. I hit Ross Dress for Less for a cheap fall purse and new sunglasses. I also hit the local Assistance League Thrift Shop and found some rockin' brand name sweaters. Love that place!!  Luckily, I am doing much better today. The walk, hanging with Shauna, the sun, and a coffee drink from Borders have left me in a much better frame of mind ;)

Today we are off to the barn again... should be short and sweet though. Memo had a chiropractic treatment yesterday so she is on vacation for a few days. Nat needs to do special stretches with her as well as her give her some horsey motrin type stuff. She is also "horse-sitting" for a lady from the barn while she is on vacation. Nat is going to give Dundee an extra-special grooming, put sunscreen on his nose, and give him lots of love and treats. So nice of Julanne to support Nat's trip to Nationals by giving her this job :)

Thoughts and prayers going out to Laura's son as he has surgery today. I hope it goes well, and that Lucas has a speedy recovery. 

Sooooooo happy that tomorrow is Friday. Bring it on!!

CSA: Week 12 *Updated w/Pic*

This week we should have summer squash, cucumbers, sweet peppers, fresh beans, onions, tomatoes, muskmelon, and Gravenstein apples and/or Bartlett pears. 

No potatoes. Sigh. Guess I will have to stop by the little produce farm store nearby that specializes in potatoes.

Haven't heard the term "muskmelon" for awhile. West Coasters usually call it "cantaloupe". A blast from my midwest past.

Will plan on making fajitas with the sweet peppers and onions. Always a hit. 

Shauna and I have walked the last 2 mornings. Go us! Tomorrow she has a ct scan so we will have to wait until Thursday to go again. So glad to get this back in my routine. I had so much energy yesterday.

We are living at the barn lately. Elise is back from Canada, and they had a great lesson with her yesterday. Funny story... there is a donkey at the barn temporarily. Memo is in LOVE with the donkey!! I think she wants to be his mother. His name is Abe and he is adorable and really LOUD!! They were neighing and braying back and forth. Hilarious. Memo could hardly concentrate on the lesson... she kept looking over at Abe. Luckily, when she was finished she got the paddock next to him. Adorable. We will have to get some pics. I'll try to get some today at Nat's lesson. For good pics, you will have to wait for Jim to get back to the barn ;)

Menu Planning?

Do any of you plan your menus for the week or just wing it? I seem to do a mix of the two.

I'd like to say that I scour the grocery store ads and plan my meals based on what is on sale. Not so much. Occasionally that happens, but that is not the norm.

I seem to have the same stuff that I stock in my freezer and pantry. I usually get my meat at Costco, as well as some other staples once a month. I shop at a grocery store or Trader Joe's at least once a week to get everything else. I count on my CSA box for veggies.

I keep a list of dishes that are part of my regular rotation. That helps to refresh my memory, especially when I get in a cooking rut. Every once in awhile, I just have to try a new recipe (or four!)!!

I thought I would start posting my menus. This week I will list the meals that I made this week. I didn't plan them, they just kind of happened.

Day 1:

Chicken Quesadillas

Rice and beans

Chips and Salsa

fruit

Day 2:

Cheeseburgers on the grill

Potato leek soup

fruit

Day 3:

Meatball Subs

Greek salad

fruit

Day 4:

Meatloaf

Oven fries

Green Beans

Day 5:

Chicken sausage & veggie kabobs

corn on the cob

homemade mac & cheese

Day 6:

BBQ ribs

Green Chili potatoes

sauteed veggies

strawberries

Day 7:

pork loin w/peach jam

rice

veggie/fruit

Let me know if you would like any of my recipes. I'm anxious to try the pork loin tonight... I got some really ripe peaches in my CSA box so made them into jam quickly or I would have lost them. I think the jam will be yummy as a glaze on the pork loin. Will make it on the grill.

Things are good here. Friday night, Natalie and I watched the Stand Up 2 Cancer program. Powerful stuff. Saturday Natalie and Hayley had a group jumping lesson with Janice. So nice to hang w/Robanne (twice in two days!). Last night we watched two episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. LOVE that show.  Today Nat is having a friend from school go along to the barn. They will work Memo, then give her a bath. Dad has barn duty today so I will be doing laundry and cleaning house. Fun... NOT. Nat is working on homework as I type this. Spent a fair amount of time on that yesterday too. The fun begins :)

Have a good week everyone! And thanks so much to all of you who have sent checks and given jobs to Nat. We leave for Nationals two weeks from tomorrow!! Wow!

CSA: Week 11

This week we have sweet corn, summer squash, cucumbers, new potatoes, fresh beans, Melrose apples, tomatoes, cilantro, and a salsa kit. 

Guess I will be making another batch of salsa!! Woo hoo! A girl cannot have too much salsa.

Just finished eating one of the apples for lunch. They are green and really sour. I think I will save the rest for making caramel apples or apple crisp. Definitely needs something sweet with them!!

I never did end up making potato salad last week. I made crash potatoes (AGAIN!!) and potato leek soup (AGAIN!!). Potatoes = goodness!!

I just finished a bunch of updates on my website. Added a gallery of sample brushes, as well as some pocket-size brushes I am now selling.

I also did a bunch of holiday ads for magazines. I will have ads in Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, California Riding Magazine and Horses Inc. I might have an ad in the local Flying Changes magazine too. Still working out the details. Please, Lord, bless my little business with a prosperous holiday shopping season!! Pretty please!

I am off to run errands. Need to hit Fred Meyer and Trader Joe's. Will pick up Nat after that, then we get to head home. I will go to my cancer support group tonight if all goes as planned. The next three days will be barn days. Nat is really working hard to get ready for Nationals.

And so far, so good w/school. Nat enjoyed her first day back. She was able to wear the official "first day of school outfit" today. I'll have to snap another pic ;)

One more thing... congrats to Nat's friend, Taylor! She had an amazing horse show last week... she won the Maclay medal, the OHJA Junior medal and placed really well in her other classes. WTG, Taylor!! These girls and their horses are on a roll... all their hard work is really paying off :) Nat and Taylor have been friends since they were babies... somehow they both ended up with the horse gene ;) Lucky us, eh, Darcie??

An Eerie Quiet *Updated w/Pic*

Our house is silent. Nat is off to her first day of school--8th grade!! She didn't get to wear the official "first day of school outfit" that she had picked out since it was 45 degrees this morning! What the heck??!! She opted for jeans and sweater.

Jim rode his motorcycle to work, forgetting that it was a CSA pick-up day. He froze!! And he will be stuffing various vegetables into his panniers to come home.

I have a big long list of things to do today. Paying bills, making phone calls, going to the bank and post office. Fun stuff. Not to mention laundry and house cleaning and prepping dinner. I also have ads to work on and want to add a bunch of photos to my website. After school, we are off to the barn for a lesson. Will be firing up the crockpot again for dinners since we get home from the barn so late.

Here's hoping we are off to a good school year. I hope we can find our routine again, and find balance so life is not so crazy. A girl can dream...