Life Does Get In The Way

Hi all! I know I have been bad and have not been keeping up with this blog and I apologize and I am going to try to do better. But as it is said - life gets in the way - of things we enjoy. For a quick update...3 months ago I was so very, very, very tired all the time. It seemed that I could be driving and would almost fall asleep, mid-day naps that would last for hours was starting to be the "norm" for me. I had gone to the doctor for a check-up and mentioned this to the doctor and she ordered tests because this was not the way I wanted to continue my life. Sooo...the diagnosis came back that I am a diabetic. So for the last 3 months I have been trying to get a handle on this new way of life that has hit me. I have been put on a low dosage of medication, ordered by the doctor to lose about 25 lbs and exercise and if I do well and get this under control and I can get off the medication. So me being me...I started an exercise program, have gone to a free nutrition class and when that didn't seem to help with my trying to change eating habits, requested and have attended an nutritional class that was great! I am happy to say that I have more energy than I have had in years! No more naps, getting things done, creating new meals and am finally able to accept that this is going to have to be my way a of life. I have to go to the doctor in 2 weeks to check the ACL levels to see if I am headed to being off meds. So that's why I haven't posted to this blog or have been able to read others.

To be honest...I was very depressed and felt like a failure because I had become diabetic and didn't want to do anything. But, my oldest daughter sent some books that explained this disease...and it seems that I have had many of the pre-existing conditions. She also encouraged my by saying that I have the ability to manage this and not admit defeat. I had gestational diabetes with all 3 kids, have be pre-diabetic for years and when I mentioned to my mom that I was diabetic...she said oh me too! You would think that she would have told me years ago but our relationship is rather...shall I say...different. The last factor is that stress can push you over and the last 2 years of my job was unbearable and I think with all the pre-existing conditions I have, that's what pushed me over the edge. So I decided that I love the outdoors, horses, painting, riding, my eyesight and toes so much that this diabetic thing was not going to control my life...I was going to manage it. So there you have it.

Now on another note I want you all to see my Cyrus now. I posted about him on my first blog and want you to see him now. He has now become my trail horse and we are once again looking for my husband a good trail companion. Cyrus is just alittle much for a beginner. On the trails if he gets nervous he will start a little dance and chomping on the bit which will lead to his little meltdown. If you ignore this and sit down a little further in the saddle he settles down but will get wound up real fast and pop off the ground about 5 inches which is alittle scary to say the least. I think he did this to get the rider off and probably did this in the past and I really feel a rider who is not confident will get shaken up a bit. Not good for the rider or horse. I love riding him on the trails and decided to keep him. What's another horse right?

Here he is the day we picked him up in February 2010

And this was taken in July 2010 before a ride. I think he has gotten so much better looking with the exercise of being ridden and proper feed has given him.

Well that's way for now...come back soon!

All grown up - well not to me

Today my youngest daughter turns 23 year old! I don't know how that happened since I am still 30 years old! She still lives with us while she is finishing up her business management degree and works a 40 hours a week to pay for her college classes at the University of Houston. We are very proud of her and love her very much. She loves animals almost as much as I do and has her Arabian mare, a couple of show goats, her dog, and cat living with us too! I guess the more the merrier right?

She loves her mare Sly. They have been to shows together and have done quite well but with the college and work schedule there is no time for shows so basically Sly is retired.

A birthday kiss from one of the goats...

Well I just wanted to share what a wonderful daughter I have with you on her birthday! I will let her continue to think she is all grown up but she will always be my baby girl.

Thats all for today...come back soon.

Saturday Garage Sale success

With the warmer weather comes the little signs at the roadside corners pointing to garage sales! My friend and I went to a community garage sale on Saturday to see what "treasures" we could find to put in our shops. Kim has just started her booth and we were looking for goodies to help fill her space. Spending her money was fun...but I found a few items that will eventually make it to the shop.

I found a silver napkin holder with matching salt and pepper shaker, retro vase/decanter, red scent dispenser, book "box" and wooden shoes.

I love salt and pepper shakers and I am always looking for vintage pairs. This one has the holder tree with the salt and pepper shaker hanging from the branch. The napkin holder came with the set. Love the detail.

The red scent dispenser is not vintage or antique but I will be reusing the red glass for a garden project. The book box isn't very old either but it looks like books and is a wooden storage box when opened. I will probably be using as a display in the shop. The wooden shoes...well...my grandmother had a "dutch" scene hanging on her kitchen wall and these two pairs reminded me of her so I had to get them right? I really like the detail of the smaller pair.

Now for the retro vase...I love retro items. The clean lines of this piece really appealed to my retro senses. I believe this was originally a decanter but the stopper is missing so I can see this as a vase...imagine bright orange flowers! So retro...

Now for my most favorite find of the day...these pen and ink drawings of 2 arabians. I love the simple design and detail. These were draw by the same artist in 1978 and 1979 respectively. These originals will not make it to the shop anytime soon but will reside in the new guest room we are finishing up.

Wonderful...simple...detail...

I truly love hunting for antiques and vintage collectibles and really enjoyed the company of my friend during Saturday's hunt.

That's all for today...come back soon.

Justin fix

A riding buddy called this am to see if I still wanted to ride today and at first I had a small pity party about yesterday but decided nope...not going to happen. I needed to take my horse Justin out for some great horse therapy. He is my love. I have loved all my horses over the many years I have had them but there have been only 2 that I had a truly deep wonderful bond with and Justin is one of them. I got him when he was 3 years old and he just turned 15 this year. He is a registered appaloosa. I know, I know he looks like a paint but really he is a red roan appaloosa with liver spots. See if you can find the 3 liver spots lol. These pictures where taken after our ride this morning. He and I are out of shape and yes that is sweat from the ride in the arena not the trailer ride which was only 10 minutes long. The first one he is listening to his buddies from the back pasture and the second he is pawing to show his impatience. So he is like his mom what can I say.

The reason I call this my Justin fix is because I can count on him to be an honest ride and after yesterday I needed that pure honesty that you get from your animals. He is the type that I usually just throw the halter on and ride bareback in the pasture whenever I have negative thoughts. After the ride this morning I feel much better and will think about the antiques another day.

We got Justin from someone years back. My DH says I bought him to get him away from that owner. He is correct. When I went out to ride Justin he could barely walk. The good ole boy was a roper who was "training" him on stopping quickly. I do not have anything against ropers just ropers who are macho against the horse. Justin's knees were swollen from over doing the quick stops and to top it off the good ole boy just learned how to trim hooves and had poor Justin sooo short. So in reality, I bought a lame horse. I took a gamble. Sure enough his knees went back to normal size and his feet grew out nicely. The problem with the knees was that he were not quit closed. Most close around 2 years or so but I guess Justin was a late bloomer and the previous owner was riding too hard. He will probably have problems later...I hope much later. He does have one bad quirk but they all do and I have chosen to live with his. He "moves" quite largely to the side if someone or something approaches him from the side or head on. Mostly the right side which is the side the ropes are thrown from when roping. He gives you lots of signs so I just move with him. I love him even with that quirk and just have to be an active rider. Anyway, he is a cuddler too. He is reassuring Cyrus here on his first day to our barn. He loves on all the new babies around here...be it goats or chickens or cats or actual kids!

After his rinse and a roll in the dirt here is what his favorite thing is...eating!

That is it about the horse therapy but this day continues to a wonderful day. An old friend that I used to work with was in Alvin and stopped by for a visit and when we went to the barn Ms. Bea (one of my banties) hatched out 4 new chicks!

I love my barn, my animals, my old and new friends...life is good.

That's all for today...come back soon.

Oh and Sly says "I see you! and will talk to you later"

New adventures

Well here goes! My sister has been after me for months now to start a blog so I thought ok why not! She has a very successful blog titled "A Little Farm with a Big Heart". I live on three acres in the little Texas town of Alvin with my DH and many other precious babies including 3 horses, 6 dogs, 4 cats, and chickens (both rhode island reds and banties). I love my animals and I love antiques and have a booth at Dixieland Antiques here in Alvin. You can visit my facebook page titled C&C Collectibles and Antiques to see my items. I plan on sharing my thoughts, ideas, and just plan pondering on both my farm life and antique life with you guys.

For today I would like for you to meet Cyrus who is one of my newest adventures.

We purchased him about 2 weeks ago from a gentleman who was getting out of horses because of health issues. Cyrus had not been ridden for about a year and I have been working with him to get him past some issues. He does not like the bits I have been using so I am going to try a hackamore this evening. We have plans on making this my husband's trail horse. (Ok mostly my trail horse but that's what I told my husband shhhhh). He is a 10 year old paint horse and I sure hope he works out.

Well that's all for today...come back soon!