It has been cold, and I am still missing my dog something terrible. February is really hard for me, it always has been, and I struggle through this whole month just barely going through the motions. It has been this way for as long as I can remember. I decided to take a quick peek at some photos, which is always good for a cheer up.

Miss Firefly received a beautiful new hot pink cooler from Ann. Here she is modeling it for Todd…

Of course Rye needed to try it on too…

Katie had a go with a blanket too. Go ahead, laugh, but I wasn’t going to put a $300 Rambo on her and have her destroy it so we went with what was in stock. It was this or a white, yes WHITE, old New Zealand rug. I didn’t have a spare backhoe handy to help me heave the New Zealand on her so we went with this one. Check out her butt hanging out….heheheeee….

Of course it came back to bite us. Twenty four hours, a pot of coffee, a near case of pneumonia and we were left with this:

What blog update is complete without a cute face and seriously, could he BE cuter?!?!?!

Paco is doing really well. He is affectionately known as the “sofa” now because he has gained his weight back and has been moved back into the easy keeper category. Thank goodness. I love how much he adores Todd, and that the feeling is mutual. Todd said to me the other day “What do people who have no horses do with their time?” To which I almost answered “well, honey, they go on vacation. They can sleep in. They can leave the house for more than three hours at a time”. But I didn’t, because I knew exactly what he meant.

These are the moments that I wouldn’t trade for anything. So I close this post feeling a little more cheered, a little more positive, and ready to face February the best that I can.

Dear Santa,

It has been several years since I wrote you last, but I want you to know that I never stopped believing…not for one moment…ever.

I’m sure that the letters you received from Ally always made you giggle, there were only a few things she ever asked for like a Barbie or a stuffed animal. She is such a good kid, never asks for anything and she gives so much. We are very, very proud of her.

Last year you brought me Dumplin’, the gift I asked for for 42 years, but little did I know that he would become a special gift for Ally as well. Everyone adored him but he was everything Ally could have ever asked for. You see, when you brought him into our lives you also brought in a life full of lessons packaged into a tiny, lovable body. He taught Ally responsibility, because he needed to be fed, to have fresh water and clean buckets to drink out of. He needed his stall cleaned sometimes three or four times a day depending upon the weather. He needed his feet cleaned and he needed that woolly body groomed constantly. His paddock needed to be kept clean so he would have a soft place to lay down and rest during the day. He required special food and needed to micromanaged to stay healthy. He taught her how to budget, and how to save for the things she wanted to buy him to play with. She learned the costs involved with having a horse, and she learned the ultimate lesson…how to say goodbye.

Santa, this year there was very little money for gifts, and that’s ok. Because of your gift to me last year, Ally is now surrounded by the horses she adores and she is such a strong and graceful young woman. I know you are as proud of her as we are.

Thank Santa, and we wish you the very merriest of Christmases.

Have a wonderful holiday, I will be update the website and hope to have it up and running by the New Year!

Clear skies, gorgeous fall color, sun warmed ground…bliss.