OK we are off to Ocala. This is kind of a special deal: the Sunshine Region is hosting a camp for advanced pony clubbers at the Longwood Farm in Ocala. This is the winter home for the US Olympic Team! You know, fancy digs, hallowed ground of champions, all that. It will be a first time event to acknowledge the riders for all of their hard work and reward them with a very special privilege. I will be one of the worker bees but I intend to get lots of pics. Till then...happy trails.

If we could but paint with the hand what we see with the eye. 'Honore de Balzac'

This little quote made a lot of sense while trying to place little bushes on the cliff. Our instructor empowered us to put brush to canvas and a great time was had by all.

Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

Our visit to Mexico:
Our obligatory scream when the ride broke:
Helping Daddy fish find Nemo:

Background shot.

They're baaack...

60 ice packs, 120 wraps, and over 3000 high frequency shockwaves were applied to Retto's left front leg in the last 2 months. Time to test the leg...yesterday was the second day out to work on trot sessions and he was amazingly fluid. We are thrilled! Needless to say he was thrilled too and Ash had to discuss with him how celebrating horsey style was not allowed, just yet.

Progress! Phase II complete.

Three Things You Might Not Know (But probably do)
Planet Mancuso said I would answer so I will.

1) 3 jobs I have had in my life:
cold hearted killer of prairie dogs (not a long or pretty story but maybe an interesting one)
entrepreneur in the athletic shoe business
farmer (I drove a swather in the hay meadows one summer, best job I ever had!)

2)Places I have lived
Council Bluffs Iowa (so named for Lewis and Clark's little chat with the locals)
Herndon Virginia
Newcastle Wyoming

3)TV shows I like to watch
Can't answer that one because Jim has this 'control thing' going on with the remote therefore I have watched only 30 sec. of any show out there.

4)Places I have vacationed
A sheep farm in Broadus Montana
In a tent in the Big Horn Mountains
On a boat in Block Island (these are the places I actually felt like I was on vacation)

5)Fave foods
My coffee in the morning (hope that counts because it is my #1)
A filet with bernaise sauce
My mom's seven layer salad she would make with frozen peas

6)Places I would rather be right now
In the Bahamas making sure those boys are behaving so they dont end up in the hospital or jail
Anywhere in the Rockies where I can smell pine and hear the wolves howl
At the barn eating popsicles and watching the kittens play

7)People I think will answer... Ashley Eventer might.

Thanks Planet Mancuso. It has been fun thinking about these things.
(I hope this wasn't another "one word answer thing because I think I am incapable of that."

An Austin sighting in the carribean:

Austin is in the Bahamas. He called to say that the trip over was easy as the seas were calm. He is with 5 friends his age and they have an action filled weekend planned with fishing tournaments and skin diving. I send my heartfelt thanks and praise to the parents chaperoning this crew.

Hanging with the kids in New Symrna:

Our re-enactment of the water fountain shot.

It's hard to look innocent when you are wearing the lid.

Catching Some Air:

Tagged by Planet Mancuso

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Relationship? uh huh
3. Your hair? sweaty from tennis
4. Work? always
5. Your sister? nope not mine
6. Your favorite thing? Hmm ..not a big "thing" person but my camera makes me happy and I like my horse trailer alot.
7. Your dream last night? About Rettos leg..it haunts me
8. Your favorite drink? water when I am thirsty
9. Your dream car? Don't care much about cars but I love my truck
10. The room you’re in? schoolroom/closet/bedroom
11. Your shoes? out by the front door
12. Your fear? my kids being hurt or sad
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? healthy
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? jim and kids
15. What you’re not good at? making plans ahead of time...I like spur of the moment stuff
16. Muffin? no thanks I just had one
17. One of your wish list items? 50 pair of new socks so I dont need to sort the ones in the laundry room
18. Where you grew up? Iowa and Wyoming
19. The last thing you did? play Andrew's DS and tried to catch a fish on animal crossing
20. What are you wearing? too tight shorts and a new shirt
21. What aren’t you wearing? shoes
22. Your pet? horses are eating hay, dogs are in the shade, cats are sleeping, except Nina who is still wet from her bath, turtles hmm? sunbathing and the bunny last I saw was in the play yard.
23. Your computer? sony but its really Andrew's for school
24. Your life? kind of resembles a sneaker in a dryer
25. Your mood? great at the moment but I havent seen what the boys are doing in the kitchen
26. Missing? my dad
27. What are you thinking about right now? scrapbooking
28. Your car? expedition with a thick coating of lovebugs
29. Your kitchen? full of teenage boys
30. Your summer? my favorite time to hang with the kids
31. Your favorite color? a bright sunny green like new sycamore leaves
32. When is the last time you laughed? this morning when Ashley was horrified that her tennis outfit matched Andrew's and Tanner's.
33. Last time you cried? When Ralph got hurt
34. School? I am not allowed to say that word right now
35. Love? I am blessed

Glimpses of our day at the swimmin' hole.