Hello, Ju. Jul. Aug. SEPTEMBER. FALL!

On September 17, 2025 By AveryIn Dogs, Horses, Life, Uncategorized1 Comment

oYe. Uh, hi. Hello there.

How many times now have I basically began to you in this exact same manner?! Too many to count, now that is sure. One of these days I will come up with a different opening. Maybe. Who knows. I am not sure I even believe that, so it is OK if you do not.

I started a post back in June, planning to catch up. I got a couple paragraphs down and then never came back to it. In fact, it took me quite a while to even find where WordPress now hides draft posts.

How is it already September…FALL!?! Yikes. Each month is going by like a the blink of an eye. It seems to have felt like that for the last two years to be honest! Since it was FEBRUARY that I last wrote, I am sure this is no surprise to you, dear readers. F. E. B. R. U. A. R. Y.

So, here I am for my seemingly new, regular, season change update. Back in February it was the anxious await of spring with the countdown to time change, greening landscapes, and shedding horses. Welp. Now it is the flip side. The change of fall has been in the air for a little while now while we all await the cooler temperatures. The foliage is starting to change. Horses (the one horse, Chance, like clockwork) have started to put some hair on. Cousin H and I have already had a fall cooking and movie fest and I am brainstorming holiday desserts. Pumpkin bread is happening soon.

Anyhoo…what all has been going on?! A LOT! Strap in and hold on. Get your drink of choice. I am sat here with my vino. Some things are going to need their own posts later on, but here are the highlights. This is going to be all over the place most likely and fair warning I will not be re-reading before hitting publish!

Lito celebrated his 12th birthday! Talk about a yikes! It feels like just yesterday he was a gangly colt. Sometimes I still see that colt in there, but his is a full grown Spanglish man full time now. I made him have a photo shoot and he was none too pleased about it, but he gave me some good looks so I will take it.

I will tell you it really was a lovely spring. One we are not always fortunate to have. I had to have a sweater on a few times in May with my morning porch coffee time. I know, crazy, right?!

I snuck away for a week to Hawaii just as the summer heat started to show itself.

What is that you say?! Slipped that one in there, didn’t I?

Yes! I got invited to come to Hawaii and ride Carino into the crater! I of course could not turn an adventure like that and the opportunity to visit my Aunt and Uncle down. Life is about saying ‘YES‘ when you can! Carpe diem, YOLO, all of it.

Then my Cheetah turned 21. Talk about a mind boggler. I made her do the same photo shoot as Lito. She did not really show up to play, but I got some decent enough shots.

Merley bob also celebrated a big birthday this summer and got to go to the hill country for a ride with Lito to celebrate. This birthday was one that honestly, I have been…I do not even know the word. Fearing, I guess. A birthday I never got to see with my Darcy girl. It does not help that the end of May was the anniversary of her passing. It is always a strange time for me. A big part of me actually subconsciously thought we would never get here.

But he did! My Merley turned 6!

I am a bad mom and never got around to his birthday photoshoot, so please enjoy these other snaps.

Need a break yet? OK, hurry fast. I won’t wait long.

OK, where were we?

Lito and I had a big adventure with his first out of state mountain trip to New Mexico!

New Mexico was a great end cap to summer. This morning I enjoyed pinon coffee that I bought there.

The summer really was lovely and quite mild. Many places got quite a bit of rain. Some places tragically too much. Others like us have had almost none. But, I have even had some nice mornings out with my coffee since August and I just got my winter horse hay loaded in last weekend. It sure is nice to get that chore finished. Now to source hay for the cows, which we will need more this year than in years past.

September and fall have gotten off to…um…a rocky start? Dichotomous? Is this a train wreck of a transition?

I guess that is how I could put it. I could use a myriad of different words.

It began with a major high.

I brought Lito home over Labor Day weekend for the first time and it was lovely. I had a pajama party ride with friends down the road followed by a care free afternoon with them in the pool. The rest of the time was spent enjoying our first rides at home, homemade brunches, and movies on the couch with Merle for the afternoon rain storms. It was the most truly relaxing time I have had in a long time.

After that high came the nightmare of a low. The kind that makes you regret everything. If I had not had that weekend, maybe this would not have happened. If I had never gotten into horses. I am going to be really quick here. Cold even, at least it feels that way to me. It is the only way I can put it down. It still haunts me and it will for quite some time.

We lost our dear Lei Lei. I never did introduce you to her I do not think. She was the most perfect of large bay pinto ponies. She had spirit and spunk. She fit right into the very heartbeat of our herd. I do not know how else to put it. She was perfect in all the ways. Even in her naughty pony ways. Her loss is palpable. If you could see a literal hole, it is there. A hole in the herd. In the energy. In the pasture. In the barn. In the soul. The property.

It was a fluke that I was even at the farm that morning, but it was clear from a far that something was very wrong. I got mad at first, who has the time for this? I got a call into the vet right after that. The rest of the heard knew everything was wrong. I cried with our vet before we loaded her up and I drove her to the hospital for her last chance.

Chance knew she was not coming back. The look on his face when I came back alone. He turned away from me the following morning.

We prayed she would just have an impaction in her small intestine and that fluids and pain meds and all the juju dances would get her through. Unfortunately, we believe she had a fatty, strangulating mass and quite possibly a resulting rupture. We could not get her stable and had to make the call at 3:30 AM.

I do not know what else to say. I proceeded to clean and prep her stall anyway because I did not know what else to do. I sat and stared at the box her mane and tail came in for days.

It is the very worst part of being involved with horses and animals in general. That is the unfortunate reality which is why I am even sharing this.

Then, in the truest way of horses, Lito was lame the following weekend. That will have to have its own update later as well because now I am worn out, but he is making progress in the correct direction. So there is that.

I really am very sorry for dumping on you. If you have made it this far, I appreciate you being here.

Walk in love, dear readers. Until next time.

It Is Coming.

On February 23, 2025 By AveryIn Food, Horses, Life2 Comments

Spring that is. Spring is coming. Forget winter.

Or at least the time change is coming. In 14 days the interwebs says. Anyone else have a countdown going?

The horses are starting to shed and they feel like I do. Everyone has been in a bad mood every time the winter comes.

I am not a fan of any time change to be honest, but I can not wait for more daylight in the evenings after work. Basically being dark when I get home from work during the week when it is cold is one of the most depressing things to me. Just me and the Merle staring at each other, longing to play outside. It always has been this way for me, but it is getting worse with age and especially now that I no longer live in town. I feel like a horse that has been locked in a stall and needs out. A caged animal. I need the sun! And the green, I LOVE green landscapes. The winter drab is getting to me. Yes, we still have green winter grasses and green clover, but it is not the same against a low, gray winter sky. Yes, there it has its own beauty, but at times like these, it can sometimes be hard to see! (I am fully aware how bonkers this sounds. Our winters are really beautiful and we do get a lot of sun and beautiful days!…as you will see in some of my pics!)

The wet and the wind, also not helping. It is messing with my riding (read mood)(I am unwell). OK, to be honest, I did get a little ride in last Saturday. Bareback, in a halter, and crusted in mud. Do not judge me, I had a window and I took it, but it dang sure feels as if I have not ridden since New Year’s Eve (I think I have only ridden one other time since NYE). That is the hardest thing about winter for me, the lack of riding. Long time readers will not be surprised by this. I am pretty sure I write this same thing every winter.

My point, dear readers, is hold steady and be strong! Spring is coming! Warmth and sun are coming! Our time is coming! We can do it, I promise. And really, I do not mean to complain. Especially after winter 2021, but it is still hard! I have been thinking a lot about the tropics!

Enough of all that winterness, and more about what has been going on since before Christmas (GASP!).

Well, Christmas happened! Ha! Two months ago was a long time ago.

I had my usual fancy coffee while cooking and baking!

I made a spiced chocolate cake for one party. This one was truly the best. I have figured out a good base chocolate cake that I have adapted originally from Ina Garten’s Aunt Beatty’s Chocolate Cake and I had fun creating a Christmas tree forest!

I of course also made my cranberry sauce with peppers and apple. It is so easy to make a plain cranberry sauce from scratch and I really would encourage everyone to try it!

I also attempted to make pomegranate bars. Think lemon bars, but pomegranate. Yet, do not think too hard about it as they did not work out. Back to the drawing board on that one! I will get there eventually, but this first pass did not pan out! Hey, it happens to everyone, that is part of the fun in trying new things.

Merle had his annual special Christmas treat for which he worked really hard for and was very grateful for!

He was not overly pleased though to be posing yet again this year. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas night at my parents’ house in town. As per usual, we were up early as you can maybe tell from the darkness in these snaps. All for good reason though! Christmas! We had work to do!

Like bake off these puff pastry Christmas tree appetizers! The green one was filled with spinach artichoke dip and the red one had my cranberry sauce with brie. Both so good!

I also had to pull out my cheesecake and dress it for the party!

I had baked it the 23rd and I knew there was a crack, whomp whomp. No worries though! If your cheesecake has a crack, it will still taste good and you can cover it with whipped cream or, like I did here, with gold star flake sprinkles! Except, do not do that too early like I did. The condensation that you can also see here will make your stars bleed and melt. Triple whomp.

The cheesecake was pumpkin pecan pie cheesecake. I have done something similar to this once before and my thoughts were that it was just too much. I felt the exact same this time. The pumpkin part, very good on its own. The pecan part, very good on its own. Together, just too much. Someone remind me of this next time I say I am going to do that again. More is not always better.

At least I did not mess up the pony’s Christmas dinners! Peppermints for the win!

In the after Christmas and before the new year, I did do some riding.

We rode down the road with my Momma. This actually was not going to be the plan as we had not ridden in a while at this point…winter and festivities. Anyway, we rode down around the pond and Lito spotted Mom walking and made a B line for her, so we changed plans and followed her down the road! I am so glad we did! He was very good and it was a pretty day for it.

For New Year’s Eve, R and I continued our annual close out ride.

We came across a big down tree across the trail and had to blaze a new one to get around.

Merle was the king of the trailer while we rode.

Then the winter came.

This picture is rather deceiving. This was right before the first event. After all the early feedings, the cows showed me their thanks by putting two dents in my truck.

The cold does make for pretty night skies!

I do love when they cuddle when it is cold!

I did break down and order Petunia a blanket a couple days ago for a steal in a sale. She never seems uncomfortable, but she deserves one and she is older.

Like I said, pretty!

Finally a ride!

Can you tell I have a thing for the sun? Which is pretty funny given that I am fair skinned and have to always be covered up.

Merle also loves the sun.

We had some snow at one point. We really did not get that much, but any amount is a thing down here.

I did sneak behind a pair of bay roan ears a couple of times, so actually you can add two more rides to my 2025 count.

We all love the sun.

I delayed our annual vet appointment with vaccines and teeth because of the weather, but we did get it done.

I made red velvet cupcakes for a galentines dinner! Galentines and valentines good, cupcakes only OK though…I have not done so well recently with the baking! They were tough and not very tender. Very annoying to me. Icing was pretty tasty though and they looked tasty so I guess that is good. Oh well, that is just how it goes sometimes. I will try again another day!

Merle, well, he is just always living his best life. I am not sure why WordPress cut off the left pic, but I kinda like it this way.

Then the real excitement came when this last winter episode was about to begin. I arrived to my Cheetah‘s left eye swollen shut, weepy, and painful!

Joy.

For anyone who does not know, horse and dog eyes are not people eyes. They do not heal all that well without support.

Luckily, my vet is just ten minutes up the road from the farm. So, down the road we went and we pulled in just as the last patient was leaving. She ended up having a woody piece of hay or something up in her eyelid that had scratched quite a big, yet superficial, ulcer on her eyeball. Back to the farm we went with three ointments and banamine and instructions to treat four times a day…in addition to winter feeding and ice breaking.

Joy.

It could always be worse though and I am just glad this was not worse. It has been hard enough to have her basically (I cannot admit to full) retired because of her arthritis, I would hate for her to have any amount of vision alteration because of this to boot. My girl is the best girl though and has been a doll for treatment.

That about catches you up!

How has your winter gone?!

Take a deep breath and know that spring is coming! Very soon!

Walk in love, dear readers!

A Christmas Tune Tuesday.

On December 17, 2024 By AveryIn Music2 Comments

Yes, yes, it is me, again!

I know you must be in shock and disbelief at your found good fortune. It is alright, I am here for you, dear readers, when I can be anyhow!

We all can help each other get into the Christmas Spirit and this Tuesday before Christmas Eve is a fine time for a Tune Tuesday! And, well, it has been quite a while since we have done one!

To start us off…

Back in October I shared a fabulous song by a band that has just been playing my soundtrack lately. Well I am still listening to them non stop, sharing them with everyone, and you should have a listen here to this!

Look, yes, I prefer the non sad Christmas songs, but lordy, just listen to them. So dang good. I can not even handle it.

And if you are thinking he feels little like Elvis…

However, he is his own man….

Let us not stray, back to Christmas.

Yes, the Lord, the reason for the season, played by this faithful bunch, but back to Christmas music…

OK, sorry. I am back now. Anyhoo. Y’all know how I like my music and Christmas music in particular…

So, you heard it here folks, this is your one stop shop to get those tunes going. Some of the best Christmtas music. Share the light far and wide.

Happy listening!

Walk in love, dear readers!

Knock Knock!?!

On December 16, 2024 By AveryIn Dogs, Food, Horses, Life3 Comments

Who is there, you ask?

Well, it is Christmas Spirit, that is who!

Ha!

Did you know that kids still do knock knock jokes?! Ya, I too have learned that recently from my nieces and nephews. Pretty interesting actually. Some things are just apparently timeless I guess. Who would have guessed that knock knock jokes would be one of those things.

Anywhhooooo.

Have you felt your Christmas Spirit yet??? ‘Twas late coming for me, but it is here now! Do not you worry, dear readers, if you need some help, I am comin’ in hot for y’all to try and help if I can!

The Christmas Spirit really began for me this year with a little lunchtime party our office building threw for the tenants last week of all things. The festive decorations, treats, and sounds of mingling surrounded by poinsettias and I looked up and felt it. Why hello there, long time no see! I have most of my Christmas shopping complete and I am getting the itch to BAKE. Better late than never! I am pretty sure I said that last year, oh well, please don’t judge me. I have the Christmas music on now and am in the middle of decorating the tree and wrapping gifts! Yes, I know, late also too with the tree. I just have not made the time for it (you have to make the time for the things!) and I was again considering not even doing it. I again told myself that was unthinkable and a friend of mine actually offered (again) a little pre-lit tree to borrow if I wanted it. When she offered this time I jumped at it. I have my other little decorations out, but it is not complete or the same without a tree with lights and loved ornaments.

SO, it is here and I am doing it!

I started a post to you back in the beginning of November about gratitude and being grateful for the rain…you know, Thanksgiving and all…and now here we are half way through December! Oh well, if you were wondering, I am indeed grateful for the rain. So much so that I was almost complaining about it come Saturday because the forecast has been all over the place and it seems to always change over night. I have been surprised a few times this fall/winter and your gal just wants to ride her horse! I seem to have forgotten my rule about not making plans around the weather man and the fact that this i s one of the reasons we ride all year round. You know, should one need a reason or something.

It is little matter now though that I finally got to ride on Sunday! And, boy was it a stunner of a Texas December day!

So, let us rewind, shall we? What has happened since October???

We are all just over here living our best lives, I guess!

Mid October we went on our annual ladies ride. The beginning of October was a lot of preparing in gathering supplies, packing, getting ahead in work, and getting as much riding in as possible.

Upon our return, I got our big order of winter horse hay loaded in the feed room (which is the scheduling, driving, picking up, paying for, driving back, and then unloading), of which there is no photo evidence of except for the clean up crew. Normally I do this much earlier, like July, August, or even September, but because it was so so hot and we had previously had so much rain, I was not overly concerned about hay supply. I put it off several times, but there is only so long you can do that!

They are a pretty good clean up crew!

I apparently made a margaritas for Momma and myself in the beginning of November. There is never a bad time for a marg!

Oh look, more riding before Thanksgiving! I certainly can not complain! Just so you know, I do not take pictures every time I ride.

Merle living his best life going to check the mail.

I did do a little baking for Thanksgiving…I made a chocolate pie bar! The pie was more of a cheesecakey mousse with some warm spices mixed in topped with a sweet whipped cream. The crust was made of these mini chocolate graham cracker cookies…that grew up to be a big pie crust! I usually go for those famous chocolate wafers made by Nabisco, but sadly they are not made anymore apparently. The toppings I went a little bit crazy with to try and please the masses: pomegranate seeds, strawberries, pumpkin seeds, pecans, slivered almonds, toasted coconut, two kinds of dark chocolate with orange and chili pepper, crushed peppermint candies, and chocolate animal crackers. It paid off though and I had many takers, adult and child alike!

We played fetch in the pond while I admired my Merle.

Between my dog and my horses, I have the best views!

A post chaos bareback ride.

I think that about brings us up to date!

Holiday parties are in full swing and before we know it…quite literally…Christmas is here!

Walk in love, dear readers! Christmas Spirit, coming right up!

Happy October!

On October 1, 2024 By AveryIn Horses, Life, Music6 Comments

Or, as us cool people know, the best month of the year.

Ah, my dear readers. How I have longed to sit down and chat with you. How have you been?

I am still over here just a runnin’ ’round like crazy. What is really crazy to me is how long this little corner of the internet has been around. EIGHT years (back in August). Can you believe that!?! That is just wild. I created this blog on a whim it felt like. I had been thinking about it for a long time and had done a very little research, but then one day, bam, I just went for it. While at work, no less. Don’t tell anyone. I remember being so surprised at how easy it was and also too, very proud of myself. A part of me longs for when I could write to you most every day like I used to. The majority of me though is just so glad about where I am at. I am working on being OK with stopping in here when I can.

I am currently sitting on the porch, sipping on some rose wine (long time readers know how this can go sometimes!), enjoying the sunset while I write. I am sitting in the same place I drank my coffee this morning to enjoy the sunrise. In fact, if I am being truthful, and you know I always am, what is left of my coffee is sitting here next to me on the table next to my glass of wine because I willfully left it there this morning when Merle and I hopped in the truck to head to work. I know, how very adult of me. I will be even more honest and tell you that I even put my bottle of wine in an ice bucket and that is sitting at my feet. It would be even better if Merle was at my feet too, but alas, the smells in the country can not keep that dog down for long (or really at all). He is out there sniffing and wagging his tail, living his best dog life.

I am feeling blessed that I am looking at some green grass in front of me, but pretty much everywhere else has been burned up to a crisp. Texas summer is holding on strong and keeping us rather warm in the afternoons with highs in the mid to upper nineties. That is one of my justifications for the wine in the ice bucket. It is still so hot! I plopped an ice cube in my wine (gasp!) to keep it cool when I sat down and it has already melted in full.

Pops asked me just the other day if we were going to have a fall. I have two horses growing coats. Which the one I know he starts that early every year no matter what. The trees are turning and beginning to drop their leaves. We have had some semblance of a cool front that has granted us some admittedly very nice mornings, they just do not linger all that long.

I am not complaining though, do not get me wrong. I so feel for everyone that has suffered in the path of hurricane Helene. Some of that destruction many did not see coming at all. You know we know how you feel. One thing after all of these storms that I can remember is that you have to remember ANYTHING can happen in the storm path. No two storms are the same. Scale category means absolutely nothing. Obtain any and all information you can from varied sources.

Anyway, here I am again talking to you about the weather. I can not even remember what all I have told you other than sharing my trip to the mountains of Colorado.

Here is the thing. Shhhhhhhhh. Don’t tell anyone. Life has changed for me in a (big) way, but it does not feel or seem that way. It is so natural and comforting I can not explain it and I really can not explain how grateful and blessed I feel. Really it happened a little bit ago, but I am keeping this quiet for a while to really let it all absorb. Let it settle. BE PRESENT. Get used to it. I have not shared it with really anyone, and that is OK. I may share it one day. Everything with work and the animals and everything else is the same and as great as ever and there is nothing to worry over. The most grand AHA moment there ever was.

Another, even bigger AHA moment. You will likely be tired of this one, but I do not care. This is the one ‘never’ you can say. NEVER forget that you are not promised tomorrow. LIVE your life for real. I lost someone near and dear to me and to my Mamma and to my family. She and my Mamma were the very best of friends. One of my God Mothers. Sad business that. Took me right on back to H and I felt like I could barely go through the motions.

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So back to the anyway.

I baked pumpkin bread for the first time already this season (not that I need that excuse, but go with me here) way back some time in August. It felt good and right. There was just the slightest inkling of a fall thought in the air. If you believe the air can have thoughts. It was not really fall at all then (and I knew it would not be), but it sure was good. I stashed the second loaf in the freezer. I am feeling the need to pull it out now.

Lito and I have been riding, as per usual (I could go on and on about how year 11 is the absoulte magic year for homebred horses, but I think I will leave that for another day other than to say that this/he was the best decision I have ever ever made), but we have been getting ready for our big ride coming up in a couple of weeks ever since I got back from Colorado…I actually went back to Colorado for my cousin’s wedding the week after I got back from my Colorado vacation if you missed that…did you follow that???….ANYWAY…In just over a week’s time we will be making our way in that direction. If you don’t know, we go on a big week long ride in the hill country of this great state every October (outside of COVID…but a small group of us had our own little one that year anyway in the east Texas pines) with a group of ladies I belong to (since I am nice and always here for you, if you missed it and are interested and want to see what it is all about…within reason (some of it is like secret society stuff…see the following 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016…you’re welcome, there are at least some great pics). There is always a lot of prep work leading up to the ride outside of the riding hours to get you and your horse ready. Maintenance on the trailer. Stocking up on horse essentials and feed. Then the actual packing for both you and your horse and traveling.

I have been obsessed with this song lately. Really hitting my jam. Not really sure why, other than I have lived in this space. And, sometimes still am…like when I have to go to funerals. Anyway, It is so so good. Sometimes some of you good readers would ask me my favorite song or band of the moment. This is where I am at.

Give it a listen and remember, “you are still fine…God’s perfect wording…you’ll be alright…God is not giving you up,” OK that is the actual biggest AHA moment.

I am on a roll here tonight, OK? The coyotes like this song too if you were wondering.

You know there is always a song or band. Which! Hey! By the way, one of my favorite bands, Cross Canadian Ragweed, is kinda (sorta) getting back together! They broke up way back around about when I graduated from college. They once (or many times) said they would never get back together. Well, never say never because they are going to do a show (a big one…with a bunch of greats) and see how it goes! Fingers crossed it goes and sounds great and they go all in and make a new album. Honestly, waking up to that news today (well really they have been teasing the news for a little bit if you didn’t and wanted to know) sure made me feel like dang near anything is possible in this world. The press on this is overshadowing their website on google, otherwise I would link it for you. Really, I could try harder, but at the moment I am not going to (so sorry!). So, who wants to go to Oklahoma with me in April? I bet the tickets are already sold out. The internet and the world basically died (and went back to high school) when the news broke I think. I am not sure I could tell you which of their songs is my favorite.

Well, my dear readers, it is time. It is (past) dark now and feels pretty dang good out (and the bugs are being summoned to my computer screen….and a frog is hopping across my porch rug), but it is about time I get ready for bed…and have no more wine! We are up early and back to the office in the morning! Work is always busiest when you are! And you know what? I would not have it any other way right now.

Walk in love, dear readers! Tell me something good!

Tune back in for some great hill country between the dun ears pics!

Some Days Are Diamonds

On August 28, 2024 By AveryIn Life10 Comments

I am a Texas gal through and through, but there is just something special about Colorado and the mountains, especially in summer (and not just because it is so hot here right now). Every time I go is different, yet it is the exact same. The last time my family went, I opted out because of my Ireland trip, so this time felt almost like a homecoming. Greeting a long lost friend. We have a strong nostalgic connection to this place.

It is the mountains for me. Everything about them. How they make you feel small, like storms. How they are always there, but always different, like the sunrises and the sunsets. I feel like we took full advantage and it made for a diamond of a week (see what I did there?).

I chose to drive instead of fly and make it into an adventure. Unlike some people, I really enjoy driving and seeing new things. Listening to music or audiobooks.

I dropped Merle off at the kennel (not all places are dog friendly in Colorado…insert major eye roll) on Thursday late afternoon and worked from the farm on Friday so I could take care of some necessary farm things before hitting the road early Saturday morning (and to sneak a ride in on my Lito. One because I wanted to/I was going to be gone long enough, but also because our last ride was not the best and I needed to ‘right the wrong’ so to speak. We righted the wrong).

I took a different route to west Texas than I normally take and made the ‘swiftest’ swing through NRS World in Decatur that I possibly could. I purchased a few things because they made me happy and continued on my way.

Texas was really showing off with some beautiful weather and showing all the lovely effects of a good spring and summer.

I rolled into Amarillo with just enough time to check into my hotel, change my clothes, and then head to The Golden Light Cantina to hear Dale Watson play.

It was a great time and I sat next to some cool people at the bar. He even played some Merle Haggard.

I called it a night relatively early as I needed my rest for another full day of exciting driving.

I am not sure if I have waxed poetic about west Texas before, but if you did not know, I really love west Texas. It gives me all the feels. The flatness and clear views. The cotton fields and pivot waterers. Good looking cows cooling off in the playas. The smell and the feel of dry air.

My second day of driving was really spectacular. All I wanted to do was stop in at one of the many ranches I was passing, borrow a horse, and ride until I couldn’t anymore. It really makes me want to do a cross country ride, to envision what it was like two hundred years ago.

If you have never taken a cross country road trip, I highly recommend it. Like, really. Words and pictures (of which I do not really have because I was driving) really do not do stunning countryside justice. Pack snacks and fuel up when you can (and have music or books downloaded…) because sometimes you do not know when you are going to be in no man’s land.

I was driving and having a merry old time when I was getting hungry for lunch. I looked around and looked at the map and wondered if there was going to be any lunch to be had. I was feeling very fortunate for the apple I grabbed from the hotel on my way out.

As luck would have it…or something else…I ‘stumbled’ upon the cute little saving grace of a town, Westcliff, in the front range in what felt like the middle of nowhere. The view dropping into town almost made me drive off the road. I was so surprised and pulled over to find the best place to eat and have a little break from driving.

The drive through the pass into Aspen was an adventure in itself as I had never driven it myself before, but it was so worth it. The weather was showing off a little as it was lightly raining on the way up and the way down, but it was not raining at the top.

I stopped a couple of times to enjoy the views…and let people pass me.

I kept my jacket on when I got back in the truck, rolled my windows down, and turned my music up as I enjoyed the cruise down into town. I did have to roll my windows up a couple of times because of the rain, but that did not dampen my mood.

We cooked dinner in my first night followed by music porch time and enjoyed an easy hike around town the first day, including stopping in at ACES and catching the Osprey (we saw them many times).

Y’all should know by now how I am about trees…

We had a lovely lunch in town followed by naps while it rained in the afternoon.

Tuesday morning we got up and out early with a packed lunch to head to Ruedi reservoir to hike around, fish, and have a picnic. We saw much bird action while there including Osprey with caught fish, Bald Eagle, Red Tailed Hawk, and fly catching birds.

Wednesday morning, after a bear tried to bust into a dumpster around 12:30 AM, dawned a bit rainy. I ventured into town with my rain coat to get my traditional coffee and muffin at Paradise Bakery (sorry, not as good as it used to be!) before having a nice hike at the base of the mountain.

I just love all the pops of color with the flower plantings all over the place.

We then hiked to a lovely and indulgent lunch outside of town.

The lunch was good, but it was the hike and the views that really made it!

I could have stopped right here with a picnic lunch!

Thursday was chilly, but we ventured out to explore the John Denver Sanctuary (a must), followed by some trails and neighborhoods before heading to lunch.

We went up to to top of Snowmass mountain for fun before coming back down for dinner. The rain quit right as we sat down outside and gave us a beautiful rainbow.

After dinner we enjoyed a fire with wine and a movie before bed.

My last day was a big one. I ran out to Louis Swiss Bakery (WORTH IT…my new regular) to grab some breakfast things and some cookies for the day. We drove up to Grizzley reservoir for a hike with long time friends. Spoiler alert, the reservoir was drained for dam repairs (!) and that seemed to make the drive up in my truck (and the drive back down) a bit more rough than it should have been. Took away a bit from the arrival that is for sure. We missed the memo on that until we were on our way there. However, the mountains put on a show regardless!

We hiked to Frenchman’s Cabin (we were on our way to the ghost town of Rubi) before we decided we had enough of the elevation, cold, and rain (and my hiking boots…I will be getting something different).

We had a very nice leisurely hike back down looking for the sun shining on the mountains.

We did have momentary breakouts of blue sky.

The sky opened back up with thunder right as we got back to the truck.

We bumped our way back down the mountain in just enough time to unload, change, and grab an early dinner. After dinner and a little packing, we had wine and porch time with music before bed.

Saturday morning dawned early but ready. My parents helped me load the truck and I set off with a big mug full of coffee and a scone from Louis Swiss. My plan was to stop at the divide to enjoy some of my coffee and scone if it was not raining. Well, it was not raining! I was again chasing the sun, but I saw some cool beams on the mountains.

I took some pictures of some people at the sign before continuing on my way. It was a much easier drive the second time, so my advice is to take it!

I rolled into Amarillo upon my return with west Texas in all its glory. The sky was red with that tell tale red dirt and early sunset and the wind was blowing, the rain sprinkle was a little cold, and that smell. That west Texas petrichor. There is nothing like it.

I had intentions of going back to The Golden Light, but I was too tired (and sore! It took me a minute to get my walking legs back). It was a ‘rock star’ hotel night with wine from Pinkie’s Liquor store and local delivery pizza in bed with a movie. The rest of the drive back to the farm was good and I was very glad to be greeted by my ponies. I picked up the Merle Monday morning on my way to work.

This week began with a welcome break in the brutal temperatures. It has me thinking. Thinking of fall and baking pumpkin bread. All of it. I said it, you were thinking it. It is coming!

Walk in love, dear readers, and BE!

Tell me what you have been up to this summer, what you are looking forward to this fall!

Colorado Dreaming.

On August 12, 2024August 13, 2024 By AveryIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Since I have apparently run out of ways to begin these posts after a long hiatus…

…h.e.l.l.o.?…Hello!

Hey hi how is it going?

Life has been a bit hectic since APRIL and time has been utterly FLYING by. I have felt more than a bit like a chicken with my head cut off, but that is life for you! I was starting to feel like things were beginning to feel a bit more comfortable, which they really are, but I do not see anything slowing down until October…which really means it is not going to because that is basically already Thanksgiving and then Christmas! I said it! You were thinking it!

Texas had one of the most lovely springs, which is where I left you in April. Now we are solidly seated in August! To which I am sure you can guess, if you have been around here for a bit, also means we are in the literal thick of summer (and the ramp of hurricane season) here in Texas. This summer has really been nice weather wise and we have been blessed with quite a bit of rain…the pastures are NUTS. I am not saying anything, but we could use more grazing animals at the moment. Anyway, back to summer…when I say the thick of summer, I mean it. It does not matter that temperatures have been mild…the air is so thickly bedded with humidity you can cut it with a knife. Like mattress thick. It is wildly oppressive. Everyone is miserable outside of basically 2 hours in the morning and right before sunset. The horses have been in a full body sweat daily and their skin is not happy. This all really seemed to develop in the last couple of weeks. There has been a lot of cold hosing and treating of skin and hooves.

This bold doe chased my Merle, presumably from her fawn. I have never seen anything like it!

I feel like there have also been more butterflies this year than any other.

So. Now that I have set the scene for present day mid-August…where have the last three months gone? To the dogs or something as they say! Which all totals up to a pretty…impressive year so far! Buckle up, buttercups!

Lito‘s neck wound from the world’s largest splinter healed up beautifully and you can not even tell there was anything there. I sold a saddle, but not the saddle I was advertising. Funny that, but the original saddle is indeed still for sale if anyone is interested. Please, someone buy it. Lito’s new saddle, fingers crossed, will be completed soon!

RIP beloved pecan tree. Keep reading for details.

Somewhere in the later half of April, I learned that I was in need of new living arrangements for myself and the Merle and I had two months to figure it out. You could say this is where everything kind of fell off the rails.

You see, I had been in talks with my parents about how it was about time I start looking for a place of my own and to no longer be a renter, Set myself up for the future. We had been talking about it and casually looking, but nothing too serious, thinking the right thing would pop up at the right time and that would be that. Well, that was not that. The right thing had not popped up and I needed to find somewhere to live! It felt like the rug had been ripped out from under me.

I will admit I was completely paralyzed for about 24 hours. By Monday morning I could barely get dressed for work. I was just sitting on the couch staring at the wall. Very not normal for me. But I got myself to work and by the time I got in the truck to go home, I got myself in gear. I stopped at the store to get some wine (a needed ingredient for progress), I ordered a pizza, put some music on, and got to work. By Tuesday morning I was loading up my first Good Will donation that I dropped off on my way to work.

I was determined to not lose any horse time, best friend D was coming into town to visit, and I had already planned for a long Memorial Day weekend away to go fishing. I pretty quickly decided to be fully moved out and done (stick a fork in me!) before we left to go fishing. I did not want any of this hanging over my head. This meant I had less than a month to pack and move, even if only temporarily. If that sounds a little, um, mad to you, that is because it is. I have lived in the same place for, well, a long time.

I drank way too much wine and went through a lot of audio books (I also spent many hours on the phone talking to friend S, another needed ingredient for progress), but I got it all done. I made like four or five big trips to the Good Will. I sold some things. I found a charity to donate my old text books to (yup, I still had all those). I got rid of a lot of stuff. I packed boxes and more boxes (thanks to R for the exact number of boxes I needed!). I moved to our temporary home with our necessities. I booked the movers and reserved a storage unit. I did not miss out on any horse time. D and I had a great, if not way too short of a time.

So, the day before the movers were to come, I was wrapping up the last of what I needed to do when we had the craziest of storms whip through (literally) and just destroy the city with crazy flooding, trees down everywhere, most without power, no internet, and cell phones not working (the clean up after that storm is still going on!). This made for an exciting moving day, let me tell you. I had no idea if the movers were going to be able to show up. I had no idea if we were going to even be able to get into the storage facility or if they sustained any damage. It was not the most fun day, let me tell you. It all worked out for this first part, but I did have to last minute find a different storage facility to move my stuff into. I sure am glad I spent all the time I did doing research and cost comparisons. NOT.

Anyway! With the move complete, Mamma and I did a final deep clean and I handed over the keys after I locked the door for the last time.

Merle and I had a great weekend away fishing. We caught enough fish for some lovely meals in addition to enjoying the bay. It was very windy though!

Those guys in the background lost their boat!

All this time we were also scouring the internet and looking at properties trying to find the right thing. D went with us to look at one while she was here.

Luckily for me I also had weekend that popped up in the first part of June to go ride with friends in the hill country at Parrie Haynes. Lito was a rock star and I really needed that weekend away. Somewhere in there I kind of lost the ability to sleep with my anxiety over the whole moving situation. Not to worry, I am sleeping soundly now, but the situation was getting dire there for a little bit. I have not lost so much sleep since I graduated from college.

The farm garden produced many tomatoes, basil, peppers and peaches, so I had some fun in the kitchen cooking and eating.

Like I said, many butterflies this year. It is wonderful to see and feel. Especially this one. I was just focusing on getting Lito’s ears and cows. It was not until after that I noticed the butterfly. I do not believe in coincidences if you did not know that about me. Everything happens for a reason.

I will not lie, the butterflies feel like a God wink to me. A message. A message from H. It has been a long three years without my best friend. A very technical three years come tomorrow. I saw and felt butterflies flying free in my mind on that day, well really it was the day before, but who is counting. August 13, 2021 was the technical day. I can not remember if I told you about those butterflies. But, how has all this time gone by? I think about her all the time, but especially now, in this time with all this change in my life and I can not just call her.

August is a hard month. In Texas of course, that is no surprise. It can be just plain miserable. Sometimes I try to take the month ‘off,’ so to speak. Or as much as one can, anyway. I can’t really do that, but in my mind I pretend I am sometimes. Something about it, that hardness, that heat. It all stacks on. Makes you think. You just have to get through the days until they are over. Find the shade, drink the water, stay cool. Do the bare minimum. Sometimes that can give your mind just a little too much time to think. Think sometimes entirely too big of thoughts. At least I am predictable. Regardless, this happens just about every August, just a little more so these days. I am grateful that I have been so busy that it only just hit me.

The butterflies remind me of the beauty that comes. How quickly our thoughts become shadowed if you are not focused on the light. An important reminder!

That all seemed to get a bit dark and I did not intend for that to happen!

I kind of jumped ahead there…by like a whole month…back to beginning of July…

Somewhere in there hurricane Beryl came on through and, well, left its mark, shall we say. Back to more flooding, down trees, no power. Many had it worse. We have been blessed in years past to not lose trees. It is our turn.

All the pecan trees are special, but they seem to become more so once they are gone.

Then, remember most of my things are in storage? Well. That stuff got wet thanks to Beryl. Woohoo. That was exciting. Going through it. Taking pictures and making lists. Doing what remediation I could. Filing an insurance claim. While a big ‘ol not fun hassle, it was not all too terribly bad. I am still waiting to hear back from insurance though.

OK, back to August.

Somebody tried to break into my truck and left me with a shattered window. That was really not nice, but I will take that over the alternative. That is probably the last time I sleep at my parents house. I am so glad my alarm went off and they were not able to get in. There is a lot more to this story that I just can not bring myself to say again, but it ends with me running and yelling in my pajamas. I just hope the perpetrator was running scared. I still have my truck though and nothing is gone. That gentleman there is installing a new window, just in case you thought something else.

Then we suffered the loss of another pecan tree and a half on Friday evening when a storm popped up. This crazy storm came out of nowhere. There was so much rain and wind you could not see. Then when you could…

At least only this half of a tree is requiring fence work as well.

So. I am Colorado dreaming right now! I am getting away for a week in the mountains to escape!

Come Sunday I will be there enjoying the cool temperatures and mountain views. I will try not to leave y’all hanging this time!

Walk in love, dear readers!

And, well, August is just about half way over, so never fear! It is like hump day, you’re almost there to the ‘ber months! And you know what that means!

Spring Is Here.

On April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 By AveryIn Dogs, Horses, Life, Uncategorized3 Comments

In case you missed the memo, spring is indeed here and it has been lovely! I feel like last year we only had a flash of spring before it was full on summer hot, so this has been really nice.

Except it actually got a bit cold at the end of this last weekend and I was quite glad I still had a sweater in the truck!

So, what is that? Where have I been?

Ha, that is a good question. Contrary to some beliefs, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Yes, I know you are glad. I have just been very busy. How boring of an answer, I know! The truth is, I just have not had much free time to make for the blog unfortunately. Not for lack of want to, mind you. This is just where I am at right now. I even started this post over a week ago if that gives you an idea.

In fact, the other day…which actually means well over a month ago…I took a bunch of pictures of young wild flowers and budding plants as evidence of spring’s official arrival with full intentions of writing to y’all about it.

Anyway, I am here now and that is that!

We have of course been riding and enjoying the weather.

I have actually been working on getting my Cheetah girl into some semblance of riding shape just for fun. She is missing that part of our relationship I think and I absolutely have. We take it day by day and meet her where she is at with the goal of staying inside her comfort zone. She has good days where you might think she has no arthritis at all and she has some not so good days. Her brain on the other hand thinks she is about four years old all the time as opposed to almost twenty. It is a fine dance.

Close your eyes and your ears, but I ordered a new saddle for Lito. Which means, I have a saddle to sell. It has to happen, I have reached that point. If anyone is needing a saddle or knows someone that is…please send them my way!

On Good Friday, Merle and I went to meet R’s new foal and then went over to her new property to celebrate the closing and being closer to each other geographically. We had a dang good time exploring. Merle also had a very proper, good time.

Then on Easter Saturday my Grandmother came out to the farm for a visit which was really nice as she got to visit all the horses and give them treats.

Lito also turned 11! It feels like just yesterday he was born!

Then we went on our annual Spring Ride with my ladies riding group. We were blessed with spectacular weather and My Lito was very good. Especially since he apparently had the world’s largest splinter in his neck the whole time.

If you look really closely at Lito’s throat latch area behind his jaw, you can see the abscess.

…If you are squeamish, you may just want to scroll on…it is going to get a little gory…

Yes, splinter. When we arrived on late Friday afternoon, I noticed a little tiny scab and a swelling that grew up and away from the scab on his neck. He was mildly bothered by it, but I decided to watch it over the weekend. It did not do much changing, but by Monday morning it appeared to be a little more raised and possibly a little harder. Luckily, our vet was able to fit us in Monday morning so I loaded him back up to go investigate at the clinic. The ultrasound probe was barely on his neck before Dr. F swung the screen around exclaiming, “Yup, look, there it is!”

After a little sedation and a little cut, we had the world’s largest splinter thankfully out of his neck.

Naturally I took the splinter home so I could show all my horse friends!

Dr. F was quite happy with how it all went, but of course wanted daily treatment.

So, that is what we have been doing lately! Monitoring, hydroing, cleaning, and treating. All the while running up and down the highway working both in and out of the office. My phone is full of daily progress pictures and we are now almost healed up. We have just been taking it easy since then, but I had a full on proper horse girl bareback Saturday with all the ridden horses followed by a deep grooming session for My Lito Man. All the horses are looking really good and shiny. The best thing coming out of winter.

I am currently wishing I could go back to Saturday as life is about to get even more hectic.

Walk in love, dear readers!

Monday Morning Coffee Moment.

On February 26, 2024 By AveryIn Life, Uncategorized2 Comments

Good morning, my dear readers!

A little Monday morning coffee break moment for you.

A reminder for you on this fine day.

Remember those life lessons you have learned over the years.

They were presented to you for a reason, for you to learn what works and does not work for you.

Stir that around in your pot of thoughts.

Sometimes those same similar situations will present themselves to you again from time to time and you will recognize a little something that will raise a flag to get your attention. Are you paying attention? It is up to you to see and feel that flag and move accordingly if you want to keep moving forward.

Your AHA moment for the day!

Walk in love, dear readers! Have a great one!