Just an average Thursday over here, do not mind me.
So, do you remember how back in September I told you how I get reflective at the beginning of fall? Well, once we hit November 1, I reach a whole new level. Ya, news flash, I know. Alert the media. What media? Never mind.
Anyway, every time November rolls around I want to do something serious here in this space. Serious. Meaningful. Something to express the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas as we come into the season. You know, the real reason for the season. That always seems like a very large task. How does one tackle something so grand? Something with such gravity and brevity?
Typical me taking everything so seriously and making it such.
Here is the deal. The AHAmoment in it all.
It is not really all that complicated. It is very simple and basic. Something everyone can grasp if you allow yourself. Open your eyes. Remember that whole KISS rule your teachers taught you way back when? Spoiler alert. That one is for life too. Keep. It. Simple. Silly. Go figure. It also has nothing to do with the season or time of year. That is just a happy convenient reminder. To get you intentional about it. It is something to be lived every day and carried on throughout the year.
What it all boils down to is being thankful. Experiencing the gratitude and the blessings and where they come from. Seeing them. Feeling them. All around you. They are there all around us. It is us who have a hard time seeing what is right there in front of our faces. Feeling it as we would feel the ever present wind against our skin.
We all live very complicated, intertwined, and busy lives. Surrounded by distractions. Going through life with not only blinders on, but with blindfolds on. Thinking we are getting somewhere without actually seeing.
What it is all about is the journey. Walking your path. Seeing, experiencing, and enjoying all that is around you.
“Lord, give me the eyes to see
Exactly what it’s worth
And I will be the richest man on earth”
Being grateful for today and celebrating it. For the very life in your veins. The food in your belly. The sun shining outside. The rain that reinvigorates the earth. The people around you. The family you create, blood or not. Those that are with us, both physically and spiritually.
Being grateful for your past because it has made you who you are today and brought you to where you stand this very minute. A step in front of yesterday. To be built up by the struggle. For the journey. YOUR path.
Being grateful for a wet dog nose or a soft, velvety horse muzzle against your skin. For green pastures with enough grass for the horses and cows. A full pond. For being able to see the sunrise and sunset. For getting to the beginning of November without yet having a frost and blanketing temperatures like last year. For a functioning manure spreader. Being able to share my love with fun desserts to serve my family. To laugh and share with people you love.
Being grateful for feeling time slow down, during a time of year when time does nothing but rush past, when you can see just one of your many blessings.
I could go on.
“That is what this time of year, the holiday season, is all about. Seeing and feeling your many blessings. Being grateful and thankful for them. Doing things for others. That and The Reason for The Season. Giving God the glory. Doing your best to carry that attitude through the rest of the year.”
~Avery~
Serious, I know. But in all seriousness. Life, man. It is a beautiful life and we are all blessed to live it. See and feel your many blessings so you can be a blessing to those around you.
The most interesting thing about all of this is when you start to see, those around you catch a glimmer too and start to see a little for themselves.
Just some things to stir around in your pot of thoughts on this fine Thursday. Clearer than mud, I hope? Too early? Well, at least I am not sharing Christmas music yet!
I think this is going to be a great month. Are there any anvils and pianos over my head?
Walk in love, dear readers!
P.S. I am grateful for y’all. Yes! Each and everyone of YOU that comes here to AHAmoments. For allowing my to share my thoughts. For engaging in conversation. For sharing your story. For making this a great place to be.
It was a cold and wet day yesterday that had me wanting to snuggle up next to a fireplace with a good book and my dog at my feet. Especially when it is a Monday and your work computer goes on the fritz, again, wasting half a day. Today is still chilly, but they say it is going to be sunny and will warm up.
This weekend brought a legitimate cold front our way and brought straight up winter. Cold, windy, cloudy winter. Such a damper I dare say. It was hard to get much done. You just have to love Texas weather and marvel at it while throwing a sheet on the old horse. It was a good thing I had yet to put the blankets away!
The only photo I took this weekend other than some of Darcy pointing at a squirrel like the good bird dog she is.
Alright, back to last week. I know you are dying to know. If you wanted to know, since I asked you, yes I indeed do believe in Angels. I have not seen one before, but I know people who have and have received messages from them. I am not sure if I believe in ghosts or not, but I have always felt that our farm house has one. Clearly benign. I also once had a rather long conversation, mostly one sided, with our exterminator on ghosts. He definitely believes in them and says he has two in his house. One not so nice apparently. I sure as heck do not believe in Ouija boards.
Now for animal communicators. I will let you do your own research on it if you wish, but I will get straight on with it.
In my, I guess excitement coupled with curiosity, I reached out to two different people I found via a couple of recent threads in a horsemanship forum on the internet. It was/is a very popular subject it seems. One lady does this just for fun and anther you pay $50 for a 30 minute phone call. Interesting, I know, but this is apparently a thing.
After my inquiries, I went about my business with not much other thought on it.
Then I got a message reply from the free lady. Here is our resulting conversation…
Me: Hello there. I saw your comment on a post in the Horse Human Bond group. I am interested in someone communicating with my horse and was wondering if you could help me. I have never done this kind of thing before, but we have been having issues lately and I just wish I knew what happened or what is going through his head. His name is Lito. (I also included some photos).
Animal Communicator (AC): Oh gosh! I have done communications on the past but not for years. Happy to have a go . Don’t tell me any more, and give me a couple of days.
Me: OK, thanks. I really appreciate it!
AC: Oh! Gut pain? Impatience. Okay, I guess we’re doing this right now ! Babyish. Like… inexperience. Gut. Gut gut gut. Hingut ulcers a possibility? Being skittish sideways. Just throwing everything I get out there to you at the mo.
Me: Interesting. I don’t know! I’m not sure if he’s shown signs or not. He is out on pasture 24/7. But I have been drawn to listen to his gut a lot lately. I also worry abt colic like most horse ppl. Do you want to me comment or no lol sorry.
AC: I don’t even know what the signs are for them, I think they’re fairly silent. Whatever you feel like lol.
Me: He is not yet 5. There has been lots of sideways recently lol.
AC: There’s tenderness on his right hand flank… like maybe it hurts issue or maybe he’s been bruised there. Sorry sometimes the info isn’t always in chronological order. Like this could have been a past thing but I’m getting current. Oh, something’s changed, and he’s really confused about why. Is he stabled now? Away from his friends? I’m not at all sure this us right but, saved from a place with lots of horses crammed in together. He’s pawing a lot, as if in frustration, though I think that’s at me
Me: Interesting. His living has not changed, but we went to a weekend clinic in the beginning of March where he was stabled. I would not consider that cramped. And back in the fall we went on a week long trail ride where he had to stay in a tent barn. That I would consider cramped! He paws out of frustration. He’s very communicative.
AC: Yeah, that makes sense. He’s shown me him bucking and broncing and he slipped, twisted his pelvis. Near hind.
Me: Not while riding.
AC: No, in the field.
Me: Yes, well wow. That has happened recently. Can you tell him something?
AC: I love it when specific enough communication happens to confirm it! Sure. He does like you. He’s confused as F sometimes but he feels is important to let you know he likes you.
Me: Tell him I’m so sorry that happened. I never wanted anything like that to ever happen to him ever!
AC: OK he’s not done saying stuff then I’ll see if he received that. Why is he showing me his forehead? Its a really specific place, and I don’t think it’s on him but there’s a crescent moon shaped star. Is this another horse?
Me: He has a little tiny star. Um. Another horse. Thinking.
AC: The other thing is a dog, white and brown. Short haired dog.
Me: We have a passed white and brown English setter. Had some hair but not like most ppl think of. Short for setters. Ugh I can’t think. Star only? Not star stripe?
AC: A scar? Is there anybody with that shaped scar or markings? Is his moon shaped?? Bay.
Me: Well his mom has some scars on her side. One somewhat crescent moon shaped. And star stripe. She’s not bay. We have a passed horse that was bay. I want to say she had a scar but can’t remember. Or where.
AC: Any of these have a banged fringe? Like somebody went to tidy it up but the forelock ended up cut straight across?
Me: Hmm. No.
AC: Okay. I don’t know what that is then. Perhaps it’ll percolate through over the next few days. I tried your message again – there’s a lot of sadness from him. Also release, you know when they do a big sigh. He’s asking for more time to figure things out. Like if you ask him to do something under saddle, give him more time to work out the response. There’s a horse that’s passed over who spends time with him a lot. He’s comforted by her. Maybe this is the moon scar/star one.
Me: I’m sad he’s sad. It’s tearing me up these last few weeks that it has not been the same. OK, I will do that.
AC: Gosh. And a sister. This is a really weird/uncomfortable thing to say but I don’t know if she’s here or if she was a twin pinched out or lost in pregnancy.
Me: Oh wow. His mom took with twins and we pinched one of them off. Yikes.
AC: OK. The other was a filly and she’s around with him, happy and carefree. Its very much a nice feeling.
Me: Oh
AC: I see there being two passed horses with him, one this twin and other other an older mare, a mother figure but not his mother. He’s fully aware of them both around and kinda amazed that these humans can’t see them . Okay, I think there might be a list of demands about to happen, like a pop star’s hotel rider. He wants to play, he wants a play mate his age.
Me: Oh I want that for him so bad. He loves to play and only has older ones that do not want to really play.
AC: He wants to just chill out with you, hang around like friends. I see it as when you’re on him he would like some of the time to pootle around, have his say in where to go – he wants to show you some things, like objects or places. That’s not to say that’s the only thing he wants to do with you but the impression overall is less of the agenda, more of just spending time together bonding. There may be eating straw involved in this 🙄 (I dunno, that’s just what I’m getting!) There’s a girl? As in a child? He likes her.
Me: OK lol I enjoy the piddle bonding too. In fact prefer it. I just get wrapped up in trying to accomplish.
AC: Can you do fun things with him? Like hide the carrot?
Me: There are a few girls that love him. How little? More about her? OK, lol, hide the carrot.
AC: Blonde. I’m a bit rubbish with ages but maybe 7-8 ish? She’s ridden him, or at least sat on him. Oh! There a bit of an oops there, like that wasn’t something you were supposed to know about!
Me: OK the only one that’s sat on him is 3 and she is blonde. Ohhhhhhh well, I suppose that is a possibility too. With the older blonde one.
AC: Lol. Her, the older one. He likes her.
Me: Tel him it’s OK. I would have done the same at her age and in fact did.
AC: Lol. He could, if you allowed it, be a really special relationship with her. The little one is cute too but wriggly . He’s like you to gauge his mood when you go to ride him, then do something that fits. Sometimes that’s high energy, sometimes that’s a plod hack. He’d like a tyre or some tyres to play with, they look like fun.
Me: OK. Like a car tire?
AC: Any questions you have for him? Yes, a car tyre.
Me: Ok lol. What does he want to do more of? What happened with the trailer? Please don’t chase Apache! …or the dogs. Play with Petunia and Chance! Does he like the group trail rides?
AC: More fun. Variety. His back legs slipped – particularly that one we talked about earlier. He showed me him turning around and walking away from the trailer. Not running but in a no thanks mood.
Me: How come? Because of the slipping?
AC: Did he travel with an Appaloosa? (Or however that’s spelled!) Trailer is too small for him, so he says. Width ways (but height too.)
Me: Not travel, lives with one. I have worried about the trailer being too small. I can’t fix that over night.
AC: I’m definitely getting a kind of that’s how he feels about it but not the truth as we humans would see it – we would see it as he’s feeling a bit claustrophobic. He’s always in the left side of the trailer when he shows me. View from behind.
Me: I understand that. I get claustrophobic too. But it’s a really nice safe trailer.
AC: He doesn’t understand the trailer. Small space, loud noises, vibration, balance, get out somewhere different. I’m still seeing this appy in with him. Maybe one to try?
Me: Does he not enjoy when we go places? When he’s out of the trailer? OK. So appy in the trailer? He want to try that? Does he say why?
AC: Yes he enjoys it but there’s a feeling of overwhelm, like he’s just had to deal with the trailer now all the new sensory explosions of a new place. I’m reminded of adults with autism, lots of quite intense sensory stimulus at once is hard for him to deal with. It’s exhausting for him. The trail rides are fun, but the sensory experience is exhausting.
Me: Which hind leg? How can I help him with the sensory overload? Also. Kites and fireworks won’t hurt him.
AC: Near hind. Can we get used to the trailer journeys and not end up in a new place – so load, go for a drive, end up at home. Needs longer to adjust to the trailer than you think. Or go somewhere, but go to the same place each time.
Me: OK that was my plan for the next step.
AC: Trusts the appy. I get the impression that is is Apache, the one you want him to stop chasing?
Me: Yes.
AC: One of the mares he was talking about earlier names begins with an E. He wants you to tell him yourself about not chasing Apache etc and to tell you the others don’t always want to play. (I do not know the mare.)
Me: I know they don’t want to play lol and I do tell him! tell him myself, funny guy.
AC: Yes, sense of humour for sure. Kites and fireworks same sensory problem – overwhelm. Your heart rate goes up which shows him you’re worried about them. (I was not by him during the kite incident, but I was in sight.) He not gonna agree to stop playing with the dogs
Me: Gosh I love this horse. He knows that right? He is a gift to me. Means the world to me.
AC: He knows ☺️
Then the conversation ended because it was in the middle of the night for her.
Interesting, no? I do not know how she could have come up with some of those things.
A day or so later I had my paid phone conversation. I wanted to do two to see if they would say the same things. This lady was older and kinda hard to understand. I did not write this conversation down and I do not remember all of it (because she thought I had a pet parrot, nothing against that…I just do not have one), but here is the gist…
His vertebrae are out in his croup and his right hind is sore. She said nothing about his gut until I asked specifically about his intestines. To which she responded, why yes, there is a spot there that is painful. He thinks the idea of dressage is silly, does not see the point, and prefers trail riding in western tack. I am a good rider and he had no complaints (He does not know any different, so we will take it!). I have good, soft, steady hands. My right stirrup is slightly longer than my left and I drop my inside shoulder going counter clockwise (which, when I think about it…might be true). He likes me and my pockets full of treats. He thinks his mom is a *cough,* or er acts like a, uhh, female dog. He stopped talking because he started eating. (For this conversation I was sitting on the porch watching him in the pasture. He was grazing the whole time.)
Marbles. Yes, those marbles. Have I lost them? It might be entirely possible, but I might just be a believer now.
Go ahead and judge me. It is quite alright.
Sometimes I surprise myself.
I did a thing. Not only did I do that thing, but I did that thing twice..in two days. It was only right to make it come closer to a valid experiment. You know, science and all that because I am, uh, a scientist. But it was more than that. I was terribly curious. And have always wanted to do this. Ever since I was little and watched Animal Planet all the time. I was that kid. I never thought I would actually do it though.
What was it you ask?
I don’t really even want to tell you, but I am going to. I can’t not! Lovely grammar I know. I have not told anyone, so everyone is going to find out at the same time.
Have I built it up enough? Shall I do more?
No? OK.
Well, I was speaking with Anne from over at HorseAddict about Lito and this phase he is going through.
She mentioned using an animal communicator as she has used one in the past with her horse.
I thought to myself, “Heck. Why not.” And by thought to myself, I did not really…I just contacted a couple after doing a little bit of research.
Now, I do not really know what all this is about and I did it mostly because I was curious what would happen. I have read several reports of people who wholeheartedly believe in this stuff and swear up and down that it makes a difference. I even know a person who has done it before and I think was on the news or one of those Animal Planet shows. I do not think she believed it though.
I will present the conversations and let you be the judge. I will say I am intrigued, to say the least.
Do I believe it? I am not quite sure. Is it a bit out there past hippie dippie? Sure. But I have some hippie dippie in me, so, you know.
But I want to know something first. Have any of you used an animal communicator before? Or anything like that? Do you believe in ghosts? Seen an angel? Even a Ouija board. Those always creeped me out as a kid. Heck, even now!
So. Share your story! Check back later this week to read mine!
Want to know more about me? This is for you, everyone new and old to the happenings over here at AHAmoments. I have been asked a few questions over time and thought it would be a good idea for another ‘about me’ installment. You can get to know me a little better. Maybe you have zero care to know more and hey, that is cool too.
Honestly, this is a hard thing for me to do. I do not really fancy talking about myself. I much prefer to talk about other things. Like horses and music.
Odd that I have a blog, right? I know.
Anyway. I have seen a couple of people do a ’30 Facts About Me You Didn’t Know’ post, so it seemed like a sign. I am hopping on the band wagon, or something like that. To read through theirs, click here and here. I may or may not have gotten some inspiration from them, so thanks to them!
I have a B.S. and an M.S. in Geology from two different schools. I took a year off in between and wish I had taken more time. During that time off, I worked at a kitchen supply store that offered cooking classes. I helped with the classes and it was pretty fun. I learned some things and got a discount. I should have purchased more things.
I rode most every day at least once when I was in college. Man, how I miss that. Tell me again why I wanted to leave and go to work? Oh, right. I had to pay for my habit.
I have never lived outside of the state of Texas and have only lived in two cities.
In high school, I was voted biggest fan of Texas. Which is actually really cool to me because I am and I did not know that many people knew me that well. I am a small, close knit friend group kind of gal and was more focused on riding horses and getting out of there than anything else. I liked to fly under the radar.
My favorite subjects were the ones I had the best and most passionate teachers. I liked Texas and American History because, well, Texas. But also because those two were my BEST teachers. There is not really a subject that does not come up because I had at least one amazing teacher in every subject. I loved all of my art classes and even entered in some art contests when I was in middle school. I really loved taking photography and I wish I had taken some photography classes in college.
I found writing difficult when I was in school because I felt like a square peg in a round hole world. Which really defines the majority of my growing up. I also can’t spell very well and transpose letters all the time. It is interesting to me now that I have a blog and enjoy the writing. When I get to typing, I find that it flows pretty easily here. I get to be myself and I like sharing my stories with you. Even the hard stuff. Stay square, kids, or round, whatever shape you may be.
I played soccer growing up and for a couple years in high school. Defense, if you want to know. I stopped playing because it took too much time away from my horses. That is how I got into doing 4H. My mother said I could not be anti social and spend all my time at the farm. I am still friends with someone I met in 4H. We actually lived together our freshman year of college. In hindsight, that might not have been the best idea either of us had, but we are still friends. Water under the bridge.
I sometimes dream about being a radio DJ or doing something in the music business so I can share what I am listening to with anyone who wants to listen and to be surrounded by it. Or to be a musician or singer. Like yesterday and today. I have had a crazy awesome mix of artists and songs playing. Usually, it helps keep me focused on my work. Today however, it is so good that the music is all I can think about and it just keeps coming! I almost can not function it is that good. Music is life, man.
I am starting to teach myself how to play the guitar on a guitar my grandfather gave my mother. It is something I have always wanted to do. I also want to learn to play the piano. Really all the instruments, but we will start here.
I am as passionate about food as I am music. I love to plan my meals. Make them an experience. The funny thing is that I used to be REALLY REALLY REALLY picky, but I still loved to cook things I did not like. I got tired of missing out and now I eat most things. Except sushi. I am out on that. And foods with strange textures.
I want to travel the world for food and booze, music, and horses. I thought about studying abroad when I was in college, but I did not want to study while I was there. I just wanted to experience. I am going to France this summer and can not wait to eat good food and drink good wine, listen to great music, and ride all the horses. I want all of my future travel will be centered around riding.
Tequila is my drink of choice.
I also think I need to have one of those outfits to ride my dun fancy dancer.
I have zero tattoos and only have my ears pierced. I did not get my ears pierced until I was in college. Now, I rarely am without earrings. They are my favorite accessory.
My hair is curly and I never know how it is going to look from day to day. I just roll with what I get. When I was little, my mom’s cousin said, “man, her hair is just a party.” Rock on, man. There is a lot of music playing in my head on a day to day basis, so I am a party.
I have a very strange obsession with ‘reality’ TV and Hallmark movies. Strange I know. I do not understand myself.
I also have a strange fascination with mens 70’s fashion.
I read terrible romance novels. I love them. Shhh. I even have a few on audio book so I can listen while I drive.
I like to be creative and do crafts. Paint (especially pottery). Decorate. Popsicle sticks and Elmers. You name it.
I love to fish. I could fish all day and not catch a thing I love it that much.
I have two older sisters and a lot of cousins. We are all very close.
I have been horse crazy since before I can remember. Horses make up the majority of my thoughts. I remember most every horse I come across. I do not have that talent of remembering when it comes to people.
I do not mind eating out alone and do it quite often, but I prefer to have some company.
I do not like to go shopping. It is just really not my thing. Especially with people who randomly walk around without a system. Hello, there needs to be a system! I don’t really even like grocery shopping. It takes me too long, I always have to ask where something is, and there is always a long check out. Every. Time. Without fail. No matter how hard I try.
I have a very low attachment to my purse. I leave it places too often. This is not good.
When the weather is nice, I sleep with my windows open so I can wake to the sound of the birds. I have been doing that since I was little.
People tell me often that they think I am older than I am. I am OK with that.
I ran into a car door once when I was a spastic kid and split my eyebrow open. I cried when I thought I was going to have to get stitches. Luckily, I did not need them.
I got heat stroke once at the farm. I do not remember how old I was, but I remember everything else. It was awful. Drink water kids and stay in the shade.
I wake up early. All the time. And have for a long time. No matter what time I go to bed, the latest I generally sleep is 7 AM. Usually I am up earlier than that.
I blush at the drop of a hat. All the time. Turn the attention on me, I blush. Say something that is inappropriate in mixed company, I blush. Anything. It can be embarrassing. Part of my overly expressive face. I do not have to say what I am thinking or feeling, you can generally read it on my face.
Tell me, dear readers, something about you! Let us get to know each other better and share our stories. Or want to know more about me? Ask me! I always thought of myself as an open book, but I read somewhere that nobody really is, so let us turn the pages.
Isn’t that what seamen say? Red in the morning sailors take warning, red at night sailor’s delight to predict the weather and the sailing conditions. I was taught that by my fisherman father.
Funny side note…I googled red at night to see what would pop up. You know, like the story behind the saying or a photo or a meme. Something like that. Turns out there is a song called ‘Red At Night’ by a new to me band, The Gaslight Anthem. Go figure! Have a listen. I just can not make this stuff up. Too perfect.
“Seems a blessing’s so hard to see sometimes
Got a little clearer ’bout dusk last night
Ain’t nobody got a blessing like mine
Ain’t nobody got a blessing like mine
It’s a red sky night and I’m doin’ all right
Red sky night and I’m doin’ just fine”
Interesting, right?!
Anyway. Last night’s sunset…well, it was red. Was it a sailor’s delight? I do not know, probably, but it was my delight!
I made a quick (or not so quick if you count my travel time…it took my twice as long as normal to get there due to a freeway closure from a bad wreck…but who is counting their time anyway?) trip out to the farm after work yesterday to check on everyone and to get the horses penned up for the farrier. He is coming out to pull Lito’s shoes to save them for next year’s trip. He got expensive billy goat climbing shoes. Can not have him loosing one in the mud or ripping someone open if he kicks.
I could not stay very long unfortunately due to the aforementioned travel time and the earlier setting sun. I had just enough time to feed, love on everyone, and take Darcy for a quick walk to the pond to let her run. And that is all it takes to put a smile on my face. That and no wreck on the freeway coming home! My rear view mirror was red on the way home before it went dark. A good sign. A good reminder. A God wink.
Today. Today will be a good day. Yesterday was a good day. Tomorrow will be a good day too.
For my lack of red sunset photo, I offer you this…It is a good day for her too.
AHAmoments 