Summer Fun

Lyssa riding her lesson horse Margie

Day hike at Mirabeau Park

Smile at the children

Love this sentiment...I'll try harder.

Sweet daughter o' mine

Kiara learning the piano. (there's supposed to be a video here...can't figure out how to load it   arrhg!)

Meet Cookie.  Our new horse.  We've had her 2 weeks now.  She is a chestnut appaloosa, 5 years old, green broke, and loves the kids.  She is smart, but will need some time to be ready to ride.  She bucked the first time I tried to ride her.  Her coat is getting more sleek and shiny since these photos.  I can't wait to see how she cleans up after she sheds all her winter coat off.  I have been working her nearly every day, except this week I haven't felt very well so have only been to the barn twice.  Ugg cough, ouch lungs, pound head...  Today the kids want to go see her so I will take them out to the barn and while I do the mucking they can pet and dote on her.  Then I need to spend an hour working her (I'll take the kids home then come back--5 min a way).  I don't think my saddle fits her very well so I am on the lookout for a better one, but meanwhile I will try and ride today if we get to a good place in her work. 

The First Day of School 2012

Here they all are.  So excited for the first day of school.  Lyssa in her last year as an elementary kid in 5th grade, and Kiara in her first day of Kindergarten, and Jace a big kid in 3rd grade.  Everyone is so ready to get moving on again. (Especially me!)  Have a great year kids! Love ya.

Just in time for Fall

Please check out this sew-a-long just in time for Fall. http://www.whimsandfancies.com/category/halloween-paper-pieced-2012/

On Becoming A Runner...

Early this Spring I was feeling blah pretty bad.  Clothes weren't fitting, energy was ho hum, and I was grumpy.  Something had to be done.  So I got back on the running wagon.  I started about 3 years ago getting fit and trying to run in 5k fun runs.  I had some good experiences with those events and it hooked me.  Last Summer I didn't end up doing much running because of some numbness in my foot that turned out to be ill-fitting shoes.  But I wanted to wait until the tingling went completely away before doing any more running, and that took the whole Summer. So no real training that year.  Then this year I wanted to race again and I wanted a real challenge.  I knew I could run 3 miles, but could I run 6 or 10 or more?  My fears were unfounded as I have been following a half-marathon training schedule for beginners.  It has worked!  When I complete the weekly runs I do improve, and my body responds readily.  I have given myself twice as long to complete the training schedule as they gave me, knowing that life would get in the way.  And it has.  Also I wanted to see how my body would respond to the huge amounts of running that I would be doing with out mentally stressing out if I missed a few days here and there.   So I took it easy and worked for two weeks on each level of running before pushing further.  My latest long run was 6.5 miles.  And I couldn't believe how easy it felt!  I can run for 30 or more minutes without feeling like I have to stop for a breather.  I did walk a bit on my 6.5 miler, but that's to be expected and normal--probably a half-mile total.  I am pleased and proud of my progress.  I am ready for a 10 K race at any point now, and the next goal will be a half-marathon. The endorphins are such a high kick.  At the beginning of this Spring I could not go 3 minutes without feeling winded.  Such a difference to my running stamina now.  My major goal was to compete in a half -marathon within 2 years from that time, and it had to be before I turn 40.  It seems that this goal is well within my grasp.  Not the Spokane race this year , but next year I will be in it.