How she's grown...

18 years ago I was basking in the glow (read:exhaustion) of new motherhood! My beautiful girl turns 18 today! Sometimes it's hard to believe that my 5lb 14oz bundle of awesomeness has grown into such a gorgeous young woman, since it seems like yesterday that she was born. As if I just blinked and she's all grown up...

She's working today but I've taken the day off. There's cupcakes to be baked! And much remembering for me, of the last eighteen years of growing together.

photo by awesome photographer Carol-Ann Loeppky

barnyard cuteness!!

Nicky has settled into her new barn~and so have we! I love to be there night after night, surrounded by these beautiful animals~curious and gentle~well, mostly, anyway! She's a bit of a loner, but I've made some new friends!


This is Amber. She is about 8 years old. Isn't she pretty?






The black horse is Pixel! She's a pony. I always thought a pony was a young horse. In fact a pony is a small horse-height wise. Ponies are always adorable!







What would a barn be without a barn cat ot two? Lena is peeking underneath a locker door, while her brothers Leroy (the ginger) and Leo have a snooze. They are curious but feral, and there are 4 younger kittens about 6 weeks old also. They will need to be caught soon and taken to the vet for spaying/neutering.

International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day ...

I didn't know this day existed until a few days ago. Tonight, October 15th, candles are being lit at 7 PM in remembrance of babies who have died before, during, or after their birth. Truthfully, I lit a candle for my Levi a couple of hours ago, I'll just light more at 7.
[Awesome pencil sketch of Levi by artist Heather Spears]

update...

We received our new rotation yesterday and I'm happy to be able to stay in my dept! I've had to go from part-time to full-time, but my position was just barely part-time anyway. We've lost 2 co-workers, one chose to move to another dept and one to another site. There may still be changes tho, as 'bumping' will start next week. Our area requires specialty training, so we should be safe, but ya never know! Fingers crossed!

Introducing....

'NICKY'

My daughter has a horse! She is a beautiful, 6 year old 'pintabian'. Isn't she beautiful? Right now she's enjoying several acres with about 2 dozen other horses. When we go out to get her for a ride, 4 or 5 males follow us and wait for her. They are all so sweet!

9/11

I remember the night before~there was a HUGE spider in my bedroom. I was unable to catch it (to return it outdoors) and decided to sleep on the couch. My daughter woke me up in the morning~yelling to me that her Dad had called and told her a plane had flown into a building in New York. We turned the TV on to see the horrific image of the second plane flying into the 2nd tower. Never in my life will I forget the sound of that plane or those images. My spider emergency didn't seem like such a big freaking deal anymore.

Wishing everyone a peaceful day of remembrance today...

Finally...

I picked up Poppy's ashes today. It's taken me this long to feel like I could go to the vet's and get them (she died at the beginning of November) They gave me a certificate for the cremation and a copy of 'Rainbow Bridge' which made me cry..

I have Gypsy's ashes too. Maybe one day we'll take them to the park and scatter them along the trail. Or not..