Cold!!!!!!

Now it really does feel like winter here! We went from 80 degrees last week to snow in the upper hills last night! I will be focusing a lot on my training with Star for Day Of the Horse, so stay tuned if you want...since this is my first show, I am focusing on having a good time and I want Star to enjoy it too. It's not like it's a national competition or anything, just an exhibition but still, it's a big deal to me. I will post photos as soon as I have someone available to take them for me; today I cantered Star under saddle for the first time and was it ever a powerful feeling! She's such a great mare and I am very proud of myself for what I've done with her so far, since I've had her since she was 4 months old!

INVITATION!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!!!!! If you look at my earlier posts, you'll see my two visits to the Day Of the Horse Festival. This occurs the last Sunday of May, and the riders exhibit their horses and skills, by invitation only. I GOT AN INVITATION!!!!! I am going to ride Star, my Percheron mare, in the exhibition! Between now and then will be training, practice, and more practice! Star is the only horse I will have raised, trained and shown. I am so excited! Watch this space!

Triana '07!

New year, new decade for me (turned 50 on December 13), new look! I found a fantastic hairdresser here who made me happy with my hair for the first time in my life! So this is me, on New Year's Eve.

These little girls had never seen a real gingerbread house. They were very shy about starting, wanting to do the "right thing." I showed them how to put the icing on the back of the candies then stick the candy on the house. Then all hell broke loose, as you will see in the next photo.


Icing flying, sticky fingers, candy alternately being stuck on the house and in little mouths, full enthusiasm, squeals of delight, giggles and total cooperation ensue.


The masterpiece is finished! A door on one side, windows on the other. The little 5 year old wanted the house to have a Christmas tree inside, and if you look through the window you will see the Christmas tree of the imaginary family. Success!

Altar for Frieda

Frieda was an amazing lady...I saw the movie and was captivated by her story. Her altar was beautiful.

Day Of the Dead

This is the altar for Benito Juarez; each step of the altar has a meaning; moving from bottom to top, we can see the first step of the Saints and Angels, then is the level for the children...candy skulls are placed to honor them. Next level is foods to protect the soul, including salt. The next is the things the deceased liked in life, their favorite foods and items. The next step is food for the afterlife should the soul be visiting, and the top is the image of the deceased. It is very lovely.

Oh My God It's 2007

It's already January 2nd, just after midnight! No more am I complaining about it being too hot. I am seriously thinking of being a Cool Bird this year, seeking somewhere cooler to be for July and August!

Never mind that. My grandest achievements for 2006 were being able to support myself writing, putting my horses in a fabulous ranch for boarding, beginning training with my Belgian gelding, turning 50 and celebrating in Disneyland, celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve (all three) and gearing up for a new year.

2006 left me with confidence and a great makeover, which I did on New Year's Eve. Photos speak better than words, so I will begin this year with photos of the holidays. Christmas Eve was terrific! I spent it at my Mexican family's house and I made gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread house with my little nieces. Their ages are 12, 7, 5 and 4. Perfect for holiday magic! I told them the story of gingerbread and they were keen to take turns helping me in the kitchen. We spent two days making these things, and between playing and yakking we burned about half of the cookies but the gingerbread house came out just fine.