2008

Happy Holidays! The snow finally came to McCall just in time for Christmas. We have been enjoying some great skiing the past week. The barn is pretty quiet with a handful of lessons, a few horses in training and snow piling up.

The end of 2008 is here, and though the analysts say good riddance, I feel like it really has been a good year.

Exactly one year ago when we tragically lost Dennis. I didn’t have any faith or idea on what might be in store for the year to come. But as life would have it, we had a great year and I like to think Dennis is enjoying the view!

The year started with AMAZING skiing; some of the best ever with great conditions, company and terrain.

From there we traveled to Arizona for some WSH in the sun. While we were south, we sold 5 horses, learned to road bike and spent some quality pool time.

A large group of us got together in England for a celebration and tour in May that couldn’t be beat.

The summer was filled with great horses, friends, shows, clinics and runs. Josh and I got away for a few camping trips and Shilo got a new knee!

Fall 2008 included selling the last horse for sale in the barn, passing my Instructor Certification exam, seeing family from west coast to east while still spending some time reading by the fire and enjoying time at home.

So, now as 2009 looms in front of me, I am torn between apprehension and excitement. I would like more horses in training, full lesson schedules and clinics booked nation wide. Until that happens I will be enjoying the opportunities McCall and its surrounding areas has to offer and keeping my options open for adventures to come!

Great video

Just saw this great video and wanted to pass it on! Check out this partnership and luck! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJd-U8w_6bw.

December 1

ARGG! Mice! I can’t get away from them.I am sitting here in front of the computer, and Thomas just brought in one through the dog door. When I said Thomas’ name, he dropped it and now he is tearing the house apart trying to play with it. Meanwhile, I have opened up all the doors (so, now I am freezing!) and am trying not to watch the inevitable murder to come. The alternative of having the mouse free and alive in my house doesn’t sound great either. This is after having to empty all four of my mouse traps at the barn this morning! By the time I had them reset and was mucking, I had caught another one! What a mess! Anyway…

The “weekend” began with meeting my friends; Shawna, Ashley and Lindsay in Boise to check out some horses. I was impressed with the athletic ability of all the horses and got to meet some interesting, fun people; but we didn’t bring anything home. I got to teach a little while in Boise and spent some quality time in the Boise Co-op and Wine Shop! Always signs of a good day!

We had a great holiday and I hope you did too! Dinner was amazing; served in courses with everyone’s help and ideas. We started with duck-sage sushi rolls with a maple-bourbon sauce, and then went to mandarin, beet, fennel and shallot spinach salad; chunky squash soup served in squash shells with fresh bread followed by potato soufflé! The main course was duck breast over risotto with chili-chocolate crème brûlée to finish. Wow, what a dinner! We took the leftovers to share in a great forest service cabin the next night after a soak in one of my favorite hot springs.

We returned from the cabin in time to teach a little and enjoy some relaxed time with our guests. Sunday, we had friends up to try some horses. With the excuse of selling horses, we played around jumping around and testing our (and the horses) trick repertoire.

This week is starting out warm (MUDDY!) and foggy with a good chance of snow coming later this week! I am running some horses down to Boise for people to try on Thursday and will teach a few lessons while in the area. I have the two year old, Tryn here at the barn keeping me entertained. Young horses are so rewarding with the speed they learn!

I should run and help Thomas get that mouse out of here! Chiao~

November 25

The boys and I enjoyed another beautiful fall day here in McCall. Though it was cold out, the sun was shining and felt great. The two year old is getting more trusting and enjoying the attention of "barn" life, while her roomate, Marquis is starting to act like an adult! I had to venture to the neigbors sand ring since the horses were slipping on the pretty frozen turf in the field.

Just over a week ago I traveled to Plymouth, Massacusetts to take my USEA Instructor Certification for level III. I was super nervous since I do not work with anyone at the two star level often (and that is who I had to teach!) Once I spent a day watching the exam, I felt a little better. The exaiminers were not asking crazy questians of the canidants and the autmosphere was calm. The hosts did a wonderful job of getting appropriate and enthusiastic volunteers to work with and the facility was ideal. The weather barley held with cold winds and threatening clouds. I am still waiting for my final grade on the written exam. They did let me know before I left that I had taught well above the standard for level three and gave me such kind and educational advice I can only be grateful I went through the process.

Now that we are all home (Josh arrived last night!) we are excited about the Thanksgiving holiday coming along with a new set of horses, people and adventures! Our dear friends, Ashley and Lindsay Wagner are coming up from Utah to spend a few days riding, eating, soaking and general fun. I will meet them in Boise tomorrow morning to look at a group of horses. Some may be a project for one or all of us, some are for clients, and some we are looking at purely out of curiosity. The rest of our visit includes great food, and a trip south east of here to a cabin we reserved. We plan on spending the night in the wilderness there to hit several natural hot springs near the cabin!

I wish you the best Thanksgiving and let me know if you need anything in Boise tomorrow.
I will keep you posted on what we find!

November 22

I am off to Boise this cold November morning for a fun day of teaching and hopefully a ride or two (just to stay warm!) The weather is exactly as November should be; with some snow a few days ago and bright sun to follow. The landscape is always changing this time of year with white outs one day, then the heat of the sun making the grass, leaves and trees all shine the next.

Michelle is now a licensed driver (watch out) and will get herself to the barn today to work some.

The barn is all anew with the two Fresians, (who should probably come separately due to their attention on each other!) a seasoned event horse in limbo and Michelle's dynamite horse enjoying the easy season. I have quite a few to look at in the next week that may fill the barn until our southern migration; more to come on that subject!
I'm off for my canyon drive and reunion with horses and riders in Boise!

Perfect fall day

What a great day to be home! The sun shone brightly all day with temps in the 50's! I had a great day trying to get caught up after it seems like I have been gone forever! I missed the boys (Shilo, Tucker and Thomas) a ton! We spent some good quality time in the house trying to rid it of some of the dirt that collects if we are here or not and went to the doctor (got a flu shot and pneumonia shot!)

I am thrilled to have Marque and Tren back in the barn. I am looking forward to a good gallop on Marque tomorrow. I am always amazed when the Fresians come in; they are so sensible and pleasant, yet they find the canter so hard (or at least this one does.)



Michelle is taking her written test for her license tomorrow and I can't wait for her to be able to drive us all!

Leaving Vermont

I have just come out of the hunting camp my husbands family has used for generations in the back woods of Northern Vermont. It fills with up to four generations of the Davis clan, along with friends and neighbors several times a year. It has been 6 years since I had ventured off the paved roads here in the "Northeast Kingdom" and little has changed.
The "camp" is a medium size cabin with 2 wood stoves, propane and generator for the camp extras. The upstairs is a large room with beds and mounts lining the walls. The table seats up to 20 pretty easy, and it always seems to fill. Gossip and politics heat up the rooms every night along with stories of past hunts, childhood adventures and tall tales. Everyone is welcome in "the stream" therefor women, children, mighty hunters and vegetarians have been known to sit together.
The land where the camp is located has been managed by the matriarch of the family, Jack, for most of his life, and his father's before him. The woods are pristine in a world surrounded by less loved and preserved forests. This past weekend the table was split between 3 generations; some having been coming to Paul's Stream for more than 50 years!
I am leaving the Kingdom tonight with new memories and respect for the traditions of others. Josh will stay in and hunt another week with friends and family cherishing the time and land of his roots.