....My Favorite Part !

At five to ten this morning, I honked good-bye to a very dear friend as she got on the bus for home. Becca has become a great source of joy in my life, and I am honored to be a small part of it. She is kinda my pseudo-niece, since I have known her since she was a baby, and her mom is every bit as special to me as well, and it has been such great fun to have had her working with me for the last two summer's, not to mention incredibly helpful....in so many ways. You see, not only is she a young, gifted horsewoman, truly talented photographer ( most summer pics I have were hers), very self motivated and tireless worker, but she possesses a fine gift for hearing. Now I don't mean in the normal sense of the word, but in the sense that she has an ability to listen and absorb what is being said. She can then reflect back some very startling truths and perceptions, that apply to life, horses and relationships of all kinds. How this talent for being empathic, thoughtful, caring, wise beyond her years and bright as hell will unfold and develop will be very special I am sure.
So she came up to visit her Merritt home for a few days with my brother, Chris as he came with his Semi to pick up another load of good Interior hay. In December, Chris (in true Big Brother form:) made a special delivery for me. -25 and an impatient horse wrecked havoc on my unassuming wheelbarrow, which had been minding its own business in the doorway, and got shattered into a million small, green plastic splinters. As you can see in the picture, overloaded he wasn't! I can only imagine what the other truckers said about his 'payload', but it's safe to say he would do about anything for his sister! Course I DID help load 31 odd tons of alfalfa in exchange, so maybe he has this all figured out better then I think......hmmmmmm.

So Becca is one of those people who 'get' why this place is so very darn cool....its the Rocks! And the clay banks and the rocks and the sage and the rocks and the river and the rocks.........We had a pathetic covering of snow while she was here...Coast snow, truth be known....:(, but we made the best of it, and got some good riding in. Becca took Ivy for a spin (sorry Lauren.....to bad you couldn't make it the winter Cowgirl Reunion.....:) and got to experience some foot-stompin' hair tossin' cussin' Ivy-isms.....hahahaha! Helped ride a couple training horses, catch up my training logs, solve the worlds problems, and of course get heaps of attention from her best face lickin' buddy, Griffy. We finally got over to check out this crazy deserted homestead on the other side of the river, and I decided that it was the most amazing piece of property ever....now how to get it out of the Reserve? The view from the top of the plateau was crazy, seeing the Swimming Hole from a new perspective with the entire valley stretching behind it and slip sliding on the sneaky clay, pushing/dragging/carrying Griffin across the trestle,and then hopping up, down and on Cita's Back for her third time with a human on her back, all made for a thoroughly well rounded day.......

The dogs are snoring and chasing Dream Rabbits, worn out, but happy from Another grand adventure.......
Exploring new trails....My favorite part!
Having fun with good buddies......My Favorite part!
Riding horses in snow storms.....My favorite part!
Hard/soft Tacos......My favorite part!
no, wait....
Tai peanut noodles with Prawns.....my favorite part!
Long trotting horses out for an hour...........my favorite part!
Looking at dream properties...my favorite part!

Being blessed with the company of great friends, great animals, loving family an amazing job and home?.........DEFINITELY my favorite part.........:)

Thanks for the Great Visit Bucka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!