Thankful

I was just thinking today, when it's 9 degrees outside, just how grateful and thankful I am for the simple little things in life that some of us take for granted.  I, for one, have learned the hard way lately, never take anything for granted, ever.

First on my list is my health.  Despite all of my shortcomings, and there are many, I seem to be in pretty good health.  I do have alopecia, complete female baldness, but honestly, it's nothing compared to what it could be.  I am blessed by great strength and a good strong back.  Comes in very handy around the farm with all my chores.  I certainly do not have a man around to help me lift, dump, carry, pull, dig, and many other other things that need done around here, so guess what folks, just simple sweat equity will do.

Next of course is love.  Without love and support can we really function properly?  I remember when my mom was still around in our old Victorian home in Arlington, MA, that she even gave love to her gardenias and begonias, and african violets, and you name it.  She would spray them with a water spritzer bottle and talk to them every morning and really, I thought she was going off the deep end, but honestly wow, her flowers were the talk of the neighborhood and our relatives.  I am so grateful to have this incredible love and support in my life, thank you, BMSC.

Then we have electricity.  Without this wonderful little invention, my horses would have frozen water troughs right now, and that would be very, very bad.  I would not have the ability to communicate to all you wonderful people out there that have taken the time and effort to sit down and read this.  I certainly would not have a laptop.  Just saying, electricity, what a wonderful thing we have in this.

And of course, heat.  On a morning like today, I am so thankful for Arricks Propane.  They are very nice people and at a very reasonable cost.  Just as a side note, I will never use Blue Flame even if they were the only choice around town.  I would have to buy one of those great big furnace things that look like oversized dog houses and fill them daily with our naturally grown trees.  Really, there isn't anything nice I can say about them.

Clean water.  Yes that's another one of our resources that honestly people around here just don't think about how precious this is.  I would spend my Summers in Greece with my giagia and my family.  You want to talk about a culture shock for a very spoiled little daddy's girl, wow!  The water there does not run on a daily basis, we would get it every other day from a water pipe in our street.  We would grab all of our buckets, and pots, and fill our deposito, which was this great big galvanized square tank on our flat roofs, that would hold our water supply for the next couple of days.  We would also don our bathing suits and my brother and I would take showers in the street as the water was running.  So folks, water is a very precious commodity that we Americans need to protect and be thankful for.

God.  Without Him do we even exist?  Do my precious mules, and magestic horses, and weiner dogs, and blue heelers, and kitties, and anything else exist without Him?  I mean folks, nothing, would exist.  I was even a Science major and I learned all about the Big Bang Theory, Natural Selection, and all about Lucy, our so-called long lost neanderthal relative.  I don't buy into those theories any longer.  Too vast, too intelligent,  too many species and different genetic make-ups and too beautiful, to all be by accident and genetic mistakes.  I am very grateful that I know who my Creator and Savior is.  Do you?

Friends.  Where would we all be without our true, down deep friends.  I know I would be lost.  Thank you and I am so grateful to the Bells for all their love and support.  Also to my seester!!  Plus the handfuls of others out there, Jimmie, Terri, and more.  I love you all.

I have no idea where this came from other than my heart.  So I hope you all enjoyed it.  I did.

Back in the Saddle

Hey everyone,

I rode two of my mares today and let me tell you, it felt great! Those of you in Southern Ohio, know how cold, wintry and miserable it has been lately. I, even though have an indoor arena, just couldn't even brave it! I know, I've become a wimp. Being from New England, I should be used to this winter stuff, well, folks, it's been six years now and I think I'm out of practice.

Riding Zetty my just now turned 3 year old, is always fun. Teaching her to slow down and collect her canter is great. I experimented with a different bit, and I think it really helped her. She's coming along real nice.

Coco, my buckskin mare, she's just amazing. She's got to be one of my favorite rides. She's so talented and strong but yet sensitive in her mouth and cues, it's super fun. I can't say enough about her. Not only is she beautiful, but she can float and move with such fluidity. I can't wait to have Morgan Goolsby show her again this Summer and come home with more blue ribbons. What a team they are.

I know, I know, what about the mules? Well today they were enjoying their round bales and getting muddy rolling in the melting snow and mud. Their day is tomorrow. I think for sure Ginger, my super talented 2 1/2 year old gaited mule, and maybe Goose, my 4 year old powerhouse.

Well folks, I'll let you know how the mules do. But until then, enjoy your four-legged friends, because they are the only ones who will always be your true friends.

I'm Back on Blogging

I wanted to say to myself, "Welcome Back, Dora". It's been a long while since I have posted something on my blog. I have been very neglectful indeed. However, this has now all changed thanks to my being at home now 'til my new pharmacy adventure begins somewhere. But for the meantime, I will do what I want to do, and not as I must!

This is what I want to do: talk about mules, my mules, my friends mules, anything muley I can think about. Training techniques, product reviews, you name it. I'm here, with time, and I'm here to share my experiences.

Anyways, let's begin, shall we?

There has been many developments at DiaMond D Mule Farm. We hosted a very successful new NASMA "A" Show, at Roberts Arena, in Wilmington, OH last June. We plan on holding our 2nd annual Ohio Open Mule & Donkey Classic on June 18th & 19th, 2011 at Roberts Arena, in Wilmington, OH. Go to www.diamonddmules.com for show bill, class entry form, and sponsorship info.

On a sooner note, February 5th you will be able to come and compete at Gymkhana Fun Day events at DiaMond D. Again, hate to be redundant but, go to www.diamonddmules.com for a show bill for that day. It's $25 per rider/horse combo to ride all day. There will be refreshments and food for a small donation.

Well, folks that's it for today. We'll see you soon! I guarantee it!