Horsey Husbands ??? !!!!!

I am on a forum where people discuss stuff, sell stuff, encourage each other....basically just a bunch of friends from all over talk everyday......(I know I should be working...LOL). But over the weekend one of the members posted "Horsey Husbands???" It really got me thinking how lucky I am....I mean I am really lucky. I have several friends who's husbands can't stand the horses.....literally wish they were gone.....I have several friends who really don't care one way or the other.....but when you have a man/spouse/significant other, who shares your passion, it is just the best feeling in the world. So I am just sharing my post from the board.....

Bear and I married 10 years ago, after very ugly divorces with us both. Bear was a huge hunter and either hunted or fished every weekend. Now as a girl, I grew up with my dad breaking/training horses, and both my cousins were Racking Horse show-ers....I grew up and quit riding, got married and had kids. With Bear being gone alot hunting, I decided I needed a hobby, so he bought me a horse for Christmas. Now Bear has been riding a good part of his life, he and his wife lived in Opp, Alabama, and her cousin had a cattle farm, so he rode with them working cattle alot. I started going on trail rides with friends, and after a while he would come hang out at the barn I boarded at and just watch everyone, work on fences, etc (Bear is very handy). He also bought a horse and started riding with me instead of fishing. About 5 years ago, Bear lost his job, now he did not get fired, his job just re-located to Colorado Springs, and since we had 2 girls in high school, we could not move. He brooded and brooded about what he was going to do, and one day he said to me "Jamie, I am going to farrier school !" I almost died. I knew he loved the horses, but I just could not imagine. So off he went for 16 weeks - living part time in Georgia. I, at that time, was running a boarding barn, so my time went by quickly. I have never in my life been more proud of someone. He took it so seriously and actually graduated there with high points and some really good referral letters from the instructors.
Well here we are now and I never imagined that I would have a very nice LQ trailer, I would have a house where I could keep my horses and not have to board and we would go on week long trail camping trips. He loves the horses as much as I do. Now I give him grief and he gives it to me about getting more horses, and really has kept me grounded, when I could have gone way overboard.
Bear hunted twice this year, which is just incredible to me, knowing how much he loves to hunt, but he told me not too long ago when we were talking about it. He still loves to hunt, but loves being with me on the trail with our boys....(horses). I have several friends who do not have horsey husbands, and I am just so proud that I do.
Oh man....just being able to put it into words makes me love him even more....tell him if you see him....LOL

Thanks guys for letting me share too.
Hugs J.

Monday after the Snow......

Oh why - oh why could it have not waited until Monday to snow? It was gorgeous though. Thought we might get to ride the horses in the snow, but it was just tooooo darn cold. OK I know some of you might be in the 30 belows, but in the south we just don't see it. So when it is 30 degrees here....it is darn cold....burrrrrr !!!!

We had a BIG tack sale scheduled for Saturday with our riding club, and thought it might be cancelled, but NO....we had it anyway - I am sure more people would have come, but we did sell 200 hamburgers...soooooo.

I bought a Tucker breastcollar (for my horse - LOL) that matches my saddle. A new purple saddle pad, a new winter blanket for Jag (and he was soooo happy when I got home and put it on him for the 18 degree night Sat night), a handmade saddle stand that Bear is going to stain for me for the living room (yes, I have a saddle stand and saddle in my living room, actually two), some bits for making stuff with horseshoes and Bear got a new Tucker saddle.....it is much nicer than mine....boohoo !!

When we got home there was much more snow than when we left.....it was sooooo pretty and was still there Sunday morning. It actually was still in the bed of my truck this morning. But we are supposed to get back up to 50 today (heat wave....), so I am sure it will all be gone when I get home from work. Although I will be happy since I spend 45 minutes hauling hot water to the horse troughs this morning trying to melt the 2 inch thick ice......

We are going to the Alabama Horse Council Horse Fair this weekend so should be fun.

www.alabamahorsecouncil.org I have several friends competing in the Ultimate Trail Challenge. Wish I had the balls to do it......(I really do not wish I had balls....LOL)

Also bringing Chick home the next weekend, so hope to have more pictures of her.....I can't wait to get her home and start playing with her more. Also bringing home another baby for her to play with - I am not purchasing her, just borrowing....so says Bear.....LOL

Here is a picture of the snow, horses and Sugar (the boxer).....

TTFN - Hugs and Kisses til next time. J

Happy New Year

Happy 2008 everyone !!!!

Hope you all had a great holiday....

Had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.

Had a client/friend Christmas party at Sunnybrook Farms which is owned and ran by some friends of ours - they had a larger place to hold it....then enjoyed Christmas with family.

Had my entire family over and my little cousin got to ride Jag for a little bit - even in the misty rain. Bear's dad made is a grandfather clock and when I say made - I mean made - by hand - every last bit of it except for the inside workings. Here is a picture: It is absolutely gorgeous.....

It even has a "D" carved in the bottom !!!

We left on December 26th and went to Circle E Guest Ranch in Winchester, Tennesse

http://www.circleeguestranch.com/ and had a great time - we stayed until January 1st. Rode for 5 days. Went to Shelbyville and shopped at Bedford Tack and the Winner's Circle Tack Shop. I got a new pair of chaps and I am soooooooo in love with.

Here is a picture of Jag and me on the trail (day before I bought my chaps)

Cutie - patootie !!!! (the horse !!)

Had great great fun with great great friends......

Now I am home - back to work.....back to work....back to work.....blahhhhhhhh !!

Bear has gone hunting until Sunday and I am stuck to work on the books for the farrier business - no fun for me.....boo-hoo !!!! I am sooooo deprived.....(hint...just got back from a 6 day riding trip - really deprived - huh?)

Until next time.....happy trails.....

Love and Kisses

J

Sad weekend !!!

Well last Thursday I spent the night with my mom in the hospital - she had a minor surgery, but had to spend the night....it was not bad - got plenty of sleep. But on my way to work, I got a call that Bear's grandfather passed away. Oh my - I had to call Bear and tell him....that was so hard to do. Bear was pretty close to his grandfather and it just broke my heart. Bear was actually closer to his grandmother who passed away in 1987, but I believe got closer to Papa George after that. He was crazy about his grandparents - both of them. He spent his summers there in Childersburg, hunting birds, fishing and just being a spoiled grandson.
George Limbaugh was a very important person.....he was the Executive Director for the Chamber of Commerce in Childersburg, was very high up on the Historical Society, was instrumental on the preservation of the Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge restoration. So needless to say there were lots and lots of people at the funeral. They had it in Childersburg at the 1st Methodist Church of Childersburg on Sunday at 1:00. 4 of the grandchildren spoke about Papa George and then his son-in-law Dale Lloyd (his daughter's husband - Bear's Aunt Lynn) gave a great speech about Papa loving his church, country, city and family. It was heart wrenching, but very very good. We laughed and cried. He was put to rest beside Bear's grandmother Allean. Bear is not a person that shows his emotions. Both the girls were just heartbroken to see him shed a tear. He was able to put a single rose on his grandmother's grave after the funeral services. He has been so quiet for about 4 days now. I know he misses them both terribly. This happens as we get older, we start loosing family. My grandfather Joe Narro, died about 5 years ago, he was like my father and I do not go a day without thinking of him. I know that Bear will be the same way. Lots of our friends called to say how sorry they were. That meant a lot to Bear. Our riding club sent a plant, and that was very very sweet and also meant a lot to Bear.
Papa George -you will be missed terribly......you did great things for your church, city, country, and most of all family and they will all miss you.....even me.