Love lasts...

This photo was originally taken in December of 2003. We turned it into an ornament to hang on the tree at Mark's parents' Tree Decorating party. Fun to unpack ornaments 8 years later and find it. Awwwwwwww...love lasts!!!!

Comments welcomed...

Mark, my loving partner in crime and blog author of rockinwalls.com has convinced me that I should allow comments on my blog.  I have to admit...I'm skeered.

I worry about spam.  I worry someone will say something inappropriate.  And most importantly, I worry someone will say something mean.  But, he assured me that I need not worry.  "You moderate all comments Tree...you can just delete the bad ones."  I love him.  He's so smart.

Sooooooo...comments are welcomed!  Comment away.  Or not.  It's all good.  I'll keep blogging about nonsensical stuff either way.  Hoping to hear from you!

Taking the new camera for a spin

Markie Clause got me a new camera for Christmas.  A Sony CyberShot HX9V.  Me likey!!

Santos Clause

This is Santos.  He is not mine.  I wish he was.  Isn't he just absolutely kissable?  He belongs to friends of ours.  

I tried to sneak him into the Grand Cherokee...it didn't work.  

It's about time...

you got home Ma.  Me hungry!

Centerfold

Billy, make love to the camera.  Perfect.

The rest of the story...

So, I promised you the funny story about our Christmas tree.  You could probably say it was the Christmas tree that almost wasn't.  First a little background.  Our home is a 200something year old farmhouse.  It's small.  I mean barely 8ft tall ceilings small.  So when a very dear friend 'gifted' us a gorgeous pre-lit artificial douglas fir tree we were bummed.  We wanted to put that tree in our living room SO BAD, but just knew it would not fit.  

It sat in storage for a few years...(poor tree).  This year we decided it was unfair to let it grow cobwebs when another family could be enjoying it.  We dug it out of storage and we opened it up.  (in the driveway)  It was huge, and gorgeous and lovely and it looked so real!  Seriously.  Then the real test...we plugged that bad boy in.  And it lit up!  I mean nearly every single bulb lit up.  Mark and I were shocked.  We stood there (in the driveway) with this stupid grin on our faces.  Then we looked at each other.

Mark:  "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Me:  "Uh Huh."

Mark:  "Go open the front door."

Me:  "Should we measure first?"

Mark:  "Nope...we'll figure that part out later."

We stuffed and shoved and repositioned the top of the tree (it was almost 8" too tall) and voila!  We have a huge and gorgeous and lovely tree in our living room.  We LOVE IT!  

And so do the cats...

And don't worry...we were able to get that star on top...just fine.  Bring it on Santa!  We're ready for ya!

Too much eggnog?

Or, just doing what cats do best.  

Oh Christmas Tree...OH Christmas Tree!

There is a pretty funny story to go with these two pictures...I'm sure you can only imagine.  I mean think about it.  Mark and I are involved...you KNOW it's gonna be funny.  Stay tuned!!!

Doesn't get much better than this

Sure is lovely...but...

Add a little equine and the landscape gets MUCH better.  I love our farm.  (and the horses that live there...even the few we don't own)

Feline Groovy

Really, really GROOVY!  Does she have the life or what?  Don't answer that...it will only further depress you...and me.

Move your feet, lose your seat

That rule also applies here at Meadow Creek Farm and Mark's lap.  Sorry CB.

Sunset made better

You probably wonder how I can make this sunset better.  

I mean look at it.  It's gorgeous.

But look at it now.  GORGEOUS.  Horses make everything better.  Trust me.

Stiffer labor laws

Diesel is exhausted. It's tough being a barn cat. You know, laying on the porch.  Anchoring the blankets on the bed. Begging for meals. Keeping an eye on the woodstove.  Shall I go on?

So please don't turn us in. We are working on giving him more breaks. (as you can see)

Meadow Creek Farm LLC - new logo

Thanks to a very good cyber-friend (in CA) we now have a logo for the farm.  It's been a real journey getting to this day.  I needed a logo that could, in a glance, show all aspects of what I do at our farm.  Boarding, training, equine assisted learning (EAL) and therapy (EAP) and horsemanship lessons.  I think we accomplished it.

I like how you can't tell if it's a man or a woman...is the horse coming toward or going away?  Are they engaged in a EAL session, horsemanship lesson, or is one of my boarders taking their horse out?  I love how it can be all of those things...it is all in the eye of the beholder.  Behold...the MCF logo.

Beaver Cleaver

Something is different in our woods.  Tell tale signs that we have a visitor...

Girdled trees...

Downed saplings...

And (drum roll please) a dam...

Damn!  A DAM!

A dam that is backing up our stream...

Sooooo...we knew he/she was "in da house"...just a matter of time before we'd see him/her.  And there he/she is...swimming up stream...dum de dum...la dee da.  BEAVER CLEAVER!  The coming weeks will be very interesting.  Stay tuned!

Saucin' da Apples

It's like potpourri you can eat!  House smells amazing and our bellies are happy.  Win/win!

A work around

So, did you notice that King Syrup has changed its bottling?  Yup, they've switched from glass bottles to plastic bottles.  Fine...I'm sure it saves them money etc etc, but do I like it?  No.  Am I gonna deal?  Yes.  How you ask?  Like this...(so refined am I when I eat my pancakes and french toast).

Take THAT King Syrup.

Frolic's condo

Frolic didn't waste any time finding a good spot to snuggle up and nap.  He's one smart kitty.  For sure.

Happy Birthday to Mark!

For obvious reasons I am SO HAPPY Mark was born.  As nice as he looks on the outside...he is that amazing on the inside.  Happy Birthday Love!

Yes sir...I'm working

Billy:  Did you take a longer break than allowed?
Me:  Uh...no...why?
Billy:  Cause according to my watch...you are 2 minutes late with supper for these horses.  Not acceptable.
Me:  I think your watch is fast.
Billy:  Excuse me.  Who's the supervisor here?
Me:  Um...I guess that would be you.
Billy:  Right...now get back to work before I have to write you up.

Sure makes the drive in nicer

With a view like this, the commute is really not that bad.

Did I ever tell you?

Diesel LOVES our woodstove.  I mean...he really loves it.

Happy Halloween!

Well were you able to guess our costume from my hints?  If not...your wait is over.  Presenting (drum roll please) the 2011 Mark and Tree Halloween costume.

Not sure who we are?  Watch this.

Our video to follow!

Halloween is Monday. So guess what?

No really...guess.  Okay, I'll give you a hint.  I'll actually give you two hints.  Here's your first hint.

Not enough?  Okay.  How about this hint?

Click here.

Aren't you excited?!  Stay tuned!!!!!

Is it just me?

Or does that fallen tree branch look a little bit like a deer hopping through my yard?  Ok.  That's what I thought.  Thanks for confirming.

Bag o' Billy

What can I say?  Billy loves his bags.

Buzzards

If I didn't think they were so cool and doing such a very needed job (I mean really, they consume dead things), I'd be totally creeped out.

Who needs NASCAR?

As you may know, Cheyenne (Cheech) is part Draft horse.  Belgian to be exact.  Buddy totally understands "drafting".  Get it?  Draft?  hee hee

BTW...this is Mark's funny.  He's so clever.  I have to give him the credit.  Thanks Markie Mark!

Stop the car!

That's what my brain was yelling at me.  So I did what any girl would do.  I stopped the car!  And I took a picture of this amazing sky.  Holy cr@p!  

He's so shy...and easily embarrassed

Diesel...you're so cute!

Oh gosh...did I embarrass you?  Sorry.  Really...I'm sorry.

Welcoming commitee

Leroy is SO good at welcoming me home.  Of course I think it helps that I am the one that feeds him dinner.

A comforting sight

There isn't anything quite as comforting to me as when I look down onto our house and see the smoke from our wood stove bellowing from the smoke stack.  Makes me ache.  (In a good way)