Hey Stranger

Well it's been a long while since I last posted. People keep commenting on how they can't keep track of me when I haven't written on here so I thought I'd add another update.

I left MBF in May 2010 and Diva and I drove across Canada! That in itself was a fun trip. The most I had ever driven was about 6 hours or so in a day, so driving 10 or more hours each day was a whole new experience. I actually didn't mind the driving and enjoyed the scenery all the way across. I have to say though BC is still the best place to live! So beautiful!

I returned home to the farm, my horses, and my family. It was so great to see everyone. Port is still the same but the people in it have changed. Friends have grown up and settled down or moved away. I came to the realization really fast that I didn't know where I fit in it all anymore. I've always just put my focus on work and figured the rest would just happen as it was meant to. A friend told me I tend to live in the extremes of Black and White and that life really happens in the Grey....interesting thought. I'll work on that.

I just got back from a 4 day trip to Calgary. Went to the Stampede and to Spruce Meadows to visit the MBF clan. It was so great to see them all again!!!

Other then that we've been working away getting the farm ready to sell and horses as well. I'm moving to Langley in August to start a new job over there. Will update as I go along :)

I'm flying back out to MBF the second week in August to go visit Ralph and come to a final decision on if he'll be coming home or not. While I'm there I'll look at the other young ones too.
I sure miss everyone back East.

Well I think thats the gist of it. I'll try to keep posting more often again...
TTFN

Only a few more days

Christmas has come and gone and we have almost made our way all the way to 2010. Craziness!
I'd like to say alot has happened this year....but it hasn't really. Yes alot work wise, but nothing much else to report. I have the odd highlight of course but this was a pretty nose to the grindstone kind of year. No regrets....working towards my dream just requires some other sacrifices.
I can only wonder for what 2010 will being my way.....

Only a few more days til mom goes home (sad) it's always hard to say goodbye when you don't know when you'll see them again.
I have tomorrow off so we are going to spend the day together. After my jumping lesson which I'm super excited about. I'll be riding Ralph and Amy is teaching me. Mom is going to use her new video camera and practice so I'll have a nice video to look back on yay :)

At the moment there's an absolute snow storm out there.....brrrr.
I think it's time for some hot chocolate before bed. I got some new pictures of Ralph today and posted them. You can email me if you havent seen them already and I'll send the link.
Sweet Dreams.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas....

Well Christmas is just around the corner. My mom made if here safely to visit for the Holidays. I'm so excited I don't have to spend it alone. This is the first time I've been away from home for the Holidays. I miss everyone!
Things at the farm are good. It's been cold and snowy but luckily with the barn, arena and heaters it doesn't affect the day much except turn outs...chilly!
Ralph is doing great. He's getting stronger each day and I can't wait to start our jumping lessons. Maybe while mom is here I'll use her to my advantage to snap some pictures :)
After Christmas I have a few lessons with Amy before she heads to Florida and then I start riding weekly with Glen.
The other young ones are fabulous. So easy going and amaze me with each ride.
I am starting to feel better as a rider too with all this time in the saddle.
I'm getting a good feel for how my facility will be run back home being in charge here at this time. I now have boarders too so it's pretty much a mirror image of what I'll be managing in the future.
Well stay warm, hug your loved ones and enjoy the Holidays.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Shawna

I'm Baaaack!

Hi All. Well again it's been awhile since I've written. Seeing as it's now officially winter and everyone is leaving I am going to start blogging again....after all I'm going to need someone to talk to haha.
Things here continue to go great. The weather has turned from Fall to -15 and snow....how did that happen? Brrrrr
Last week I treated myself to a one week holiday in the Dominican for some much needed R and R. It was FANTASTIC! Bit of a shock to return home to this cold.
Now I'm back to the grind at Millar Brooke. The first load of horses left for Florida yesterday and the next leaves on Wednesday. There will just be one other staff member and myself at home for most of the winter, they are in Florida until April.
My horse, Ralph, is doing great and I can't WAIT to start our jumping lessons :)
I've been riding a few of the young horses and they are coming along very well. My heart certainly sways towards working with the young ones.....training has always been my passion.
I'm going to be riding 4 a day all winter and will rotate them out as needed since I have more then 4 to ride.

Other exciting things since I last wrote. For a week I got to ride Contino....Jonathans HUGE grand prix horse. He is so incredible and I really felt tiny on him as he's bigger then Ralph. I'll have to add the pictures. I've also got to ride a few of the clients horses and all of them are equally as fabulous.
We've been clipping like crazy....no hairy horses around here. Really need to do laundry! Everything is itchy haha.

I finally got around to putting up my Christmas decorations tonight. Mom is coming to visit so I'm excited to see her!!
Hope everyone is doing well.....Talk soon I promise.
TTFN

Big things can come from small places

Well today is a pretty big milestone in my life so had to write in my blog. As of this moment I co own a horse with Millar Brooke Farm. I never would have thought in a million years I'd be here, working here and now owning a horse with the possibility of showing. I have amazed even myself on this one.
I'm feeling pretty lucky, proud of all my hard work and greatful for the opportunities I've been given.
I am proof that big things can come from small places and you can never have dreams to big or too far out of reach.
I am going to keep dreaming, keep reaching....the world is my oyster as a friend once told me.....

My mom has been here visiting me for the past 4 days and what a great 4 days it's been. She is such a beautiful ray of sunshine in this sometimes rather dark world. What a great feeling it is to come home to a "mom" cooked meal or to have someone to share these amazing moments in life with.
While she's been here she's been working to help make my life easier and to help get my apartment in order so I have the things I need to nuture myself and take care of myself. I feel great and home feels great. Today is a GREAT day.
One of the things I really needed and she helped make a reality is a car :) As of today I am also the proud new owner of a 2005 Saturn Ion red sports car! I said I bought two kinds of horse power today haha....one to ride and one to drive.
I am thankful to have had these past few days off to spend with my mom and make big things happen.
Nothing is too big to achieve and no dream is too big.
Just don't forget when the world gets busy to always pay it forward....karma will treat you well.

Hello Hello

Hello blog readers....if there's many of you still out there.
Things with me are fantastic. Many exciting changes on the horizon which I will update you with in time.
I have commited to staying here through the winter.....brrrrr. Not sure how excited I am about the -30 temps again especially since it's just around the corner. I CANT believe it's already SEPTEMBER! I've almost been here for 8 months now....crazy hey. Time moves too fast. This year has been packed with so much excitement, adventure, life lessons, hard times and fun ones. I feel like I've grown leaps and bounds in every which way.

I am getting stronger with my position here and feel like I'm gaining new respect from everyone. Ian stopped me at the end of a convo to tell me I'm doing a great job....which coming from him always means the world :)
Those few thankful words make the hard days worth it.

Amy and Jonathan leave tomorrow with 4 horses to Europe and Ian leaves from Spruce Meadows in a few days for the Masters. Me.....I stay home as usual haha.
When Amy gets back she talked about having some more time to work with me and the young horses....quite excited about that :)
I should get to bed though.....losing my train of thought.
Take Care TTFN!

I'm still alive....

Hello everyone.....it's been a long while since I wrote in my blog so I figured it was about time to make an appearance.
I am doing fantastic at Millar Brooke. I have been riding lots....usually between 2-4 horses a day and loving every minute of it. It pays to ask for what you want. I've always been a bit of a go getter.
I don't remember the last day I didn't ride. Even on my days off....I ride :) Happy Camper!

Everyone has come and gone more then a few times now. They've been to Bolton, Palgrave, Blainville, and Ottawa. I actually got to make a day trip to Ottawa and hang with the crew and actually watch some of the show. While I was sitting with Amy on the fence of the ring I looked over to see Beth Underhill sitting beside us. I of course went up to say hello and see how things are going. It feels great to be able to approach these riders and actually have them know who I am :)
It was a very hot day and I got to enjoy some shopping. Picked up some new breeches and boot socks. Being here is causing me to have a taste for quality expensive things which my *ahem* savings account seems to be complaining about as the savings that is happening in minimum. I keep telling myself it's all an investment for my working wardrobe LOL. rolls eyes.....

In about 10 days or so Amy and Jonathan will be heading over to Europe and Ian will be heading back to Spruce for the Masters. Always coming and going around here. I'm about the only constant besides the maitenence crew haha. I enjoy it though as show grooming just isn't for me anymore.
I adore the Barn Manager title and having the horses that stay home.
We are bringing a few more of the young horses in so I'm looking forward to working with them more this fall.....ugh.....fall. I can't believe summer has come and almost went. The leaves are changing and falling far too fast for my liking. I know just how cold Ontario winters get and I'm not so sure how I feel about living through another one.
I have been here 7 months now....crazy hey, how fast time flies.
I've gained leaps and bounds of experience and enjoy just taking it all in.
I haven't really formed a plan for whats next. I had intended to be here for a year so we'll see. I continue to keep my eye out for a dressage trainer I'd like to work for next.
The future is all so unknown and for the moment I am just living in the Now and it's a fantastic place to be.
So how is the Island? I really really really miss home!
I still have a few horses for sale back home if anyone is looking.....
Hope this finds you all well. TTFN
I am relaxing this evening and got myself a movie to enjoy!