theWeekend

Lots of crazy fun stuff has happened since my last post.
~FRIDAY~
 I did go to the barn with Maddy and her long time friend Orion. I took a zillion pictures and a couple turned out pretty good.  It was fun to see them on a horse together again.  When they were younger, Orion had a horse, freckles, and they'd ride that horse together for hours!!! These girls love horses and have a friendship bond that has lasted many years.

 I have to tell you, I'm not a huge fan of riding horses, and I'm a bit apprehensive about being around horses in general.  I am definitely NOT a fan of the world of horse showing. However, my daughter LOVES the horses, she is a horse person, and so I muttle through things, with an occasional anxiety attack and TONS of phone calls and text messages to my BFF Shelli, who is also a horse person! I believe horse people to be made up of different stuff, much like artists, they are just a bit odd, you have to be one of them to really understand them.  That being said, if you are quiet, and watch closely, you can enter their very special world.  You may never understand it, but if you open yourself up to it, you can almost feel it. You'll get a glimpse of how they feel and how they connect with those massive wild creatures, called horses. Because, believe it or not, there is something magical that happens when you watch people who truly love horses, ride. It's that moment when they are riding, for pure pleasure alone, not working on teaching, or trying to master a new skill, not exercising, not working on form, but just riding for fun, just being together.  When they forget you are there watching them and they just enjoy the horse and the moment, it happens, and you are standing right there on the fringes of their magical world, witness to something spectacular, that only the two of them can experience together. They are one. They are communing with each other.  They share emotions and thoughts. They are not talking, just feeling and enjoying.  There is a trust so strong that the rider is no longer hanging on, or directing the horse where to go, they just ride, they move together, one fluid motion. He has lent her his wings, she has given him trust and love, together they soar.  Occasionally even the Eagles will drop from the skies to behold their magnificence, knowing that even with true wings and majesty,  He will never compare, because He does NOT have a rider.  You can see it in both of their eyes, {much like Elvis, they've left the building.}  Trust me when I say the hair on your arms will stand up, and that is when you know you've just witnessed true magic, true love.   Trying to capture that moment on film {or memory card} is a whole different story!!! And that one moment is why I keep going to the barn, and the work sessions, and horse shows and expos. That moment is better than any ribbon, any rider, will ever win. And to be honest, NOT all riders have the great fortune of experiencing this magical moment with their horses. But Maddy has, and she knows the value of it.  I may never understand it, I may never experience it, but I've witnessed it and THAT is close enough for me, and is what will push me to continue supporting her in her endeavors.
Here are a couple of pics from Fridays friend ride

Maddy, Orion, and Chip

He seems happy too, doesn't he!!?!?!!

Odd Artistic photo...

This girl is Magic, great name, huh!!! She has some back problems and can't be ridden. But we are working on becoming friends, mostly she just likes me cuz I feed her treats!!!

This guy is Vince.

I didn't stay long, cuz it was chilly, and this stupid cold is NOT going away, in fact it seemed to be getting worse!!! So I called it a day. Went to dinner and got groceries later.

~SATURDAY~
Up early and off to Michigan State University for the Horse Expo.  This was a bit of a long day, and I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more, had I not been feeling under the weather.  Very crowded, too many people!!! Lots of cool stuff to see, lots of beautiful horses, a zebra, and some donkeys! Didn't get very many pics, it was kinda gloomy in the building...

Maddy and Shelli checking out a new saddle pad for Chip, yep it's pink! Poor guy, she's always dressing him in girly colors!!!

This is one of the "Oh, I just can't decide!!" moments...

Lunch time!!

Somehow, I lost all focus, and stopped taking any meaningful or moderately good pictures on my iPhone at this point...

Good quote!

Checking out some bling!!! Bought the one in the middle!!!

That quote is more MY style!!!

And then there was this massively big guy!!! He is BEAUTIFUL, but a bit cranky today. But who wouldn't be, crammed in a tiny stall being pet and stared at for 3 days!! 

So, yeah the pics are random and not great but, that was our Saturday!! theBoys spent the day at the Honda shop in Mt.P working on Ryan dirtbike.

~SUNDAY~
Stupid time change!! Stupid cold!!!
Had the Camera Club meeting. Went pretty well, got new challenge "Urban Decay" which I think I will love!!! Hope I get some time to go out and get some pics that are cool {in my own mind anyway} Spent the rest of the day lounging around enjoying what was left of my vacation time, hopped up on cold meds...
Maddy went to the barn again.  theBoys spent the day at band practice and then went riding the dirt bikes for a bit.  Everyone enjoyed their personal hobbies this weekend.  THAT is AWESOME! This family really does rock! I'm so grateful for the fact that everyone actually enjoys spending time together!!!