Alot for one week

Starfish in the fountain

Monday - The House. We went and saw The House, in person, officially with a realtor. For anyone that missed it, this house is SOLD. The walk through was an exercise in motivation and torture. A little high on the torture side. It was even more perfectly OURS than I had first thought. I loved every little bitty thing about it. Before David (realtor) got there, we walked up the back acre pasture and it was just so lovely... there was a little breeze, and the sound of windchimes (Hope?) and twittering birds. It was incredibly peaceful and beautiful. Here is the view from near the top of the property, looking down towards the pool.

I would have liked to have taken photos of the inside, but Dave was there and I thought it might seem just a little bit TOO stalkerish, all things considered. I refrained. I still adore this house, and all that it represented. So, I guess in that way, it was still a good thing that we did this walk through. It's good for us to know that something like that is there for us when we are ready. And I have this nice fantasy that we will win the lottery and I will go up to the current owners front door and make them an offer they can't refuse! :)

Monday night we drove to Malibu and met cousins Dave and Kim, who were making a quick trip to CA from NJ. We met them for drinks and dinner at a beachside restaurant called Paradise Cove Cafe. It was a really nice night weather wise and it was so great to see them and catch up a little bit! After dinner we walked on the beach a little before parting ways. The next day they were going to be driving up the coast on Hwy 1, which is truly an incredible experience. I'm excited to hear how they liked it, and see pictures too...

Tuesday verrry early in the morning Mario took my mom to the airport for her trip to NJ to visit family and friends. All accounts point to her having a fantastic visit so far! For us, our friends from Miami, FL, Sean & Jules, came for a quick visit. Sean was a groomsman in our wedding and has known Mario since high school. We went to their beautiful wedding in Florida a few years ago. They are flight attendants, and for Sean's birthday Jules got him a trip to CA to visit his old stomping grounds. Wed night we went to dinner at good ole bad behavior causing Cafe Fiore where I had a couple absinthe drinks! whatchout! We had an awesome time, sharing history and laughing at their stories of life in Miami. We made plans for Wednesday... When Sean was little he spent a month every summer at Gaviota Beach with his dad and sister. They swam, played in tide pools, body surfed, explored the lagoon, etc for days and days on end. I loved hearing about his summers there, it really made me feel like I had lived it in person. I had the day off and we got to enjoy re-experiencing Gaviota with them...

Jules (Venezuelan) told me that Gaviota means sea gull in Spanish. Here's a gaviota at Gaviota, on the pier.Here is Sean and Jules at the bottom of a stairwell that leads straight to the water from the pier. Sean swung from the rope in the background, but our picture turned out blurry.

We found so many gorgeous rocks. We started making these and couldn't stop. It was so relaxing and fun, just snuffling through the sand, adding and sharing our little treasures to the growing cairns.

We were so enthralled with the shale formations at the beach that a hiker asked if we were geologists! LOL

After leaving Gaviota we decided we were hungry, and headed up to Buellton to the famous Pea Soup Andersons. It's been there forever (80+ years is olllld in CA) and is a funky little fun spot to have some of their split pea soup (of course). We ordered ours in giant sourdough bread bowls. We also posed as Hap-pea and Pea-wee!!

Afterwards we hit up a couple local wineries. Here's the front porch area of Sunstone Winery. I just love the lighting and ambiance of this view...ahh...

We ended up driving home on the scenic and windey 154, then down State Street to really get some Santa Barbara flavor. We ended the night with pizzas on our patio, and full on doggy and kitty lovins for the guests. Julietta - who is in school to be a massage therapist - gave me an awesome massage. It was sooo relaxing and fun. She's so strong, especially for a lil peanut like she is. I wish they lived closer!

This is an unusual shot for my area of California, so I wanted to share. This was on the way to some trims, in Santa Paula right on the border of Ventura. They were grazing a recently mowed hay field right near the road.

The image below is the paint job that Mario did on the bottom of the fountain. He used a couple different colored blues, plus a sprayer of water, to create the liquidy effect. I love it! The final (?????) cans of sealer came in the mail yesteday and he's going to finish sealing it all tomorrow. Might have new fountain pics soon, with water in it. Ya never know...

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Bogey sitting near the fountain and being cute

Linx posing in the avocado tree

After the relaxing day in Gaviota, etc., we had 10 horses to do on Thursday and it was 106 degrees in Ojai. It was a little like trimming in an oven. After that long tiring day, we stopped by the barn to give the horses their supplements and i found that Jordan was colicky. He wasn't bad, just really not quite right... so we ended up watching him, walking him, watching him some more, etc. for hours. Each time I thought he was ok he would act funny again ... pawing a little, even layed down, looking distant, etc. But he peed, pooped and drank, and color (gums) was good and I just kept thinking it needed to get better so I could go home, or worse so I could call the vet. We finally left at 9pm and went back at 10:30pm and he was totally fine. The woman that lives in the house nearest their corral said she would check on him too and she called later to let us know all was well. Phew!

Friday I had 6 horses and it was muggy and about 98 degrees. While I trimmed the last horse (at our barn) Mario gave both of the horses much appreciated showers. Jordan seemed perky and fine, thank God. He is a sensitive guy, and likes to keep me on my toes. Faith is a rock - always sound and not a scratch on her!

Saturday (today) I had a mentoree coming up to work with me from San Diego area. It was a little hot in Agoura where the trims were...

We drank probably 20 gallons of water today! Mentorships are good in many ways but today we did 5 horses in about 7 hours. That's about 4 hours longer than I would normally take - even considering talking and interruptions, etc. It's just that teaching takes so long, and trimming students are just kind of slow to be honest. They don't have the tool handling skills down, and we spend so much time explaining, demonstrating, discussing and show-and-telling that everything is drawn out incredibly. The heat slowed us up as well...

Tomorrow we're going to breakfast with Stephanie, Nick and our friend from high school, Sharon. I haven't seen her in a few years, and it's been something like 13 years since she's been to our neck of the woods! Afterwards I am going to try to ride, even though it will be in the middle of the day, because I have a conference call in the evening. We've got a packed trimming week next week. It seems like there is no rest for the weary!

Phew that update took me forever! I am goin' to bed! NIGHT ALL!

Days Off

I have a few days off in a row plus Monday, and am really looking forward to enjoying them!

We've had some heavy cool fog (marine layer) in Ventura the last week or so, but this morning dawned bright and sunny with blue skies. We took the dogs for a walk to the 1 Mile Park a few blocks away, where everyone got in a nice brisk walk. The short car ride home was filled with a chorus of panting from happy dogs.

The last 2 containers of Pond Armor for Mario's fountain have been ordered, and we've decided to paint the bottom light turquoise before sealing it... Should be pretty?

The house... well, I called the realtor right away and he said that yes, it had fallen out of escrow, but then was put right back in. I am not clear if it was to someone else or not. But either way, I convinced him to let us see the house from the inside, even though the buyers just had their walk through inspection on Friday! (insert sobbing icon!!!!) I figure it is good for us to really walk around in it, see what it was all about from the inside, ya know? Really increase the motivation to make "this" happen. We also were put in touch with a supposedly good financial guy. We'll see what he's about. So we have an appt on Monday at noon to see The House in a more official way.

My cousin Dave and his wife Kim from NJ are coming into the area on Monday also, we're heading to Malibu to meet them for dinner and drinks after seeing The House. I am really looking forward to that... Later in the week Mario's friend Sean and his wife Jules are coming from FL for a visit, and we are going to go wine tasting with them. Finally, I feel like I get a little summer mini vacation!

I'm putting together a clinic for November on natural hoof care - specifically for professional trimmers, talking about basically being professional... how to interact with clients, trainers, vets, barn owners, etc., how to present yourself, safe handling, sharp tools, organization, promotion, pricing, etc. My friend and fellow trimmer Sally Hugg from northern CA is going to come down and do a talk on equine nutrition, too. There's a chance we will also have a boot fitting clinic that same weekend... and there's interest in an equine body worker and an equine dentist, too. Ahh! :-0

Wild Hearts had a date

Jonathan's @ Pierano's

Wild Hearts is official! I went to the government center yesterday and completed a FBNS for the name, as a biz being run by husband and wife, and got a business license for unincorporated Ventura County (where the horse's are!). I also sent off the FBNS for newspaper printing, which is a requirement. Before doing that, I went to the bank to make a deposit, and before leaving the teller gave me a little coupon noting the bank was having a 1 day special on Monday where if you open a biz account they put $100 in it after the first month. That's synchronicity I say. So yes, I will be opening my account Monday! As a result of all of this, Ventura Auto Magic is officially officially (yes, twice officially) no longer. (still was listed under my name as a sole proprietorship) A new chapter has begun.

View of the pier and fair from a beach dune

2 + years ago when I left Amgen to work for VAM and try to trim professionally, Mario and I went to Jonathan's for martinis to celebrate. Last night, we went to Jonathan's again! (and had chocolate cherry martinis! nom nom!) We had a great dinner and then drove down to the beach with blankets and sweatshirts and hung out on a sand dune for an hour or so just relaxing and periodically watching the fair and the waves. The weather was perfect, no wind, cool but not cold, with soft cool sand to spread your toes in.

A rare siting of Logan in the backyard during supervised kitty in the backyard time

Linx thoroughly enjoys himself when he's let out in the back. This is a rare image because he's immobile while back there... taking a quick siesta

Chloe thinks I can't see her between the palm and the watering can...

Bogey smiling for the camera!

Being this adorable is just exausting! Bailey, also taking a quick siesta.

The House - again?

Today I was scheduled to trim some horses down the street from The House. (reference back to June blog posts) I pulled in and got my tools out, walked to the back, and saw that the horses weren't there. I knew there was a chance it would happen, as I knew they might be moving and I knew where to go next... no big deal. Got back in the car, and continued up the hill to take a shortcut over to the new barn, when we happened to go by The House (also known as The Encino House for it's street name)... and saw that the for sale sign was back up. I practically slammed on the brakes, and stared in disbelief. Mario and I both started talking at the same time... what are the chances? is it a sign? is it just to torture us a bit more? why didn't it sell? The realtor had told us it was "wrapped up". Later when I got home I checked it out, and sure enough it is back as an "active" listing, with the reduction of about 60k. Hmmmm. I have to call and find out what's going on. It's just too intriguing not to follow up on, right?


The Ventura County Fair is currently going on and we may head over again tomorrow. One of my clients is the president of the fair board, and invited us to a pre-fair gala. It was fun - BBQ and drinks and then you could walk around the fair grounds before the fair was actually open. To my great disappointment, the funnel cake, frozen lemonade and corn on the cob stands were not open! Looking at the animals and eating are my fave parts of the fair! Mario did go on this hairy ride - he's the one sort of to the right with the tan pants on. The ride takes you straight up, makes you wait for a few minutes until you are good and scared, then drops you in a free fall. I couldn't get the whole thing in the camera view. Crazy guy!



Here he is trimming a horse named Monty. Monty kept grabbing nippers, the hoof pick, a belt loop, etc. and when he got a hold of the rasp handle he didn't let go. I took a ton of pictures of them because it looked like he wanted to rasp the hoof himself. Very cute guy. Both of 'em! ;)



Linx being lovely the other day, lounging on the couch in the sun. I loved the circles and squares from the patterns and shadows, and his softness...

2nd guessing, perfectionism or painful honesty or workaholic or ...

I take pictures of the hooves of the horses I trim. I try to make certain to take before and afters of the first trim on the horse, and then follow up afters of notable changes. I download my camera and file hundreds of hoof photos on a separate/external hard drive named with the horse and dated into folders under that horse. When I have time or questions on a particular horse, I can go back and review where we started, how far we've come, what's changed and what hasn't and what needs to change. When I have still more time, I try to load comparison photos to my website because I've had so much great feedback on how people enjoy the before/after pages of all different types of hooves. The problem with doing this is multi-part. It's really time consuming... sometimes I miss a shot - so I find a particularly good lateral view "after" - but somehow the "before" is missing, or it's a little blurry, or the angles are not the same enough to offer a fair comparison. I've had clients think they will get before/afters posted after every single trim, which I just can't do, I would need another day or two in the week at least. I've had repeated problems with my trimming cameras. Trimming is a bit hard on an auto everything digital camera... the dust, wind, dirt, dropping, and constant daily use tends to wear 'em out. I had one camera stolen. I just got one broken-screened camera back from the repair shop, when I had to send the back up one out for a similar problem. I lost a battery (Linx??) and had to order a new one... You get the picture.

Anyway, I spent a long time agonizing over the latest batches of photos last night. I didn't like what I was seeing... why didn't that horse's heels lower yet? why are those toes looking so long still? why didn't I trim off that bar right there? is that the same @#$* crack that we started with? Mario pulled up a chair to see what I was huffing and sighing over, and eventually found himself in the same situation... well, yeah, maybe you could have lowered that right there, or smoothed that off ... and next thing you know I am laying awake in my bed wishing I had done more or less with each horse and wondering if that would make them lame or make them sounder... And then I step back after a particularly intense round of obsessing, and think - this is HORSE FEET for God's sake! How did I get like this?? I am afraid my job is absolutely taking me over. But I don't know if I want it another way! So I am in a quandry.

I did have some good tool experiences recently. This will seem really odd to anyone that has no experience with tools other than the odd hammering in of a nail to hang a picture (which was me, BT - before trimming). I have used one type of rasp for several years now, after my initial explorations into rasps. Recent discussions on a barefoot list led me to try a few new brands of rasp - like seeing with new eyes, I was trying them with a totally different perspective than I had when starting out. To my delight I found a rasp that I quite like, it's a few dollars cheaper than my old brand, and seems to be holding its sharpness longer. So for now, it's good bye Save Edge, hello Heller Legend. I also tried a Bellota and while I really was excited about how super sharp it was - found I could not (not, at all) do a mustang roll with the aggressive side. It was just way too grippy, and unless you were going with the grain of the hoof - which is like strands of hair glued together, going the same direction - you were just kidding yourself. Hooves in SoCal right now are like concrete, so perhaps a softer hoof would push out of the 'way' more easily. I will experiment some more...

Then, I had the oddest thing happened where my 12" GE nippers rusted over night. They were stored in the same tupperware tub in the back of my VW Touareg (SUV) as they have been for a few years now. Why did they suddenly rust? It's been hot and dry, and nothing spilled on them. In any case they were just a mess, and my 14" GEs were suddenly not opening. They didn't rust, per se, but the jaws were very tight and made it almost impossible to trim with. Repeated spraying with Cool Lube was not really helping. On our way up to San Luis Obispo on Friday, we stopped at Lopez Tools... Mr. Lopez himself came out to greet us - we ended up getting an interesting education in the history of his farrier supply business, and went on our way 45 minutes later with a brand spanking new set of 14" race track nippers, and our rusted 12" GEs looking just as spanking. And, we had both nippers set up with nice black handle grips, something I've never worked with before. It was so exciting to get to the first stop and use all our new tools! The 12" are so called because the handles are 12" in length, and Mario uses these. I use the 14" because those few extra inches of leverage making nipping a little easier for me, since I am not as strong. The handles cushion your hands a little from the vibration when the nippers snap through the wall. The 'race tracks' have a slightly smaller biting surface, which means there is less material to push through the hoof - so you take a little smaller surface off with each bite, but smaller bites also make it a little bit easier. Trust me, with granite hooves, and lots of 'em, sharp tools that are designed to make your job even the teeniest bit easier are incredibly appreciated! And under those well oiled works of art, the hooves felt like buttah! Certainly made our jobs easier that day!

General update stuff - Mario and I got together for dinner with my friend Kristen, her husband Bill, and their toddler Nathan, for dinner tonite. I had not seen Kristen in about a year and a 1/2, and Nathan was just brand new. They stopped by to check out the house (I spent most of the day cleaning!) and then we went to dinner on the pier in Ventura. I wish I had snapped a picture of us all... It was really nice to catch up. Now I am way too full (grilled salmon and broccoli, mashed potatos and blood orange sorbet...) and ready for bed! Mario is golfing with his step dad and brothers tomorrow morning, maybe I can get him to write an update???? (guess he's waiting for the fountain to actually be done before he writes again!)