Happy Birthday!

On Mario's birthday, Dec. 28th, we both had to work. Mario had to be in L.A. by 6:30am, and then he was back at Aliso to help me trim by 9:30! Rough start for the birthday boy... That night we went out to Ferraro's, a Ventura standby ~ old school Italian food, always good and a fun place to go. Many memories there!! Stephanie and Nick surprised us by being able to get out and meet us, since Steph's mom was in town to babysit little Melina. We had a yummy dinner before heading to the movies (where we met up with Randy and Leticia & Alex and 2 of their kids) to see Tron in 3D. Mario handled turning 39 like a pro, no fuss or freaking out that the big 4-0 was approaching. I hope I can handle it as calmly as he can... much harder for a woman of course, but ... he did give me a good lead to follow!

I love you, baby!
Happy Birthday!!!

My SuperMan ;-)

Merry Christmas!

On Monday the 20th I drove my mom to the airport (in the rain - phew, we got a LOT of rain!) to go to Oklahoma to visit Peter. On the way back I trimmed 4 horses, and put off 2 more due to the crazy mud and wet. And, !@#%! - I hurt my back! I felt a little funny getting in the car afterwards, but thought nothing of it until I got home and went to get back out of the car... and found myself once again unable to stand fully upright. Damn! I immediately went in and put my velcro ice pack on, took a bunch of Advil, and tried to nurse it quickly back to health. I had a busy week of trims booked in order to take off 3 days over Christmas. Alas, it was not to be, as my back did not allow me to get my job done and I limped along with Mario doing as much as possible.

Logan checks out the decorations

I booked myself for what turned out to be an excrutiatingly painful sports type massage ~ I was holding my breath and whimpering, but I walked out of there upright! Progress! She informed me that the location of my problem is my sacrum. Mario fired up the hot tub and I had some long hot soaks in there and felt a bit better again. I think I will be in there alot more this year in an attempt to keep my back healthy. Since I was trying to get in a few horses a day so as to not fall painfully behind, we ended up working on Christmas Eve and only actually had one day off over the holiday.

But, a lovely holiday we had regardless. Christmas Eve I baked more cookies (peanut butter kisses and traditional chocolate chip) and we had the traditional Chinese food dinner and watched Prince Caspian from the Chronicles of Narnia. Christmas Day was wonnnderrrful. We basically did nothing all day. And loved it. :) We took hot showers but then put on our new cookie pants (we each got a new pair!) pajamas and didn't get back out of them. Mario made a delicious egg, bagel, facon and coffee breakfast and we enjoyed mimosas throughout the day. I had mine with ruby red grapefruit juice, as I learned last year is my new favorite. Mario had his with orange mango juice. We opened the few presents we had gotten each other, and played with the dogs as they opened their Christmas bones. Then I made little paperballs out of the wrapping and played with the cats for awhile longer... I got a new Patricia McKillip book for Christmas and parked myself with it on the big chair by the Christmas tree, alternating kitties and pugs in my lap, sometimes both... a fire in the fireplace, and later, rain against the window panes. ahhh... Mario watched a seemingly endless series of basketball games, played poker, and talked to friends on Facebook. We made more spaghetti, salad and garlic bread for dinner since we decided it was really good the other night... and switched from mimosas to a delicious zinfandel blend wine (Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet). During dinner we watched the animated movie "how to train your dragon" - which was really cute! - and after some more book reading...drifted off to sleep. :) Despite being atypical and unplanned, it was just a really nice way to spend our first Christmas alone together in about a decade.

ahhh...

It's beginning to look alot like...

Our California weather just never ceases to amuse me for some reason, and I find myself wanting to post about it on the blog fairly often. :)

...Spring

White lily of the valley alongside blooming purple sage

The lily of the valley that was transplanted from alongside the house a couple years ago is now in bunches on either side of the yard -- on the fountain side as well as the "palm" side. They are in full spring bloom right now...

...Summer

The white iceberg and pink clilmbing roses we planted a couple years ago have taken off big time this year... they cover our entire fence and the pink ones smell wonderful... I LOVE them! :)

We also planted red climbing roses on the trellis on our side yard this year, and we have our first 2 blooms from them as well. And, as a really sweet touch, a gorgeous mauve colored rose bush that was originally given to Nancy when she was sick ~ has started to bloom as well. There are 3 little roses nestled together blooming right now as I type this... I would take a picture but it's pouring...

But, it was in the 80s a week ago, and my horses and Dylan all got outdoor baths with cold water -- and it felt good! ;)

...Fall

View of the trees out my car skylight, Creek Road in Ojai

Early rain, mixed with some cold, I think, has led to beautifully colored fall leaves. I saw some incredible colors this year, I really *miss* having my camera!! The iPhone camera really doesnt' do it justice because there aren't any options (zoom, setting, flash) I missed alot of great opportunities to capture the red, gold, purple, and orange colors - sometimes all on the same tree - but, I definitely appreciated them this year!

...Winter... CHRISTMAS!
We are currently in the middle of a multi day rain storm which has been dumping water on us for days, with several days more to go! I have a large bucket on the front step to collect water away from the tiles and it filled to overflowing in only 10 minutes today. I've busted out with my fabulous pink and lavendar Wellies - joy! and today at the barn, after feeding supplements, cleaning, and digging trenches for the water to get to the drains, my feet were the only things dry! My water resistant jacket turns water permeable at about 45 minutes of deluge, I have learned... But the horses were happy as I finally drove away - a small river or two running through their DG (better than a giant sandy soup bowl) and fresh dry hay to eat standing under their shelter.

Last night was especially cozy ~ a rainy day, no trims booked... I baked cookies (oatmeal chocolate chip cherry, and gingerbread with raw sugar), we decorated the tree, and made a big dinner of spicy spaghetti with mushrooms, tomatos and olives, garlic bread, salad, and of course some chianti. Watched a movie and had a fire in the fireplace, covered in sleeping dogs and cats with the rain against the windows. Ahhh...