Honest and Full of Scraps

Kicking me out of my end of winter doldrums, Saddle Mountain Rider honored me with the “Honest Scrap” award. Thanks, oh great leader of the Pony Cousins for including me in your tribe! It seems very appropriate to receive this at a time in my life where I am trying to be true to myself and to conserve every scrap of everything.

There are two tasks that go along with this award. The first is easy. I have to send this award on to seven blogs that deserve it. Since there are so many blogs I enjoy reading, I hope that you will follow these links to learn more about our friends in the blogosphere. The second task is to tell everyone 10 things about myself. Since I’ve been blogging for so long and you know so much about me already, I am going to have to chew on some scraps to see what I can come up with that’s worth revealing.

Okay, I send the “Honest Scrap” award out to:

M.C. Valada at Out of the Darkroom
Detroit Dog at the Doghouse
Lori Skoog at the Skoog Farm
DeeJ at Oak in the Seed
Pony Girl who takes such good care of My Boy
Nuzzling Muzzles and her herd
Jack, his DOR and Freedom at Journeys of Cactus Jack Splash

You guys know how this goes -- Grab the award, paste it on your blog with a link back to me, send it along to seven other blogging friends and tell us 10 things about yourself and don’t forget to be honest!

Here we go:

1. I’ve lost my edge. If you find it, you can keep it. I used to be a driven woman, but now I find my vulnerability is what keeps me strong. Every once in a while, my husband has to remind me to “put on your New York boots” and kick some you-know-what, but I try to avoid it.

2. I always wanted to be a rock ‘n roll star. For years, I sang so off-key that I had to mouth the words to “Happy Birthday” to avoid embarrassment. Finally, I took some singing lessons from a friend’s sister. Now, I don’t croak, but my daughter still won’t let me sing along with her in the car.

3. I love to paint. I started with oils when I was only 7 years old. As I grew older and had less space, I used watercolors. Now, I have the room for it, but not the time. Some day, I intend to pull out the easel and the brushes and get back to it.

4. I really want a greenhouse. My husband has promised to build me one so that I can grow orchids and other treasures all year round. I can’t wait for Spring so I can get down on my knees and start digging in the dirt.

5. I believe that the success of anything you do comes with the attention you pay to the details. I’m a borderline perfectionist, having been raised by one and being married to one. It’s the little touches that make something special.

6. I need a vacation. Haven’t had one in years, and until I can find someone that I trust who will be able to take care of my mom and all the animals and remain sane and happy while doing it, I probably won’t be going far from home.

7. I’m a softie, especially when it comes to animals and especially since I’ve lost my edge. Whether it’s the two red squirrels who live in my tack room or the birds that nest in the barn, I haven’t yet been able to ask them to move on. Mark my words, I’m going to live to regret it.

8. I enjoy routine, both with the horses and in the mundane tasks of running errands and keeping our life on an even keel. I think that Silk especially appreciates my routines and rituals. In fact, she’s the one who taught me the importance of them.

9. Siete, on the other hand, teaches me by challenging the routine. She forces me to stay on my toes and be flexible since I never know what new trick she’s got in store for me.

10. I am never bored. My life is full to the bursting, and when I’m old and grey, I will be happy to get to do all the things that I don’t have time to do now.