Something to Make You Smile

With so much on our minds lately, I thought I would enliven things by sharing a couple more photos from the horse show.

Here's another picture of Topper in the tack stall. I don't think he's ever had so many pictures taken of him as I did at the show!
What happens when you are short--and your arms are short--and you want to take a picture of yourself and a horse? Well, take a look:

Can anyone working that hard at a horse show and being so darn happy be in their right mind? OKAY...down in the cheap seats! It was a rhetorical question! Because the answer is a resounding YES!

Today I spent time grooming the 24 year old mare Electra. She stood so still and enjoyed her spa day so much--I even combed out her tail again. She carries it so elegantly and it looks like falling water when it is combed out. Someday maybe I can get a pictures of her to share with you. Of course, the other horses were looking on and wondering when their turn would come! I assured all of them that their turn would come. All the horses' coats are thick and soft--I sure hope that is not a sign of a really cold winter. (No wooly-bear sightings to confirm my suspicions.)

Okay, enough for tonight. I hope you had a good laugh--we all needed one.

Hugs,

Sharon

Bittersweet

It has been a bittersweet day. Earlier today I learned that one of my favorite students passed away from breast cancer. She was such a vibrant, happy woman--she will be sorely missed by so many. She and her daughter-in-law took my Monthly Bliss classes for the past two years--always smiling, always a great sense of humor. Regina, I miss you already.

This evening was like a mini reunion with Carol, Jay, Marion, Nancy, Karen and Rose. Karen and Rose drove down from Skaneateles (over an hour away) and Jay comes from an hour away. We had a great time looking at old quilts I got last week (I'll post pictures some day--don't hold your breath!), looking at applique quilts and refreshing some fine points on applique and hand quilting. Marion is working on crazy quilt blocks--she's going to try to not repeat any of the hand embroidery stitches! Carol was working on a quilt-as-you-go tablerunner as a gift and it wasn't going well. We think we got things figured out so she can finish--I told her to name it "Easy--NOT" or "Tablerunner from Hades". The pleasure of being surrounded by like-minded people in an atmosphere of sharing and stitching. Who could ask for more?

As this day ends, I am again reflecting on how uncertain life is and how we should not take a single moment for granted. What seems so terrible this minute will seem like nothing tomorrow. Have you told someone today that you love them? Have you done something nice just for you today? As I always tell my mom: "You have to put your oxygen mask on first--before you help someone else." So please put your oxygen mask on and breathe deeply. And, again...can you feel the calm coming over you?

You are each special--spread that specialness around.

Hugs to you all,
Sharon