Years ago Smokey and I rode in many parades.  The Madison Holiday parade was only our second parade but he handled the flag we carried and the 50' Garfield balloon in front of us with ease.  After several years of a variety of parades, Smokey did get bored with the whole thing and so we went into parade retirement.   Until now. On Halloween Becky and I joined a couple of friends to ride in an all horse Halloween Parade in Beaver Dam.  It's an annual event with proceeds going to a different … [Read more...]

Last night I was at a great dinner party and met a few new people.  When I meet new people I always want to ask them what their passion is.  It might be what they do for a living or it might not.  But passion is what makes people tick.  It is what sustains us, brings us joy and gives our life purpose and meaning.  Asking people what their passion is opens a doorway into their soul and of course people love talking about their passions. For me, loving animals is part of my passion...but it isn't … [Read more...]

Words and thoughts are powerful things.  They have an energy all their own and can create what shows up in our lives.  I know this to my core.  Over and over again I have seen this demonstrated in my life.  I shift my thoughts, my attitude and my life shifts.  Good things happen, life is good.  It affects our animals too...more on that in a bit. Being human I can forget this and recently did.  With the lightning taking out the computer and printer, then the website server crashing taking out my … [Read more...]

One of the most important lessons I've ever learned is that there is always choice.  We always have a choice in any situation even if the choice is how we perceive the situation.  When we don't recognize we have a choice we feel very disempowered.  When we believe we are powerless it feels horrible.  I began to wonder about the animals I care for. How powerless do they feel?  Do I give them choices?  Do I allow them to feel a sense of freedom?  The cats probably feel they are very empowered.  … [Read more...]

So here it is the wee hours of the morning again.   First, the dogs wake me up, usually King, to have an early morning potty break.  Once I get curled up back in bed the thoughts begin and there seems to be no stopping them.  Why resist?  It is when brilliance comes.  My website is gone to me for all practical purposes but my amazingly talented niece is helping me rebuild.  Thoughts about copy for my website are racing through my head when I remember a simple sentence I have seen over the last … [Read more...]