Another Gift!

I received yet ANOTHER Gogo portrait in the mail! This one was commissioned by Amy and done by her friend Danielle Larovere. It's a picture that was taken of Gogo standing with her back against the forsynthias at our old home in CT... I've always loved this picture because of her big cheesy SMILE! The artist said that was actually a bit of a challenge because it made it look almost cartoonish at first!



It will be framed shortly and be placed up on the Gogo Wall of Fame! I'll have to get pictures of the entire thing when it is complete, it's going to be LOADED full of pictures!

A Gift.

In the weeks following Gogo's death, I've received a flood of wonderful gifts from people all over the world. I've posted several pictures of portraits people have done of Gogo, and on Friday I got a package on my doorstep... the first of them to physically arrive in my hands.

Niamh over at Hoofbeats for Heartbeats is the mastermind behind this idea. She spilled the beans on the project when she wrote about it in a tutorial (seriously, I dunno how the girl has so much patience, even as a detail-oriented and artistically-inclined person I'm not sure I could EVER have so much patience!), so I knew what it looked like, but I was not prepared for how amazing it is in person! Also note the AMAZING handmade card!




Simply stunning. Stunning! I will be having it framed and put up on my wall alongside all her ribbons, right where it belongs. Can't wait to see all the rest of the portraits when they arrive too!

Thank you Niamh!!!

Photo Adventure Fridays.... Literally!

Last Friday afternoon, I had a pre-planned surprise from JenJ take place at my barn. A friend of hers, Josh Baker of AzulOx Photography, came up from Austin to do a photo shoot of just the mare and I. I have a lot of competition photos and photos of just Gogo over the years, but I didn't have any good ones of just the two of us together looking nice. We decided that we would trailer over to a local park where there was actually *gasp* some grass and trees and that would provide a nice beautiful backdrop for us. The day dawned warm and sunny, just like every day has been for the past four and a half months. It hasn't rained in that long either, so I of course didn't give the weather a second thought as I walked out the door to work that morning. Obviously there would be good weather for the shoot, we're in the worst drought in Texas history, how could there be any other weather aside from hot and sunny?

Fast forward to 5pm later that day as I am finishing up at work: there are giant stormclouds brewing on the horizon. Great... The first day we've had rain in almost five months and it ends up happening on the ONE day that I needed to be outside looking nice? Fail! After clocking out, I sped off to the barn (which thankfully is 10 minutes away from work), and had just enough time to bring Gogo up from her back field before the sky absolutely opened. Josh showed up at about this time as well, and was spared a moment of dryness to get inside the barn before the deluge began. It POURED! Sideways rain, thunder, lightning, wind.... and there was no end in sight! Josh and I stood around after I had cleaned Gogo up and chatted for about an hour about whatever came to us. He's a funny guy and he thinks I belong in Austin.... I think he's right!

We had a momentary lapse in the rain and we decided to go for it. We had long since abandoned the idea of trailering out anywhere - why bother, when we knew we might not even get to shoot at all before sunset - and we rushed out to the back pasture where Gogo and her friends live and decided to make the best of the scenery. The rain was still drizzling (and sometimes pouring) on and off, so Josh took refuge in the horses' shed while I took outside and posed with the Mami.

And they came out GREAT!! I can't believe it given the weather and the dim light and the whole situation in general! I waited to post about it until all the photos were uploaded online so I can share... these are just a few of my absolute favorites. Enjoy!












Also, for those inquiring about the grass in my pasture.... this is proof that there is NO grass, just check out the muddy shoes! I think I will never get them clean again!


It was super fun and I can't thank Jen enough for this. So awesome!


I have more updates on life changes for Mami mare coming soon.... they include a diet, a move to a drylot, and a stab at homeopathy. Stay tuned ;)

Picture of the Day

Today's Picture of the Day...



Mami when she was 5 years old, just a lil babelet... she was such an evil little thing. She was SO BAD!

I think I've reached the Total Denial stage ever since I went off to Austin. I was accepting and ok with everything right up until I left, but then made a very conscious effort to put it all out of my head while I was on my mini-vacation, and now I am having a hard time thinking about it again. She was so beautiful and lovely this morning... it doesn't seem possible that she might not be around for much longer. I guess I won't know anything until I know... you know?

Happy 5-Year Anniversary to Gogo and I!

Thursday, Gogo and I celebrated our five-year anniversary together, and I can hardly believe how much time has gone by. FIVE years has passed since I plunked down a check for my little monster... FIVE! It has been one hell of a journey, full of ups and down and everything inbetween. Despite it all, I wouldn't change a thing. I wouldn't be where I am today without her.

I have some hilarious picture tributes that I put up for her last year...

Gogo's Famous Picture Pose
Gogo Strikes a Pose!
Uhm.... 'Special' Moments


.... and of course, I must add another year's worth of Picture Poses, Striking a Pose, and 'Special' Moments:

















Happy Anniversary my little Mami! Here's to another five - or ten, or fifteen, or twenty! - years of laughter, tears, ups, downs, happiness, and GOGO!

Picture of the Day

Only seven months until Groton House ;) Is it too early to be dreaming about next summer?

Quickie Picture of the Day

TOO BUSY! Staffing Crisis 2010 has taken over my life for the past four weeks and it is only getting worse. I am struggling to find time to do anything other than worry about it. Things I wish I could do a little more of instead of worry about it: sleeping, eating, blogging, smiling. Not doing much of any of that these days.

Anyway, I do have things to write about and am working on putting up the next Hooves of Steel bit, but for now I will leave you this adorable picture from our ride at Baxster yesterday:



Me n' my hound. Yes, that is a greyhound off leash, oh noes! They said it can't be done, but I do it every day and she doesn't leave my side even if rabbits are jumping out of the bushes in front of her. She is very respectful of the horses and Gogo leaves her to do her own thing, only pinning her ears if she gets too slow when she's in front of us. Which is a habit she'll need to break if she wants to ride out with REAL hounds!

Busy Bees!

I apologize for my lack of posts - have been helping Chris move so I've not been home much! - but I have plenty to write about Bettina's clinic, hacks, and of course, SEASONAL GLAMOR SHOTS:



Even though early November appears to have come early this year and it's been cloudy, rainy and freezing cold for days, which does not make for a good picture. Does she not look SEXY?

More later!

Four Years of, ummmmm..... 'Special' Moments

Four years of, uhhhh.... "special moments" brought to you by Gogo.... might take a little while, there certainly have been LOTS of extra special 'special' moments over the years!!

Wheeeeeeeeee!