Happier New Year

I truly believe that all of my concerned and caring blogger friends thinking of me and sending positive thoughts, prayers and good vibes, has caused my situation to take a turn towards the better. And before I get started, I just want to say thank you. I don't have words to explain just how much it means to me, to know that there are folks like you that are thinking of and supporting me. You guys rock!


On Christmas Eve, we got a visitor of the large and wooly kind. He was just wanderering through. And he only stayed for a little while and then mozied on back the way he came.
The big guy seemed to have a special kinship with kids. The Great Pyrenees is the breed of dog we're considering to protect our goats and sheep. And as a back-up to the llamas and for when we take the llamas out packing or to shows. This love-bug we nicknamed "Bear Dog".
I was able to venture out on the back balcony because the ice had melted. This was my view looking down onto Bear Dog. I wish I could have buried my hands into his fluffy fur.
The woolies weren't sure what to make of this polar bear creature. Catlinite was on alert while Cataleya kept her flock out of 'harm's way'.
Bear Dog was true to his breeding and went straight to work pretending to guard his 'borrowed' flock.
It was funny how the llamas and woolies seemed to figure it all out and didn't seem to mind having a large wooly canine hanging out near their paddock.
When we've had other stray dogs show up, the llamas and woolies usually run back to the barn after going on the defensive. Not so, with Mr. Bear Dog around.
But the horses did seem to mind having a large white bear creature lumbering around. They were on high alert, snorting and ready to gallop away in a instant.
I called out to Baby Doll, encouraging her to be brave, and to face her fear. Notice her tail up? She always poops when she's nervous. But she was considering my request.
Listening to me from the balcony, Baby Doll left the safety of the herd (my neighbor friend's 3 horses) and ventured......cautiously....bravely forward......trusting me.

I was so proud of her! I praised her lavishly. She loves that. I wish I could have just given her cookes and carrots, but I did the next best thing. I sang 'Jingle Bells" to her. Whenever I ride my pretty mare solo, I sing to her. It relaxes and calms both of us and our favorite song seems to be "Jingle Bells". Here you can see my girl listening intently as I sing her favorite part "Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh" If she could smile, I believe she would have at that moment.
She and I stood there for quite a while communicating and visiting. I cried a little bit, but mostly I was very happy.

Oh. And I received a phone call from the MRI department. My scan is scheduled for Monday morning. Not long after that call, the Ortho office called asking me to come in so they can see my scans, directly after my MRI. Sounded great to me, as it meant one less back and forth trip into the city for us.

But the real reason they want to see my scans so quickly is because they've got two openings for surgery next Tuesday and Thursday. I was told the earliest they could get me in for surgery was February, so I was totally taken aback with this news.
Apparently they had some cancellations and they thought of me.
Maybe my horseriding Dr. has sympathy for me, knowing that I can't wait to get back in the saddle again? The sooner I have the surgery, the sooner I can heal. Whew! But it does seem to be moving so fast, though. I think my head is spinning a little.....


Ok..... So, later that evening, my neighbor friend and riding buddy, Val stopped by to feed my chickens and gather some eggs. She thought it would be fun to get together later and celebrate New Years Eve by watching some movies, snacking on some goodies and drinking some 'big girl' drinks. What a great idea!
Val even brought over some festive tiaras for us to wear. She referred to me as 'Rapunzel' locked up in a castle turret, ready to throw down her long hair to escape for freedom.
And with Val, wearing her princess tiara, sequestered in the castle turret with me, she seemed to fit the description of Princess Fiona quite well. Now if we can find her a handsome Prince Charming Cowboy, instead of an ugly green ogre, all will go happily ever after! lol!
Val took a bunch more fun photos and gave a great acount of our New Years Eve festivities. You can see them on her blog: Fantastyk Voyage.


Oh. And guess what I got???


A NEW CAMERA!!!!

It's just the one I asked for, too. Apparently hubby took the kids to Albuquerque to shop. They brought home a pizza...and my belated Christmas present. The camera even included a sincere apology from hubby and from my kids. Awwww. I think I can let them out of the doghouse now. What do you think?

Oh. And he bought the camera that I wanted, too. A Canon PowerShot. My stolen camera was also a PowerShot, too. But didn't have all the features this one does.
This is Canon's last-stop, point-and-shoot camera before folks move up to those fancy professional SLR cameras with all the bells and whistles and huge price tags.

This is the SX110 IS and has 9.0 Mega Pixels with 10x Optical Zoom and 40x Digital and Optical Zoom combined! Zoom!!! Zoom!!
With me being stuck in the house right now, zoom is essential.

Oh and the LCD screen is 3"! It's like a TV screen for a camera. I can finally see what I'm taking pictures of on this bright, clear LCD screen. Woot!

So, no more evil borrowed camera from Hades. No more crazy, wonky photos. A new world of photography has been opened up for me again.

I'm so happy!

Oh. And there's even more good news! Thanks to so many prayers, good thoughts and vibes being carried swiftly to my friends, Michelle and Max Wade, Cowboy Max came through surgery successfully and is now on the mend. Cowboy Max celebrated the New Year in style, and even after having Heart Bypass surgery just days ago, he is back in the 'saddle' again!

Maybe this really will be a happy New Year after all!