The Year 2011 (see past entries for more details and pics!)
Spent a lot of quality time in my studio producing work more on a realistic side than usual. Discovered the beauty in coffee washes.This was a result of accidentally sticking my brush into my coffee!
Started a blog just for arty stuff see http://rondaeden.blogspot.com Cut and paste or click on the horse painting down to the right.This burst of creativity lasted until March when i decided to do the Ozark 100 with the precious help of Yvette Haeberle. What an adventure! Did it.!Got the buckle. Yvette lived through it and i am so grateful for her help. People who crew for me deserve the buckle much more than i do! Would i do it again.....You bet ya!
In May Cormey and I embarked on a promotion for 'The Brothers Foot', the kiddie's book we put together. It was hosted by VS Grenier of Children's Books Online fame and it went really well. The phone interview was very special. Doing anything creative with such a gifted artist as Steve Cormey is always a great privilege. Especially as no one will ever get this privilege again.(See November news) We touched briefly on the second book, The Brothers Foot and the Rabbit Proof Fence during the interview.Now it has become my mission to complete this sequel. In fact, it has just moved to the top of my list of NY resolutions.
Having spent a lot of money getting to the Ozark trail 100 in Missouri i found it necessary to trim my endurance ride list some what. Still, I managed 15 rides (with one pull), 460miles , and 170 LD miles.For our local ride Happy Jack, 2011 saw the Athersons handing over the reins to the Haeberles after many memorable and highly successful ride seasons. I'm sure Bob and Mary Jo will still be around to enjoy many more from the back seat. It will be their turn to just have fun.
Earlier this year (April) Mernie and I purchased some property in Wellington, Nevada. A lovely( although somewhat unconventional) dome house in Smith Valley on five acres. Horse property of course! The plan is to some day move there but until that time, we can look forward to' fixer-upper' vacations. We did one of these in October but we came home early due to the well crapping out on us. Mernie had hurt his leg (just when i thought my Mern was invincible) so he couldn't do too much anyway and, as things always come in threes, the truck broke down in the middle of nowhere on the way home. So much for our little get away! Oh well.
Mernie bought me my 100 mile endurance horse, Kipling 'the Silver bullet' for my birthday on October 1st. Kipling and i had already begun a successful endurance career together a few years ago and we make a good team. Now we are both learning to slow down, take it easy and set our sights on the Tevis!
On November 18th my dear friend Steve Cormey passed away after only a short battle with cancer. He was diagnosed only a few weeks before. He died peaceful in his bed in the mountains that he loved. To say he was very much loved and will be missed is a gross understatement. His memory and beautiful music lives on forever; as will 'The rambuctious 'Brothers Foot!'
My goodness it is now December and we are close to turning the page to a new year. It was a year of beginnings and ends, firsts and lasts. My Mum use to say, 'time waits for nobody'. How true! Enjoy the time you have and embrace the adventures that lay waiting for you and yours in 2012. For me, I'd like to take the experiences of 2011 and use them as spring boards for the events of 2012.It was a good year! Happy New One!
Ronnie xxoo
Last years little blurb!
2010
Time to contemplate the New year. As you can see from the top picture here taken from our back door, the first couple of days into 2011 gave us blizzard conditions here on the ranch.See actually blog for pics) Mernie is currently outside moving snow. Not snow which has fallen, but snow blown in from elsewhere. They didn't want it either! Our well went out on New Year's day and the pumped stopped leaving 64 equines, three people and a fat barn cat without water.Lots of ice, but no water. Mern had to haul in water from Rod and Beth's place over the road to tide us over until the water situation was fixed. All is 'well' now but it's still cold. See the picture below. If you can make this bigger you will see the thermometer has no mercury. It's down as far as it can go.Well below freezing.
As for NY resolutions, yes i have given it some thought. I think this will be a year of change. Or at least the beginning of some changes. I want to revive my studio practice and have started already with new media and style ( see http://rondaeden.blogspot.com ) . I want to slow down, do more yoga and meditation, read more and talk less. I'd like to spend more time with Mernie and start planning the rest of our lives together. We are approaching retirement. Whatever that means! I think 2011 being the beginning of a new decade, will see changes or new beginnings for many of us. I know they'll be good ones. Happy New Year. Ronnie
