Camp Love

Camp is going wonderfully. Tons of awesome kids and wonderful memories in the making. 

I have also found a new favorite at St. Albans and that is Hickory. She is a super fun mare and really athletic. Arrow says I should care lease her over the offseason, so I have to figure out my finances to see if it is a possibility. I would love to do it, but I also have to figure out if I want to continue my last year on the team. It would be cool to care lease her because I could enter in shows I wouldn't normally enter in like western shows that have like a trail class. I am positive she would excel in it. She would also excel in hunter under saddle. So many decisions to make over the next 1 1/2 months. 

Also, a MudLynn update for you guys. This little furry miss has been a bit naughty for my mom while I am at camp. My mom works during the day, but one day my mom found that she shredded a paper bag, the bathroom trash and a box of tissues. Surprisingly, she didn't go after her bones, which are in her reach. In my opinion, she misses me and isn't used to this new schedule. I'm sure she'll be happy once we are back in Bellingham.

New Hobby: Photography

I've really gotten into taking photos lately with my new camera, especially horses. I've taken so many photos of the horses at camps and I am in love with how some of them came out.

I love taking photos of the horses because I catch moments in their home/environment. It's amazing the moments I catch.

This one is especially my favorite because it shows the friendship between horses. All our camp horses are basically siblings. That is what we tell the kids.

My friend Charese was my model the day I took the pictures. She looks beautiful cozzying up to Xena.

But overall, I am definitely going to work more on my equine photography over this summer. I am super excited to share more pictures!

A New Epiphany for my Future Self

I think I have finally discovered what I want to do with my life career-wise.

Fiona and Moon

I want to work with horses and children. I mean, I have always wanted to do that. I don't know how, but I will figure it out. Kids just make life seem better than it is some days and that added with horses makes the job seem perfect. I love working at camp, which is where I get both of these worlds combined into one.

What I think I will do is that after maybe another summer of working at St. Albans, I will see if I could become a working student at a barn here in Bellingham and then also work towards getting my Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification.

Right now, I work on finishing my degree by Spring quarter and just keep working at PetSmart. I did send an email to the Girl Scouts of Western Washington in Bellingham saying I would love to volunteer with them.

So we shall see what the next year brings!

Memorial Day Weekend Camping Trip

Well, this weekend was a great one with Kaveh. We went to the area of Packwood and Randle to check out some hikes and camping spots. We had a very scenic drive to the southern area of Washington. However, our plans changed a bit when we saw that Goat Mountain's road had three washouts, so we camped at a camping site. We started the backpack up the Tatoosh Trail but was told by some hikers that the ridge was still snowy. We then hiked about another mile (2 miles tops) until we decided to go down to one of the spots we drove past. Did I mention we sort of heard a bear? To be honest, I was a bit terrified, but then again, I am trying to step of my comfort zone.

Overall, it was a great weekend, I want to say about nearly all of it I spent off my phone which was wonderful when it came to sleeping. I slept so well at night. We went to bed around like 10:30-11pm and I still woke up around 5 am. I guess that is my normal wake up call. My sleeping pad and bag from REI were so cozy. I am very glad I bought a pack during the anniversary sale because it was a lot easier to have everything in one bag.

Sleeping was fun because I wore my hair in braids the whole time because a rats nest is not fun to deal with in the morning. So braids and a beanie it was.

We then left Packwood and drove back to Sammamish to pick up Bruno and MudLynn from Kaveh's parent's house. They were so sweet to watch her for me. They kept telling me how much of a good dog she was, how she slept in the bed with his mom and was just all around well behaved. SO PROUD. She is glad to be home with me. However, I did get to pet Peanut, Kaveh's other dog. He said that Peanut is very particular, but at his parent's house, he just crawled in my lap when I was sitting on the floor with MudLynn.

The Week Ahead

Outside my window… The weather is nice because the sun is out.

I am thinking… about how I only have two weeks left in this quarter. It is massively stressful.

I am thankful… that I have MudLynn to help me destress since I have to take her outside.

From the dining hall/kitchen… I had adobo for dinner!

I am hearing… The clicking of keys as my fingers type on my Macbook and Twilight playing on the TV..

I am watching/listening… Twilight.

Always one of my favorite things… is watching Netflix and riding.

I am reading… An essay for a peer review.

I am making… This blog post because I am really slacking on the posting everyday regime.

I am writing… This blog post, reviews for my 490, an essay for 390, a group work assignment for 370.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week… Monday - I have no class, so I am going to do laundry and homework. Tuesday - I have class all day and then nothing, so I am either go to do homework or hangout with Kaveh or Lily. Wednesday - I have no class, but I may do a lesson with Suzie and then I have work that evening. Thursday - I have class and then relaxing. Friday - I will not be lessoning as I will be going camping with Kaveh and everyone else although, they need to figure out where, haha.

MudLynn Update… She is doing well, passed out under the bed.

College Update… College... I wish I graduated already. I do only have 3 quarters left until I graduate.

Riding Update… We are in the off season so we are just lessoning. I do feel a great improvement in my jumping. I am still debating if I want to do jumping next season.

3 Weeks Left of the Quarter

It is super crazy how time has flown by. I still feel like I just started college at Western when really, I will be a senior this fall. It's scary to know that I am one year away from being a real adult. I have to figure out what I'll do after college for work and everything. I'm slowly figuring that out day by day.

Although there are only three weeks left, I figured out how I will balance my time and assignments for the end of the quarter. This week and weekend, I will be working on my group work and journal entry for ENG 370 and then my paper for HIST 390.

My planner helps keep my life sane. I am able to block out time that I am in class, working, or riding; showing me the areas where I can be doing homework. I highly suggest that if you are either in highschool or college, get an Erin Condren planner. Being able to use stickers and Washi tape makes your planner look cool and makes planning your weekly life fun.

I highly recommend that you should get an Erin Condren planner if you have a busy life filled with work, leisure and school! It helps keep everything balanced day to day.

Also, Erin Condren has come out with an hourly planner version, which I think I might switch to once this planner is all finished. They are all great! Personally, I think you will love the Erin Condren planner.

Spending Saturday at St. Albans

Not a day goes by where I feel the urge to get back to camp when I really only have about a month until I am back at my camp home. Today, I was able to volunteer for the day and work with Arrow and some Girl Scouts who sold so many cookies that they were able to get a horse day at St. Albans.

Chester

I left for camp really early in the morning so that I could go eat breakfast with Arrow and FOSA (Friends of St. Albans). After we ate a delicious breakfast, Arrow and I headed back to Horse Haven to tack up and hit the trails.

Hickory

We have some new camp ponies with us! We adopted 4 new horses- Leo, Jay Hawk, Xena, and Duckie. All wonderful additions, I wonder how many girls will fall in love with Leo?

Leo is actually the son of the famous Novelisto D, who is an animal star who played the horse in A Winter's Tale. We basically have a movie star living at St. Albans. Leo is probably our youngest horse along with Joey since Leo is 6 years old.

Jay Hawk is our second Thoroughbred in the herd next to Joey. He is an absolute love bug and loves attention. Jay Hawk and Leo in my opinion, the top two out of all the boys. Out of all the boys, Chester is Jay Hawk's best bud. Although, Jay Hawk loves to share his hay with Duckie. 

Ah little Duckie, she is one of our seniors but she still loves to work. Duckie does have Cushings but a good shave can help with the hot summer to come. Arrow was in the midst of shaving her, and ran out of time, so she has some furry pants on her hind legs.

Xena is our new Arabian mare. Formally a children's pony and show pony, she has come to us to bring joy to the girls this summer. She is still finding her place in the herd, but she fits in beautifully with them all.