Wendy Murdoch Notebook

Anatomy with clay

2012-01-11T04:25:00.000-08:00

Once again I am going to teach the Anatomy with Clay course. It has been 4 years since I taught it last. I didn't realize it had been so long! I am really looking forward to the course. I have pulled out 40 of my favorite horse books including anatomy and movement. I have some really rare out of print books which I can't wait to share with the students.

I have also been collecting bones including "Mica" the shetland pony who now lives on as a skeleton. He is going to be very helpful. In addition I have Dr. Harman's bag of bones and her articulates skeleton the has some movement so people can see how the horse bends in the spine and ribs.

The course is going to be so much fun. Now that I have gotten everything together I can wait! We are packing the car tomorrow and I will be heading off to PA where the course is being held. I hope there is room for me in the car once everything else goes in!

(The photo is Jan from last course showing off her completed model.)

The left behinds

2011-06-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

Seems I have been doing a lot of traveling the past 6 weeks. Holland the end of April beginning of May, Reno, NV for the Californios, clinics in Pryor, OK (during all those tornados) and Spokane, WA (it was really cold the first few days) and now Germany for MBS Foundation training.

Along the way it seems I have become forgetful of what I had with me when I got on the plane. Following me on Facebook is like following the trail of the missing. I left my Musto Riding Coat on the plane in LA but I got to sit across from Andy Schleck (Tour de France 2nd place winner for 2009 and 2010) on the flight from LA to Reno. Got my coat shipped back to me by FedEx as they did find it on the plane and it got turned in.

On the flight to Munich I left my travel hula hoop in the overhead bin. Last year in Feb I left my Kindle in the seat pocket on the flight to Munich but I was flying a different airline. I got my Kindle back but I don't think I will be so successful with my hula hoop. The man at the counter seemed entirely disinterested in helping me. I will check again when I fly out to see if someone found it. Unfortunately even if the bin is open you can't see it because the bin drops down and the hoop fits below eye level. I guess this means my hula hoop is on its own adventure. Wonder how many countries it will visit before being discovered as a stow-a-way.

My friend Linda was with me in Reno for the coat drama. It was so cold we had to go to the store and purchase a new coat. I got 2 and love the SmartWool jacket I got. The other is great too, kind of like Carhart but different brand and is salmon colored with a brown polar fleece lining. OK so it was a good excuse to go clothes shopping.

When Linda heard about my hula hoop she decided to write lyrics for me. Here it is:

To the tune of Leaving on a Jet Plane:

All my bags are packed,

but where do they go?

I left them in San Francisco

in the overhead bin, left them there inside.

I made my connecting flight and then,

it hit me what was in the bin:

everything I use to teach and ride.

Left my stuff on a jet plane

Don't know why I forgot again....

Ned is quacking in his travel bag that I might forget him too. But I told him not to worry. He goes inside the bags so he will be fine.

Photo caption: Ned and I having a drink in Bad Tolz with friends.

What we can't see

2011-04-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

It is fascinating to discover that the things that hold us back are there for us to see all the time.

These are the quiet places, the ones that don't scream so loudly. But it seems that our attention so often is driving by who demands the most attention.

For example, someone comes for a Feldenkrais® lesson complaining of her knee. The knee is where the student is focusing all of her attention, fear, anxiety and projection of possible (almost always negative) outcomes. She describes the knee pain, all the things that have happened to that knee, the way she can't put weight on it or how turning around that knee is frightening because it might "give out".

If we allow ourselves to be distracted by the part that is making the most noise it is as if we become part of the story of the knee, part of her story to validate and justify her position. But this is really such a small part of the story. Rather than get caught up in this story which in so many ways is already written with beginning, middle and end, it is important to begin to ask questions.

Questions lead us to other areas, other ideas and other possibilities for outcomes. What is happening with the hip? What is happening in the pelvis? When does the pelvis move in relation to the knee. Where is she looking?

By asking questions we begin to unravel the knotted threads and see other perspectives. We can tease apart the anxiety, pain and fear that hold the knot tightly. Questions lead to more questions but this is the process of discovery rather than predetermined outcomes.

Movement leads us to find more questions. When do you move, in what timing? What moves first? What is included in the person's body image as she moves? When is the pelvis, hip, knee, ankle mobilized?

With these questions we begin to see why something might be hurting and also how simply changing our focus can allow for different movement, thoughts and ideas that lead us away from the pain and into more freedom of movement, thought and action.

Softening the ribs

2011-03-30T06:17:00.001-07:00

I am still at my MBS training with Mia and Leora. Tomorrow is our last day. We have spent the past 8 days doing Awareness Through Movement® lessons that work on the ribs, specifically softening them.

It has been a fascinating exploration of this area of my body. I have (like so many other horse people) had a fair amount of damage to my ribs not to mention the times I landed on my back and knocked all the wind out of me. Two events I recall clearly happened to the left side. While in Italy in 1998 a horse kicked me and broke three ribs on the lower left. It was very painful, breathing difficult, bending impossible and I stopped sneezing for six weeks!

Now we are working on softening the ribs and I recall this injury because all of my ribs on the left feel more stiff than on the right. Funny thing, my horse bends better to the right just like me. As we continued with the lesson I have felt various areas in my back become more flexible, more alive. Even so there are whole areas of mystery that I become aware of when someone else places her hand on my back. All of this reminds me of my horse, Al.

He is softer to the right. His lower ribs on the left do not want to get closer together. When I work on his spine he looks at me over his shoulder like he doesn't understand his own landscape along the top line. He is so interested in what I am doing that he stands quietly with his eye on me while I work.

Now that my ribs move differently I wonder what will happen when I ride him again. That is going to have to wait until April 14th as I will not be home until then. I can't wait!

The Eyes of March

2011-03-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

I am in Calistoga, CA at the MBS Academy Feldenkrais® Training. Today we did a very subtle lesson with the eyes. We paid attention to how we were lying on the floor during a scan. Then we worked with the right eye moving it back and forth noticing how the tone in the body changed or if there were places that started to hold while moving the eye particularly the jaw and neck.

What was fascinating is that I could not move my right eye to the upper right quadrant (9 and 10 o'clock). I would jump across the clock instead of going around. Once that got easier my right shoulder and hip let go. We took rests covering the eyes with both hands. Leora said that if you see black your nervous system is resting. After a break we did both eyes comparing the right and left.

Just before coming out here I worked on several horses who were anxious by covering their eyes one at a time. I cupped my hand over the eye so that I didn't put any pressure on the eye but simply blocked the vision. The horses relaxed and got calmer. One horse started out with trying to only use the left eye. As I continued to cover one and then the other she went from her eyes jumping back and forth to smoothly panning across from right to left. This is so similar to the lesson we did today.

I wonder if the horse's experienced the same kinds of things in their bodies I felt in mine. I do know they got calmer so there is some effect on calming the nervous system. I will have to continue to explore this idea as it was such a powerful lesson today.

Use the driving time to the show productively

2011-03-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took Al to a schooling show at Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg, VA. This was his 3rd show and first time doing Training Level. We did Training 1 and 2. We have been working through the concept of keeping the contact during the canter transitions. Al's idea was that it is OK for contact when you are hunting but not when working on dressage in the arena.

We have been getting better this past week but weren't confirmed to say the least. As I was driving to the show I was practicing Training 1 in my head. Suddenly I realized I could only "see" his difficulties in the transitions instead of the calm quiet ones I prefer.

As I was driving I began to change the image so that I could visualize a calm horse, round and on contact during the canter departs. I also visualized the half-halts leading up to the transition. Sometimes Al's stride is so big the rear end runs over the front end and the only way to get the front out of the way is to hollow and fling the front legs up.

I continued my visualization until I got to the show grounds. I got on in plenty of time for my class so that I could continue to practice the new image before the test. While walking on a loose rein I went through the half halts again this time paying attention to my mouth and jaw so that I wouldn't tighten this area. The mouth affects the entire body so it is crucial to remain soft here. Pretty soon I could feel Al listening to my visualization.

We warmed up at the trot and canter, again focusing on the image of good transitions. Finally it was our turn. We got 7's for the canter transitions! We won our second class with a 71%. Very impressive since the canter transition were far from smooth earlier in the week.

Today I am leaving for several weeks of teaching and educational courses. I will continue my visualization of the canter transitions and hopefully Al will also.

Start of the season

2011-03-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

March is such a funny month.

It teases of Spring yet holds onto Winter.

I can tell that Spring is coming:

I saw a robin in my driveway

Al (my horse) isn't wearing his blanket during the day

The crocus are blooming in my garden

The cat wants to go out and sit in her chair

Other signs of Spring:

The daylight is getting longer

The horses are covered in mud

Al had his first bath of the season

Everyone is contacting me for lessons

Signs that Spring isn't quite here:

It is below freezing in the morning

The cat sleeps in at night

The horses aren't really shedding yet

There isn't enough light to ride at 7pm

MBS Academy Feldenkrais® Training

2011-02-20T13:49:00.001-08:00

While everyone is enjoying the warm temperatures at home in Virginia I have ventured across the pond to Bad Tolz, Germany. I am once again working with Mia Segal, Dr. Feldenkrais' first assistant, at an MBS Academy Foundation Training.

I have brought 5 students with me that are all very capable riding instructors. Three are from The Netherlands and two are from the USA. These people have worked with me for a number of years and I suggested that they take this training in order to further their education in the Feldenkrais Method as this has helped me so much with my teaching.

It is great to share this experience with them. Each evening we have our Study Group to talk about how the days lessons apply to riders, riding and teaching. I find myself thoroughly enjoying the process of watching them learn and discuss the day's concepts. Finally I have some associates to whom I can discuss this work who also understand my work. It's fantastic!

I know that I always come home invigorated and inspired by Mia and this work. I am sure they will as well. I am always inspired and filled with new ideas for my students to help each one of them progress with their horses and their riding. We have only been here for 3 days and already there are so many possibilities!

Trip to PA

2011-02-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

Just got back from two days teaching in West Chester PA at Sue Neilson's Happily Ever After Farm.

The lessons were great. I have been doing Feldenkrais® on both riders (unmounted and mounted) and horses while mounted. The horses are SOOO interesting! You can see them thinking and feeling the changes as I work through their spine. It is so interesting I don't even notice the cold and damp.

It still looks like winter up there and everyone has cabin fever! My friends Fran and Pat Loftus through a Cabin Fever Party on Saturday night for the local fox hunting crowd. They know how to eat great food! Egg salad with fresh that day eggs, meat loaf, mac and cheese - all the comfort foods not to mention fabulous deserts.

The conversation was mostly about how they couldn't ride because the footing was treacherous and the trailer couldn't get out of the snow. I didn't dare tell them it was 60 degrees at home that day.

Hopefully they will get this thaw too so they can get back to riding. It was definitely and itchy bunch of folks with aches and pains desperate to hear the cry of the hounds. Seems fox hunting heal all ills for this crowd.

British invasion!

2011-02-10T06:32:00.001-08:00

50 Five Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding is headed to the United Kingdom!

I just learned from my publisher, Trafalgar Square, that A. J. Allen has bought the UK rights to my book. It will take about 8 weeks, then 50 Fixes will be available in Britain. Apparently AJ Allen is impressed with final book and the rapid sales pace here in the US.

I am so excited I couldn't wait to spread the news!

Cat Tails Saga 10

2011-02-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday SHMPM (She who must pet me) went away. HWMPWM (he who must play with me) was home when VWTM (Veterinarian who touched me) came to my home. VWTM picked me up. I did not know her but I graced her with my presence for a few minutes to let her know I was in control.

I think this visit is because when SHMPM and HWMPWM returned from AWAY for 5 sun cycles I was very hungry. I ate 3 chicken tenders, 2 cans of food and 1 BIRD. Then I did not feel well and deposited it all in the INDOOR SAND BOX. It was very embarrassing. Then I did not feel well for a sun cycle and SHWMPM got very worried. She poured liquid remedies down my throat. I let her because I did not feel well and it helped but I won't admit that.

When VWTM came she left a note and called SHMPM and HWMPWM my GUARDIANS. I like that. So I will refer to them as Guardian She (GS) and Guardian He (GH) from now on. VWTM then put me in a SLEEPING BLANKET and pulled on my paw. The VWTM helper held me while VWTM poked me with something sharp. I did not like this so I growled to let them know. Do not try this again!

Today I feel better. The SUN is shining. It is warm outdoors and I am sitting in my OUTDOOR SLEEPING PLACE on the SUNNING SURFACE. It is very nice.

VTWM said to GS that I am an "older" kitty. Well I may be but I am still feisty. I remind them regularly by inserting my sharp CLAWS into their soft furless skin. And last night I let GS know who is in charge. I held her down all evening by laying on her legs and then I made GH play with me before sleeping time.

This morning I woke my GS and GH so that they would let me out to enjoy the OUTDOORS.

I plan on being around for quite some time to come just to enjoy how much I can control my GUARDIANS.

USPC Annual Meeting January 2011

2011-01-30T19:05:00.000-08:00

The United States Pony Club Annual Meeting was January 27 - 30, 2011. In addition to a booth I gave 2 lectures: Five Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding and Have a Ball Improving Your Jumping Position. Both lectures had over 100 people attending - it was great!

Of course I couldn't leave them in their chairs and so a simple Power Point presentation. I had people "volunteer" to demonstrate. For the ball lecture the room was too small so we moved out into the common area and formed a large circle while I worked with 6 kids on the balls.

It was terrific energy and everyone was so attentive and interested. Afterward I never stopped as kids and adults continually came over to my booth for me to help them with their jumping position on the ball.

Needless to say it was a busy 4 days and tomorrow we drive home. I sure hope we don't have the bad weather we had last Wednesday! We passed 5 tractor trailers off the road due to the snow. Tomorrow it looks like it will be mostly rain - keeping my fingers crossed!

Birds in the yard

2011-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

This winter we have gone all out with bird feeders. We now have two suet, two thistle, two black oil sunflower seed and one hulled sunflower feeders. In addition we have a hanging pan we fill with peanuts, walnuts and black oil seeds and a bird bath with a heater.

This has turned the tree where the feeder hang into a "jungle gym" for birds. Every morning Brad goes out to refill the feeders. Some bird are so brave they fly around behind him while he is filling.

I can see the tree from the kitchen. Every morning I sit with my cup of coffee and binoculars to find out who is visiting today.

Izzy also finds the birds interesting. Every morning she patrols along the fence to the wood pile behind the tree then hops onto a timber where she sharpens her claws. You can hear her saying "don't mind me.... I am just passing by..... you can continue to eat the seed on the ground..... don't mind me...."

So far we have spotted cardinal, yellow finch (by the droves),purple finch, house finch, sparrows, crow, dove, junco, mocking bird, downy woodpecker, red headed woodpecker and a pair of yellow bellied sapsuckers.

The sapsuckers took me a little while to identify. I finally got a good look at them when they sent the day drilling holes into the maple tree in the front yard and was able to capture a picture of the pair close together. Now I have an explanation for all those holes ringing my tree!

Wii Time Again

2010-12-15T04:36:00.000-08:00

Ground frozen

Wind chills in the single digits

it's only December and "cabin fever" has set in.

Pulled the Wii out of the box after taking it to the Expo

in Colorado last October.

Set it up and got the WiiFit Plus disc out.

Let the Wii scores begin!

I have a couple of students that I know have Wii....

I am going to get in touch with them and see if we can start

WiiFit competition to see who can do the tilt board in the fastest time.

The Wii really does help with riding balance and small movements and weight shifts

and now I am trying to figure out if the Wii Hula Hoop® game and the real hula hoop have anything in common. One thing is for sure my circle shapes on the Wii are better but going to the left?? Well I can do that without the Wii but with it I still need some practice.

Hope the weather improves soon so I can ride outside again soon!

First Snow!

2010-12-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

Got up this morning to go take Al for a ride at a friend's in Middleburg.

But to my surprise the clouds opened up to snow flakes!

Roads are cold enough that this white stuff is sticking...

Will have to wait a bit to pull the trailer....

Don't feel like going for a sleigh ride with a large blue box.

Someone else doesn't like the flakes either.....

"Let me in!!!" was her statement on this weather.

Cattails Saga Part 9

2010-12-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Finally He Who Must Play With Me (HWMPWM) got the SUN IN A BOX working again. About time. The LIGHT IN SKY is so short now. I want to be out in my SUN HAMMOCK but it is not warm enough to spend my day there. I have had to hunt for a WARM PLACE for weeks until HWMPWM finally put FIRE in SUN IN A BOX.

Now I can sleep in the place where SUN SHINES IN and be warm. And it is too warm to stretch out on She Who Must Pet Me's (SWMPM) legs for very long. And I can stay on my DAYTIME SLEEPING PLACE all night because SUN IN A BOX keeps me warm.

I got HWMPWM to give me BIRD SUSHI again for dinner. I am very good at getting my way. If I could only get him to make SUN IN SKY warm again I could stay outside all day.

I will have to find a way......

Raised beds of happiness

2010-11-12T04:54:00.001-08:00

You can tell that I am "off the road" for a while because I am back to blogging.

With a little more time on my hands (while avoiding other projects) I have time to look around and see the things that I like to blog about.

This summer Brad made a raised bed out of the tongue and groove board used in the barn where my horse's live. He wanted something a little nicer than the usual stuff and with tongue and groove the soil will not spill out between the boards.

This fall before leaving for another clinic I planted some seeds. Now I have lovely lettuce, chard, kale and spinach. What a difference it makes to have fresh from my own garden lettuce!

This definitely recharges my batteries after eating out for too many months while on the road. The soil is from our composted waste hay and horse manure from last winter. Next we want to put in a water capture system so we can use the water that lands on our roof rather than the town water supply.

Ned and I are home from The Netherlands

2010-11-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

Ned and I went on yet another teaching trip. This time to The Netherlands.

He got to meet his cousin, Nick so he didn't have to work as hard a usual but

I cannot travel without him as I never know if his relatives will show up or not at the clinics.

My trip was great! I did a 4-day Feldenkrais® for Horses and Riders clinic where we did an Awareness Through Movement® (ATM) Lesson on all 4's which I then showed how it related to the horses in the mounted work. We looked at the movement going through the horse in various ways relating to how they have to move in various figures such as circles, shoulder-in, etc.

Then I had a 1-day Work in Hand clinic again with an ATM sitting on chairs (see photo above) followed by semi-private in-hand sessions. We have a big group of very involved auditors. It was fun to watch the changes in the horses and their owners.

Finally we wrapped up with a 2- open clinic with 15 riders! Many of them are instructors who have not worked with me before. It was a very interesting group. I worked with one horse that had injured his right hind leg and also had whiplash from an accident on cross-ties. He was so much better on the first day that the owner called for beers all around!

The trip was terrific but I have to say it is great being home again. Izzy complained that I would not communicate as I did not have internet service at the facility in Holland. So she couldn't tell me how unhappy she was with my absence. However I did hear that she slept many hours on my office chair. Now that I am back I am her servant again - just as it should be!

Fruits of my labor

2010-09-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

I plant seeds, sometimes seedlings

I water them and pluck the weeds around them

I go away hoping the plant is strong enough

to survive while I are not there.

Coming home I find that not only have they survived

They have born fruit!

Some plants require less tending than others.

Some require protection from sun or insects

Some are strong enough to be ignored while attending

to the others who are not quite strong enough to keep growing on their own.

It is wonderful to see not only the fruits in my garden

but also the fruit when I get an email from a student, hear of her success

and see the improvement when I return the following year.

I love to play in the dirt with my plants

but I have realized that my garden is wherever I go

and my seeds and seedlings blossom and fruit in the successes of my students

in whatever equine endeavor they choose be that trail riding, cantering or showing.

This year my garden has been particularly fruitful even though I only planted a few things - tomatoes, summer squash, cantaloupe and peppers. The fig tree went in 3 years ago and has survived cold, snow and drought to bear the most figs ever - perhaps a total of 4 dozen! The cantaloupe looked like it wasn't going to do anything and then we discovered 2 hanging free from the grid work Brad put up for the vine.

Sometimes the fruits of riding aren't obvious or it feels like the struggle through cold, snow, heat and drought kills the progress but then you find the fruits come to bear just when you weren't looking for them.

Ned

2010-09-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

Ned travels with me where ever I go.

He's a pretty good sport

Never complains

Doesn't need much

and is ready at a moments notice

to help me explain to my students

how to do what I am asking them to do.

Ned is pretty resilient.

He has overcome more than one surgery

caused by repeated stress syndrome

Inflicted by me making him demonstrate

good and bad position.

Sometimes it seems like I don't appreciate Ned

Some students think I drive him too hard

They think I need to give him a break

Because he looks exhausted

And can be found collapsed over the rail

whenever I am not looking

Yes, I have to admit

traveling with me is not always easy

and he does look overworked.

But we have talked about this situation

and you need to know that Ned

enjoys what he is doing and

loves helping students learn to ride.

I have asked him more than once

and although he is old

he is not ready to retire.

So as long as he is still willing to travel

Ned will be with me on the road.

(photo by Marguerite Ostling)

New toy for the herd

2010-09-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

What to do when it is 95 degrees and there is little grass to eat?

Play with the new toy left hanging out

near the compost pile!

I wonder what is under the tarp?

Darn I wish I had opposable thumbs

then I could untie this thing!

Bounty from the Garden

2010-09-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

I arrived home yesterday after being gone almost 1 month.

My travels took me to Colorado, Calistoga, CA, Baxter, TN

and San Francisco, CA. Most of that was continuing education

in the Feldenkrais Method® with Mia Segal of MBS Academy.

The CO and TN trips were clinics at LuAnn Goodyear's and Larry Whitesell's.

I have to say it feels good to be home even if it is in the 90's!

San Francisco was clear skies and cool temps in the 60's and 70's so

this is a bit of a shock!

While I have been gone it looks like the garden has been busy.

The tomato plants (only 5) have been prolific! The zinnias have filled in at the

front of the house, the sunflowers are over 12' tall and the squash plants are now

invading the yard.

It feels good to be home even if it is for only a few days.

Don't think of Pink Elephants!

2010-08-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

I am in Tennessee for a clinic at Larry Whitesell's to work with a group of his gaited horse people.

This lovely pink elephant was across from my hotel. It got me to thinking about the expression "don't think of pink elephants" because, of course - that was all I could see. But the intent behind the phrase has a lot to do with what happens to riders.

You know what it is like....

The instructor says "don't use your hands!", "don't pull on your horse's mouth", " don't look down!" What happens? You do exactly what they tell you to do - use your hand, pull and look down.

Why is that? Well it has to do with how our brain responds to the word "don't".

When we hear this word it is like saying to someone "pay attention!".

Then what ever is said after "don't" is what they pay attention to.

This in modern terms this is called Priming. When you say to someone, pay attention to something, that is what she will focus on regardless of what else is happening. Therefore when someone says "don't pull on the reins!" you hear "Pay attention - pull on the reins!"In this statement "pull on the reins" is the thing your attention is drawn to because it is the only action given in the statement.

Unfortunately many instructors tell us what we don't want to do instead of what we want to do.It would be far better to say "press your hands forward" or "look up" because this is what you want to do. You can do the translation if you are paying attention. Whenever you hear "Don't ....." rephrase into the action of what you want to do!

Where in the world is Wendy?

2010-08-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

OK so it has been awhile since my last post.

I have been collecting a lot of air miles in that time.

IAD,SFO,TYS,SEA,CLT,BNA,AMS, - it seems my

whereabouts is based on a date and 3 letter acronym these days.

Currently I am outside a little town called Calistoga, CA.

I am here for my Feldenkrais training with Mia Segal and Leora Gastor.

The weather has been FANTASTIC! Cool nights, warm days with a light breeze.

The skies have cleared in the evening so we can watch the shooting stars.

It is serving as a nice vacation in addition to education.

I was here in March when I was working on the final throws of my book.

We celebrated the release of my book with a champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.

What fun!

Lions!?

2010-07-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was teaching at Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg VA. I walked into the indoor arena and what did I see? Could it really be? Lion spoor?!

I know the prints in the right hand photo are lion because they were sighted near our 2nd camp on Safari in February. We tracked them the next morning and the horses were definitely aware that lion were about. But we did not see the lions that day.

These prints aren't lion but they sure are big. So what could it be? There might not be lions in Virginia there certainly are large cats.I have seen a bobcat and my friend saw a cougar while riding on the trails in Rappahannock County. But this is Leesburg so I don't think it was a big cat.

On closer inspection there are some differences. The width of the paw is broader on the right hand photo. The toes are different shape than a cat.

Have you guessed yet?

It was a Bloodhound! There was a large group of bloodhounds and people working on tracking skills. I guess they thought they might find something interesting in the indoor.

Cattails Saga Part 8

2010-07-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

My people are concerned about me lately. Good - keep them guessing I say. They worry I am OK out here in the OUTDOORS and come out to find me. But I do not let them know I appreciate that they check on me.

I lie under the bushes all day. I stay very still in case some little TASTY MORSEL decides to come my way. I will not expend any energy but stay quite still so that they forget that I might be DANGEROUS. So far I have not had any luck but you never know.....

When it cools down I wander out so that MY PEOPLE know I am here. I don't want them to worry to much. They get VERY ODD when they have not seen me for awhile. They make funny sounds and wander around looking distressed when I do not appear. But it is good to keep them guessing. I wouldn't want them to know that I like them...

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

July 4th and it was hot, hot, hot!

We worked in the garden this morning but came in pretty early.

Went to the matinee movie to get out of the heat - Toy Story 3 - fantastic!

Ate ice cream and went to the local fireworks tonight.

The show was not as good as last year but this time I took my camera. Actually got some nice photos.

July brings lots of things:

The Tour de France, clinics in Washington state and summer weather.

We are going to be in the 90's all week and so dry! No rain in sight.

Oh well, in the afternoons I can come in and watch the Tour. I got hooked on watching that at a clinic in Colorado years ago! The clinic was delayed so that we could all sit down and watch the final day riding into Paris.

Now it seems like the Tour is a July ritual watching beautiful scenery, drama and cycling through France. The castles and towns are really quite amazing.

I will be heading out west to Washington state soon for 3 clinics: Spokane, Vashon ( a private clinic) and Maple Valley. All old friends whom I am looking forward to seeing again.

Sometimes it is hard to believe that I come from a blue collar family, am the only child of 3 with a college degree, I own my own business, own my own home, travel the world, teach riding, authored two books and live in a town platted by George Washington when he was 16 years old.

I don't think that I would be able to have this kind of opportunity in any other country in the world. For this I am truly grateful to be an American celebrating this July 4th, our Independence Day.

Cattails Saga Part 7

2010-07-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Finally She Who Must Groom Me (SWMGM) has returned. Doesn't she know that she has responsibilities here at home, which are being ignored when she goes away?

Well I let her know she has to make up for her AWAY TIME. I have been holding her down on the DAYTIME SLEEPING PLACE so that she can do her job. And I have been doing FLAT CAT on the arm of DAYTIME SLEEPING PLACE so that she knows she should pet me and play with me.

There is one good thing about her return this time. She is waking up when the LIGHT THAT SHINES IN DARKNESS is still in the sky. This means that I can demand BREAKFAST, SECOND BREAKFAST, MORNING SNACK, MID MORNING SNACK AND LUNCH! She is awake and feels guilty for being away again so she does not refuse me.

SWMGM did something unusual now that she is home. She walked to NOT MY TERRITORY place where they have put up new OUTDOOR SCRATCHING POSTS. There is something living over there I have never seen before. It makes odd sounds and is very tall. I think I will stay away for now. I have more important things to do.

My book has arrived!

2010-07-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Brad picked me up from the airport yesterday afternoon. I had a great flight since I got bumped up to Business Class. Wow! what a difference to how I feel after being in the fancy seats.

We arrived home on a beautiful day with lovely temps to discover boxes of book on the porch.

They were supposed to arrive some time in July but here it was the last day of June.

This morning I autographed all the pre-ordered copies and now Brad is processing the orders. We hope to have them all in the mail by the end of the day. What a relief to have this project complete.

And something about this book seems to have released me from years of writers block. I have had new book ideas running through my head all the time I was in Europe and have been getting them down in 0's and 1's on my laptop. Maybe it won't take me 6 years to write another book this time!

One can only hope.

Just desserts

2010-06-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

This is my last day in Holland. The weather is getting hotter, more like a June day in Virginia. They are making hay, something that isn't happening at home since it is so hot and dry but here it feels familiar. The Dutch are melting and I am smiling.

Holland is in the World Cup and while their flag is red, white and blue there is Orange everywhere! That's because the Queen's name is Beatrix Van Oranje-Nassau, so the color orange is on buildings (entire buildings!) clothing, awnings, flags and more. They won last night which is a good thing. I cannot imagine what would happen if they lost!

Dinner last night was another wonderful meal (Angele my chef this time) with mint pesto for dessert with Ben and Jerry's raspberry/mango sorbet and fresh cherries! This mornings breakfast was cottage cheese with fresh raspberries. I am getting spoiled.

Heading home tomorrow. Looks like the heat will break a little before I get there - only 80's for a high instead of 90's. But no rain in sight. Might be feeding hay to the horses before long but the fatties have plenty to live on for now.

Puttanesca and Hollandaise

2010-06-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

I arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday and have been enjoying more epicurean delights. It seems I now rate my clinics not by the horses or riders, but by the food. As I am wheat intolerant I cannot live on bread and cheese as so many Europeans do. But I think I have the advantage.

Because of my wheat intolerance I get treated to wonderful meals by organizers, friends and taken to excellant restuarants. I feel very well cared for not to mention the chocolate that appears by my chair before lectures.

For this clinic Jeroen, is my official dinner chef, He is the boyfriend of one of the organizer's and he has nothing to do with horses but he loves to cook. I am happy to oblige by eating his dinners. Tonight we had asparagus and strawberries with whip cream for desert.

Asparagus season is officially over here in Holland. Apparently they stop cutting it on June 24th all across the country so that the plants can grow and be ready for the next year. White asparagus is more common here than the USA and has a more delicate flavor than the traditional green, which makes it perfect with hollandaise sauce!

rewind the seasons

2010-06-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

One thing about traveling is that I get to see the seasons over and over depending upon which direction I travel. This year towards Finland and on to Holland.

The weather in Finland is still cool and springlike.

The lilacs are furiously blooming and the lupine along the highway is gorgeous colors of white, pink, dark and light purples. Asparagus is still in season.

The light is the give away that we are at midsummer.. The twilight lasts all night, well at least until 2am. I didn't say up all night to find out about the early hours.

It was interesting to watch the rays of the sun through some of the clouds it was like they were on the same plane so that it looks like it was woven across the sky. An unusual sight even for my Finnish friend.

Packing my bags...

2010-06-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

You would think I might have this figured out by now - packing.

but it seems every clinic is different.

Different weather.

Different interests.

Some new clinics.

Others old friends.

What to take this time? Of course the advance copy of the new book.

and then what?

Kindle (saves a lot of weight!)

Boze headphones (blocks out airplane noise)

Melatonin (so I can get into their time zone)

Eye covers (sun doesn't go down in Finland this time of year!)

But the rest is in a constant state of flux.

Ah well, the moment of decision will be upon me soon....

then it is whatever fits in the bag.

Cattails Saga Part 6

2010-06-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

The other day She Who Must Groom Me (SWMGM) and He How Must Play With Me (HHMPWM) were out in my GARDEN. They were making a nice place for me to lay but they did not realize they had pulled up a MOST IMPORTANT PLANT (MIP). They did not even know it was there!

I of course am observant and sensed that this plant was in the TAKE STUFF AWAY pile. I leapt in and began to show them this MIP. I rubbed on it, and rolled on it until they noticed. SWMGM placed my MIP on the SUNNY LAY DOWN PLACE and I continued to show her how important this plant is to me.

SWMGM AND HHMPWM got the message. They put the MIP back in the earth and now I am training them to give me small pieces of it every day. I sit on the SUNNY LAY DOWN PLACE and look at them. I roll on the dried pieces of MIP. I stare at them again. They are very observant. They know it is time to give me another piece of MIP.

Now that I have SWMGM and HHMPWM trained I will have my silly roll and dreamy sleep every day.

"I once owned a farm in Africa"

2010-06-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I drove up to Connecticut for a clinic. From my home it takes about 10 hours give or take depending on traffic. I have to admit I don't mind traffic jams so much anymore. I think it is because when I am sitting in traffic my Prius is not using any fuel. It sits quietly, no loud motor noise and waits patiently for the cars to crawl along. I am mostly running on battery when the traffic is really slow but there is something in that quiet that takes the stress away. Pretty amazing since I used to be the kind of drive the fussed and fumed by the slow moving cars....

Another of my favorite things to do on a long drive is listen to books on my iPod. I can plug my iPod into my car stereo system so it plays through the car's speakers. This time I purchased "Out of Africa". I have never read the book but of course, seen the movie. As I was browsing through iTunes looking for something to while the hours away I found this book. I listened to the sample for a moment and realized the readers voice was perfect. A lovely woman with a British accent. As she read the words a vivid image of the area of the Ngong Hills was painted in my mind. I have been in the town of Karen and seen some of Karen Von Blixen's furniture at Giraffe Manor so it was about time I "read" the book.

The hours slid by as I was bathed in the sights and sounds of old Kenya. On my return home the book ended just as I pulled up to the house. How perfect I thought that I don't have to drive around the block or find some excuse the next day to go for a drive to hear the end.

Today I looked at my zinnia seeds beginning to sprout in their trays. They are almost ready for planting. I thought of those words and thought "I once owned a farm in Virginia and on the farm I had planted 3 flats of zinnias..." Somehow the feeling of story and that lifestyle surrounded me in my own home with my little garden. The sense of the land and its beauty so strongly influencing my life here near the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on this perfect, lovely clear, blue sky day.

You never know...

2010-06-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

You never know what is going to happen. I think that's what I find so interesting - the curiosity of what might happen next.

While I was recovering from the pneumonia I decided I should get out of the house to get a bit of fresh air. Brad and I went for a drive to Culpeper via the back roads looking at the countryside and seeing where the last storm had rearranged things. We came onto the main drag, Route 29 and were driving into Culpeper when we passed a Ford dealership. Brad has been thinking about what kind of company car he is going to get in the near future. He has been talking about the Ford Fusion hybrid. I haven't sat in a Fusion so instead of driving past the dealership we decided to turn in.

Brad and I were looking at a Fusion when a salesman came over. He brought out the keys and we took the car for a test drive. Afterward we went inside the dealership to get a brochure. While inside Brad filled out a form for a $2500.00 cash giveaway prize for an upcoming event they were having.

Yesterday Brad got a call from the dealership. The message was that they had good news. When he called back today Brad found out he won the $2500.00! I have never won a big prize and this is the most Brad has ever won. You just never know what might happen if you take a chance.

I am already angling for a nice dinner out of the deal since it was because I had pneumonia that we wound out there.

Book Buzz

2010-05-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Practical Horseman ran an excerpt from 50 Five Minutes Fixes to Improve Your Riding in the June issue. They used the side bar on Heels Down. This is one piece I felt was very important to write. Heels down isn't simply jamming your ankle down but how your back needs to lengthen in order for your weight to fall through your heels. Apparently there has already been some buzz from this piece. I am excited to have created a stir!

Equisearch has also run a chapter from the book on their website in General Training. Trafalgar has also had a lot of interest from their Australian distributor. It is so exciting to see how things are starting to build around the book.

On Amazon it is no. 26 in Riding books and it hasn't hit the shelves yet!

I have my fingers crossed that people will finally be able to understand the anatomy of riding. I sure hope people like the book when they read it and that it helps everyone ride better.

OK so let's just say I am a bit nervous and excited all at the same time that people do like this book.

And my collobrator - Izzy? Well she is sleeping in the shade and could care less if she made typos.

Cattails Saga Part 5

2010-05-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

I am ALL POWERFUL. I decided that She Who Must Groom Me (SWMGM) has been gone too much this year already. So I flexed my claw and made her sick. She came down with PNEUMONIA. This is a good illness because she cannot move around alot but her arms work fine. Now SWMGM has been stuck on the DAYTIME SLEEPING PLACE and the NIGHTTIME SLEEPING PLACE for many days. :-)

I have succeeded in making her my GROOMING TOOL. My coat sleek now. She is very good at GROOMING but don't let her know!

Today is SUN OUTSIDE so I don't need her. She will suffer from my absence. This is good for her. I would not want SWMGM to think I NEED her. I will come in later for my BREAKFAST and GROOMING.

I still need to train He Who Must Play With Me (HWMPWM). I brought LIVE RABBIT into the DAY ROOM. HWMPWM wouldn't let me keep it inside. He put it on the deck. I fixed him. I only at the HEAD and left the rest.

Pneumonia is no fun

2010-05-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Came back from my trip out west with a cold that dropped into my chest and turned into pneumonia. One week ago I was flat on my back and rallied to teach on Saturday but wound up in the Emergency Room on Sunday. Oxygen is a wonderful thing.

Things have improved a lot and I am actually walking around now. Slowly getting back to life but not able to head to Holland tomorrow, Dr's. orders. Good thing I took out travel insurance for the flight. I thought the ash from Iceland might be a problem, but no.....

On a bright note an advance copy of 50 Five Minutes Fixes arrived in the mail today AND there is a there is an article in Practical Horseman June issue about the book!

That sure helped cheer me up.

This blog has moved

2010-04-23T13:58:00.001-07:00

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How can you tell that the weather is better

2010-04-21T19:18:00.001-07:00

because I am not blogging so much anymore.

Teaching season has begun again in earnest.

This weekend I head to Mass. for a clinic then come

home and head to the Californios!

For the first time in four years of trying I am finally

going to get there.

Can't wait!

And my book has gone to the printers so I am relieved of book duty

until it returns - hurrah!

Summer already?!

2010-04-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we went to the Old Dominion Hunt Club races. The weather was fantastic. Light breeze, comfortable temps, no bugs! Nice day to be outside and not doing much of anything.

But the past two days it has been ninety plus degrees. The poor horses are still wearing their winter coats! I can't bear to get on their backs while they are trying to deal with this heat. A cold front is supposed to come through tomorrow and drop the temps by more than thirty degrees. Sure hope so!

The office in the basement is terrific since it stays pleasantly cool. The old office had great views of the mountains but the sun came streaming in. Even with the curtains closed it got hot and we would wind up sleepy. The other thing about being in the basement - you don't know what time it is so you work all day and have no idea what is happening in the rest of the world. That's good and bad. We get stuff done but I don't seem to get over to the barn. I think I will have to make that the first thing I do each day rather than email.

I have posted a gallery of photos from the Feb Safari. This is just the beginning. I took over 5800 photos and I have to show them to someone! This first batch is more about camp. Stay tuned for more.

Warm days, sunny skies

2010-04-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

Spring is bursting forth here in Virigina. The flowers and trees are desperate to get their blossoms out. The sounds of lawnmowers is in the air along with the peepers chirping loudly at night.

I feel like I am surfacing after a long dive and emerging into the daylight.The book is in its final stages. Tuesday I received pdf proofs of the layout, it is like seeing an ultrasound of an embryo.

It is forming into a finished product but still in the developing stages. I will see it again soon once the designer finishes the final sections. I printed it out and "turned the pages" on my counter....

and it hit me - this is going to be a book! Somehow until now it was only words and images but not anything that looked like a finished product.

The excitement of Spring after such a long winter coinciding with this book project coming to fruition makes the season even more special.

Now the thing that will make it perfect is going out for a ride!

Spring is here!

2010-03-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

I made it home from California in time for the weekend. The temps were warm and sunny with the smell of spring in the air. The flowers are definitely behind this year. My daffodils are just starting to bloom and the forsythia is just coming out.

I am not the only one who is really thrilled with the nice weather. Izzy is lazing around on the deck in her chair and sitting out in the lawn. The other day she caught and ate a mouse. Nothing like a little fresh meat to help shed fur all over the house.

In Africa the daylight varies by only 15 minutes from winter to summer. They do not think about the Spring and Autumn Equinox since there is so little difference in the amount of light. The Mara is just below the equator so theoretically it would be the Autumn Equinox at this time of year but that was hard to tell by watching the animals. We saw vultures, zebra, hippos and tortoise breeding. Maybe they don't care what season it is? Anyway, we did come across this gorgeous zebra foal who did not appear to be very old.

So for the moment I am happy to be home. This is my favorite time of year, when the earth renews itself by putting forth a show of color, sweet smells and sounds. I can hear the peepers peeping as I sit here and type. Tomorrow I head out for a road trip and a clinic in Arkansas on the weekend. I am sure this year the flowers will still be here when I get home.

Cattails Saga Part 4

2010-03-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Now that they have put FLAT SURFACES TO LAY ON in the BELOW DEN they need to be trained again. HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) is a quick study. I summoned him to the LET ME IN DOOR by staring at him through the VISIBLE WALL high up in the BELOW DEN.

Now I have to train him to FEED ME, LET ME OUT, and PLAY WITH ME when he is in the BELOW DEN. This is trying as it takes persistence to get through to him, but I will succeed! I make my presence known in the BELOW DEN and complain until he gets the message.

It is nice to have HWMPWM living in BELOW DEN during SUN IS SHINING time. I have more control and can go out and in whenever I like now. However, I need to work on SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM). She is AWAY again. This is disrupting my FUR REMOVAL PROGRAM and I might wind up with BALLS OF FUR in my stomach. Well maybe I should deposit them on her SLEEPING PLACE so she knows how displeased I am that she is AWAY.

In the mean time at least I have HWMPWM to answer to my beck and call.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

Here in Calistoga there are definitely signs of spring. Although there is frost on the rooftops in the morning the flowers are blooming, daffodils, lavender, rosemary and more. My flowers at home are not willing to stick their heads up yet! It has been such a long winter I am hoping everything has survived - especially my fig tree!

We have been doing a series of Awareness Through Movement lessons around the spine. It is very interesting to learn how one vertebra moves in relation to another and not necessarily in the direction I thought! As always I learn so much from working with Mia and Leora - and this is just the beginning of day 3! I am already thinking about how to incorporate these lessons into my teaching when I get home.

Cattails Saga Part 3

2010-03-09T06:17:00.000-08:00

Let me ouuutttt!!!! Let me oouuutttt!!!!!

SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM) and HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) finally got home from the LONG AWAY TIME and let me go outside again and now this!!!!

I was only checking out the DARK HOLE to see if there were any MOVING TOYS THAT TASTE GOOD in there and suddenly it went very dark. I heard SWMGM and HWMPWM calling but it was warm and cozy here. There was a lovely fluffy COMFORTABLE SLEEPING PLACE in the DARK HOLE and I thought it would be nice to curl up and nap for a few minutes.

But then the LARGE LIVING BOX got very quiet. I knew they would come for me soon as it would be time to have more SOFT BIRD PARTS FROM A CAN soon. Now it is well past MID DAY MEAL and might even be time for EVENING SNACKS but still the LARGE LIVING BOX is quiet and I am trapped in this DARK HOLE!

But wait..... I think I hear HWMPWM. It is faint but it sounds like his voice. I must let him know where I am! "MEEEOOOWWWWW, MMMEEEEOOOOOWWW@@#%##!!". Why haven't you come for me sooner? Oh no, DARK HOLE suddenly filled with brightness and I am going to ..... this is very undignified..... tumble out!

Humph, well now HWMPWM had better give me extra dinner!

Time Zone Travel

2010-03-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

I have been in 5 different time zones in a little over 6 weeks. This is getting confusing! Waking up at 3AM, falling asleep at 7PM trying to figure out when I can call the east coast from Europe and now California. Fortunately the internet is there day and night. no matter what time zone I am in.

I have arrived in Calistoga, CA to Mayacama Ranch and Retreat. This place is beautiful! Nestled in the hills of Northern California at about 2ooo ft. The views are terrific, the food is great - they pick the lettuce for the salads out of the garden behind the kitchen and the bed very comfortable, unlike the bed that bruised me in Mombasa!

I arrived a bit late yesterday for the first day of this segment of Mia Segal's Masters Training but quickly caught on to the lesson. It has to do with connecting the entire outer envelope of skin over the skull. I know it sounds strange but I can't wait to try this on a horse! I might have to go find one around here somewhere to test it out.

In the mean time we are coming to the finish line on the edits for the book before it goes to layout. Then I will have a bit of a break until it comes back from that phase. So we are almost there!

where have the days gone?

2010-03-07T05:34:00.001-08:00

Been home almost 6 days.

Still waking up at 3am and falling asleep around 7pm.

Working furiously on the edits for the book.

No time for riding, or blogging for that matter.

Leaving Monday for 10 more days of workshop with Mia Segal, this time in California.

Maybe then I will have some time to post photos from Safari!

Home again, home again, jiggidy - jog!

2010-03-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

After being gone for one month I am now back home. Izzy is delighted to see me and has been following me around to make sure I don't go too far. No worries there, my travels since Monday PM have been to the office in the basement, food on the first floor and sleep on the second. I finally went outside today as it was sunny and I needed to reconnect to the outside world.

My hibernation is not simply because I am depressed about no longer being in Africa on Safari. It is because my book has come back with edits, which have to be done by Friday! So it is forced march to the office but don't tell my publisher that I have been secretly looking at all the fabulous photos I took in Kenya. I will be posting some galleries soon. In the mean time I will put up a couple of teasers.

Off to bed now - at this tonight I made it till almost 10PM (last night it was 7PM). Let's hope I can sleep past 3AM!

Click on the images for larger size. The one on the left we are looking at elephants from horseback. The other is fording the river. This was supposed to be the dry season!

Back in Nairobi and on to the elephant orphanage

2010-02-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Brad and I went to our hotel and then over the the Fairview were we hooked up with some of the group. Together we ventured to the Sheldrake Elephant Orphanage near the Nairobi National Park. There are 14 orphaned elephants in their keeping and one baby rhino. One elephant was found only 1 day old in a ditch.

It is amazing to watch the keepers with the babies with such loving simplicity. It is all men and they are totally devoted to the elephants. Brad was a bit tired when we headed out but he was really happy he did go and said it is definitely worth the visit - especially if you are going to see your adopted elephant! To learn more about the work being done and adopt an orphan click on the link above.

Tomorrow we head out to the Mara so this is going to be my last post until we come back on the 28th. I should have some wonderful photos and stories to tell so stay tuned!

Photo captions: The eye of an elephant and this handle plays with the little boy who shows his budding tusks.

Post card from Mombasa

2010-02-18T20:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had another massage and this time did not go in the ocean.

Brad napped most of the day on a lovely day bed with the ocean breeze through his hair.

Today we travel back to Nairobi and hook up with the rest of the Safari group at the Fairview Hotel for dinner. Tomorrow we head out to the Mara.

Having a great time!

Wendy and Brad

Cattails Saga Part 2

2010-02-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) and SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM) at not home yet. I will make my presence known to them anyway. I am powerful and capable of reaching out the them from long distances to tell them what I am thinking. They know I am displeased and will make them SUFFER upon their return.

It seems they have found good hunting there they are. TASTY FLYING FOOD is all around them. I like FLYING FOOD. SWIMMING FOOD is also there. That is good to watch but I prefer FLYING FOOD. I wonder if they will bring some home for me?

Time to take a NAP on THROWN in FIRE ROOM but there is no heat from FIRE BOX. Why doesn't HE WHO VISITS THE HOUSE (HWVTH) keep fire in box for me? I will have to voice my complaint next time he shows up....

Mombasa Day 2 - Mixed emotions

2010-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Mixed emotions is how I would describe today. Brad and I had a two hour massage at Tulia Spa. We felt mellow and relaxed afterward. We had some lunch and headed to the pool after Bathing Suit Safari this morning, an adventure that was very successful.

After sitting around at the pool for awhile we decide to take our first dip into the Indian Ocean clad in new bathing suit. I wasn't in the lovely warm waters 30 seconds when a blue beaded string stuck to my hand. I tried to pull it off and it stuck to my other hand, then to my leg and then the other leg. By now I knew this was no ordinary filament! I headed to shore (only about 1.5 feet deep when this happened) and the locals came rushing up with plants. I had been stung by a jellyfish! I never saw the little bugger, only its tenicle which is oddly blue.

Several minutes later the stings really began to swell - they were already definitely painful. About 5 guys were rubbing plant on my hands, arms and legs. After about 5 minutes I finally headed back to the hotel area and the guard, who had never seen someone stung by jellyfish before, took me to a bar where they brought me first vinegar then hot water with salt for the stings. I was swelling quite a bit at this point but the pain was subsiding.

I went back to my hotel room and took a hot shower, which felt really good on the stings and took a homeopathic remedy. Brad and I took a nap in the room and I have decided that I will stick to the hotel pools from now on.....

Mombasa!

2010-02-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

I found Brad at the airport and we waited for our flight to Mombasa. Once in the air I looked out the window to see Mount Kilimanjaro! That made the hassle of addition flight worth it right there. The mountain loomed large over the clouds. Safaris Unlimited are going to create a horseback ride to Kilimanjaro - I must get details from Gordie for my next Safari.

We arrived in Mombasa and checked into our hotel. Brad, after two overnight flights, immediately took a shower and went to sleep. I went exploring around the hotel. Perhaps the best way to describe it is like a Cruise ship on land. There are several restaurants scattered around and a couple of bars. Last night there were three live bands, one for a wedding, another for a business gathering and one at the dining hall.

We traveled half-way around the world to be entertained with Patsy Cline and Elvis tunes. it made Brad laugh. On the other side of our room we could listen to the night club DJ spinning tunes. It was stereo base beat until after midnight and Brad was fully awake due to jet lag.

I had signed up for wifi internet service (so I could write my blog) but our room reception was spotty at best. Since we were both awake we decided to go looking for a better signal. We found seats near the pond and reception was better but the waiter wasn't very friendly - he was a real crab and a bit stunned from having his photo taken. Later he scuttled off sideways to go for a swim.

During the day my explorations discovered camels on the beach, water sports and the spa. The Indian Ocean water is warm and today we will go for a long walk on the beach and a dip in the waters.......

Africa Wins Again - and so the adventure begins.....

2010-02-15T12:50:00.001-08:00

There is an expression in Africa, AWA, Africa Wins Again meaning that anything can happen even when you think you have the best laid plans. It seems that Africa's influence traveled many miles beyond its borders today as we headed for Kenya.

I started out with a wake up alarm at 3:45AM for my 7AM flight. Little did I realize how small Munich Airport is. I was more than two hours ahead. Not even the check-in counters or passport control were open! I found myself a nice cappuccino and settled in to wait. My flight to Heathrow was uneventful.

Brad and I planned to meet at a British Pub near our departing gate for our flight together to Nairobi. We had gone on line and paid extra to ensure that our seats were together. When I arrived at the terminal I checked that his flight had arrived. They said it had come in at 6:30AM. So I started looking for Brad in the British Pubs, then all the restaurants and finally in all the seating areas.

No Brad.

We had agreed to meet at the gate if we missed each other for breakfast so I sat down and got something to eat. Afterward I headed to the gate and still no sign of Brad! Well now I started to wonder what was going on so I went back up to the service desk to have him paged. I found out that the service person checked the wrong arriving flight - from BWI, not Dulles (BTW they have no arrival screens in this terminal). His flight was delayed and he had just landed but he WAS NOT going to make our flight!

He did not bring his computer or have an international cell phone and I began to wonder how I would tell him I was going on. They put a message on the computer but I wasn't sure he would get it so I texted and emailed him in hopes that he would find a place to check email.They rebooked him on the evening flight to Nairobi which means he will have flown two overnight flights in two days. I hope he gets some sleep!

Sure enough when I landed I got an email from him. He will arrive at 6:30AM with plenty of time for our flight to Mombasa. So there is no harm done and Africa Wins Again.

Photos: my cappuccino in Munich and my view of the African coast as we flew over.

The Cattails Saga

2010-02-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

I knew something was up! HE WHO MUST PLAY WITH ME (HWMPWM) brought out those caves again. HE piled up his REMOVABLE FUR and put it in the caves - right in from of my CLAW HONING devise. Who does he think he is????? I will kneed on the REMOVABLE FUR and maybe find a nice place to sleep...

SHE WHO MUST GROOM ME (SWMGM) has left home again. She brought out caves and also piles of REMOVABLE FUR. She has done this before this is always a BAD SIGN.
Now I have to groom my own fur! I will show her.....

I will deposit a FUR BALL on my THRONE in the FIRE ROOM where she will find it.

HE WHO VISITS THE HOUSE (HWVTH) was here. Another bad sign for it means SWMG and WHMPWM will be gone for a long time. He is trained but does not come often enough. I will have to make it more clear that twice a day is not enough. Maybe I won't use the MULCH IN A SANDBOX but go somewhere else and then he will get the message.......

I will have to work on HWMPWM for my ALL THE TIME DOOR when he returns....

For now I must plan how to punish SWMGM and HWMPWM for going away. ^..^

Kindle recovered!

2010-02-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

The taxi took Tina and me to the airport. He waited while I went in to reclaim my Kindle. It was at the Service Center as promised - hooray!

When I got back to the taxi the driver wasn't there so I waited inside the airport. After a few minutes he appeared. It seems Tina was quite overweight (her bags not her) for EU travel and so they charged her 150 Euros for the added weight!

I realized she did what I did (only once!). She booked her international travel but did not include the London - Munich leg. She booked that piece on a separate ticket with Lufthansa. When the entire trip is not on one ticket the European domestic portion is under EU weight rules. OUCH!

So if you ever plan to fly to Europe and want to try and save money by booking a piece separate from your international flight be careful because you are allowed much less weigh on the domestic portion. Sometimes it can cost so much you might as well book the whole trip as one so you can bring two 50 lb bags. Live and learn.....

I am not ensconced in the hotel and leave here at 4:30 AM for my 7Am flight.

Bad Tolz day 9

2010-02-13T22:40:00.000-08:00

Today is our last day at the training in Bad Tolz. Last night we went to a traditional Bavarian restaurant for dinner. Almost the entire training was there. It was quite a lot of fun and the food was great. I loved the saurkraut! A could of people ordered the duck. In Ikoku's case it was almost as big as she was!

The waitresses were dressed in traditional clothing and the beer flowed from a keg. We all had a great time. Our group was doubly celebrating because yesterday afternoon in class we gave our presentation of teaching an Awareness Through Movement lesson to everyone. Now we can sit back and enjoy watching the other two groups give their presentations today.

This afternoon Tina and I are taking a taxi back to Munich Airport. I will pick up my Kindle and then catch a shuttle to my hotel for the night. Tomorrow I fly back to London, meet Brad and head on to Kenya!

Mia Segal & Leora Gastor

2010-02-12T23:16:00.000-08:00

I am here in Bad Tolz to train again with a master, Mia Segal. Mia was Moshe Feldenkrais' only assistant for 15 years before he started training others to teach his work. She has been doing this work for over 50 years. She presents the work in clear simple terms so that anyone can understand that there is no mystery, simply good observational skills both with the eyes and hands.

It is this ability to observe that guides the practitioner as to where to put her hands and how much to do. Mia makes sure the practitioner sees the whole person, not just this knee or that shoulder, looking for patterns. It is Mia's gift to clearly demonstrate by example how to keep the work simple and clear. And this is what attracts me so that I fly across the ocean to spend more time with her.

Leora Gastor is Mia's daughter. She was just a baby when her mother began working with Feldenkrais. He was present in her home during her childhood and knows the work by living it all her life. Leora brings structure to the work. Together with Mia they have found the framework by which one can learn and become good practitioners.

I met Leora in the 90's in Connecticut. She asked me to give her daughter riding lessons. One time Mia came to watch the lesson. Little did I know that many years later I would be in training with these two marvelous women.

Sometimes it is amazing to sit back and watch how the connections in life play out with the ebb and flow of people moving through ones life. Who knew then that I would be here now? There was no way to predict but somehow listening and following I have ended up here - no complaints from this end!

Cat at home

2010-02-11T23:41:00.001-08:00

At home Izzy is not impressed with the snow. She thinks the Bad Tolz cats have it easy.

All this snow and where are the birds? Well it seems this one may have crash landed but found its wings on take off.

(photos by Brad)

Bad Tolz cats

2010-02-11T23:27:00.000-08:00

Last night, walking down to the old part of Bad Tolz to do a little shopping, we came across two cats. One on a ladder and one in the shop window. Almost missed the cat in the window because she was keeping herself very still while she watched the birdies (look closely at the photo). We think the ladder was supposed to go to the window but somehow must have slipped down. Now it is the ladder to nowhere.

The training is going well. We have projects to do as a team. This can get challenging at times but overall the process is positive. Most of us know each other and have worked together before.

Snow still falling but very small flakes. Seems like it is snowing everywhere in the world - well almost. I doubt we will see snow in Mombasa.

Who cares as long as we have hay!

2010-02-11T00:36:00.001-08:00

Wonder what my horses think of the snow?

Well I think this photo by Joyce Harman says it all!

Tuesday's Day Off Adventure

2010-02-09T23:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a day off between the two training segments. This gave us an opportunity to explore the area. Rob, a fellow student from the USA, has a car for four Americans piled in and traveled around the area with two another cars, almost half of the people in the training!

We were heading for a local castle but instead we got lost and wound up going along a lake that surprisingly was not frozen. The color of the water was incredible and it reflected the mountains around it - very beautiful. Then we went on to Franz Marc's home and museum of he paintings. He is famous for the Blue Horse, which wasn't there, but his donkeys were wonderful!

From there we traveled back home. Tina, my roommate and I went for hot chocolate and to find some groceries. Instead we found Tina a wonderful hat. There are many hat shops here in Bad Tolz as well as beautiful traditional Bavarian dresses and mens' clothes.

Today it is back to class for five more days. Time seems to be flying by.

Snow in two countries

2010-02-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up and looked at my watch. We had 10 minutes to get to class! Both Tina, my roommate, and I did not set our alarm clocks and overslept. No time for breakfast. We bolted out of the apartment and took few quick photos of the town with new fallen snow.

We got to class 10 minutes late and they were already in process. So we joined a group working on teaching a neck exploration ATM. When it came time for me to present I thought, OK I have done this before, I will be fine.... Then Mia came and sat with our group, watched me for a moment, asked me a question then called everyone over. Oh no! Now what?? She wanted me to phrase in questions rather than tell the person what to feel. Suddenly I got lost, not panicky, just lost my train of thought and that train was gone from the station bound for parts unknown.... never to return.

I stuttered, blanked, sat speechless (yes me!) and basically couldn't pick up on the thread. Ah well, now I know how my students Instructors feel when I interrupt their train of thought.

Later we did observation of differences with people lying on the floor. I redeemed myself because this I can do! I also had lunch which helped a lot, especially the cappaccino. Everyone was so serious and not talking about what they observed so I took the role of comic relief and played dumb. Finally people started to laugh and lighten up. What a difference! Humor makes learning so much easier.

Brad sent photos of the snow at home. It was more than the storm in December. He is going to have to get someone to come plow out the driveway tomorrow if he can. Izzy sat under the deck table because there was bird seed there and the birds would fly in, but now when she was there. At least she was happy to go out for a change.

Note to self: tonight go to bed early, set alarm clock, wait up on time!

ps: photo left is Bad Tolz, right Brad took at home. There are more photos on my Facebook page of both places.

Prius Recall

2010-02-05T23:28:00.001-08:00

Seems that the Toyota brake problem now includes my 2010 Prius, which I bought in September. I love the gas mileage (average 50 miles/gallon) and with all the miles I drive that's important. I had noticed a little something with the brakes on rough patches of road but thought it was the ABS system. Apparently not.

The private inspector has checked the car out but she won't email me with her findings.

I guess I am going to have to go to the dealer when I get back.

Better day today

2010-02-05T13:20:00.002-08:00

Last night I discovered I left my Kindle on the airplane from Heathrow to Munich. A Kindle is Amazon's electronic book reader. I can carry a bunch of books and it weighs the same thing before and after I download them, which really helps the packing situation.

I got on the computer (Skype - I love it!) first thing this morning calling Munich Airport to see if they perhaps had found my Kindle. It seems no one in Europe has ever heard of one. I had to explain what it is again and again. The airport people said they would look for it and let me know if they found it.

At lunchtime a classmate took us to a lovely Thai restaurant where I choked on the hot pepper - quite a scene! Fortunately I survived and went back to my room where our hostess was putting a note on my door that the airport had called, but she had no news.

So I called and talked to the person at the Service Center. He found it! Hurrah!! I will pick it up on my flight out since I have to go through Munich Airport again. The only downside is I don't get to read my books while in Germany but I am not complaining!

Good day at the training. We are working in teams and have to do a project together. We Americans seem to be the more outgoing in the bunch - big surprise!

And it looks like they are going to get 3 feet of snow at home this weekend. I am going to miss it - ah well, someone has be be away from home for it to snow, and Joyce is happier than a polar bear.

2010-02-05T13:20:00.001-08:00

not the best first day

2010-02-04T14:13:00.000-08:00

My first day in Bad Tolz and I spent most of it not feeling well.

After morning class I came back to my room and fell asleep until about 5pm.

Headache gone, feeling a bit drained but better we headed out to the grocery store

to get some food for the week. My roommate and I are similar in the eating department

so that's good! We found a cooked chook for dinner.

After chilling out for the evening I got ready to to settle in with my Kindle and read only to

discover that I must have left it on the flight from London to Munich. To leave something behind is so unlike me, I am a Virgo remember so I am obsessed with checking that I have everything.

I guess that tells me how tired I was on that flight.

Tried to find an email address for British Airways at the Munich Airport but there doesn't seem to be one.

I guess I will just have to call in the morning. Hopefully they have it in lost baggage. It is not the one that works in Europe so it isn't any good to anyone here. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Off the plane

2010-02-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

I didn't get to send a message from the airplane other than 'on the plane' because we were taking off when I finally figured out how to blog from my iPhone.

So now I am in Germany waiting for my friends to arrive at the Munich Airport. I found an internet connection with my laptop and I have already Skyped Brad, (we did video chat!), a first for me with international travel.

As long as I have an internet connecting staying in touch with folks back home is going to be so much easier! And of course blogging....

We flew out in the snow storm that left 6" of snow and apparently more is on the way for the weekend. Well here in Germany there is snow on the ground but not much. Temps in the 30's so I am glad I brought my warm clothes.

I ate a good English Breakfast sans toast in Heathrow. I love the tomato and beans!

About to run out of battery and haven't found an outlet yet so time to post this and find a plug.

On plane

2010-02-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

Whirlwind

2010-02-02T11:20:00.001-08:00

Where have the days gone again???

Sunday night - finished manuscript and emailed back to publisher.

Monday - Feldenkrais lessons at office and getting all the stuff done

on my desk that was on hold until the book edits got done.

Monday night - up until 2AM packing....

Tuesday morning - still packing!

Tuesday afternoon - heading to airport....

OK so not out the door yet but just about.

so here goes!

Time is shrinking and so am I....

2010-01-27T19:53:00.000-08:00

Six days until I fly away. Edits to 50 Five Minute Fixes have to be completed and manuscript sent back the to the publisher before I go. Spent all day today sitting at the kitchen counter working on the document. Tomorrow I meet with my illustrator to make changes to some of the drawings. She has to finish them while I am away. Printed out the manuscript tonight to go through the referencing - over 200 pages!

Sometimes I feel like I am falling into my computer. I feel like I no longer have a body, I am just fingers on the keyboard and a brain of words. Here I am working at home. See how much this is affecting me? Fortunately I got out for a ride on Al so that I remembered have a body too.

And yes, I am a Mac person.....

How many rain drops are there in a storm?

2010-01-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

The rains from California finally traveled 2000 miles to the east coast. The storm arrived last night in the evening, around 7pm. It rained all night and was basically over by around 8AM. In that time it dumped between 1 and 4 inches of rain depending on what part of the county you live in.

For us it wasn't too bad, well for me I should say. Brad woke up at 5AM to the sound of water doing something it shouldn't - not going down the drain pipe. He got up and found that the water that should have gone down the drain was instead running under the basement door into the basement - fortunately NOT on the side where he has been spackling and painting.

He spent the next 3 hours digging a diversion ditch and getting the water out of the basement. By the time I showed up he was pretty much finished.

I didn't leave home until around 1:30PM. By then the temps were in the 60's the sky was blue and we did not get the wind so it was quite lovely. As I drove around I saw the tell-tale signs of flooding everywhere. The mud over the road just down from our driveway, the debris on the bridge out of town where the river had flowed over the deck, the rivers in the fields that normally are dry. The road to my friends house was river - she sent photos and it was clear they would not be driving down it today. VDOT has been there making repairs so they should be able to get out tomorrow. Just about everywhere in the county you could see that water had done something pretty incredible.

Where my horse's live the property has two rivers as boundary lines. I drove down to the bridge where the river crosses the road and then goes along the edge of her property. It was a a large river and lake as far as I could see. I haven't checked to find out how much of the rest of the property is flooded but I am sure she will have photos.

So now the storm has moved on to New England leaving more flooding in its wake. I began to think about all this rain and a 2000 mile journey and I got to wondering just how many rain drops were up in that storm. How many gallons of rain did it drop? How in the world could a storm carry 4 inches of rain to Virginia when it had already been raining along the way. No idea - but the idea was something for me to ponder today.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. They are calling for more snow by the weekend.

Where have the days gone?

2010-01-23T17:56:00.001-08:00

I just realized I haven't posted a blog since Wednesday and this is Saturday. Where have the days gone? Thursday was catching up in the office. Friday was spending the day working on my book and a ride on Al in the afternoon. Andy stands at the gate these days and looks on. He isn't so much interested in being ridden as he is in getting a treat when I bring Al back to the field.

Today and tomorrow I am teaching at Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg, VA. I brought Al up there this morning so he can have a change of scenery. We went for a ride around the property and a little in bit in the arena. He is doing a sleep over with his friends and then I will bring him home on Sunday. It is so nice to be able to ride in the indoor arena there, a huge space and flat ground!

Brad and I are frantically organizing for Africa. Shoe laces, seeds, getting 1/2 chaps fixed, checking out cameras and making sure we have enough SD cards..... All the little items vital to the trip. Brad drove in to DC to get his visa yesterday. Parked on a side street, walked in, handed them the paperwork and left. So smooth. Why couldn't it have been like that for me?

I did get my passport back so that's good.

Izzy is happy to have me home tonight in time for evening snuggles. I am trying to break the news to her that I will be gone for a month. She is not listening....

Odds and Ends

2010-01-20T18:37:00.001-08:00

Samawati House is fully booked - bummer.

Next idea - Msambweni House, still on the beach in Lamu...

Will have to wait and see what happens there.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Weather turned cloudy and damp. But at least I can still ride!

Always a good day when I get to ride Al no matter what else happens.

Brad is making progress on the room downstairs. He has the dry wall up and is now

doing the spackling. Progress being made there!

Trying to sort out my teaching schedule for the year. Need to get it done before I leave.

Big sigh.

Going through the packing list for Kenya. Don't have to get too many things since I still have all my stuff from last time. Haven't really worn the clothes. I doubt they will wear out at this rate. I guess I am going to look 'the same' year after year, safari after safari. OK, so that means I am will be timeless on the Mara.

Working on the edits for 50 Five Minute Fixes. Also has to be done before I leave. So why am I typing a blog instead of working on my book??? I need a break once in a while!

Decisions, decisions....

2010-01-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

I will be arriving in Nairobi on Feb 15th but the safari doesn't start until the 20th. That's because I am heading to Germany first for a Feldenkrais training with Mia Segal the 4 - 14th. Since I am going to be there early we decided Brad should join me, I wouldn't want to be lonely! The next question is what to do with 4 days in Kenya???

Last time we spent a couple of days in Nairobi so we don't really want to spend all of our time there again. I decided to asked Mary Robinson, long time traveler to Kenya and organizer of all my safaris, what to do. She came up with two suggestions: spend time near a salt lick or go to the beach. Beach?? Wow! Didn't know that was an option. We are definitely leaning towards the water!

In case you haven't noticed when I book a clinic I don't really check out where I am going. I just show up. That's how I wound up in Finland - I was heading to Holland and they asked me to give a clinic outside of Helsinki. Needless to say I didn't look at a map to learn that Finland is well north and east! I found out soon enough when the time zone changed on the flight. That changed my perspective on where I was going.

So why would a trip to Africa be any different? You know, book a ticket to the recommended airport and show up. Get in a vehicle and sleep (well not on Kenyan roads) and you are there. Of course I wouldn't even think that Kenya has beaches since last time we climbed up the rim of the Rift Valley, to the Masai Mara, over 5000 ft. When I think of Kenya I think of lions, giraffes, hippos, Thompson's gazelles and Maasi warriors. But it seems there are also beaches, sand, palm trees and fresh fish.

Brad really likes the idea of laying back in a lovely little place called Samawati near Lamu. The advertising says 'Lamu is such a totally laid-back place that your natural instinct is to do nothing at all'. Sounds like a plan to me.

Let's hope they aren't booked.....

What a wonderful day!

2010-01-18T19:35:00.000-08:00

Today it warmed up into the 50's AND it was above freezing in the morning when I got up for the first time since... well I am not sure when. Perhaps before the snow storm? What a wonderful feeling not to have to put on long underwear all day!

Went to the barn first thing and got in a ride on Al before spending the rest of the day in the office. At least I have a great window to look out of so I can watch the snow melt.

My book came back from the Publisher yesterday and now it is my time to answer questions, clarify points and generally clean up anything she questioned. I have to get it done before I leave for Germany Feb 2nd. Oh it is going to get crazy around her these next two weeks......

Well at least I have begun packing instead of waiting until the night before like I usually do.

Oh and I got an email from a friend in Finland. It is going to be -25C there tomorrow. Sure does put our temps in perspective.

Celebration of Bruce's life

2010-01-17T06:18:00.000-08:00

Last night there was a gathering of friends to celebrate Bruce Gerrish, who died tragically Dec 13. No one knows exactly how it happened. He was found in the barn apparently kicked in the chest.

Over the past year Bruce would hunt Al for me to get him introduced to the sport. I brought my camera in hopes of getting some good pictures of Al. Little did I know it would be Bruce that mattered in the pictures.

After his death I sat down at my Mac and put together a book of photos using iPhoto. It was quite simple really, expect for looking at Bruce so many times. At first it was painful but then I was grateful that I had taken so many pictures. After sorting out the bad ones I had over 400.

I then made a slide show of the photos using the Ken Burns effect where the photos seem to move a bit like video. I weeded down to about 170 shots and adjusted them to fit the screen. It was painstaking work but in the end I had a slide show of the best of the photos.

Last night Brad and I took the computer and a good-sized screen to the Old Dominion Hunt where the celebration was held. We set the screen up in one room and started the slide show. The went to find Vanessa, Bruce's wife, to give her the photo book. There were a lot of people there and someone else had printed off some of his photos of Bruce, which were hung on the dining room wall.

I watched as people drifted in to look at the slide show. Many people stood for quite awhile to watch. Some recognized themselves in a photo or two. Then one person was really moved by the pictures. I didn't realize it at the time but it was Bruce's sister.

I went to speak to her and give her a hug, beside her was Bruce's mother. I had no idea his family would travel from all over to come to this evening. I had no idea how these photos would touch people. I knew I wanted to share them, that's all. I realize now how fortunate it was that I brought my camera with me every time Al when hunting with Bruce.

The evening wound down and we packed up the equipment. I am going to send discs with the photos to Bruce's relatives so that have some recent photos to remember him by. I am so glad to be able to do that small thing for them.

I think I will carry my camera more often. You never know when life will present itself or how things are going to turn out.

Contrasts

2010-01-15T17:37:00.000-08:00

Feet on frozen ground

Face in warm sunshine

Chaos in a small country

While I listen to birds sing

Kenya Embassy - Round 2

2010-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

Got up, took care of a few things and headed for the Kenya Embassy in DC. Really easy drive, hit almost all the lights green. Congestion in city so took alternate route suggested by iPhone. 12:45pm, still plenty of time. Got turned around (lots of one-way streets) but finally got there. But.....

No parking places so went around block. Not really a block since roads at angles and traffic circles everywhere. Not like NYC where roads are in straight lines. OK back at Embassy, find parking space right across the street. 1:05 pm, still time.

Walk through outside door to inner door which is locked. Locked? Sign on door said visa office open 9:30am - 1:00pm. 1:00pm?? Building sign says 1:30pm. Woman on phone at Embassy yesterday said 1:30pm. What do you mean 1:00pm?

Door has glass window. Kenyan woman standing on other side. OK, tell woman that the closing time on the building says 1:30pm. She looks at me blankly. Try to explain this is my second day driving into DC to get my visa, that I have driven 1.5 hours to get there. She looks at me blankly. That I have all my papers...

Woman stares at me. I continue to explain until suddenly I realize I am not succeeding and I am going to have to drive into the city again tomorrow. Panic sets in. Now more agitated I begin waving arms and talking more frantically, definitely getting desperate and ....

Suddenly woman realizes I am about to have a melt down. She comes to door and tells me to slip my envelope under the door. It fit easily. She picks it up and invites me in, introduces herself, and offers me a drink of water. Quickly she looks through envelope, sees all necessary papers and says everything is there. Visa will be mailed. I was out the door and on back in my car. Phew!

Driving home (exiting city through Georgetown again) watch a red tail hawk swoop down over two lanes of traffic on Route 66 to snag a mouse. He switches mouse from beak to talons and flies away. Simple, clean and swift. Wouldn't it be nice if life was that clear?

Got to the farm in time to ride Al. He gave me his first clean walk/canter transition. We had been working on it before the weather got bad but never quite got it. Made my day!

Note to self: Next time book flight in time to mail visa application to Kenya Embassy.

Kenya Embassy - Round 1

2010-01-12T14:56:00.001-08:00

My departure date is fast approaching... Feb 2nd to be exact. I am heading off to Germany for Feldenkrais Training then on to Kenya for Horseback Safari. This means that I have to get everything organized for both trips. Packing is going to be so much fun!

Finally booked my flight. Now have to get a visa to enter Kenya. First step, go to website and find out they have changed the system since last time. Next, fill out on-line application and fight with date boxes that want to blow out the web page. Decide I had better expedite visa as website says it will take 14 days - not good because I have to leave my passport WITH them while they process my visa.

Call Embassy and make sure I can make out one money order for both processing fee $25.00 and expediting fee $20.00 for a total of $45.00. Tell woman I am going to DRIVE my visa application to the Embassy today so I can get passport back sooner. No problem. Next print visa application and sign. Now get a money order and return paid envelope. Sooo...

Off to the Post Office for money order and Express Mail Overnight Delivery prepaid envelope. Hummm..... don't think I have ever purchased a money order before. OK got that sorted out. Now envelope... Put my address as both sender and receiver, that way if it gets returned it will still come to me. Write down tracking number as I can't remove the senders sheet since I am not actually sending it to myself. With the help of very nice Postmistress that is all sorted out.

Next off to Washington DC to deliver passport, application, flight details (which I had already printed out), money order and postage paid return envelope to the Kenya Embassy on "R" Street near DuPont Circle. Traffic not too bad, Googled directions and sent to my iPhone so I could find the place, parked in the driveway of the Embassy - yes you can drive right up -no security guards or streets blocked off, got out of the car and.....

Read the sign on the wall outside the Embassy:

Visa Office Hours 9:30am - 1:30pm.

Time now 3:00pm. To be sure looked up the Kenya Embassy website on iPhone and called. Yes, hours are 9:30pm to 1:30pm. Would have been nice if the woman I spoke to on phone this morning told me that when I said I was going to DRIVE to the Embassy to deliver my paperwork....

Got in car, drove through Georgetown to get out of city. Wondered to self why the only way I know how to get out of DC is to drive through Georgetown. No answer. Crossed bridge into Virginia, got on Route 66 West. Sat in traffic until past the beltway. Stopped at Wholefoods (where Emeril does his shows) to pick up a few things. Drove home.

Tomorrow drive to DC to the Kenya Embassy.....

Note to self: Get there before 1:30pm.

No More News

2010-01-11T08:02:00.001-08:00

I used to get up in the morning, make myself a cup of coffee and sit down at the laptop to catch up on the news. There are always stories about murder, rape, terrorism, death and destruction. I would skim the usual websites and of course check out the weather but in the end there is little to read in the way of good news. And it isn't like I can do anything about that other stuff.

What a way to start the day.

Lately though I have found myself just briefly checking the headlines and then heading off to my Facebook page and Blog. I NEVER thought that this social networking thing would interest me. I guess I was wrong. I find now I can start the day with checking on friends, looking for something interesting to put up on my Fans page and write a little something that's happening in my life with my morning coffee.

What a way to start the day!

Lure Coursing

2010-01-10T17:58:00.000-08:00

While Brad painted the ceiling downstairs I went to watch the annual Lure Coursing event held just down the road from where my horses live. On Friday I had ridden past the field where the event was held and I couldn't help but notice it was covered in snow!

I ask my friend who was bringing his dog about whether they would be running on snow and he assured me they would be - and they did!

Some of the dogs weren't too interested in the idea but there were a few that really enjoyed it.

I have uploaded some photos on my Facebook page if you want to check them out. I really enjoyed the whippet. She really was pleased with herself when she caught the lure.

After the coursing everyone retired to the organizer's home down the road. The roast venison and venison meat balls were fantastic!

Winter projects

2010-01-10T05:17:00.001-08:00

We are finally getting around to finishing off a portion of the basement for an entertainment/office area. When the TV moves downstairs we will actually have a dining room! That means no more entertaining around the kitchen island anymore,. . . . . . . once we find a dining room table.

I am not sure how Izzy is going to deal with the idea since the couch in the dining room is her playground. Every morning she dives amongst the pillows, begs us to play with her feather toy under the blanket on the corner of the couch and spends most of her mid-morning time sleeping on the couch. I guess she is just going to have to find another place to play and sleep. In the mean time the downstairs isn't done yet so we don't have to face that issue right now.

We are going to put in a radiant floor downstairs for heat. It is about 52 degrees down there this morning. That's a bit chilly for my blood. Brad has already laid the warm-board subfloor and we are going to install solar hot water panel on the roof to heat the water that will circulate in through the tubing in the floor.

At this stage of the game we have gotten the insulation up, the electrical wired in and are almost ready for the dry wall. I am very sensitive so everything has to be healthy products i.e. no formaldehyde or VOC's. We are going to lay an bamboo engineered flooring on top of the warm board (floating floor). Now-a-days these kinds of products are much easier to find.

Brad is going to spray the ceiling black today to make it less noticeable until we put up some kind of a drop ceiling. We don't want to totally close the ceiling up because the first floor is exposed and we are thinking we might put radiant tubing in so that the first floor is also heated.

Living with an engineer means that I am not really involved with this project. Every step is planned, researched, considered and reconsidered before proceeding. As you may already know I have a completely different style. So I go down once in a while to check on the progress or go to Home Depot to pick up supplies and other than that I stay where it's warm by the fire often with a 7 lb fur ball on my lap.

Is it warmer out there?

2010-01-08T05:43:00.001-08:00

Last night we got a dusting of snow. The wind is already rearranging it this morning.

The sun is trying to come out but the temps have taken another nose dive for the weekend.

As the snow swirls around the back door the blue jays are trying to stay on the ground long enough to eat the sunflower seed. No worries about the bear coming around to eat the seed this year! I am sure they are snug in their dens with these temps. The cat has already made a foray to the end of the deck and decided this is not a good day. She is back on the couch waiting for spring.

No wind and 10 degrees warmer would seem like heaven right now but we are not going to see that until Monday. But I did get to ride yesterday! The arena was fine where Brad had plowed off the snow. It was still icy where he hadn't so plowing really did make a difference. I had about 3/4ths of the arena to ride in, which was enough to sooth my soul.

And it seems I am not the only one wanting to escape from this cold winter weather this year.

I found this gelding standing by the cattle guard wistfully looking out while his friends picked on what grass they could find. He looked like he was planning a break out when I caught him in the act.

And this calf was considered a jail break when I discovered her. It didn't take much to foil her plans. A flash from my camera did the job.

I guess with this weather it means an office weekend. I hear my paperwork calling and I can't find any more excuses.

Locavore

2010-01-07T05:38:00.000-08:00

Here in Rappahannock County we are fortunate to have an abundance of locally grown food. The nearby CSA (community supported agriculture) is a place called The Farm at Sunnyside. We continue to get fresh vegetables this winter including kale, salad mix and squashes of all sorts. Grass fed beef comes from Joyce Harman. We don't have to worry about e-coli because we know exactly what has happened to the meat and of course the fat profile is much healthier than grain fed.

I don't know if it is because of the farming around here or we like to eat but it seems that our favorite TV shows this winter are cooking shows. The top favorites are Diner, Drive-ins and Dives and Good Eats, but I have to include Emeril Green in their too.

Diners is a favorite because you get to see some really funky places around the country cookiing some outrageous food. I have been to many of the towns he mentions so it is a bit of a travel guide for me. Good Eats is not only funky it is informative. While I am not the cook in the family I have learned a few tips from this show and love the science behind the cooking.

Emeril filmed his show right here in Virginia in the Whole Foods I always stop at on the way home from the airport. We knew he was going to film another season but we weren't exactly sure when. I just happened to walk into the store and there her was! I didn't get an autograph (I am not much into that kind of thing) but I did get a photo.

Emeril really supports the idea of cooking with fresh local products. Personally I thought he and Chef Batali should have gotten a better score in the Iron Chef contest against Chef Flay and White House Chef Comerford, but who am I to judge?

Windy Winter Day

2010-01-06T05:53:00.000-08:00

For the past 5 days we have had cold temps and high winds. The weather people are predicting the worst winter in 25 years. So far it looks like their are right. One thing I am really grateful for is the new windows we put in the house not quite 2 years ago. Between that and Brad sorting out the problem with the wood stove, the house stays very comfortable. You can hear the wind howl but at least it is not blowing through the house like it used to! Izzy is grateful too. She sleeps near the wood stove and smiles up at us.

With outdoor conditions what they are I guess I am finally going to have to tackle all those pieces of paper piling up around my desk. Just doesn't look like I can put it off any longer. But isn't that what January is about? Clearing out the old to make way for the new. Maybe that is what the wind is all about too, winds of change.

Maybe if the wind blew across my desk maybe I won't have to deal with all the papers... Maybe if the wind blew through the door I wouldn't have to vacuum... Maybe if I had wings the wind would take me flying... Ah, wishful thinking!

Photo: Frosted cat

Happy Gnu Year!

2010-01-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Shake off the old year.....

and

Bring in the Gnu

Brad took the photo of Al getting up from a roll in the dust.

The camera was at 1/4000 shutter speed so the dust forms an

aura around him and of course his tail is stopped mid shake.

The gnu of course is in the Masai Mara, Kenya from my Sept. 2008 safari to Africa.

I am looking forward to 2010.

In February I start traveling again with a trip to Germany to continue my Feldenkrais training.

From there it's on to Africa for another horseback safari on the Mara.

What a fantastic way to start the year!

Now if I can only get the rest of my calendar sorted out.

Well that is another story.......

Signs of new snow

2009-12-31T11:51:00.000-08:00

I went out to my car this morning.

Here's how I can tell it snowed again last night.....

Someone else had checked out the snow before me.

I did a little detective work to find out which direction she went but I am not sure I could be certain from this.....

In the end I found out because.....

The paws on the ottoman by the wood stove were a perfect match!

Rambos aren't just for horses anymore!

2009-12-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

Around here in Rappahannock County horses aren't the only ones wearing Rambo blankets this year. I belong to a local dairy. In Virginia you have to 'own' part of a cow in order to drink the milk.

Our dairy is run by a fantastic person who used to own horses. She decided to put blankets on her cows in the really cold weather and as a result they produce an additional gallon of milk/day!

Yes, some people think it is a bit odd to see blanketed cows in the fields but as you can see this one is quite happy to sport her blue Rambo rug.

Not riding yet

2009-12-29T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well the mud is no longer the problem. But for the past two days we have had temps barely above freezing with wind chill that makes it definitely below. The horses are happy because they got a new round bale today but riding remains at a stand still due to the footing. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit warmer before the next round of snow storms move in on New Year's Eve. Hopefully I can get a ride in.

I purchased the new Wii Fit Plus disc for use with the Wii Fit console and board to keep me busy during this weather. There are some fun activities like bicycling and zooming around on the beach on a Segway. The tilt table game has been updated and there are several more new games. I haven't gotten through all of the yet but this should help keep me active until the weather improves.

15" of snow + 1.3" rain + 56 degrees = Mud

2009-12-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

Just when we finally recovered from the 15" of snow it rained - a lot on night of the 25th! Once again it was raining into my office but that is another story....

Next day (Boxing Day for you Brits) we saw temperatures over 50 degrees. What do these ingredients make? Mud! I can't remember the last time we had a real Spring Mud Season here in Northern Virginia but this is just the beginning of winter. Most of us have forgotten the sound of boots and horse shoes being sucked off as you walk across the fields. Not anymore. December is ending with mud season this year. Maybe that means spring will arrive in January?! Not a chance...

They are already predicting snow for New Year's Eve.

At least we have had a beautiful pink sunset last night.

'Pink sky at night, sailors delight.' Well let's hope that means the arena will be drained enough to ride in today.

Tire Chains for Christmas

2009-12-24T04:45:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of snow covering the arena after the weekend storm. The last big storm was February 2003. I commuted to Joyce's farm on the tractor, where I keep my horses. Joyce was stuck in Florida. At that time I only lived 1.5 miles away. We didn't have a plow or a blade so I shoveled out the driveway with the bucket. I learned how to get the tractor stuck and unstuck but couldn't do anything about the arena because of the downhill entrance. The tractor just did not have enough traction to get back up the hill.

After that storm Joyce bought a blade for the tractor. It served as a driveway grader and plow when it snowed, not much until this past weekend. The blade works well enough for the driveway. Brad got the honors of running the tractor and he had a few tricks up his sleeve. He turned the blade around so that he could plow backwards rather than trying to plow over the tire tracks. Joyce was in Florida(again) as all this went on but that was great because it gave me some leverage. All I wanted for Christmas is tractor tire chains so we could get into the arena and scrape off the snow. That way I could get riding again!

Well my wish came true even if I had to drive to Santa's workshop in Johnstown, PA. I drove over a mountain in a snow storm and searched for the shop in the dark. I found it on the third try. They had recently moved and after being placed 'on hold' for 20 minutes I got the correct address. There were no visible signs when I arrived at the shop but I spotted a UPS trailer that looked suspicious. Santa doesn't want to make it easy for people to find him otherwise everyone would be at his doorstep. Lo and behold a set of tire chains complete with tensioners was placed in the back of the Explorer. Arriving home late at night I went to sleep with dreams of riding Al on the arena before the New Year's Eve.

Yesterday we went to the barn and Brad installed said chains on the tractor. What a shiny sight to see. Then down into the arena he went and scraped off the snow. Once the sun gets to the surface it will melt quickly. With rain forecast on Christmas Day that should help. Next step finding the drag under the mound of snow. But that's another adventure....

Wishing you all Happy Holidays. May you get what you wish for this year!

Winter Solstice

2009-12-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

The winter solstice arrived today at 12:47PM, meaning that this day has shortest amount of daylight for the entire year. From now on out the amount of daylight is going to increase in the Northern Hemisphere. My friends in the Southern Hemisphere are celebrating the Summer Solstice, which marks the longest day of the year. Day length decreases until June 21st when it starts getting longer again.

Kenya doesn't experience this difference in daylight because the equator passes right through this country. When we were there for the Fall Equinox, September 2008 Safari, but the locals didn't even know what we were talking about. In Nairobi the difference in daylight between between winter and summer is only 9 minutes! Dawn and dusk last about 25 minutes each unlike Finland where it seems like the sun never goes beginning in May. But in winter Helsinki only has about 5 hours of daylight. In Lappland it's measured in minutes!

I have been in Australia in our winter (their summer), Finland in both winter and summer and Kenya in September. After a while you just learn to go to sleep when it is dark and wake up when it is light. That's a bit of a problem in Finland so you have to use the black out curtains. Now that I am home in Virginia I am really excited because the days are going to get longer from here out and that means Spring is coming!

Winter has come to Virginia

2009-12-19T16:51:00.000-08:00

The storm is over and has left us with 15" of snow; more in the surrounding area. We have already begun digging out but it looks like the weather is going to remain cold so the snow is not going anywhere any time soon! I have posted a snow photos on the gallery.

I will have to see how this is going to affect my riding. Right now I think it is going to put it on hold.... just when I was getting started for the winter. Ah well, I guess this means I have more time to spend reading and writing and recovery from 2009 clinic schedule.

In the mean time Al is enjoying using his nose as a snow shovel.

Snow in the forecast

2009-12-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to be teaching at Morven Park, Leesburg VA, this weekend but we have had to cancel on account of snow! They are predicting 12 inches or more. I left New Hampshire many years ago and moved to Virginia because I got tired of the white stuff and now here it is coming after me. It seems that they have had less snow in Finland than Virginia this year.

I have started a group on Facebook called Fans of the Murdoch Method. Please feel free to join if you have a Facebook account. I started a discussion on riding in winter and how to deal with the cold. There are a couple of good ideas out there and I want to see if I can make one of those polar fleece riding skirts... but I haven't used my sewing machine in years. So we shall see.

If we really get the snow they are calling for I might just have to teach Andy or Al how to pull us along in some kind of sled. We don't have anything formal, nor do we have cross country skis like they use for skijoring but I am sure we can come up with something!

Stay tuned!

2009-12-16T05:48:00.001-08:00

I would like to thank everyone who has responded to

my email regarding Bruce's death. While I am deeply saddened I am grateful for your support. When I ride Al I 'tell' Bruce of the improvements he is making on a daily basis. I know he is listening.

Bruce Gerrish

2009-12-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

Bruce Gerrish, a great horseman and dear friend, died suddenly on Sunday, December 13, 2009.

For those of you who don't know Bruce, you will recognize him as Al's rider and teacher.

Bruce knew how to make foxhunters. He was fantastic because he allowed the horse to be who he was while educating him in the sport. Bruce thoroughly enjoyed piloting Al around the hunt field and appreciated his talent. Bruce and I shared a mutual appreciation for his personality and ability.

So many of my recent memories of Bruce are associated with Al that it is hard to separate the two. The horse and the man as one.

Bruce will live on in Al and Al will remind me of Bruce each and every time I see him.

Rest in peace, we all miss you dearly.

Here's to Your Health - a Feldenkrais Perspective

2009-12-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

With all this talk about health care reform I thought it would be interesting to share Dr. Feldenkrais' view of health. I have recently been listening to some audio recordings made in the 1970's at a workshop he gave in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It is amazing how relevant this discussion is today.

Dr. Feldenkrais described someone who is healthy as a person who could receive a shock (illness, injury, emotional trauma, etc) and recover from it. As long as the system can respond, it was healthy. Health was not about avoiding circumstances but learning from them.

Momentary ill-health is necessary to develop the skills needed to respond. An uninitiated system could be devastated by a sudden large shock because the person doesn't have any experience in returning to health. Repeated experiences of small shocks and recovery strengthen the person to be able to respond if and when larger shocks come along. This doesn't mean the person is the same as she was before the shock, if you lose a limb it will not grow back. But the person as a whole is able to return to a state of health that incorporates the changes resulting from the shock. In other words, one learns how to be healthy.

Feldenkrais considered a person unhealthy when the shock was so great that the body could not recover. The system does not have the capacity to respond.

David Butler, author of Explain Pain, talked about a similar idea in helping people recover from chronic pain. He explains to his chronic pain patients how pain works in the brain so that they understand the process. Then he teaches them how to move out of the pain cycle through techniques such as imagery and mirroring. Until they begin to experience momentary relief, the pain is self-fulfilling. They have to learn how to get out of pain!

When we are exposed to something and then have the experience of recovering, whether that is an illness, injury or fright from a fall off the horse, we learn how to be healthy. This idea is similar when training our horses. We expose them to something small, not overwhelming, so that they learn to be self-confident.

If, however, we have an experience that is much more devastating, e.g. the fall results in a serious injury or emotional trauma, we can still recover as long as we have the desire to respond, to ride again. Now however, we have to learn new ways of moving, thinking, expressing our fears and acknowledge that the process of recovery may require time. This will not erase the past experience but will teach us how to live through it, to survive the shock and return to health.

In so many ways our modern health care system has become one of 'palliative care' "

Relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure". We have lost our ability to respond and therefore recover from dis-ease! When older or less experienced riders have a serious accident or major fright they often lose the ability to respond. Instead these riders embody the patterns of chronic mental and physical fear by trying to sooth over the feelings with bravado, denial or avoidance. They have lost the capacity to respond.

In order to return to riding health we need to acknowledge the shock and respond by learning new ways of moving, thinking and expressing ourselves. Dr. Feldenkrais devised his system of Awareness Through Movement® as a means to expose unconscious, self-limiting patterns (both mental and physical) and provide a learning system to attain our fullest potential.

We are liberated from fear when the unconscious patterns are exposed through the act of awareness and with the creation of new choices. Feldenkrais' method of using non-habitual movements to optimize self-organization gives us options in how we think, move and act. We can continue down the old path (as in chronic pain experience) or choose a different way; one that is responsive to the present circumstances, not the old fears. We learn that we can start, stop, continue or go back at any moment in our movements, thoughts and our riding to ensure a feeling of safety and confidence. With this knowledge we can choose to respond to the present circumstances and maintain a sense of well-being, the definition of true health.

Here's to your riding heath!