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What Are You Doin' New Years Eve?

Isn't that always the question?  I'm very happy to say that my New Year's Eves of trying to hail a cab in downtown Toronto (before the Hilton moved up town a bit) in a fabulous ball gown and shoes in hand, are literally three lifetimes ago.  No, my New Year's Eve consists of taking a look back on the year and wondering how did we all manage to jam so much into 365 days? Holy cowpie!

2010 started off fine enough with a wonderful job with some great people.  I am truly one of the luckiest girls on the planet!


Then, it all started to go very , very wrong.  We said good bye to many, many of our life long companions far too early.  They will all be missed terribly and not a day goes by that I don't think of each one of them.





Almost lost Alice-Gator a couple months ago mind you... but with the quick action of Super Husband and two wonderful neighbors, we got her to the hospital in time.  


Now, the good stuff!  Let's see... our Jump Club Show team completely ROCKED this year. 



 A lot of really exciting "firsts"... Daniella rode the Boo for the first time on trail...





...started jumping Tango under the watchful eye of our fearless leader, Tiffany Jenkins.





Then she received her very first blue ribbon at the Martinez Show in Burbank this year!  Congratulations!!! We are so proud of you!


Our Show Team did great this year!  Continually plagued with lameness, abscesses, the constant challenge to find a hauler to take us to shows and god knows what else, we had a fantastic year!


Laura, the Brit, showed Alice-Gator at the ETI Convention in July and The Boo (who is now retired from showing this year). Nicely done!  Speaking of Alice-Gator, Elizabeth (fearless as well) has been riding Alice on a regular basis and what a great team!!!!



Our good pal Addie-Mae is happy in her retired life at a pasture nearby...


...her Dad, Lane, welcomed a beautiful, very talented Arabian mare, "Kara" who showed for the first time in 2011 and will completely crush any competition in 2012 in Western Pleasure!



Another new addition to the group was Daizy... yep, with a "z".  She's Chow/Husky and has managed to work her way into everyone's heart, knowing she had some pretty big paws to fill.  Hell, even Luckythedog likes her, on a case by case basis that is...





...ridiculous.

With that said, some more firsts in 2011... well, you can see for yourself.  Easter brought us  a new tradition... Louie, the Easter Bunny's "cousin".  I'm sure we'll see Louie for many Easters to come!


"Louie" btw, celebrated quite a milestone this year!




 

As the year moved on, we kept very busy... lots of travel for everyone.. heck between Laura, Erika and Renny they have all pretty much covered the globe!  We didn't get to see Erika and Renny for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, however we DID enjoy Halloween with them!!!



...and with the Holidays comes the food!  A big Thank You to Becca and Bosley for another fantastic Thanksgiving prep day!  



The introduction of another tradition for future Turkey Days to come... The Thanksgiving Cheese Ball!


Outstanding!


Something else new for 2011 was the introduction of my "What's For Dinner" cooking group! Cooking classes that anyone can enjoy. Seven classes per course, 7 courses in all to begin with for this series. Classes are each week on Thursday nights in the Shadow Hills casa.



















...and ANYBODY can do it!  Here are some hands-on attendees!









Not just dinner!  We tackle everything!




With 2011 coming to a close I can't forget to send out a well deserved Congratulations to a certain Goose we know for the various awards that he no doubt will be receiving from his work this year...


...um, no, this is Abigal, my sister's goose... wrong goose.


My next blog entry will kick off a brand new year, but for now all I want to say is that I'm so grateful... grateful for good friends...










...grateful that I get to wake up each morning and see this...


 ... and have a hot cup of coffee handed to me by Super Husband in a house full of fluffy dogs and this...


...Pepper, staring me down, wondering where the hell her breakfast is!


Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!!

























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