Gratitude

There is a lot I wanted to write this weekend.  I actually did intend to post a sweet Anniversary blog for Friday.

But I was too busy living it all.  :)

And I do not regret that.

It has been a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing weekend… and I am exhausted in the best way possible.

Tomorrow, I'll be up and out to play with my awesome horse (assuming my oil change doesn't take forever), and back to work… and happier for it all after this weekend.

So, a brief blog so I can be well rested.

Thank you, Aimee, for the most amazing culinary and social surprise that had me in grateful and touched tears on Friday.

Thank you Renée, Sean, Dave, Stef, and everyone at Artrax Studios for inviting and including me on Saturday for the weekend Open House.  I had a great time reading Tarot, and I'm so glad that Sunday proved an even busier and better day for you.  You all inspire me.

Thanks to Steve, Theresa, & Allie for the relaxing Sunday in good company - a well-needed and much-missed get-together. 

And, most of all, thank you a million times over to my most wonderful husband who not only puts up with my craziness, but makes my life immeasurably better with him in than it ever could be otherwise.  I can only hope I can return even a part of the miracle you give me.  I love you!  It's been ten amazing years, and I look forward to many, many more!

May all my friends, colleagues, and readers have this kind of greatness in their life! 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Thank you all so very much for sharing this journey with me to support the amazing horses that have been helped by our rescue.  As exhausted as I am, I've had a wonderful time with you all - and I hope you feel the same.

Let me thank, one more time, the advertisers, donors, and guest blog sponsors who gave so generously before I even logged on today:

Massachusetts Horse

K.S. Augustin

Karine Johnston

Inanna Arthen

Aimee Weinstein

Elissa Malcohn

Dr. Anthony G. Francis

Kathryn Sullivan

Isador's Fruit & Deli

Phoebe Wray

Cindy Corliss

Kara Gray

Blessings Farm

Roberta Gregory

Smart Steps Life Coach

Healing Hands Massage Therapy

Stained Glass Creations & Beyond

If you can patronize these brilliant people, please do!  Check out their websites - some of them have great deals, all of them have excellent products and services, and some even have FREE STUFF for you.

Throughout the blog, I've also used a lot of pictures.  Most have been my own or provided by the guest sponsors above.  However, there are still quite a few photos from other BSER volunteers that we've collected over the years - or recently.

Several of the photos are from volunteer Jane Derosier.  Most are marked, but not the ones in the collages.

The photos from the BSER event posts - like the learning one and the OSV Trail Ride - are from Ann McCrea of McCrea Designs.  Ann does beautiful graphic design work and handles all the printed publications - and now many of the online publications - for the rescue.  Please, go patronize her, too!  (And, apologies, I think I forgot to include her name on some of the photos, too.  Sorry, Ann!)

So, last call… and if you are reading any of these pieces over Sunday and Monday, please, please, please, consider adding to the donations.

And now… to go collapse.

Thank you!

Click the apple to donate now to help the BSER horses!

A Very Equine Thanksgiving

Last weekend, the Bay State Equine Rescue attended the Equine Affaire, as we always do. We often get a good portion of our supplies from generous dealers at the Equine Affaire. Anyone who has horses knows - but many people who don't have or work with horses don't realize - that caring for a horse is expensive. Grain, supplies, supplements, vitamins, medicine - all cost a lot of money. Since the rescue is run entirely on volunteers and donations, it means a lot to us when dealers give us their extras and leftovers.

This year, the Bay State Equine Rescue gives our thanks for donations from Equine Affaire to:

Cosequin
Agway
Finish Line Horse Products, Inc.
Platinum Performance
McCauley Brothers Inc.
Poulin Grain
Central Connecticut Cooperative Farmers Association
Blue Seal Feed
Biovance
U.S. Animal of Vermont
TizWhiz Sales LTD
Life Data Labs, Inc.
Uckele Health & Nutrition, Inc.
Lucerne Farms
SmartPak

Some of these companies also make vitamins, supplements, clothing, gifts, dog, cat, small animal… and many other non-horse products. Please help Bay State Equine Rescue thank these wonderful companies by checking them out for your holiday shopping needs!

Thank you from everyone at BSER - human and equine alike!

The Challenge of Grateful

When you're under stress, it's hard to be grateful.

When you're behind, it's hard to face the challenge and say "thank you." When you just want to give up, it's hard to thank difficulty for making us stronger. When you have a thousand and one things to do, it's hard to remember that simple "thank you" to a friend or family member or colleague who thought of you.

It's Thanksgiving in the U.S. this week, so a lot of people will be giving thanks for each other, their food, and other things they think of in any family rituals.

It hardly makes up for all the times we forget to thank each other, to thank God, to thank the Earth, to thank Life - no matter what any of them bring.

Thank you.

So many, many people do I owe thanks to - and for so many reasons. If I start now, will I even come close in a list?

You. All. Thank you. You know who you are. Maybe you don't - but YOU are wonderful. YOU made me who I am today. Thank you. If you think you have done me well, you have. If you can't think of something, know there is. We may not even realize it - you what you did, I what I received. Thank you. If I've already thanked you - thank you again.

And I thank myself, too - for being a pretty damned hard bitch on myself and giving myself time when I need it.

Husband-of-Awesome… Yes, of course Thank You. Especially.

Take more than a few minutes before turkey to consider gratitude.

Who are you thankful for? What are you thankful for?

What have you done to inspire gratitude in another?

Thank you.