Stepping

I am again glad I chose "Baby Steps" as the name of my blog.  It is definately the only way things seem to get done in my world! 

The above photo is the front of my house the day I put the offer in.  The plants in front of the wall are in pots, and there is nothing but dusty dry soil below.

That was three years ago.  I have wanted to do something about it for all those years.  However, feeding living beings, mowing grass, riding horses and raising my son have eclipsed this "job". 

This weekend I finally got some horse manure toted up there, ran a tiller and dragged the stone up from the barn (one wagon at a time).

It isn't done, plants come next, but again my steps are baby ones....but I refuse to stop stepping! 

This photo is horrendous, but you get the idea.  I can't wait for it to be full of hostas and impatiens.  Looks alot more like the cottage I am growing it into.  Now I just don't know if I wan to sit on my back deck or in my front yard more.  It's a good problem to have!

I promised more

A few posts ago I promised I would tell more about my "rewarding" work. It's basically done now! I rebuilt my back deck. My husband helped some and my neighbor helped with the last few boards, but I claim many miter cuts and much of the labor. I have to admit that tearing out old wood, ripping up nails, cutting with MY compound miter saw etc...
I love the feel I did something tangible!
Now for the flowers.

Going mobile

If I can post from my iPhone I might become quite a prolific blogger!

Rewarding work

I will post more later, but this is what I did for Easter!

Piles of Paperwork

I love what I do for a living. I am a self-employed Pet Stylist. I love MOST dogs and MOST owners and I enjoy making a silk purse from a sow's ear on a daily basis. It is rewarding, busy and I make a good living while being able to raise a special needs child. I don't know what I would do if I didn't groom. I'm even pretty sure I would do it if I was "independantly wealthy" all the sudden. Maybe not the grumpy dogs or clients.

The thing I hate is paperwork. Every year this time I ask myself who this "Uncle Sam" guy is related to and how to I disown him? I have no problem paying taxes, putting my money to the building of roads, educating the future generation etc.. What I hate is the tediousness that goes along with tax time.

Every year I swear I will "do better" and keep receipts in my computer program on a monthly basis and so on. Every year in April I am already 4 months behind for the current year as I pound away on my keyboard for little 5 and 6 dollar cash receipts. You would think I could remember cotton balls when I bought bleach, but apparantly not.

This year has added to my problems. I got a letter from the IRS saying they never received my 2009 taxes. WHAT? They cashed the check that was in that mailing, weird how that happens. So, I have to redo that paperwork. Then I realize while doing this years taxes, that I also have an itemized expense that I hadn't been taking. It is a significant number so I need to refile back to 2008. I have until the 15th of April to get 2011 and 2008 taxes in to the IRS. Then I have to refile the 2009 ones, and file 2010 in order to get the deductions I was due. In the end it will likely get me money back and be worth it, but as I dig through my files all I can think is I wish I had someone else do this. I would much rather be under piles of dog hair that paperwork.

I'll see you again after the 15th!

Earning his keep

A few months ago I visited the Humane Society looking for a "tough looking" dog to make would-be theives consider other homes. The dog I went to look it refused to even look at me when I said his name. I started walking the aisles. This goofy Coon dog mix begged me to let him out. I really considered that insane, but did it anyway. He was silly, hard to focus and such a puppy. He was skinny as a rail, had tattered ears and did I mention SILLY? I liked him, but wasn't sure. While I was thinking my son, Duncan, grabbed the dogs cheek. It wasn't the kindest of grabs, Duncan was stressed and overwhelmed. The dog wagged his tail and kept "smiling" away. I looked the dog in the eyes and said "welcome to the family".
We picked him up a few days later from the neuter surgery. We renamed him "Moves Like Jagger" He is goofy, annoying and needy, but he LOVES his boy. He kisses Duncan goodnight each night, he let's Duncan walk him in the woods and he is patient when Duncan is overwhelmed. If Duncan says "Jagger" or "Wags" he comes running. His only job is to be Duncan's dog so he earns his keep. He was meant to belong to my boy! He also is a heck of a snuggle buddy and I kind of like him!

Just a couple of reasons

I won't use the word excuse, because I don't ever feel sorry when I am trucking along. I did miss my blogosphere and the people in it.

So on of the reasons I was absent for so long are horse-related. The mare above, Chai (October 2010 this photo) ended up very lame this summer and I considered euthanizing her, found her a good farrier and kept her going.

Another reason I have been absent is I am spending more time in the gym. By more time, I mean I was basically NOT fit or active as of November 2010, I had already lost 30 or so pounds by then, but not adding nearly enough activity. I joined the gym and even hired a trainer. The work has been hard, gruelling and honestly I Love it now. It is weird to be THAT person, the one who LIKES the gym, but I am! I am now 70lbs down in total and forty or so of that since last November.

So here is part of what I have gained by missing my blog:

My fit and happy 20 year old mare as sound as she ever has been and a new fitter body to fit into the saddle. It's a weird world when a friend can snap a photo and I not immediately say "if you put that on facebook I will hurt you". I have a few more pounds to go (20 or so), but I weigh what I did in college and feel amazing.

Funny thing is I would have NEVER posted that before picture until now. Now it isn't who I am, it's who I was and that seems less awful!

I'm glad to be back, but the gym is calling so I am out of here!