#amwriting inspiration from horseback! #mustangs #cowboy

Yesterday I took one of my horses out on an exploratory ride, to see if I could connect a couple different trails from my property.

Although my horse had different ideas - all Pico wanted to do was canter - we wandered through the lava fields and old junipers. We came upon some old fencing and then what was leftover from a falling down gate. I was relieved, since that probably meant I was on the right track to find the main trail.

Just as Pico jumped into his attempt to win the race I didn't know we were in, I made him stop again. Several moss covered poles blocked the entrance to a little lava box canyon. I managed to take a couple pics before we were off to the races again.

When I posted on my "horse" Facebook personality, a local horse owner said the corral was used to capture wild horses "back in the day." I don't think there are any wild horses left in the area, but we aren't too far from a preserved herd of spanish mustangs - the Kigers. 

Ah, the images this conjures! I have a similar (although much bigger) horse gathering corral in my fantasy YA WIP. Hmm, now I might have an picture for a trailer! But also... story ideas! I love learning about the history of a new area.

I get to live here! #Oregon #horses #amwriting (not!)

If you've followed this blog for the last few months, you know I moved from Colorado to Oregon. Not for a job or any outside reason. Purely because I researched for well over a year and decided that central Oregon (Bend) was the perfect place for us.





The main draw is the dedication to outdoor activities - trails. Tons of trails. I found a book which lists 1800 miles of trails for horses. And there are even more geared to bicyclists and OHV users. Then the views. Wow.

We lived near Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak is incredible. But here, there are 5-6 peaks just as awesome and a couple with glaciers, so snow capped year round. It just takes your breath away to drive to town. And something about this beauty and being so close to it AND the accessibility seems to make people happy. Just plain happy. The guy at the gas station, the WalMart employee, the waiter. Everyone smiles and enjoys doing the job that enables them to live in such a fabulous place.

Some people think I live in the boonies - a whole 12 miles from town, which is closer than I've lived in ages. My driveway isn't great (we'll work on it) but I live at the end of a road, bordered on three sides by the Oregon Badlands Wilderness.

These pictures came from around and on top of a lava hill 2.5 miles from my house. I rode my horse on top.

Right now, because of all this, I'm taking a break from writing, but I've got great ideas simmering based upon this awesome setting. In the meantime, I'll still be helping other writers get their works noticed, so feel free to drop me a line about hosting your release announcement, interviews, or other promotions. I've got several reviews in progress along with getting back in gear with swapping critiques and beta reads. Never far from the words - just staring out the window more often!

Winter horse update - and ... the ... move that isn't moving

We try to give our horses a break during the winter, and this year, the weather has cooperated, rather forced the down time to be more significant than normal. Usually southern Colorado has fabulous winter weather, sometimes even better than summer for someone like me who hates to sweat just for existing. This year has been cold, windy, and snowier than usual.

Can I really complain? No. Because those of you dealing with the storms back east are getting it way worse. We did put one of our horses in training - with amazing results. He can sidepass over a dozen 55 gallon drums, pirouette around a block with his front feet on top, and walk through dangling pool noodles - those are devil spawn according to my arabs!

Here's the really annoying part. We were supposed to have moved from Colorado to Oregon the first week of January. Then late January (which had perfect weather). Now, who knows. Maybe mid February. Maybe mid-March. Maybe April or May. Doesn't wok well for my control freak personality!

All because of the white buffalo. An organization that breeds white buffalo is renting the property we're trying to buy. And apparently they aren't real inclined to move. Partly because, well, moving 25 buffalo isn't easy. Partly because the people haven't found their dream house - and think they'll be able to afford $800,000 later this year because people will be giving the their life savings. I'm guessing none of that will happen and they'd stay forever, even though they don't want to be there. They just don't want to put any effort into taking control of their own lives even though people have found temporary places for the buffalo for them.

As much as this is affecting us, (I was supposed to start a job in Oregon today, we sold our tractor equipment and can no longer run our hay business, my husband's job won't have the same down time in the spring, and my mom's health issues will be much better at lower altitude) I really feel sorry for the seller. He isn't getting rent now, he isn't getting the money from our purchase, and will now have to pay higher capital gains on what is supposed to be his retirement nest egg. He's having to fight through an eviction from people willing to pull guns on process servers. And he's a nice guy, I'm sure he doesn't want to do this, but what choice does he have.

So I sit here in a half-packed house and map out riding trails in Oregon. But at least I have more time for book reviews! So bring them on. If you've got a book ready for review, a cover reveal, or book launch, just drop me an email. Now if the wind will stop blowing, I'm gonna go ride!