Tag: coffee

Weekend Coffee Share…… All good things

Sagittarius Viking31 Comments on Weekend Coffee Share…… All good things

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Yesterday I went to Target to pick up a few things for my daughter, and saw this cup that screamed my name. I love it when my everyday items reminds me about my dreams, and priorities. This cup does so in two ways; One, the good things in life aren’t material things (even though I appreciate all the money that keeps coming to me. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.) Two, I definitely need more wild horses in my life.

The other night I was talking to one of my friends, who out of the blue claimed that surfing is better than sex. The statement took me by surprise, but I’m not a surfer. My mind started to go haywire, and the first thing I thought about was the adrenaline I experience the first time I go into the round pen with a wild horse. It’s an unearthly experience, every first time, with every new horse. First the horse is scared, and a scared horse is dangerous. Some horses are in a fight mood. Fight, and flight moods are equally dangerous, if you ask me. 1000lbs of uncontrolled, raw muscle power. The magic, the feeling of oneness, happens the instant the horse understands that you want to communicate with them. It often happens in the blink of an eye. That’s when the dance begins. The part I enjoy the most.

Naturally I’m talking about those unfortunate, former wild horses, that have lost their freedom. When they already lost their freedom it’s directly connected to their quality of life, that we can figure out a good system of communication with them. (Just like we humans learn new skills in different ways, so does horses.) I prefer seeing them running completely wild and free on the range, but when that isn’t an option anymore, the beauty of that new dance is enchanting. When they are wild and free, it’s one of my favorite things to watch them play, and photograph them, to be able to share their zest of life with anyone not fortunate enough to experience it first hand. The spirit of the wild horse can teach us so much about living in the present. For me, that is the most intense form of zen, of oneness, that I ever experienced.

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I’m sure you understand why I was thrilled to find this cup! What could be better than starting your day with a reminder of that thrill?

So how would you like your coffee today? How was your week? Is life coming back into normal now after the holidays?

I’d say that it’s been very busy since Christmas. I love having my daughter full time, and I’ve paused most of my regular activities, temporarily. I want to enjoy every second with her. Easing her into her new life, new routines, new friends, and on Monday a new school. My daughter is sweet, kind, and somewhat sensitive to changes. I’ve been focusing on making her feel that she’s at the right place, and surrounded by love. I’d say it’s going very well. 

What’s the weather like where you live? Do you have snow? We don’t have snow, but there was some flurries, softly singling down from the sky on New Years Eve. It is cold for Las Vegas. Early Thursday morning it was 29 degrees, coldest so far this season. As long as the strong sun is shining, it’s lovely, just perfect.

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I’m actually having lunch with one of my blogging friends today, Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives. Terri is from Sacramento (CA,) but currently on a road trip with her husband. I’m so excited about our lunch today! Funny that we’re having lunch in Las Vegas, we never did when we lived a couple hours from each other (in California.) LOL

I need to get out of town at some point this weekend, to recharge for next week. I also have a new pair of hiking boots to break in. Very important business. I have a hike, not super far away, that I’m very curious about. We’ll see.

I’ve ordered a new bed from IKEA for my daughter. It’s a loft bed, and It’s supposed to be delivered today. I’m guessing that I will spend a fair amount of time putting it together tomorrow. I imagine making a magical forte under the loft, with some beautiful textiles, a chair, a desk, and some of my daughter’s personal things. The theme will be unicorns…she’s totally into unicorns.

Did you make any New Years Resolutions? I wrote about mine in my last post prior to this one. My workout routine have changed slightly since I moved to the city, and have less space for my everyday exercise, and no horses to ride. You know I miss my horses terribly, but I do my best to embrace the change.

The difference between those who succeed and those who fail isn’t what they have-it’s what they choose to see and do with their resources and their experiences of life.
– Anthony Robbins

I’m lifting more weights now, since I moved to the city, and I do feel stronger. I know without stepping on a scale, something I haven’t done in years..that I have gained weight, muscle weight. I feel that my body is changing. I like feeling strong and I’m definitely keeping that part up. I do need to add more cardio. Something new. Walking in the closest city park is getting boring. I’m looking into different alternatives. Are you planning on trying some new type of exercise this year?

I hope that your weekend is getting off to an amazing start! Feel free to grab a refill on that coffee on your way out!

Love,

Ms Zen

Weekend Coffee Share

Sagittarius Viking19 Comments on Weekend Coffee Share

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I hope you’re having an awesome week so far! It is a very enjoyable week here in Las Vegas, with near perfect weather, high’s near 70, and lows in the mid 40’s. I believe we had a couple nights of freezing in the beginning of the week.

How would you like your coffee today? Or maybe a cup of tea sounds more tempting? I usually have black coffee in the morning, and tea during the rest of the day.

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With my morning coffee I often have some fresh dates, and almonds. Later I have a sandwich, sort of like a second breakfast. Or maybe just a very long breakfast, with a short break in between? Lol. I love food, don’t judge me (or go ahead if you want.) I’m a morning person, and I get a lot done in the mornings.

I updated my fall wardrobe this week, by going to Boot Barn for some new jeans, and ordering some sweaters online.

What’s the weather like where you are? Any need for extra warm fall/winter clothes yet?

I’m reading two great books at the moment. One is written by a lady that we all gotten to know here through the coffee share, Detours in time, by Pamela Schlosser Canepa. I read about her book last week on her blog, and ordered it. It is very exciting, and slightly different compared to the books I usually read. I like it a lot! I’m not going to give away any spoilers, but I will share a short review here, after I finished the book.

The other book I’m reading is First, break all the rules, by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. I’d say that I have a hate-love affair with the last book, and I definitely need to read every single word. It makes me insanely mad in some places, and I don’t get mad very easily. On the other hand, I could never be a business man, of the kind this book is meant for. Any good books on your nightstand at the moment?

I’m looking forward to getting my daughter tomorrow, hopefully for a few days, until she’s leaving for an out of state adventure, a family reunion, with her dad. As some of you know, I worked as a baker for 9 years, before becoming a teacher. This weekend I’m going to make a Daniel Tiger Birthday Cake for a little boy. One of the boys whose nanny I am, is turning two. He has a special place in my heart, and I hope that this weekend is going to be everything he could possibly dream of. I’m going to put my soul into his cake. Lol. He’s the sweetest and kindest two year old you can imagine. Just like Daniel Tiger, if you’re familiar with him? His mom picked the perfect theme for his party. My daughter loves baking, and is excited about making the cake with me. She is quiet the artist, and I just know that she will become a much better cake maker than me, one day very soon. I don’t mind that at all! I’ll share some pictures of the cake later. What are you up to this weekend? I just have this feeling in my heart, that this is going to be an awesome weekend! Would you like a refill on that coffee?

Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some time catching up with friends (old and new)!
Grab a cup of coffee and share with us! What’s been going on in your life? What are your weekend plans?

 

Love,

Ms Zen

 

Weekend Coffee Share

Sagittarius Viking18 Comments on Weekend Coffee Share

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How was your week? We’ve had a cold snap here in northern California. The nights have been below freezing, and the days have been colder than usual. I don’t mind the cold. (Even though I have been daydreaming about road trips to Arizona.) Is it cold where you are? Or can you smell the sweet scents of spring in the air? I’ve had many cups of coffee, and tea, every day this week. Would you like to share a cup with me? Coffee? Or tea? I have a strong pot of freshly brewed coffee, and the tea could be ready in a couple minutes. What do you prefer? If you’re feeling hungry it’s lunch in about 30 min, but we still have plenty of time for a hot drink first 🙂 What are we having for lunch today?  We’re having a southern style black bean soup, with lots of garlic, chili, and leek. There’s some (still warm) homemade flaxseed ciabattas to go with the soup as well. I felt that soup was perfect today. It was 27 degrees when I was out to my horse, Ghost, this morning. Probably even colder when I walked my dog, first thing when I woke up, but I didn’t look at the temperature then.

Is the coffee alright? Would you like sugar? Or cream? I prefer mine black, but I’d be more than happy to get some for you.

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This week I’ve come to a realization. The kind that makes me incredibly happy. My new horse, he wants to be with me. Yes, it’s true that he sometimes show fear about things that I ask him to do, but he really wants to be with me. How do I know this? I’ve owned Ghost for seven weeks today. (If there is such a thing as owning a horse, maybe they own us, but you know what I mean.) For a while he’s been sporadically greeting me with a long neigh when he sees me. Now he does it every time. I always acknowledge his greeting with my body language. If somebody strikes a conversation with me, before I physically can get to him, he does different things to get my attention; his focus is 100 % on me, he often walks, or trots along the fence line closest to me. When I do open the gate to his pasture, or enter his stall in the stable, he stands at the gate/door waiting for me. Without being asked he lowers his head towards the hand that carry the halter, to make it easier for me to put it on. When I finished tying the halter (I like rope halters,) he often lets out a sigh. I think he’s saying that he is in his safe place now. Which has always been my goal, for him to know that it is most comfortable with me. It has never been very difficult to get his attention, but he is becoming wonderful in keeping his attention with me. He does sometimes have opinions, and ideas about what we’re going to do. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I convince him that my idea is better this time. We’re still in the very beginning of our journey, but coming to the realization that my horse prefers my company, even with things going on around him, makes my world a better place. I feel very good about having this as a foundation to build on. In many aspects Ghost lacks experience, and is very much like a baby. Yes, that means lots of work ahead of us, but it also mean that he is very soft, and are looking for someone to show the way. That softness in his eyes isn’t something that you can buy for money, that has to come from inside. You have to deposit lots of love to keep the spirit intact, and nurture that softness, while shaping it carefully into the partner you know is in there.

I’ve been boarding Ghost at a training facility, and that have helped me in my initial work with Ghost. He was not halter broke when I bought him. Meaning he wasn’t used to have anything on his head, or move when feeling pressure of a rope. I’ve done all the work with him myself, but boarding him at a facility with a good arena (actually two,) and a round-pen, definitely made our first weeks easier. It is much easier to connect with a horse in a smaller/confined space, compared to being out on several hundred acres.

Our bond came to a test another time this week as well. The indoor riding arena was not being used. (I try to only use it when I know there isn’t going to be any activity there for at least 30 min, it’s so frustrating to have to stop in the middle of an exercise for a lesson. It’s important to me to always stop when things are going good.) I put up some orange traffic cones, and barrels, making a little obstacles course for Ghost. We’ve done it before,  but I try to make it a little different every time. This time there was still several people doing things in the stable around the arena. (The arena is in the middle of a horse shoe shaped stable.) There was loud music on, and horses being taken in from their pasture. Different kind of activities. Considering this I was amazed of Ghost’s focus. He really enjoyed this! I took the halter of, so he could of galloped away doing his own thing, the arena is quiet big, but he choose to walk with me through the obstacle course. We did this several times. I even started to bounce a big yoga ball ahead of me, in and out through the course, and back and forth with my daughter. In the beginning he did take a couple steps of course, more out of surprise, but he quickly came back, accepting the new element. It was a blast. An elderly lady that I often talk to at the stable watched us, and said I like this! I really like this! She came back from doing little things in the stable, and said this several times.

Now when Ghost and I have the connection I’ve been striving for, I am hoping that one day I will live in a place where he can live with our family. The photos of Ghost in this post is from yesterday morning. I like to come out to the stable when it’s quiet, early in the morning, to get some one-and-one time with my horse. It’s very valuable to me. I miss having a ranch of my own, having horses of my own living with me. It’s a very special thing, to be able to see them several times every day, just sharing a few minutes here and there. To more be a part of their life, than just an occasional visitor. I am grateful (extremely grateful) for what I have today, but that doesn’t mean that I’m settling for this!

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Are you reading something interesting? I tend to read more in the winter time. My goal this year is to read 52 books (more than 300 pages each.) My daughter and I read a lot together, both in English, and Swedish. It’s important to me that she sees how I treasure books, and with that learning new things. I believe that she will remember what she sees, and experience, more than what I tell her. Tell me more about your week? Did you come to any new realizations? I hope you’re having an awesome week, I’ll say my week is pretty good. This post is part of the #WeekendCoffeeShare, feel free to join us!

Love,

Ms Zen

SagittariusViking@gmail.com