West River Fun

We dusted off our paddling and camping gear and headed to Jamaica, Vermont this weekend for some good times.

It was GREAT to sit around the campfire, sleep under the stars, and hit the river again. The last time I paddled (I'm pretty sure) was last fourth of July weekend. I definitely was a little nervous when we put on the river, but after we went through the first rapid, I felt much more at ease - remembering that I know how to do this!

We paddled the West river, which was a super treat. Normally, they only release water from the dam two weekends a year - once in April and once in September. But they had to test something-or-other at the dam and we got to reap the benefits! :-)

We're hanging up the gear to dry now in preparation for another great weekend coming up. We'll be going to Northern NH for some more camping/paddling in one of our favorite spots. With all the rain we've been having in the Northeast, there's sure to be lots running.

8.2.09

I had an email in my inbox this morning from Marc with the date above the subject. And a smile came across my face...YEAH - almost a month to go before we go see the Avetts again. Marc and I agreed to come up with our dream setlist. Hey, maybe the Avetts will read this and my "dream" will come true? Stranger things have happened.

Amy's wishlist for 8.2.09

At the Beach
Laundry Room
Left on Laura, Left on Lisa
Ballad of Love and Hate
Color Show
Swept Away
Solomon
My Last Song to Jenny
Talk on Indolence
St. Joseph's
I and Love and You
Matrimony
Paranoid in B Major
And It Spread
In the Curve
Backwards With Time
Please Pardon Yourself
Pretty Girl from Cedar Lane
Nothing Short of Thankful
Salvation Song

Compelled to act

About six months ago, I decided that when the time is right for me to have a horse, I am going to adopt one from an organization called Saddlebred Rescue. Saddlebred Rescue attends a sale in Pennsylvania every Monday called the New Holland sale. There are several meat buyers that attend this sale and many of the horses bought at this sale end up on a truck headed to the slaughterhouse. Many good, usable, young, healthy, horses. I have my eye on one particular horse that I'd like to snag, but I'm not quite ready, since we don't even know where we'll be living in a couple of months (check him out!).

Even though I can't quite afford my own horse yet, when I turned on my computer this morning and went to my homepage, I saw an image (below) that compelled me to write a small check for the care of some horses in desperate need. Times are tough. Folks have gotten in over their heads. I feel like it's my responsibilty to help out, in whatever way I can. In this particular case, there are 20+ older mares and their foals that are starving in Kentucky. They are in good hands now, but any help we can give will be greatly appreciated. If you'd like to contribute to the feed/care of these guys:

ASHA
Equine Welfare Fund
4083 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511

(Please indicate Mercer County horses in memo)

Dear Mother Nature

I think it's time that you and the sun stopped fighting.

Please.

Let him come out and play, he's been cooped up behind those clouds for long enough.

Whatever he did, I'm sure he's sorry.

Love, Amy

Don't count your chickens until you sign the lease

After entirely more drama than I am comfortable with, we will not be moving into the little red house. We were unable to reach an agreement on lease terms and decided to let it go. A little bummed about this but know that everything happens for a reason.

Little red house

I apologize for not updating this much, but truth is, I haven't had much to say. Our life is slightly monotonous right now...

Adam is studying/flying his ass off finishing up his training. He has his commercial check ride on Monday and then moves onto the final stages of training, his Certified Flight Instructor and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument ratings and then he will be done. Should be another 2 months.

As for me...I work, look for new work, ride when I can, go to horse shows to cheer on my friends, and scoot up to NH for visits. We did have one weekend of excitement, went on a cruise to the Caribbean, which was a super fun time! There, you're caught up.

I'm writing today, because I do actually have some news...

We're moving. Again!

We've really hemmed and hawed about what to do when our lease ends in August. Really, we would like to buy...Now is the time, everyone is saying. But after deliberation, we have decided that now is not the time for us and we will continue renting for another year or two. However, we do not want to stay in our apartment. I just don't like it. The only thing going for it is that it's relatively inexpensive.

So, I broached the subject with our landlord. She said that she has several properties that she'd be happy to show us. We looked at a couple yesterday and found one that I think suits us pretty well. It's a small red house with a basement apartment. We will be living in the house part and there is a UCONN professor that lives in the basement apartment. He only spends two days a week there during the school year and he goes away ALL summer. Score! OH, and heat, hot water AND electricity are included in the rent. Double score! OH, and it has a lovely backyard, prime for bbqs. Triple score! OH, and we can walk to the new place from our apartment, so moving is going to be a breeze.

As you might be able to tell, I'm excited. We're moving this weekend...So, if you're in the area and looking for something to do, I can keep you busy for a few hours, with payment of a bbQ and beers in our new back yard!