Horse showing a dollar at a time.  This would refer to my efforts to be able to play at this level.

This level would be showing at AQHA multi judged shows here in Albuquerque and out of town.  It is a very conscious choice that I have made, keep my mare in training, show to the best of my ability, give her the best possible care,  get the look.  Every once in awhile I will look in my jewelry box for a bracelet or other trinket that I thought I still had.  HA!  no you sold it on eBay!  Remember?  You needed the cash for oh, a vet bill, a show shirt, a hauling fee.  The funny thing is, I really don’t mind.  I didn’t need that bracelet as much as I need this.  This journey I am taking with this horse, this feeling of accomplishment as I get a little bit better at something every time.

We all make sacrifices to get where we want to go.  Pedicures and manicures, clothes shopping at stores (not at the thrift store!!),  taking a vacation,  having lunch with your friends, would be nice but this is way nicer!

In addition to liquidating my personal inventory of jewelry or whatever else of value I might have (yes I have been eyeing my husband’s pristine collection of vinyl, he would never miss that never opened Pink Floyd album would he?) I have my own little bake shop going.  A couple evenings a week I will bake goodies to bring into work and sell to the employees here.  Selling banana bread at $1 a slice is selling a lot of banana bread to pay for a hauling fee from Albuquerque to Amarillo!  but hey, it helps.  what’s nice about it is that they get a bargain and a homemade baked good and I get cash!  It is funny to go to the bank however and deposit these wads of singles.  I can only imagine what they are thinking.