Thanks for all the sweet comments on the last post.  I think I was just having one of those weeks where I felt like the world was a bit harsher than usual.  Sometimes I do expect too much from people, too.  I haven't been the best about calling people lately.  Except sometimes people retreat just to see if anyone notices, maybe that's what I was trying to do.  Sometimes a girl just needs to know that people still love her!  : )

Positive news, and I feel like a little girl saying this, but I'm going to start horseback riding lessons next week!  I'm super excited.  I rode off and on as a kid and then as a young teenager, but after a riding accident, I was spooked.  But lately I find myself looking longingly at photos of horses or at horses I see along the road.  So it's official, yay!  I've even run across an old acquaintance who has offered to let me ride her horses with her to help exercise them.  How fun!  I hope so much that it works out.  The photo above is of an Akhal-Teke, my favorite breed of horse at the moment (although I haven't yet ridden one).  Even though this photo doesn't show it, these horses are known for their particularly brilliantly sheeny coats.  They're also thinner than a lot of horses and rival Arabians in their stamina.  They are so beautiful and delicate.  It's funny, when I was looking through one of my old horse books, the Akhal-Teke just called to me.  It was stunning.  When I looked it up online, I found that the person who runs the national breed website lives out here in the middle of nowhere, just two hours away!  I couldn't believe it!  It almost seems like it was fate or something.  Maybe I'll venture out to their farm sometime.  When I was a girl, I always wanted to own a horse.  I still hope someday I can!