Season of Thanks

Welcome to 2009! As I keep up with the newness of this year, (reeling a bit from the economy but looking at the incoming president with tentative hope), I'm drawn back to the thankfulness I still feel coming out of 2008. And I'd like to keep focused on thanking God all year for the people around me.

My family. Marty, Scott & Holley, Brian, Julie, Abby, Grant & Ashley, our parents and those not included in these few pictures. I cherish you all.





My friends. The hangin'out, card-playing, traveling, good neighbor, book club, near and far friends. Definitely sweet circles that I can't get all in here.


Bluefish TV. I'm thankful to have a job that I love. And I'm just as thankful to be a part of this creative team of people. And there's 100+ not shown in the picture.


Oh, and I'm thankful for this wonderful, sunny, warm "winter" day. Great for hanging out the laundry!

Don't Tell the Neighbors

After going to France earlier this year (where, due to necessity, people have gardens and hang their laundry outside), we started hanging our laundry out to dry. Not just the usual delicates or favorite sweaters ... it's the the undies, the panties, the towels, the socks, jeans, t-shirts ... Everything.

We've been practicing some methods of "being green" for years ... reusable grocery bags, recycling, herb garden, and we'll look into other ways to be responsible. It's not usually easier or cheaper, but it makes me feel good.

I'm just not sure our neighbors appreciate a clothesline in North Dallas. Oh well. It's been six months, so this fad has become a habit.

Texas State Fair Day!

I love October in Texas and a day at the Texas State Fair tops it all!


Brian & Julie included us in their family fair day.


"How about a bite of hot dog, Grant?" "No, I just want some corny."


Backyard Circus - Abby as a Butterfly Ballerina


Grant trying to get Big Tex to answer him.



The rides, the food, everything was a grand overload of the senses.

The chicken fried bacon (winner of state fair food this year) was good, but I've got an idea for fair food to enter in the contest next year. Watch out!

Rocky Mountain High

I love the internet. The internet and the great team at Bluefish TV allow me to still get some Bluefish work done and not be in the office ... I don't even have to be in the same state. But the dial-up slowness of my wireless here in rural Crested Butte makes me only want to get my work done and not spend too much time in front of the computer with anything else. So here's a compilation of some fun stuff.


Marty & I on Joe & Toby with our own Red Mountain in the background.


Meeting up with Jeff & Terri to picnic at the top of the Almont Triangle. (They rode the jeep, we rode the horses.)


Canoeing and fishing with Jeff & Terri on Lake Irwin




The great rides with friends: Steven, Lee, Erica & Linda


Steven & Lee are gracious to allow Toby & Joe to live on the Red Dog Ranch in the summer. Red Dog Ranch is adjacent to our property, so we can all ride ride up to explore Red Mountain.


Taking a break with Erica, the Red Dog Ranch Manager, who takes great care of our boys.


Picnic at the base of The Castles with Mike & Cassie


Every day we see elk herds with huge bulls. We hear them bugle in their cows. And we count the points on the healthy buck near the house. This year we were surprised by this lone cow moose right by our house. A rare find.

And then there was the day Marty and I fished below the dam of Taylor Resevoir. It's tricky gold medal trout fishing that has frustrated me before. It frustrates many a fisherMAN. This day, I was thrilled with the over 18" first fish I caught and asked Marty to take a picture. I'm not posting that one. Take a look at this one!

This beauty was a good 24" and hard to even get in the net! And then I caught 5 more!

Today, as I hopped on Toby bareback, looping his halter as a makeshift bridle and rode the pasture, I thanked God, as I do many times, for creating horses. And I thanked Him for allowing me to have Toby. This wonderfuly horse/friend comes running when I call across a 90 acre pasture; he snuffles (horse kiss) my hair when I'm near. In the past 5 years, he's come to trust me and I trust him on any trail. It's truly awesome to see his personality in a herd, with his "brother," Joe and with Marty and I.


There's nothing like a day with Marty on Toby & Joe.

Happy Birthday, Mom & Dad

My parents, Henry & Beverly Ferguson, turn 80 this year; Mom in August and Dad in September. Marty and I traveled to Elyria, Ohio Labor Day weekend to help them celebrate in style.

We had a wonderful time at Pier W, a great restaurant that sits on the shores of Lake Erie and looks across a bay to the beautiful Cleveland skyline.

The next night, we cooked a special birthday dinner for them and a couple of friends, Helen Lou and Molly.

A little history ... my parents have lived in the same house for 43 years and the house also "turned" 80 this year. Helen Lou and Rorick have lived 3 doors down from my parents for all that time and their daughter, Susan and I grew up together. (Rorick or "Speedy" was out of town that weekend - we missed him.) Molly, now a widow, and her husband, Ward have also has known them for many, many years and has the same birthday as my dad. I grew up with her daughter, Grace. A lot of history and it's fun to go "home."

I had a great midwest upbringing with wonderful, loving parents. They are headed to Mt. Rushmore for an MIT reunion next week. I hope I'm as active and engaged in life as they are when I "grow up."

Thank you, Mom & Dad. I love you.

He's a Prince ... of a horse

Prince Joe Wrangler ... Marty's new quarter horse he calls "Joe," has turned out to be a wonderful find. We feel lucky that Joe & Toby bonded, and it is so satisfying to call out to "the boys" across the big pasture and have them both come running. Despite his young age, Joe is improving on the trail daily, not afraid to be trained by Marty about the things that can be "scary" to a horse, since horses feel prey to so much in the mountains. Joe is pretty spunky. We've taken several long rides in the last week with a great ride up Oh Be Joyful Valley today. Joe passed all the tests and obstacles that came his way.



And then there's our little princess, Abby, who is really quite the cowgirl. We had several good rides in the meadow.



She has no fear and remembers everything. Abby likes to help me lead Toby and she even rode tall in the saddle by herself with me leading her around the ring.



It's been a great week with Brian, Julie, Abby and Grant ... and as Grant's smile shows, no vacation is complete without s'mores!

It IS a Happy Anniversary

On July 29, 1973, that's thirty five years ago today, Marty and I got married on a Sunday afternoon in Ohio. I had just turned 17 and Marty had been 18 less than a month. We were just two young kids, very much in love, happily ready to commit a lifetime together even though we probably didn't know all that meant. School in Virgina, moving back to Ohio, starting a ministry as business, settling in Texas, two great sons; Brian and Scott, who married wonderful wives; Julie and Holley, two perfect grandchildren and all the ups and downs, the struggles and joys that go into building relationship, family, business and life.

We looked so young ... we were so young! I made my wedding dress, sewing on the last of the buttons that morning. And Marty purchased his bow tie earlier that day at Sears to go with the green suit. Getting married may have scared our parents, but we weren't scared at all. We were ready for the adventure. It's still such a happy memory because it's a great life with Marty.

Here are the top 10 reasons why I love Marty.

10. From the first that we met, Marty let me know his faith was important and he cared enough to make sure mine was also. His faith shows up in every area of his life, even in what he chose as his career.

9. Marty has always been adventurous, loves to travel and try new things. After Australia, New Zealand and France in the last year, we're planning the next adventure ... maybe Uganda and Tanzania.

8. He is generous with everything he is and has. He is willing to give and share what he has and what he knows.

7. Marty is willing to try what I'm interested in. For example, I was that teenage girl who always wanted a horse. When I mentioned that dream, he jumped right in and we've enjoyed owning and riding horses. He always encourages me to grow and follow my dreams.

6. Marty is a visionary who is also in the details. He is a great leader in our home and at Bluefish TV. But he's also willing and capable to do any task to get things done.

5. Marty is a great dad and it was a joy to parent Brian and Scott with him. Family is always important to him and he shows by his time and energy that family is his priority.

4. He's the perfect Pops. I know he's a good Pops, but you can get an expert opinion from Abby & Grant. It shows in the joy and silliness he has when we're with them.

3. After 35 years, it seems that we know everything there is to know about each other. That is a comfort, but what keeps life exciting is that Marty fascinates me. His conversations are interesting. I love his mind.

2. Not only is he interesting, but he is interested. Marty really listens, involved when someone is speaking, paying attention to what matters.

1. The number one reason why I love Marty is because he loves me ... totally, completely, and just the way I am. I know because he makes sure he tells me a lot, but more because he shows me.

So, Happy Anniversary to us. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!