Heather Hamel's Blog, page 19

8 Days Until Kobi’s Release!

For the next 8 days, I’m going to be posting  quotes I had to cut from the book as well as sketches by Jean Drayovitch for the upcoming release of Kobi: Memoirs of a Mustang.

“A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with

its heart, and wins with its character.”

- Tesio

Date set for Kobi’s book release!

For those of you who have followed Kobi’s journey from the beginning – I have set an official release date.

For those of you who have just started following Kobi’s journey – I have set an official release date.

On Sunday, February 9th, 2014, Kobi’s multi-award winning book – Kobi: Memoirs of a Mustang will be released on Amazon!

More information to follow starting next week.  But in the meantime, visit the website, watch his book trailer, leave me comments, and spread the news with everyone you know!

Best intentions

I’ve been fortunate to be able to practice yoga again after a several month break.  It’s with a new instructor, so I have to pay closer attention to her in order to keep up.

I realized so many things we cover in the class can be connected with almost anything else (in my case, writing and riding):

Intentions – at the beginning of the class we are to review our intentions; what is it that we want out of today’s class (peace, relaxation, flexibility, balance).  We also review our intentions, internally, at the end to see if we accomplished our goals.  Wouldn’t it be amazing to enter any task with intention?

Focus – Throughout the class we focus on different aspects: breathing, stretching, etc – re-addressing our intentions through intense focus.

Deepening with breathing – In a posture (or pose), we deepen into it with our breathing; pushing ourselves ever so slightly to accomplish more, but not too hard to avoid injury.  Amazing concept.

So, my friends, in the spirit of yoga: Go into today with focused intention, and when the opportunity arises, deepen your goals – but do it gently.

Old Florida – addendum

I was so inspired by living ‘off the beaten path’ and seeing so many incredible things, I chose to avoid the interstates and take small back roads home.

While it increased my driving time a solid 90 minutes, if I wouldn’t have gone, I would have missed a sight from my youth: The Citrus Tower. I remember going there and having a wax dolphin sculpture made while watched the machine make it.  It was incredible.  I wish I still had that wax dolphin!

Due to the extended drive time, I didn’t have time to stop – but I was able to get this picture from the sun roof of the car – ahhh, road trips!

Old Florida (Part 3 of 3) – Bok Tower

One of the last stops through the real Florida is Bok Tower in Lake Wales.

Every Christmas they decorate the famed Pinewood Estate according to a theme, which each room completely different from the rest. So it was a spectacular time to visit!  Unfortunately I didn’t think ahead, so I apologize – no pictures of the Christmas decorations (I was too busy enjoying them to think to snap pictures!)

After touring the house, we wanted through their gardens and up to the Singing Tower which houses the Carillon. We didn’t stay long enough to hear the live music, but the recorded bells playing throughout the garden were amazing!

On a side note – the Koi pond (which you can feed them) has fish large enough to give me nightmares!

Old Florida (Part 2 of 3)

Continuing on the trek through ‘real’ Florida, my family went on an air boat ride on Lake Kissimmee.

We saw the typical wading birds, alligators (both full size and baby), bald eagles, cows, and buffalo!

What a fabulous experience – if you’ve never done it – I highly recommend it!

Old Florida (Part 1 of 3)

While spending time with my parents, nieces, and nephew this Christmas Break, I was fortunate to get to see parts of Florida most people don’t know exist.  We stayed away from the theme parks and enjoyed Florida the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

The first place we went was Solomon’s Castle, outside of Sarasota. It’s an amazing place created by artist and sculptor, Howard Solomon.

We had lunch in their restaurant: The Boat in the Moat – which is exactly what it sounds like.  From there we toured the castle with an amazing collection of folk art.

After that we walked around Horse Creek (no surprise I would walk around something named ‘horse’ anything!

If you happen to be near Solomon’s Castle – stop by…you’ll have memories of Old Florida to last a lifetime!

New Year’s Resolutions

The last post was all about reflection – this one is all about goal setting.  I know I should start small (and in some areas I am)…but those who know me well, know I don’t believe in doing things small: Go Big or Go Home should be my motto.  One reason I like to share goals and resolutions is that it makes me actually follow through if I know someone, somewhere might ask me how things are going.  So, if in a few months you remember any of this, ask away!

Horse Goals:

Kobi – by the end of the year I will master flying lead changes and laterals.  I understand some days I’m still working on basic obedience, but I think we can do it!

Sugar – by the end of the year I want to have come to an understanding with her.  Again, I understand some days we don’t even speak…but if I put my mind to it, and her back into it, we should have some sort of agreement and maybe she’ll quit body slamming me as she wanders into her stall – dang mare!

Writing Goals:

These are almost harder for me to write.  I think globally and have a tough time breaking them into manageable chunks.

First goal is to get Kobi’s story out there.  A manageable chuck would be for me to contact some of my ‘hero’ horse trainers and ask for a quote or back cover blurb.  I went to e-mail Julie Goodnight this afternoon and chickened out. So I need to work on those.

I also want to finish the four book crypto-zoology series – publishing it would be nice, but for now I’ll stick with finishing them!

I also plan to enter every writing contest I can afford in order to validate my writing (I’m such an insecure writer!)

Personal Goals:

I’d love to have something loftier than what everyone seems to say: lose 20 lbs and be nicer…but the fact is, I really do need to lose 20 (or 30 lbs) and be nicer.  Thankfully being nicer is so vague I think I can make it!

So, Happy New Year from the Triple H Ranch and I hope all your resolutions & goals come true!

Merry Christmas from the Triple H Ranch

Wrapping up one year and preparing for the next tends to be an emotional journey – what was I able to accomplish this year vs. what I wasn’t.  Looking back I think I did a pretty good job!

Kobi and Sugar – while I wasn’t able to ride or work them nearly as much as I would have preferred, I’m sure they didn’t mind.  I feel successful that I was able to keep them healthy, fat, and sassy!

Cuzzin – My old man.  Cuzzin’s year was a little more difficult.  We’ve battled allergies as well as arthritis in his hips.  He’s 11 now and starting to show his age – but I plan to keep him around to see the end of 2014, 2015, 2016, and more!

Cricket – She’s turned into a cat and disappeared.  She only shows up for breakfast and dinner.

Les – He’s had an exciting year as well.  He became a grandpa for the second time – now he has a few day old grandson in addition to a beautiful and sassy 6-year-old grand-daughter (sorry no pix of the little ones!)  Les has also managed to stay healthy and upright the majority of the year!

Writing life – What an exciting year 2013 has been for my writing.  I’ve independently published Murder of Crows through Amazon, have plans to do the same with Kobi’s book in January/February

and have the crypto-zoological series in revisions already!

Things around the Triple H continue to only get better!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Swampy IS real!

While waiting for my computer to decide to play nice this morning, the following headline popped up: Is there a creature lurking in the swamps? with a video link explaining.

Of course there’s a swamp creature!  Les and I have been saying for years that Swampy lives in the woods/swamp behind us – and she came all the way from Louisana…imagine that!

Swampy is just one of the many creatures who are featured in the new Crypto-zoology series I’m working on.  She’ll debut in Under Sapphire Skies, but everyone will really get to know who she is and why she comes around in Within Emerald Forests.

So sit back, watch the video, and next year you can read all about her!