Year End MeMe

I saw this year end meme on Saiph's blog Wait For The Jump and decided to borrow it.  It was originally designed to be written before 2015, but oh well.  I answered the questions as well as I could.  :)

1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
I went kayaking (LINK)!  It was only on a lake because I can't swim and I'm a chicken, but I'd love to float the river next time.  :D  I rode a purebred Friesian (LINK).  I braided a horse's tail for the first time ever (LINK).  I got to see polo in person for the first time and I got to ride in a horse drawn cart for the first time (LINK).  I held my first ever blog giveaway (LINK). I hosted my first blog hop (LINK).  I started drawing in charcoal for the first time (picture below).  I had to make the decision to euthanize my beloved dog for the first time (it had always been my parent's decision before - LINK).

Here is a charcoal drawing I did of a Marlin for my husband.

I promise I will get pictures of the rest of my art someday... I suck at taking pictures of them though... it looks way better in person.  :)

For Chrome specific stuff I cantered him for the first time (LINK), rode him bareback and bridleless (LINK), I got dumped in the pond (LINK), rode him with other horses (LINK), cantered him bareback (LINK), jumped him for the first time ever (LINK), opened a gate from his back (LINK), rode him double (LINK), cantered him off property (LINK) and I fell off of him for the first time (LINK).  I know I've done all of this before on other horses, but this was all firsts for me and Chrome.  :)

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for 2015?
I didn't make any (I don't think) and I'm not making any.  I'm just making loose goals, but no resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014? 
Dressage lessons!!  Confidence!  No anxiety.  No injuries or illnesses for me or any of my friends and family and pets.  No death.

5. Did anyone close to you die?
My dog.

6. What countries did you visit?
None.

7. What date from 2014 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
Sadly, February 24th when Storm died.  :(

8. What was your biggest achievement of 2014?
I think riding Chrome on the roads by myself past other horses without getting off.  My increased confidence and trust in him is a huge accomplishment.  I can't believe how big of a chicken I have become after not riding for so long.  Also going completely gluten free when I found out I have celiac disease and not cheating at all!!  I normally have really horrible willpower with food so this was a huge accomplishment.

9. What was your biggest failure?

To be honest... not realizing how fat Jackal had gotten.  I'm really upset that I didn't notice it until it was too late.  The good news is that he's lost five or six pounds!!  It's been a difficult journey, but we are getting there.  Oh and riding my green horse into a pond with my camera in hand... yeah... dumb.  Also falling off of Chrome because I ignored my gut instinct and rode him in a halter and bareback when he was feeling fresh.

So fat.  :(  He's looking much better though.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Multiple back injuries (strains or something) and various other little things that I can't exactly remember.  I don't know.  I can't really remember.  I try to block this stuff out because I hate pain and being sick.  Oh I got whiplash when I fell off of Chrome.

11. What was the best thing you bought? 
Chrome's plaid halter!!!!!  I also just realized how much of a penny pincher I am because I really didn't buy anything this year (for myself, I bought presents for hubby)... all of the stuff I received this year were gifts from hubby, parents and friends.... wow sad.  Oh wait!  I bought my LL Bean jacket that I absolutely LOVE.  Of course it was on sale and I used a gift card my boss gave me so I didn't pay full price lol.  I'm still cheap I guess.  Oh and my new Tipperary helmet that was on sale hehe.  Oh and my kitchen!

Seriously I love this halter and this jacket!  And this horse hehe.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Uhh.... Chrome?  Up until I put him on that stupid fat supplement he was always calm, cool and compliant.  Can't complain about that in a green horse.  :)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My grandmother for reasons I don't want to get into on the blog.

14. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year?
Nope.  It takes a lot to make me hate someone.  :)

15. Where did most of your money go?
Finishing the house!!

16. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Meeting Chrome's sire!!!!!  Polo, riding in a horse drawn cart, kayaking, archery and art!  Basically all of the new stuff I did.  :)

Chrome's sire.  Yeah he's awesome!

17. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Uhh... none?  I could mention a bunch of songs I love or new songs I heard that I love, but when I hear them a year from now I won't specifically think "wow I heard this song in 2014" or "wow that reminds me of this that happened in 2014"... heck like hubby just said, by February 2015 I probably won't remember anything that happened in 2014 LOL!!! Yeah I have memory problems...

18. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? Happier (gluten free perk!).
b) Thinner or fatter? Thinner (another gluten free perk).
c) Richer or poorer? Richer (I got a job haha).

19. What do you wish you'd done more of? 
I wish I had done more riding in the earlier part of the year.  I also wish I'd accomplished more on my 30 Before 30 list.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry, stress, not sleeping, etc.  I HATE anxiety and insomnia!!!!!

21. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my hubby, parents and brother.  It was awesome having us all together for a change.  Oh and riding of course.

22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
I celebrated my 5 year wedding anniversary (been together a total of eight and a half years).  I'm still in love with him.... most of the time... *snicker*

Seriously who could ask for a better anniversary??  More pictures here.

23. Did your heart break in 2014?
Yes.  When Storm died.

24. How many one night stands?
Oh you know, about twenty haha!!  Just kidding.  None, never, nada.  It takes me months to even get comfortable receiving a friendly hug from someone lol!

25. What was your favorite TV program?
Uhh....  I don't even remember what I watched in 2014.  I haven't had my T.V. hooked up in months.  All I've been watching recently (online on my computer) is old stuff I loved like Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, etc.  Heck lately I've been watching all of the TGIF shows (like Boy Meets World) that I grew up watching lol.  T.V. is more like background noise for me.

26. Where were you when 2014 began?
I'm pretty sure I was asleep in bed...

27. Who were you with?
Hubby.

28. Where will you be when 2014 ends?
I was in bed with hubby lol.  I'm boring I know.

29. Who will you be with when 2015 starts?
With hubby.

30. What was the best book you read?
All of the Anna Pigeon books by Nevada Barr.  I also really liked the Dick Francais books.

31. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lindsey Stirling!  Because how freaking awesome is she????  She dances AND plays the violin!

You have to watch this!!  Here is her channel for more videos.

32. What did you want and get?
A recurve bow, a plaid halter for Chrome, a ton of art supplies, a kitchen and other household furnishings, a drawing of Chrome (LINK), my awesome LL Bean jacket, all of the things I completed on my 30 Before 30 list, the go ahead to get Rolex tickets, goats and my new helmet.

33. What did you want and not get?
Horse trailer and a miniature horse.

Even this adorable appy mini foal couldn't convince him hehe.

34. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Wow I don't remember.  I didn't post anything on the blogs or Facebook except that my mom made me a gluten free chocolate cake lol.  It's sad I can't remember anything unless it's written down.  I turned 29.

34. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't watch very many movies in 2014, but my favorite was definitely Blended.

36. How many different states did you travel to in 2014?
I think only one.

37. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
BAD!  I have horrible fashion sense.  I think my most fashionable clothing item is my new jacket hehe.

38. What kept you sane?
Chrome, hubby, art and reading.

39. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None.

40. Whom did you miss?
Storm.

41. How many concerts did you see in 2014?
None.

42. Who were the best new people you met?
Uhh... the only new person I met that I know the name of is my best friend's new boyfriend and that was in late December.  Wow I've turned into a total hermit!

43. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
I learned how to stop being offended (it's a work in progress, but it's made a huge difference in my life).  If you haven't read this you really should (LINK).  It totally turned how I think around.

Here is a quote from the link above.  "Here’s the thing: No one can offend you. Only you can allow yourself to get offended. Yes, I know that sounds really Zen and beautiful, but how do you actually practice this in the real world? Here’s how:

1.)    Realize that every reaction you have is caused by the thoughts you are thinking. It’s all you. It’s your reality, it’s your reaction. That doesn’t make your reaction or the way you feel invalid, it just means that it actually has nothing to do with the other person. It’s your emotion; own it."

What is really funny is this article totally offended me when I first read it!!  Then I thought about it and realized it really is true.  :)

44. What are your plans for 2015?
I'm not really making a lot of plans or goals.  I've always been a bit of a control freak and if things didn't go exactly how I planned them I would get really upset.  Over the course of 2014 I've worked hard to learn to go with the flow and let what happens happen and I'm going to continue that for 2015.  My only solid plans are going to Rolex, riding Chrome more and taking dressage lessons.

I hope this wasn't totally boring!  If you decide to use it leave me a link so I can read it please.  :D

Also because I love pictures here are some more highlights from last year!

 Photographing my friend's Friesian foal.

 Touring a cavern for the first time.

 The twin fawns that were raised on our property.

 I got to photograph fireworks!

 Polo!!

 First ride in a horse drawn cart!

 Hubby bought me a recurve bow and Chrome liked it.

Our goats!

 Bareback and bridleless!

 Chrome's not so sheltered anymore.

 Riding with hubby.

Only selfie I ever liked of myself hehe.